KRAFTON has officially closed the first alpha test for PUBG Black Budget, the upcoming extraction shooter with some mystical, ethereal elements. It’s a perfect combination between a typical extraction title and the battle royale mechanics that the universe is so often associated with, but if you want to play it again, you’ll need to wait a while.
It was said in a recent blog post that the alpha test ‘saw more interest and participation than anticipated’, which is good news for KRAFTON and great news for anyone seeking a new extraction shooter in 2026.
Black Budget’s Alpha Was a Success
In the post on Steam, the KRAFTON team wrote about the shutdown of the recent closed alpha:
This Closed Alpha Test saw more interest and participation than anticipated, allowing us to gather a wide range of feedback from players.
Through the feedback shared by those who took part, we were able to assess the potential of the game’s atmosphere, visuals, and overall system design.
At the same time, feedback consistently highlighted issues related to combat perception, situational clarity, and fatigue during repeated runs.
In addition, concerns and reports related to unauthorized programs continued to surface during the test period, leading us to progressively strengthen security measures and anti-cheat responses throughout the test.
Some players also experienced technical issues such as game stability problems and crashes. These factors had a noticeable impact on the overall testing experience.
All feedback submitted by players is currently under internal review and analysis.
In our preview piece, penned during the alpha, we predicted that ‘Black Budget will at least enjoy a solid launch, if not a lengthy lifecycle in the extraction shooter space.’
It’s a great extraction title, but it’s very similar to what already exists and might not innovate enough to be a real contender in the genre. That said, it played well, looked good, and presented itself as a more accessible alternative to a game like Escape from Tarkov.
At the end of the blog post, the team announced a return to Coli Island and Black Budget when the game is ‘in a more refined state’.
Are you eager to get back into Black Budget? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that a new Tarkov Twitch Drops campaign is starting today
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
I wanted to like it, but no controller support reminded mre just how much I suck at M&K