PUBG April 2025 Store Update: Contender Hanna, Steampunk Revival, and Chrono Cannon

Some stories begin with a whisper. In April 2025, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS delivered its fourth Store update of the year, and the Battlegrounds gained a new hunter. A mysterious figure named Hanna arrived with a veil lifted and a blade drawn. For collectors and battle royale veterans alike, the update fused narrative flair with deep progression systems. Could anyone truly hide from a Contender?

⚔️ Introducing Contender Hanna

The Workshop introduced the Contender system, and Hanna became its first face. According to the update, Hanna set out on a journey to find someone dear to her, and that search led her straight to the Battlegrounds. The update warned players: “You might run from her... but you can't hide.”

Hanna released with a layered cosmetic progression:

• Lv. 1: Basic Form, Contender Lobby Pose, Contender Emote

• Lv. 2: Kill Effect

• Lv. 3: Dive Trail Effect

• Lv. 4: Final Form

• Lv. 5: Kill Badge

Each Contender included both appearance and outfit as a set, and additional features unlocked through upgrades. The Lobby Pose and Emote could only be used when the matching Contender was activated. The Dive Trail Effect added a special fall effect and could be toggled mid-air. If Hanna was active, the Kill Badge applied a special badge to the killfeed whenever a player eliminated an enemy. This created a strong reason to grind for upgrades, not just collect the skin.

🧰 Workshop Materials and Crafting

Contender materials could be obtained at a certain probability from Contender Prime Parcels, available through Archivist’s Chests. Players needed two main materials: Record Files and Credits.

Record Files could be crafted in the Workshop’s Special Crafting tab using Artisan Tokens. Each Record File was tied to a specific Contender. They could be repurposed or disassembled, and when repurposed, they yielded a random item of the same tier, much like Imprints.

A new Contender page was added to the Workshop, showing all available Contenders and allowing players to collect, upgrade, and preview them. A Contender tab also appeared under Customize - Character. The probabilities for Archivist’s Chest items were listed on the Workshop - Regular Crafting - Archivist’s Chest - View Probabilities page.

🎁 Archivist’s Chest Bundle Rework

With Update 35.1, the Archivist’s Chest Bundles in the Store were updated, and the contents of the Archivist’s Chest were upgraded. Players who had unopened Archivist’s Chests from before the update would also see the upgraded item pool after the update. The bundle list looked like this:

The Bloody Vengeance Sword could only be obtained from the Hanna Prime Parcel. Hanna herself was scheduled to be available on PC from April 9 after live server maintenance until October 15 at 00:00, and on console from April 17 after maintenance until October 23 at 00:00.

🕰️ Survivor Pass: Steampunk Revival

For players who preferred steam-powered style, Survivor Pass: Steampunk Revival cranked up the pressure. The pass brought a true steam-powered flair to the Battlegrounds, letting players blast through matches with a retro-industrial look.

The PC sales period ran from April 9 after live server maintenance to May 7 at 00:00. On console, it ran from April 17 after maintenance to May 15 at 00:00. Players who wanted the pass had a limited window to earn themed rewards.

💥 Chrono Cannon: Progressive SKS and Chroma

The Chrono Cannon line added a new Progressive weapon skin for the SKS. Players who mastered the marksman rifle could now master time itself, or at least look like they did. The Chrono Cannon - SKS Progressive and the Chrono Cannon - SKS Blue Gold Chroma gave the weapon a distinct time-bending identity.

The Contraband Crate for the Chrono Cannon offered a 50% discount on the first Open 10 purchase. PC availability lasted from April 9 after live server maintenance until September 10 at 00:00, while console availability ran from April 17 after maintenance until September 18 at 00:00. The probabilities for Contraband Crate items were available on the Hideout - Contraband - More Details - View Probabilities page.

🛒 Personalized Shop and Final Notes

April also brought the return of the personalized shop with discounted goods, giving players another chance to grab items tailored to their interests. The Artisan Crafting item list was updated with the release of the Contender system, and all featured items could become available again later through the Workshop, Your Shop, or other in-game features and events.

Looking back from 2026, the April 2025 Store update stands as a turning point. It transformed character cosmetics into a deeper collectible system, gave the SKS a flashy new identity, and asked players to ask themselves: how far would they go for the perfect loadout? Hanna’s search may have been for someone dear, but for many players, the update was exactly what they had been looking for.

Data referenced from Esports Earnings helps frame why PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ April 2025 Store update leaned so hard into long-tail progression like Contender Hanna and the Workshop upgrade chase: in competitive ecosystems where prestige and visibility matter, players often value recognizable status signals (unique killfeed badges, lobby poses, and evolving “final form” cosmetics) alongside pure performance, making collectible progression systems a natural fit for a title with a long-running esports footprint.