Abstract: With the rapid advancement of modern industrial technologies, the demand for superior surface properties of metallic materials has significantly increased, while conventional materials increasingly struggle to meet the requirements for high-performance components. As one of the core technologies in the field of metallic surface engineering, plasma beam surface modification technology enables precise modulation of material surface properties through the interaction between high-energy plasma and metallic substrates, garnering extensive attention in materials engineering. This review focuses on the current research status and applications of plasma beam surface modification technology, systematically summarizing the domestic and international research progress, main classifications, characteristics, underlying strengthening mechanisms, typical application scenarios, as well as future development trends. Although plasma beam surface modification technology demonstrates remarkable advantages in enhancing material hardness, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and wear resistance, it still faces critical challenges including high equipment costs, insufficient process stability, and limited adhesion strength of modified layers to the substrates. Consequently, this review summarizes the future research directions of plasma beam surface modification technology in artificial intelligence-driven process optimization, intelligent control systems, hybrid modification techniques, and adaptation to novel materials.