KRAFTON announced that two Vietnamese players, Himass and TanVuu, would have their game accounts permanently banned and be permanently disqualified from official tournaments for using other participants' streams and external information during the 2026 PUBG Asian Star Invitational. The teams to which they belong have filed appeals against the penalties.
Himass belongs to the team Anyone's Legend, while TanVuu belongs to GAM x TE. The controversy began on the first day of the tournament on September 17, when the two were accused of using the broadcast feed to confirm opponents' positions. South Korean participants subsequently raised questions about the fairness of the competition and withdrew from the event, leading to the cancellation and early conclusion of the tournament on September 20.
In its investigation results, KRAFTON stated that the two players obtained information difficult to acquire in normal matches through real-time streams of other participants or external sources during the competition, and used this information for tactical and strategic decisions. KRAFTON determined that this behavior violated PUBG's operating policies, emphasizing that it has never allowed players to watch other participants' streams or use external information during matches.
In addition to permanently banning their game accounts, KRAFTON has also permanently disqualified both players from participating in international official events such as PGC, PGS, and PNC, as well as all official esports tournaments hosted or endorsed by KRAFTON. KRAFTON apologized for failing to uphold fair competition in tournament operations, causing distress to participants and players, and stated that the two players may appeal and defend themselves through the procedures outlined in the esports rules.
GAM x TE acknowledged that TanVuu had his stream on during the match, but argued that this communication-focused exhibition match allowed for event streaming and that there were no clear regulations regarding such actions. The team requested that the appeal be handled through a fair, transparent process with clear standards, and called for a reevaluation of whether the permanent ban and suspension were appropriate.
AL PUBG stated that it is reviewing the penalty decision, the cited provisions, and the applicable tournament rules with Himass and relevant parties, and will assist the player in appealing through official channels. The team believes that decisions that could permanently impact a player's career should be subject to clear and consistent scrutiny regarding their basis, procedure, and standards.