KRAFTON accepts full responsibility for PUBG Asia Stars 2026 controversy

The incident began on September 17 during Day 1 of the competition. It was discovered that Vietnamese players Himass and TanVuu were receiving external information via live streams (a practice known as stream sniping), leading to immediate allegations of unfair play. While the two players were subsequently removed from the remaining matches, KRAFTON's handling of the situation sparked further outrage.

In an official statement, PUBG Publishing head Yoon Su-jin acknowledged several systemic failures within the organization:

• A failure to establish clear guidelines and specific sanctions regarding the use of external information prior to the event.
• Inaccurate and vague reporting of the facts following the initial incident.
• Inconsistent communication across different languages, specifically discrepancies between Korean and Vietnamese announcements.
• Failure to protect participants from the resulting cyberbullying as the controversy shifted from gameplay to personal attacks.

The mismanagement led to a breakdown of the tournament structure. Following the incident, South Korean teams threatened a boycott and refused to participate in Day 2. Consequently, KRAFTON canceled Day 3 and decided not to finalize the official tournament rankings. The company is currently conducting disciplinary proceedings against Himass and TanVuu, with the final results to be announced later.

The fallout has extended beyond the competitive scene, with sponsors reportedly considering withdrawing their support. KRAFTON has stated it will cooperate with any legal actions taken by participants and will share all evidence gathered during its investigation to resolve the matter.