PUBG Asia Stars 2026 ended early after a controversy over the use of information from outside the matches. KRAFTON then published its investigation results and permanently banned two Vietnamese players, Himass and TanVuu, from official PUBG Esports. The case drew reactions from players, sponsors and communities across several markets, while Vietnam also saw a separate issue over the licensing status of PUBG PC.

What is PUBG Asia Stars 2026?

PUBG Asia Stars 2026 began on Sept 17, gathering 48 players — pro players, streamers and PUBG Partners — from six regions: Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

It was a regional showcase event, planned for nine matches over three days with a total prize pool of USD 70,000. However, it could not run as planned.

The controversy started with using information from outside the match

On the first day, allegations emerged that some members on the Vietnamese side watched livestreams to obtain information about opponents' positions or situations.

On Sept 23, KRAFTON announced its official investigation results. According to the company, it reviewed the official broadcast, participant footage, in-game data and replays. KRAFTON concluded that Himass and TanVuu showed signs of violating operational policy related to using out-of-game information and stream sniping.

This needs to be stated precisely: it should not be simplified to 'the Vietnamese team cheated'. The official ruling was made by KRAFTON against two specific individuals, not all players or the entire Vietnamese PUBG community.

Why did the PUBG Asia Stars tournament stop?

The controversy was not only about in-match conduct but also about how the organizer handled the situation. Korean players objected to the initial handling and then did not continue. Some sponsors also paused PUBG Esports promotional activities while awaiting the investigation results.

KRAFTON ultimately decided to cancel the remaining PUBG Asia Stars matches. In its later statement, the company apologized for failing to protect the tournament's fairness, and admitted its verification and communication had not been fast or clear enough.

So the case has two distinct layers: the players' violation, and how the organizer responded and ran the event. Separating the two helps avoid turning the whole controversy into a one-sided story.

How were Himass and TanVuu penalized?

On Sept 23, KRAFTON announced the disciplinary action for Himass and TanVuu. According to the notice, the two players' PUBG accounts were permanently suspended and they lost eligibility to compete in official PUBG Esports events hosted or recognized by KRAFTON.

Affected systems include regional and international leagues such as PGS, PGC and the PUBG Nations Cup. KRAFTON said the decision followed a review of match data and the conduct standards applied to professional players. The players retain the right to appeal through PUBG's esports process.

Why does the decision keep sparking debate in Vietnam?

Himass and TanVuu are not unfamiliar names to the Vietnamese PUBG community. Both were part of the Vietnamese team that won the PUBG Nations Cup 2025. So a permanent ban quickly drew a strong community reaction.

Some players, streamers and PUBG figures in Vietnam publicly voiced disagreement or stepped away from the game. TanVuu also deleted PUBG during a livestream on Sept 22 and spoke of shifting toward streaming rather than pro competition.

On the other side, KRAFTON's decision rests on the publisher's own investigation finding that the rule on out-of-match information was broken. It is therefore better described as a debate over the severity, the process and the trust between parties, rather than us concluding the ban is fair or unfair.

Is PUBG PC being blocked in Vietnam?

This issue is being mentioned at the same time but should not be merged with the PUBG Asia Stars case. Some Vietnamese outlets report that PUBG PC currently has no official domestic publisher and is accessed by players via international platforms like Steam and Epic Games. From there arises the possibility the service could be considered for blocking if the licensing issue is not resolved.

However, at present, one should not write 'PUBG has been banned in Vietnam'. Sources speak of the possibility of blocking or review, not an official decision that all PUBG PC is banned nationwide. This is also distinct from PUBG Mobile, which is licensed and has an official domestic publisher.

Two PUBG stories happening at once

This is the easiest thing to confuse when reading PUBG news these days. There are two separate developments, close in time but not necessarily one directly causing the other:

  • Story one — PUBG Asia Stars 2026: stream-sniping controversy → Korean players protest → tournament ends early → KRAFTON investigates → Himass and TanVuu are penalized.
  • Story two — PUBG PC in Vietnam: a publishing-license issue → signs of change in Vietnam's esports activity → reports of a possible service block.

KRAFTON is under pressure too

The controversy also affected KRAFTON's image. Some sponsors in Korea paused PUBG Esports promotional programs while awaiting the outcome. KRAFTON's stock also fell during this period.

Still, one should be cautious about tying share-price movement directly to a single event, since prices can be influenced by many factors at once. The data shows the stock fell; but saying 'a two-player drama cost KRAFTON X trillion' as a proven cause-and-effect is not sufficiently grounded.

What to watch next?

The PUBG story is not fully over. Points to watch include the appeal process for the bans, measures KRAFTON adopts to prevent a repeat, the future of Vietnam's PUBG Esports scene and especially the legal status of PUBG PC in the Vietnamese market.

These will help determine the long-term impact, rather than relying only on the strong reaction of the first few days.

Frequently asked questions

  • What happened? — PUBG Asia Stars 2026 ended early after a controversy over using information from outside the matches (stream sniping).
  • What did KRAFTON conclude? — After reviewing multiple data sources, it determined Himass and TanVuu violated policy on out-of-game information and stream sniping.
  • What was the penalty? — Both players' accounts were permanently suspended and they lost access to official PUBG Esports; an appeal process remains.
  • Has PUBG been banned in Vietnam? — Not a safe conclusion yet. There is information about a licensing issue and a possible block of PUBG PC, but no official decision.
  • Why is this a big deal? — It touches esports fairness, tournament operations, the relationship with the player community, and the future of PUBG in Vietnam all at once.

About this piece: DETOON's sourced summary, kept neutral, and updated on this same article when appeal results or new official announcements arrive, rather than posting many near-duplicate pieces.