KRAFTON has formally apologized concerning the controversy over the usage of exterior sport info and match operations that arose throughout ‘PUBG Asia Stars 2026.’
The controversy started through the Day 1 matches of ‘PUBG Asia Stars 2026’ held on the seventeenth. Equity issues had been raised after it was revealed that Vietnamese members Himass and TanVuu acquired exterior sport info by viewer chat throughout matches, partaking in dishonest often known as ‘stream sniping,’ resulting in each gamers being faraway from the remaining matches. Nonetheless, the controversy deepened as KRAFTON’s preliminary discover failed to obviously clarify the precise actions and people concerned, and discrepancies arose between the Korean members’ account of an admitted stream-sniping admission and the precise apology statements launched by the gamers.
Finally, the Korean crew boycotted the Day 2 matches in protest of match administration, which was subsequently adopted by problems with cyberbullying directed at Korean members. On the twentieth, alongside an extra apology, KRAFTON determined to cancel Day 3 and chorus from declaring last standings. Though subsequent notices had been posted, further points emerged, resembling discrepancies in bulletins throughout totally different areas. To make issues worse, match sponsors thought-about withdrawing, inflicting sporadic backlash. Amid these developments, at 10:49 PM immediately (September 21), KRAFTON acknowledged that there have been a number of errors in explaining the info and in its response course of following the incident, stating that the corporate holds accountability for escalating the scenario.
In an official assertion, Soojin Yoon, Head of PUBG Publishing, defined that clear advance tips and sanction measures concerning the usage of exterior sport info had not been established, and that the corporate did not precisely convey the info and members’ raised points after the controversy erupted. Moreover, she admitted that the content material and phrasing of regional notices had been inconsistent, and that KRAFTON did not adequately shield members because the controversy escalated into private hurt towards particular person gamers.
Moreover, KRAFTON confirmed that the acts of checking exterior sport info by ‘Himass’ and ‘TanVuu’—so-called stream viewing and stream sniping—had been each verified. Disciplinary procedures towards the 2 gamers are presently underway, with outcomes to be disclosed individually. KRAFTON added that ought to members pursue authorized motion sooner or later, the corporate will faithfully share supplies and findings gathered through the investigation and totally cooperate with obligatory procedures. Under is KRAFTON’s official apology assertion launched by way of its official cafe.
Apology Concerning Operational and Response Failures for PUBG Asia Stars
Hi there.
I’m Soojin Yoon, Head of PUBG Publishing.
Throughout the operation and response course of for PUBG Asia Stars 2026, we have now brought on immense confusion and harm to all members and followers.
On behalf of PUBG Publishing, I lengthen my deepest apologies.
KRAFTON holds full accountability for inflicting and escalating this disaster. Our shortcomings are as follows:
– We failed to obviously set up preventative measures, standards for judgment, and ranges of sanctions concerning the usage of exterior sport info upfront.
– After the difficulty arose, we did not precisely clarify the info and reply correctly from the start.
– When Korean members and streamers raised issues concerning equity and introduced a boycott, we brushed it off by framing that boycott merely as “withdrawal from participation.”
– Subsequently, we accepted the restrictive time period “chat sniping” and failed to totally clarify the true nature of the actions concerned.
– We did not persistently handle the content material and tone of expressions between the Korean and Vietnamese bulletins.
– We did not adequately shield the members and their respective groups, and had been unable to forestall the controversy from spreading into further hurt towards people.
That is an operational and communication failure on the a part of KRAFTON. We provide no excuses.
The acts of checking exterior sport info (stream viewing/stream sniping) by Himass and TanVuu have all been confirmed. Disciplinary procedures concerning this are underway, and the outcomes will likely be introduced individually.
The accountability for the operation and response concerning this incident rests totally with KRAFTON. KRAFTON, which ought to have precisely judged the info, supplied constant explanations, and guarded the members, failed to satisfy its position. In consequence, all members had been uncovered to private harm whereas the controversy escalated.
KRAFTON is accountable for permitting criticism and burden to be focused on particular person members. KRAFTON will bear the criticism and accountability for this incident. Ought to members pursue authorized motion concerning this matter, we are going to faithfully share the supplies and investigation particulars gathered through the fact-finding course of and render our utmost cooperation for all obligatory procedures. We may even spare no help for his or her restoration.
The poor administration of this occasion, together with the focus of further burden and struggling on particular person members, was an operational failure by KRAFTON. As Head of Publishing, I apologize as soon as once more for this.
I lengthen my heartfelt apologies as soon as extra to all members and followers who had been harm by this incident.
Thanks.
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