Krafton has permanently banned PUBG: Battlegrounds players Himass and TanVuu after concluding they used stream sniping and outside information to gain an advantage at PUBG Asia Stars 2026. Esports.gg reported the sanctions this week, citing Inven Global.
Himass, who competes for Anyone's Legend, and TanVuu, who is contracted to The Expendables, have both had their PUBG: Battlegrounds accounts terminated for life. Krafton also stripped their eligibility for every officially sanctioned esports event it runs, a list that includes the PUBG Global Championship, the PUBG Nations Cup and the PUBG Global Series. Both players retain the option of submitting an explanation through Krafton's internal review process.
What the investigation found
Krafton said its investigation examined match plays alongside official broadcast and in-game data footage. It concluded that Himass and TanVuu had accessed information they could not have obtained through normal play, and that they used it to make specific tactical decisions.
PUBG analyst pattrick_36 wrote on X that Krafton had published an official statement covering the PUBG Asia Stars situation and the cancellation of Day 3, adding that Krafton confirmed the pair gained information through their own streams that day. Krafton pulled Day 3 of the tournament entirely as the situation unfolded. Yoon Soo-jin, Krafton's Head of PUBG Publishing, said disciplinary proceedings began for both players as soon as the stream sniping was confirmed.
An apology to Soopi
Krafton issued a separate apology to Korean streamer Soopi, who it said was unfairly caught up in the affair. The publisher acknowledged it had failed to set clear guidance from the outset, which it said allowed confusion and conflict to spiral, and said it could have done more to shield participants from a public backlash.
The apology addressed what Krafton described as false information, mockery and deepfake content spread about Soopi during the incident. The publisher said it has requested takedowns of that material and will work with Soopi's agency on legal action, alongside continued monitoring and support. Krafton also confirmed an internal review is underway.
A permanent ban that removes both an account and every future Krafton-sanctioned event slot is among the harsher penalties the publisher has issued in competitive PUBG, and pulling a live day of competition is unusual for an event of this size. The future of PUBG Asia Stars 2026 remains undecided.
