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The next edition of PUBG Saturday Custom Games is happening this Saturday, August 1st at 20:00 CEST, bringing the community together once again for custom matches, creator co-streams, and G-Coin giveaways.
Tune in live on Twitch:
Join the games, squad up with the community, and follow the broadcast for your chance to win rewards throughout the event.
During this month’s event, players will have the chance to win:
Main broadcast raffle 10x 1,000 G-Coin codes
Creator giveaways 5x 500 G-Coin codes per participating co-streaming creator
Whether you are jumping into the custom games or watching along with your favorite creators, there will be plenty of chances to get involved.
Keep an eye on the official PUBG Discord, the Twitch broadcast, and participating creator channels for lobby details, event updates, and giveaway information.
See you on the Battlegrounds this Saturday!
MiTH
T1
Natus Vincere
Twisted Minds
Team Falcons
Virtus.pro
17 Gaming
GAM Esports
Team Liquid
Team Vitality
The Vicious Esports
Geekay Esports
AG.AL
FULL SENSE
Gen.G Esports
Shadow Esports
The Story so farIn Day 1, MiTH came out absolutely swinging with a dominant 79 point lead - although Twisted Minds, GAM Esports and Team Liquid followed close behind! On Day 2, Virtus.pro became the stars of the show, converting a solid Day 1 performance into a smashing Day 2 - ending on top of the leaderboard on 85 points. With Day 3, the tides turned - the return of MiTH caused shockwaves for the rest of the lobby, with other Day 1 powerhouses (like Twisted Minds: especially impressive as the team is playing with coach TheTab instead of Lu due to visa issues) also showing up in a major way. Will MiTH remain the favourites for the Final, or will another team rise up and take the lead? It all depends on how they can adapt to the Grand Finals Smash Rule Format!Be sure to catch all the action live on Twitch and YouTube!Hello, PUBG Esports fans!
After two circuits in Seoul, the PUBG Global Series is moving to Shanghai, China. PGS Circuit 3, featuring PGS 7, PGS 8, and PGS 9, will take place across three weeks from August 5 to 23.Circuit 3 also marks the beginning of the second half of the 2026 PGS season—and from this point forward, the numbers change. Every series in Circuits 3 and 4 will award twice as many PGS Points as the first half of the season. With the race to PGC 2026 entering a decisive phase, here is everything you need to know about the next three weeks in Shanghai.Dates: August 5–23, 2026
Location: Shanghai, China
Participating Teams: 24
12 Global Partner Teams
12 Regional Qualifiers
Total Prize Pool: $500,000
PGS 7: $100,000
PGS 8: $100,000
PGS 9: $300,000
Match Start Time: 10:00 UTC daily
PGS 7 Group Stage on August 5 begins at 05:00 UTC
Series
Date
Stage
Start Time
PGS 7
August 5
Group Stage
05:00 UTC
August 6
Winners Stage
10:00 UTC
August 7
Survival Stage
August 8–9
Final Stage
PGS 8
August 13
Winners Stage
August 14
Survival Stage
August 15–16
Final Stage
PGS 9
August 20
Survival Stage
August 21–23
Grand Finals
Group Stage: All 24 teams are divided into Groups A, B, and C. Nine matches will be played, with each team competing in six.
Top 16 → Winners Stage
Bottom 8 → Survival Stage
Winners Stage: 16 teams compete in five matches.
Top 8 → Advance directly to the Final Stage and receive Advantage Points
Bottom 8 → Survival Stage
Survival Stage: 16 teams compete in five matches.
Top 8 → Final Stage
Bottom 8 → Eliminated
Final Stage: 16 teams compete across 10 matches over two days to determine the final PGS 7 standings.
PGS 7 Top 16 → Winners Stage
PGS 7 Bottom 8 → Survival Stage
Following the Winners and Survival Stages, 16 teams advance to the 10-match Final Stage across two days.
Top 8 in cumulative Circuit 3 PGS Points → Advance directly to the Grand Finals
Remaining 16 teams → Survival Stage
Survival Stage Top 8 → Grand Finals
Grand Finals: 16 teams compete across 15 matches over three days to crown the Circuit 3 champion.
Winners Stage Placement
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
Advantage Points
10
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
Region
Global Partner Teams
Regional League Qualifiers
Korea
DN SOOPers, Gen.G Esports
Geekay Esports, T1
China
17Gaming, FOUR ANGRY MEN, Petrichor Road
JD Gaming, TYLOO
Thailand
FULL SENSE, eArena
Made in Thailand, Sharper Esports
Vietnam
Anyone's Legend
GAM The Expendables, The Vicious Esports
EMEA
Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro , Natus Vincere
Team Vitality, Team Nemesis
Americas
Falcons
TEAM LIQUID, Godlike
Group A
Group B
Group C
17Gaming
Petrichor Road
FOUR ANGRY MEN
JD Gaming
TYLOO
DN SOOPers
Gen.G Esports
Geekay Esports
T1
eArena
Anyone's Legend
FULL SENSE
Made in Thailand
Sharper Esports
GAM The Expendables
The Vicious Esports
Virtus.pro
Natus Vincere
Twisted Minds
Team Vitality
Team Nemesis
Falcons
TEAM LIQUID
Godlike
The Group Stage will be played in the order of A&B, B&C, and A&C. Each group matchup features one match on Erangel, Miramar, and Taego, with every team competing in six of the nine total matches.Final Placement
PGS 7
PGS 8
PGS 9
1st
60
60
120
2nd
48
48
96
3rd
40
40
80
4th
34
34
68
5th
30
30
60
6th
26
26
52
7th
22
22
44
8th
18
18
36
9th
14
14
28
10th
10
10
20
11th
8
8
16
12th
6
6
12
13th
4
4
8
14th–16th
2
2
4
17th–24th
0
0
0
PGS Points are awarded only to the top 16 teams in each series. At the end of PGS 12, the top eight teams in the annual PGS Points standings will qualify directly for PGC 2026. For the teams that built an advantage in the first half, Shanghai is where they must defend it. For those chasing from behind, the doubled points create an opportunity to turn the standings around. One strong circuit could reshape the entire PGC race.Stage
Match 1
Match 2
Match 3
Match 4
Match 5
Group Stage
Erangel
Miramar
Taego
—
—
Winners / Survival / Final Day 1 / Grand Finals Days 1 & 3
Erangel
Miramar
Taego
Rondo
Erangel
Final Day 2 / Grand Finals Day 2
Taego
Erangel
Rondo
Miramar
Taego
The Group Stage repeats the same Erangel → Miramar → Taego order across all three group matchups for Matches 1 through 9.PGS 7: $100,000 — $30,000 for the champion
PGS 8: $100,000 — $30,000 for the champion
PGS 9: $300,000 — $100,000 for the champion
Do you remember the Grand Finals of the PUBG Global Championship 2025 (PGC 2025) at the end of last year? On the highly competitive stage where the world's best teams clashed, Thailand's FULL SENSE claimed the throne of World Champions with an outstanding performance.
Celebrate the PGC 2025 Champions, FULL SENSE!To honor their monumental achievement, the PGC 2025 Champion Set: FULL SENSE is coming to the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS store. The players of FULL SENSE directly participated in the design process to capture the team's iconic colors and identity, specially crafted to let you share in the pride of the PGC 2025 Champions. PGC 2025 Champion Set ItemsFULL SENSE Helmet (Level 3)
FULL SENSE Backpack (Level 3)
FULL SENSE Vest (Level 2)
FULL SENSE Pan
PC: July 15 – August 19 00:00 UTC
Console: July 23 – August 27 00:00 UTC
A portion of the sales revenue from this item set will be distributed to the PGC 2025 Champions, FULL SENSE.
The items are available for purchase on both PC and Console platforms.
PEC: Fall and PAS2 returns to give teams from across EMEA and Americas the opportunity to prove themselves and compete for a chance to earn PGC Points to qualify for the PUBG Global Championship 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. With so much on the line, we hope you are as excited as we are for the tournament to kick off.
Whether you are an established roster or an up-and-coming squad looking to make your mark, this is your chance to compete against the region's best and begin or continue your journey to PGC.
Registration for PEC: Fall and PAS2 opens on July 13th.
Be sure to mark your calendar and get your squad ready to compete. With valuable PGC Points on the line and a chance to prove yourselves against the best teams in EMEA and Americas, you won't want to miss your opportunity to enter.
Just like in the previous regional series, PEC: Fall and PAS2 will follow the same tournament structure, beginning with open registration before five weeks of Scrims and Open Cups lead into the Playoffs and Finals. Check out the full schedule below and make sure to mark the key dates in your calendar.
Follow PUBG Esports on social media to stay up to date with tournament news, schedules, broadcast announcements, and everything you need to know throughout PEC: Fall & PAS2.
Instagram: @PUBGEsports
X: @PUBGEsports
TikTok: @pubg.esports.official
The next edition of PUBG Saturday Custom Games is happening this Saturday, July 4th at 20:00 CEST, bringing the community together once again for custom matches, creator co-streams, and G-Coin giveaways.
Tune in live on Twitch:
Join the games, squad up with the community, and follow the broadcast for your chance to win rewards throughout the event.
During this month’s event, players will have the chance to win:
Main broadcast raffle 10x 1,000 G-Coin codes
Creator giveaways 5x 500 G-Coin codes per participating co-streaming creator
Whether you are jumping into the custom games or watching along with your favorite creators, there will be plenty of chances to get involved.
Keep an eye on the official PUBG Discord, the Twitch broadcast, and participating creator channels for lobby details, event updates, and giveaway information.
See you on the Battlegrounds this Saturday!
PNC 2026 will take place from June 23rd to June 28th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Across five days of competition, 24 teams will battle for national pride and a share of the $500,000 base prize pool, further boosted by crowdfunding.
Grand Finals Participants
Vietnam
China
Thailand
United States
Germany
Brazil
Indonesia
Korea
Ukraine
Turkiye
Denmark
Argentina
United Kingdom
Philippines
Neutral
Finland
PNC 2026 will be played across two stages — the Survival Stage and the Grand Finals — with 5 matches per day.
Survival Stage: 2 days / 10 matches total
Grand Finals: 3 days / 15 matches total
Of the 24 competing teams, the top 8 from PNC 2025 will begin their journey directly in the Grand Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will battle for 8 Grand Finals slots during the Survival Stage.
Defending Champion: Vietnam
Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, United States of America
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Neutral Team, Norway, Philippines, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom
The top 8 teams from the Survival Stage will join the Grand Finals to form a final field of 16 teams. The PNC 2026 champion will be crowned based on cumulative points across the three days of the Grand Finals.
Scoring: PUBG Esports S.U.P.E.R Point System
Maps: Erangel, Miramar, Taego, Rondo
Survival Stage
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Grand Finals
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Day 3: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
PNC 2026 Grand Finals Live Broadcast
June 26 (Fri) - June 28 (Sun), Matches start at 10:00 UTC
Twitch
Kick
Grand Finals DAY 1
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 2
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 3
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
60 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
90 Minutes: PNC 2026 Jacket
Drops can only be received on the designated streaming platforms (Twitch, Kick).
Rewards will not be granted after the specified Drops period ends.
KRAFTON ID is required to receive rewards, and it must be linked to both your game platform account and the respective streaming platform account. (See below for linking instructions.)
Drops rewards can only be claimed 1 time per account.
Campaign details may differ by platform, so please check the announcements on each channel.
Console players can only receive rewards through Twitch/Kick Drops, and rewards will be available after the live update.
PNC 2026 will take place from June 23rd to June 28th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Across five days of competition, 24 teams will battle for national pride and a share of the $500,000 base prize pool, further boosted by crowdfunding.
Grand Finals Participants
Vietnam
China
Thailand
United States
Germany
Brazil
Indonesia
Korea
Ukraine
Turkiye
Denmark
Argentina
United Kingdom
Philippines
Neutral
Finland
PNC 2026 will be played across two stages — the Survival Stage and the Grand Finals — with 5 matches per day.
Survival Stage: 2 days / 10 matches total
Grand Finals: 3 days / 15 matches total
Of the 24 competing teams, the top 8 from PNC 2025 will begin their journey directly in the Grand Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will battle for 8 Grand Finals slots during the Survival Stage.
Defending Champion: Vietnam
Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, United States of America
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Neutral Team, Norway, Philippines, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom
The top 8 teams from the Survival Stage will join the Grand Finals to form a final field of 16 teams. The PNC 2026 champion will be crowned based on cumulative points across the three days of the Grand Finals.
Scoring: PUBG Esports S.U.P.E.R Point System
Maps: Erangel, Miramar, Taego, Rondo
Survival Stage
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Grand Finals
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Day 3: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
PNC 2026 Grand Finals Live Broadcast
June 26 (Fri) - June 28 (Sun), Matches start at 10:00 UTC
Twitch
Kick
Grand Finals DAY 1
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 2
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 3
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
60 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
90 Minutes: PNC 2026 Jacket
Drops can only be received on the designated streaming platforms (Twitch, Kick).
Rewards will not be granted after the specified Drops period ends.
KRAFTON ID is required to receive rewards, and it must be linked to both your game platform account and the respective streaming platform account. (See below for linking instructions.)
Drops rewards can only be claimed 1 time per account.
Campaign details may differ by platform, so please check the announcements on each channel.
Console players can only receive rewards through Twitch/Kick Drops, and rewards will be available after the live update.
PUBG Esports joins forces with Thug Club, the Seoul-based streetwear brand shaking up the global subculture scene, to present a very special collaboration.
This is the "Champions Look"—a one-of-a-kind creation permitted only to the single team that will ultimately lift the trophy at the PUBG Nations Cup 2026 (PNC 2026).The Road to Champion The path to the pinnacle of PNC 2026 is by no means easy. With 24 teams clashing, players must fight through five days of fierce survival competition—spanning from the Survival Stage to the Grand Finals—to reach the sole ultimate throne. Only the single team that survives until the very end will grasp the honor of becoming the PNC Champion.Earned, Not Given The "PNC 2026 × Thug Club" collection will not be sold anywhere. It exists solely and exclusively for the exact moment the new champion of PNC 2026 is born. At the end of this grueling battle for survival, which team will conquer the challenge and claim the Champions Look?PNC 2026 will take place from June 23rd to June 28th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Across five days of competition, 24 teams will battle for national pride and a share of the $500,000 base prize pool, further boosted by crowdfunding.
Survival Stage Participants
Vietnam
China
Thailand
United States
Germany
Brazil
Indonesia
Korea
PNC 2026 will be played across two stages — the Survival Stage and the Grand Finals — with 5 matches per day.
Survival Stage: 2 days / 10 matches total
Grand Finals: 3 days / 15 matches total
Of the 24 competing teams, the top 8 from PNC 2025 will begin their journey directly in the Grand Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will battle for 8 Grand Finals slots during the Survival Stage.
Defending Champion: Vietnam
Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, United States of America
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Neutral Team, Norway, Philippines, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom
The top 8 teams from the Survival Stage will join the Grand Finals to form a final field of 16 teams. The PNC 2026 champion will be crowned based on cumulative points across the three days of the Grand Finals.
Scoring: PUBG Esports S.U.P.E.R Point System
Maps: Erangel, Miramar, Taego, Rondo
Survival Stage
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Grand Finals
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Day 3: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
PNC 2026 Grand Finals Live Broadcast
June 26 (Fri) - June 28 (Sun), Matches start at 10:00 UTC
Twitch
Kick
Grand Finals DAY 1
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 2
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
Grand Finals DAY 3
15 Minutes: PNC 2026 Victory (Spray)
30 Minutes: PNC 2026 Home Run (Spray)
60 Minutes: PNC 2026 Logo (Emblem)
90 Minutes: PNC 2026 Jacket
Drops can only be received on the designated streaming platforms (Twitch, Kick).
Rewards will not be granted after the specified Drops period ends.
KRAFTON ID is required to receive rewards, and it must be linked to both your game platform account and the respective streaming platform account. (See below for linking instructions.)
Drops rewards can only be claimed 1 time per account.
Campaign details may differ by platform, so please check the announcements on each channel.
Console players can only receive rewards through Twitch/Kick Drops, and rewards will be available after the live update.
PNC 2026 will take place from June 23rd to June 28th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Across five days of competition, 24 teams will battle for national pride and a share of the $500,000 base prize pool, further boosted by crowdfunding.
Survival Stage Participants
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Denmark
Finland
United Kingdom
India
Japan
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Neutral Team
Norway
Philippines
Chinese Taipei
Turkiye
Ukraine
PNC 2026 will be played across two stages — the Survival Stage and the Grand Finals — with 5 matches per day.
Survival Stage: 2 days / 10 matches total
Grand Finals: 3 days / 15 matches total
Of the 24 competing teams, the top 8 from PNC 2025 will begin their journey directly in the Grand Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will battle for 8 Grand Finals slots during the Survival Stage.
Defending Champion: Vietnam
Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, United States of America
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Neutral Team, Norway, Philippines, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom
The top 8 teams from the Survival Stage will join the Grand Finals to form a final field of 16 teams. The PNC 2026 champion will be crowned based on cumulative points across the three days of the Grand Finals.
Scoring: PUBG Esports S.U.P.E.R Point System
Maps: Erangel, Miramar, Taego, Rondo
Survival Stage
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Grand Finals
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Day 3: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
To deliver a more compact and fast-paced match flow, PNC 2026 will be played with adjusted Blue Zone settings.
Shorter early Blue Zone phases: reduced duration for Phases 1 and 2
Shorter final Blue Zone phase: reduced duration for Phase 9
Removal of Land Ratio option: Land Ratio option has been disabled for Phases 4 and 8
Adjusted circle size: overall reduction in circle radius to match the shorter match length
These adjustments will apply to the PNC 2026 competitive environment and are expected to deliver an even more dynamic and exciting match flow.
PNC 2026 kicks off with a base prize pool of $500,000. 25% of the revenue from the PNC 2026 Event Pass, set to launch alongside the tournament, will be added to the total prize pool through crowdfunding, helping make PNC 2026 an even more rewarding stage for all participating teams.
The total prize pool will be distributed according to each team's final ranking, and both the prize money and sales revenue share will be distributed equally among each team's roster. Further details on the Event Pass, including release schedule and lineup, will be shared in a separate announcement.
* The Event Pass is not available on Console.
** However, 25% of the individual sales revenue from items included in the Event Pass will be added to the crowdfunding total in the same manner.
PNC 2026 is about to kick off! Here’s what you need to know about the top contenders, according to guest columnist and caster Jisuboy.
Team pride and honor are on the line. For the users who enjoy PUBG and the viewers who love esports, wouldn't this be considered the most special moment of the year? The PUBG Nations Cup (hereafter PNC), which began at Jangchung Arena in 2019, is looking ahead to its 6th edition this year. This PNC 2026 will feature a total of 24 teams and is expected to be the biggest and most special event yet. And at the center of it all, many of you must be wondering which team will ultimately lift the trophy.
Today, let's take a look at the most likely championship contenders for PNC 2026.
\
The comrades who parted ways in the past have returned and reunited. In the past, when Hakatory was heavily dominating in international tournaments, there was the formidable backup fire of someone who was keeping their eyes wide open. Many players fell to their knees before them. However, unfortunately they couldn't ultimately secure a championship, leading them to part ways and walk their own paths. Quite some time has passed, and they have reunited as the representatives of the Ukraine team for PNC 2026. The joining of DIFX, who used to be the reliable turret for Natus Vincere (hereafter NAVI), can be considered the strongest imaginable combination for Ukraine.
It is no exaggeration to say that Ukraine’s roster is practically NAVI itself. There are already three players from NAVI, and DIFX has a history of building synergy with NAVI for a long time. If Feyerist takes charge of the overall macro and team direction, Hakatory and boost1k will stand at the very front to shake up enemy lines, while DIFX operates the match by providing support fire from the back. Because the individual mechanics of the players are excellent, they mostly engage in gunfights that rely on raw aim, and their win rate is incredibly high.
In particular, Hakatory, who secured the "Man of the Match" title 9 times in the 2026 PGS and firmly established himself as the undisputed best fragger in the world, has quite good synergy with the rising rookie fragger, boost1k. In this PNC 2026 as well, when a scenario arises where these two are dominating, if DIFX fills in the empty gaps, it naturally makes you wonder: who could possibly beat this team?
Of course, as I have repeatedly mentioned in previous columns, their greatest weakness is their squad preservation. When analyzing the metrics of the 2026 PGS, if there is one glaring aspect about NAVI, it is that their revival count is extremely low. Across 70 Final Stage matches, they recorded a total of 52 revives, averaging 0.74 per match, showing poor resilience. This means that when a team fight breaks out, their combat power leakage is severe. The average revival count of the teams that won the 2026 PGS was 1.52 per match; compared to that, their figure drops to almost half. If opponents specifically target the moments when Ukraine's knock feed pops up, they can force them to fail their recovery and collapse.
ACE - Hakatory The number one candidate for the World's Best Gunner. From 2025 to now, it is safe to say almost no one can match his offensive power. Even the Emperor of Europe, xmpl, has to take a backseat; his gunplay alone is top-tier. However, because he is as fiery as his shots, his body often pushes too far forward, resulting in frequent early eliminations. Since Thailand's Best Gunner, KISS, has recently leveled up his weight class, a head-to-head clash between the two is highly anticipated.
\
PNC 2024 was held in South Korea. The South Korean team won by a narrow margin, but the point difference at the time was exactly 1 point. If the Brazilian team hadn't kept them in check, South Korea's victory might not have happened. 10th place in 2019, 9th in 2022, 7th in 2023, runners-up in 2024, and 4th in 2025. This is the USA team.
Looking at the main roster of the USA team, Shrimzy and Kickstart, who have consistently participated since 2022, stand out the most. Both have served as the main artillery for their team, Falcons, and they lack absolutely nothing in representing the USA team this time. Mid-to-long-range shooting is their specialty, and Shrimzy, in particular, has always shown great performances in international tournaments for many years, making him an undeniable target of caution.
Born in 1993. The Professor. PurdyKurty, who holds the nickname "Professor," has taken the baton holder of the USA team since PNC 2024 and showcases solid macro in every match. Earning his nickname thanks to his precise grenade throwing abilities, if you evaluate him solely on throwing skills, he boasts a phenomenal level that ranks in the top five globally. He primarily uses a macro pattern of calmly occupying choke points and, once the grenade distance is reached, destroying the opposing team with throwables to seize the victory.
It is no exaggeration to say that Cowboi, who was newly selected as a representative for the USA team this time, was chosen for his outstanding individual mechanics. His play of entering key strongholds of the battlefield first, holding out, and winning is remarkable. He enjoys the playstyle of constantly shaking up other teams from the front while receiving mid-to-long-range support fire from his teammates, and his value will soar to its peak in this very tournament.
With overall good balance and a characteristic calmness, the USA team is expected to record a high placement in this PNC 2026 as well. If they aim for third-party events of other teams or slightly elevate their aggressive tendencies, I think they have enough power to fully aim for the championship this time.
ACE - Shrimzy If asked to pick just one player in the USA who is the most stable and consistent, Shrimzy is definitely the first to be chosen. He is great at infighting and boasts explosive firepower at mid-to-long ranges. However, compared to the performance he has shown on the international stage so far, he has been slightly shaky recently, so the key is how much his condition has recovered. I look forward to seeing if he can rebuild the faltering prestige of the USA team.
\
The Chinese team achieved their best result—runner-up—since participating in PNC last year, but even that probably wasn't satisfying for them. And understandably so, because the absolute elite members of the Chinese team were fully mobilized. This year, the one who rose to be the world's best (MMing) is gone, and the unprecedented genius (Aixleft) has also suddenly left. However, I can say that my prediction makes this the scariest Chinese representative team ever, and their chances of winning are higher than ever before.
For a long time, many Chinese teams showed strength in the Asian region but often looked poor or inconsistent on the international stage. But there is a player who, based on years of international experience, has participated in almost every international tournament and delivered results. Not having a championship win on the international stage was the only flaw in his career, but he overcame even this by winning the PGS series. Now, the only tasks left for him are winning PNC and PGC. Who is it? It's the story of China's greatest commander, Lilghost.
First of all, this player's judgment in taking good spots at the right timing and adjusting the pacing of defense is phenomenal. Because of this, all teams clearly know the methods he uses, yet cannot easily breach them. There are no openings. Even if they manage to create an opening and deal damage, Lilghost reinforces that very weakness in the next match. How can you fight against an opponent who unconditionally holds the upper hand in mind games?
What about throwables? His team, 17Gaming, boasts world-class accuracy in throwing abilities. Grenades thrown together perfectly on time and dropping exactly in the right places bring down even impregnable fortresses. After weakening the enemy with precise throwables, they send in a general to dominate the battlefield. His teammate, xwudd, perfectly executes that role without hesitation.
17Gaming's xwudd flaunted his skills not only in the regional tournament, PCL, but also by never backing down in any international tournament he participated in. Beyond mere individual mechanics, he is exceptional at reading the opponent's psychology, neutralizing countless fraggers. If you run into this player, you might as well abandon the thought of walking away unscathed. His close-quarters combat sense is innate, and you literally cannot beat him unless you risk everything. He can easily be called the Best Gunner of the Central Plains. He is a player who can personally prove why he was selected as a Chinese national representative for 3 consecutive years.
With great overall macro, and joined by SpaceMan, the MVP of 2026 PGS1, the momentum of the Chinese team for this PNC 2026 is extraordinary. Furthermore, three of the Chinese representative players belong to the same team, 17Gaming, and since their coach, Akuma, is also taking the helm for the Chinese team, strategy formulation and player management are much smoother compared to other teams. The first PNC trophy is getting closer to the Chinese team.
ACE - tiantian Among the newly selected Chinese representatives this year, 17Gaming's tiantian, along with xwudd, can be picked as the most feared player. He claimed the final MVP in the regional PCL tournament this year and maintained top-tier stats in PGS as well. His combat sense is so excellent that he doesn't fall short compared to xwudd, and if I had to name his biggest strength, it's that his proficiency with literally every weapon is extremely high. If you ask players what their main weapons are, they would generally answer an AR/DMR combo, but this player doesn't discriminate. AR, DMR, SR, Shotgun, M249, Panzerfaust, Mortar—once he gets his hands on them, they simply turn into lethal killing machines. In particular, the accuracy of the mortars he fires is often absurdly precise, making him a figure requiring extreme caution. If China wins this tournament, tiantian will likely be standing at the vanguard.
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The recent momentum of the Thai teams is unusual. Just last year, FULL SENSE (hereafter FS) won PGC 2025, and in 2026 PGS, Made in Thailand (hereafter MiTH) won twice. Perhaps because of this, looking at the lineup of this Thai representative team, you can see it is composed of terrifying players. Having achieved good results in PNC, they have caught the perfect opportunity to relieve their past sorrows.
Thailand's best long-range shooter, Belmoth, showcased outstanding mechanics in last year's PGC. When the matches ended, he led the team to the championship, was selected as the final MVP, and became the owner of the Porsche everyone coveted. Because he delivered massive performances at crucial phases, possesses exceptionally brilliant shooting skills, and is equipped with composure, he has joined the Thai representative team for the first time in a while since his selection in 2022.
TiGGER is a player with the world's best aggressive tendencies. He is adept at catching other combat events during a match, often inflating his explosive stats through hit-and-run tactics. Furthermore, his close-quarters infighting skills are so outstanding that if this player's knock feed pops up nearby, every team must put their guard on high alert.
When weighing the contributions to MiTH winning this 2026 PGS 6, Scappy's share is substantial. His indoor defense is a masterpiece, and because he pursues plays entirely free of greed, he ranked 2nd overall in survival time, becoming the epitome of stability. He is expected to properly fulfill the role of Thailand's final gatekeeper.
Since two FS members who led the PGC victory last year and two MiTH members who are showing a fantastic start in '26 have joined forces, expectations are high. However, because FS's performance this year hasn't been great, the key is whether they can overcome the main players of other teams that have generally leveled up. Additionally, since the macro directions of their respective teams are distinctly different, it will be interesting to see how this team bridges that gap.
ACE - KISS A perfect hexagon player who combines flawless infighting, innate combat sense, pressure plays through throwing setups, and composure on the big stage, along with deep respect for his teammates. If I had to pick just one player currently recording the highest stock value, it would probably be Thailand's Best Gunner, KISS.
From his debut, this player's skills have been extraordinary. He frequently ambushed and assassinated from spots enemies never expected, and the victims were mostly top-class players with world-class mechanics. Being where he shouldn't be, and not being where he should be, leaves the victims completely helpless.
This player is scary when roaming alone, but is far trickier when playing with the strict backup of his teammates. Not only does he rarely go down even under heavy fire, but he plays while precisely recognizing the angles from which his teammates can support him, allowing him to pour his focus entirely into one place. Going a step further, he perfectly pictures the structures and covers of buildings in his head while playing, making his throwing accuracy ghost-like.
You want to know his weakness? Unless Thailand's team play completely breaks down, or KISS gets a stomachache on match day and his condition severely drops, this player shows no weaknesses. If you want to win this PNC 2026, you must crush Thailand's Best Gunner, KISS. If not, you will find yourselves watching KISS literally kissing the PNC trophy.
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PNC until now has been a continuous chaos where no one knew who would win. There was even a time when a team won by a hair's breadth of 1 point. Even when the point gap was large, it was around 30 points. But 2025 was different. The point difference between 1st and 2nd place was a staggering 61 points. It was a truly overwhelming gap. No one could bring them to their knees. Both their macro and their combat were close to perfect. The defending champions of PNC: Vietnam.
Since participating in PNC, the Vietnam team has never dropped outside the top 4. Vietnam team's legendary coach, DjChip, remains. Moreover, not a single player out of those who lifted the PNC 2025 trophy has changed. Excluding TanVuu, 4 members including the coach currently belong to the same team, Anyone's Legend, and considering Captain Delwyn's previous home team, it's safe to say they are practically the same team.
This team's macro is simple. Captain and main IGL, Delwyn, preoccupies a good spot, and the teammates prefer the method of clearing the outskirts with raw power before joining up. If there is a unique trait to this player, it is his outstanding ability to develop positions or rotation routes that others rarely use, and even if he dies early, his post-death shotcalling is so good that it immensely helps his teammates grasp the battlefield. He is undeniably the world's best brain.
TanVuu is a player building the ultimate career, winning PGC in 2024 and PNC in 2025. Being able to attach a star to the Vietnam uniform came from this player's incredible survival instincts and combat sense. Hanging alone on a Miramar cliff, wiping out countless enemies, and personally eliminating the fiercely pursuing South Korean team—that player is TanVuu. In fact, during the last PNC 2025, he proved he is an exceptional player by securing 1st place in total kills and 2nd place in total survival time, competing for the final MVP with Vietnam's greatest superstar, Himass.
Recently, Solozy has also been raising his momentum in the 2026 PGS, with his condition peaking. This player's strength is his high understanding of all weapons and his flawless, clean movements. He utilizes mortars and Panzerfausts at the perfect times, taking on the role of carving out a path for the team, and his success rate is phenomenal.
However, looking at their recent match records in 2026 PGS, some inconsistent fluctuations have occurred, so the rivals facing the Vietnam team must not miss the flow to push forward. They must absolutely not give this team the moment to regain their rhythm. The moment you give them an opening, you will not be able to stop the Vietnam team, equipped with explosive combat power and smart macro abilities.
ACE - Himass This player can be called the icon and superstar of Vietnam. In his 4th PNC appearance, Himass possesses the qualities to become the greatest player of all time. He overcomes numerically disadvantageous situations with his own combat sense, and in particular, his AR first-bullet accuracy is so razor-sharp that he rarely loses in AR head-to-head duels. During PNC 2025, in order to eliminate just Himass left on a balcony, four German representatives rushed him, only to almost get wiped out themselves. In terms of sheer AR skill alone, I'd bet he easily ranks in the top five globally. Furthermore, because this player is also excellent at shooting the Lynx AMR, dropping your guard just because it's long-range can blow up the match itself.
Now, the Vietnam team is eyeing the South Korean team, which holds the record of two PNC championship wins. But can they really stop this player by sheer force? If they fail to stop this Vietnamese monster, they will just have to watch as a second star gets engraved on the red uniform.
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There is a team that secured runner-up in 2019, 4th place in 2022, won in 2023, and secured back-to-back championships in 2024. However, in 2025, they finished in 8th place, failing to achieve the massive milestone of three consecutive championships. The National Representative Selection Committee was formed once again, picking the best players. This is the South Korea team.
What they considered the most important in this South Korea team selection was balance. First, they needed the sharpest spear to neutralize other teams at the absolute frontline of the battlefield. The one who took on the role of that spear was the flame-like frontline fragger of T1: Heather (Ji-hoon Cha).
From around his debut, Heather is a player who has produced countless highlight reels and boasts a high win rate even in 1vsMany fights. He quickly grasps the advantage/disadvantage of a fight, never missing a setup that favors him, and being proficient in all weapons, if you leave it to him, he has the ability to wipe out an entire squad in an instant. Even compared side-by-side with the aces of other regions mentioned above, he is a player who lacks absolutely nothing. Despite his young age, born in just 2005, his ability to never shrink on the big stage is also considered a strength.
If you have a spear boasting sharp offensive power, you can't be without a shield, right? Across all players globally, Heaven (Tae-sung Kim) has the least variance in performance, is considered the ultimate hexagon player, and was the leading figure in the two PNC championships. It is hard to find him in poor condition, and he showcases legendary performances every time he competes.
Ironically, when this player shines the brightest is when the team is in a critical crisis. It's no wonder he earned the nickname "South Korea's Best Shield." Whether it's throwables, close-range, or long-range, he plans to protect his teammates with his heavy shots and blinding clutch saves.
Next, a commander was needed to tune the overall flow of the match. Consistently delivering results in international matches, and possessing a career unmatched by anyone at the domestic level, the main IGL of DN Soopers (DNS), Gyumin (Gyu-min Shim), was the perfect fit.
Gyumin excels at accurately reading the situations of other teams and proposing the team's next scenario. Not only that, but he also frequently displays outstanding combat abilities—a crucial virtue for modern main IGLs. Holding his breath, he accurately sprayed AR first bullets to take down countless players. He is a talent equipped with both brawn and brains.
And, of course, there had to be a Captain to tie the South Korean players together. A whopping 9 years since his debut. Born in '95. Age is just a number. Even at this very moment, he is still growing: SeongJang (Jung-hwan Seong) took the captain's armband.
SeongJang's greatest strengths are his tuning and throwing abilities. When the main IGL ponders and selects among multiple scenarios in a match, he has the insight to modify it so that it becomes the ultimate best scenario, and his perfect throwing abilities forged by 3rd-person play make impossible breaches possible. He is also adept at grasping the surrounding combat situations, making his Kill Steal (KS) abilities exceptional.
While their overall raw combat power might lag slightly behind other regions, considering their ability to read the situation and flow at crucial moments, the overall fighting power of the South Korea team looks second to none. I'm curious about the final result of the South Korea team boasting perfect balance.
ACE - Heaven If we only look at flashiness or super plays within a match, players from other regions might look more dazzling. But at the most perilous moments, the player who made a collapsing team hold on and eventually stand back up was always Heaven. The reason the South Korea team could attach two stars. At the center of it, he always stood. A player who has silently proven himself through his gameplay for the team's victory. South Korea's Guardian Deity, Heaven, is now looking toward a third star that no one has ever reached.
Conclusion
What kind of tournament is PNC to you? To some, it might just be a simple event match. But heading into a match carrying the expectations, pride, and honor of countless fans cheering for you is not a common occurrence. Some step onto the battlefield to write a new history, some to reclaim lost glory, and others to prove their own value. This once-in-a-lifetime moment. In this historic scene, whose journey will you cheer for?
- Jisuboy
PNC 2026 will take place from June 23rd to June 28th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Across five days of competition, 24 teams will battle for national pride and a share of the $500,000 base prize pool, further boosted by crowdfunding.
Survival Stage Participants
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Denmark
Finland
United Kingdom
India
Japan
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Neutral Team
Norway
Philippines
Chinese Taipei
Turkiye
Ukraine
PNC 2026 will be played across two stages — the Survival Stage and the Grand Finals — with 5 matches per day.
Survival Stage: 2 days / 10 matches total
Grand Finals: 3 days / 15 matches total
Of the 24 competing teams, the top 8 from PNC 2025 will begin their journey directly in the Grand Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will battle for 8 Grand Finals slots during the Survival Stage.
Defending Champion: Vietnam
Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, United States of America
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Neutral Team, Norway, Philippines, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom
The top 8 teams from the Survival Stage will join the Grand Finals to form a final field of 16 teams. The PNC 2026 champion will be crowned based on cumulative points across the three days of the Grand Finals.
Scoring: PUBG Esports S.U.P.E.R Point System
Maps: Erangel, Miramar, Taego, Rondo
Survival Stage
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Grand Finals
Day 1: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
Day 2: Taego → Erangel → Rondo → Miramar → Taego
Day 3: Erangel → Miramar → Taego → Rondo → Erangel
To deliver a more compact and fast-paced match flow, PNC 2026 will be played with adjusted Blue Zone settings.
Shorter early Blue Zone phases: reduced duration for Phases 1 and 2
Shorter final Blue Zone phase: reduced duration for Phase 9
Removal of Land Ratio option: Land Ratio option has been disabled for Phases 4 and 8
Adjusted circle size: overall reduction in circle radius to match the shorter match length
These adjustments will apply to the PNC 2026 competitive environment and are expected to deliver an even more dynamic and exciting match flow.
PNC 2026 kicks off with a base prize pool of $500,000. 25% of the revenue from the PNC 2026 Event Pass, set to launch alongside the tournament, will be added to the total prize pool through crowdfunding, helping make PNC 2026 an even more rewarding stage for all participating teams.
The total prize pool will be distributed according to each team's final ranking, and both the prize money and sales revenue share will be distributed equally among each team's roster. Further details on the Event Pass, including release schedule and lineup, will be shared in a separate announcement.
* The Event Pass is not available on Console.
** However, 25% of the individual sales revenue from items included in the Event Pass will be added to the crowdfunding total in the same manner.
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This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, sourced from official Steam community posts.
Major updates, balance changes, and seasonal events often correlate with player-count spikes — cross-reference announcements here with the live charts on the main PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS statistics page.
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