Hosted by KRAFTON, the PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) is a national-level tournament considered the most accessible format for esports newcomers, as it allows fans to intuitively cheer for their home countries even without deep knowledge of the game's rules. Returning to the Jangchung Arena, where the inaugural event was held in 2019, PNC 2026 will welcome fans from around the world to Seoul, South Korea, from the 23rd to the 28th.

The tournament is generating significant interest as it is played in third-person perspective. Since most players outside of Korea enjoy the game in third-person, the goal is to align the experience of professional players with that of the general user base, thereby increasing accessibility and viewer immersion. In an interview ahead of the event, Park Soo-young, Head of KRAFTON Esports, defined the identity of the esports scene that has sustained PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds for nine years as a 'dream,' and identified PNC 2026 as a key icon for expanding the PUBG IP to the general public.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is a long-running IP that has reached its 9th anniversary. Park explained that the stage serves as a place where the developer realizes the dream of growing their game into a global esports phenomenon, and where players realize their dream of thrilling a massive fanbase.

At the same time, it has become a channel for users to see their imagined gameplay brought to life. "Without PUBG Esports, the game's lifespan would have been shorter," Park explained. "The essential role of esports is to allow users to feel a sense of novelty by watching the plays of elite athletes, and through this, to continuously present a new vision for the game."

Now in its 9th year, PUBG Esports is focusing on 'maintenance and refinement' rather than 'major changes' as it approaches its 10th anniversary next year. The strategy is to create an environment where users can participate directly and watch easily, while elevating the PUBG IP into a global cultural icon.

Among this year's changes, the expansion of PGS matches is already creating positive narratives in global markets like China and Thailand. Furthermore, while AI technology—a hot topic recently—is still in the research phase and not being practically applied to this tournament, the team is conducting research to enhance observing and highlight reels using tools like AWS (Amazon Web Services), with plans to actively utilize these features as early as the end of this year or next year.

Collaboration and marketing with domestic and international platforms are also being diversified. Through a partnership with Naver's 'CHZZK', the company is producing exclusive content and broadcasting scrims. At the PNC venue, a CHZZK booth will be operated, and collaborative commentary will feature figures such as soccer player Lee Seung-woo and streamer Kim Blue. The PUBG Seongsu F&B event in collaboration with Chef Choi Hyun-seok, road trip content touring across Seoul, and the 'PUBG Esports Hall of Fame' and global partnership items to be built in-game in the second half of the year are all part of a clear strategy to attract casual users who do not typically watch esports.

The transition of the esports rules from first-person to third-person this year was a difficult decision made with the future in mind. However, contrary to concerns, it is currently yielding positive results in terms of metrics, and the reaction from stakeholders has been favorable. Regarding criticism that the weight of regional tournaments has relatively weakened, he promised to better balance them with the PGS next year.

His philosophy regarding the ecosystem for players after retirement was also firm. "We encourage professional players to become streamers themselves, and we are continuing to blur the lines between players and streamers," Park said. "Even if they stop professional activities due to a decline in performance, our policy is to continue collaborating within the ecosystem, and we plan to promote more event-style tournaments featuring both players and streamers next year."

Park, who values the production of content with lasting impact and motivating dormant users to return more than the strict metric of live viewership, identified 'mass appeal' as the differentiator for PNC 2026. Unlike other tournaments that serve as a narrative process leading to the PGC, PNC targets even those unfamiliar with the game through the intuitive framework of a national-team competition.

The reason for selecting Jangchung Arena again as the host for PNC 2026 also carries symbolic significance in commemorating the event ahead of its 10th anniversary. He also revealed that they are considering hosting future tournaments in other countries.

"This year at Jangchung Arena, the player seats and fan zone are configured in the same space, offering a variety of attractions such as music, performances, and DJing," said Park Soo-young, Head of KRAFTON Esports. "We also plan to start live broadcasts earlier for fans who cannot make it to the venue. Moving forward, we will make PNC an iconic tournament that can spread the PUBG IP to the masses."