KRAFTON (CEO Kim Chang-han) will host the 'PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) 2026 in Seoul,' an international esports tournament for 'PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS,' starting on the 23rd. Supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the event will feature 120 players from 24 countries.

PNC is a national-level PUBG esports tournament where top players from each country compete for the championship. It has established itself as the flagship event of PUBG esports, fueled by the intense support generated by national rivalries. The Survival Stage will take place at PUBG Seongsu from the 23rd to the 24th of this month, followed by the Grand Finals at Jangchung Arena from the 26th to the 28th.

The tournament has already drawn significant interest, with tickets for the first day of the Grand Finals selling out within 10 minutes of going on sale at 9 p.m. on the 5th. Approximately 5k spectators are expected to attend the three-day Grand Finals. This enthusiasm reflects the global popularity of PUBG esports; the 'PUBG Global Series (PGS) Circuit 2' recently set a new record with a peak concurrent viewership of over 880k across three series. Total watch time also reached 7106564 hours, a 20% increase compared to the previous tournament.

A variety of entertainment will be available throughout the event. The Grand Finals venue will feature a 'Fan Zone' with interactive programs, including live talk shows with popular influencers and fan meet-and-greets. On the 26th, the group 'ALLDAY PROJECT' will perform during the halftime show. Additionally, a user engagement event will be held at PUBG Seongsu from the 12nd to the 14th, ahead of the tournament.

Celebrating its 9th anniversary this year, PUBG continues to show steady growth, with peak concurrent users exceeding 1.3 million in March of this year, just as it did in March of last year. KRAFTON plans to continue enhancing the competitiveness of PUBG as an IP with a long product life cycle (PLC), while expanding its reach beyond gaming into broader cultural spheres and increasing user touchpoints.

More details can be found on the official website.