Publisher KRAFTON appears to have decided to go all-in, completely redesigning the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds roadmap for 2026—the eighth consecutive season promises to be both the most controversial and largest in the history of the discipline.
Table of Contents
PUBG Tournaments Switch to Third-Person View (TPP)
It must be said that the most exciting change will be the forced transition from first-person perspective (FPP) to third-person perspective (TPP) in the competitive scene. The developers, incidentally, explain this as a desire to make the game “more accessible and immersive” for casual players, but pros are already sounding the alarm. Frankly, the hardcore community believes that TPP is killing skill addiction, turning tactical shootouts into “fence-in-the-walls.”
KRAFTON itself cites the results of the PUBG Players Tour, where the format allegedly proved its viability. Furthermore, the company promises to increase financial support for organizations to sweeten the deal. Overall, we’re looking at a jam-packed calendar:
The 12 stages of the PUBG Global Series (PGS) are spread throughout the year.
-
The fan-favorite PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) will return in June 2026.
-
The final chord is the PUBG Global Championship (PGC) in December.
-
Prize Pool and Format of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh
While the Koreans are changing their game plan, Saudi Arabia is literally flooding the market with cash as part of its Vision 2030. The Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh is turning into a monster, with a total prize pool of over $70 million.
The scale of EWC 2026 (July 6th to August 23rd) is astounding – over 10 disciplines, including CS2, where 32 teams will compete for a share of 2 million. The winner, by the way, will take home a hefty 600,000. The qualifiers will take place in LAN arenas right in the desert, and the open qualifiers for 128 teams will feature heated battles with fans watching from around 100,000 participants. Pretty impressive, huh?
Obtaining Esports Visas for EWC Participants
Frankly speaking, attending a tournament of this magnitude is quite a challenge. Although the authorities have rolled out a 90-day e-visa system for ticket holders through the ksavisa.sa portal, in practice it’s more complicated. If you don’t have official confirmation from the federation, be prepared for delays.
Apparently, experience from previous years has taught the organizers: registration on saudivisa.com should be opened 2-3 months before departure. Athletes are offered equivalents to the P-1 or O-1 categories, while staff are better off applying for B-1. In fact, without a clear contract in hand, it’s easy to run into a backlog at the border.
The Impact of KRAFTON’s Reforms on Broadcast Viewership and Reach
The community’s reaction is essentially divided. While some are celebrating the stability and new prize pools, others are convinced that the transition to TPP will return the game to the Stone Age.
“It’s a backwards path; no one wants to watch a simulation of standing around a corner,” are the top comments right now.
It’s logical that KRAFTON is trying to merge the mobile and PC markets, but the price may be too high. In fact, 2026 will tell whether PUBG will become a mainstream show or lose its remaining loyal audience for the sake of reach. It’s all very clear: money talks, and Riyadh pays the most.
