Hello players,
We're the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Anti-Cheat Team.

Before we begin, we would like to sincerely thank our console players for your continued support of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and for sharing your valuable feedback to help create a fair gaming environment.

In this Dev Letter, we will look back at our console anti-cheat efforts this year and share our plans for the future. Read on to learn about the steps we have taken to combat cheating and protect players who play fairly.

Looking Back at Our 2026 Console Anti-Cheat Efforts

This year, we expanded and refined both the types of cheating we detect and the ways we respond on consoles.

• The overall number of bans increased by 44.6% compared to last year, and we significantly expanded the range of cheating we can address.

• While last year we focused on bans for teamkilling and the use of unauthorized input devices (such as keyboards and mice), this year we further strengthened the detection of unauthorized input devices while expanding our response to additional types of cheating, including stat abuse, network latency abuse (lag switches), and single-fire assist tools.

[2025 vs 2026: Total Number of Banned Accounts on Consoles]

[2025 vs 2026: Number of Banned Accounts by Cheat Type on Consoles]

Key Actions Taken This Year

1. Stronger Detection and Bans for the Use of Unauthorized Input Devices

As shared in our previous Dev Letters ([Dev Letter] Anti-Cheat Action Plan Based on Community Feedback, [Dev Letter] Anti-Cheat System Improvements), we have continued to strengthen our system for detecting the use of unauthorized input devices, such as keyboards and mice, on consoles.

In particular, since June 29, we have been imposing stricter penalties, up to and including permanent bans, on players confirmed to have used unauthorized input devices. We have also retroactively applied penalties for device use that occurred before the system was strengthened.

2. Bringing the Stat (KDA) Abuse Detection System to Consoles

To address stat abuse, in which players intentionally allow themselves to be killed to inflate another player's stats, we expanded our previously PC-only detection system to consoles last December.

Previously, we manually reviewed reports to determine whether stat abuse had occurred. To strengthen our response, we developed data-driven detection logic. We refined and implemented detection criteria that account for the characteristics of the console environment and address abuse involving the alternating use of multiple accounts.

We subsequently identified patterns in which players engaging in stat abuse landed far apart from one another or frequently switched accounts to evade our strengthened, data-driven enforcement. In October this year, we improved the model to identify stat abuse involving these patterns as well.

3. Beginning Bans for Network Latency Abuse (Lag Switches)

Intentionally causing network latency to gain an unfair advantage in combat seriously undermines fair competition. As announced in a previous Dev Letter, we decided to apply permanent bans for this behavior. After refining our detection and assessment criteria, we began issuing bans in September this year. We will continue to expand our detection coverage.

4. Addressing Single-Fire Assist Tools

We identified players using unauthorized tools that enable firing at a rate physically impossible for a human. We analyzed internal data to identify players engaging in this behavior and will begin issuing bans in October this year. Using these tools is a clear violation of our Rules of Conduct, so we ask that you stop using them immediately to help maintain a fair gaming environment.

Our Plans Going Forward

Combating cheating is a constant battle against attempts to evade detection.

Since we strengthened our response to unauthorized input devices, we have identified various attempts to bypass detection, including efforts to make keyboard inputs mimic a controller's analog inputs and the use of key mapping features (input conversion and remapping functions provided by unauthorized input devices or programs).

We are detecting these attempts, but we know we cannot afford to become complacent. The Anti-Cheat Team will therefore continue to strengthen our console anti-cheat efforts in two key areas.

• More Advanced Input Analysis: We will continue to improve our detection models to identify abnormal input patterns.

• Stronger Detection of Unauthorized Assist Devices: We will also improve detection technology for unauthorized devices, including converters (input device adapters), so we can respond quickly to new attempts to bypass detection.

Developer Commentary On consoles, players' trust that everyone is competing on equal terms is especially important. We believe the Anti-Cheat Team's responsibility goes beyond detecting cheating and issuing bans. Protecting players who play fairly from being unfairly harmed is also a responsibility we must uphold.

In particular, combating cheating requires us to continually refine our detection criteria as new types of cheating emerge and recheck the results after those criteria are applied. We believe that strong action and accurate verification together will bring us closer to a fairer environment where players can truly feel the difference.

We will continue to listen to your reports and feedback and do our best to create an environment where skill and judgment alone determine the outcome.

Thank you!

We'll see you in the next Dev Letter.

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Anti-Cheat Team