KRAFTON has announced a comprehensive redesign of its regional competitive structure for the 2026 PUBG Esports season, introducing a new hybrid model for the EMEA and Americas regions. Starting on 2 March 2026, the PUBG EMEA Championship (PEC) and PUBG Americas Series (PAS) will transition to a format designed to lower entry barriers for grassroots players while maintaining a performance-based pathway to global events.

Central to this refresh is the controversial move to a mandatory Third-Person Perspective (TPP) for all professional play, a decision the publisher states is aimed at aligning the pro scene with the experience of the game’s broader casual player base.

The new regional structure is divided into three distinct phases: Scrims and Cups, Playoffs, and Finals. Scrims will serve as the starting point each Monday, allowing any organised team to qualify for weekend Cups. The most consistent performers will then advance to the Playoffs, where they will face the region’s elite invited organisations for a spot in the three-day Finals.

Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW) will return in 2026 with a bigger and bolder edition, taking place across 18–21 June in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne. The schedule and details about ticket sales are available in this link.

To execute this transition in the EMEA region, KRAFTON has partnered with Stockholm-based Clutch Group as the official operator and broadcast partner. The agency, which also manages Geoguessr‘s competitive circuit, will take on an expanded mandate that includes league operations, marketing, and content creation. The 2026 season will feature a significantly denser schedule, with every PEC and PAS tournament fully broadcast from start to finish, barring the initial days of weekly scrimmages.

Regarding the agency’s role in this new era, Clutch Group stated on X:

“We will once again work hard to elevate the freshly reformed PUBG Esports scene to even greater heights than before while also taking on a bigger role in marketing and content creation. Managing such a grand title all year is a significant responsibility which we are excited and proud to take on.”

This regional refresh serves as a feeder system for an expanded global calendar. KRAFTON has confirmed 12 PGS (PUBG Global Series) events for 2026—a record high for the franchise—alongside the return of the PUBG Nations Cup in June and the PUBG Global Championship (PGC) in December. The system is anchored by 12 Global Partner Teams, including Natus Vincere (NAVI), FaZe Clan, and Twisted Minds, who receive direct financial backing and guaranteed slots in the global circuits.

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