Himass and TanVuu break down on live TV: 'We will not return to PUBG even if unbanned'

Two Vietnamese professional PUBG players, Himass and TanVuu, appeared in a tearful interview on VTVcab, revealing the stories behind KRAFTON's global competition ban. Both declared they will not return to professional PUBG even if unbanned, marking a significant turning point in their careers and raising questions about the publisher's handling process. The incident originated from PUBG Asia Stars 2026, where both Himass (competing for Anyone's Legend - AL) and TanVuu (competing for The Expendables - TE) were found to have violated rules and received severe penalties. According to the interview, immediately after the incident occurred, AL instructed Himass not to speak or intervene on his own, letting the organization handle it. However, both AL and TE submitted appeals to KRAFTON with the intention of protecting their players, but received no positive response from the publisher. As a result, The Expendables decided to disband its entire PUBG roster, ending the organization's operations in this title. Meanwhile, AL maintained operations but lost a key player. Both players revealed they had their own plans: Himass planned to compete with Taikonn until the end of the year before considering retirement, while TanVuu wanted to continue competing for about two more years to enjoy his remaining time with esports. These plans have now evaporated. Notably, both players firmly stated they will not return to professional PUBG even if unbanned. Himass shared his plan to switch to driving Grab for a living, while TanVuu plans to transition into business and online selling. These are survival-oriented transitions, reflecting the harsh reality of being an esports professional in Vietnam – where career spans are short and post-retirement support systems are virtually nonexistent. The Vietnamese gaming community has shown strong support with over 4.1 million signatures in a petition demanding justice for the two players. The Korean Game Users Association has also asked the PUBG PC publisher to explain the handling process of the ASIA STAR incident. However, to date, KRAFTON has not provided any official response to the appeals from the two organizations. Both Himass and TanVuu expressed gratitude to PewPew – a prominent figure in the Vietnamese gaming community – and all fans who have accompanied and supported them throughout this time. This incident is not just a story of two players but serves as a wake-up call about transparency in violation handling processes by major game publishers, as well as the fragility of esports careers in Southeast Asia.