The battle against cheaters in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS never stops, and the latest weekly ban report makes that crystal clear. Krafton has released the list of players permanently banned for violating the game’s rules of conduct between July 13 and July 19, 2026. The transparency around these actions is part of a broader strategy to deter abuse of illegal software and maintain a level playing field for the millions of honest players who drop into the battlegrounds every day.
For this specific wave, the anti-cheat team focused on accounts detected using aimbots, wallhacks, and other unauthorized third-party programs that ruin the experience for others. While the exact number of bans was not disclosed in the public notice, the developer made it clear that punishments are handed out swiftly and without leniency. Every permanently banned account loses all progression, purchased items, and cosmetics—a harsh reminder that cheating carries real consequences.
The published list displays the in-game nicknames of sanctioned accounts with the first three letters masked by asterisks, protecting some privacy while still exposing offenders to the community. This format has become standard for PUBG’s weekly accountability reports, which serve both as a warning and a reassurance to legitimate competitors. A visual representation of the anti-cheat initiative accompanied the announcement, showing the game’s security branding and a reminder that fair play is a core value.
Krafton’s anti-cheat squad continues to evolve its detection methods. Over the past year, machine learning and behavioral analysis have been layered on top of the traditional signature-based scanning. These systems now flag suspicious patterns in real time, often catching cheaters before they even fire a shot. The result is a cleaner competitive ecosystem, especially in ranked modes where the stakes are highest. Reports from the community also feed into this loop—players are urged to use the in-game report tool immediately when they encounter suspect behavior, as each report contributes to faster investigation and enforcement.
Account security remains a central piece of the puzzle. Many banned accounts are hijacked by third parties who load cheats onto them, leading to an innocent player losing access. To combat this, Krafton strongly recommends activating the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator. This simple, two-factor authentication step dramatically reduces the risk of account theft and ensures that players don’t face bans due to someone else’s misconduct. Setting up the authenticator requires linking a phone number to the Steam account via the Steam Mobile App, which provides a unique code whenever a new device tries to log in. It’s a few minutes of setup that can save months of progress.
Beyond the weekly ban lists, PUBG’s anti-cheat team has been hosting regular community check-ins and developer diaries, discussing the technical challenges of staying ahead of cheat developers. The arms race is relentless: as soon as one exploit is patched, another may surface. However, the company’s commitment appears stronger than ever. Internal data suggests that the prevalence of obvious cheating has dropped in several key regions, with North America and Europe seeing smoother matchmaking and fewer suspicious encounters compared to the same period in 2025.
The weekly list is not just a deterrent—it’s also a way to remind players that reporting works. When a player files an in-game report, it gets reviewed by both automated systems and, in ambiguous cases, human moderators. If the evidence supports a violation, the offending account is penalized, often ending up in the very list that goes public. Players who need extra help can always reach out to PUBG Support through official channels if they believe a cheater wasn't dealt with appropriately.
Krafton continues to emphasize that the war on cheating is a shared responsibility. Developers provide the tools and enforcement, but the eyes and ears of the community are irreplaceable. Every match where a player chooses to report rather than ignore a suspected cheater contributes to a healthier game. The company also reminds users to never share account credentials and to avoid third-party services that promise rank boosting or exclusive in-game goods, as these often involve cheating software and lead directly to a ban.
Looking ahead, the PUBG Anti-Cheat Team has promised further innovations that will blur the line between client-side and server-side detections, making it even harder for hacks to function undetected. While no online game can claim to be 100% free of cheaters, the steady stream of weekly ban lists shows that progress is tangible. For the average player, the message is clear: play fair, secure your account, and know that the system is working around the clock to preserve the integrity of every chicken dinner.