PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS says it has banned 10,237 PC accounts after confirming that they evaded bans by changing their hardware identifiers. The anti-cheat team is also considering tougher penalties for players who deliberately team up with cheaters to gain an unfair advantage.
In its letter of November 5, 2026, the team describes how it detects hardware identifier changes and monitors the sale and promotion of cheat software. Penalties for qualifying premade teams already exist; stronger sanctions remain under consideration.
How PUBG detects hardware ban evasion
The 10,237 accounts were banned on PC after the team confirmed attempts to circumvent bans through changes to the HWID, a hardware identifier used to recognize a computer. The action targets accounts whose users tried to get around an existing ban by changing that identifier.
The developers say they established two complementary sets of detection criteria using identifying information that remains consistent despite attempts to change it. They have updated their identification logic 4 times since early October 2026.
The team says it validated both sets of criteria before applying them to avoid unnecessarily banning legitimate players. It does not provide an independent measure of the risk of error.
Reports target cheat sales and promotion
From January to September 2026, the team says it reported more than 280,000 pieces of content selling or promoting cheat software to platforms. It monitors external channels using a machine-learning-based detection system, then submits reports according to each platform’s procedures. The platforms review the requests they receive.
The figure represents content reported to platforms, not confirmed removals. It describes a separate part of the anti-cheat effort from the PC account bans: one concerns the distribution and promotion of software outside the game, while the other concerns confirmed attempts to evade bans.
Penalties for premade teams
Players who form a premade team with cheaters to gain an unfair advantage can already face penalties. The team is considering making those penalties more severe, but has not announced a new punishment or an implementation date.
For players who suspect someone of using cheat software, the team recommends using PUBG’s in-game reporting function. The letter published on Steam also covers these measures.
The announced PC bans address confirmed hardware identifier changes; the proposed change to team penalties remains a separate measure under consideration.
See also our PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS game page, our article on PUBG map rotation 44.1 from November 4 on PC and our article on the PGS 12 finals: eight PGC 2026 spots at stake from the 30th.
