PUBG Esports gains momentum with new partnership between BLAST and KRAFTON for 2025

PEC and PAS Tournaments return with a $50,000 prize per region and a new unprecedented third-person competition

The competitive scene of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS continues to grow, and now, with the strong support of BLAST, the scenario promises to reach new heights in 2025. KRAFTON, the developer and global publisher of PUBG, officially announced the renewal of the partnership with BLAST, responsible for some of the biggest esports events in the world, such as Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six.

This union ensures the return of two of the most important regional championships of PUBG Esports: the PUBG EMEA Championship (PEC) and the PUBG Americas Series (PAS), marking the third consecutive year of these competitions that have already become pillars in the scene.

In addition, KRAFTON revealed a great novelty: the PUBG Players Tour (PPT), a grassroots competition that will bring the third-person mode (TPP) back to the competitive scene, something that has not officially happened since the PGI 2018. The PPT will also be operated by BLAST in the EMEA and Americas regions, expanding the competitive possibilities for new players and community veterans.

"We are excited to partner with KRAFTON to elevate PUBG Esports in 2025. Working with one of the biggest titles in the world only reinforces our commitment to offer high-quality experiences to fans. We can't wait to showcase the best of European and American teams, and help grow this competitive ecosystem even further," commented Scott Appleton, senior esports manager at BLAST.

On the other hand, Atila Yesildag, Director of Esports for EMEA & Americas at KRAFTON, highlighted the importance of this alliance:

"We are very happy with the partnership with BLAST. We want 2025 to be a year full of excitement for PUBG Esports, building on the solid foundation of PEC and PAS, and now taking the community in new directions with the PPT."

📅 Important Dates:

• Open Qualifiers: Starting on March 3
• Playoffs (with official broadcast): March 14-16
• Last Chance Phase: March 22-23
• Grand Final: March 28-30

💰 Prize Pool:

• $50,000 per region (EMEA and Americas), totaling $100,000 in prizes
   

📺 Where to Watch:

• Official PUBG Esports YouTube and Twitch channels
   

In addition to all the action in 2025, KRAFTON and BLAST highlighted that the PUBG Esports scene continues to expand rapidly. In 2024, the PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) and PUBG Global Championship (PGC) tournaments set audience records, with 510,977 and 493,890 simultaneous viewers, respectively, numbers surpassed only by the legendary PUBG Global Invitational 2018.

🔑 Highlights of the 2025 championships:

• Continuity and strengthening of PEC and PAS as the basis of the global competitive scene
• Introduction of PPT focusing on TPP, expanding the competitive audience and bringing more diversity
• Full support from BLAST, known for its cutting-edge technology and high-quality broadcasts
• More opportunities for new talents to emerge, through a more accessible and dynamic competition
   

BLAST, which has already proven to be one of the most competent organizers in the market, promises to bring all its expertise in production, infrastructure, and fan engagement to further boost the competitive PUBG scene.

With the popularity of games like Marvel Rivals, Mecha Break, and the constant growth of the Chinese player base on Steam, PUBG remains relevant and now, with the return of tournaments and the addition of new formats, KRAFTON seems ready to continue dominating the competitive battle royale genre.

And you? Will you follow the matches of PEC, PAS, and PPT? Which team do you think will shine this year?