Hello players! It’s me, your friendly neighborhood loot goblin, still dropping into PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS in 2026 and still side-eyeing every player who headshots me through three buildings. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Did you really come here to read about a ban list from December 2023?” Yes. Because the war on cheaters never ends, and the anti-cheat team’s weekly purge is a beautiful, terrifying thing. The specific investigation period I’m looking at is 2023/12/18~2023/12/24, which in 2026 feels like ancient history, but the lessons? Timeless. Also, I’m a sucker for a good public shaming list. 🔨

The original announcement was simple: share the banned players list for the past week to raise awareness about the abuse of illegal software and the consequences of misconduct. And honestly? I respect it. Nothing says “we care about fair play” like a digital wall of shame where the first three letters of each nickname are replaced with . So if your name was “xX_SniperGod_Xx,” you might show up as “**_SniperGod_Xx.” Ouch. That’s not just a ban; that’s a personality crisis. 😅

Now, let’s be clear: the full list attached to that page showed the in-game nicknames of permanently banned accounts, with the first three letters of each nickname replaced by *. Why mask them? Probably to avoid turning cheaters into martyrs, or maybe to protect the innocent players who just happened to share a name with a hacker. Either way, it’s a nice touch. It’s like a spoiler warning for bad behavior.

But what actually gets you on that list? Let me put on my detective hat. 🕵️ The announcement mentions abuse of illegal software and misconduct. In PUBG terms, that’s a fancy way of saying: aimbots, wallhacks, speed hacks, recoil macros, teaming in solos, and whatever dark magic lets someone drive a Dacia through a building and still hit a 360 no-scope. I’ve seen things, okay? I’ve been killed by a player who was clearly using illegal software that I can only describe as “the force.” And I’m not talking about a Jedi. I’m talking about a guy named ***_Yoda who was shooting me from across the map with a pistol. 🚫

Misconduct is the other category. That’s the catch-all for team killing, griefing, racist or abusive chat, and generally being the kind of person who ruins the vibe. You know the type: the one who screams into their mic because you took “their” loot, even though you landed first and they were still parachuting. Yeah, that person. They might not be using illegal software, but they’re still a problem. And PUBG’s anti-cheat team has no patience for either.

So what does the anti-cheat team want you to do? First, report illegal software and misconduct through in-game reports. That’s the fastest way. Don’t send a carrier pigeon. Don’t post a rant on social media. Don’t DM me—I’m busy looting. Use the in-game report button. If you need additional assistance, contact PUBG Support. That’s the official path. It’s like calling the police instead of yelling at the guy who cut you off in traffic. One works. The other just raises your blood pressure.

Second, protect your own account. The announcement specifically says: to ensure that your valuable account is not abused or banned for using illegal software/misconduct, please make sure you sign up for Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator. This is huge. Because here’s a fun fact: some players get banned not because they cheated, but because their account got hijacked by someone who did. And guess what? The ban hammer doesn’t care about your sob story. It just swings. 🔨

How do you set up Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator? I’m glad you asked. It’s not complicated, but it does require a phone. Here’s the gist:

1. Install the Steam mobile app on your phone.

2. Log into your Steam account.

3. Open the Steam Guard section in the app.

4. Follow the prompts to add the authenticator.

5. Write down your backup code and store it somewhere safe. Seriously. Do it. 📝

Once that’s done, your account is much harder to steal. No more “my little brother used my account” excuses. No more “I clicked a suspicious link for free G-Coins.” Just you, your phone, and a lot of paranoia. That’s the PUBG way.

Now, let me address the elephant in the room: why should we care about a ban list from 2023 when it’s 2026? Because the fight is ongoing. The anti-cheat team is still publishing ban lists, still tweaking detection, still asking for your reports. The game has evolved, but the cheaters are like cockroaches—they find a way. The only difference is that now they’re using even more sophisticated illegal software, and we’re all a little more tired. But the principle remains: fair gaming is not a luxury. It’s the baseline.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for my fellow survivors:

Situation	Your move
You see a player flying through the air with a shotgun	Report in-game. Don’t spectate and cry. 😭
You get a suspicious headshot through smoke	Report. Then take a deep breath.
Someone team-kills you for your loot	Report. Also, don’t trust that guy.
Your account gets hacked	You should have set up Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator.
You’re tempted to try illegal software	Don’t. The ban list is forever.

And yes, I know the ban list only shows masked nicknames, but that’s enough. It’s a warning shot. It says: we see you. We’re watching. And we have a very big hammer. 🍗

The original announcement ended with a lovely note: “We highly value your interest and opinions that contribute to PUBG’s anti-cheat efforts. We will do our best to provide a fair gaming environment.” That’s not just corporate fluff. Reports actually matter. The more data the anti-cheat team gets, the better they can identify patterns, ban waves, and the next generation of cheaters. So keep reporting. Keep using Steam Guard. Keep being the kind of player who doesn’t ruin the game for everyone else.

So, here’s my final thought: if you’re a cheater, enjoy your permanent ban. The list is waiting. If you’re a legit player, thank you. You’re the reason I still drop into Erangel. And if you’re on the fence about setting up Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, just do it. Your future self will thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a chicken dinner to earn—and a suspicious player named ***_Toaster to report. 🐔

Thank you. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Anti-Cheat Team, I appreciate you. Keep swinging that hammer.