The PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) is an international esports tournament where players from 24 countries compete under their national flags. Unlike traditional team-based competitions, participants represent their nations rather than organisations. According to Esports Charts, the PUBG Nations Cup 2025 achieved a competition record with a peak simultaneous viewership of 815,631 during the 18th and final round.
Record breaking viewership
The 2025 edition of PNC was held at the Olympic Handball Stadium in Seoul. South Korea, hosting the event for the first time since its consecutive wins, entered the tournament as both the defending champion and the home team.
This peak viewership surpassed the 2018 PUBG Global Invitational record of 757,875 and the 2024 PNC figure of 510,997—an increase of over 300,000 from last year. Viewership steadily increased throughout the final day, with several rounds exceeding 600,000 concurrent viewers. Audience engagement remained high, particularly as Vietnam advanced in the standings.
Vietnam’s victory at PNC 2025
Vietnam, China, and Thailand had nearly equal points going into the last round. The ultimate standings could be affected by any action. China’s accuracy, Thailand’s aggressive plays, and Vietnam’s clever rotations all influenced the final result. Vietnam eventually won the championship.
Vietnam secured the final round by effectively positioning itself to eliminate both China and Thailand. The victory is anticipated to strengthen Vietnam’s esports landscape, potentially resulting in increased funding, sponsorships, and the development of regional PUBG initiatives.
PNC 2025 prize pool overview
The base prize pool of $500,000 increased to over $950,000 through sales of in-game commemorative items. The prize pool was immediately augmented with a share of the proceeds from these items. A substantial portion of the prize fund came from the sale of premium skins and emotes. Winnings from the event included a quarter of the sales of these products. The victorious team, Vietnam, took home more than $280,000—approximately $100,000 for each participant.
Global audience and language demographics
Vietnam recorded over 500,000 viewers, the highest among all participating countries. Korean-speaking viewers reached 146,508. English, Thai, and Russian-speaking audiences also showed strong engagement.
A diverse range of platforms recorded high viewership for the event, with YouTube peaking at 444,836. Twitch remained consistent in Western nations, while NimoTV reported significant numbers in China. TikTok Live grew rapidly, especially among younger viewers. Additionally, the event featured promotional partnerships with K-pop acts PLAVE and aespa, which helped expand audience engagement and attract viewers outside the core gaming community.
South Korea’s performance at PNC 2025
South Korea finished in eighth place despite entering the competition with hopes of securing a third consecutive title. Analysts cited overconfidence, standardised tactics, and a failure to adapt to contemporary gaming trends. Another factor was the added pressure of competing on home soil. Using outdated strategies, South Korea struggled to adjust to the evolving meta. High-risk tactics employed by teams such as Vietnam, China, and Thailand proved effective throughout the competition.
Broadcast and production
The event featured high production standards, including real-time data and multi-angle replays. Broadcasts were available in several languages, enhancing accessibility. Real-time chat, player cameras, and live polling allowed viewers to engage actively. Total hours viewed doubled from 3 million in 2024 to 6 million in 2025. All 18 rounds maintained steady viewership, with the final day experiencing particularly high levels of participation.
