PUBG Mobile Team Rebrands After Offensive Names Spark Backlash Ahead of Esports World Cup

Organizers Remain Silent as the Community Questions How Fascist References Made It into One of the World’s Biggest Esports Tournaments

One of the teams entered into the upcoming PUBG Mobile Esports World Cup is facing global criticism after being listed under a name associated with fascist ideology, while one of its players used the name of a notorious dictator. These names were visible on official brackets and in-game before backlash erupted across social media and gaming forums.

Following pressure from the community, both the team and the player issued public apologies and rebranded shortly before the tournament began. According to their statements, the names were chosen out of “negligence” and a “lack of awareness” regarding their historical weight and offensive nature.

But How Did This Happen at All?

Let’s not pretend this is a one-off. This is a failure of systems at every level. In any major competitive space, especially one with millions of global viewers, there are vetting processes. Registration forms. Organizer reviews. Branding approvals. Yet somehow, names tied to real-world atrocities made it onto the official Esports World Cup stage.

That raises serious concerns about oversight. If the community hadn’t spoken up, would these names have remained visible during matches? Would they have been normalized through casual commentary and coverage?

For full event details, official brackets, and participating teams, visit the PUBG Mobile World Cup official page.

No, You Don’t Accidentally Call Yourself That

You don’t “accidentally” name yourself after a dictator responsible for millions of deaths. And you definitely don’t pair it with a team name rooted in fascist ideology by mistake. That’s not ignorance—that’s a choice.

It’s disgusting, and I won’t even repeat the names here. They don’t deserve the oxygen. If you’re reading this, you probably already know what they were. And if you don’t? Good. Let’s keep it that way.

What bothers me most isn’t just that it happened—it’s that the punishment was a name change and a public apology. That’s it. No suspension. No disqualification. Just a rebrand and a free ride to the Esports World Cup stage. If esports wants to be respected as a professional industry, this isn’t how you do it.

Let’s say this happened in the music world. An up-and-coming pop star pulls the same stunt—a name tied to fascism, followed by a vague apology—and the PR team spins it. What happens? They’d go viral overnight. Platinum in a second. Not because of the music, but because of the controversy. Because hype sells. And unfortunately, gaming isn’t immune to that kind of attention economy either.

And now I see fellow writers at big outlets, influencers, YouTubers—everyone—boosting this story like wildfire. Like it’s just another trending topic. Man, sorry. I’m not in. This isn’t content. This isn’t a launch trailer. This is a serious failure dressed up as a story. I won’t play hype man to a stunt built on hate.

This isn’t “cancel culture.” This is a failure to enforce consequences. And yes, the player should have been kicked out. Period. Because if this is allowed to slide, what message does that send to every young fan watching?

Esports deserves better. The fans deserve better. The industry deserves better. And most of all, the victims of the history you tried to meme deserve better.

And no, this isn’t about politics. I don’t care about that. I care about gaming, the community, and calling out the kind of behavior that doesn’t belong in this industry.

Let’s Do Better—Before the Stage Lights Come On

This is exactly why esports still struggles for mainstream legitimacy. For every step forward—like prize pools, arenas, and sponsorships—we get reminders that basic professionalism is still lagging. And until organizers take responsibility before things go viral, this industry will keep undermining its own credibility.

Let’s keep the gaming world free from fascism, hate symbols, and historical ignorance—because games should bring people together, not glorify the darkest parts of our past.

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