ImperialHal Faces Controller Ban 12 Hours Before ALGS Championship

I can’t believe the Apex Legends Global Series 2026 Championship is tomorrow in Sapporo! But things just got really stressful for ImperialHal – he just announced that his preferred controller was unexpectedly banned, and he won’t be able to use it during the competition. That’s a huge deal for a pro player, especially with the championship starting so soon – it’s like having to change your tools right before a big game!

ImperialHal, playing for Team Falcons, expressed disbelief on social media, saying, “This has to be a joke!”

ImperialHal’s ZD Ultimate Controller is Banned

Just before the ALGS Championship in Japan, regulators have banned ImperialHal’s main controller, the ZD Ultimate.

The ZD Ultimate is a feature-packed controller that offers a lot for its price. It connects wirelessly in three different ways, has incredibly fast response times, and includes customizable trigger switches, back buttons, extra programmable buttons, and even an RGB light strip. You can buy it directly from the manufacturer for $99.99.

In a post on social media, ImperialHal explained why it’s banned:

This device connects wirelessly and its settings can be remotely adjusted through mobile devices and larger network systems, with no way to turn off these connections.

I was really struck by something he said about the Esports World Cup. He mentioned that a lot of players were actually using controllers that did basically the same thing, and nobody said anything about it – they weren’t considered illegal or banned. It just seems odd that it’s a problem now when it clearly happened before!

My controller gets banned the day before 2 million Dollar tournament 😂😂😂

Gotta be a joke surely

— Falcons ImperialHal (@ImperialHal) January 14, 2026

ImperialHal has been a prominent competitor in Apex Legends since 2019, first gaining recognition while playing for TSM. In 2024, he joined Team Falcons. He won the ALGS Championship in 2023 and followed that up with a second-place finish at the Esports World Cup in 2024.

After placing third at last year’s ALGS Championship, this tournament is a chance for the 26-year-old esports player to prove themselves and bounce back.

Written by

Grant Taylor-Hill

Senior Editor

Grant’s love of video games began in early childhood with the Amstrad CPC, even before he could walk well. He’s now a skilled gamer on many different platforms, and his passion for gaming continues to burn brightly.

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2026-01-14 17:18