ALGS bans ImperialHal’s controller for Year 5 Championship

Crew Falcons participant Phillip ‘ImperialHal‘ Dosen has shared that his go-to controller has been banned forward of the Apex Legends World Collection (ALGS) 12 months 5 Championship.

ALGS organisers handed the choice a day earlier than the world championship occasion takes place in Japan, which the participant known as ‘a joke’.

In a post on social media, ImperialHal wrote: “My controller will get banned the day earlier than $2m event. Gotta be a joke absolutely.”

As of writing, there isn’t any public announcement from EA or Respawn Leisure surrounding the controller ban.

ImperialHal confirmed in a response online that the system in query belonged to ZD Gaming. He additionally shared that the primary level of concern was its wi-fi performance, which may be altered at any level by way of a cellular app, as showcased in a past livestream. Moreover, he added that the controller possessed different ‘macro stuff’ that can not be disabled.

The player went on to argue that different large tournaments, such because the Esports World Cup, allowed a number of gamers to make use of controllers with comparable capabilities. Moreover, ImperialHal additionally states that the ZD controller was allowed in previous ALGS occasions.

ImperialHal’s controller ban comes simply earlier than the ALGS Championship takes place in Sapporo, Japan, on January fifteenth, with $2m in prize pool funds on the road. Because of this, the Crew Falcons consultant may have restricted time to seek out an alternate.

The 2026 ALGS Championship is the ultimate cross-regional occasion that concludes 12 months 5 of Apex Legends esports. Headlined by Japanese rapper Reo ‘OZWorld‘ Okuma and the new anthem STIM UP within the opening ceremony, the event will run from January fifteenth to 18th, 2026.

The highest 40 certified groups from ALGS 12 months 5, together with Crew Falcons, Alliance, Shopify Rebel and extra, will play by way of a number of levels to safe a spot within the Finals and be topped this season’s champion.

Digital Arts has additionally shared different essential particulars forward of the ALGS Championship, together with map pool changes, unlockable in-game rewards by way of Twitch Drops, and extra.