The Apex Legends Global Series 2026 Championship is set to take place tomorrow in Sapporo, Japan. Today, one of the game’s most prolific pro players, ImperialHal, revealed that his first-choice controller was banned and won’t be usable in the event. For a pro player, that’s one of the most critical changes to make at the last minute.
ImperialHal, who flies the Team Falcons banner, posted on social media that it has ‘got to be a joke, surely.’
ImperialHal’s ZD Ultimate Controller is Banned
The ALGS regulators have decided to ban ImperialHal’s chief controller, the ZD Ultimate, just one day before the ALGS Championship tournament takes place in Japan.
The ZD Ultimate is a lesser-known controller that boasts stacks of bonus features, including tri-connectivity, ultra-low latency, trigger switches, back paddles, extra buttons, and an RGB light strip. It currently costs $99.99 from the manufacturer.
In a post on social media, ImperialHal explained why it’s banned:
Because it has wireless capabilities that can be changed at any point via mobile and macro stuff that can’t be disabled.
He also pointed out that during the Esports World Cup, ‘multiple players’ used controllers with similar functions, and they weren’t banned.
ImperialHal has been competing in the Apex Legends space since 2019, making a name for himself while flying the TSM flag, but in 2024, he picked up a spot on Team Falcons’ developing roster. In 2023, he secured the top spot at the ALGS Championship, and a year later, hit a second-place finish at the Esports World Cup.
Last year produced a third-place finish at the ALGS Championship, so this is something of a redemption opportunity for the 26-year-old esports pro.
Do you think it’s right that the organizers banned ImperialHal’s controller so close to the start of the tournament? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming esports, check out apEX’s declaration about the CS2 transfer market
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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