ALGS Bans ImperialHal's Controller

Drama

15 January 2026 09:10

With the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Year 5 Championship kicking off today, one of the game's biggest stars is facing an unexpected hurdle. Phillip "ImperialHal" Dosen, the standout player for Team Falcons, revealed that his preferred controller has been banned from the tournament, hours before the event.

The news dropped on social media when ImperialHal posted: “My controller gets banned the day before $2m tournament. Gotta be a joke surely.”

He quickly followed up with more details, pointing to the ZD Ultimate controller from ZD Gaming as the device in question. The ban stems from its wireless features that can be adjusted on the fly through a mobile app, something he demonstrated in a previous livestream, and built-in macro functions that can't be turned off.

ImperialHal didn't hold back on his frustration, noting inconsistencies in how similar hardware has been handled. He argued that multiple players used controllers with comparable features during the Esports World Cup without any issues. Plus, he pointed out that the ZD controller had been fine in earlier ALGS events.

The timing could hardly be worse. The ALGS Championship, running from January 15 to 18 in Sapporo, Japan, features a massive $2 million prize pool and crowns the top teams from across regions to close out Year 5 of competitive Apex Legends. The event opened with flair, including a performance by Japanese rapper Reo "OZWorld" Okuma and the new anthem "STIM UP." ImperialHal has been a dominant force in Apex since breaking through in 2019. He won the ALGS Championship with TSM in 2023, grabbed second place at the Esports World Cup in 2024, and finished third at last year's ALGS finals.

After joining Team Falcons in 2024, he's been building toward another deep run, making this hardware change particularly tough.

The ZD Ultimate is marketed as a versatile option with tri-connectivity, super-low latency, swappable trigger switches, back paddles, programmable buttons, and even an RGB strip—all for around $99.99. But those customizable wireless and macro elements apparently crossed the line for ALGS officials, who enforce strict rules on peripherals to keep competition fair.

As of now, neither Electronic Arts nor Respawn Entertainment has released an official statement on the ban or any updated hardware guidelines. ImperialHal mentioned in replies that at least one other controller, the Mojiang, also got the boot.

Community reactions have been mixed. Some fans on forums like Reddit called the last-minute decision unprofessional, especially if the device was cleared before. Others supported the move, arguing that any potential for macros or mid-match tweaks shouldn't be allowed in high-stakes play.

More:Americas Cup Announced by Riot Games

Tags: ALGS Apex Legends

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