In the competitive world of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, a single fan-made design can sometimes travel further than a perfect chicken dinner. That is exactly what happened in 2022, when KRAFTON's first Fan Art Contest: LAND invited players to turn their creative visions into something tangible. By the time voting ended, one artist stood above the rest: RoccoNro** from Steam. The community chose the design with 25.15% of total votes, a decisive share that transformed a fan submission into an official piece of PUBG history. From the vantage point of 2026, the LAND contest remains a memorable example of how community art can become in-game content.
The announcement was not just a winner reveal; it was a celebration of every participant who submitted work. The PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS team thanked all entrants, then revealed the grand final winner chosen by players around the globe. RoccoNro**'s submission earned praise for its beautiful design, and the prize was more than symbolic. The winning concept would be developed by KRAFTON's teams into an in-game shoe skin, originally scheduled for release in the first half of 2023. That timeline has long since passed by 2026, but the promise itself marked an important moment: a fan's imagination was set to appear on the feet of players in the actual game.
What does it take to turn a sketch into a permanent part of a battle royale? The LAND contest suggested that talent, community support, and a clear agreement between artist and publisher were all essential. The five finalists who reached the voting phase each received 50,000 G-COIN, delivered to their accounts by June 30 UTC. The final winner, meanwhile, was awarded 5,000 USD. That larger prize came with real-world responsibilities: the winner was responsible for taxes and charges, and the payment was to be delivered only after a contract was concluded with the final winner.
| Reward | Recipient | Amount | Key Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Winner | RoccoNro** (Steam) | 5,000 USD | Taxes and charges are the winner's responsibility; delivered after contract. |
| Five Finalists | Five artists | 50,000 G-COIN each | Delivered to account by June 30 UTC. |
The contest also came with a detailed set of terms and conditions. Participants were asked to check the email they used to enter, because KRAFTON might request additional information such as a PUBG nickname. Personal data, including email address, platform, and PUBG nickname, was collected for contest progression, winner selection, reward distribution, and prevention of unfair or illegal participation. That data was to be used for six months after the contest's conclusion, unless relevant laws and regulations required otherwise. The terms had been modified on May 23, and participants were urged to read the revised version carefully.
For the winner, more personal information could be collected, including name, contact details, bank account information, and a copy of ID. These were needed for reward distribution and for processing tax and public charges. All rights to the winning submission belonged to KRAFTON Inc. to the extent permitted by law, and the winner agreed not to raise objections. The company could use the awarded design for promotional purposes and could transform or reconstruct it while implementing in-game content. The winner also had to submit original files such as .PSD or .AI, which meant holding onto source files was not optional.
Could a winner lose the prize? Yes. The announcement listed several disqualification conditions. A winner could be disqualified if they did not consent to the terms and the collection and use of personal information; if their information was falsely entered or they could not be reached; if taxes and public charges were not deposited by the notified deadline; if they did not meet the age requirement for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS; if the actual prize recipient did not match the announced winner; if necessary documents were not submitted; or if the response about receiving the prize was unclear or the winner refused to accept it.
The company also reserved the right to cancel, change, or discontinue the contest without notice or participant consent if fraud or other circumstances affected fairness or integrity. That privilege applied regardless of whether the issue came from human or technical error. If no solution could restore the contest's integrity, the company could select a winner from eligible entries received before cancellation, modification, or suspension. It was a reminder that behind every cheerful winner announcement, there is a legal framework designed to protect both the community and the publisher.
By 2026, those rules may read like standard contest boilerplate, but they reveal how much work goes into converting fan art into a shippable item. The LAND contest was not simply a popularity poll. It was a pipeline: submission, voting, contract, tax processing, asset transformation, and eventual in-game release. The shoe skin was originally planned for the first half of 2023, and any schedule change was to be shared through a separate announcement. Even though release dates can shift, the core achievement remains: RoccoNro**'s design moved from a fan portfolio into the official PUBG ecosystem.
Why does this story still matter in 2026? Because community contests have become a bridge between players and developers. They give artists a chance to see their work inside a game they love, and they give players a reason to vote, debate, and celebrate together. The LAND contest showed that a single design could earn global attention, a cash prize, and a place in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. It also showed that the path from fan art to official skin is filled with contracts, deadlines, and legal details, not just applause.
For RoccoNro**, the victory was a defining moment. For the five finalists, the G-COIN reward was a meaningful recognition. For KRAFTON, the contest was a way to honor the creativity of its community. And for players in 2026, the LAND Fan Art Contest remains a reminder that battle royale is not only about survival; it is also about expression. The next fan art contest may already be on the horizon, but the LAND winner's shoe skin will always carry a special story: it was chosen by the community, built by the developers, and worn by players.