TwogPedia - User contributions [en]

News/VALORANT Agent Miks: All Abilities, Release Date, and How to Play the New Controller

2026-05-21T06:37:33Z

Andura:

{{News
|seo_title=VALORANT Agent Miks: All Abilities, Release Date, and How to Play the New Controller
|seo_keywords=VALORANT
|image=Miks.jpg
|tags=VALORANT
|date=2026-03-16T08:55:13.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/valorant-miks-role-abilities
|article=News/VALORANT Agent Miks: All Abilities, Release Date, and How to Play the New Controller
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Valorant
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Miks is VALORANT's newest Controller, revealed at Masters Santiago on March 15, 2026, and arriving with patch 12.05 as the game's 29th playable Agent and 7th Controller, bringing the first healing ability ever given to the Controller role.
* His kit revolves around rhythm and momentum: dual-mode M-pulse grenades that toggle between Concuss and Healing, a kill-refreshing Combat Stim ability called Harmonize, familiar iPad smokes via Waveform, and a cone-shaped crowd control ultimate called Bassquake.

Every so often VALORANT adds an Agent whose kit genuinely changes how a role works. Miks looks like one of those additions.

Revealed at Masters Santiago on March 15, the Croatian Controller arrives in patch 12.05 as the first Agent in the game capable of healing allies, a mechanic that has been exclusive to Sentinels and Duelists until now. That alone makes him worth understanding before he hits ranked.

===== Who Is Miks? =====

He's the 29th playable Agent, internally listed as Agent 30 because the as-yet-unrevealed Agent 08 still holds a slot in the roster. His addition brings Controllers to seven, matching Initiators and Sentinels, while Duelists remain the largest group at eight.

Miks is designed around sound, rhythm, and momentum. Every ability ties into that theme, and his kit is built to reward teams that execute site takes with timing and coordination rather than brute force.

===== Miks Full Ability Breakdown =====

'''M-Pulse (Basic, 2 Charges)'''

This is where Miks immediately stands out. M-pulse is a throwable device that toggles between two modes using Alt Fire: Concuss or Healing. Throw it, it lands, and it emits sound waves applying whichever effect you've selected to players caught in the area.

Two charges, but opponents can destroy the device before or after activation. On attack, Concuss mode clears angles and softens defenders before your team swings. On defense or in post-plant chaos, flipping to Healing mode lets you stabilize teammates who've taken early damage. The flexibility in a single ability slot is unusual for a Controller.

'''Harmonize (Signature)'''

The heart of the kit. Target an ally and fire to apply Combat Stim to both you and that teammate, with the buff refreshing on each kill secured. Alt Fire stims only yourself, which matters in clutches or when no ally is in range.

Harmonize can't pass through walls but can be cast through smokes, which opens up coordinated plays where a duelist and Miks stim each other before an execute and sustain the buff through a chain of kills. That's genuinely powerful in the right hands.

'''Waveform (Signature Smoke, 2 Charges with Cooldown)'''

Familiar territory. Waveform is an iPad smoke, a map-targeted ability similar to Brimstone's Sky Smokes. Two charges, 16-second duration, with the smokes hollow inside like Omen's, allowing players to sit within them and peek edges. Standard Controller utility executed cleanly.

'''Bassquake (Ultimate)'''

A directional crowd control ultimate. Build up the charge, release Sonic Radiance forward in a cone, and anything caught inside gets knocked back, deafened, and slowed. Unlike circular ultimates, the cone shape rewards positioning and punishes opponents trying to hold tight angles or trade cleanly in confined spaces.

It fills similar space to Waylay's ultimate but the directionality makes it more about where you're standing than simply activating it.

===== Where Miks Fits Competitively =====

In duelist-heavy comps, Harmonize creates a feedback loop where your entry fragger and Miks sustain Combat Stim across multiple kills, turning a clean execute into a compounding advantage. M-pulse's Healing mode adds genuine sustain that Controllers have never had access to before.
In balanced compositions, the ability to switch M-pulse between Concuss and Healing without changing Agent picks gives teams an adaptable toolkit for both sides of the map.

'''More:'''[[News/G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges|G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges]]
}}

News/CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work

2026-03-13T13:26:37Z

Andura:

{{News
|seo_title=CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work
|seo_keywords=CS
|image=Valve.PNG
|tags=Counter Strike
|date=2026-03-13T13:20:56.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/reactrrr/status/2032084213336281466
|article=News/CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* CS2 skin artist React received a reported $35,000 payment from Valve for a Desert Eagle skin added to the Dead Hand Collection, a figure that sparked debate within the Counter-Strike community over creator compensation.
* React said he was happy with the outcome but pushed back against the framing, noting the payment represented six years of work and that the amount differs significantly from what other creators received under earlier royalty-based structures.

Six years. That's how long React spent working toward getting a skin into Counter-Strike. When it finally happened, the reported $35,000 payment was enough to generate a wave of reactions across the community, and not all of them were sympathetic.

React's Desert Eagle skin landed in the Dead Hand Collection, a genuine achievement in a workshop ecosystem where thousands of artists submit work that never gets selected. The payout discussion that followed says as much about how Valve's compensation model has shifted as it does about any single number.

===== What React Actually Said =====

The artist didn't come out swinging. That's worth noting. React's posts on X were measured, a little frustrated, and notably more nuanced than the discourse around them.
"Yes, but you forgot to clarify that I'm happy anyway and that I spent 6 years of my free time for this money. Many people just don't understand what it's like when many of your friends have different payouts than you do. But, again, I'm happy anyway."

When the conversation continued, he repeated himself with increasing exasperation: "I was mistaken, I didn't notice. I'll repeat it for the tenth time. I'm happy, but you, like many other people, don't even understand what 6 years of skips is. And as for the payment, knowing exactly how much I received compared to regular cases, you would probably sympathize."

Read both statements carefully and you get a picture of someone who isn't bitter but is genuinely tired of a conversation being stripped of context. He's not saying $35,000 is bad money. He's saying the comparison to what came before, and the reality of the time invested, isn't something a headline figure captures.

===== The Old Model vs the New One =====

Previously, [[Companies/Valve|Valve]] paid some CS skin creators through royalties tied to case key sales, giving them a percentage of revenue generated every time players opened cases containing their work. For skins that landed in heavily purchased cases, that model could yield substantially more than a flat fee, and over a longer period.

The shift to flat payments changes the risk and reward calculation entirely. A one-time payout offers certainty but removes the upside that comes with creating something the community obsesses over for years. Given that CS2 skins can trade for hundreds or thousands of dollars on the Community Market, and cases sell in enormous volumes, the gap between what Valve earns on a popular skin and what a creator receives under a flat fee model is significant.

React gestured at that gap without spelling it out. "Knowing exactly how much I received compared to regular cases, you would probably sympathize." That's a carefully worded statement from someone operating under an NDA.

===== A Community Split Down the Middle =====

The responses from other artists and community members illustrated exactly how divided the space is. One creator was unambiguous: "Everyone who says that $35k is a fair amount for a CS2 skin simply has no idea how much time and effort it takes to actually get into the game. Many professional artists spend years trying and still never make it."

On the other side, a different perspective: "It is so rare to get paid good money as someone who does graphic design and art, getting paid 35k for 2 art pieces is so rare."

Counter-Strike's skin economy generates billions in revenue, and measuring a creator's share against general graphic design rates rather than against what the work actually earns Valve is a different kind of comparison.

'''FAQ'''

'''How much did React get paid for a CS2 skin?'''

React reportedly received $35,000 for a Desert Eagle skin added to the Dead Hand Collection, though Valve has not officially confirmed the figure.

'''How does Valve pay CS2 skin creators?'''

Valve selects workshop submissions for inclusion in official collections and cases. Historically some creators received royalties tied to case key sales. More recent arrangements appear to involve flat payments, though Valve does not publicly detail its compensation structures.

'''Who is React in the CS2 community?'''

React is a skin artist whose Desert Eagle design was selected for the CS2 Dead Hand Collection after six years of workshop submissions.

'''More:'''[[News/Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions|Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions]]
}}

News/CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work

2026-03-13T13:25:16Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work |seo_keywords=CS |image=Valve.PNG |tags=Counter Strike |date=2026-03-13T13:20:56.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Twitter |url=https://x.com/reactrrr/status/2032084213336281466 |article=News/CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work }} |author=Andura |category=Drama |game=Counter Strike |content='''TL;DR'''..."

{{News
|seo_title=CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work
|seo_keywords=CS
|image=Valve.PNG
|tags=Counter Strike
|date=2026-03-13T13:20:56.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/reactrrr/status/2032084213336281466
|article=News/CS2 Skin Artist React Speaks Out Over Reported $35,000 Valve Payment After Six Years of Work
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* CS2 skin artist React received a reported $35,000 payment from Valve for a Desert Eagle skin added to the Dead Hand Collection, a figure that sparked debate within the Counter-Strike community over creator compensation.
* React said he was happy with the outcome but pushed back against the framing, noting the payment represented six years of work and that the amount differs significantly from what other creators received under earlier royalty-based structures.

Six years. That's how long React spent working toward getting a skin into Counter-Strike. When it finally happened, the reported $35,000 payment was enough to generate a wave of reactions across the community, and not all of them were sympathetic.

React's Desert Eagle skin landed in the Dead Hand Collection, a genuine achievement in a workshop ecosystem where thousands of artists submit work that never gets selected. The payout discussion that followed says as much about how Valve's compensation model has shifted as it does about any single number.

===== What React Actually Said =====

The artist didn't come out swinging. That's worth noting. React's posts on X were measured, a little frustrated, and notably more nuanced than the discourse around them.
"Yes, but you forgot to clarify that I'm happy anyway and that I spent 6 years of my free time for this money. Many people just don't understand what it's like when many of your friends have different payouts than you do. But, again, I'm happy anyway."

When the conversation continued, he repeated himself with increasing exasperation: "I was mistaken, I didn't notice. I'll repeat it for the tenth time. I'm happy, but you, like many other people, don't even understand what 6 years of skips is. And as for the payment, knowing exactly how much I received compared to regular cases, you would probably sympathize."

Read both statements carefully and you get a picture of someone who isn't bitter but is genuinely tired of a conversation being stripped of context. He's not saying $35,000 is bad money. He's saying the comparison to what came before, and the reality of the time invested, isn't something a headline figure captures.

===== The Old Model vs the New One =====

Previously, Valve paid some CS skin creators through royalties tied to case key sales, giving them a percentage of revenue generated every time players opened cases containing their work. For skins that landed in heavily purchased cases, that model could yield substantially more than a flat fee, and over a longer period.

The shift to flat payments changes the risk and reward calculation entirely. A one-time payout offers certainty but removes the upside that comes with creating something the community obsesses over for years. Given that CS2 skins can trade for hundreds or thousands of dollars on the Community Market, and cases sell in enormous volumes, the gap between what Valve earns on a popular skin and what a creator receives under a flat fee model is significant.

React gestured at that gap without spelling it out. "Knowing exactly how much I received compared to regular cases, you would probably sympathize." That's a carefully worded statement from someone operating under an NDA.

===== A Community Split Down the Middle =====

The responses from other artists and community members illustrated exactly how divided the space is. One creator was unambiguous: "Everyone who says that $35k is a fair amount for a CS2 skin simply has no idea how much time and effort it takes to actually get into the game. Many professional artists spend years trying and still never make it."

On the other side, a different perspective: "It is so rare to get paid good money as someone who does graphic design and art, getting paid 35k for 2 art pieces is so rare."

Counter-Strike's skin economy generates billions in revenue, and measuring a creator's share against general graphic design rates rather than against what the work actually earns Valve is a different kind of comparison.

'''FAQ'''

'''How much did React get paid for a CS2 skin?'''

React reportedly received $35,000 for a Desert Eagle skin added to the Dead Hand Collection, though Valve has not officially confirmed the figure.

'''How does Valve pay CS2 skin creators?'''

Valve selects workshop submissions for inclusion in official collections and cases. Historically some creators received royalties tied to case key sales. More recent arrangements appear to involve flat payments, though Valve does not publicly detail its compensation structures.

'''Who is React in the CS2 community?'''

React is a skin artist whose Desert Eagle design was selected for the CS2 Dead Hand Collection after six years of workshop submissions.

'''More:'''[[News/Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions|Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions]]
}}

News/G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges

2026-03-13T13:17:08Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges |seo_keywords=G2 Esports |image=G2.jpg |tags=G2 Esports |date=2026-03-13T13:12:44.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Hltv |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44072/g2-bids-farewell-to-malbsmd |article=News/G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges }} |author=Andura |category=Transfer Market |game=Counter Strike |content='''TL;DR..."

{{News
|seo_title=G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges
|seo_keywords=G2 Esports
|image=G2.jpg
|tags=G2 Esports
|date=2026-03-13T13:12:44.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Hltv
|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44072/g2-bids-farewell-to-malbsmd
|article=News/G2 Esports Bench malbsMd After Consecutive Group Stage Exits, NertZ Swap Rumor Emerges
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* G2 Esports have moved Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa to inactive status following back-to-back group stage eliminations at PGL Cluj-Napoca and EPL Season 23, with the team's current active roster down to four players.
* MalbsMd's rating has slid from 1.13 in 2024 to 1.02 in 2026, with a troubling 0.94 against top 10 opponents, a decline that coincides directly with taking on a heavier role following NiKo's departure from the team.

Two consecutive group stage exits will force any organisation's hand eventually. G2 have made their move, placing [[People/malbsMd|malbsMd]] on inactive status and attending BC.Game Masters with a four-man roster to trial whoever comes next.

It's a significant moment for a player who arrived at [[Companies/G2 Esports|G2 Esports]] with genuine star potential and delivered on it immediately.

===== The Numbers Tell a Clear Story =====

MalbsMd ranked 12th in the world at the end of 2024. That wasn't a fluke. His aggressive rifling style fit G2's system and the numbers backed up the eye test, a 1.13 rating across the year with the kind of high-impact performances that justified the hype around him.

Then NiKo left. And with NiKo gone, malbsMd had to carry more. More of the fragging burden, more of the pressure in crucial rounds, more of the expectation in big matches. That transition has been brutal in statistical terms.

A 1.05 rating across all of 2025. A further drop to 1.02 in 2026. And against top 10 opponents, the teams that matter most in the back half of a tournament, just 0.94. That last number is the one that hurts. You can tolerate a slight overall regression if a player still performs when the stakes are highest. A sub-1.00 rating against elite competition is a different problem entirely.

None of this means malbsMd is a bad player. It means he was potentially placed in a role that didn't suit him, on a team that lost its central figure and asked everyone else to compensate.
[link: G2 Esports CS2 roster history]

===== The NertZ Rumor and What It Would Mean =====

SPUNJ floated the most specific piece of transfer speculation on Talking Counter: a possible swap deal with Team Liquid where malbsMd heads to North America and NertZ comes to G2.
The logic is interesting on both sides. NertZ is an established Tier 1 rifler with significant LAN experience and a track record at the highest level. For G2, who clearly need an injection of consistent individual firepower, he'd represent a known commodity rather than a developmental bet.

For malbsMd, a move to Liquid and into the Americas VRS could represent a reset. Looser expectations, a different system, a chance to rebuild the aggressive form that made him one of the most exciting young players in the world before the weight of G2's ambitions landed on him.
Nothing is confirmed. SPUNJ presented it as a rumor, not a done deal. But the geographic logic around the VRS placement makes it more structurally coherent than most transfer speculation.

===== G2's Current Four-Man Roster =====

The active squad as it stands: huNter-, MATYS, HeavyGod, SunPayus, and sAw. A competitive four-man with enough Tier 1 pedigree to evaluate a new fifth properly at BC.Game Masters.
The choice to attend that event specifically rather than wait for a confirmed signing suggests G2 are moving quickly. After Cluj and EPL Season 23, they can't afford to stand still much longer.
[link: EPL Season 23 Finals results]

'''FAQ'''

'''Why did G2 bench malbsMd?'''

G2 moved malbsMd to inactive status following consecutive group stage exits at PGL Cluj-Napoca and EPL Season 23, with his individual ratings having declined from 1.13 in 2024 to 1.02 in 2026, including a 0.94 against top 10 opponents.

'''Who is rumored to replace malbsMd at G2?'''

SPUNJ reported on the Talking Counter podcast that a swap deal with Team Liquid involving Guy "NertZ" Iluz is being discussed, though neither G2 nor Liquid have confirmed the move.

'''What is G2's current CS2 roster?'''

The active roster is huNter-, MATYS, HeavyGod, SunPayus, and sAw. MalbsMd remains listed as inactive.

'''More:'''[[News/Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development|Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development]]
}}

News/Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head"

2026-03-13T13:08:16Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head" |seo_keywords=Blizzard |image=Activision-blizzard-16466297494x3.jpg |tags=Blizzard, Overwatch |date=2026-03-13T12:59:42.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Youtube |url=https://youtu.be/H9rF1CSSh-w |article=News/Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head" }} |author=Andura |category=More |content=''..."

{{News
|seo_title=Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head"
|seo_keywords=Blizzard
|image=Activision-blizzard-16466297494x3.jpg
|tags=Blizzard, Overwatch
|date=2026-03-13T12:59:42.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Youtube
|url=https://youtu.be/H9rF1CSSh-w
|article=News/Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head"
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* In a Lex Fridman Podcast interview, Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan revealed that a Blizzard CFO told him that if Overwatch missed specific revenue targets, the company would lay off 1,000 people and the responsibility would fall on Kaplan personally.
* Kaplan described the moment as the biggest "fuck you" of his career, with the exact revenue figures bleeped to honor his confidentiality agreement with Blizzard; the CFO in question, widely understood to be Dennis Durkin, no longer works at the company.

There's a particular kind of corporate pressure that doesn't show up in earnings calls or press releases. It lives in private meetings, in conversations between creatives and finance executives who speak entirely different languages, and in moments where someone tells you that the livelihoods of a thousand people are sitting on your shoulders personally.

Jeff Kaplan experienced one of those moments at Blizzard. He finally described it publicly on the Lex Fridman Podcast, and it's a remarkable window into exactly why one of gaming's most celebrated designers eventually walked away.

===== The Conversation That Changed Everything =====

Kaplan was called into a meeting with Blizzard's CFO and told Overwatch needed to hit a specific revenue figure. The exact number is bleeped in the interview out of respect for his confidentiality agreement, as is a recurring revenue target mentioned alongside it. The financial details are legally obscured. The emotional core of what was said is not.

If those numbers weren't reached, the CFO told Kaplan, 1,000 people would be laid off. And it would be on Kaplan's head.

Kaplan called it the biggest "fuck you" of his career. That's not a phrase he'd reach for lightly. This was someone who had co-created one of the most successful live-service games ever made, who had built a team and a culture and a product that by any reasonable measure had been an enormous commercial achievement.

The CFO involved, though unnamed by Kaplan, is widely understood to be Dennis Durkin, who served as CFO of Activision Blizzard during the period Kaplan references. Kaplan noted the executive is no longer at the company.

===== Why This Story Matters Beyond One Meeting =====

What Kaplan describes isn't unusual in large game studios, and that's precisely the problem. The tension between the people who build games and the executives who manage the financial performance of those games is structural, not accidental.

Live-service titles like Overwatch exist in a particular kind of purgatory. Creatively, they require long-term thinking, patient iteration, and the freedom to experiment. Financially, they generate recurring revenue expectations that turn every quarter into a pass-or-fail test. When those two frameworks collide in a single meeting, and someone attaches a headcount to the outcome, you've essentially told your lead creative that their artistic judgment is now a liability instrument.

Kaplan left [[Companies/Activision Blizzard|Activision Blizzard]] in April 2021. His departure was described at the time as a decision to step back from the gaming industry after 19 years at Blizzard.

===== Where Overwatch Is Now =====

Overwatch itself has been through its own turbulent years since Kaplan's departure. The game relaunched as Overwatch 2 in 2022, a move that came with significant controversy including the removal of the original game and a shift to a free-to-play model. It has since reverted to the Overwatch name and adopted a more narrative-driven direction. Blizzard has maintained publicly that the Overwatch 2 chapter wasn't a failure, though the rebranding back speaks for itself to many observers.

'''More:'''[[News/NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push|NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push]]
}}

News/Fortnite V-Bucks Are Getting More Expensive on March 19 as Epic Cites Rising Operating Costs

2026-03-13T12:57:47Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Fortnite V-Bucks Are Getting More Expensive on March 19 as Epic Cites Rising Operating Costs |seo_keywords=Fortnite |image=Epic_Games.PNG |tags=Fortnite, Epic Games |date=2026-03-13T12:52:36.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/epic-games-increases-fortnite-v-bucks-to-help-pay-the-bills |article=News/Fortnite V-Bucks Are Getting More Expensive on March 19 as Epic Cites Rising Operating Costs }} |author=And..."

{{News
|seo_title=Fortnite V-Bucks Are Getting More Expensive on March 19 as Epic Cites Rising Operating Costs
|seo_keywords=Fortnite
|image=Epic_Games.PNG
|tags=Fortnite, Epic Games
|date=2026-03-13T12:52:36.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/epic-games-increases-fortnite-v-bucks-to-help-pay-the-bills
|article=News/Fortnite V-Bucks Are Getting More Expensive on March 19 as Epic Cites Rising Operating Costs
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Fortnite
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Epic Games is reducing the amount of V-Bucks players receive across all four currency packs from March 19, 2026, the start of the next battle royale season, with the $8.99 pack dropping from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks and the $89.99 pack falling from 13,500 to 12,500.
* The Fortnite Crew monthly subscription will also drop from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks, bonus currency rewards are being removed from the main battle pass, though the pass itself is being reduced from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks.

Epic isn't raising the price of V-Bucks. The packs cost exactly the same in dollars. What's changing is how much currency you get for that money, which is, functionally, the same thing worded more gently.
From March 19, every V-Bucks pack in Fortnite delivers fewer V-Bucks than it does today. Epic's explanation, published in a blog post, is direct: the cost of running Fortnite has gone up significantly, and these changes help pay for that.

===== The New V-Bucks Pack Breakdown =====

Here's what changes on March 19:
The $8.99 pack drops from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks. The $22.99 pack goes from 2,800 to 2,400. The $36.99 pack shifts from 5,000 to 4,500. The $89.99 pack falls from 13,500 to 12,500.

Fortnite Crew subscribers, who pay a monthly fee for the membership, will now receive 800 V-Bucks per month instead of 1,000.

The percentage reduction across the board sits at roughly 7 to 20%, depending on which pack you buy. The $8.99 pack takes the steepest hit proportionally at 20%. For players who buy V-Bucks occasionally to grab a skin or two, this will be most visible at the checkout moment when the numbers simply don't stretch as far.

===== Battle Pass Changes: Give and Take =====

The main battle pass is getting a price cut from 1,000 V-Bucks to 800, which softens the blow for the most common purchase Fortnite players make each season. The three other game passes, OG, Lego, and Music, are each dropping 200 V-Bucks in price as well.

An optional season pass is also being introduced as a new purchase tier.

The catch is the removal of bonus V-Bucks rewards from the main battle pass. For players who buy the pass each season partly to recoup enough currency to fund the next one, that system is going away. It's a meaningful change for dedicated players who have been running a semi-self-funding loop through the pass rewards for years.

===== Why Now? The Operating Costs Argument =====

Epic's framing is honest, even if it's uncomfortable. Running a live-service game at Fortnite's scale, across platforms, with constant content updates, live events, and infrastructure demands, genuinely does cost a significant amount of money. Game companies don't always acknowledge that directly. Epic did here.

What makes the timing notable is the context. The V-Bucks adjustment arrives shortly after [[Companies/Epic Games|Epic Games]] resolved its long-running dispute with Google over Play Store commission fees, which were reduced from 30% to 20% following antitrust proceedings that began in 2020 and went to trial in 2023. Lower platform fees should theoretically improve Epic's margins on Android transactions.

Whether that Google settlement factors into the timing or the scale of the V-Bucks reduction is something only Epic's finance team knows for certain. What's clear is that Fortnite remains one of the highest-grossing games in the world, and adjustments to its core monetisation model affect tens of millions of active players immediately.

===== What This Means for Regular Players =====

If you play Fortnite casually and buy V-Bucks a couple of times a year, this probably stings mildly once and then you adjust. If you're a dedicated player who has been using battle pass V-Bucks rewards to subsidise future season passes, the removal of those bonuses is the bigger practical hit than any individual pack change.

'''More:'''[[News/Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops|Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops]]
}}

News/Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops

2026-03-12T08:56:01Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops |seo_keywords=Xbox |image=Xbox1.jpg |tags=Xbox |date=2026-03-12T08:52:58.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Xbox |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/project-helix-building-next-generation-of-xbox/ |article=News/Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops }} |author=Andura |category=More |content='''TL;..."

{{News
|seo_title=Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops
|seo_keywords=Xbox
|image=Xbox1.jpg
|tags=Xbox
|date=2026-03-12T08:52:58.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Xbox
|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/project-helix-building-next-generation-of-xbox/
|article=News/Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Microsoft announced at GDC that Xbox Mode is coming to Windows 11 devices in select markets in April 2026, delivering a full-screen Xbox interface switchable on desktops, laptops, and ROG Ally handheld devices, though no specific release date has been confirmed.
* The mode brings features from the ROG Ally Xbox handheld lineup to traditional PC hardware, continuing Microsoft's strategy of collapsing the distinction between console and PC gaming under a unified Xbox experience.

[[Companies/Microsoft|Microsoft]] has spent years telling people that Xbox is a platform, not just a box. Xbox Mode for Windows 11 is the clearest hardware-agnostic statement of that philosophy yet. Announced at GDC, the feature brings a full-screen Xbox console interface to Windows 11 desktops, laptops, and handheld devices, switchable on demand rather than replacing the standard Windows experience entirely.

No firm release date within April has been set.

===== What Xbox Mode Actually Does =====

The core idea is straightforward. Fire it up on your Windows 11 PC and you get an interface that looks and behaves like an Xbox, not a desktop with the Xbox app open somewhere in the corner. Toggle it off and you're back to Windows as normal.

It's an optional layer that lets gaming-focused users get the couch-friendly, controller-optimised Xbox experience on hardware they already own, without buying a dedicated console.

The feature also carries across functionality from the ROG Ally Xbox handheld devices, which have been running a version of this merged experience in handheld form for some time. Bringing those capabilities to full desktop and laptop hardware extends the reach considerably.

===== Why This Matters Right Now =====

Xbox is in transition. Phil Spencer's retirement and Asha Sharma stepping in as Microsoft Gaming CEO marked a genuine leadership shift, and the platform's direction under her has been framed around hardware re-commitment and the "proof over promise" approach covered when Project Helix was first announced.

Project Helix, the next-gen console still in development, is the hardware half of that story. Xbox Mode for Windows 11 is the software half. Together they point toward a future where the Xbox experience runs on whatever screen you're sitting in front of, your gaming PC, your laptop, your handheld, your next-gen console, all sharing the same interface layer.

Steam has been doing something adjacent to this with Steam Deck's Big Picture mode for years. Xbox Mode is Microsoft's answer at a much larger installed base scale. Windows 11 ships on hundreds of millions of devices. Even a modest adoption rate for Xbox Mode represents a meaningful expansion of the Xbox ecosystem without selling a single additional console.

'''More:'''[[News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games|Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games]]
}}

News/NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push

2026-03-12T08:49:56Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push |seo_keywords=NCsoft |image=Ncsoft1.png |tags=NCsoft |date=2026-03-12T08:45:18.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Pocket Gamer |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/ncsoft-acquires-70-of-justplay-in-205m-deal-to-expand-its-games-portfolio/ |article=News/NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push }} |author=A..."

{{News
|seo_title=NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push
|seo_keywords=NCsoft
|image=Ncsoft1.png
|tags=NCsoft
|date=2026-03-12T08:45:18.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Pocket Gamer
|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/ncsoft-acquires-70-of-justplay-in-205m-deal-to-expand-its-games-portfolio/
|article=News/NCsoft Acquires 70% Stake in Berlin Mobile Studio JustPlay for $202 Million in Casual Gaming Push
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Mergers and Acquisitions
|content====== TL;DR =====

* South Korean games giant NCsoft is acquiring a 70% stake in Berlin-based casual mobile developer JustPlay for $202 million, with the deal set to close April 30, 2026, as part of a deliberate pivot toward the casual mobile market.
* JustPlay, founded in 2020 by former AppLovin executives, operates over 40 casual mobile titles with 70% of revenue coming from North America, and is projecting 88% year-over-year revenue growth in 2026.

NCsoft built its reputation on sprawling PC MMORPGs. Lineage, Blade & Soul, Guild Wars. That's a very specific kind of gaming company with a very specific audience. So when the same firm starts spending hundreds of millions of dollars acquiring casual mobile studios across Berlin, Singapore, Vietnam, and Seoul in the space of a few months, you're watching a deliberate strategic reinvention in real time.

The latest move is a $202 million deal for a 70% stake in JustPlay, a Berlin-based mobile developer founded in 2020 by former AppLovin executives.

===== Why JustPlay Makes Sense =====

JustPlay isn't a speculative bet. The studio has over 40 casual mobile titles and generates 70% of its revenue from North America, which is the market every mobile publisher wants deeper penetration in. That geographic concentration is exactly what NCsoft, historically Korea-centric in its revenue base, needs.

The growth numbers are the headline. NCsoft co-CEO Byungmoo Park cited projections of 88% year-over-year revenue growth in 2026 when explaining the rationale: "JustPlay is demonstrating exceptional growth and strong potential, with revenue projected to increase 88% year-over-year in 2026. Through this acquisition, we will secure a core platform for our global mobile casual business and focus on building an ecosystem that maximises synergy with our mobile casual studios both in Korea and internationally."

NCsoft isn't buying JustPlay in isolation. It's buying a North American-facing distribution engine that can connect with the other casual studios it's been accumulating.

===== The Bigger Acquisition Pattern =====

This is the fourth casual mobile acquisition NCsoft has made in a compressed window. December 2025 brought a majority stake in Singapore publisher Indygo at $103.8 million. Before that, Lihuhu in Vietnam and Springcomes in Seoul. Now JustPlay in Berlin.

The geographic spread is deliberate. Singapore for Southeast Asian market access and publishing infrastructure. Vietnam for cost-efficient development capacity. Seoul to complement the Korean home base. Berlin for Western product expertise and North American revenue.

AppLovin alumni founding JustPlay is particularly relevant context here. AppLovin built one of the most effective mobile user acquisition and monetisation machines in the industry. That institutional knowledge doesn't vanish when executives leave to start something new.

===== What This Means for NCsoft's Identity =====

The PC MMORPG market is mature and increasingly competitive, and the company's attempts to expand into new genres haven't all landed cleanly. The casual mobile pivot is a recognition that sustainable growth requires addressable markets that dwarf what traditional MMORPGs can offer.

'''More:'''[[News/VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool|VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool]]
}}

File:Google.png

2026-03-12T08:44:14Z

Andura:

News/Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development

2026-03-12T08:40:46Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development |seo_keywords=Google |image=Google2332.jpg |tags=Google |date=2026-03-12T08:37:00.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Google |url=https://cloud.google.com/transform/a-new-era-of-gaming-how-the-next-generation-of-play-is-being-redefined-by-ai-agents |article=News/Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development }} |author=Andura |ca..."

{{News
|seo_title=Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development
|seo_keywords=Google
|image=Google2332.jpg
|tags=Google
|date=2026-03-12T08:37:00.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Google
|url=https://cloud.google.com/transform/a-new-era-of-gaming-how-the-next-generation-of-play-is-being-redefined-by-ai-agents
|article=News/Google Cloud's Living Games Platform Puts AI Agents at the Heart of Game Development
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Google unveiled the next phase of its Living Games concept at GDC Festival of Gaming, positioning its Cloud platform as a dedicated development engine powered by Gemini 3 Pro, Flash, Gemini Enterprise, and Vertex AI to handle repetitive tasks like testing and code generation.
* Atlas AI Studio launched a multi-agent system integrating with Unreal Engine and Unity that lets developers describe goals in plain language while AI assembles full production pipelines covering generation, texturing, optimisation, and engine integration.

The most honest thing said at [[Companies/Google|Google]]'s GDC announcement didn't come from Google. It came from Atlas founder Ben James, who put the current state of AI game tools plainly: "The games development industry has been stuck in a paradigm where AI means 'type a prompt, get an output'. That's useful for exploration, but it breaks down in production."

That single observation cuts through a lot of noise. Most AI tools in game development right now are good at generating a texture, roughing out a script, or spitballing level concepts. What they can't do is chain those operations together into something a professional studio can actually ship. Google's Living Games platform is trying to be the answer to that problem.

==== What Google Actually Announced ====

The platform brings together Gemini 3 Pro, Flash, Gemini Enterprise, and Vertex AI under a cloud framework Google is positioning as a purpose-built engine for game development rather than a general AI toolkit with gaming use cases bolted on.

The practical pitch is automation of the production pipeline's most repetitive layers: testing, code generation, asset workflows. The more ambitious pitch is AI creating what Google describes as "responsive, sentient environments" for players. That's marketing language, but the underlying concept of dynamically reactive game worlds built in real-time is genuinely where the industry is heading.

Google is also offering IP indemnification covering both training data and generative outputs, which matters enormously to studios still nervous about the legal exposure of AI-generated content.

===== The Part That Actually Changes Production =====

Atlas AI Studio's multi-agent system is the most technically interesting piece of the announcement. James described exactly why single-prompt AI tools fail in real pipelines: "Real pipelines chain dozens of operations together – generation, segmentation, optimisation, texturing, LODs. Our agents build those pipelines for you, based on how professional studios actually ship games."
Integration with both Unreal Engine and Unity means this isn't a separate tool developers have to work around. It plugs into where studios already live.

===== Who's Already Using It =====

10Six Games CEO Susan Cummings offered the clearest articulation of where AI fits for working developers: "AI is not a replacement for human creativity – we don't use it to write our games from the ground up. Instead, we taught Gemini how we write to help turn our creative visions into reality."
That framing will resonate with studios anxious about where this technology is going.

Sony using Google Cloud Spanner to rebuild its Entitlements service, the system confirming game ownership across its platform, is a quieter but significant signal that enterprise-scale infrastructure trust in Google Cloud is already established at the highest level.

Dreamlands, built by a team from Ubisoft, Unity, and Meta, represents the more experimental end: an AI world-creation platform built entirely on Google Cloud. That's the long-horizon bet on what Living Games could eventually mean.

'''More:'''[[News/Valve Reveals Deadlock|Valve Reveals Deadlock]]
}}

News/Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit, Calls Demands "Bad for Users"

2026-03-12T08:25:33Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit, Calls Demands "Bad for Users" |seo_keywords=Valve |image=Valve.PNG |tags=Valve |date=2026-03-12T08:18:06.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-responds-to-ny-attorney-general-lawsuit-we-have-serious-concerns-with-the-alterations-the-nyag-claims-are-necessary-to-make-to-our-games |article=News/Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit..."

{{News
|seo_title=Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit, Calls Demands "Bad for Users"
|seo_keywords=Valve
|image=Valve.PNG
|tags=Valve
|date=2026-03-12T08:18:06.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-responds-to-ny-attorney-general-lawsuit-we-have-serious-concerns-with-the-alterations-the-nyag-claims-are-necessary-to-make-to-our-games
|article=News/Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit, Calls Demands "Bad for Users"
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Valve has publicly responded to New York Attorney General Letitia James' February 26 lawsuit over CS2, Dota 2, and TF2 loot boxes, stating it doesn't believe mystery boxes violate New York gambling laws and that it was "disappointed" to face legal action after engaging with the NYAG since early 2023.
* Valve refused two specific NYAG demands: removing the ability for players to trade or sell items from mystery boxes, and implementing invasive age verification and VPN-detection technology that would have required collecting additional personal data from all users worldwide.

The New York Attorney General's loot box suit, filed February 26, accused Valve of making "billions of dollars luring its users, many of whom are teenagers or younger, to engage in gambling." Valve's response is equally pointed, and it takes direct aim not just at the legal argument but at specific demands the NYAG reportedly made during years of pre-lawsuit negotiations.

===== Valve's Core Defense: This Is Just Baseball Cards =====

The philosophical backbone of Valve's response draws a direct line between digital mystery boxes and physical collectibles that have existed for generations.

"We shared with the NYAG that these types of boxes in our games are widely used, not just in video games but in the tangible world as well, where generations have grown up opening baseball card packs and blind boxes and bags, and then trading and selling the items they receive," Valve wrote, specifically naming baseball cards, Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu as examples.

It's not a new argument, but it's the foundational one. If blind box mechanics are legal in the physical world at toy stores and trading card shops, the logic goes, then a digital version operating under the same principles should be treated consistently. The counter-argument from regulators has historically been that digital systems make the behaviour more accessible, more frequent, and more easily targeted at younger audiences.

The company also made a point that's the items inside are purely cosmetic, there's no gameplay advantage attached to any of it, and the majority of players never open boxes at all. "Players don't have to open mystery boxes to play Valve games. In fact, most of you don't open any boxes at all and just play the games - because the items in the boxes are purely cosmetic, there is no disadvantage to a player not spending money."

==== The Two Demands Valve Refused ====

The most revealing part of the statement is what Valve says the NYAG actually wanted from them before the lawsuit was filed. Two requests in particular were rejected outright.

===== Removing Item Transferability =====

The NYAG apparently proposed that items obtained from mystery boxes should not be tradeable or sellable. Valve pushed back hard.

"We think the transferability of a digital game item is good for consumers – it gives a user the ability to sell or trade an old or unwanted item for something else, in the same way an owner can sell or trade a tangible item like a Pokemon or baseball card. NYAG proposes to take away users' ability to transfer their digital items from Valve games. Transferability is a right we believe should not be taken away, and we refuse to do that."

Removing that would effectively destroy the entire CS2 cosmetics economy and eliminate much of the incentive to open cases at all. Valve framing transferability as a consumer right is savvy positioning, even if critics would argue the tradeable nature of skins is exactly what creates the bridge to third-party gambling sites.

===== Invasive Data Collection for Age Verification =====

The NYAG wanted Valve to implement technology to catch New York users anonymising their location via VPN, requiring collection of additional personal data from all Steam users worldwide.

"This would have involved implementing invasive technologies for every user worldwide," Valve stated. It also pushed back on enhanced age verification demands, noting that "most payment methods used by New York Steam users already have age verification built-in."

===== What Valve Has Already Done =====

The statement isn't purely defensive. Valve spends considerable space documenting its existing anti-gambling enforcement record, and the numbers are notable.

"To date we've locked over one million Steam accounts that were being misused by third parties in connection with gambling, fraud, and theft," the company confirmed. It also cited trade reversal and trade cooldown features implemented specifically to undercut third-party gambling site operations, plus a blanket prohibition on gambling-related businesses sponsoring or participating in tournaments for Valve titles.

'''More:'''[[News/ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom|ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom]]
}}

News/Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions

2026-03-12T08:12:56Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions |seo_keywords=Chained Echoes |image=ChainedEchoes.jpg |tags=Chained Echoes |date=2026-03-12T08:04:26.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/developer-sues-publisher-after-leaving-kickstarter-backers-waiting-over-two-years-for-promised-physical-editions |article=News/Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher..."

{{News
|seo_title=Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions
|seo_keywords=Chained Echoes
|image=ChainedEchoes.jpg
|tags=Chained Echoes
|date=2026-03-12T08:04:26.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/developer-sues-publisher-after-leaving-kickstarter-backers-waiting-over-two-years-for-promised-physical-editions
|article=News/Chained Echoes Developer Sues Publisher First Press Games Over Undelivered Kickstarter Physical Editions
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Matthias Linda, the solo developer behind acclaimed RPG Chained Echoes, has announced he is terminating his relationship with physical publisher First Press Games and preparing a lawsuit after physical Kickstarter editions promised to backers have gone undelivered for over two years.
* Linda is now seeking an alternate publisher to fulfill physical copies for backers who originally pledged in 2019, with refunds available immediately for those who don't want to wait further, though new physical versions may not be producible until the lawsuit concludes.

There's a particular kind of frustration that builds when you back a Kickstarter, wait years for a physical collector's edition, and then watch the silence stretch from months into years with no delivery in sight. That's exactly what Chained Echoes backers have been living through since 2019, and now the game's developer has had enough.

Matthias Linda, the one-person team behind an indie RPG has publicly announced he's cutting ties with physical publisher First Press Games and taking legal action.

===== What Linda Said, Word for Word =====

The developer posted directly to backers.

"It's been a bit over two years since the physical copies were supposed to be released by First Press Games, and so far in 2026, nothing has arrived except the regular PlayStation 4 edition. Because of that, I had to make a decision," Linda wrote.

That decision: "I am terminating my business relationship with FPG, and I am preparing a lawsuit. This decision wasn't easy and came after careful consideration. Please understand that for legal reasons I can not go into further details."

===== The Backer Situation: Two Options, One Uncomfortable Reality =====

For the people who pledged money back in 2019 believing they'd receive physical copies of a game the current situation offers two paths and neither is ideal.

Option one: wait for new physical editions through an alternate publisher. Linda was honest about what that means. "If you decide to choose the first option, you may have to wait again," he warned. "It is possible that new versions can only be produced once the lawsuit is over but we are looking into that option."

Option two: get a refund now. "You can get your refund anytime though. Rest assured," Linda confirmed.

===== First Press Games and the Physical Publishing Problem =====

First Press Games is a German publisher specialising in physical video game editions, particularly for indie titles that wouldn't otherwise receive retail releases. They've handled physical distribution for a range of games over the years, and the Chained Echoes situation isn't the first time the company has faced criticism over delayed fulfillment.

What makes the Chained Echoes situation particularly pointed is who's on the other side of the publisher relationship. Matthias Linda built the entire game alone. Chained Echoes launched in December 2022 to extraordinary critical reception, routinely landing on best-of-year lists and drawing comparisons to the 16-bit RPG classics it was clearly inspired by. It was a genuine one-person achievement in a genre that typically requires teams of dozens.

===== Why This Matters Beyond One Game =====

Kickstarter physical tiers are a specific and recurring problem in the gaming space. Backers who pledge for physical editions are typically paying a premium over the digital price, trusting that the tangible reward will eventually arrive. When publishers fail to deliver, the developer often bears the reputational damage even when the failure isn't theirs.

'''More:'''[[News/ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom|ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom]]
}}

File:ChainedEchoes.jpg

2026-03-12T08:10:21Z

Andura:

News/ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom

2026-03-11T13:32:01Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom |seo_keywords=ESL Pro League |image=ESL.jpg |tags=ESL Pro League |date=2026-03-11T12:55:18.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Hltv |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44047/esl-pro-league-s23-finals-playoff-bracket-set |article=News/ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom }} |author=Andura |category=Mor..."

{{News
|seo_title=ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom
|seo_keywords=ESL Pro League
|image=ESL.jpg
|tags=ESL Pro League
|date=2026-03-11T12:55:18.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Hltv
|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44047/esl-pro-league-s23-finals-playoff-bracket-set
|article=News/ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals Bracket Set: Spirit and MOUZ Top Seeds as Stockholm Rematches Loom
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Spirit and MOUZ both went 3-0 through Stage 2 to claim top seed status on opposite sides of the ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals bracket, with the LAN event running March 13-15 at the Annexet in Stockholm.
* Spirit face Astralis in the quarterfinals in a rematch of IEM Krakow where Spirit won 2-0, while MOUZ face FUT in a rematch of their PGL Cluj-Napoca series that saw MOUZ come back from 3-12 down on Overpass to take the match.

Stockholm gets CS2's best eight teams this weekend. After two Swiss group stages online from March 1-10 cut a 24-team field down to the last eight standing, the ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals bracket is set and it's loaded with unfinished business.

Every single quarterfinal is a rematch. That doesn't happen by accident. It tells you how competitive the top of the CS2 ecosystem is right now, where the same teams keep running into each other across different tournaments because they're simply the ones good enough to reach that stage consistently.

===== The Top Half: Spirit Hunt for Continued Dominance =====

donk and Spirit went 3-0 through Stage 2, which makes them the bracket's most dominant online performer. That form earns them a favorable seeding, though "favorable" is relative when Astralis is waiting.

This is the second Spirit vs Astralis meeting this year after Spirit took a clean 2-0 at IEM Krakow's group stage. Revenge narratives in CS2 are hit or miss. Sometimes teams learn and adapt. Sometimes the same result just happens again because the talent gap hasn't closed.
Spirit's consistency this year suggests Astralis will need to show something genuinely different to flip the script.

===== The Bottom Half: MOUZ and the Cluj Ghost =====

MOUZ's quarterfinal opponent is FUT, and there's real history here. At PGL Cluj-Napoca, MOUZ found themselves 3-12 down on Overpass in what looked like a dead match. They came back and swept the series. That kind of result either galvanizes the winner or haunts the loser, and FUT will arrive in Stockholm knowing exactly what happened last time they had MOUZ on the ropes.
A 3-12 comeback doesn't happen twice in a row. But FUT's ability to build those kinds of leads in the first place is a tactical weapon worth respecting.

===== NaVi vs MongolZ Without maaRaa =====

The most intriguing subplot in the bracket. Natus Vincere face The MongolZ knowing they lost to them in Cluj, and The MongolZ will be without coach Erdenedalai "maaRaa" Bayanbat. How much a coaching absence genuinely impacts a team mid-tournament is always debated, but it adds a variable NaVi will be calculating.

'''More:'''[[News/PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028|PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028]]
}}

News/Marathon Rewards Pass Gets More Skins in Mid-April Patch as Bungie Responds to Player Criticism

2026-03-11T13:21:32Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Marathon Rewards Pass Gets More Skins in Mid-April Patch as Bungie Responds to Player Criticism |seo_keywords=Marathon |image=Bungie.jpg |tags=Marathon, Bungie |date=2026-03-11T12:47:00.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/marathon/news/marathon-more-rewards-pass-skins |article=News/Marathon Rewards Pass Gets More Skins in Mid-April Patch as Bungie Responds to Player Criticism }} |author=Andura |category=More |conte..."

{{News
|seo_title=Marathon Rewards Pass Gets More Skins in Mid-April Patch as Bungie Responds to Player Criticism
|seo_keywords=Marathon
|image=Bungie.jpg
|tags=Marathon, Bungie
|date=2026-03-11T12:47:00.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/marathon/news/marathon-more-rewards-pass-skins
|article=News/Marathon Rewards Pass Gets More Skins in Mid-April Patch as Bungie Responds to Player Criticism
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Bungie announced on March 10th that additional Runner Shell skins are being added to both the free and premium tiers of Marathon's rewards pass, targeting a mid-April release window alongside the Season 1 mid-season patch.
* Four new Runner Shell skins are coming (Recon, Thief, Assassin, and Destroyer) in a black and white decal style, plus a free WSTR Shotgun skin and an emblem, with Recon landing on the free track.

[[Companies/Bungie|Bungie]] has heard the complaints about Marathon's rewards pass, and it's actually doing something about them. That's worth acknowledging upfront, because the live-service game industry has a complicated relationship with listening. Sometimes "we hear you" means a blog post and nothing else. This time, there are actual cosmetics on the way and a timeline attached.

The core problem was straightforward. Players felt the rewards pass was thin. One Runner Shell skin on the premium track, no premium currency returned, and not much else to justify the purchase. For a game still finding its feet after a divisive server slam period, that kind of monetisation perception problem can snowball quickly if left unaddressed.

Bungie isn't leaving it unaddressed.

===== What's Actually Being Added to the Rewards Pass =====

The mid-April update brings four new Runner Shell skins: Recon, Thief, Assassin, and Destroyer. They're styled in black and white with decal work, a look that players who've reached the last page of the current rewards pass will recognise from the Achromatic Rush cosmetic already in the game.

Consistent visual language across a seasonal theme is a reasonable design choice, and the monochrome aesthetic suits Marathon's world well.

Recon goes on the free track. That's the right call. Putting at least one of the new shells on the free tier signals that Bungie understands the pass criticism wasn't just about premium buyers wanting more, it was about the overall value proposition looking ungenerous.

The WSTR Shotgun skin is also free, which is a meaningful addition given that the WSTR is currently one of the stronger weapons in the game. Cosmetics for meta-relevant weapons tend to get more use than skins for weapons people rarely equip, so a free skin for something players are actually carrying isn't just a token gesture.

There's also a free emblem. Smaller, but these things add up when the original pass felt sparse.

===== The Arachne Cosmetics Are a Different Beast =====

Separate from the rewards pass changes, Bungie is adding Arachne Shell skins that you'll be able to earn through the Codex, their in-game challenge and progression system. These aren't locked behind the pass at all.

The Arachne faction's colour palette is distinctive: signature black and red with white accents and a splash of blue meant to evoke Runner's blood. It's a darker, more aggressive visual identity compared to the pass cosmetics. Given that Arachne is a PvP-focused faction within the game's lore and systems, the skins feel thematically appropriate for players who want to signal their playstyle before a match even starts.

'''More:'''[[News/Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season|Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season]]
}}

News/VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool

2026-03-11T13:19:27Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool |seo_keywords=VALORANT |image=Vlmsal.jpg |tags=VALORANT |date=2026-03-11T11:16:18.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/valorant-masters-santiago-schedule-results-teams |article=News/VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool }} |author=Andura |category=More |game=Valorant |cont..."

{{News
|seo_title=VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool
|seo_keywords=VALORANT
|image=Vlmsal.jpg
|tags=VALORANT
|date=2026-03-11T11:16:18.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/valorant-masters-santiago-schedule-results-teams
|article=News/VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: Full Schedule, Results, Teams, Format and Prize Pool
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Valorant
|content='''TL;DR'''

* VALORANT Masters Santiago runs from February 28 to March 15, 2026 at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, marking the first time a Masters event has been held in Latin America, with 12 teams competing across a Swiss Stage and double-elimination Playoffs.
* The field includes Kickoff winners FURIA (Americas), BBL Esports (EMEA), Nongshim RedForce (Pacific), and All Gamers (China) as top seeds, joined by eight teams who fought through the Swiss Stage for the remaining playoff spots.

Santiago, Chile is hosting the VALORANT world for the first time. Masters Santiago is the opening international LAN of the 2026 VCT season and the first Masters event ever held in Latin America, a long-overdue milestone for a region that has consistently been one of the loudest, most passionate parts of the global VALORANT community.

Twelve teams flew in representing all four international leagues: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. Some arrived as top seeds having won their regional Kickoff tournaments. Others had to earn their spot the hard way through a Swiss Stage grind. Here's everything you need to know about how it all played out.

===== Masters Santiago Format: How the Tournament Works =====

The structure is clean and logical once you understand the entry points. Two stages, one objective.

===== The Swiss Stage =====

Eight teams entered the Swiss Stage, specifically the second and third-place finishers from each regional Kickoff. All matches were best-of-three. Teams needed to go 2-0 or 2-1 to advance, with 0-2 records sending squads home early. It ran from February 28 to March 4.

Four teams survived and joined the eight waiting in the Playoffs. Worth noting: Riot had to redo the Round 2 bracket mid-event after a live draw error, which added an unexpected layer of drama to proceedings even before a single Playoff match was played.

===== The Playoff Bracket =====

Double-elimination from March 6 onwards. The four Kickoff winners entered as top seeds with an immediate upper bracket advantage. Most matches were best-of-three, with the lower bracket final and grand final stepping up to best-of-five.

The final day is March 15. Championship Points are on the line throughout, with finishing position determining how many points each team banks toward Champions Shanghai qualification.

===== All 12 Qualified Teams =====

Every team earned their place through their regional Kickoff performance. The path was consistent across all four leagues: finish in the top three.

===== Americas =====

FURIA qualified as Kickoff winners and entered as a top seed. G2 Esports finished second in the Americas Kickoff. NRG placed third.

===== EMEA =====

BBL Esports won EMEA Kickoff and entered as a top seed. Gentle Mates finished second. Team Liquid rounded out the EMEA contingent in third.

===== Pacific =====

Nongshim RedForce claimed the Pacific Kickoff title and top seed status. T1 finished second. Paper Rex qualified third.

===== China =====

All Gamers won the China Kickoff and earned a top seed. Xi Lai Gaming placed second. EDward Gaming qualified third.

===== Masters Santiago Results and Schedule =====

===== Swiss Stage Results =====

'''February 28 (Saturday)'''

Gentle Mates defeated EDward Gaming 2-0 on Haven (13-11) and Pearl (13-7). NRG defeated XLG Esports 2-0 on Haven (13-2) and Abyss (13-10).

'''March 1 (Sunday)'''

Paper Rex defeated G2 Esports 2-0 on Split (13-9) and Corrode (13-5). Team Liquid defeated T1 2-0 on Breeze (13-8) and Split (15-13).

'''March 2 (Monday)'''

Paper Rex defeated NRG 2-1, winning Split (13-10), dropping Pearl (10-13), and taking Haven (13-11). Gentle Mates defeated Team Liquid 2-0 on Pearl (13-11) and Bind (13-3).

'''March 3 (Tuesday)'''

T1 defeated EDward Gaming 2-0 on Bind (13-1) and Haven (13-10). G2 Esports defeated XLG Esports 2-0 on Abyss (13-8) and Haven (13-3).

'''March 4 (Wednesday)'''

NRG defeated Team Liquid 2-0 on Breeze (13-11) and Abyss (13-4). G2 Esports defeated T1 2-0 on Breeze (13-6) and Haven (16-14).

Swiss Stage qualifiers advancing to Playoffs: Paper Rex, Gentle Mates, NRG, and G2 Esports.
Swiss Stage eliminations: EDward Gaming, XLG Esports, Team Liquid, and T1.

===== Playoff Results =====

'''March 6 (Friday) - Upper Quarterfinals'''

Paper Rex defeated FURIA 2-1: FURIA took Haven (13-9), Paper Rex won Breeze (13-4) and Split (13-7). Nongshim RedForce defeated Gentle Mates 2-0 on Haven (13-10) and Corrode (13-10).

'''March 7 (Saturday) - Upper Quarterfinals'''

NRG defeated BBL Esports 2-1: BBL won Pearl (13-6), NRG took Abyss (13-13) and Split (17-15). G2 Esports defeated All Gamers 2-0 on Split (13-6) and Abyss (13-4).

'''March 8 (Sunday) - Lower Round 1'''

BBL Esports eliminated FURIA 2-1. All Gamers eliminated Gentle Mates 2-1. FURIA finished 7th/8th. Gentle Mates finished 7th/8th.

'''March 9 (Monday) - Upper Semifinals'''

Nongshim RedForce defeated G2 Esports 2-1: G2 won Abyss (13-7), NSR took Corrode (13-7) and Split (14-12). NRG defeated Paper Rex 2-0 on Pearl (14-12) and Bind (13-11).

'''March 10 (Tuesday) - Lower Round 2'''

Paper Rex defeated All Gamers 2-1. G2 Esports defeated BBL Esports 2-0 on Haven (13-5) and Breeze (13-8). All Gamers finished 5th/6th. BBL Esports finished 5th/6th.

March 11-12: No matches scheduled.
Upcoming Finals Schedule

'''March 13 (Friday)'''

Upper Final: Nongshim RedForce vs NRG

Lower Round 3: Paper Rex vs G2 Esports
March 14 (Saturday)

'''Lower Bracket Final'''

'''March 15 (Sunday)'''

'''Grand Final'''

===== What Masters Santiago Means for the VCT Season =====

This event is more than just the first international LAN. It's a calibration moment. Regional Kickoffs tell you who's strong locally. Masters tells you who's actually built for the world stage.
It's also a significant landmark for Latin America. VALORANT's LATAM community has been one of the most vocal in the world since the game launched, and bringing a Masters event to Santiago is recognition of that. Espacio Riesco, the venue, holds tens of thousands of fans, and you don't need to watch long to see what this means to them.

The teams left standing heading into the March 13 semifinals, Nongshim RedForce, NRG, Paper Rex, and G2 Esports, have each earned their position through a different route, making the remaining bracket genuinely unpredictable.

'''More:'''[[News/UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA|UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA]]
}}

News/LEGO PlayStation Set Leaked for December 2025: Classic Console, 1911 Pieces, $159.99 Price Tag

2026-03-11T13:14:34Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=LEGO PlayStation Set Leaked for December 2025: Classic Console, 1911 Pieces, $159.99 Price Tag |seo_keywords=LEGO |image=Sony_logo_black_1200x630.png |tags=LEGO |date=2026-03-11T11:12:52.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DVuBsRpDCeJ/ |article=News/LEGO PlayStation Set Leaked for December 2025: Classic Console, 1911 Pieces, $159.99 Price Tag }} |author=Andura |category=Business |content='''TL;DR''' * A relia..."

{{News
|seo_title=LEGO PlayStation Set Leaked for December 2025: Classic Console, 1911 Pieces, $159.99 Price Tag
|seo_keywords=LEGO
|image=Sony_logo_black_1200x630.png
|tags=LEGO
|date=2026-03-11T11:12:52.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Instagram
|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DVuBsRpDCeJ/
|article=News/LEGO PlayStation Set Leaked for December 2025: Classic Console, 1911 Pieces, $159.99 Price Tag
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* A reliable LEGO leaker has shared details of an upcoming official PlayStation console set, codenamed "LEGO Codename P or Play," reportedly arriving in December with 1,911 pieces and a $159.99 price tag.
* The set is said to be based on the original PlayStation from the mid-1990s rather than the smaller PSone revision, and will include at least a console and controller according to the leak.

If you grew up in the 1990s with a grey plastic box under your television, this one is going to hit differently. A prominent LEGO leaker is claiming the brick giant is preparing an official PlayStation console set for a December release, and the details shared so far paint a picture of a genuinely impressive build.

According to Instagram user lego_minecraft_goat, the set carries the internal codename "LEGO Codename P or Play" and a numerical identifier of 72306. The claimed specs: 1,911 pieces and a $159.99 retail price. It covers the original PlayStation, the boxy mid-1990s original, rather than the slimmed-down PSone revision that came later.

None of this is official yet. LEGO and Sony have said nothing. But this particular leaker has a reliable track record, which is why the gaming and LEGO communities are already paying close attention.

===== Why This Makes Total Sense for LEGO Right Now =====

LEGO has been leaning hard into gaming nostalgia recently. The Game Boy set landed late last year at around $59.99 and was received warmly by collectors and adult fans of LEGO, a demographic the company has been cultivating aggressively through its Icons and Creator Expert lines. The Atari 2600 set arrived in 2022. The Nintendo Entertainment System set, complete with a working television display mechanism, is still one of the most talked-about releases in the company's modern catalogue.

A PlayStation set is the natural next chapter. Sony's original console is one of the most culturally significant pieces of consumer electronics ever made, representing a generational shift in gaming in a way that resonates with a huge demographic of now-adult buyers who are exactly the audience LEGO's premium sets target.

At 1,911 pieces and $159.99, it would sit comfortably above the Game Boy but below the NES set, which launched at $229.99 and contained 2,646 pieces. The pricing feels calibrated to the build size and the market position LEGO has established for this type of product.

===== What the Fan Community Has Already Built =====

Here's something worth knowing. If you search "LEGO PlayStation" right now, one of the first results you'll find is a fan-made submission on the LEGO IDEAS platform. Posted last June, it's a detailed 885-piece design featuring a classic PlayStation, two controllers with wiring, and two memory cards. At the time of writing, it had collected over 5,300 supporter votes.

The thing is, the timeline suggests LEGO was almost certainly already working on the official set before that submission appeared. LEGO IDEAS projects take years to gain enough votes to be reviewed, and manufacturing timelines for official products are equally lengthy. A December 2025 release means production would have been underway long before June last year.

That fan design is still impressive as a creative exercise, and the person behind it clearly did their homework. But it's probably less an inspiration for the official set and more a reflection of the same obvious idea that LEGO's own design team had already acted on.

===== Comparing It to Other Gaming LEGO Sets =====

The LEGO gaming nostalgia lineup has become one of the more interesting product categories the company runs. Here's a rough sense of where the PlayStation set reportedly fits in the range:
The Game Boy Color set launched at $59.99. The Atari 2600 was $239.99 on release. The NES set hit $229.99. The reported PlayStation at $159.99 slots into the middle tier of that range, which makes sense given the PlayStation's cultural position as more premium than the Game Boy but arguably more universally accessible than the NES in terms of the sheer volume of people who owned one.

'''More:'''[[News/EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive|EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive]]
}}

File:Vlmsal.jpg

2026-03-11T13:07:17Z

Andura:

News/EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive

2026-03-10T09:17:40Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive |seo_keywords=EA |image=Ea).png |tags=Electronic Arts |date=2026-03-10T09:14:29.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=SEA IGN |url=https://in.ign.com/battlefield-6/255185/news/ea-lays-off-staff-across-all-battlefield-studios-following-record-breaking-battlefield-6-launch |article=News/EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criter..."

{{News
|seo_title=EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive
|seo_keywords=EA
|image=Ea).png
|tags=Electronic Arts
|date=2026-03-10T09:14:29.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=SEA IGN
|url=https://in.ign.com/battlefield-6/255185/news/ea-lays-off-staff-across-all-battlefield-studios-following-record-breaking-battlefield-6-launch
|article=News/EA Lays Off Developers Across Battlefield Studios Including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect and Motive
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Electronic Arts has confirmed layoffs across the Battlefield Studios group of teams, with developers at DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive all reportedly impacted as the company moves to "realign" its live-service operations around Battlefield 6.
* The cuts come as Battlefield 6, which launched in October 2025 to significant initial interest, has seen its player base decline substantially in the months following release, with internal reports from February describing developer anxiety around each successive content update.

[[Companies/Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]] has carried out layoffs across the Battlefield Studios network, cutting an undisclosed number of developers from teams at DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive. The company framed the move as a "realignment" tied to the ongoing live-service evolution of Battlefield 6, but the timing and scale place the cuts in a context that is difficult to read as routine.

===== The Battlefield 6 Backdrop =====

Battlefield 6 launched in October 2025 carrying enormous expectations. The franchise had been in a difficult position since Battlefield 2042's troubled 2021 release, and the new entry was widely viewed as the series' best opportunity in years to recapture the audience that had drifted toward competing shooters. The initial response suggested those hopes were not misplaced, with a strong launch period and meaningful player numbers in the first weeks.

What followed was a more familiar story for live-service shooters that struggle to convert an interested launch audience into a sustained community. Player numbers declined substantially in the weeks after release, and by February internal reporting indicated developer teams were acutely aware of the pressure surrounding each content update. The roadmap had become a source of anxiety rather than confidence, with the understanding that each drop needed to perform strongly enough to justify continued investment in the game.

The Battlefield Studios model brings together several teams under a unified development structure. DICE, the Swedish studio and original home of the Battlefield franchise, has been at the centre of the series for over two decades. Criterion, the UK-based studio best known for the Burnout series and Need for Speed entries, pivoted to supporting Battlefield development several years ago. Ripple Effect, formerly known as DICE LA, has contributed to multiple Battlefield titles. Motive, based in Montreal, has expanded its role across the franchise alongside its work on other EA titles including the Dead Space remake.

===== An Already Turbulent Period for EA =====

The Battlefield Studios situation cannot be separated from the extraordinary circumstances EA is navigating at the corporate level. Shareholders approved a $55 billion acquisition by a consortium that includes the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund at the end of 2025, one of the largest transactions in gaming industry history.

'''More:'''[[News/Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty|Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty]]
}}

News/UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA

2026-03-10T09:12:47Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA |seo_keywords=Valve |image=Valve.PNG |tags=Valve |date=2026-03-10T09:07:19.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-sued-by-the-performing-right-society-for-using-its-members-musical-works-without-permission |article=News/UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and..."

{{News
|seo_title=UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA
|seo_keywords=Valve
|image=Valve.PNG
|tags=Valve
|date=2026-03-10T09:07:19.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-sued-by-the-performing-right-society-for-using-its-members-musical-works-without-permission
|article=News/UK Music Rights Body PRS Sues Valve Over Unlicensed Music on Steam, Citing Forza, FIFA and GTA
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The Performing Right Society (PRS) has commenced legal proceedings against Valve under the UK's Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, alleging Valve has never obtained a licence for the use of PRS members' music across games available on Steam despite years of attempted negotiation.
* PRS claims high-profile game series including Forza Horizon, FIFA/EA FC, and GTA incorporate its members' musical works and are sold through Steam without the appropriate licensing, affecting songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

Valve is facing legal action from one of the world's most significant music rights organisations. The Performing Right Society, which represents hundreds of thousands of songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the UK and collects royalties on their behalf globally, has commenced formal legal proceedings against Valve under Section 20 of the UK's Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988.

The central allegation is straightforward and, if accurate, represents a substantial exposure for the platform. PRS claims Valve has never obtained a licence covering the use of its members' works across the games available on Steam, despite the fact that music is a core component of the gaming experience across much of the platform's enormous catalogue.

===== What PRS Is Claiming and Why It Matters =====

PRS represents an extensive repertoire of musical works through its membership and reciprocal agreements with rights bodies in other countries. When a game uses a piece of music covered by PRS, any commercial distribution of that game is supposed to be covered by an appropriate licence. PRS's position is that Valve, as the platform through which those games are distributed, has an obligation to hold that licence.

The organisation states that games across the Steam catalogue use music to "transform play into emotional, immersive experiences," and that this usage is substantial and commercially significant.

Named as examples of high-profile series incorporating PRS members' works are Forza Horizon, FIFA/EA FC, and GTA, franchises with some of the most recognisable and carefully curated soundtracks in gaming.

PRS acknowledges it has been attempting to resolve this without litigation for years. The organisation said it sought to work with Valve on the licensing issues "for many years without appropriate engagement from Valve," which framed the legal action not as an aggressive opening move but as a last resort after extended good-faith attempts at a commercial resolution.

Dan Gopal, chief commercial officer at PRS for Music, made the organisation's position clear: "Our members create music that enhances experiences and PRS exists to protect the value of their work with integrity, transparency, and fairness. Legal proceedings are not a step we take lightly, but when a business's actions undermine those principles, we have a duty to act."

He added: "Great video games rely on great soundtracks, and the songwriters and creators behind them deserve to have their contribution recognised and fairly valued."

===== The Legal Mechanism and What It Requires =====

The UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988 is the primary statute governing music rights in the United Kingdom, and Section 20 specifically addresses the communication of works to the public, which covers digital distribution. Using that framework, PRS is asserting that every time a game containing its members' music is made available through Steam, a licensing obligation exists that Valve has not satisfied.

PRS has stated the litigation will progress unless Valve engages positively and obtains a licence that covers the use of its members' works both retrospectively, accounting for past distribution, and going forward. The retrospective element is particularly significant. If Valve has been distributing music without a licence for years across a platform that generates billions of dollars in annual revenue, the financial exposure from a successful retrospective claim could be substantial.

The scope of PRS's repertoire is also worth contextualising. The organisation's membership and international agreements give it rights coverage across an enormous catalogue of music from multiple countries and genres. Given how broadly music is used across the Steam catalogue, from indie titles with small soundtracks through to AAA blockbusters with fully licensed pop and classical tracks, the number of games potentially implicated in this action is not small.

===== The Broader Implications for Digital Game Distribution =====

The PRS action against Valve raises questions that extend beyond this specific dispute. Steam is the dominant PC game distribution platform globally, and a successful ruling or settlement requiring [[Companies/Valve|Valve]] to hold music performance licences could set a precedent that applies to other digital storefronts as well.

The music industry has been through extended battles over digital licensing in streaming, broadcasting, and social media, with platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok all navigating complex rights negotiations over many years.

'''More:'''[[News/Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement|Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement]]
}}

News/Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season

2026-03-10T09:04:45Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season |seo_keywords=Crazy Raccoon |image=Cracoon.jpg |tags=Crazy Raccoon |date=2026-03-10T09:01:20.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/crazy-raccoon-unveils-owcs-roster-for-2026 |article=News/Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season }} |author=Andura |c..."

{{News
|seo_title=Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season
|seo_keywords=Crazy Raccoon
|image=Cracoon.jpg
|tags=Crazy Raccoon
|date=2026-03-10T09:01:20.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/crazy-raccoon-unveils-owcs-roster-for-2026
|article=News/Crazy Raccoon Reveals 2026 Overwatch Roster With Stalk3r and Vigilante Added Ahead of OWCS Season
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|game=Overwatch
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Crazy Raccoon has confirmed its full seven-player Overwatch roster for the 2026 OWCS season, with former Team Falcons damage player Stalk3r as the latest addition joining support player vigilante, who arrived from T1 in February.
* The two newcomers replace SP1NT and Shu, who both departed in December 2025, with the core of the roster including veteran support CH0R0NG, who has been with the organisation since its founding lineup in April 2024.

[[Companies/Crazy Raccoon|Crazy Raccoon]] has finalised its 2026 Overwatch roster and it is a squad built on continuity with carefully selected additions to maintain the team's status as one of the most competitive organisations in the OWCS circuit. The Japanese organisation has confirmed seven players will represent it this season, with former Team Falcons damage player Jeong "Stalk3r" Hak-yong as the latest arrival completing the lineup.

===== The Full 2026 Roster =====

The confirmed roster for the 2026 OWCS season is as follows. Sung "CH0R0NG" Yoo-min continues as support, a player who has been with Crazy Raccoon since its formation and whose championship pedigree dates back to 2023. Chae "HeeSang" Hee-sang returns as a DPS player alongside Park "JunBin" Jun-bin at tank. Lee "LIP" Jae-won continues in the damage role, and Choi "MAX" Su-min holds a tank slot. Joining them are the two new faces: vigilante as support and Stalk3r in the damage category.

Head Coach Moon "Moon" Byung-chul and Assistant Coach Son "Kong" Jun-young remain the coaching staff overseeing the team.

===== The Additions and Departures =====

Vigilante brings experience from T1, one of South Korea's most prominent esports organisations, having competed there before joining Crazy Raccoon in February. Stalk3r arrives from Team Falcons, a team that Crazy Raccoon defeated 4-2 in the 2025 Champions Clash, making the acquisition of one of Falcons' former players a pointed piece of roster building.

Their arrivals fill the spots left by An "SP1NT" Woo-Jin and Kim "Shu" Jin-seo, both of whom left the organisation in December 2025. Roster continuity has been important to Crazy Raccoon's success, and bringing in two players with strong organisational backgrounds rather than rebuilding from scratch reflects that philosophy.

===== What This Team Has Already Built =====

Crazy Raccoon launched its Overwatch programme in April 2024 by signing the WAC free agent team, stepping into the OWCS ecosystem Blizzard launched as the Overwatch League's successor. The organisation moved quickly from debutant to dominant force. In 2024 alone, the team won the Asia Stage 1 Main Event, the 2024 OWCS Major, and the Overwatch tournament at the Esports World Cup, before finishing runner-up at the OWCS 2024 World Finals.

'''More:'''[[News/LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained|LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained]]
}}

File:Cracoon.jpg

2026-03-10T09:03:48Z

Andura:

News/PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028

2026-03-10T08:59:31Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028 |seo_keywords=PGL |image=PGL.png |tags=PGL, Counter Strike |date=2026-03-10T08:54:10.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=PGL |url=https://news.pglesports.com/news/1773040638544-pgl-cs2-tier-1-program-20272028-at-least-22m-investment |article=News/PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028 }} |author=Andura |category=More |game=Counter Strike |content='''TL;DR''' * PGL has announced a $22 million commitment to..."

{{News
|seo_title=PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028
|seo_keywords=PGL
|image=PGL.png
|tags=PGL, Counter Strike
|date=2026-03-10T08:54:10.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=PGL
|url=https://news.pglesports.com/news/1773040638544-pgl-cs2-tier-1-program-20272028-at-least-22m-investment
|article=News/PGL Reveals Six Tier 1 Events in 2027-2028
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* PGL has announced a $22 million commitment to the CS2 ecosystem across 2027 and 2028, covering six Tier 1 tournaments per year, a viewership incentive programme, participation payments for invited teams, and a hospitality programme covering travel costs for eight team members per event.
* The investment breaks down into $2.2 million distributed to invited teams, $2.8 million in annual viewership incentives, and $6 million in prize money for top performers across PGL's Tier 1 events, with the full 2027 schedule confirmed and 2028 dates largely to be announced.

[[Companies/PGL|PGL]] has made the largest financial commitment in its history to Counter-Strike 2, announcing a $22 million investment across the 2027 and 2028 seasons that covers prize money, team participation payments, viewership incentives, player hospitality, and fan engagement infrastructure. The scale of the commitment places PGL firmly alongside BLAST and ESL FACEIT Group as one of the three pillars of top-tier CS2 competition, and the structural thinking behind the programme addresses concerns about tournament sustainability that have been a persistent theme across the industry.

PGL CEO Silviu Stroie announced the investment with characteristic directness: "Our biggest commitment yet to Counter-Strike. All the incentives in our program will attract the best possible teams and players to participate in our events. Looking forward to delivering more great events to the Counter-Strike community."

===== How the $22 Million Breaks Down =====

The investment is structured across several distinct components, each targeting a different stakeholder in the CS2 competitive ecosystem.

The participation incentive allocates $2.2 million to teams that accept invitations to PGL events, a guaranteed payment model that mirrors what BLAST introduced with its Acceptance Fees announcement and directly addresses the financial sustainability challenge for organisations attending Tier 1 events. Getting paid simply for committing to compete improves the economics of the competitive calendar for teams at every level of the invited field, not just those capable of winning prize money.

The annual viewership incentive is a more unusual element, with $2.8 million distributed based on the viewing figures teams generate during events. Rewarding organisations for the audience interest they bring to a tournament creates an alignment between team popularity, content output, and financial return that is relatively uncommon in esports. Prize money for top performers across PGL Tier 1 events totals $6 million.

===== The Hospitality Programme and Fan Engagement =====

Beyond the financial investment, PGL is launching a hospitality programme that covers travel costs for eight team members per event and provides dedicated practice rooms with high-end peripherals. That kind of infrastructure investment matters for teams managing tight operational budgets across a demanding international schedule.

The fan engagement dimension is equally notable. PGL is offering teams the opportunity to sell merchandise and run on-site activations during events, turning tournament venues into commercial opportunities for organisations beyond simply competing. For teams building their brand presence at live events, on-site merchandise and activations represent revenue streams that reinforce the participation economics already improved by the guaranteed entry payments.

===== The Full Event Schedule =====

PGL has confirmed the complete 2027 CS2 event calendar and a partial 2028 schedule. Specific venue locations have been withheld for most events, with three of the 12 total events confirmed for the Schengen Zone.

2027 Event 1 runs January 17th to 24th in the Schengen Zone. Event 2 follows February 13th to 21st, also in the Schengen Zone. Event 3 takes place March 19th to 28th. Event 4 is April 16th to 25th. Event 5 runs September 3rd to 12th. Event 6 closes the year October 8th to 17th.
2028 Event 1 is confirmed for January 14th to 24th in the Schengen Zone. Events 2 through 6 are listed as to be determined, with dates and locations to follow.

'''More:'''[[News/Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms|Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms]]
}}

News/Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms

2026-03-09T09:44:24Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms |seo_keywords=Top Esports |image=Teserpo.jpg |tags=Top Esports |date=2026-03-09T09:41:18.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Twitter |url=https://x.com/Sheep_Esports/status/2030244984281072082 |article=News/Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms }} |author=Andura |category=Drama |game=League of Legends |content=..."

{{News
|seo_title=Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms
|seo_keywords=Top Esports
|image=Teserpo.jpg
|tags=Top Esports
|date=2026-03-09T09:41:18.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/Sheep_Esports/status/2030244984281072082
|article=News/Top Esports Jungler Naiyou Confesses to Match-Fixing Every LPL Playoff Loss, Coach Confirms
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|game=League of Legends
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Top Esports jungler Yang "naiyou" Zi-Jian has confessed to intentionally losing every game TES dropped in the LPL Playoffs, with head coach Chang "Poppy" Po-Hao confirming the admission live on stream on March 7th.
* [[News/Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns|The investigation began on March 6th following internal concerns reportedly raised by mid laner Lin "Creme" Jian and other teammates, leading Top Esports to formally report naiyou to the LPL for violating competitive integrity.]]

The investigation into [[Companies/Top Esports|Top Esports]] jungler [[People/naiyou|naiyou]] has reached a definitive conclusion far faster than anyone expected. One day after the club formally reported the player to the LPL for suspected competitive integrity violations, head coach Chang "Poppy" Po-Hao confirmed on stream that naiyou had admitted to the accusations in full.

Speaking directly about the confession, Poppy said: "Naiyou admitted that he matchfixed every game TES lost in the Playoffs. This makes me really upset. Think about our results. How could we make it if he didn't matchifixed? I can't even imagine."

===== How the Investigation Unfolded =====

Top Esports announced on March 6th that it was opening a new investigation into "abnormal in-game behavior" from naiyou, citing competitive integrity concerns and formally reporting the matter to the LPL. What triggered the investigation appears to have come from within the team itself.

Rumours circulated that mid laner Lin "Creme" Jian was the first to raise concerns, with other players reportedly sharing similar worries shortly after. Those rumours were not officially confirmed by the organisation, but the LNG Esports manager added context that morning, stating publicly: "There have been leaks circulating among small groups early this morning. As more evidence accumulated, the situation eventually went public."

The speed with which internal suspicion became public knowledge, and then became a confirmed confession, is striking.

===== A Teammate's Painful Reversal =====

One of the most human moments in this story belongs to Bai "369" Jia-Hao. The veteran top laner had publicly defended naiyou earlier in the week when fan criticism of younger players first surfaced after the playoff exit. That defence was sincere and well-intentioned at the time.
After the confession became known, 369 posted a single line on Weibo: "I'm such a clown…"

===== What Comes Next =====

Naiyou began his career through TES Challengers before building a professional record at Rare Atom, LGD Gaming, and Ninjas in Pyjamas before returning to Top Esports during the 2025 off-season. The LPL has a history of acting decisively on confirmed integrity violations, and with a confession on record, significant disciplinary action is widely expected. The LPL's previous match-fixing cases have resulted in extended bans and in some instances permanent removal from professional competition.

'''More:'''[[News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games|Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games]]
}}

News/Epic Games Sues Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo, Identifies Former Contractor Hayden Cohen as Defendant

2026-03-09T09:32:43Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Epic Games Sues Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo, Identifies Former Contractor Hayden Cohen as Defendant |seo_keywords=Epic Games |image=Epic_Games.PNG |tags=Epic Games, Fortnite |date=2026-03-09T09:28:05.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/epic-games-sues-fortnite-leaker-adirafninfo |article=News/Epic Games Sues Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo, Identifies Former Contractor Hayden Cohen as Defendant }} |author..."

{{News
|seo_title=Epic Games Sues Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo, Identifies Former Contractor Hayden Cohen as Defendant
|seo_keywords=Epic Games
|image=Epic_Games.PNG
|tags=Epic Games, Fortnite
|date=2026-03-09T09:28:05.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/epic-games-sues-fortnite-leaker-adirafninfo
|article=News/Epic Games Sues Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo, Identifies Former Contractor Hayden Cohen as Defendant
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|game=Fortnite
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Epic Games filed a lawsuit on March 5th in the Eastern District of North Carolina against Hayden Cohen, identified as the leaker behind the "AdiraFNInfo" accounts on X and Discord, alleging NDA breach, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair trade practices after Cohen allegedly leaked Fortnite collaboration details including South Park and Solo Leveling content weeks before official announcements.
* Cohen signed an NDA on September 11, 2025 as part of his work as a contractor and associate producer through a staffing agency, giving him access to Epic's internal systems, which Epic alleges he used to source and post confidential information to thousands of followers in early 2026.

[[Companies/Epic Games|Epic Games]] has escalated its fight against Fortnite leakers to the courtroom. The company filed a lawsuit on March 5th in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against Hayden Cohen, the individual it identifies as the person behind the "AdiraFNInfo" account on X and "AdiraFN" on Discord. The suit alleges Cohen abused his position as a contracted associate producer to access and leak confidential information about upcoming Fortnite collaborations, including details about South Park and Solo Leveling partnerships that appeared online weeks before Epic's official announcements.

===== What Cohen Is Alleged to Have Done =====

According to the complaint, Cohen worked with Epic through a staffing agency and signed an NDA on September 11, 2025, agreeing to keep all confidential information strictly secret. Epic alleges he accessed sensitive collaboration details through his legitimate internal system access and posted them publicly to thousands of followers.

The lawsuit identifies two specific leak examples. On January 6, 2026, Cohen allegedly posted details about an upcoming South Park collaboration, including specifics about cosmetic items not yet announced. Epic went public with the collaboration two days later. On January 13, Cohen allegedly posted about a Solo Leveling partnership that Epic did not officially confirm until February 18, more than a month after the leak appeared online.

Epic argues Fortnite's collaboration plans constitute trade secrets because they involve carefully coordinated announcement timing with entertainment, gaming, film, and television partners.

===== The Legal Claims and What Epic Is Seeking =====

The lawsuit brings four claims: trade secret misappropriation under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, trade secret misappropriation under North Carolina state law, breach of the NDA, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Epic is seeking monetary damages, attorneys' fees, and a permanent injunction preventing Cohen from disclosing or using any confidential Epic information going forward.

After identifying Cohen as the source, Epic terminated his system access and sent a cease and desist letter on February 20th demanding he stop leaking, surrender any devices used to access Epic systems, and identify anyone he shared information with. The company states Cohen has not yet fully complied.

===== The Bigger Pattern =====

This lawsuit arrives days after Activision legally forced Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope off social media through a separate legal demand. The two cases together signal that major publishers are moving decisively against insider leakers rather than tolerating the culture as a quirk of the gaming community.

'''More:'''[[News/Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund|Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund]]
}}

News/LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained

2026-03-09T09:24:08Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained |seo_keywords=LEC |image=Lecspring33.jpg |tags=LEC, League of Legends |date=2026-03-09T09:19:06.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Lolesports |url=https://lolesports.com/en-GB/news/2026-lec-spring-primer |article=News/LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained }} |author=An..."

{{News
|seo_title=LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained
|seo_keywords=LEC
|image=Lecspring33.jpg
|tags=LEC, League of Legends
|date=2026-03-09T09:19:06.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Lolesports
|url=https://lolesports.com/en-GB/news/2026-lec-spring-primer
|article=News/LEC Spring Split 2026 Guide: Roadtrips to Madrid and Paris, Best-of-Three Format and MSI Qualification Explained
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=League of Legends
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The LEC Spring Primer 2026 kicks off March 28th with a best-of-three regular season running over seven weeks, culminating in a six-team playoff bracket using best-of-five series, with two MSI qualification spots on the line.
* Two Roadtrips will bring live LEC action to regional fanbases outside Berlin for the first time in this format, with events at Madrid Arena in Spain and Les Arenes de Grand Paris Sud in France, each running three days of full weekend competitive play.

The LEC is moving quickly after LEC Versus wrapped with G2 Esports' 20th title win in Barcelona. The 2026 LEC Spring Split, officially branded as the LEC Spring Primer, begins on March 28th and brings back a format that the League of Legends community has been asking for across multiple splits: best-of-three regular season matches.

===== The Spring Primer Format in Full =====

The regular season runs for seven weeks with all matches played as best-of-three series. That means every league game produces at minimum two games of competitive League of Legends and up to three, which gives fans, analysts, and players considerably more to engage with each week compared to single-game results.

After seven weeks the standings feed into a six-team playoff bracket. Playoffs operate on a best-of-five rotation, which is the appropriate step-up for high-stakes elimination play. The schedule details provided by Riot confirm: "Playoffs will start on May 23 at 17:00 CEST with gamedays from Saturday to Monday each week with one Best-of-Five each day. The lower bracket finals and MSI qualification decider will be on June 6 and the Split Finals will be on June 7."

===== The Roadtrips: Madrid and Paris =====

The Roadtrips are the headline innovation of the 2026 Spring Primer. Rather than centralising all live action at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, the LEC will take competitive matches on the road to two European destinations that represent regions with deep League of Legends fanbases.

The first Roadtrip lands at the Madrid Arena in Spain. The second heads to Les Arenes de Grand Paris Sud in France. Both events span three full days of competitive play across the weekend, meaning fans in both locations get a complete event experience rather than a single showcase day.
The LEC Versus Final having just taken place in Barcelona suggests Riot has been building confidence in the regional live event model and is ready to extend it into the regular season calendar.

===== Studio-Only Mondays in Berlin =====

Not every element of the Spring Primer is an expansion of access. Monday matches at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin will be studio-only events, closed to public attendance, and the reason given is practical rather than ambiguous. Riot cited lower attendance figures on Mondays and rising production costs as the factors driving the decision to remove the live audience component from the start of the working week.

'''More:'''[[News/Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns|Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns]]
}}

File:Lecspring33.jpg

2026-03-09T09:19:51Z

Andura:

News/Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty

2026-03-09T09:09:09Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty |seo_keywords=Steam |image=Valve.PNG |tags=Valve |date=2026-03-09T09:04:32.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Steam |url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamworks/announcements/detail/528746884222682053 |article=News/Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty }} |author=Andura |category=Business |content='''TL;DR'''..."

{{News
|seo_title=Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty
|seo_keywords=Steam
|image=Valve.PNG
|tags=Valve
|date=2026-03-09T09:04:32.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Steam
|url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamworks/announcements/detail/528746884222682053
|article=News/Steam Machine Still Targeting 2026 Release But Storage Shortages Create New Uncertainty
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Valve has confirmed the Steam Machine is still planned for a 2026 release but acknowledged that memory and storage shortages are creating ongoing challenges, with no firm public timeline available yet following an earlier delay caused by RAM shortages.
* The update lands as the wider console market is in an unusually unsettled state, with Xbox's Project Helix targeting around 2027, PlayStation 6 reportedly potentially delayed until as late as 2029, and all major platforms converging on a PC-hybrid approach.

[[Companies/Valve|Valve]]'s Steam Machine is still coming, but the path to launch keeps getting more complicated. The company confirmed in a new update that its upcoming hybrid PC and game console is still targeting a 2026 release window, though the same hardware supply issues that forced an earlier reassessment are continuing to cause headaches. Memory and storage shortages have now been cited twice as obstacles, and Valve has stopped short of giving a firm date.

The situation is frustrating but not surprising given the global semiconductor and component supply environment that hardware manufacturers have been navigating since the disruptions of the early 2020s.

===== What Valve Has Said =====

Valve announced three new hardware products in late 2025: a new controller, a new VR headset, and the Steam Machine itself. The Steam Machine is the one generating the most attention given its positioning as a hybrid device that bridges PC gaming and the console format.

The original target was a first-half 2026 release. RAM shortages triggered the first delay and a statement that the timeline needed reassessment. Now, with a fresh update, the company has acknowledged that memory and storage shortages together are creating challenges without yet being able to commit to a specific shipping date.

Valve's full statement on the current status: "We hope to ship in 2026, but as we shared recently, memory and storage shortages have created challenges for us. We'll share updates publicly when we finalize our plans!" For a company that famously moves at its own pace and rarely locks itself into public deadlines, even this level of transparency is notable.

===== The Steam Machine and What It Represents =====

The Steam Machine concept has had a complicated history. Valve first attempted a living room PC strategy with Steam Machines in 2015, partnering with third-party manufacturers to produce dedicated SteamOS hardware that could sit under a television. The initiative was broadly considered unsuccessful, partly because of inconsistent hardware quality across manufacturers and partly because SteamOS at the time was not mature enough to compete with Windows for game compatibility.

The 2025 announcement of a new Steam Machine is a very different proposition. The Steam Deck, launched in 2022, proved that Valve could successfully ship consumer hardware, manage supply chains, and build a product that genuinely resonated with players. The Steam Deck also matured SteamOS significantly, making it a viable gaming operating system rather than an experimental alternative. The new Steam Machine builds on that foundation rather than attempting to resurrect the failed 2015 approach.

'''More:'''[[News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games|Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games]]
}}

News/Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement

2026-03-06T16:15:03Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement |seo_keywords=Google |image=Google2332.jpg |tags=Google |date=2026-03-06T16:11:37.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/google-resolves-dispute-with-epic-games-reduces-app-store-fees-to-20 |article=News/Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Sett..."

{{News
|seo_title=Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement
|seo_keywords=Google
|image=Google2332.jpg
|tags=Google
|date=2026-03-06T16:11:37.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/google-resolves-dispute-with-epic-games-reduces-app-store-fees-to-20
|article=News/Google Cuts Play Store Commission to 20% and Opens Door to Third-Party App Stores in Epic Games Settlement
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Google has settled its legal dispute with Epic Games by restructuring its Play Store fees, reducing in-app purchase commissions from 30% to 20% and introducing new lower rates for developers participating in specific programs, with the changes rolling out globally through 2027.
* The settlement also opens the door to third-party app stores on Android devices worldwide, with an optional sideloading support program launching outside the US first pending court approval, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirming Fortnite will return to Google Play globally.

[[Companies/Google|Google]] and [[Companies/Epic Games|Epic Games]] have reached the end of one of the most consequential legal disputes in mobile gaming history, and the outcome reshapes the economics of the Google Play Store for developers worldwide. Google has announced a restructured fee model that cuts its standard in-app purchase commission from 30% to 20%, introduces lower rates for qualifying developers, and formally opens Android to third-party app stores for the first time at scale.

The settlement, first agreed in November, is now being implemented through concrete policy changes detailed in a blog post by Sameer Samat, president of Google's Android ecosystem. The new model "decouples fees for using [its] billing system and introduces new, lower service fees," according to Samat.

Developers in the EEA, UK, and US will pay a 20% IAP commission plus a 5% service fee under the new structure. Those in the Apps Experience program or the revised Google Play Games Level Up program get further reductions: 20% for existing installs and 15% for new app installs. Market-specific rates apply elsewhere.

The timeline rolls out in stages. EEA, UK, and US developers see changes by June 30, 2026. Australia follows by September 30. Korea and Japan by December 31. A full global rollout lands by September 30, 2027.

The third-party app store component is the more structurally significant change. An optional sideloading support program will allow qualified third-party stores to operate on Android devices, launching outside the US first while the Epic settlement awaits final court approval domestically. That opens the competitive dynamic Epic had been fighting for since Google removed Fortnite from the Play Store in 2020 over its direct payment system.

The practical winner is immediately obvious. Tim Sweeney confirmed Fortnite's return to Google Play globally following the announcement.

Samat framed the changes as a foundation for growth: "We believe these changes will make for a stronger Android ecosystem with even more successful developers and higher-quality apps and games available across more form factors for everyone."

'''More:'''[[News/Phil Spencer Steps Down as Xbox CEO, Sarah Bond Resigns as Asha Sharma Takes the Helm|Phil Spencer Steps Down as Xbox CEO, Sarah Bond Resigns as Asha Sharma Takes the Helm]]
}}

News/Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed Round Led by Makers Fund to Build Mobile Game Franchises in Barcelona

2026-03-06T16:08:43Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed Round Led by Makers Fund to Build Mobile Game Franchises in Barcelona |seo_keywords=Cheer Games |image=Cheerg.jpg |tags=Cheer Games |date=2026-03-06T16:03:44.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cheer-games-raises-45m-in-pre-seed-funding |article=News/Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed Round Led by Makers Fund to Build Mobile Game Franchises in Barcelona }} |a..."

{{News
|seo_title=Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed Round Led by Makers Fund to Build Mobile Game Franchises in Barcelona
|seo_keywords=Cheer Games
|image=Cheerg.jpg
|tags=Cheer Games
|date=2026-03-06T16:03:44.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cheer-games-raises-45m-in-pre-seed-funding
|article=News/Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million Pre-Seed Round Led by Makers Fund to Build Mobile Game Franchises in Barcelona
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Barcelona-based mobile studio Cheer Games has raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed round led by Makers Fund with Play Ventures, with funding earmarked for developing its upcoming game slate and expanding its Barcelona headquarters with global talent.
* The studio was founded by former Lion Studios leads and the creators of Hexa Sort, one of the most commercially successful sort games in mobile gaming history, bringing deep AppLovin ecosystem experience to an independent venture.

Cheer Games has secured its first major external funding, closing a $4.5 million pre-seed round led by Makers Fund with participation from Play Ventures. The Barcelona-based studio, founded by former Lion Studios leads and the team behind Hexa Sort, is using the capital to develop its next slate of games and grow its 11-person team through international hiring.

The founding credentials here are worth paying attention to. Hexa Sort, the sort mechanic puzzle game developed before Cheer's founding, reached the top of global grossing charts in its category and generated the kind of benchmark data that the broader mobile industry referenced when evaluating sort games as a genre. Building a chart-topping mobile title is one thing. Building one that becomes a genre reference point is considerably rarer.

CEO Emre Gercel was candid about what the team around him represents: "When I look across the table at Berkay, Kutay, and Ertan, I see the people who built the games our industry measures itself against and who chose to bet on what comes next. Berkay's design vision built Hexa Sort into a top-grossing sort game in the world which the industry is still catching up. Kutay didn't just scale games, he scaled the machine that scales games. Ertan built not one but two successful studios from scratch. That collective experience is not something you find twice."

He also framed the studio's founding philosophy in terms that go beyond a single hit: "We started Cheer because we believed we could build something more durable than the industry's short-term thinking allows for. To build games that become franchises and studios that become institutions. Barcelona gives us the global stage, our Turkish roots give us the hunger, and this team gives me complete confidence that we'll deliver."

The Turkish founding team operating out of Barcelona is a combination that has produced meaningful results elsewhere in mobile gaming. Barcelona's creative and technology ecosystem gives access to European talent markets while the team's background in Turkish mobile development connects Cheer to one of the most commercially productive gaming cultures globally.

Makers Fund leading the round is a credible institutional signal, the same firm that recently backed Vento Games' seed round and has built a deliberate position across mobile gaming's next generation of founder-led studios.

'''More:'''[[News/Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10|Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10]]
}}

File:Cheerg.jpg

2026-03-06T16:06:35Z

Andura:

News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games

2026-03-06T16:00:51Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games |seo_keywords=Xbox |image=Helixproject.jpg |tags=Xbox |date=2026-03-06T15:56:16.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=SEA IGN |url=https://sea.ign.com/news/239655/xbox-confirms-project-helix-its-next-gen-console-that-will-also-play-pc-games |article=News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games }} |author=Andura |category=Busin..."

{{News
|seo_title=Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games
|seo_keywords=Xbox
|image=Helixproject.jpg
|tags=Xbox
|date=2026-03-06T15:56:16.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=SEA IGN
|url=https://sea.ign.com/news/239655/xbox-confirms-project-helix-its-next-gen-console-that-will-also-play-pc-games
|article=News/Xbox Project Helix Revealed: Next-Generation Console Will Play Both Xbox and PC Games
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Xbox has officially teased its next-generation console under the codename Project Helix, with CEO Asha Sharma confirming the device "will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games," making it the first traditional Xbox home console designed to run PC titles natively.
* No hardware specifications, pricing, release date, or final name have been announced, but Sharma indicated further details would be discussed with partners and studios at GDC the following week.

Xbox has pulled back the curtain on its next console, and the headline feature changes the device's identity in a fundamental way. Project Helix, the codename for what Xbox is calling its next-generation console, was teased through a trailer on Xbox's official social media alongside a post from [[Companies/Microsoft Gaming|Microsoft]] CEO Asha Sharma that confirmed the console's most significant capability: it will play both Xbox and PC games.

Sharma's post was direct: "Great start to the morning with Team Xbox. Where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox, including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console. Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about this more with partners and studios at my first GDC next week!"

Hardware specifications, pricing, release timing, and the final commercial name are all still unannounced.

===== What PC Game Compatibility Actually Means =====

The promise of PC game compatibility on a console is not entirely new territory for Xbox. The ROG Xbox Ally handheld already supports Steam alongside its Xbox library, giving players access to PC titles through that platform on a portable form factor. Project Helix appears to be bringing that concept to the home console format at a much larger scale.

The practical implications depend heavily on implementation. If Project Helix can run Steam and access PC game clients with genuine parity to a mid-to-high-end gaming PC, the device changes what a console purchase means. A player buying Project Helix would not be choosing between the Xbox ecosystem and PC gaming. They would be getting both.

That is a significant commercial pitch in a market where PC gaming has continued to grow as a category while traditional console hardware sales have faced increasing headwinds from the rise of gaming PCs and handhelds. Sharma's stated commitment to "the return of Xbox" and leading "in performance" suggests Project Helix is being positioned as a statement device rather than an iterative hardware update.

===== The Esports Angle: More Access, Uncertain Professional Impact =====

One of the more interesting downstream questions Project Helix raises is what it could mean for competitive gaming access. Several of the world's most-played esports titles are currently PC-exclusive in any meaningful competitive sense. Counter-Strike 2 does not exist on console. Dota 2, the game at the centre of The International, is PC-only. VALORANT has no console competitive equivalent.

If Project Helix delivers genuine PC game access including these titles, it would open competitive gaming to a segment of players who have been priced out of or simply not engaged with PC hardware. Lower barriers to entry for titles with active ranked and competitive modes could grow the player bases for those games and, in theory, expand the talent pools and viewing audiences attached to their esports scenes.

'''More:'''[[News/Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund|Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund]]
}}

File:Helixproject.jpg

2026-03-06T15:56:56Z

Andura:

News/Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns

2026-03-06T15:53:04Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns |seo_keywords=Top Esports |image=Teserpo.jpg |tags=Top Esports |date=2026-03-06T15:49:03.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/top-esports-lpl-player-under-investigation |article=News/Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns }} |author=Andura |categ..."

{{News
|seo_title=Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns
|seo_keywords=Top Esports
|image=Teserpo.jpg
|tags=Top Esports
|date=2026-03-06T15:49:03.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/top-esports-lpl-player-under-investigation
|article=News/Top Esports Opens Investigation Into LPL Jungler Naiyou Over Unusual Build and Fair Play Concerns
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Top Esports has confirmed it is investigating jungler Yang "naiyou" Zijian following what the club describes as "unusual performance" and suspected violations of fair play during the team's elimination series against Weibo Gaming on March 2nd.
* The suspicion centres on naiyou purchasing magic-resistance items on Skarner in Game 5 rather than armour items, despite Weibo Gaming's win condition being heavily tied to their ADC Elk's Jinx, though the club has not officially confirmed this as the specific reason for the investigation.

[[Companies/Top Esports|Top Esports]] has gone public with an investigation into one of its own players, a rare and serious step for any professional esports organisation. The club posted an official statement on Weibo confirming that jungler Yang "[[People/naiyou|naiyou]]" Zijian is under investigation for suspected violations of club rules, professional ethics, and conduct affecting competitive fairness. The team has formally reported the matter to the LPL and requested disciplinary intervention from the league.

The statement did not name a specific incident, but the timing makes the context clear. Top Esports were eliminated from the LPL on March 2nd by Weibo Gaming in a five-game series, and scrutiny fell on naiyou's decision-making in the final game almost immediately after the match ended.

===== The Build That Raised Questions =====

In Game 5 of the elimination series, naiyou was playing Skarner, a champion typically itemised with armour when facing a team whose primary threat is a physical damage-dealing ADC. Weibo Gaming's dominant win condition throughout the series was Zhao "Elk" Jia-Hao on Jinx, a marksman who deals almost exclusively physical damage. Standard competitive itemisation in that situation points clearly toward armour purchases to reduce Jinx's output.

Instead, naiyou built multiple magic-resistance components, an unusual and difficult-to-justify decision given the game state and the opposing team's composition. The incongruity of the build choice in context drew immediate attention from analysts, other players, and the broader Chinese esports community watching the series.

It cannot be confirmed that this specific build is the sole basis for the investigation. The club's statement references broader conduct concerns rather than a single itemisation choice, and professional match integrity investigations often involve scrutiny of patterns rather than isolated moments. But the timing of the investigation announcement and the public conversation that followed Game 5 make the connection difficult to ignore.

===== Top Esports' Statement and What It Signals =====

The language in Top Esports' public statement is notably strong for an organisation addressing one of its own active players. The club wrote that naiyou is suspected of "seriously violating club rules and regulations and professional ethics, and engaging in improper conduct that affects the fairness of the competition."

The club went further in a separate part of the statement: "Our club has always adhered to the bottom line of fair competition and resolutely resists all violations that affect the fairness of the competition. We will deal with internal violations strictly and severely. We thank our fans, partners, and the public for their supervision. The club will take this as a lesson, uphold its professional aspirations, and build a compliant, healthy, and positive esports team."

The phrasing "strictly and severely" in relation to internal violations is a deliberate signal to the LPL, to sponsors, and to the fanbase that Top Esports is treating this as more than a procedural matter.

===== A Teammate's Defence =====

Not everyone within the Top Esports camp has pointed fingers. Top laner Bai "369" Jiahao posted a public defence of his teammates on social media following the match, writing: "I've seen a lot of malicious comments about the jungler and support, and I really can't help but say something. How can newcomers achieve results and have the confidence to make a name for themselves if they keep saying that there are no new talents in the LPL?"

'''More:'''[[News/Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31|Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31]]
}}

File:Teserpo.jpg

2026-03-06T15:50:49Z

Andura:

News/TenZ Spotted in Sentinels Scrims Amid VCT Return Rumours as CEO Confirms Openness to Signing

2026-03-05T09:26:57Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=TenZ Spotted in Sentinels Scrims Amid VCT Return Rumours as CEO Confirms Openness to Signing |seo_keywords=TenZ |image=Sentinels_ed.JPG |tags=Sentinels, Valorant |date=2026-03-05T09:22:24.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/tenz-sentinels-scrim |article=News/TenZ Spotted in Sentinels Scrims Amid VCT Return Rumours as CEO Confirms Openness to Signing }} |author=Andura |category=Transfer Market |game=Va..."

{{News
|seo_title=TenZ Spotted in Sentinels Scrims Amid VCT Return Rumours as CEO Confirms Openness to Signing
|seo_keywords=TenZ
|image=Sentinels_ed.JPG
|tags=Sentinels, Valorant
|date=2026-03-05T09:22:24.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/tenz-sentinels-scrim
|article=News/TenZ Spotted in Sentinels Scrims Amid VCT Return Rumours as CEO Confirms Openness to Signing
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|game=Valorant
|content='''TL;DR'''

* TenZ has been spotted playing scrims with Sentinels ahead of the new VCT season, with a viral post on X and a Twitch clip of Subroza's live reaction adding significant fuel to return rumours that Sentinels CEO Rob Moore has done nothing to cool, publicly stating he is ready to take TenZ back if the player wants to return.
* The speculation arrives weeks after TenZ and Kyedae publicly confirmed their breakup in early February following around six years together, with TenZ later clarifying that his previous retirement from pro play was entirely his own decision.

[[People/TenZ|TenZ]] is back in scrims with his former team went viral within hours, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views as fans tried to read every possible signal about what it means for [[Companies/Sentinel|Sentinel]]'s roster heading into the new VCT season.

What makes this more than routine scrim speculation is the weight of evidence stacking up alongside the initial clip. Sentinels CEO Rob Moore has publicly stated he is ready to bring TenZ back if the player decides he wants to return to professional play. Subroza, one of the most credible and widely respected voices in North American VALORANT, was captured live on stream reacting to TenZ's return to the server, and his excitement was genuine enough to spread independently.

When a player's former CEO is publicly opening the door, a respected teammate is visibly excited on stream, and the player himself is appearing in scrims, the circumstantial case becomes difficult to dismiss.

The personal backdrop matters too. TenZ and Kyedae publicly announced their breakup in early February after approximately six years together. Kyedae's post explained they had grown apart, stressed there was no dramatic incident behind the split, and asked for privacy. TenZ later addressed the situation himself, defending Kyedae from online speculation and clarifying that his retirement from pro play had been entirely his own decision, unrelated to their relationship.

For a player who stepped back from competition and is now appearing in scrims with his former organisation while its CEO signals openness, the narrative of a comeback writes itself.

'''More:'''[[News/EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program|EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program]]
}}

News/Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31

2026-03-05T09:19:55Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31 |seo_keywords=Eldegarde |image=Eldegrde.jpg |tags=Eldegarde |date=2026-03-05T09:17:01.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Reddit |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldegarde/comments/1rky517/shutting_down_march_31st/ |article=News/Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31 }} |author=Andura |category=Drama |content='''TL;DR''' * Notorious Studios has announced that Eldegarde, its fantasy extraction game, will go offline permane..."

{{News
|seo_title=Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31
|seo_keywords=Eldegarde
|image=Eldegrde.jpg
|tags=Eldegarde
|date=2026-03-05T09:17:01.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Reddit
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldegarde/comments/1rky517/shutting_down_march_31st/
|article=News/Eldegarde Shutting Down on March 31
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Notorious Studios has announced that Eldegarde, its fantasy extraction game, will go offline permanently on March 31st, just months after graduating from early access to version 1.0 in January 2026.
* Studio founder and CEO Chris Kaleiki confirmed the shutdown in the game's Discord, writing that after "much reflection" the team made "the difficult decision to sunset Eldegarde," with the game also being removed from Steam permanently on the same date.

Eldegarde is over. Notorious Studios announced the fantasy extraction game will shut down permanently on March 31st, pulled from Steam and taken offline for good. The game only reached version 1.0 in January, making this a brutal turnaround for a studio that had just cleared what should have been one of its biggest milestones.

Chris Kaleiki, the studio's founder and CEO and a former Blizzard veteran, delivered the news directly to the community in the game's Discord server. His message was honest and clearly written by someone who cared deeply about what the team built: "After much reflection, we have made the difficult decision to sunset Eldegarde (a fancy gamedev term to basically mean shutting down). The game will be coming offline March 31st."

He continued: "I have a ton of thoughts and reflections behind the decision to do this, which I've put into the post I hope you'll read on Steam, but above all I wanted to express my gratitude for this community and for our players playing our game. Even though it is unfortunate and sad, I want to celebrate the life the game did have this past year, with the four seasons of content, 28 MTDs we did with you, and, of course, the memories and experiences we created together in the game."
There is talk of an offline version potentially surfacing at some point, but Kaleiki framed that as uncertain at best.

===== What Eldegarde Was =====

Eldegarde started life under a different name entirely. It was originally called Legacy: Steel and Sorcery before Notorious Studios rebranded and pivoted the game last year, a decision that reset some of its existing momentum but gave the title a clearer identity heading into 1.0.

The game sat in an interesting space. Describing it to someone who never played it, the closest shorthand is Fable mixed with ARC Raiders with touches of World of Warcraft woven through it. The fantasy aesthetic, the MMO-influenced visual language, and the extraction core created something genuinely different from the military-realistic tones that dominate the genre. For players who wanted the tension and risk of extraction gameplay without the oppressive tactical realism of Escape from Tarkov or the sci-fi coldness of ARC Raiders, Eldegarde offered something warmer and more welcoming.

'''More:'''[[News/G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent|G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent]]
}}

File:Eldegrde.jpg

2026-03-05T09:19:12Z

Andura:

News/Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund

2026-03-05T09:14:13Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund |seo_keywords=Vento Games |image=Vnt.jpg |tags=Vento Games |date=2026-03-05T09:11:02.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/turkish-mobile-developer-vento-games-secures-4m-in-seed-round-funding |article=News/Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund }} |author=Andura |category=Mergers and Acquisitions |content='''TL;DR''' * Ista..."

{{News
|seo_title=Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund
|seo_keywords=Vento Games
|image=Vnt.jpg
|tags=Vento Games
|date=2026-03-05T09:11:02.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/turkish-mobile-developer-vento-games-secures-4m-in-seed-round-funding
|article=News/Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Mergers and Acquisitions
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Istanbul-based Vento Games, founded in 2024 by former executives from Peak Games, Fungo, and Zynga, has closed a $4 million seed round led by Makers Fund and Arcadia Gaming Partners to accelerate its portfolio of mobile puzzle games.
* The studio's current titles include Blossom Word Search, Words of Wonder: Search, and Okey Plus, with the funding earmarked for scaling its lead game, expanding the portfolio, and hiring additional talent.

Vento Games has closed its seed round with $4 million in backing, giving the Istanbul-based mobile puzzle developer the capital to scale its first title and build out its portfolio. The round was led by Makers Fund and Arcadia Gaming Partners, two investors with established track records in the mobile and gaming space, and the funding will go toward game growth, new hires, and expanding the studio's portfolio of casual puzzle titles.

Founded in 2024 by former executives from Peak Games, Fungo, and Zynga, Vento brings a team that has been through the full cycle of building, scaling, and exiting mobile games at a significant level.

===== Why It Matters =====

Turkey has quietly become one of the world's most productive ecosystems for mobile casual gaming, generating multiple billion-dollar outcomes from a relatively small geographic base. Peak Games, founded in Istanbul, was acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion in 2020, one of the largest mobile gaming acquisitions of that era. Dream Games, another Istanbul studio, built Royal Match into one of the most consistently downloaded puzzle games on the App Store globally, demonstrating that the talent pool created by Peak's success was regenerating into new ventures with serious commercial potential.

Vento's founding team having come directly from Peak Games, Fungo, and Zynga places them within that lineage. These are not first-time founders learning mobile game economics from scratch. They have shipped titles, watched data, iterated on live products, and navigated the user acquisition and monetisation realities of the casual puzzle market at scale.
Michael Cheung, general partner at Makers Fund, referenced exactly this: "The Vento Games team have hard-fought experience building and launching multiple successful puzzle titles together, a rare quality we admire. We look forward to supporting them as they build on their expertise."

'''More:'''[[News/BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative|BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative]]
}}

File:Vnt.jpg

2026-03-05T09:12:13Z

Andura:

News/Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10

2026-03-05T09:08:28Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10 |seo_keywords=Overwatch |image=Ow2union.png |tags=Overwatch |date=2026-03-05T09:05:13.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/overwatch-project-yorha-nier-automata-crossover |article=News/Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10 }} |author=Andura |category=More |game=Overwatch |..."

{{News
|seo_title=Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10
|seo_keywords=Overwatch
|image=Ow2union.png
|tags=Overwatch
|date=2026-03-05T09:05:13.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/overwatch-project-yorha-nier-automata-crossover
|article=News/Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Overwatch
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Blizzard Entertainment has announced the Overwatch x Project YoRHA crossover event in collaboration with NieR Automata, launching March 10th with new hero skins inspired by the action RPG's iconic characters.
* Key art suggests skins for Kiriko as 2B, Lifeweaver as Adam, Wuyang as 9S, Vendetta as A2, and Mercy as a YoRHa Commander, with a potential Blizzard World map makeover hinting at a limited-time mode also arriving with the event.

[[Companies/Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard Entertainment]] has officially announced the Overwatch x Project YoRHA event, scheduled to launch on March 10th, bringing skins inspired by Yoko Taro's celebrated action RPG to Overwatch's hero roster. For fans of either game, this is one of the more exciting collaboration announcements the shooter has made in some time.

===== What the Event Appears to Include =====

The full confirmed skin list has not been officially released, but key art shared across Overwatch's social media channels tells a fairly clear story. The characters visible in the promotional material point toward Kiriko taking on the role of 2B, NieR Automata's stoic android protagonist who remains one of the most recognisable character designs in modern gaming. Lifeweaver appears styled as Adam, Wuyang as 9S, Vendetta as A2, and Mercy as a YoRHa Commander.

Those character pairings show some genuine thought behind the casting. Kiriko as 2B in particular is a natural fit given both characters' aesthetic sensibilities, and Mercy as a YoRHa Commander plays into the healer's existing authority visual language.

Key art also hints at a refreshed look for the Blizzard World map, which has been used in previous Overwatch events as the backdrop for limited-time modes. If that holds here, the Project YoRHA event likely delivers more than just cosmetics, which would put it in line with Overwatch's stronger past collaboration events that gave players actual gameplay content alongside the skins.

===== What the Skins Are Likely to Cost =====

Blizzard has not confirmed pricing for the Project YoRHA event skins. Based on how previous crossover events have been handled, the most reasonable expectation is bundles priced around 2,800 Overwatch Coins, which translates to approximately $30. That has been the standard price point for collaboration skin bundles in the past, covering themed cosmetic packages that typically include the hero skin alongside matching accessories.

'''More:'''[[News/EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program|EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program]]
}}

News/Activision Legally Forces Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostOfHope to Stop Sharing Confidential Information

2026-03-04T10:47:58Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Activision Legally Forces Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostOfHope to Stop Sharing Confidential Information |seo_keywords=Activision |image=Codblackops7.jpg |tags=Activision |date=2026-03-04T10:40:57.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Twitter |url=https://x.com/TheGhostOfHope/status/2029001319428563413 |article=News/Activision Legally Forces Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostOfHope to Stop Sharing Confidential Information }} |author=Andura |category=Drama |game=Cal..."

{{News
|seo_title=Activision Legally Forces Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostOfHope to Stop Sharing Confidential Information
|seo_keywords=Activision
|image=Codblackops7.jpg
|tags=Activision
|date=2026-03-04T10:40:57.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/TheGhostOfHope/status/2029001319428563413
|article=News/Activision Legally Forces Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostOfHope to Stop Sharing Confidential Information
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|game=Call of Duty
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Prominent Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope has confirmed they will stop sharing confidential information after receiving a legal demand from Activision, writing: "Activision has legally demanded that I stop leaking and disseminating confidential information related to Call of Duty/Activision and I am complying with their demands."
* The development comes days after TheGhostOfHope claimed CoD Zombies could receive a standalone release alongside Modern Warfare 4, a claim the official Call of Duty account quickly denied.

One of the most well-known voices in Call of Duty leak culture has gone quiet. TheGhostOfHope, a longtime insider who built years of community trust through early reveals of upcoming CoD content, confirmed on March 3rd that Activision has forced them to stop.

Hope posted directly: "Activision has legally demanded that I stop leaking and disseminating confidential information related to Call of Duty/Activision and I am complying with their demands."
They are not disappearing entirely. Hope confirmed they will stay in the community for official discussion, adding: "Still gonna stick around and chat about official Call of Duty info and anything not related to leaks/confidential information. Cheers for these past few years." In a reply to a fan they were equally direct: "Still gonna chat COD because I love this franchise."

The legal action landed less than two weeks after Hope made headlines by claiming CoD Zombies was set for a standalone release alongside the reported Modern Warfare 4, partly due to delays surrounding Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console. The official Call of Duty account denied those claims swiftly, making the timing of the legal demand feel pointed to many in the community.

Boston Breach creator TDAWG put the obvious question into words on X: "So if call of duty is shutting GhostOfHope down… Was he right about everything?"

The official Call of Duty account's response settled that debate with an argument that goes beyond accuracy: "Nah. Even when leaks are wrong, they still hurt the people building the game and mess with player expectations."

'''More:'''[[News/FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts|FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts]]
}}

News/Trump Administration Reportedly Weighing Tencent Divestment From US Gaming Firms Including Riot Games and Epic Games

2026-03-04T10:31:03Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Trump Administration Reportedly Weighing Tencent Divestment From US Gaming Firms Including Riot Games and Epic Games |seo_keywords=Tencent |image=Tencent.jpg |tags=Tencent |date=2026-03-04T10:26:45.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-administration-debates-whether-let-tencent-keep-its-gaming-stakes-ft-2026-03-04/ |article=News/Trump Administration Reportedly Weighing Tencent Divestment From US Gaming..."

{{News
|seo_title=Trump Administration Reportedly Weighing Tencent Divestment From US Gaming Firms Including Riot Games and Epic Games
|seo_keywords=Tencent
|image=Tencent.jpg
|tags=Tencent
|date=2026-03-04T10:26:45.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Reuters
|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-administration-debates-whether-let-tencent-keep-its-gaming-stakes-ft-2026-03-04/
|article=News/Trump Administration Reportedly Weighing Tencent Divestment From US Gaming Firms Including Riot Games and Epic Games
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The Trump administration is reportedly exploring whether Tencent's investment stakes in US-based gaming companies can remain, with top officials examining the national security implications of Chinese ownership across studios including Riot Games, Epic Games, and Klei Entertainment.
* The deliberations follow longstanding concerns about data privacy that first surfaced during Trump's first term and persisted through the Biden administration, with one Biden-era official stating that "the biggest national security issue in the area of gaming is data privacy and security."

The Trump administration is reportedly revisiting one of the most consequential unresolved questions in the gaming industry: whether [[Companies/Tencent|Tencent]]'s stakes in American gaming companies are compatible with US national security interests.

According to a report from the Financial Times, senior White House officials have been discussing whether the Chinese technology giant's investment positions across primarily US and Finnish gaming firms should be allowed to continue. The conversations are understood to be connected to broader US-China tensions ahead of a planned Trump visit to meet President Xi Jinping, where technology and investment policy is expected to feature.

Tencent's footprint in the Western games industry is enormous. The company fully owns Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends and VALORANT, as well as Turtle Rock Studios and Klei Entertainment. It holds a 35% stake in Epic Games, the Fortnite developer and owner of the Unreal Engine, and 38% of Pocket Gems. Its investment interests extend further still, covering Techland, Supercell, Shift Up, Bloober Team, Ubisoft, FromSoftware, and Don't Nod.

The concern driving these discussions is not new. During the Biden administration, a senior official stated plainly: "Clearly the biggest national security issue in the area of gaming is data privacy and security." The argument centres on the volume of personal data gaming platforms collect from hundreds of millions of users globally, and the question of whether Chinese-owned companies are obligated under Chinese law to share that data with Chinese authorities.

If the administration were to push for forced divestment, the disruption to the gaming industry would be enormous.

'''More:'''[[News/Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool|Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool]]
}}

News/EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program

2026-03-04T10:25:02Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program |seo_keywords=EA |image=Ea).png |tags=EA |date=2026-03-04T10:22:14.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-announces-ugc-marketplace-for-the-sims-4 |article=News/EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program }} |author=Andura |category=Business |content='''TL;DR'..."

{{News
|seo_title=EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program
|seo_keywords=EA
|image=Ea).png
|tags=EA
|date=2026-03-04T10:22:14.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-announces-ugc-marketplace-for-the-sims-4
|article=News/EA Launches The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17 With Creator Revenue Share and New Maker Program
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content='''TL;DR'''

* EA is launching the Sims Maker Program and The Sims 4 Marketplace on March 17, 2026 for PC and Mac, giving custom content creators an official in-game platform to publish and sell their work with creative ownership over pricing and packaging.
* Creators earn through a virtual currency called Moola, receiving a 30% revenue share, equivalent to $0.30 for every 100 Moola spent, while EA covers platform fees, VAT, server costs, and handles translation into 18 languages.

EA is bringing The Sims 4's custom content community into an official marketplace for the first time. The Sims Maker Program launches March 17, 2026 on PC and Mac, with PlayStation and Xbox support following in subsequent months. It represents a significant structural shift for a game whose modding and custom content ecosystem has operated almost entirely outside official EA infrastructure for over two decades.

The premise is straightforward. Creators, designated as "Makers" within the programme, build content and publish it through The Sims 4 Marketplace as Maker Packs. Each pack contains between three and 30 assets across Create-A-Sim and Build/Buy mode categories. EA has confirmed that Makers will have "creative ownership of their work and decide how their content is packaged and priced, within the Marketplace guidelines," which preserves meaningful autonomy while placing the distribution within EA's platform.

Revenue comes through Moola, the programme's virtual currency. Makers receive a 30% share, which translates to $0.30 earned for every 100 Moola spent on their content. EA says it is covering all publication costs, including platform fees, VAT, server costs, and translation across 18 supported languages, which means the 30% is a net figure rather than a pre-deduction headline number.
The comparison to Roblox is unavoidable. Roblox's UGC marketplace offers creators between 50% and 70% revenue, making EA's 30% cut look conservative. That gap will feature prominently in community discussions about whether the Sims Maker Program is a genuine opportunity or an undervalued one.

'''More:'''[[News/Call of Duty Has the Worst Cheating Problem in Gaming, New Study Reveals|Call of Duty Has the Worst Cheating Problem in Gaming, New Study Reveals]]
}}

News/BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative

2026-03-04T10:18:43Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative |seo_keywords=BIG |image=Big1).png |tags=BIG |date=2026-03-04T10:09:33.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Twitter |url=https://x.com/BIGCLANgg/status/2028545304434188798 |article=News/BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative }} |author=Andura |category=More |content='''TL;DR''' * Berlin International Gaming has revealed Project Breach, a new female Counter-Strike 2 initiative..."

{{News
|seo_title=BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative
|seo_keywords=BIG
|image=Big1).png
|tags=BIG
|date=2026-03-04T10:09:33.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/BIGCLANgg/status/2028545304434188798
|article=News/BIG Announces Project Breach, a New Female CS2 Initiative
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Berlin International Gaming has revealed Project Breach, a new female Counter-Strike 2 initiative developed in collaboration with healthcare partner GreenMedical, announced through a three-minute trailer that explicitly referenced the closure of ESL Impact as part of its motivation.
* BIG already operates BIG EQUIPA, its all-women CS2 team formed in 2022, which won ESL Impact League Season 8 before the circuit was shut down by ESL FACEIT Group over sustainability concerns.

[[Companies/BIG|BIG]] is stepping into a gap that the women's CS2 scene has felt keenly since ESL Impact went offline. Berlin International Gaming has announced Project Breach, a new female CS2 initiative built in collaboration with GreenMedical, the digital healthcare provider that has been a BIG partner since September.

===== What Happened to ESL Impact and Why It Matters =====

ESL Impact was, for a period, one of the most visible and well-resourced platforms for women in professional CS2. When ESL FACEIT Group shut it down, the reason given was that the economic model was not sustainable, a blunt assessment that left the women's competitive scene without its most prominent organised circuit.

The closure created a real structural problem. Women-only CS2 competition at the organised level depended heavily on ESL Impact providing the infrastructure, prize money, and broadcast platform that made professional participation viable. Losing that in one announcement left teams, players, and organisations to figure out the path forward without the circuit that had been the primary destination for that level of competition.

BIG's trailer for Project Breach acknowledged this explicitly, which sets an honest and direct tone for whatever the initiative turns out to be.

===== BIG's History With Women's CS2 =====

BIG is not entering the women's CS2 space from a standing start. BIG EQUIPA has been an active all-women's team under the organisation since 2022, when BIG signed the equipa roster that had been building a competitive identity in the European women's scene. The team competed at the highest available level throughout its ESL Impact participation and delivered a significant result before the circuit's closure, defeating MIBR Female 2-1 in the Season 8 Grand Finals to claim $50,000 in prize money.

'''More:'''[[News/Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool|Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool]]
}}

News/G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent

2026-03-04T10:07:18Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent |seo_keywords=G2 Esports |image=G2.jpg |tags=G2 Esports |date=2026-03-04T10:00:52.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/g2-esports-enters-teamfight-tactics |article=News/G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent }} |author=Andura |category=Transfer Market |content..."

{{News
|seo_title=G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent
|seo_keywords=G2 Esports
|image=G2.jpg
|tags=G2 Esports
|date=2026-03-04T10:00:52.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/g2-esports-enters-teamfight-tactics
|article=News/G2 Esports Enters Teamfight Tactics With Four-Player Roster of Established European Talent
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|content='''TL;DR'''

* G2 Esports has officially entered Teamfight Tactics, unveiling a four-player roster of Canbizz, Double61, Enzosx, and Pas de Bol, all based in France, marking the Berlin organisation's first step into Riot's competitive autobattler.
* The roster carries genuine TFT pedigree, with Double61 having won the Galaxies Championship in 2020, Pas de Bol winning EMEA Fates Finals in 2021, and all four players carrying top-eight finishes or better at major international events in recent years.

[[Companies/G2 Esports|G2 Esports]] is stepping into a new arena. The Berlin-based organisation, best known for its dominant runs in League of Legends and VALORANT, has announced its entry into Teamfight Tactics with a four-player roster composed entirely of established European talent. The move extends G2's competitive reach into one of the most quickly growing ecosystems in Riot's esports portfolio.

===== The Roster and What Each Player Brings =====

G2's TFT lineup brings together four players whose combined resume covers some of the most prestigious events the game has held since its competitive scene formalised.

Muhammed "Canbizz" Canbaz is a French-Turkish player who has been a fixture at S-Tier TFT events over the past two years. A fourth-place finish at Rising Legends: Inkborn Fables Finals in July 2024, appearances at the Esports World Cup 2024, and a run at the Inkborn Fables Tactician's Crown .

Emre "Double61" Demirtas is the roster's most decorated member internationally. He won the Galaxies Championship in 2020, one of TFT's earliest and most significant global events, and has continued placing highly at major events throughout his career.

Enzo "Enzosx" Bordonzotti has also competed at the top tier consistently. A top-eight finish at the Esports World Cup 2024 and a fifth-place result at the Monsters Attack! Championship in 2023 place him among Europe's most reliable TFT competitors.

Laurent "Pas de Bol" Cidere rounds out the roster with his own significant international results. He won the EMEA: Fates Finals in 2021 and more recently achieved a top-four finish at the Esports World Cup 2025.

===== What the Players Said =====

The announcement generated genuine excitement on both sides. Pas de Bol wrote on X: "So proud to announce that I'm joining G2! An amazing opportunity, I'm going to give it my all to represent them best."

Canbizz added: "New challenge, new home. Joined @G2esports. Thankful for the trust. Time to write a new story."

G2's own account responded simply: "This story is gonna be a banger."

===== Why TFT and Why Now =====

TFT is a meaningfully different competitive proposition from the titles G2 has historically built around. League of Legends, VALORANT, CS2, and Rocket League are all team-based games where organisational identity is built through coordinated squad performance. TFT is primarily an individual game. Players compete independently within a shared lobby rather than alongside teammates, which means the support structure an organisation provides looks different, focused on coaching, meta analysis, travel logistics, and mental performance rather than team coordination and communication.
That individual format has not slowed TFT's competitive growth.

Riot has invested significantly in the game's esports infrastructure through the Tactician's Crown circuit and the TFT track at the Esports World Cup, which has become one of the most high-profile opportunities for TFT players globally.

For G2, signing four players who already compete at the top level means entering the scene as a legitimate competitive force rather than an organisation testing the waters with developmental talent. That approach reflects how G2 has typically expanded into new titles, committing to established performers rather than building from scratch.

Several other major organisations have already staked positions in TFT, including Team Liquid, Cloud9, and various regional powerhouses.

'''More:'''[[News/Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam|Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam]]
}}

News/Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam

2026-03-03T14:36:00Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam |seo_keywords=Bungie |image=Bungie.jpg |tags=Bungie |date=2026-03-03T14:32:58.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Twitter |url=https://x.com/MarathonDevTeam/status/2027924343800648062 |article=News/Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam }} |author=Andura |category=More |content='''TL;DR''' * Bungie has published a feedback response addressing six core issues raised..."

{{News
|seo_title=Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam
|seo_keywords=Bungie
|image=Bungie.jpg
|tags=Bungie
|date=2026-03-03T14:32:58.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/MarathonDevTeam/status/2027924343800648062
|article=News/Bungie Addresses Six Major Marathon Concerns After Server Slam
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Bungie has published a feedback response addressing six core issues raised during the Marathon server slam: UI complexity, PC performance, low PvP frequency, movement and heat generation, med and ammo economy, and Weasel error codes.
* Players reported going entire raids without encountering other players, a significant problem for a PvPvE extraction game, and Bungie confirmed it is investigating player density on non-beginner maps and has already boosted player counts on early maps post-launch.

[[Companies/Bungie|Bungie]] has done something that many developers resist: it has looked directly at the negative feedback from Marathon's server slam and responded to it publicly before the game is even out. A post published to social media acknowledges six specific areas where players identified problems, ranging from the confusing UI to the surprisingly rare player-versus-player encounters that left many wondering whether the game actually functions as an extraction shooter.

With the full release a week away, the feedback response matters. Marathon divided players during the server slam in a way that left the game's future feeling genuinely uncertain, and Bungie clearly knows it.

===== The Six Issues Bungie Acknowledged =====

The list covers the concerns that generated the most sustained community discussion after the server slam closed. UI complexity was perhaps the loudest single complaint, with the interface described by many players as overwhelming and nearly impossible to parse without prior knowledge. Bungie said it is continuing to gather feedback and will iterate post-launch, directing players to a dedicated Discord thread.

PvP frequency is arguably the more fundamental problem. In a PvPvE extraction game, encountering other players should be a regular source of tension and engagement. Many server slam participants reported completing entire raids without seeing another human opponent, which is a different experience from established extraction titles where player encounters are almost certain. Bungie responded: "As we continue to keep an ear to the ground on this one, we're further investigating total player density on non-beginner maps to cover all of our bases. If you've got any feedback – be it on Perimeter (Beginner), Perimeter, or Dire Marsh – we want to hear it!"

The first post-launch update has already boosted player counts on the earliest maps to increase combat frequency, which is a fast response.

Movement and heat generation have also drawn criticism. In Marathon, heat replaces stamina, and aggressive movement drains it quickly. Players found the penalty too severe too fast, and Bungie is investigating.

Finally, the med and ammo economy left players unable to find enough supplies to sustain runs against bullet-sponge AI enemies, a combination that made encounters feel punishing in ways that felt unintended rather than designed.

'''More:'''[[News/G2 Esports Win 20th LEC Title After Five-Game Thriller Against Karmine Corp in Barcelona|G2 Esports Win 20th LEC Title After Five-Game Thriller Against Karmine Corp in Barcelona]]
}}

News/Nacon Delays Connect Showcase to May 2026 as Insolvency Proceedings Continue

2026-03-03T14:29:08Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Nacon Delays Connect Showcase to May 2026 as Insolvency Proceedings Continue |seo_keywords=Nacon |image=Nacon.jpg |tags=Nacon |date=2026-03-03T14:25:17.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Games Industry |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nacon-postpones-game-showcase-after-filing-for-insolvency |article=News/Nacon Delays Connect Showcase to May 2026 as Insolvency Proceedings Continue }} |author=Andura |category=More |content='''TL;DR''' * Nacon has po..."

{{News
|seo_title=Nacon Delays Connect Showcase to May 2026 as Insolvency Proceedings Continue
|seo_keywords=Nacon
|image=Nacon.jpg
|tags=Nacon
|date=2026-03-03T14:25:17.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nacon-postpones-game-showcase-after-filing-for-insolvency
|article=News/Nacon Delays Connect Showcase to May 2026 as Insolvency Proceedings Continue
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Nacon has postponed its annual Connect showcase from March 4th to May 2026, citing the need to "focus resources on upcoming releases" as the company navigates insolvency proceedings filed last week.
* The financial crisis was triggered when parent company Bigben Interactive failed to repay a €43 million loan after its banking pool unexpectedly refused to honour a drawdown notice.

Nacon has pushed its annual Connect showcase back to May, a quiet but telling signal that the French publisher is managing its public-facing activity carefully as it works through the insolvency proceedings it filed last week.

The showcase had been scheduled for March 4th. Nacon explained the delay in measured terms, saying the postponement was "to ensure [its] future announcements have the impact they deserve," and acknowledged the wider situation directly: "Faced with a difficult economic environment for the company, we are choosing to focus our resources on upcoming releases and the development of our current games."

The company added: "This period will allow us to polish our projects and prepare for a new Nacon Connect to be held in May, which will showcase the work of our studios in the best possible way."
The context behind those carefully worded statements is stark. Last week, Nacon revealed that Bigben Interactive, its majority shareholder, had been unable to repay a €43 million loan. The reason given was the unexpected refusal by its banking pool to respond to a drawdown notice, a failure that cascaded into Nacon filing for insolvency and seeking court-supervised procedures to stabilise the business.

On what those procedures are intended to achieve, Nacon was specific: "This procedure will enable the Company to continue its business, renegotiate its debts, and develop a credible and effective continuation plan."

'''More:'''[[News/Brawl Stars Championship 2026 Rewards Revealed|Brawl Stars Championship 2026 Rewards Revealed]]
}}

News/Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool

2026-03-03T14:23:09Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool |seo_keywords=Rainbow Six Siege |image=Ubisoft.PNG |tags=Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft |date=2026-03-03T14:13:04.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/ubisoft-r6-eml-challenger-circuit-2026-details |article=News/Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool }} |author=Andura |category=More |content='''TL;DR'''..."

{{News
|seo_title=Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool
|seo_keywords=Rainbow Six Siege
|image=Ubisoft.PNG
|tags=Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft
|date=2026-03-03T14:13:04.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/ubisoft-r6-eml-challenger-circuit-2026-details
|article=News/Rainbow Six Siege EML Challenger 2026 Revealed: €75,000 Prize Pool
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Ubisoft has revealed the full structure of the 2026 Rainbow Six Siege Europe and MENA League (EML) Challenger circuit, featuring a €75,000 prize pool split across three primary tournaments and a range of partnered events offering circuit points and a pathway to Regional League promotion.
* Saudi eLeague teams will be allowed to compete in the EML Challenger circuit for the first time in 2026, with the Saudi Esports Federation also hosting a dedicated EU and MENA open tournament whose winner earns the final spot at Challenger Finals 2027.

Ubisoft has published the complete roadmap for the 2026 Rainbow Six Siege Europe and MENA League Challenger circuit, and the season offers more pathways, more prize money distribution, and broader regional access than previous editions. For teams operating below the top tier of European and MENA R6 competition, the Challenger circuit is the primary route to Regional League promotion, and the 2026 structure makes that pathway more clearly defined than ever.

===== The Prize Pool =====

The full circuit carries a €75,000 prize pool across its primary tournaments, with each of the three main events offering €20,000 in distributed prize money. The winner of each primary tournament takes €10,000 alongside 120 circuit points, which feed into the standings that determine access to the Challenger Finals and ultimately open the door to Regional League promotion.

The EML Challenger sits directly below the full European and MENA League and functions as both a proving ground and a conveyor belt for talent moving into the top tier of regional R6 esports.

===== Saudi Teams Enter the EML Challenger for 2026 =====

One of the most significant structural changes for 2026 is the eligibility expansion for Saudi eLeague teams. Previously limited to European and non-Saudi MENA participants, the circuit now opens its doors to Saudi organisations, reflecting the growing investment in competitive gaming infrastructure across the region.

Beyond the standard circuit, the Saudi Esports Federation will host a dedicated tournament open to all EU and MENA teams, with the winner earning the final qualification spot at Challenger Finals 2027.

===== North Rainbow Rumble: Full Format Breakdown =====

The first primary tournament of the 2026 circuit is R6 North Rainbow Rumble, running from March 18th to May 3rd.

Three open qualifiers take place across consecutive weekends: March 18th to 19th, March 25th to 26th, and April 1st to 2nd. Teams earn circuit points based on their placement in each qualifier, and the 12 highest-scoring teams across the three weekends advance to the main event, meaning teams that perform well across multiple qualifiers rather than just peaking once are rewarded.

The 12 qualified teams are split into two groups of six and compete in round-robin format from April 11th to 26th. The top two from each group advance to the Playoffs, which run through a double-elimination bracket from May 1st to 3rd. All matches are best-of-three throughout, with the Grand Final elevated to a best-of-five.

===== Central Combine and South Breach =====

The remaining two primary tournaments follow North Rainbow Rumble in the second half of the year. Central Combine runs from June to July, and South Breach closes the primary tournament schedule from September to November. Both carry the same €20,000 prize pool and 120-point winner's allocation as North Rainbow Rumble.

===== Partner Tournaments and Third-Party Integration =====

A notable feature of the 2026 circuit is the formal integration of third-party partner tournaments into the points ecosystem. Ubisoft has opened applications for external organisers to host events that count toward EML Challenger circuit points, with successful applicants receiving additional support from the publisher. Events must run between March and October, be held on PC, and comply with the secondary circuit rulebook.

Two partner tournaments are already confirmed for 2026. Gamescom LAN takes place March 20th to 22nd in Cologne, Germany, as part of the wider Gamescom gaming convention, offering a €3,000 prize pool across three days. Gamers Assembly is the second confirmed partner event. Both will contribute points to the overall circuit standings.

'''More:'''[[News/BLAST Premier Reveals $10 Million 2027 Overhaul With Brazil Return|BLAST Premier Reveals $10 Million 2027 Overhaul With Brazil Return]]
}}

News/FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts

2026-03-03T14:08:44Z

Andura: Created page with "{{News |seo_title=FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts |seo_keywords=FISSURE |image=Fpscs.jpg |tags=FISSURE, Counter Strike 2 |date=2026-03-03T14:00:22.000Z |sources={{NewsSource |source=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/fissure-playground-3-cs2-event-cancellation |article=News/FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts }} |author=Andura |category..."

{{News
|seo_title=FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts
|seo_keywords=FISSURE
|image=Fpscs.jpg
|tags=FISSURE, Counter Strike 2
|date=2026-03-03T14:00:22.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/03/fissure-playground-3-cs2-event-cancellation
|article=News/FISSURE Cancels Three CS2 Events Including Playground 3, 4, and 7 Due to Calendar Conflicts
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Tournament organiser FISSURE has cancelled FISSURE Playground 3, scheduled for April 20th to 26th in Shenzhen, China, citing a scheduling conflict with a South American tournament that would have prevented players from travelling in time.
* FISSURE also announced the cancellation of Playground 4 and Playground 7, set for July 2026 and 2027 respectively, representing a significant rollback of its planned CS2 event slate.

[[Companies/FISSURE|FISSURE]] has pulled three events from its Counter-Strike 2 calendar in one announcement. The tournament organiser confirmed on March 3rd that FISSURE Playground 3, Playground 4, and Playground 7 have all been cancelled, with scheduling conflicts and lessons from its own experience cited as the reasons behind the decision.

The cancellations represent a significant contraction of FISSURE's planned event pipeline, and the announcement's timing, coinciding with the release of March's Valve Regional Standing.

===== Why FISSURE Playground 3 Was Cancelled =====

The April event in Shenzhen was a victim of the increasingly congested CS2 competitive calendar. FISSURE explained the situation directly on social media: "Due to overlap with another major tournament in South America, players would not be able to reach Shenzhen in time for the start of our event."

Travel from South America to Shenzhen is not a short hop. Flights between major South American cities and China typically involve connections and crossing multiple time zones, with journey times that can exceed 20 to 30 hours including layovers.

But FISSURE cited a second reason that goes beyond this specific scheduling clash. The organisation drew on its own experience: "Our experience hosting FISSURE Playground 1 showed that tournaments held during the players' break do not deliver the competition and spectacle that we are committed to providing our audience."

===== The Wider Cancellations: Playground 4 and 7 =====

Beyond the immediate April event, FISSURE also scrapped Playground 4, which was set for July 2026, and Playground 7, planned for 2027. The combined cancellations go well beyond a single scheduling fix and suggest a broader reassessment of how FISSURE's event roadmap fits into the competitive calendar rather than just a tactical response to one conflict.

The CS2 tournament landscape has become genuinely difficult to navigate for organisers outside the top tier. ESL FACEIT Group's IEM circuit and the Valve Major system anchor the calendar in ways that can make positioning independent events tricky, particularly events that aspire to attract top-tier fields. If the calendar windows that work logistically for players keep colliding with established events, an organiser has to decide whether to run events with weakened fields, push dates around indefinitely, or consolidate its investments into fewer, better-positioned events.

'''More:'''[[News/Heinz Teases Surprise Pokémon Collaboration|Heinz Teases Surprise Pokémon Collaboration]]
}}