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

2026-06-16T16:01:55Z

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{{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 [[Companies/Sentinels|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 [[Companies/Sentinels|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/Valve Fights Back Against New York AG Loot Box Lawsuit, Calls Demands "Bad for Users"

2026-06-16T14:04:11Z

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{{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'''

* [[Companies/Valve|Valve]] has publicly responded to New York Attorney [[News/General|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.
* [[Companies/Valve|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 [[News/General|General]]'s loot box suit, filed February 26, accused [[Companies/Valve|Valve]] of making "billions of dollars luring its users, many of whom are teenagers or younger, to engage in gambling." [[Companies/Valve|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 [[Companies/Valve|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," [[Companies/Valve|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 [[Companies/Valve|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 [[Companies/Valve|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. [[Companies/Valve|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 [[Companies/Valve|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. [[Companies/Valve|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 [[Companies/Valve|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," [[Companies/Valve|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. [[Companies/Valve|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/Overwatch x NieR Automata Crossover Revealed: Project YoRHA Event Launches March 10

2026-06-15T11:01:25Z

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{{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'''

* [[Companies/Blizzard Entertainment|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/Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head"

2026-06-15T10:54:09Z

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{{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 [[Companies/Activision Blizzard|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/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing

2026-06-15T10:42:45Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
|seo_keywords=Global Esports Games
|image=Gef11.jpg
|tags=Global Esports Games
|date=2026-03-16T09:47:27.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=SEA IGN
|url=https://in.ign.com/esports/255495/news/global-esports-games-tournament-for-dota-2-and-clash-royale-comes-to-mumbai-for-its-world-finals-all
|article=News/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The Global Esports Games 2026 will be held in Mumbai, India from March 19-22, marking the first time the tournament has been hosted in India, with around 24 national teams competing in [[Dota2|Dota 2]] and Clash Royale in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra.
* GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's global leadership summit, will run alongside the tournament on March 19, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and key esports stakeholders in the same city on the same day.

The tournament runs March 19-22 at an event that brings together national teams from approximately 24 countries and territories. [[Dota2|Dota 2]] and Clash Royale are the two competitive titles, a pairing that covers both the hardcore PC esports audience and the massive mobile gaming community that makes up a significant share of India's player base.

===== Why Mumbai and Why Now =====

India's esports scene has grown substantially over the past several years, particularly in mobile titles. Clash Royale's inclusion in the competitive lineup speaks directly to that strength. [[Dota2|Dota 2]] provides the global prestige event that draws international attention.

The Government of Maharashtra's involvement as a co-host signals something beyond a simple venue deal. When regional governments actively partner on international esports events, it usually reflects a broader economic and cultural strategy, tourism, tech industry positioning, youth engagement. Maharashtra is home to one of India's largest tech ecosystems, and Mumbai as a host city carries weight that a tier-two venue simply wouldn't.

===== GEFcon26: The Summit Running Alongside the Games =====

The tournament isn't the only reason the global esports industry is converging on Mumbai this week. GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's annual summit, takes place on March 19, the opening day of competition.

===== Esports Nations Cup 2026 Titles Confirmed =====

The Esports World Cup Foundation separately revealed the first wave of competitive titles for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. The confirmed games include Chess, [[CS2]], [[Dota2|Dota 2]], EA Sports FC, and Honor of Kings, with more titles expected to follow.

'''More:'''[[News/ESL FACEIT Group Layyoffs|ESL FACEIT Group Layyoffs]]
}}

News/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing

2026-06-15T10:35:41Z

AutoLinker: AutoLinker: added internal links

{{News
|seo_title=Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
|seo_keywords=Global Esports Games
|image=Gef11.jpg
|tags=Global Esports Games
|date=2026-03-16T09:47:27.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=SEA IGN
|url=https://in.ign.com/esports/255495/news/global-esports-games-tournament-for-dota-2-and-clash-royale-comes-to-mumbai-for-its-world-finals-all
|article=News/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The Global Esports Games 2026 will be held in Mumbai, India from March 19-22, marking the first time the tournament has been hosted in India, with around 24 national teams competing in [[Dota2]] and Clash Royale in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra.
* GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's global leadership summit, will run alongside the tournament on March 19, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and key esports stakeholders in the same city on the same day.

The tournament runs March 19-22 at an event that brings together national teams from approximately 24 countries and territories. [[Dota2]] and Clash Royale are the two competitive titles, a pairing that covers both the hardcore PC esports audience and the massive mobile gaming community that makes up a significant share of India's player base.

===== Why Mumbai and Why Now =====

India's esports scene has grown substantially over the past several years, particularly in mobile titles. Clash Royale's inclusion in the competitive lineup speaks directly to that strength. [[Dota2]] provides the global prestige event that draws international attention.

The Government of Maharashtra's involvement as a co-host signals something beyond a simple venue deal. When regional governments actively partner on international esports events, it usually reflects a broader economic and cultural strategy, tourism, tech industry positioning, youth engagement. Maharashtra is home to one of India's largest tech ecosystems, and Mumbai as a host city carries weight that a tier-two venue simply wouldn't.

===== GEFcon26: The Summit Running Alongside the Games =====

The tournament isn't the only reason the global esports industry is converging on Mumbai this week. GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's annual summit, takes place on March 19, the opening day of competition.

===== Esports Nations Cup 2026 Titles Confirmed =====

The Esports World Cup Foundation separately revealed the first wave of competitive titles for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. The confirmed games include Chess, [[CS2]], [[Dota2]], EA Sports FC, and Honor of Kings, with more titles expected to follow.

'''More:'''[[News/ESL FACEIT Group Layyoffs|ESL FACEIT Group Layyoffs]]
}}

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

2026-06-12T08:16:21Z

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{{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 [[Companies/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 [[Companies/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 [[Companies/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 [[Companies/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 [[Companies/Valve]] has not officially confirmed the figure.

'''How does [[Companies/Valve]] pay CS2 skin creators?'''

[[Companies/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 [[Companies/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/Top Players Boycott Games of The Future 2025

2026-06-09T08:00:31Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Top Players Boycott Games of The Future 2025
|seo_keywords=Games of The Future 2025
|image=Screenshot 2025-12-11 000600.jpg
|tags=Games of The Future 2025
|date=2025-12-10T14:59:44.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/dota-2/news/ceb-n0tail-others-pull-out-games-of-the-future-2025
|article=News/Top Players Boycott Games of The Future 2025
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content=Several well known Dota 2 players, including Ceb and N0tail, have decided not to attend the upcoming Games of the Future 2025 tournament. They made this choice after looking closely at concerns about the event and its political connections.

Many [[Dota2/People|people]] in the Dota 2 community raised questions because the Abu Dhabi LAN is linked to Russian state backed projects. The 2024 version of the event even featured Russian President Vladimir Putin during its opening ceremony. After hearing these worries, the players took time to review the situation.

Ceb confirmed the decision in a statement on X, written for the Monkey [[News/Business]] stack that includes him, N0tail, Topson, and others who have played together for years. In the message, he said the team had decided to withdraw from the event after taking time to understand the concerns surrounding the tournament. He explained their reasoning by saying, “When an event becomes too politicized, for any reason, we prefer not to take part. We believe we should have the right to stay outside of these political matters and keep our focus on our passion and esports.” He added that some of the reactions from the community had been painful, saying that “some of the reactions over the past days have been hurtful, even if we understand the concerns behind them,” and noted that the team made sure to seek proper information before choosing what to do.

[[People/N0tail|N0tail]] and Topson signed the statement as well, confirming that all three former The International champions will skip Games of the Future 2025 as part of Monkey [[News/Business]].

Streamer and former pro [[People/Gorgc|Gorgc]] also said he would not take part. He explained on his own channels that he and pieliedie would miss the event and that “maybe” they “will do something else in the future instead.”

Much of the community’s concern grew after a Reddit post from Ukrainian ex pro [[People/Ghostik|Ghostik]] was widely shared. He claimed that Games of the Future was entirely funded and utilized by the Russian government for its propaganda efforts. He pointed to Putin’s appearance at the 2024 event and said the Abu Dhabi edition is the same tournament with the same objectives, just in a new location.

'''More:'''[[News/Embracer Group Shares Tanked|Embracer Group Shares Tanked]]
}}

News/Overwatch Rush Announced: Blizzard Reveals Top-Down Mobile Hero Shooter Set in the Overwatch Universe

2026-06-08T17:34:53Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Overwatch Rush Announced: Blizzard Reveals Top-Down Mobile Hero Shooter Set in the Overwatch Universe
|seo_keywords=Overwatch
|image=Overwatch rush.jpg
|tags=Overwatch
|date=2026-02-24T17:58:32.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Activision Blizzard
|url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24244645/development-update-overwatch-rush
|article=News/Overwatch Rush Announced: Blizzard Reveals Top-Down Mobile Hero Shooter Set in the Overwatch Universe
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|game=Overwatch
|content='''TL;DR'''

* [[Companies/Blizzard Entertainment]] has announced [[Overwatch]] Rush, a brand new top-down hero shooter built specifically for mobile devices, developed separately from the main [[Overwatch]] 2 team (Team 4) which will continue focusing on PC and console.
* Blizzard has confirmed the game is "entirely new" and "not a port," stressing it was designed from the ground up for mobile players, with regional testing already underway and an official Discord open for those wanting updates.

[[Companies/Blizzard Entertainment]] is not done expanding the [[Overwatch]] universe. A new blog post from the company has officially announced [[Overwatch]] Rush, a top-down hero shooter designed specifically for mobile devices. It is an early-stage announcement rather than a launch reveal, but it confirms the project is real, in active development.

For a franchise that spent much of 2023 and 2024 fighting off narratives about irrelevance and declining player counts, the timing of this announcement says something about where Blizzard thinks [[Overwatch]] currently stands.

===== What Overwatch Rush Actually Is =====

The most important thing Blizzard has been clear about is what [[Overwatch]] Rush is not. The developer confirmed in its announcement that this is "entirely new game" and "not a port,". Mobile ports of existing games, even well-funded ones, tend to struggle because they are working against control schemes and gameplay loops that were never designed for touch input.

[[Overwatch]] Rush takes the hero shooter concept that defines the main game and reimagines it through a top-down perspective. That shift in camera angle is a significant design choice. Top-down shooters on mobile have a strong track record because they translate well to touch controls, giving players a broad view of the battlefield and allowing for more deliberate ability placement and positional play without the complications of first-person or third-person aiming on a touchscreen.

The game sits in the [[Overwatch]] universe, which means the world, the visual language, the characters, and the lore foundation are all shared with [[Overwatch]] 2. Whether that means familiar heroes from the existing roster appear in Rush, or whether the game introduces its own cast of characters within the same setting, has not been confirmed yet.

===== Who Is Building It and What That Means for Overwatch 2 =====

Blizzard was specific about the development structure. [[Overwatch]] Rush is being built by a team separate from Team 4, the studio within Blizzard responsible for [[Overwatch]] 2. Team 4 will continue its work on the main game, delivering new seasons, heroes, maps, and features for PC and console players without diverting resources toward the mobile project.

This separation is a deliberate signal. One of the most consistent criticisms levelled at [[Companies/Activision Blizzard]] over the years has been the perception that mobile projects come at the expense of the core game's development. By explicitly naming the teams and confirming the separation, Blizzard is trying to get ahead of that concern before it takes hold in the community.

It also suggests [[Companies/Blizzard|Blizzard]] has invested in a dedicated mobile development team rather than reassigning existing staff, which would imply a meaningful resource commitment to making Rush a genuine product rather than a side project that gets quietly abandoned.

'''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/New Fortnite Update Teased

2026-06-08T17:31:07Z

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{{News
|seo_title=New Fortnite Update Teased
|seo_keywords=Fortnite
|image=Fnrt3.jpg
|tags=Fortnite
|date=2026-01-30T08:28:03.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/JustTeddii/status/2017029590800068657
|article=News/New Fortnite Update Teased
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Fortnite
|content='''TL;DR'''

* February update promises exciting tweaks.
* Season 2 hits in March.

Fortnite has been a massive hit for years now, and keeping things fresh is what keeps players coming back. With Chapter 7 kicking off, the game dove into some classic vibes, but not everyone's thrilled about the pace of new stuff. Ted Timmins, who's the design director over at [[Companies/Epic Games]] for Fortnite, jumped into the conversation recently after seeing feedback from big names like SypherPK.

In his post on X, Timmins acknowledged that players are hungry for more variety in the game. He explained that the team took a deliberate step back with Season 1, aiming to simplify things and zero in on the core Battle Royale experience. "There was always a risk that by simplifying the game, focusing on Battle Royale and taking a “back to basics” approach to create a ‘reset’ moment for Season 1 - that it may start to feel a little too similar to chapters past," he wrote. It's a fair point, especially since Fortnite's success comes from blending wild collaborations with solid gameplay.

Timmins teased some stuff on the horizon to shake things up. For February, he hinted at a "fun update" that could bring back fan-favorites like Self-Revives and Shockwaves. Those items have been game-changers in the past, letting players bounce back from tough spots or launch enemies into the air. It's the kind of addition that could really energize matches without overcomplicating things. Then, looking ahead to March, he confirmed the rollout of Chapter 7 Season 2, which sounds like it'll pack a bigger punch with fresh themes and features.

On top of that, Timmins talked about behind-the-scenes changes to make the game smoother. They've put together a new team focused on live operations, meeting every day to tackle bugs, stability issues, and quality-of-life improvements. "We have already taken steps to setup a multi-discipline live-ops strike team that are meeting daily, prioritising feedback, and taking actions to improve player experience and new Quality of life Updates."

'''More:'''[[News/Amazon Studio Head Steps Down|Amazon Studio Head Steps Down]]
}}

News/Fortnite KizunaAI Cup Revealed

2026-06-08T16:36:18Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Fortnite KizunaAI Cup Revealed
|seo_keywords=Fortnite
|seo_description=Epic Games is teaming up with one of Japan's most iconic virtual YouTubers, Kizuna AI, for the Fortnite KizunaAI Cup
|image=Kizuina.jpg
|tags=Fortnite
|date=2026-01-12T15:56:41.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Epic Games Store
|url=https://www.fortnite.com/competitive/events/s39_kizuna?lang=en-US&region=ME
|article=News/Fortnite KizunaAI Cup Revealed
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Fortnite
|content=[[Companies/Epic Games]] is teaming up with one of Japan's most iconic virtual YouTubers, Kizuna AI, for the Fortnite KizunaAI Cup. This special in-game event is set for January 13, 2026, and gives players a unique chance to unlock the Kizuna AI Outfit and her Wings Back Bling early—before they appear in the Item Shop.

The tournament is open to everyone on all platforms, including mobile, PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. It's a single-session competition where points come from eliminations and Victory Royales. Whether you're grinding for top placement or just want to try for the cosmetics, this is a fun crossover event blending Fortnite's battle royale action with VTuber culture. Tournament Schedule by Region (Local Times)Mobile players start one hour earlier in most regions.

Here's the full breakdown:

Oceania
Mobile: January 13, 11:30 AM
Other Platforms: January 13, 12:30 PM Asia
Mobile: January 13, 1:30 PM
Other Platforms: January 13, 2:30 PM Middle East
Mobile: January 13, 7:30 PM
Other Platforms: January 13, 8:30 PM Europe
Mobile: January 13, 10:30 PM
Other Platforms: January 13, 11:30 PM Brazil
Mobile: January 14, 1:30 AM
Other Platforms: January 14, 2:30 AM North America East
Mobile: January 14, 4:30 AM
Other Platforms: January 14, 5:30 AM North America Central
Mobile: January 14, 4:30 AM
Other Platforms: January 14, 5:30 AM North America West
Mobile: January 14, 6:30 AM
Other Platforms: January 14, 7:30 AM Game Modes and RulesPC, consoles, and Switch players will compete in Battle Royale Duos mode.

Mobile players (Android and iOS) will run in the separate KizunaAI Mobile Cup using Solo Blitz Royale mode for faster-paced matches. Scoring is based on the usual Fortnite competitive system: higher placements earn more points, with bonus points for eliminations and Victory Royales.

The event typically allows up to 10 matches per session.Rewards and Placement TiersTop finishers on the leaderboard will receive the Kizuna AI Outfit and Wings Back Bling. Exact placement cutoffs for mobile will be shown in the Compete tab before the event starts.

For other platforms, here's how many spots are rewarded in each region:

Oceania: Top 250
Asia: Top 250
Middle East: Top 250
Europe: Top 2350
Brazil: Top 400
North America Central: Top 400
North America West: Top 250
North America East: Check in-game for final numbers (often aligns with Central or regional leaderboards) These are in-game cosmetic rewards only—no V-Bucks or cash prizes.

'''More:'''[[News/ARC Raiders Anti Cheat to be Improved|ARC Raiders Anti Cheat to be Improved]]
}}

News/PlayStation 6 Release Might be Pushed to 2028-2029

2026-06-08T16:25:07Z

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{{News
|seo_title=PlayStation 6 Release Might be Pushed to 2028-2029
|seo_keywords=PlayStation
|image=Sony_logo_black_1200x630.png
|tags=PlayStation, Sony
|date=2026-02-17T13:32:03.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Dot Esports
|url=https://dotesports.com/hardware/news/playstation-6-reportedly-delayed
|article=News/PlayStation 6 Release Might be Pushed to 2028-2029
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* [[Companies/Sony]] eyes PlayStation 6 for 2028 or later.
* AI demand spikes memory costs and shortages.
* PS5 lifecycle might stretch well beyond seven years.

[[Companies/Sony|Sony]] has not officially announced the PlayStation 6 yet, but fresh reporting suggests the next big console could arrive later than many expected. A Bloomberg story claims the company is weighing a shift to 2028 or even 2029 for its debut. That would mark the first time in decades [[Companies/Sony]] breaks its usual seven-year rhythm between generations.

The main culprit? Skyrocketing demand for memory chips driven by the AI boom. Console makers like [[Companies/Sony]] need huge amounts of high-speed RAM, but suppliers are stretched thin supplying data centers. Prices have climbed fast, and securing enough parts this far out has become nearly impossible to plan around.

==== Why Sony Might Push the PlayStation 6 Back ====

Industry watchers have heard whispers about component headaches for months. The Bloomberg piece ties it directly to the global memory shortage. Big tech firms are pouring billions into AI infrastructure, snapping up specialized chips and leaving less room for consumer gadgets. [[Companies/Sony]] sources familiar with internal thinking say the situation makes it tough to lock in costs or availability for a 2027 target.

If the delay happens, it lines up with [[Companies/Sony]]’s clear focus on milking the current generation longer. Back in November 2025, during the company’s financial briefing,

CFO Lin Tao put it plainly:“Our view is that compared to conventional console lifecycles, looking at the PS4 lifecycle, it seems to be getting longer and longer. Especially the PS4, which was launched in 2013, and it’s been over a decade since then, but there are many active users enjoying the console, and they’re enjoying other consoles. So from that perspective, we believe that the PS5 is only in the middle of the journey, and we are really planning to expand it even further.”

Fast-forward to early 2026 and the numbers back her up. [[Companies/Sony]] has shipped more than 92 million PS5 units worldwide as of December 31, 2025. Monthly active users on PlayStation Network hit a record 132 million that same month. The PS5 Pro, which dropped in November 2024 with boosted graphics and AI upscaling, acts as the perfect bridge to keep excitement high without rushing the full next-gen jump.

'''More:Rainbow Six Siege Year 11 Roadmap Announced
}}

News/Fortnite PlayStation Cup Delayed

2026-06-08T15:15:38Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Fortnite PlayStation Cup Delayed
|seo_keywords=Fortnite
|image=Fortnitepscup.jpg
|tags=Fortnite, Playstation
|date=2026-01-28T06:50:30.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/01/fortnite-playstation-cup-2026-delayed-january-30th
|article=News/Fortnite PlayStation Cup Delayed
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Fortnite
|content=[[Companies/Epic Games]] has pushed back the start of the Fortnite PlayStation Cup 2026, moving it from its original kickoff on January 27 to January 30. The change affects the entire schedule, but the finals remain set for February 1, with players still battling for a share of the $200k prize pool.

This competition is open to PS4 and PS5 users, focusing on two popular modes: Zero Build and Battle Royale. Competitors will go through two qualifier rounds before the top performers advance to the finals. Rankings come down to a mix of eliminations and Victory Royales, keeping the pressure on from start to finish.

Here is the updated schedule (all times in GMT for the Europe region):

Round 1 (Battle Royale and Zero Build): January 30 at 6 PM
Round 2 (Battle Royale and Zero Build): January 31 at 2 PM
Finals (Battle Royale): February 1 at 2 PM
Finals (Zero Build): February 1 at 6 PM

The delay means the event now overlaps with several other competitive Fortnite tournaments happening around the same time. Players and viewers have pointed out clashes with things like the Reload Elite Series, the Mobile Series, and FNCS Trial events. That scheduling conflict has led to noticeable frustration in the community, with many taking to social media and forums to voice their disappointment over the sudden shift.

[[Companies/Epic Games|Epic Games]] has not shared an official reason for the postponement yet, but tournament adjustments like this sometimes happen due to last-minute technical needs, player feedback, or other behind-the-scenes factors. For now, the focus stays on getting ready for the new dates.

If you are a PlayStation player looking to compete, make sure your Ranked mode is at least Bronze 1 in the chosen format to qualify for entry. The tournament remains free to join, and it offers a real shot at cash prizes while showcasing top console talent in Fortnite's fast-paced action.

'''More:Savvy Games Group and Neom Signs MOU for Incubator Programs
}}

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

2026-06-08T15:06:16Z

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{{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'''

* [[Companies/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 [[Companies/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:Vento Games Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Makers Fund
}}

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

2026-06-08T14:44:21Z

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{{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'''

* [[Companies/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 [[News/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:Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops
}}

News/T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed

2026-06-08T13:28:24Z

AutoLinker: AutoLinker: added internal links

{{News
|seo_title=T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed
|seo_keywords=T1
|image=T1es.jpg
|tags=T1, Overwatch
|date=2026-02-05T15:09:14.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/02/t1-unveils-overwatch-roster-for-2026
|article=News/T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|game=Overwatch
|content='''TL;DR'''

* T1 officially reveals its roster for the [[Overwatch]] Champion Series 2026 season.
* Six players will represent the organisation, mixing returning talent with one new signing.
* Former support Kim ‘vigilante’ Joon departs, with Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung joining the lineup.

[[Companies/T1 Esports]] has officially announced its roster for the [[Overwatch]] Champion Series (OWCS) 2026 season, confirming the six players who will represent the organisation as it sets its sights on another deep run toward the OWCS World Finals.

The lineup features a strong sense of continuity, with most of the core players from the 2025 campaign returning for another year. At the same time, T1 has made a key change to its support line, introducing a fresh face ahead of the new season.

Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung has been unveiled as the team’s newest signing, joining as a support player. He replaces Kim ‘vigilante’ Joon, who departed the organisation in January. The move signals T1’s intention to refine its roster while maintaining the structure that brought consistent success last season.

Here is the full list of active [[Overwatch]] players representing T1 in 2026:

Kim ‘DONGHAK’ Min-sung – Tank
Hong ‘Proud’ Suk-jin – Damage
Kim ‘skewed’ Min-seok – Support
Kim ‘ZEST’ Hyun-woo – Damage
Jeong ‘jasm1ne’ Jong-min – Tank
Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung – Support

For the upcoming season, T1 will once again compete as a partnered team in the OWCS Asia region. The organisation stands alongside other top-tier teams such as [[Companies/Team Falcons]] and Crazy Raccoon, placing it firmly among the region’s elite heading into 2026.

As part of its early-season schedule, T1 is expected to appear at the OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp in Seoul, South Korea. The event marks the first of several major [[Overwatch]] tournaments planned for the year and will take place from February 12th to 15th at the WDG Studio in Hongdae. Fans will have their first opportunity to see the refreshed roster compete live in a high-level environment.

During the 2025 season, T1 cemented its reputation as one of Korea’s strongest [[Overwatch]] teams. The organisation delivered consistently high placements across all three stages of the OWCS, finishing as runner-up in both stage two and stage three. These results secured qualification for the circuit’s two premier international LAN events, the Midseason Championship and the World Finals.

At the OWCS Midseason Championship, held as part of the 2025 Esports World Cup, T1 finished fourth out of 16 teams from around the world. The result saw them outperform several fan-favourite organisations, including Champions Clash winners Crazy Raccoon.

T1 followed up with a solid showing at the OWCS World Finals in DreamHack Stockholm. Competing against the best teams on the circuit, the squad placed between fifth and sixth alongside Weibo Gaming, finishing in the upper half of the 12-team field.

With a largely intact roster and a targeted new addition, T1 enters the OWCS 2026 season as a proven contender, aiming to build on last year’s momentum and push even further on the global stage.

'''More: Leslis Benzies Rejects Allegations
}}

News/T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed

2026-06-08T09:44:04Z

AutoLinker: AutoLinker: added internal links

{{News
|seo_title=T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed
|seo_keywords=T1
|image=T1es.jpg
|tags=T1, Overwatch
|date=2026-02-05T15:09:14.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports Insider
|url=https://esportsinsider.com/2026/02/t1-unveils-overwatch-roster-for-2026
|article=News/T1 Overwatch Roster Revealed
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Transfer Market
|game=Overwatch
|content='''TL;DR'''

* T1 officially reveals its roster for the [[Overwatch]] Champion Series 2026 season.
* Six players will represent the organisation, mixing returning talent with one new signing.
* Former support Kim ‘vigilante’ Joon departs, with Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung joining the lineup.

[[Companies/T1 Esports/T1 Esports]] has officially announced its roster for the [[Overwatch]] Champion Series (OWCS) 2026 season, confirming the six players who will represent the organisation as it sets its sights on another deep run toward the OWCS World Finals.

The lineup features a strong sense of continuity, with most of the core players from the 2025 campaign returning for another year. At the same time, T1 has made a key change to its support line, introducing a fresh face ahead of the new season.

Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung has been unveiled as the team’s newest signing, joining as a support player. He replaces Kim ‘vigilante’ Joon, who departed the organisation in January. The move signals T1’s intention to refine its roster while maintaining the structure that brought consistent success last season.

Here is the full list of active [[Overwatch]] players representing T1 in 2026:

Kim ‘DONGHAK’ Min-sung – Tank
Hong ‘Proud’ Suk-jin – Damage
Kim ‘skewed’ Min-seok – Support
Kim ‘ZEST’ Hyun-woo – Damage
Jeong ‘jasm1ne’ Jong-min – Tank
Kim ‘Bliss’ So-myung – Support

For the upcoming season, T1 will once again compete as a partnered team in the OWCS Asia region. The organisation stands alongside other top-tier teams such as [[Companies/Team Falcons]] and Crazy Raccoon, placing it firmly among the region’s elite heading into 2026.

As part of its early-season schedule, T1 is expected to appear at the OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp in Seoul, South Korea. The event marks the first of several major [[Overwatch]] [[Dota2/Tournaments|tournaments]] planned for the year and will take place from February 12th to 15th at the WDG Studio in Hongdae. Fans will have their first opportunity to see the refreshed roster compete live in a high-level environment.

During the 2025 season, T1 cemented its reputation as one of Korea’s strongest [[Overwatch]] teams. The organisation delivered consistently high placements across all three stages of the OWCS, finishing as runner-up in both stage two and stage three. These results secured qualification for the circuit’s two premier international LAN events, the Midseason Championship and the World Finals.

At the OWCS Midseason Championship, held as part of the 2025 Esports World Cup, T1 finished fourth out of 16 teams from around the world. The result saw them outperform several fan-favourite organisations, including Champions Clash winners Crazy Raccoon.

T1 followed up with a solid showing at the OWCS World Finals in DreamHack Stockholm. Competing against the best teams on the circuit, the squad placed between fifth and sixth alongside Weibo Gaming, finishing in the upper half of the 12-team field.

With a largely intact roster and a targeted new addition, T1 enters the OWCS 2026 season as a proven contender, aiming to build on last year’s momentum and push even further on the global stage.

'''More:Leslis Benzies Rejects Allegations
}}

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

2026-06-08T09:28:01Z

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{{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 [[Companies/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: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

2026-06-02T08:47:25Z

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{{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'''

* [[Companies/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:Xbox Mode Is Coming to Windows 11 in April 2026, Bringing Console Interface to PCs and Laptops
}}

News/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing

2026-06-02T08:33:26Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
|seo_keywords=Global Esports Games
|image=Gef11.jpg
|tags=Global Esports Games
|date=2026-03-16T09:47:27.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=SEA IGN
|url=https://in.ign.com/esports/255495/news/global-esports-games-tournament-for-dota-2-and-clash-royale-comes-to-mumbai-for-its-world-finals-all
|article=News/Global Esports Games 2026 Comes to Mumbai for the First Time With 24 Nations Competing
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* The Global Esports [[Games]] 2026 will be held in Mumbai, India from March 19-22, marking the first time the tournament has been hosted in India, with around 24 national [[Dota2/Teams|teams]] competing in Dota 2 and Clash Royale in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra.
* GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's global leadership summit, will run alongside the tournament on March 19, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and key esports stakeholders in the same city on the same day.

The tournament runs March 19-22 at an event that brings together national [[Dota2/Teams|teams]] from approximately 24 countries and territories. Dota 2 and Clash Royale are the two competitive titles, a pairing that covers both the hardcore PC esports audience and the massive mobile gaming community that makes up a significant share of India's player base.

===== Why Mumbai and Why Now =====

India's esports scene has grown substantially over the past several years, particularly in mobile titles. Clash Royale's inclusion in the competitive lineup speaks directly to that strength. Dota 2 provides the global prestige event that draws international attention.

The Government of Maharashtra's involvement as a co-host signals something beyond a simple venue deal. When regional governments actively partner on international esports events, it usually reflects a broader economic and cultural strategy, tourism, tech industry positioning, youth engagement. Maharashtra is home to one of India's largest tech ecosystems, and Mumbai as a host city carries weight that a tier-two venue simply wouldn't.

===== GEFcon26: The Summit Running Alongside the [[Games]] =====

The tournament isn't the only reason the global esports industry is converging on Mumbai this week. GEFcon26, the Global Esports Federation's annual summit, takes place on March 19, the opening day of competition.

===== Esports Nations Cup 2026 Titles Confirmed =====

The Esports World Cup Foundation separately revealed the first wave of competitive titles for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. The confirmed games include Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA Sports FC, and Honor of Kings, with more titles expected to follow.

'''More:ESL FACEIT Group Layyoffs
}}

News/Capcom Cup 12 Paywall Backlash

2026-06-02T08:14:49Z

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{{News
|seo_title=Capcom Cup 12 Paywall Backlash
|seo_keywords=Capcom
|image=Capcom.png
|tags=Capcom
|date=2026-03-16T09:14:16.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Twitter
|url=https://x.com/PRTIMES_LIFE/status/2033470355843764468
|article=News/Capcom Cup 12 Paywall Backlash
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Japanese player Sahara, representing GOOD8 SQUAD, won Capcom Cup 12 by defeating French player Kilzyou 5-1 in the grand final on March 15, with a dominant run through the bracket that included a 5-0 quarterfinal sweep over Xerna.
* Chilean player Blaz secured third place by defeating Japan's Higuchi 5-3, making the podium a genuinely international one across Japan, France, and Chile.

Sahara is the Capcom Cup 12 champion. The Japanese player, representing GOOD8 SQUAD, delivered one of the most composed runs through the bracket the tournament has seen in recent years, capping it with a 5-1 grand final victory over France's Kilzyou.

===== Sahara's Path to the Title =====

The story of Sahara's Capcom Cup 12 run is one of controlled dominance from the moment the bracket opened. He swept Xerna 5-0 in the quarterfinals without dropping a single game, then faced a sterner test in the semifinals against Blaz, coming through 5-3. The grand final against Kilzyou was similarly authoritative at 5-1.

Three matches, three wins, a combined score of 15-4. That's not a player who scraped through. That's a player who looked like the best in the building from start to finish.

For GOOD8 SQUAD, it's a flagship result at the most prestigious Street Fighter event on the calendar.

===== The Rest of the Podium =====

The third-place match was the rematch Blaz needed after losing to Sahara in the semis. He responded by defeating Japan's Higuchi 5-3, claiming the bronze and giving Chile a genuinely historic result at an event of this scale.

The top three spanning Japan, France, and Chile reflects what Street Fighter 6's international competitive scene has built. This wasn't a Japan-dominated tournament sealed off from the rest of the world. Kilzyou reaching the grand final and Blaz finishing on the podium demonstrates real global depth.

===== The Paywall That Defined the Conversation =====

Before a single match was played, Capcom had already made the tournament controversial for all the wrong reasons.

The Capcom Cup 12 and Street Fighter League World Championship Finals broadcasts were put behind a pay-per-view wall for March 14 and 15. VOD content stays locked until March 23. Co-streaming was banned. Clipping was banned. The entire amplification infrastructure that turns esports moments into cultural touchstones was switched off.

This breaks something fundamental [[About]] how competitive gaming operates. Esports doesn't charge fans to watch. That's not tradition for tradition's sake. It's the structural foundation of the entire [[News/Sponsorship|sponsorship]] and advertising model. Viewership numbers drive commercial value. Paywalls suppress viewership. The math isn't complicated, which is why this decision landed so badly.

The no-clipping rule is arguably worse than the paywall itself. Co-streaming and social clips are how events reach people who weren't already planning to tune in. A streamer reacting to Sahara's 5-0 sweep of Xerna is marketing. That moment spreading across social media is marketing. Capcom turned both off simultaneously.

'''More:Jeff Kaplan Reveals Blizzard Breaking Point: CFO Threatened 1,000 Layoffs Would Be "On His Head"
}}

News/NAVI to Join LEC

2026-06-02T07:59:12Z

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{{News
|seo_title=NAVI to Join LEC
|seo_keywords=NAVI
|image=Navi.png
|tags=NAVI
|date=2025-05-21T11:20:24.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Esports News UK
|url=https://esports-news.co.uk/2025/05/20/navi-acquire-rogue-lec-spot/
|article=News/NAVI to Join LEC
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Business
|content=[[Companies/Natus Vincere|Natus Vincere]] (NAVI) is reportedly making its debut in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), with plans to join the league as early as the Summer Split of 2025.

According to a recent report by Sheep Esports, NAVI is in the final stages of acquiring the LEC slot currently held by European organisation Rogue. The deal is expected to be publicly confirmed after the conclusion of the 2025 Spring Split, scheduled to wrap up in early August. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, this acquisition marks the conclusion of what the report describes as a “lengthy saga” that began in November 2023.

The situation initially involved Saudi Arabian organisation [[Companies/Team Falcons]], who had shown interest in taking over Rogue’s place in the LEC. However, that deal ultimately did not materialize, paving the way for NAVI to step in.

Rogue’s departure from the LEC follows a prolonged period of underwhelming results. After capturing the LEC Summer Split title in 2022, the team has been unable to maintain that level of performance. Most recently, they finished last in the 2025 Spring Split, ending with a disappointing 2-7 record.

NAVI’s potential entry into the LEC signals a major move in the team’s broader expansion strategy. Long recognized for its dominance in titles like Counter-Strike and Dota 2, NAVI has been steadily growing its footprint across multiple competitive scenes. In 2025 alone, the organisation has launched rosters in Apex Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and even ventured into professional Chess.

'''More:Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Removed from iOS and Google Play
}}

News/NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, Defeating Aurora 3-1 in Stockholm Grand Final

2026-05-28T07:32:28Z

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{{News
|seo_title=NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, Defeating Aurora 3-1 in Stockholm Grand Final
|seo_keywords=NAVI
|image=ESL.jpg
|tags=NAVI, ESL Pro League
|date=2026-03-16T09:38:23.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Hltv
|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44093/esl-pro-league-s23-championship-sunday-as-it-happened#45
|article=News/NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, Defeating Aurora 3-1 in Stockholm Grand Final
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Counter Strike
{{News
|seo_title=NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, Defeating Aurora 3-1 in Stockholm Grand Final
|seo_keywords=NAVI
|image=ESL.jpg
|tags=NAVI, ESL Pro League
|date=2026-03-16T09:38:23.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Hltv
|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/44093/esl-pro-league-s23-championship-sunday-as-it-happened#45
|article=News/NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, Defeating Aurora 3-1 in Stockholm Grand Final
}}
|author=Andura
|category=More
|game=Counter Strike
|content='''TL;DR'''

* Natus Vincere defeated [[Companies/Aurora]] 3-1 in the ESL Pro League Season 23 grand final in Stockholm, with w0nderful finishing the series with an extraordinary 82-46 K-D and 83.8 ADR as the standout individual performer of the match.

* [[Companies/Aurora]] won Anubis to make it a contest but NAVI controlled the series on Mirage, Nuke, and Inferno, with XANTARES struggling for [[Companies/Aurora]] throughout and repeatedly leaving teammates in disadvantaged situations.

NAVI are back in a grand final. More than that, they won it.

ESL Pro League Season 23 wasn't the cleanest tournament CS2 has produced this year. [[Companies/Team Vitality]]'s absence cast a shadow over the entire bracket that no one could fully ignore. But NAVI's 3-1 victory over [[Companies/Aurora]] in Stockholm is a real result regardless, and for a team that's been searching for form since the season opened, lifting this trophy matters.

===== How the Grand Final Played Out =====

The map veto produced a seven-map spread with a decider on the table if needed. It wasn't.

NAVI took Mirage convincingly, [[Companies/Aurora]] hit back to win Anubis 13-8, and then NAVI closed it out on Nuke and Dust II to seal the series 3-1. [[Companies/Aurora]] showed genuine competitive spirit across the match but couldn't string enough together to threaten a comeback after dropping Nuke.

w0nderful was the story of the server. An 82-46 K-D and 83.8 ADR across the series is the kind of AWP performance that doesn't leave much room for opponents to breathe. When your primary sniper is playing at that level, rounds that should be close become manageable, and manageable rounds become controlled victories.

On [[Companies/Aurora]]'s side, XANTARES was the individual concern. Too many passive deaths, too many moments where teammates were left at a numerical disadvantage at critical points in rounds. In a grand final that close on paper, you can't afford that repeatedly.

===== [[Companies/Aurora]]'s Run to the Final =====

Credit where it's due. [[Companies/Aurora]] reaching this grand final wasn't straightforward. They went 2-1 twice against Legacy Esports across the tournament, beat [[Companies/G2 Esports]], and defeated Astralis to earn their spot in Stockholm. That's a genuine run.

The context that makes it more meaningful: [[Companies/Aurora]] didn't win a single playoff match at PGL Cluj-Napoca or IEM Krakow earlier in the year. Making a grand final here represents a real step forward in consistency, even if the trophy didn't follow.

===== NAVI's Path and the Questions That Remain =====

NAVI's route to the final came with caveats. They dropped matches to G2 and Legacy in the online stage and their playoff run included a victory over The MongolZ, who are currently well below their peak form. The level of opposition tested them, but not always in the ways that reveal whether a team is truly back.

What the EPL S23 title does provide is momentum and a point on the ESL Grand Slam VI tracker toward the $1,000,000 prize.

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

}}