Category: News

Riot Games has made a significant announcement regarding its popular titles, Valorant and League of Legends, as they embrace gambling sponsorships. This decision comes after extensive discussions within the company and reflects worries about the long-term sustainability of the esports scenes for both games.

The global esports market was valued at $2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $5.5 billion by 2029. Despite these promising figures, some industry leaders believe that esports is a challenging business prone to financial loss.

The aftermath of the pandemic has heightened these concerns, leading to a decrease in sponsorship in the market and leaving many esports teams in a precarious position. After five successful years, Valorant has become a cornerstone of both competitive gaming and content creation.

In an effort to improve sustainability, Riot has decided to permit betting sponsorships with specific conditions for its top-tier teams. John Needham, Riot’s President of Publishing & Esports, emphasized the importance of topics like “sustainability,” “revenue,” and “financial health” in his announcement about these new sponsorship opportunities.

The decision to allow gambling sponsorships acknowledges the existing betting culture around esports, which will persist regardless of company involvement. This initiative opens sponsorship opportunities for teams in North America, South America, and the EMEA region while establishing strict regulations to maintain the integrity of esports events.

To earn approval, potential partners must adhere to Riot’s guidelines, utilize data from an official partner, and fulfill integrity program requirements to prevent issues like underage gambling and match-fixing. Riot has also pledged that all official esports streams will remain free of gambling sponsors and has no immediate plans to broaden this sponsorship category to Asia and Australia.

Professional teams have long requested such opportunities, and although the company’s decision may have been driven by sustainability concerns, they aim to execute this shift responsibly.

World of Warcraft is set to introduce a valuable new feature in Patch 11.2, specifically a tooltip on the world map that indicates which story variant is active in each Delve. This enhancement will significantly improve the player experience by making it easier to complete challenging achievements and steer clear of Delve stories that may not resonate with individual players. Delves are a fresh type of instance introduced in World of Warcraft: The War Within, allowing characters of any specialization or role to engage solo or in groups.

Each Delve presents various story variants that modify enemies, objectives, mechanics, and pathways. These variants rotate daily, adding an element of surprise and replayability. With the implementation of this map tooltip in Patch 11.2, players will no longer have to physically visit a Delve’s entrance to discover its active storyline.

Simply hovering over the Delve on the map will reveal the current variant, streamlining the process for those seeking specific narratives. This functionality serves two primary purposes. First, it aids players in achieving the Delve Loremaster: The War Within accolade, which necessitates the completion of every Delve storyline—a prerequisite for the Glory of the Delver achievement that rewards the sought-after Ivory Golianthus mount.

Second, it enables players to select Delve story variants that align with their preferences, whether they are looking for easier challenges or engaging narratives. Importantly, Delves are expected to remain a permanent feature in future expansions, enhancing the long-term value of this update. While Patch 11.2 does not yet have a specific release date, following the usual eight-week release pattern after the recent Patch 11.1.7 could place its arrival around August 12.

Additionally, Patch 11.2 will include new visual options to help manage the visual effects produced by other players during intense battles, further refining the gameplay experience. Gamers will have control over how much visual clutter they encounter, enhancing their overall enjoyment in raids and group content. As the story unfolds, players will embark on an adventure through subterranean realms, uncovering mysteries and challenges posed by the Harbinger of the Void in the depths of the Nerubian empire.

The fan project Spartan Survivors, inspired by the Halo universe, has received official approval for development from Halo Studios. This exciting update has thrilled both the fan community and the developers behind the game. Spartan Survivors combines elements of roguelites and bullet heaven genres, challenging players to combat waves of enemies from the Covenant and the Flood.

Initially, there was some concern among fans about the project’s future. However, the development team recently announced through BlueSky that they had been contacted by Halo Studios. The studio expressed appreciation for the game and the effort that went into it, calling it enjoyable.

They requested, however, that the team include a disclaimer noting that Halo is a Microsoft property, and that the game follows the Game Content Usage Rules set by Microsoft, clarifying it is not affiliated with them. Currently, Spartan Survivors is available for download on Itchio, with plans for a release on Steam and Xbox in 2025. While a specific launch date has not been given, the support from Halo Studios has likely boosted the team’s morale and visibility, helping them gain notoriety among other enthusiasts.

A post from earlier indicated that the game was among the most popular on Itchio, contributing to its growing fan base. Historically, Microsoft has maintained a strict content policy regarding its properties. Despite this, fan-made titles often face scrutiny or shutdown by developers and publishers.

Thus, it is refreshing to see an encouraging response in this case. Spartan Survivors is now set to join other developer-supported projects, providing hope for fan communities eager for creative expansions of beloved franchises. Fans of Halo will want to keep an eye on Spartan Survivors and might try it out now on Itchio.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game, Drag x Drive, is set to launch on August 14 at an attractive price of $19.99. This title is one of the first exclusives revealed during a special Nintendo Direct presentation, joining the ranks of other notable games such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. At its launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 introduced five exclusive games for players to enjoy. Early adopters have already explored titles like Mario Kart World, Fast Fusion, Survival Kids, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

While Mario Kart World has garnered more attention, the other exclusives have yet to make a significant impact. However, the good news is that more titles are on their way to diversify the platform’s offerings. Drag x Drive stands out as a creative concept, featuring wheelchair basketball and incorporating the Switch 2’s unique mouse functionality for controls. Its primary focus is a 3v3 multiplayer experience, and while the depth of content is still unclear, the budget-friendly price should entice more players to try it at launch.

In contrast, other Switch 2 exclusives, like Mario Kart World priced at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bananza priced at $69.99, may deter potential buyers. Furthermore, Drag x Drive is unique in being a multiplayer-only game—an unusual direction for Nintendo. It’s currently the only exclusive with a confirmed release date aside from Donkey Kong Bananza. While the later months of 2023 appear somewhat sparse, particularly regarding original titles, fans remain optimistic for more announcements in the future that could enhance the Switch 2’s lineup.

Activision has recently announced an exciting collaboration for Season 6 of Call of Duty: Mobile, featuring the popular Gundam franchise. Following the success of a previous Gundam crossover in Call of Duty: Warzone, this new collaboration promises Gundam-themed operator skins, a unique event, a fresh game mode, and more for mobile players to enjoy.

Despite not receiving as much attention as its console and PC counterparts, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, Call of Duty: Mobile has emerged as one of Activision’s major successes. Launched in 2019, the free-to-play game generated an impressive $54 million within its first month and has accumulated over 500 million downloads by May 2021.

Activision continues to support this mobile title alongside its bigger siblings. The upcoming Season 6, titled “Gundams Arrive,” is set to launch on July 2 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

As the name implies, the season will focus heavily on the new Gundam collaboration. Players can earn or purchase Gundam-themed operators, weapons, and rewards throughout the season.

A new limited-time 4v4 Gundam Team Deathmatch mode will allow players to deploy as iconic Gundam operators, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. In this mode, battles will take place from a third-person perspective, reminiscent of Bandai Namco’s Gundam games.

The setting is an interstellar space station with plenty of points of interest, and players can unlock animated rewards by watching Gundam-inspired sequences at the end of each match. Additionally, players can earn a variety of free rewards through missions and challenges in the Survival of the Fittest event.

Rewards include the legendary weapon J358 — Fin Funnel v Gundam, camos, emotes, and more. The in-game store will also feature new draws to unlock Gundam operator skins and weapon blueprints, enhancing the overall experience for fans of both Call of Duty and Gundam.

Nintendo Switch and Dying Light fans are facing disappointment as the upcoming Dying Light: Retouched Update will not be available for the console. The unfortunate news doesn’t stop there—Nintendo fans have been grappling with similar issues related to the franchise for some time. Originally released in 2015, Dying Light is set to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a major update on June 26.

This Retouched Update will enhance the game’s textures, lighting, and audio. The refreshed experience will be available on last-generation platforms like the PS4 and Xbox One, as well as the current generation of consoles. However, the Nintendo Switch version was notably absent from the list of platforms receiving this update, prompting concerns from players.

Following inquiries from IGN, Techland, the game’s developer, confirmed that there are no plans to implement the Retouched Update for Dying Light on the Nintendo Switch—or even for the anticipated Switch 2. Players looking to enjoy the game on the new system can only do so through backward compatibility. Fans who own the original Switch or are considering the Switch 2 may find this news disappointing, though it is not entirely surprising.

While Dying Light: Platinum Edition was made available on the Switch, plans for a Cloud Version of the sequel that launched on other platforms in 2022 fell through. Furthermore, there is currently no indication that spin-off Dying Light: The Beast will be released for any console in the Switch family. No official explanation has been provided for the Switch’s exclusion, although the console’s hardware limitations could be a factor.

Despite the Retouched Update being available on older consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One, the Switch is viewed as less powerful, potentially leading to performance issues. While demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 is high, original Switch owners may have to be patient, as there are no current plans for the franchise on their platform. Players on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S can look forward to the update’s release on June 26.

Genshin Impact has recently unveiled Stygian Onslaught, a fresh endgame mode in Version 5.7 that expands the game’s competitive landscape beyond the established Spiral Abyss and Imaginarium Theater. While the previous modes provided engaging challenges, HoYoverse recognized the potential for further enhancement and innovation. Stygian Onslaught draws inspiration from earlier combat events, particularly the Unlimited Fighting Championship from Version 5.5.

What sets Stygian Onslaught apart is its co-op gameplay and the unique mechanic where teams begin with zero energy. While players are enthusiastic about the new mode, it has faced some criticism, even during its beta testing phase. Scheduled for release on June 25, 2025, Stygian Onslaught features six difficulty levels, with players needing only to complete the third level to earn all Primogem rewards.

The subsequent two levels award Dust of Enlightenment, while the most challenging level offers a unique weapon skin. To succeed in the Dire (VI) difficulty of Stygian Onslaught, players must invest in three specialized teams, making it more tailored for serious gamers. The mode includes a daily-reset leaderboard where players can earn Eminence and strive to join the ranks of the 16 Exalted Ones, separated by server.

Co-op play is enabled for various levels, although rewards for the more challenging Fearless (V) and Dire (VI) difficulties are limited to single-player runs. Located in Liyue, Stygian Onslaught provides a new avenue for farming Artifacts through Resin exchange in a Domain of Blessing. However, this option is available only for the first ten days of the challenge and requires clearing at least Hard (III) difficulty.

As players provide feedback in the coming weeks, the evolution of Stygian Onslaught will be shaped by their experiences and suggestions. As players step into Teyvat, they embark on an adventure filled with elemental powers, mysteries, and the quest for answers from The Seven, the elemental gods of this enchanting world.

Blood Message, a new action-adventure game by 24 Entertainment, a studio owned by NetEase, has generated excitement since its unveiling in June 2023. Anticipated to be released as early as 2026, this third-person game is designed for both PC and consoles.

The announcement trailer, which debuted on June 19, showcases an engaging narrative that follows a father-son duo on a lengthy journey through Ancient China during the later years of the Tang Dynasty. The studio is known for its previous hit, Naraka: Bladepoint, a popular battle-royale title in China.

Blood Message marks NetEase’s first single-player AAA project, emphasizing a narrative-driven approach with a deeply emotional storyline. Recent leaks have revealed potential release timelines and pricing, stirring interest among fans.

Insider Lunatic Ignus speculates that Blood Message could launch in the second half of 2026 with a price point around $70. They expressed surprise at the timeline, noting that the game’s development began in 2021 and was greenlit back in 2018.

Originally, the game was anticipated to be announced in 2023, suggesting a relatively brief interval between the reveal and anticipated launch. Furthermore, the game is said to take inspiration from the renowned God of War franchise, with insights from its director, who is friends with Feng Ji, the creative force behind Black Myth: Wukong.

The recent leak has captured the attention of fans of both God of War and Black Myth: Wukong. While it’s wise to approach leaks with skepticism, Lunatic Ignus has a reliable reputation, having accurately predicted significant announcements in the past.

As Chinese-made AAA titles like Blood Message gain traction, the gaming community eagerly awaits further developments and hopes that this title will meet the high expectations set by its predecessors. Blood Message promises a blend of melee and stealth gameplay, set against the rich backdrop of 848 AD China.

Specific platform details remain under wraps but are keenly anticipated by enthusiasts.

Blitz Royale, the new game mode in Fortnite, has been extended until August 12. This unexpected extension gives players additional time to dive into the action of this roguelike experience, which features 32 players in fast-paced 5-minute matches on a compact map. Each participant receives a random medallion and weapon from prior seasons, and the objective remains the same: eliminate opponents while navigating storm circles.

Initially scheduled from June 18 to July 15, Blitz Royale introduced fresh loot each week, including mythic items tied to popular character sets like Avatar: The Last Airbender and TMNT: Melee Mayhem. The recent announcement by gamer leaker HYPEX on Twitter confirmed the mode’s extension, allowing players to enjoy further weeks of mythic loot. Rumors suggest upcoming themes will draw from the Dragonball, Mortal Kombat, and Jujutsu Kaisen sets, although specific mythic items remain unconfirmed.

The popularity of Blitz Royale has led to impressive player engagement, boasting a peak concurrent count of 443,379 players. This made it the most popular mode in Fortnite, clearly demonstrating its appeal. The quick match format fosters an aggressive playstyle, compelling players to adapt their strategies for success.

The extended duration will provide fans an additional month to refine their approach and aspire to secure the coveted weekly loot. Fortnite continues to offer a dynamic gaming experience where players can collaborate or compete freely. Whether choosing traditional Battle Royale or the no-build format in Fortnite Zero Build, players are invited to explore diverse worlds, engage in live events, or partake in countless creator-made games across various genres.

With cross-platform capabilities, Fortnite remains accessible for players on mobile, PC, and all major gaming consoles.

Minecraft has recently released an exciting update that brings new features inspired by A Minecraft Movie. Fans of the film will appreciate the inclusion of familiar elements, such as iconic memes and beloved characters, enhancing the gaming experience. The original film was a box office triumph, even leading to a re-release titled Block Party Edition, which invited audiences to join in singing along. To mark the film’s success, Minecraft has introduced downloadable content (DLC) alongside the game’s ongoing updates.

This new content offers two free items fans can enjoy, making it a celebration worth joining. A Minecraft Movie is filled with subtle references that might have flown under the radar during the first viewing. Following the previous releases, Chase the Skies and Vibrant Visuals, Minecraft now adds two notable items: a Dennis painting and a Lava Chicken music disc. Dennis is a wolf character owned by Steve—voiced by Jack Black—who shares a bond with him after being tamed.

Players can now find a pixelated portrait of Dennis, while the Lava Chicken music disc features an instrumental version of Steve’s beloved Lava Chicken song. As for availability, both versions of Minecraft, Java and Bedrock, currently offer the Dennis painting. However, the Lava Chicken music disc is exclusive to the Java Edition for now, with plans to make it available in Bedrock in the near future. To acquire this music disc in Java, players must defeat a Chicken Jockey, as it has a chance of dropping the disc upon defeat.

Despite the challenges that delayed the film’s release from its initial 2014 announcement to 2025, a sequel, tentatively titled “Another Minecraft Movie,” is already in early development, promising a quicker turnaround. Fans are hopeful that Jack Black and the original cast may return, although confirmations on their involvement remain unannounced.