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PHP Flaw Is Taking Gaming and Esports Websites Offline

Divyesh Moghe
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PHP Flaw Is Taking Gaming and Esports Websites Offline

Two critical security flaws in PHP, the code behind most of the web, pushed hundreds of websites offline on Wednesday, October 21. Gaming and esports sites are caught up in it too, with esports wiki Liquipedia among those down for users. PHP released a fix at about 13:45 UTC (7:15 PM IST), but every site still has to install it.

The bugs, nicknamed PHP2Shell, could let attackers run their own code on a website’s server without logging in. Security agencies in Europe, the UK, Australia and Japan told site owners to patch at once or go offline until they could.

If a gaming wiki, forum or fan site you use is down today, this is the most likely reason. Expect some sites to keep flickering for the next day or two

What happened with PHP

On Tuesday evening, PHP’s security team gave advance notice of two critical bugs and a fix scheduled for 14:00 UTC Wednesday. Details had already leaked, and Cloudflare said it was seeing attack attempts.

The EU’s cyber response team, CERT-EU, then told organisations that couldn’t patch quickly to consider pulling sites offline. Agencies in the UK, Australia, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands issued similar warnings, as The Record reported.

Many listened. The Dutch parliament, government portals in Finland and France and even the Dutch cyber security centre’s own site went dark as a precaution.

Why gaming and esports sites are so exposed

PHP runs about 69% of websites, according to W3Techs. In gaming, it sits under a lot of the community web.

Type of siteWhy it’s affected
Esports and game wikisMost run on MediaWiki, which is written in PHP. Liquipedia is one
Forums and boardsClassic forum software is mostly PHP
News and fan sitesWordPress runs on PHP
Game server panelsPterodactyl, popular for Minecraft and other servers, is built on PHP’s Laravel framework
Clan and tournament sign-up sitesOften small WordPress or custom PHP builds on shared hosting

Big platforms like Steam, Battle.net or the PlayStation Network aren’t known to be affected. The risk is mostly the community layer around games: the wikis, forums and fan sites players rely on every day.

Gaming sites hit so far

The list is still growing, but a few are already clear.

  • Liquipedia: The esports wiki was down for users on Wednesday. It hasn’t confirmed the cause, but its MediaWiki software runs on PHP.
  • Wikipedia: Some parts went down, according to NBC News. Many game wikis use the same software.
  • Forums: 4chan and Something Awful, both home to big gaming boards, went offline to wait for the patch.
  • Japan: Some video game services went offline voluntarily, Japanese outlet ITmedia reported via NBC News.

If you’re following a tournament while wikis are down, use official league sites and organiser accounts on X and Discord. For BGMI, our BMSD 2026 winner report has the final standings.

Do gamers need to do anything?

Not much. PHP2Shell is a server bug, so simply visiting a site doesn’t put your PC, console or phone at risk.

The real danger is scams. Expect fake “mirror” links for downed wikis and messages telling you to download a “security patch”, so ignore both.

If a site you have an account on later says it was breached, change that password and turn on two-factor sign-in. Our guide to protecting your gaming account walks through it.

What gaming site owners should do now

If you run a clan site, forum, wiki or server panel, check your PHP version today. You’re covered on 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36, 8.2.35 or newer.

PHP 8.1 and older get no official fix. The project published patches for 7.4, 8.0 and 8.1 on GitHub for vendors to backport, but upgrading is the safer route.

On WordPress, core and plugin auto-updates won’t fix this. Security firm Wordfence told site owners to find out who manages PHP on their server, which on shared hosting is usually the host.

Self-hosting Pterodactyl or a similar panel? Update the server’s PHP, then restart PHP-FPM or your web server so the new version actually loads. Help Net Security has the technical breakdown of both bugs.

How long will sites stay down?

Sites that went offline only as a precaution usually return within hours of patching. Dutch officials warned that some could take several hours to come back.

Older sites stuck on unsupported PHP may take much longer, since they need a bigger upgrade first. Roughly half of PHP sites run older versions, according to experts quoted by The Record.

We’ll update this story as more gaming and esports sites confirm outages or come back online.

GTA 6 Pre-Orders Hit an Estimated $630 Million Before Launch

Divyesh Moghe
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GTA 6 Pre-Orders Hit an Estimated $630 Million Before Launch

GTA 6 has pulled in an estimated $630 million from 6.45 million digital pre-orders, four weeks before it even launches. The figures come from analytics firm Sensor Tower’s GTA VI sales tracker, updated around October 20. PlayStation 5 accounts for 74% of those pre-orders.

These are estimates, not official sales. Rockstar and Take-Two haven’t confirmed them, and the tracker only counts digital copies, so physical pre-orders are missing.

GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-loading opens a week earlier, on November 12, which is when analysts expect the biggest jump.

PS5 vs Xbox: where the money came from

PlayStation is doing most of the heavy lifting. Sony’s console has roughly three pre-orders for every one on Xbox.

PlatformPre-ordersEst. spendShare
PlayStation 54.80 million$468 million74%
Xbox Series X|S1.66 million$162 million26%
Total6.45 million$630 million100%

That gap lines up with Rockstar’s marketing deal with Sony. The launch trailer and the Extended Look were both captured on PS5, and the launch trailer opens with “plays best on PS5” branding. TweakTown has the full platform figures.

Xbox’s share is creeping up, though. In mid-August it sat at about 23%, and it’s now 26%.

How fast GTA 6 pre-orders are growing

The tracker has climbed steadily since pre-orders opened on June 25. The last week alone added around 370,000 copies and roughly $36 million.

Sensor Tower snapshotPre-ordersEst. spendPS5 share
October 206.45 million$630 million74%
October 136.08 million$594 million74%
August 184.38 million$429 million77%

The Netflix Extended Look on August 27 was the big spike. Sensor Tower measured a jump of more than 500% over the two days around the premiere, with PS5 orders up the most.

If you missed that reveal, our Extended Look breakdown covers everything Rockstar showed.

Why the average order is nearly $98

Here’s a number most coverage skips. Divide $630 million by 6.45 million copies and the average pre-order works out to about $97.70.

That’s close to the $99.99 price of the Ultimate Edition, not the $79.99 Standard Edition. It matches Sensor Tower’s earlier finding that about 89% of buyers chose Ultimate.

Sensor Tower’s Karl Kontus told GamesIndustry.biz that premium editions usually take 10% to 20% of pre-orders. As Shacknews reported, he said he had never seen a share near 90%. Torn between the two? Here’s our GTA 6 Collector’s vs Ultimate Edition comparison.

How GTA 6 compares to other big launches

In US digital pre-orders, GTA 6 is running 148% ahead of 2022’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 at the same point before launch. That came from Sensor Tower data reported by GamesIndustry.biz on October 13.

Modern Warfare 2 went on to make $800 million in its opening weekend. GTA 5 hit $1 billion in three days back in 2013.

Pre-order money and launch money aren’t the same thing, so these aren’t one-to-one comparisons. They do show how far ahead GTA 6 already is.

What analysts expect at launch

The $630 million is likely a fraction of the final number. Sensor Tower’s own analysts say most pre-orders land in the last week or two before release.

Back in August, Kontus estimated GTA 6 could reach around 25 million pre-orders by launch. Newzoo goes further, projecting $3.25 billion to $5.2 billion in launch-week revenue, as Insider Gaming reported.

For perspective, Newzoo’s top estimate is more than three times the up to $1.5 billion GTA 6 is reported to have cost. Our look at GTA 6’s development cost has the numbers.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has called the pre-order numbers “unprecedented”. He’s also refused to declare victory before launch.

What to keep in mind

Sensor Tower builds these figures from its own panel data and modelling. Coverage also differs on scope: GamesIndustry.biz describes the tracking as US digital pre-orders, while other outlets call it a global total.

Either way, the real number is higher. Physical copies and some regions aren’t counted.

Take-Two’s next earnings report is the first place official GTA 6 numbers could appear. Until then, our GTA 6 release countdown has everything else you need before November 19.

Football Manager 27 Free Play Begins October 29 on PC and Mac

Aritra Patra
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Football Manager 27 Free Play Begins October 29 on PC and Mac

Football Manager 27 free play will begin on October 29, 2026. PC and Mac players can try the Launch Preview at no cost for 5 days. Sports Interactive says the window runs from 6 PM GMT on October 29 to 6 PM GMT on November 3. All game modes are available, and no sign-up is needed. The preview replaces the earlier Beta and Advanced Access builds.

The full game launches on November 10. Below are the dates, platforms, pre-purchase details, save rules, and new features.

Football Manager 27 Free Play Dates and Time

The free play period starts at 6 PM GMT on October 29. It ends at 6 PM GMT on November 3. That is 11:30 PM IST on both days.

Players do not need to register. They can download the game from their preferred platform and start playing. The developers say all modes, features, and areas of FM27 are open during this period. There are no time limits or progress caps.

Where to Play the FM27 Launch Preview

The FM27 Launch Preview is available on 5 services:

Game Pass access is limited to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Players who started on Game Pass can continue through their subscription after the preview.

Football Manager 27 Pre-Purchase and Pricing

The pre-purchase window opens alongside the free play period. Buyers get 10% off. Paid Launch Preview access runs from 6 PM GMT on November 3 until full launch on November 10. The discount applies only to purchases through SEGA-approved digital retailers.

The Football Manager 27 pre-order price will be £49.99, €59.99, or $59.99. The developers said they wanted to show more of the game before pre-orders went live. The free period lets fans decide with the game in front of them.

Can You Keep Your Save Files?

Yes. Every save started during the free play period carries over. Players can continue it in the paid Launch Preview and in the full game. They do not need to start a new career.

What the FM27 Launch Preview Includes

Sports Interactive says the preview is closer to the final game than earlier early-access builds. It still carries a data warning. Some information is waiting on approval from rights holders. It may not match real-world data yet, and some club and player assets may be missing.

Football Manager 27 Features to Try

The developers point to a clearer interface and an upgraded match engine. Two new systems add control on the training ground and the touchline.

Tactical Tweaks let managers react to the opposition in real time. They stay active as long as the player wants. There is no cap on how many can run at once, though some contradict each other. They work alongside Shouts.

Tactical Effectiveness links recruitment, training, and tactics to how well players can run the manager’s plan. Player Ability, Next Match Information, Player Buy-In, and Tactical Understanding shape it. It also shows in Scout Reports, so managers can judge whether a transfer target fits.

The game also adds new Player Instructions for attacking the box. Events such as Cup Draws and Transfer Deadline Day appear in the wider football world. Managers can also customize their identity off the pitch.

Football Manager 27 Release Date

Football Manager 27 launches on November 10, 2026. FM27 Touch also arrives on Apple Arcade on the same date.

Project Helix Price Could Reach $1,800: Report

Aritra Patra
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Project Helix Price Could Reach $1,800: Report

Project Helix price is projected at $1,200 to $1,800, according to a report. Microsoft reportedly made the estimate internally for its next-gen Xbox console, which is targeted for a holiday 2028 launch. The report also says Xbox plans a handheld for holiday 2027 and a Game Pass overhaul with à la carte options. Microsoft has not publicly commented on the price projections or the layoffs.

Here is what the report says about the price, the timeline, the handheld, Game Pass, and the job cuts.

Project Helix Price and Release Date Details

According to a Fortune report, Microsoft has internally projected the Project Helix price at $1,200 to $1,800 for consumers. That range applies unless Microsoft subsidizes the hardware.

This is a projection, not a confirmed retail price. The final number could change before launch, especially if component costs fall or Xbox absorbs part of the hardware cost.

Asha Sharma plans to release the next Xbox console by the 2028 holidays. That Xbox Project Helix release date is later than earlier reports suggested, which pointed to 2027.

The report also says Xbox moved up its engineering deadlines for Helix by at least several months.

DeviceReported targetReported price
Next-gen Xbox handheldHoliday 2027Not disclosed
Project Helix consoleHoliday 2028$1,200 to $1,800 (internal projection)

The table shows the handheld launching first. Microsoft has not shared a price for it. The $1,200 to $1,800 range applies only to the Helix console.

Why the Next-Gen Xbox Console Could Cost More

Memory prices are the main pressure. Microsoft has said memory and storage costs have risen sharply, and demand from AI data centers is straining the supply of key components.

Sharma has spoken about this before. She said that memory costs will affect both the price and the availability of Project Helix. In an interview in June, she said Helix would be expensive only if Xbox does not innovate. She did not say what that innovation would be.

For comparison, the Xbox Series X launched at $499 in 2020.

Sharma announced Project Helix on Mar 5, 2026. She said it would lead in performance and play both Xbox and PC games. Microsoft has not shared final specs, and dev kits are due to start shipping in 2027.

Next-Gen Xbox Handheld Plans for 2027

Sharma plans to release a next-gen Xbox handheld by the 2027 holiday season. Microsoft has not publicly announced the device.

Sharma has called Helix a “family of devices” in earlier comments. That fits a lineup with more than one piece of hardware.

The report also describes a clash between the Xbox and Windows teams over the operating system. Xbox executives reportedly refused a trimmed-down Windows Home build. Xbox now largely controls the direction of the OS, though Sharma says the teams still work closely. “We can’t build Helix on our own,” she said.

Xbox Game Pass Overhaul Plans

According to the report, Xbox is planning a major Xbox Game Pass overhaul. The service would move to a tiered structure where players pick features à la carte.

Players would buy separate add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer. That replaces the current single-bundle approach.

The report says Xbox plans to cut 3,200 jobs in its gaming division over the next year. Sharma has cut 1,868 people so far. The cuts are meant to improve profit margins and will come in multiple waves.

Microsoft has not commented on the layoff plans. The final Project Helix price and the handheld details will need official confirmation from the company.

FF7 Remake Intergrade Joins Game Pass October 29: What to Know

Divyesh Moghe
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FF7 Remake Intergrade Joins Game Pass October 29: What to Know

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade joins Xbox Game Pass on October 29, 2026. It will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass members. Microsoft confirmed the date in its October 20 Xbox Wire post.

Game Pass Essential members are left out, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth isn’t part of the deal. Only the first game in the trilogy is coming.

The timing works for anyone catching up. Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the last part of the trilogy, launches on April 8, 2027, on every platform, Xbox included.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade key art for Xbox Game Pass

Which Game Pass tier do you need?

Ultimate, Premium or PC Game Pass gets you the full game at no extra cost. Essential does not.

TierCan you play it?
Game Pass UltimateYes, console, PC and cloud
Game Pass PremiumYes
PC Game PassYes, on PC
Game Pass EssentialOnly if you buy the game, then via cloud

That last row comes from the Xbox store listing, which says owners can stream it with Essential. If you’re weighing tiers, our breakdown of whether Game Pass Essential is worth it covers the trade-offs.

What’s included in Intergrade

Intergrade is the complete version of FF7 Remake. It retells the original 1997 story up to the escape from Midgar, with Cloud, Tifa, Barret and Aerith taking on Shinra.

It also bundles FF7R Episode INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi as she sneaks into Midgar. According to the store page, the package adds:

  • The Cacstar weapon
  • Midgar Bangle, Shinra Bangle and Corneo Armlet armor
  • Superstar Belt, Mako Crystal and Seraphic Earrings accessories
  • Carbuncle and Chocobo Chick summon materia

How it runs on Xbox and PC

This isn’t a new launch. Intergrade has been on Xbox Series X|S since January 22, 2026, so the Game Pass version is the same build players have been buying.

Digital Foundry’s testing found two modes on Series X. Graphics mode runs at native 4K and 30 FPS, and Performance mode targets 60 FPS at around 1512p. Series S keeps both frame-rate targets at a lower resolution.

On PC, plan for space. The Steam listing asks for 100 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM and at least a GTX 780 or RX 480.

Why this matters before FF7 Revelation

Square Enix is clearly clearing the runway for Xbox players. Revelation launches the same day on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC, as confirmed in Square Enix’s release date announcement.

That makes it the first mainline Final Fantasy to hit Xbox at launch since Final Fantasy XV in 2016. Remake and Rebirth both started as PlayStation timed exclusives.

There’s a practical bonus too. Square Enix says save data from Intergrade or Rebirth on the same console or PC unlocks extra items in Revelation, so a Game Pass playthrough now could pay off in April.

Yuffie Kisaragi in FF7R Episode INTERmission on Xbox

Is FF7 Rebirth on Game Pass?

No. Rebirth is on Xbox Series X|S but sold separately, and there’s no Game Pass date for it.

Our read: Rebirth on Game Pass before April would be a smart move for Microsoft. Nothing has been announced, so don’t plan around it.

Everything else coming in October wave 2

Intergrade leads a nine-game batch running through November 3.

DateGameTiers
Oct 21Sandustry (Game Preview, PC)Now on Premium too
Oct 22Dodo DuckieUltimate, Premium, PC
Oct 26Scramble Knights Online (day one, Game Preview)Ultimate, PC
Oct 27The Seance of Blake ManorUltimate, Premium, PC
Oct 29Final Fantasy VII Remake IntergradeUltimate, Premium, PC
Oct 29MouthwashingUltimate, Premium, PC
Oct 29Plants vs. Zombies: ReplantedUltimate, PC
Oct 29Terrible Lizards (day one)Ultimate, PC
Nov 3Pit of GoblinUltimate, Premium, PC

Nine games leave on October 31, including Deep Rock Galactic, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and Wartales. Both versions of Football Manager 26 follow on November 10.

Missed the last batch? Here’s our September wave 2 Game Pass roundup. For the biggest release on the horizon, see our take on whether GTA 6 will hit Game Pass.

Areeb, the IGL With Firepower India Needs: A Look at His BMSD 2026 Performance

Aditya Parsutkar
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Areeb, the IGL With Firepower India Needs: A Look at His BMSD 2026 Performance

India has produced many great In-Game Leaders (IGLs) in BGMI esports, but finding an IGL who can lead the team and also deliver strong individual performances is not easy. Areeb Naiyar, popularly known as Areeb, has shown that he can do both.

The 20-year-old IGL of Blitz Epigrotive Gaming delivered one of the best performances at BMSD 2026. He guided his team to a top-five finish, secured qualification for BMIC 2026, won the Best IGL award, and finished among the top seven fraggers of the Grand Finals.

India Needs More IGLs Like Areeb

In international PUBG Mobile esports, we have seen IGLs like Rosemary from Alter Ego Ares, DOK from Aurora Gaming, and Sylas from Regnum Carya Esports deliver strong individual performances while leading their teams.

However, this is still rare in Indian BGMI esports.

India has experienced IGLs like Nakul, Aaru, Manya, and Saumraj. These players have great game knowledge and years of experience. However, IGLs often finish with fewer eliminations than their teammates because their main responsibility is making decisions, planning rotations, and guiding the squad.

Areeb is showing a different side of this role. He is not just making calls for his team but also winning fights and getting important finishes.

Read More: Mumbai, Where BGMI Kings Fall and New Champions Rise: BMIC 2026 Returns to an Iconic Venue

Areeb’s Outstanding BMSD 2026 Performance

Areeb started his BMSD 2026 campaign with an impressive performance in the Qualifiers. He helped Blitz Epigrotive Gaming become one of the first four teams to secure a direct Grand Finals spot.

During the Qualifiers, he secured 24 finishes in 18 matches, becoming his team’s second-highest fragger behind Lobster.

But his best performance came in the Grand Finals.

Against 15 of India’s strongest teams, Areeb secured 29 finishes in 18 matches, finishing as the seventh-highest fragger of the finals.

He was just four finishes behind Taurus from K9 Esports and Legit, who topped the Grand Finals fragging chart with 33 finishes each.

What makes this achievement special is that Areeb finished as Blitz’s highest fragger, ahead of Lobster, while also handling the responsibility of leading the team.

His leadership helped Blitz secure a top-five finish and qualify for BMIC 2026.

To make the tournament even more memorable, he received the Best IGL award at BMSD 2026.

Areeb’s BMSD 2026 Stats

StatisticsPerformance
Total Matches36
Qualifiers Finishes24
Grand Finals Finishes29
Total Finishes53
Finishes Per Match1.47
Team Finish Contribution30.8%
Grand Finals Fragging Rank7th
Individual AwardBest IGL

Areeb’s 1.47 finishes per match across these 36 games is particularly impressive for an IGL. His numbers show that he can take responsibility for both the team’s strategy and its firepower.

Can Areeb Deliver Against International Teams?

Areeb’s next challenge will be BMIC 2026, scheduled from October 30 to November 1 in Mumbai.

Blitz Epigrotive Gaming will face some of the best PUBG Mobile teams from South Korea and Japan, including NS RedForce, Dplus, DRX, and Valor.

International competition will be a much bigger test of Areeb’s leadership, decision-making, and individual skills.

At just 20 years old, he still has a long career ahead of him. One tournament cannot define a player’s future, but his BMSD 2026 performance has certainly made him one of India’s most interesting young IGLs to watch.

India has many experienced leaders and talented fraggers. Areeb is showing what can happen when both qualities come together in one player.

GTA 6 Live-Action Trailer: What Rockstar Is Filming in Miami

Divyesh Moghe
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GTA 6 Live-Action Trailer: What Rockstar Is Filming in Miami

Rockstar Games looks to be shooting new GTA 6 footage on the real streets of Miami, and fans are convinced it’s a live-action trailer. Clips posted on October 20 show a convoy of GTA 6 styled supercars on a closed stretch of road near Bayside Marketplace, with a black camera car rolling alongside. Rockstar hasn’t commented.

If it is a trailer, it would be a first. Every main GTA 6 trailer so far, including last week’s launch trailer, was built from in-game footage.

GTA 6 arrives on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. That’s 29 days away, so whatever Rockstar is filming has a short runway.

What fans actually saw

The key clip shows the GTA 6 car convoy moving past Bayside Marketplace. A black car with a large rig-mounted camera pulls in beside it, which is standard kit for a car commercial shoot. Notebookcheck reported the footage was first captured by videotech and shared by FairlyGab.

Fan account GTA 6 Countdown posted the same day that a film crew was working the street. Another tracker, GTA 6 Raf, wrote that shooting of “a separate video or trailer” was still going on in Miami.

There are also posts from Key Biscayne. One claims Rockstar was there with custom car shop West Coast Customs. We couldn’t verify that, so treat it as a rumor for now.

These are the same cars from last week

None of this came out of nowhere. Around October 16, Miami locals started posting a convoy of real cars rebuilt to look like GTA 6 vehicles, all wearing plates from Leonida, the game’s version of Florida.

The lineup reportedly included a Corvette dressed as the Coquette and a Lamborghini in Vice Beach Police colors. A McLaren styled as the Progen Emerus rode along with takes on the Cheetah, Coquette D10, Tempesta and Manana. At one stop, the cars parked at a gas station while a GTA 6 branded Goodyear blimp floated overhead.

Not one of the cars says “GTA 6” on it. They don’t need to. This week, a camera crew joined them.

[IMAGE: Leonida-plated Coquette and Vice Beach Police Lamborghini. Alt: “Real-life GTA 6 Coquette and Vice Beach Police Lamborghini with Leonida plates in Miami”]

Confirmed vs. speculation

ClaimStatus
GTA 6 styled cars with Leonida plates are driving around MiamiConfirmed by multiple photos and videos
A camera car filmed the convoy near Bayside MarketplaceSeen in fan footage
Rockstar is behind the shootLikely, not confirmed
The footage is a live-action trailerUnconfirmed
The actors fans link to Jason and Lucia appear in itFan speculation only
Rockstar has made a statementNo, as of October 21

That last fan theory comes from posts hoping to see Manni L. Perez and Dylan Rourke on camera. Neither has been shown on set. If you want the background, here’s our look at the GTA 6 cast fans have been tracking.

Would a live-action trailer be new for GTA?

Yes. Rockstar has released four main GTA 6 videos, and all of them used in-engine footage.

VideoDateFormat
Launch TrailerOctober 15, 2026In-game, captured on PS5
An Extended LookAugust 27, 2026In-game
Trailer 2May 6, 2025In-game
Trailer 1December 4, 2023In-game

The official Launch Trailer page pairs the 90-second video with “Flower in a Hurricane,” a new track from score composers Justice featuring Tame Impala, SZA and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Rockstar labeled it as captured entirely on a PlayStation 5. You can compare it with our Extended Look breakdown.

Live-action trailers are common elsewhere. Battlefield 6’s live-action launch trailer competed against GTA 6 Trailer 2 for Best Game Trailer at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards, and Trailer 2 won.

The famous “live-action Trevor” clip people remember was never Rockstar’s. As GTABoom points out, it was Corridor Digital’s 2016 “GTA VR” sketch with Steven Ogg back in character.

Why Miami makes sense for a real-world shoot

Since September, Rockstar has been turning Miami into a billboard for Vice City. The biggest piece is the “Welcome to Vice City” sign on the Kaseya Center roof, which cost Rockstar $975,000 and could stay up until April 2027. We covered the Vice City sign deal when it went up.

Miami Beach also signed off on its own campaign after a split 4-3 vote, details of which are in our report on the Miami Beach marketing approval. Add Hard Rock Stadium ads, plane banners, the blimp and a batch of in-game brand posters on city screens, and you get a whole city working as a set.

Fans got there first, too. French YouTuber CyrilMP4 flew to Miami to match Trailer 1 shot for shot, as Kotaku covered. A small Reddit crew later reshot it frame by frame for about $400.

Welcome to Vice City sign on Miami's Kaseya Center for GTA 6

What the footage could turn into

Here’s our read, and it’s a guess. A full cinematic trailer with actors feels unlikely four weeks out, since every GTA 6 trailer so far has carried the in-game PS5 capture tag.

A short live-action TV or social spot fits better. Think 30 to 60 seconds of the convoy on recognizable Miami roads, cut against in-game shots of the same cars in Vice City.

That would match the rest of the campaign, which keeps blurring the real city with the fictional one. It would also give Rockstar something new to air in launch week without touching the story.

What to watch for next

Keep an eye on Rockstar’s YouTube and X accounts in the days before November 19. Launch-week ads usually land in that window.

Console players are set for day one. PC players are still waiting on a date, and our GTA 6 PC release prediction covers what we expect.

We’ll update this story if Rockstar confirms what it’s filming.

More Than 30 Million Rounds Were Played in Arc Raiders’ New PvE Mode

Sonu Banerjee
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More Than 30 Million Rounds Were Played in Arc Raiders’ New PvE Mode

Following a week of testing, the limited-time PvE mode for Arc Raiders has come to an end on October 20, 2026.

Shortly after the mode was taken offline, Embark shared some interesting stats regarding the test via their social media handles.

As per an official statement from the dev team, more than 30 million rounds were played on the Arc Raiders PvE game mode during the week it was live, highlighting the community’s interest in the experiment.

While attaining 30 million players in the limited-time mode is certainly no small feat, it still shouldn’t come as a surprise since a PvE mode was easily the most heavily requested game mode ever since Arc Raiders initially went live in October 2026.

Throughout the game’s lifespan, a good portion of the community repeatedly raised concerns about dying to “rats” and having an unenjoyable overall experience in the PvPvE mode, while expressing an interest in wanting to explore the game’s PvE aspects further.

This issue was somewhat alleviated with the introduction of an aggression-based matchmaking system in late 2025, but it failed to completely resolve the problem.

That being said, Arc Raiders’ experimental PvE mode wasn’t free from issues either. It didn’t take long for players to start “exploiting” this mode to farm resources quickly after expending gear in the regular game mode. Reports of players deliberately griefing others using game mechanics like body-blocking and lure grenades were also plenty in number.

The Arc Raiders PvE mode is a limited-time experimental mode. These kinds of issues are to be expected. The devs have called upon players to share their experiences with this mode while also asking for suggestions from the community via a recent blog post.

At the time of writing, the future of Arc Raiders PvE remains uncertain. While Embark hasn’t officially confirmed whether the game mode is returning, the numbers clearly hint towards the devs getting something right, and as such, it’s safe to expect this mode, or a different iteration of this mode, to return to the extraction shooter at some point in the future.

KRAFTON India Teases PUBG PC Esports Push as Report Says India Gets Own Region in 2027

Divyesh Moghe
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KRAFTON India Teases PUBG PC Esports Push as Report Says India Gets Own Region in 2027

KRAFTON India Esports has teased “a new chapter for PC esports in India,” and a report the same evening claims India will become its own PUBG PC region in 2027. The teaser went live on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, carrying KRAFTON and PUBG Esports branding.

Per the leak from Letsgrowesports, India gets four competitive cycles in 2027, each with an international slot, though KRAFTON India has not confirmed any of it yet.

What KRAFTON India Esports Posted

KRAFTON India Esports posted the teaser on its official Instagram account on Tuesday evening. The caption read: “A new chapter for PC esports in India is loading… Stay tuned.”

The artwork shows gloved hands holding a rugged tablet with a “LOADING…” bar. An outline of India sits on the screen next to a plane icon, a nod to the PUBG drop.

The post carries both the KRAFTON and PUBG Esports logos. It crossed 4,300 likes and 100 comments within about an hour.

The tablet has four numbered buttons, marked 1 to 4, along its bottom edge. That lines up with the four 2027 cycles in the leak, though KRAFTON has not said whether the detail is deliberate.

What the Leak Claims About PUBG PC in India

The report came from letsgrowesports, which posted it on X and Instagram. Here is what it claims, all still unconfirmed by KRAFTON.

ClaimDetail (reported)
Region statusIndia competes as its own PUBG PC region from 2027
2027 calendarFour competitive cycles across the year
International slotsOne international slot per cycle
LAN eventsTwo of the four cycles expected to include LAN events
Open tournamentPlanned for November 2026
Prize pool₹25 lakh for the November open event
RegistrationsExpected to open soon
BroadcastKRAFTON India Esports channels

The November open tournament is the nearest test. If registrations open in the next few weeks, the rest of the report becomes much easier to believe.

Why a Separate India Region Matters

KRAFTON’s 2026 PUBG Esports plan runs on regional series that feed the PUBG Global Series (PGS) and the PUBG Global Championship (PGC). The 2026 announcement names no India region and no India-specific slots.

A dedicated region would give Indian PC teams a direct path to those global events. Four slots a year would give Indian teams four separate shots at international events.

PUBG: Battlegrounds stayed available in India on PC after the 2020 ban on PUBG Mobile. Indian PC esports since then has leaned on community events, such as the IGZ PUBG PC tournament we covered in 2019, with no official KRAFTON circuit behind it.

How This Fits KRAFTON India’s Esports Plans

KRAFTON India has built its esports program almost entirely around BGMI so far. Its 2026 India esports roadmap covered BGIS, BMPS, BMSD and BMIC, with no PC events.

That BGMI circuit is still running. Team SouL won BMSD 2026 on October 18, and BMIC 2026 starts in Mumbai on October 30.

A PC announcement would make PUBG: Battlegrounds the second KRAFTON title with its own official India esports circuit. The timing also suggests KRAFTON could reveal more during or after BMIC.

What Happens Next

KRAFTON India’s caption promises more soon, but gives no date. The first concrete signs to watch are the November open tournament and its registration page.

We will update this story when KRAFTON India confirms the region, the 2027 cycles or the ₹25 lakh event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is India getting its own PUBG PC region?

A report from letsgrowesports says India will be its own PUBG PC region in 2027. KRAFTON India Esports has only teased “a new chapter for PC esports in India” and has not confirmed the region yet.

How many international slots will India get in PUBG PC?

The report claims four competitive cycles in 2027, each with one international slot. That would mean four slots across the year. KRAFTON has not confirmed the number.

Is there a PUBG PC tournament in India in November 2026?

According to the report, an open PUBG PC tournament with a ₹25 lakh prize pool is planned for November 2026. Registrations are expected to open soon, but no official date has been shared.

Can you play PUBG PC in India?

Yes. PUBG: Battlegrounds is available on PC in India. The 2020 ban applied to PUBG Mobile, and the mobile game returned in India as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).

European Gamers Face Potential Server Blackouts Following Major Google Cloud Outage

Aritra Patra
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European Gamers Face Potential Server Blackouts Following Major Google Cloud Outage

Google Cloud outage reports came in across Europe on October 20, 2026, after multiple services failed in the europe-west2 region in London. Google says the incident began at 23:08 PDT on October 19, which was 7:08 am in London. Several developers use Google’s cloud for game server routing, such as EA, Bandai Namco, Capcom, and more.

This article covers the services affected and the possible gaming impact.

Google Cloud Outage in Europe: What Happened

Google Cloud’s status page lists an issue with multiple services in europe-west2. The company describes the symptoms as elevated errors and intermittent network failures in the region.

Google says its engineering team is investigating and has apologized to affected customers. At the time of writing, it had not published a root cause or a firm recovery time.

The region is based in London. Google’s status page shows no serious issues in other regions. However, North America is not affected.

Google has advised customers to move affected workloads to another available zone or region where possible. It said Looker Studio was not affected.

Google Cloud Services Affected

According to reports, these are the services impacted in europe-west2:

  • Kubernetes
  • Google BigQuery
  • Cloud NAT
  • Apigee
  • Google Compute Engine
  • AlloyDB
  • VMware Engine
  • Google App Engine
  • Cloud Firestore
  • Network Connectivity

The official status page lists a slightly different set. It listed BigQuery Data Transfer Service, Cloud Filestore, Cloud Run, Google App Engine, Google Cloud NetApp Volumes, Google Kubernetes Engine and Managed Service for Apache Kafka. The lists vary because the status page has been updated during the day.

Other UK services have also reported trouble. Lloyds Bank said it was aware of similar issues affecting other organizations. The link to Google Cloud is not confirmed for Lloyds, HSBC and Rightmove.

Google Cloud Outage Gaming Impact

Apparently, no gaming service has been explicitly impacted. It adds that some could be affected, though nothing is confirmed.

EA relies on Google’s cloud for real-time routing for game servers. Players in Europe might therefore see problems in EA games.

It is also unclear whether PlayStation or Xbox systems are affected. Some of the impacted systems handle networking, server scaling, and player distribution. Others store digital data and saves.

If a game relies on those systems, players may have trouble getting into matches. They may also have trouble playing once they get in. These effects are possible, not confirmed.

Google Cloud Outage Status: What We Know So Far

Google has not confirmed what caused the failure. It has not given a time for full recovery either.

Services built on Google Cloud may have their own status pages and recovery times. They can stay slow even after Google starts restoring its systems.

Google is still posting updates on its status page. Check there for the latest on europe-west2. This article will be updated when Google confirms a cause or a fix.

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