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Why Is Waylay Disabled in Valorant?

Divyesh Moghe
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Why Is Waylay Disabled in Valorant?

Waylay has been disabled in Valorant as of July 31, 2026, due to a bug with her Refract ability that causes her to see incorrect visual information. Riot Games confirmed the disable through the official Valorant social channels, stating the agent will remain unavailable until a fix is deployed. There is no timeline for when Waylay will return. An update will be sent out when the fix goes live.

What Is the Waylay Bug?

Riot’s official statement reads: “We’re aware of a bug that’s causing Waylay to see incorrect visual information after using her Refract ability. Due to the implications on Competitive Integrity, we are disabling Waylay until we deploy a fix. We’ll send out an update when the fix is live.”

The bug affects what Waylay can see while using Refract. Refract is Waylay’s signature ability. When activated, it places a beacon of light on the ground and gives Waylay the option to teleport back to that position. While empowered, Waylay’s screen shows prismatic outlines. During and after the ability, she is receiving incorrect visual information, which means she can potentially see things she should not be able to see. This creates a competitive integrity issue because it gives a Waylay player an unfair information advantage over opponents.

The exact nature of what incorrect information she is seeing has not been detailed by Riot beyond the official statement.

What Is Waylay’s Refract Ability?

Waylay is a Duelist agent added to Valorant in Act 2 of Season 2025. She was the 28th agent added to the game and the first new Duelist since Iso. Refract is her signature ability.

When Waylay activates Refract, she creates a beacon at her current position and becomes empowered for a limited time. On reactivation, she transforms into a mote of light and travels back to the beacon, becoming intangible during the journey. While traveling, only map terrain is visible. After returning, her vision is briefly obstructed before returning to normal.

The bug is tied to this post-Refract window where the visual information she receives does not match what it should be.

This Is Not the First Waylay Bug

Refract has been a recurring source of bugs since Waylay launched. Riot has fixed multiple Refract-related issues across previous patches:

  • Patch 13.01: Fixed an issue where Waylay could reach unintended locations using Refract and Lightspeed
  • Patch 12.11: Riot acknowledged a separate issue where Waylay could place her Refract on a rooftop on Ascent
  • Patch 10.07: Fixed an issue where Waylay teleported incorrectly if Refract was activated while picking up an ult orb. Fixed an issue where Waylay could activate Refract outside the playable space on Abyss. Fixed an issue where Waylay was looking straight up after Refract return when directly above the beacon.

The current bug that triggered the disable appears to be a new visual information issue that none of the previous patches addressed.

Waylay Is Disabled in All Game Modes

When Riot disables an agent, they are removed from all queues, including Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, and Deathmatch. Players who main Waylay cannot select her in any game mode until the fix is live.

This is the same approach Riot took with Neon earlier in 2026. As TalkEsport reported, Neon was disabled from Valorant until Patch 12.09 after a Fast Lane exploit threatened competitive integrity. Neon returned with balance adjustments alongside the fix. A similar outcome is possible for Waylay, depending on what Riot finds during the investigation.

Waylay’s disable joins a short list of full agent disables in Valorant’s history. Previous agents disabled for similar reasons include Tejo, Reyna, and Omen, all pulled temporarily for game-breaking bugs.

When Will Waylay Come Back?

There is no confirmed date for Waylay’s return. Riot has only stated they will send an update when the fix is deployed. Based on how Riot has handled previous agent disables, the fix could arrive as a hotfix within days or could be packaged into the next scheduled patch.

As TalkEsport reported in the Valorant 13.01 patch notes, Riot was already addressing Refract-related location bugs in the most recent patch. The current visual bug is a separate issue and will require its own fix.

Players who want to follow updates should watch the official Valorant social channels and the Valorant website for the announcement when Waylay is re-enabled.

FAQs

Why is Waylay disabled in Valorant? Waylay was disabled on July 31, 2026, because a bug in her Refract ability causes her to see incorrect visual information after using it. Riot disabled her to protect competitive integrity while a fix is developed.

What ability is causing Waylay to be disabled? Refract, her signature ability. The bug causes Waylay to receive incorrect visual information during or after using Refract.

Is Waylay disabled in all game modes? Yes. When Riot disables an agent, they are removed from all queues including Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, and Deathmatch.

When will Waylay come back in Valorant? No timeline has been confirmed. Riot will send an update when the fix is live.

Has Waylay been disabled before? Not for a full agent disable, but Refract has had multiple bugs patched in previous updates including patches 10.07, 12.11, and 13.01.

What happened with Neon’s disable? Neon was disabled earlier in 2026 due to a Fast Lane exploit. She returned with Patch 12.09 alongside balance adjustments.

PMWC 2026 Prize Pool Distribution Explained: How $3 Million Is Split Across All Stages

Divyesh Moghe
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0
PMWC 2026 Prize Pool Distribution Explained: How $3 Million Is Split Across All Stages

The PMWC 2026 prize pool is $3,000,000, split across 3 stages: Group Stage ($1,148,000), Survival Stage ($152,000), and Grand Finals ($1,700,000). Every 1 of the 32 teams at the PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026 walks away with prize money, including teams eliminated in the Group Stage. The Grand Finals holds 56.7% of the total prize pool, which means teams that make it the furthest earn the biggest paydays. This article breaks down exactly how the $3 million is distributed and what each stage placement is worth.

PMWC 2026 Prize Pool: Stage-by-Stage Breakdown

The total prize pool for PMWC 2026 is $3 million. $1.148 million is distributed in the Group Stage, $152,000 is reserved for the Survival Stage, and the biggest portion, $1.7 million, goes to the Grand Finals.

StagePrize Pool% of Total
Group Stage$1,148,00038.3%
Survival Stage$152,0005.1%
Grand Finals$1,700,00056.7%
Total$3,000,000100%

The structure rewards progression. Teams that reach the Grand Finals have already earned money from the Group Stage and, if applicable, the Survival Stage too. Prize money is cumulative, not stage-exclusive.

Also: See TalkEsport’s full PMWC 2026 coverage hub.

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Prize Pool

In the PMWC 2026 Group Stage, 32 teams divided into 2 groups play 12 matches each from August 6 to August 9. The top 5 from each group, 10 teams in total, advance directly to the Grand Finals. The 6th to 13th placed teams, 16 in total, move to the Survival Stage. The bottom 3 from each group, 6 teams in total, are eliminated from PMWC 2026.

The $1,148,000 Group Stage prize pool is distributed across all 32 teams. Even teams finishing at the bottom of their group receive a payout. Exact per-placement Group Stage prize amounts have not been officially published by KRAFTON. TalkEsport will update this section once the official breakdown is confirmed.

What is confirmed: no team leaves the Group Stage empty-handed. The prize structure incentivises every team to compete hard across all 12 matches, since Group Stage placement determines both advancement path and prize money simultaneously.

PMWC 2026 Survival Stage Prize Pool

The Survival Stage carries $152,000 of the total prize pool. 16 teams fight in the Survival Stage on August 11 and 12 for the remaining 6 spots in the Grand Finals. 10 teams are eliminated at this stage.

The 6 teams that advance from the Survival Stage to the Grand Finals earn additional money beyond their Group Stage prize. The 10 eliminated teams earn their Survival Stage placement prize and exit. Per-placement Survival Stage payouts have not been officially published.

PMWC 2026 Grand Finals Prize Pool

The Grand Finals hold $1,700,000 of the total prize pool. 10 teams from the Group Stage and 6 from the Survival Stage, 16 teams in total, compete in the Grand Finals from August 14 to August 16 for the PMWC 2026 title.

The Grand Finals use a maximum of 18 matches across 3 days (6 per day). The Smash Rule is applied on Day 3. Teams play under regular tournament rules until a team reaches the Match Point threshold. Once a team reaches Match Point, they become Match Point Eligible. The first team to secure a Chicken Dinner after becoming Match Point Eligible is crowned PMWC 2026 champion.

Grand Finals per-placement prize amounts have not been officially confirmed by KRAFTON as of the time of writing. Based on comparable PUBG Mobile World Cup editions, the champion is expected to receive the largest single payout in the tournament. TalkEsport will update this section once the official Grand Finals prize breakdown is published.

PMWC 2026 Prize Pool vs Previous Editions

KRAFTON and Level Infinite increased the number of participants from 24 to 32 for PMWC 2026. However, the total prize pool of $3 million remains the same as the previous 2 editions.

This means more teams share the same total pool in 2026 compared to 2025 and 2024. The per-team average prize money is lower in 2026 as a result, even though the headline figure is unchanged.

PMWC 2026 as Part of EWC 2026

PMWC 2026 is part of the Esports World Cup 2026, held in Paris, France. The overall EWC 2026 prize pool is $75 million across all 25 tournaments. The PUBG Mobile World Cup’s $3 million represents 4% of the total EWC 2026 prize fund.

PMWC 2026 also awards PMGC qualification points, which feed into the PUBG Mobile Global Championship later in 2026. Finishing well at PMWC 2026 is not just about the immediate prize money; it also affects each team’s PMGC seeding and automatic qualification for the year’s biggest prize pool.

As TalkEsport reported in the PMWC 2026 schedule guide, the updated Event Calendar splits Group Stage days by group and sets Grand Finals to begin at 11:30 UTC+0 each day. For the complete tournament overview including groups, streaming details, and Indian team rosters, see TalkEsport’s PMWC 2026 complete guide.

PMWC 2026 Prize Pool Summary

StagePrize PoolTeams CompetingTeams Eliminated
Group Stage$1,148,000326
Survival Stage$152,0001610
Grand Finals$1,700,0001615
Total$3,000,000

FAQs

What is the PMWC 2026 prize pool? $3,000,000 total across 3 stages: $1,148,000 in the Group Stage, $152,000 in the Survival Stage, and $1,700,000 in the Grand Finals.

How is the PMWC 2026 prize pool split between stages? The Group Stage gets $1,148,000 (38.3%), the Survival Stage gets $152,000 (5.1%), and the Grand Finals gets $1,700,000 (56.7%).

Do eliminated teams get prize money at PMWC 2026? Yes. All 32 teams receive prize money based on their Group Stage placement, including the 6 teams eliminated in the Group Stage.

How much does the PMWC 2026 winner earn? The exact per-placement prize breakdown has not been officially published by KRAFTON. TalkEsport will update once confirmed.

Is the PMWC 2026 prize pool bigger than previous years? The total is the same as PMWC 2024 and 2025 at $3 million. However, PMWC 2026 has 32 teams instead of the previous 24, meaning the pool is shared among more teams.

What does PMWC 2026 have to do with PMGC? PMWC 2026 awards PMGC qualification points in addition to prize money. High finishes at PMWC 2026 affect a team’s seeding and automatic qualification for the PUBG Mobile Global Championship.

BGMI 4.5 Season Druvaen X-Suits: All 3 Suits, Gameplay Upgrade Path, and ACE32 Weapon Skin

Divyesh Moghe
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BGMI 4.5 Season Druvaen X-Suits: All 3 Suits, Gameplay Upgrade Path, and ACE32 Weapon Skin

KRAFTON India has launched 3 new Druvaen X-Suits in BGMI as part of the 4.5 season’s X-Suit Collection, available from August 1 to September 30, 2026. The Verdant Druvaen, Pyre Druvaen, and Frost Druvaen are 7-Star X-Suits from the same elemental bloodline, available through a new selection crate. For the first time in BGMI, part of the X-Suit upgrade path is unlocked through gameplay, not purchases. Players earn a new upgrade material exclusively by playing matches. The collection also includes the Naturespirit Growth ACE32, a Level 7 upgradable weapon skin that completes the Druvaen look.

BGMI Druvaen X-Suits: All 3 Suits Explained

The 4.5 season X-Suit Collection introduces 3 new 7-Star X-Suits, all part of the Druvaen bloodline. Each one carries a different elemental identity:

X-SuitStar RatingElement
Verdant Druvaen7-StarNature
Pyre Druvaen7-StarFire
Frost Druvaen7-StarIce

All 3 suits are available through a single selection crate. They share the same Druvaen bloodline design language but each is distinct in appearance and elemental theme.

The New Gameplay-Based Upgrade Path: How It Works

The biggest change in this X-Suit Collection is the new upgrade material. It cannot be bought, traded, or obtained through any existing in-game system. It is earned only through playing matches, making this the first time BGMI has tied an X-Suit’s progression directly to playtime rather than spending.

Here is how KRAFTON has structured the upgrade path:

  • Players who unlock 1 X-Suit are automatically placed onto the new upgrade path with that suit.
  • Players who unlock 2 or all 3 X-Suits must choose 1 suit for the new gameplay-based upgrade path. The choice is permanent.
  • The remaining suits can still be upgraded through BGMI’s existing X-Suit upgrade system.

The permanent nature of the choice means players should think carefully before selecting which Druvaen suit goes onto the new path. Once decided, it cannot be changed.

Naturespirit Growth ACE32: The Matching Weapon Skin

Alongside the X-Suit Collection, KRAFTON India has introduced the Naturespirit Growth ACE32 (Level 7), an upgradable weapon skin built around the same Druvaen aesthetic. It is available during the same window as the X-Suit Collection, from August 1 to September 30, 2026, and gives players a way to carry the Druvaen look from their character to their weapon.

Availability: Dates and How to Get Them

ItemTypeAvailable
Verdant Druvaen X-Suit7-Star, Selection CrateAugust 1 to September 30, 2026
Pyre Druvaen X-Suit7-Star, Selection CrateAugust 1 to September 30, 2026
Frost Druvaen X-Suit7-Star, Selection CrateAugust 1 to September 30, 2026
Naturespirit Growth ACE32Level 7 Weapon SkinAugust 1 to September 30, 2026

The X-Suit Collection launched on August 1, 2026, as part of the broader BGMI 4.5 season content rollout. As TalkEsport covered in the BGMI 4.5 update rollout guide, the 4.5 season is one of the most content-heavy updates BGMI has released, bringing the Naruto collaboration, Spider-Man: Brand New Day theme mode, Ferrari Speed Drift, and now the Druvaen X-Suit Collection across different phases of the season.

The Druvaen X-Suits are the latest addition to BGMI’s growing premium cosmetic lineup. For context on how this fits into the broader 4.5 season event schedule, see TalkEsport’s BGMI 4.5 anniversary update full breakdown.

What KRAFTON India Said

Srinjoy Das, Director, Marketing and BGMI Product Management at KRAFTON India, speaking about the 4.5 season earlier, said the company’s vision is to turn BGMI from a game into a platform where players create, connect, and belong. The Druvaen X-Suit’s gameplay-based upgrade system is a direct extension of that direction, tying premium cosmetic progression to time spent in matches rather than purely to spending.

FAQs

What are the 3 new Druvaen X-Suits in BGMI? Verdant Druvaen, Pyre Druvaen, and Frost Druvaen. All 3 are 7-Star X-Suits available through a selection crate from August 1 to September 30, 2026.

What is the new upgrade system in the BGMI Druvaen X-Suit Collection? For the first time in BGMI, one X-Suit from the Druvaen collection can be upgraded using a material earned only through gameplay. This material cannot be bought, traded, or obtained any other way.

Can I upgrade all 3 Druvaen X-Suits through the new gameplay path? No. Only 1 suit can be placed on the new gameplay-based upgrade path. Players who unlock 2 or all 3 suits must choose which one gets the new path. The choice is permanent. The remaining suits can still be upgraded through BGMI’s existing X-Suit upgrade system.

What is the Naturespirit Growth ACE32? It is a Level 7 upgradable weapon skin built around the Druvaen aesthetic. It is available from August 1 to September 30, 2026, alongside the X-Suit Collection.

When does the BGMI Druvaen X-Suit Collection end? September 30, 2026.

Which season is the Druvaen X-Suit Collection part of? BGMI 4.5 season, which launched on July 16, 2026.

Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 Play-In Reaches Decisive Final Day

Divyesh Moghe
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Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 Play-In Reaches Decisive Final Day

The Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 Play-In stage reaches its final day on July 31. Four teams will secure their places in the Group Stage.

The Play-In features eight teams across two groups. Each group has four teams. Matches use a best-of-three format with double elimination.

The top two teams from each group will advance. The other teams will be eliminated from the tournament.

Four Group Stage Spots Remain

The Play-In began on July 30 in Paris. Teams first competed in the upper bracket. Those matches decided the first qualification paths.

The lower bracket now provides the final route to the Group Stage.

Two lower-bracket semifinals are scheduled on July 31. They will be followed by two lower-bracket finals.

Group A’s lower-bracket semifinal is scheduled for 10:00 CEST. The Group B match follows at 11:30 CEST.

The lower-bracket finals are set for 13:00 and 14:30 CEST.

S8UL Carries India’s Hopes

Indian fans have an extra reason to follow the Play-In.

S8UL Esports is representing India at the Honor of Kings World Cup 2026. The team earned its place through the King’s Arise India qualifier.

S8UL is one of eight teams starting in the Play-In. Revenant XSpark is also part of India’s representation at the tournament, but it enters the competition at a later stage.

The tournament features 20 teams in total. It also brings together competitors from Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor for the first cross-title KWC event.

What Happens After the Play-In?

The Group Stage begins on August 1. Sixteen teams will compete across four groups.

The Group Stage will run until August 4. The top two teams from each group will then reach the playoffs.

The playoffs are scheduled from August 5 to August 8. The tournament will conclude with the Grand Final on August 8.

The Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 carries a $3 million prize pool.

For the teams still fighting through the Play-In, July 31 is therefore a crucial day. One more series win could turn a difficult opening stage into a place among the world’s top 16 teams.

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defenses: All 3 New Crafted Defenses Explained

Hoax
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Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defenses: All 3 New Crafted Defenses Explained

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defenses are arriving as part of this year’s Clashiversary celebration, bringing three brand-new Crafted Defenses to Town Hall 11 and above for the first time. Instead of being limited to higher Town Halls, Supercell is making these seasonal defenses available across a much wider range of players. The update introduces the Hot Candle, Hero Hunter, and Cake-A-Pult, each offering unique defensive mechanics that could change how players design their bases during the event. Here’s everything you need to know about each new defense and how they work.

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defenses explained

As part of the upcoming Clashiversary season, players at Town Hall 11 and above will gain access to three temporary Crafted Defenses. Each defense fills a different role, allowing players to experiment with new base-building strategies throughout the event.

Unlike permanent defenses, Crafted Defenses are seasonal features that remain available during the event period. Lower Town Hall players will have access to fewer upgrade levels, while higher Town Halls can unlock stronger versions.

The three new defenses are:

DefensePrimary RoleTarget Type
Hot CandleMulti-target damageGround & Air
Hero HunterHero-focused defenseHeroes
Cake-A-PultSplash damage launcherGround & Air

Hot Candle

The Hot Candle is a multi-target defensive structure that continuously attacks several enemies at once using flames.

Its most unique mechanic is that its effectiveness decreases as the battle progresses. Early in an attack, it can hit multiple troops simultaneously, making it especially dangerous against spam strategies. However, as time passes, its targeting capability gradually reduces, making it less effective during the later stages of an attack.

This defense is likely to perform best when placed near the outer compartments of a base, where it can weaken large groups of troops before they reach the core.

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defense Hot Candle

Key Features

  • Multi-target flame attacks
  • Damages both ground and air troops
  • Strongest during the early stages of an attack
  • Target count decreases over time

Hero Hunter

The Hero Hunter is designed specifically to counter attacking Heroes.

Unlike most defensive buildings that target any nearby troop, the Hero Hunter prioritizes Heroes and deals bonus damage while also applying a poison effect. This slows Heroes down and reduces their effectiveness, making it much harder for players to rely on Hero dives into the core of a base.

Since Hero Equipment has significantly increased Hero strength in recent updates, this new defense appears to be Supercell’s answer to balancing Hero-heavy attack strategies.

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defense Hero Hunter

Key Features

  • Prioritizes Heroes
  • Applies poison effect
  • Deals increased damage to Heroes
  • Effective against Hero charges and Hero dives

Cake-A-Pult

The Cake-A-Pult is arguably the most entertaining of the three new defenses.

Instead of firing traditional projectiles, it launches explosive cakes toward enemy troops. Upon impact, the projectile deals immediate damage before triggering a delayed explosion that can hit additional nearby troops.

This delayed blast makes troop positioning much more important, especially for players using tightly grouped armies. The Cake-A-Pult could become particularly effective against spam attacks that rely on large clusters of units.

Clash of Clans New TH11+ Clashiversary Defense Cake-A-Pult

Key Features

  • Launches explosive cakes
  • Deals impact damage
  • Creates delayed splash explosion
  • Punishes grouped troops

Which Clashiversary defense looks strongest?

Each Crafted Defense serves a different purpose, making them useful in different base layouts.

  • Hot Candle is ideal for weakening large armies early.
  • Hero Hunter directly counters powerful Hero-based strategies.
  • Cake-A-Pult excels at dealing splash damage against grouped troops.

Also read: Clash of Clans Prospector: Is He Worth It? Ore Rates & Daily Tips (2026)

Because all three defenses cover different attack styles, players may need to redesign their layouts to maximize their effectiveness during the Clashiversary season.

Supercell is expected to release these defenses alongside the August Clashiversary season, where they will be available to all players from Town Hall 11 onwards as seasonal Crafted Defenses.

BREAKING: FACEIT Introduces Human Input Detection

Aritra Patra
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BREAKING: FACEIT Introduces Human Input Detection

FACEIT Human Input Detection is a new anti-cheat layer built to catch cheaters in Counter-Strike 2 by studying how they play, not what software they use. The feature goes live on August 5, 2026, alongside Season 9. FACEIT confirmed the update through an official support article, explaining how the system works, what it adds to the existing FACEIT Anti-Cheat, and what players can expect once it rolls out.

Here is everything confirmed so far, including how it handles bans, privacy, and accessibility hardware.

FACEIT Human Input Detection Release Date and How It Works

FACEIT Human Input Detection is scheduled to go live on August 5, 2026, as part of Season 9. It is a machine-learning system trained to separate human play from machine input.

The model learns continually from FACEIT matches and from the highest-ranked Counter-Strike players. When it detects play that no human could realistically produce, it flags the account. Because the system judges behavior rather than software, FACEIT says it can catch cheats it has never encountered before.

What It Adds to the FACEIT Anti-Cheat

FACEIT’s existing kernel-level Anti-Cheat already detects a wide range of cheats, including AI-based tools and Direct Memory Access (DMA) cheats. Together, these accounted for 40% of all cheating bans in May 2026.

Human Input Detection works alongside this system rather than replacing it. FACEIT states it is designed to widen coverage against the hardest cases, such as subtle cheats and brand-new methods that traditional detection misses. In testing, the company says it proved especially effective against AI cheats, which it calls one of the fastest-growing threats in competitive gaming.

How It Works During a Match

Once live, Human Input Detection will run inside the FACEIT Anti-Cheat and read in-game inputs in real time, from the start of a match to the end.

If an input looks impossible for a human to produce, the system flags it. That flag is not treated in isolation. FACEIT confirms the data is always weighed alongside other Anti-Cheat signals before any action is taken on an account.

No Instant Bans, and No Extra Setup

A flag from Human Input Detection does not lead to an immediate ban. FACEIT explains that it acts as one signal among several, and the platform waits for high confidence before confirming a ban.

FACEIT also confirmed that ban delays are sometimes intentional. Holding back action lets the platform remove multiple linked accounts at once, before a cheat developer can warn other users of the same tool.

Players will not need to install or enable anything new. Human Input Detection runs within the FACEIT Anti-Cheat that players already use, with no noticeable impact on FPS or performance, according to the company.

Accessibility Hardware and Privacy

FACEIT also confirmed that players using accessibility hardware or non-standard controllers will not be flagged. Legitimate input devices, including accessibility equipment, are part of what the system learns as normal human play. Any unusual pattern is weighed against other signals rather than judged on its own.

On data collection, FACEIT says Human Input Detection only reads the in-game inputs it needs to evaluate play. That data is encrypted, limited to the game window, and nothing is recorded once a player exits the game.

When does FACEIT Human Input Detection release?

It goes live on August 5, 2026, alongside Season 9.

Can accessibility hardware get flagged?

No. FACEIT confirmed that legitimate accessibility devices are treated as normal human input.

Does it collect data outside the game?

No. It only reads in-game inputs during a match, and nothing is stored after the session ends.

Valve Ships New VACnet Update, Cracking Down on Rage Cheats

EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026: Bangkok and Seoul to Host First Global Esports Events

Divyesh Moghe
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EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026: Bangkok and Seoul to Host First Global Esports Events

EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 will hold its first major international live events in Bangkok and Seoul. Electronic Arts has confirmed that the Mid-Season Playoffs will take place in Bangkok from August 6 to August 9, 2026, followed by the inaugural FC Pro Mobile World Championship in Seoul from October 19 to October 25, 2026. The World Championship carries a $250,000 prize pool, while the Bangkok event offers $100,000. This is the first time EA Sports FC Pro Mobile has hosted international offline events at this scale.

EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026: Mid-Season Playoffs in Bangkok

The Mid-Season Playoffs run from August 6 to August 9, 2026, at the Kantana Post Production Studio in Bangkok, Thailand.

24 players qualify for the Bangkok event through Global Qualifiers. These players represent regions including APAC, Europe, the Americas, MENA, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Türkiye.

The format runs as a group stage first, followed by a single-elimination bracket. The prize pool for the Bangkok event is $100,000.

The top 8 finishers from Bangkok secure a direct spot at the FC Pro Mobile World Championship in Seoul.

EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026: World Championship in Seoul

The FC Pro Mobile World Championship takes place from October 19 to October 25, 2026, at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Showroom in Seoul, South Korea.

32 players compete for the $250,000 prize pool. The event will crown the first-ever FC Pro Mobile World Champion.

The 32-player field comes from 2 pathways: the top 8 from the Bangkok Mid-Season Playoffs receive direct invitations. The remaining spots are filled through the broader 2026 esports circuit, which includes Global Qualifiers, regional competitions, and partner leagues.

EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026: Event Schedule at a Glance

EventDatesLocationPlayersPrize Pool
Mid-Season PlayoffsAugust 6 to August 9, 2026Bangkok, Thailand24$100,000
FC Pro Mobile World ChampionshipOctober 19 to October 25, 2026Seoul, South Korea32$250,000

The 2026 Competitive Circuit Structure

The 2026 EA Sports FC Pro Mobile esports circuit is built across multiple stages: Global Qualifiers, regional competitions, partner leagues, the Mid-Season Playoffs, and the World Championship.

This is the first full esports season structure for EA Sports FC Pro Mobile. The game is published globally by EA Sports and regionally by Nexon (Korea/Japan), Tencent (China), and Garena (Vietnam).

EA chose Bangkok and Seoul as host cities because of the region’s mobile gaming strength. Mobile titles account for approximately 71% of all gaming revenue in Southeast Asia alone, according to industry data.

As TalkEsport reported, EA Sports FC 26 is also part of the Esports Nations Cup 2026 lineup in Riyadh later this year, showing EA’s broader push into competitive gaming across both console and mobile. The mobile title is a separate competitive ecosystem from the console and PC versions.

The announcement of Bangkok and Seoul as host cities follows EA’s expanding focus on the Asian mobile gaming audience. The circuit’s structure from online qualifiers through to a live World Championship gives players a clear path from regional competition to an international stage. For the broader EA Sports FC competitive picture, see TalkEsport’s coverage of Kylian Mbappe as the EA Sports FC 27 cover star, which also confirmed Mbappe will front EA Sports FC Mobile in the next cycle.

FAQs

Where is the EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 World Championship being held? At the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Showroom in Seoul, South Korea, from October 19 to October 25, 2026.

What is the prize pool for the EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 World Championship? $250,000. The Mid-Season Playoffs in Bangkok carry a separate $100,000 prize pool.

How many players compete at the EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 World Championship? 32 players, including the top 8 finishers from the Bangkok Mid-Season Playoffs.

Where are the EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 Mid-Season Playoffs held? At the Kantana Post Production Studio in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 6 to August 9, 2026.

How many players compete at the Mid-Season Playoffs in Bangkok? 24 players from global qualifying regions including APAC, Europe, the Americas, MENA, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Türkiye.

Who publishes EA Sports FC Pro Mobile? EA Sports publishes the global version. Nexon handles Korea and Japan, Tencent handles China, and Garena handles Vietnam.

Is EA Sports FC Pro Mobile the same as EA Sports FC 26? No. EA Sports FC Pro Mobile is a separate mobile title with its own competitive ecosystem, distinct from the console and PC versions of EA Sports FC.

HoK World Cup 2026 Day 1 Results: Influence Rage Qualify for Group Stage

Hoax
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HoK World Cup 2026 Day 1 Results: Influence Rage Qualify for Group Stage

HoK World Cup 2026 Day 1 Results are in, and the first team has officially secured its place in the Group Stage. Influence Rage delivered an impressive performance in the Group A Play-In bracket, defeating S8UL Esports and Buriram United Esports to qualify directly. Meanwhile, Buriram United will get another opportunity through the Decider Match, while Team Flash and S8UL Esports now face elimination. Here’s everything that happened on Day 1, including the complete match results, updated bracket, and what comes next in the tournament.

HoK World Cup 2026 Day 1 Results: Group A Bracket

The opening day featured the Group A Play-In bracket with four teams competing for two available Group Stage spots.

Influence Rage emerged as the biggest winner of the day. The team started its campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over S8UL Esports before defeating Buriram United Esports 2-1 in the Winners Match. With consecutive victories, Influence Rage became the first team from Group A to qualify for the Group Stage.

Buriram United Esports also enjoyed a strong start by defeating Team Flash 2-0 in the Opening Match. However, the Thai squad fell short against Influence Rage in the Winners Match and will now have one final chance to qualify through the Decider Match.

On the other hand, Team Flash and S8UL Esports suffered defeats in their opening matches and have been pushed into the Elimination Match. The winner will advance to face Buriram United Esports in the Decider Match, while the losing side will be eliminated from the tournament.

HoK World Cup 2026 Day 1 Match Results

MatchResult
Buriram United Esports vs Team FlashBuriram United Esports won 2-0
S8UL Esports vs Influence RageInfluence Rage won 2-0
Winners Match: Buriram United Esports vs Influence RageInfluence Rage won 2-1

The results have already confirmed the first Group Stage qualification from Group A, while the second qualification spot remains up for grabs.

Updated Group A Bracket

StageTeams
Qualified for Group StageInfluence Rage
Decider MatchBuriram United Esports vs Winner of Team Flash vs S8UL Esports
Elimination MatchTeam Flash vs S8UL Esports

Buriram United Esports will enter the Decider Match after losing the Winners Match. The team will take on the winner of the Elimination Match between Team Flash and S8UL Esports.

The victor of the Decider Match will claim the second and final Group Stage spot from Group A.

For a detailed breakdown on HoK World Cup 2026, read: Honor of Kings World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams, Format, Prize Pool, And More

What Happens Next?

The Group A Play-In bracket will conclude with two remaining matches:

  • Elimination Match: Team Flash vs S8UL Esports
  • Decider Match: Buriram United Esports vs Winner of the Elimination Match

With Influence Rage already qualified, all eyes will now be on the battle for the final qualification slot.

The HoK World Cup 2026 continues with more Play-In action as teams fight for a place in the prestigious Group Stage.

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026: Top 5 Teams

Aritra Patra
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CS2 Esports World Cup 2026: Top 5 Teams

The CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 brings together 32 of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams for a $2,000,000 tournament in Paris. The event runs from August 12 to August 23 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with the grand final set for the Accor Arena. This marks the first time the Esports World Cup has been held outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after organizers relocated the festival due to regional security concerns.

Ahead of the event, World Ranking places Team Falcons at the top spot, followed closely by Team Vitality, Team Spirit, FURIA, and Natus Vincere. These rankings reflect each team’s results over the past two months and give a clear picture of who enters Paris as the favorite.

The tournament field includes 28 confirmed Counter-Strike teams, with 4 more spots to be filled through Paris Open Qualifiers. Twenty-eight participating organizations have already accepted their invites, and Europe holds the largest share of the field.

Here are the top 5 teams heading into the tournament.

1. Team Spirit

Image: HLTV

Team Spirit rank 1st on the VRS ranking. The team reached the Cologne Major playoffs before falling to Falcons in the semifinals. Rifler donk posted a 2.27 rating across Stage 2 of that event. Spirit’s current lineup includes sh1ro, magixx, tN1R, zont1x, and donk, and the team also tops the Valve Global Ranking as of July 25, 2026.

2. Team Falcons

Image: HLTV

Team Falcons sit at number 2 in the World Ranking. The Saudi Arabian organization won its first tier-one trophy at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, beating FURIA 3-0 in the grand final. In-game leader karrigan claimed his second Major title, while m0NESY earned the tournament MVP award. The roster, locked in on April 22, 2026, also includes NiKo, TeSeS, and kyousuke. Falcons finished as the most-watched CS2 team of the first half of 2026, according to Esports Charts.

3. Team Vitality

Image: HLTV

Team Vitality hold the number 3 spot. The French organization won PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, beating PARIVISION 3-0 in the final. AWPer ZywOo picked up his 30th career MVP award during that run. Vitality’s roster features apEX, ropz, ZywOo, flameZ, and mezii, and the team has built one of the most dominant stretches in CS2 history over the past two seasons.

4. FURIA

Image: HLTV

FURIA sit in 4th place after reaching the Cologne Major grand final, where they lost 3-0 to Falcons. The run carried extra weight for the Brazilian team, since longtime leader FalleN announced his retirement from professional CS2 at the end of 2026. FURIA’s roster includes FalleN, yuurih, YEKINDAR, KSCERATO, and molodoy.

5. Natus Vincere

Image: HLTV

Natus Vincere round out the top 5. NAVI won IEM Atlanta 2026, beating GamerLegion 3-0 in the final, with w0nderful named tournament MVP. The Ukrainian organization, the first team to win a CS2 Major, fields Aleksib, iM, b1t, w0nderful, and makazze heading into Paris.

The CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 is a Valve Tier 1 event and carries a $2,000,000 prize pool, the largest for CS2 at the festival so far. The event features 32 teams across the group stage and playoffs, with matches streamed on the official EWC channels. Counter-Strike enters its third year at the Esports World Cup, following title wins by Natus Vincere in 2024 and The MongolZ in 2025.

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026: Teams, Prize Pool, Schedule, and How to Watch

Rainbow Six Siege EWC 2026: Schedule, Teams, Format, and Where to Watch

Sonu Banerjee
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Rainbow Six Siege EWC 2026: Schedule, Teams, Format, and Where to Watch

With the Esports World Cup 2026 currently underway, the world’s best Rainbow Six Siege rosters are packing their bags for Paris as the highly anticipated EWC 2026 R6S event looms just around the corner.

Scheduled to run from August 4th to August 15th, the EWC 2026 R6S tournament expands from the usual 16-team field to 22 teams, making it the largest international Rainbow Six Siege event since the BLAST R6 Major Atlanta in November 2023, which fielded 24 teams. Defending champions Team Secret will be looking to go back-to-back, while the lineup also features Rainbow Six Siege’s first-ever Chinese representation at an EWC event.

The Rainbow Six Siege Esports World Cup 2026 tournament runs for a span of twelve days, with teams competing for the lion’s share of a $2,000,000 USD prize pool.

R6 Siege EWC 2026 Schedule & Format

The R6 Siege EWC 2026 event will be split into three stages: Play-In Stage 1, Play-In Stage 2, and the Group Stage/Playoffs, structured similarly to the BLAST R6 Major.

Eight teams that didn’t qualify directly through their regional leagues will battle it out in the Play-In stages for the final two spots in the main event.

  • Play-In Stage 1 is a double-elimination format split into two groups of four, with opening matches played as best-of-one and remaining matches as best-of-three.
  • Play-In Stage 2 sees the top two teams from each Stage 1 group face off, with the two winners earning a slot at the Group Stage and the two losers eliminated from the event.

From there, the tournament moves into its main stage, which runs across the remainder of the event window, culminating in a single-elimination playoff bracket. As with previous EWC editions, playoff matches are expected to be played as BO3, with the grand final played as a BO5.

R6 Siege EWC 2026 Teams

The R6 Siege EWC 2026 will see 22 teams competing for the grand prize. Twenty of the twenty-two spots were earned through Stage 1 placements in the regional leagues (Europe & MENA League, North America League, and the CN League), with Team Secret qualifying as defending champions and Al-Ula Club earning the final spot via the Saudi eLeague MENA Road to EWC qualifier.

Below is the full list of teams heading to Paris:

  • Team Secret
  • Wildcard
  • M80
  • DarkZero
  • Shopify Rebellion
  • FaZe Clan
  • FURIA
  • Team Liquid
  • MIBR.LOS
  • Team Falcons
  • Virtus.pro
  • Geekay Esports
  • FNATIC
  • Enterprise Esports
  • Chiefs Esports Club
  • Weibo Gaming
  • CAG by VARREL
  • EDward Gaming
  • AG.AL International
  • TYLOO
  • KINGZERO eSports
  • Al-Ula Club

Play-In Stage 1 Groups

Eight teams will kick things off in the Play-In stage, split into the following groups:

Group A
  • Shopify Rebellion vs. Al-Ula Club
  • Chiefs Esports Club vs. TYLOO
Group B
  • CAG by VARREL vs. FNATIC
  • MIBR.LOS vs. KINGZERO eSports

The top two teams from each group will advance to Play-In Stage 2, where the two remaining Group Stage spots will be decided.

R6 Siege EWC 2026: How to Watch

Every match of the R6 Siege EWC 2026, played on-site in Paris, France, will be broadcast free on the EWC’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.

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