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God’s Reign win the battle of Gods against Godlike Esports

The 7th match of VCL was between the two “Gods” of Valorant, God’s Reign and Godlike Esports, which was swept clean by the former team. God’s Reign won 2-0, giving Godlike the second loss of their run so far.

God’s Reign Esports Roster and Lineup

The roster of God’s Reign consists of Vibhor “Vibhor” Vaid as IGL, Garvit “Ember” Nehra, Aman “Hoax” Yadav, Nick “tixx” Quinn, Kale “autumn” Dunne, and Simar “psy” Sethi (Sub).

With the addition of two Australian prodigies, this roster made their debut in VCL.

Godlike Esports Roster and Lineup

The roster of Godlike Esports consisted of Tejas “Rexy” Kotian as the IGL, Norbu “Karam1L” Tsering, Shakir “hikkA” Razak, Franz “Astro” del Rosario and Jude Patrick “Zey” Gunhuran. 

Map Veto and Selection

For the veto, GDR and GDL banned Lotus and Fracture respectively. GDR picked Haven while GDL picked Pearl. They go on to ban Ascent and Icebox, making Split the last map standing.

This was the exact same veto as in between God’s Reign and Velocity Gaming.

Match Recap

GDL had a strong start on the defense side of Haven, getting the pistol round and a flawless anti-eco round. Hoax and Ember got multiple frags to get three consecutive rounds afterwards. The rounds went close one after the another, both teams not letting the other one catch a breath. Vibhorr picked up the operator on Killjoy on attack, which proved to be fatal for GDL’s habit to push on the defensive side. The rounds went close again, and the first half finished by almost an ace by GDL Astro, finishing 5-7 in favor of GDR.

GDR won the pistol and anti-eco round, and gave heavy damage to GDL on their bonus round, thanks to the triple sheriff kill by Autumn. GDR defense proved to be too strong for GDL’s read, not dropping any rounds. GDR even got a ninja defuse, taking the scoreline up to 11-6. Tixx got a triple kill the following round as well. GDR won 13-6, dropping only one round the entire half, showcasing their control on the map.

GDR continued showing their dominance on Pearl, getting four consecutive rounds on attack. GDL finally broke their momentum, owing to the insane fragging abilities of Zey. But GDR didn’t let their advantage go, as Hoax got them rounds with his unprecedented aggression on KAY/O, getting multiple frags. At 7-3, GDL got a thrifty round, as Zey got triple kills on his jett knives. They managed to get one more round and closed the half at 5-7.

GDR won the pistol round again, along with the anti-eco as well as the bonus round, as Tixx and Autumn proved to be a deadly duo when it comes to holding sites. GDL got their revenge as they got another thrifty round, owing to the insane triple sheriff kills by Hikka. At 11-6, the round seemed to be going towards GDL, as Zey got two kills on his sheriff, but Tixx got a quadruple kill with his amazing vandal spray transfer. Tixx got the match MVP as he closed out the map on 13-6 for GDR, showing their pure dominance with both maps’ scoreline going 13-6.

VCL SA: Recap of Week 1

VCL started off with a big banger with Orangutan defeating Lethal Esports in a one-sided fashion, followed by some very close maps between Velocity Gaming and God’s Reign, and finally the ultimate battle between the new young rosters of True Rippers and MLT Esports.

Orangutan Vs Lethal Esports

OG started off strong, winning pistol and anti-eco rounds on Haven. Tesseract secured the bonus round for the team with a crisp 4-kill fury, forcing LE to an eco round again. OG went to a dominating scoreline of 7-0 when finally LE broke their code and managed to find their opening with a flawless round at 7-1. But OG adapted quickly and did not drop a single round, finishing the half at 11-1.

OG won the pistol round again and forced LE to force buy the final round, but Tesseract closed out on the map with a solid 3 kill.

LE lost the match in a one-sided domination style at 13-1, while OG didn’t seem to break a sweat.

On Fracture, OG won the pistol round and LE decided to force the next round. This decision almost worked for LE, leaving them in a 1 vs 3 situations with OG Azys being the last man standing, but he proved to be too strong for LE, clutching it out and getting the second round for OG. LE managed to get 3 rounds in attack-side but Azys proved to be ‘lethal’, getting multiple entry frags each round.

LE won their first pistol, trying to catch the momentum in defense, but OG forced the second round and won, as two duelist compositions seemed too powerful for Lethal’s defense. LE Khelthuzad almost clutched a 1 vs 3 situations in the last round but OG Antidote watered down his efforts and closed the map at 13-4.

OG Azys won the match MVP, having a staggering K/D/A of 44/12/8 and an overall ACS of 372.

God’s Reign Vs Velocity Gaming

VLT had a comfortable start, winning the pistol, anti-eco, and bonus round, thanks to Doma’s 3 kills in bonus. GR is forced into an eco, where Vibhorr and Hoax click heads with their sheriffs, getting them a thrifty win. For the following rounds, Deathmaker got double 3 kills. At 6-1, GR secured a 2 vs 4 eco round, getting them the momentum they needed, and catching up with VLT to finish the half at 5-7.

Doma held his site and secured an easy 3 kill in the defense-side pistol. The full buy round was secured by GR, with Autumn getting 4 kills on VLT. At 6-9, GR Vibhorr almost clutched a 1 vs 5 but ran out of time and bullets. GR seemed strong on attack, getting the match up to 11-12 even after lagging behind, but couldn’t seem to close out the map even after an astonishing performance by Vibhorr, who dropped 21 kills on Killjoy, losing 11-13.

On Pearl, VLT won the pistol and anti-eco again, but GR answered back this time. They went neck-to-neck with their rounds as 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5. GR finished the half 7-5 in their favor.

GR won the pistol round and anti-eco on defense, bringing the score to 9-5. But the unprecedented aggression and playmaking from the VLT IGL ec1s caught GR off-guard, equalizing the score to 9-9. Again the scores went borderline close at 10-10 and 11-11, VLT swung again and closed the map at 13-11. 

VLT ec1s won the match MVP, dropping 45 kills on agents like Breach and KAY/O.

MLT Esports vs True Rippers

The two new rosters showed since round 1 that they are here to prove themselves. 

TR won the pistol but MLT turned the anti-eco in their favor, not letting TR catch a breath. MLT venka2cold seemed to shut down TR efforts with his operator. But despite that, TR managed to keep the scoreline balanced, finishing the half at a scoreline of 5-7. 

TR won the second pistol, with TR Kaizen getting the first ace of the tournament which set the tone of the remaining game as TR did not drop a single round in defense, finishing off at 13-7. TR Disrupt seemed to play in high aggression, gathering an ACS of 277 on Jett.

MLT seemed to have a comfortable start on Haven, winning the first three rounds with ease. TR converted a thrifty win in round 4, all thanks to the quadruple kills by TR Kaizen. TR managed to equalize the score at 3-3, setting the momentum for them. Due to MLT Venka2cold’s numerous frags, they managed to get the half to 7-5.

TR won the second pistol again and managed to get the next two rounds as well, forcing MLT to have a low economy. The scores went close and yet again, TR managed to close the map at 13-11, turning the attack side in their favor. 

MLT Venka2cold single-handedly tried to get the game in his team’s favor, with a KDA of 27/18/2, but his teammates could not assist him much, therefore not being able to close out the map.

All the 3 matches this week finished with a 2-0 scoreline and showed an amazing start to the much-anticipated VCL SA. We hope to see more nail-biting games in the upcoming weeks of VCL! 

Mlt Esport Wins Over Godlike Esports After a Gruesome Series

The 5th match between MLT Esports And Godlike Esports was a particularly long one, as the second map went a whopping 42 rounds due to overtime. MLT won 2-0, taking home the win after losing to True Rippers in their previous match.

MLT Esports Roster and Lineup

The roster of MLT Esports comprised Atharv “Rio” Ahire as the IGL, Saharyar “BadmaN” Shaikh, Abhay “KnightRider” Mulchandani, Jay “BADlove” Patil, and Venkatesh “Venka” Sharma.

Godlike Esports Roster and Lineup

The roster of Godlike Esports consisted of Tejas “Rexy” Kotian as the IGL, Norbu “Karam1L” Tsering, Shakir “hikkA” Razak, Franz “Astro” del Rosario and Jude Patrick “Zey” Gunhuran. But due to the unavailability of the two imports due to visa issues, Kasif “Paradox” Sayed and Shailesh “Blackhawk” Dalvi were brought in as the last moment substitutes. 

Map Veto and Selection

Map veto consisted of GDL banning Icebox while MLT banned Lotus. Ascent was the first pick of GDL followed by MLT picking Haven. Split and Fracture were banned and the third map ended up being Pearl. 

Match Recap

On Ascent, MLT started off as defenders and Badlove won an amazing 1-on-1 to kickstart the campaign for MLT. After winning the consecutive round, they gave away a 1 vs 3 clutch to GDL Hikka.

MLT succeeded in keeping the round advantage, thanks to the amazing sniping skills of Knightrider on Killjoy and Venkabot’s unmatched aggressive picks. He finished the half at 7-5 with a 4k with his operator.

GDL manages to win the pistol round, and MLT decides to force the second round which they lost. MLT is forced to buy fewer weapons in the third round where GDL Hikka gets the 3rd ace of the tournament. MLT gets the momentum again by getting a flawless round and Knightrider shutting their aggression on defense with his unorthodox sniping style. The score gets equalized at 9-9. MLT catches momentum again and shuts GDL down at 13-11.

Haven started strong for MLT again as Knightrider secures the pistol round with a triple kill. After winning the second round, Knight almost converts the Bonus round for MLT into a win with a quadruple kill but runs out of time. GDL converts the 5th round into a thrifty win for them to which MLT answers back in round 6, winning a thrifty round themselves, owing to the quadruple kill by Badlove. Paradox secures the next round with 4 kills on his Jett knives. And the routine continues as Badman with his triple kill wins the thrifty round for MLT. MLT finishes the first half at 7-5.

Gold gets the pistol round and anti-eco with Karam1l stepping up for his team with his triple kills. Venkabot gets MLT their buy round with crispy 3 kills. Paradox gets an ace on 8-8, making it the 4th ace of the tournament. Karamil almost clutches a 1 vs 3 for GDL. GDL leads the map 12-9 when MLT decides to step up and finish the map at a whopping overtime score of 22-20.

This was the first time that a match went overtime in VCL SA.

The overtime rounds consisted of nail-biting close clutches and overthrown rounds of advantageous positions, by both teams.

GDL Karam1l dropped 41 kills on Killjoy but wasn’t enough for GDL to finish off the map, and MLT gets their first match win in VCL.

Can You Monetize Your Fortnite Creative 2.0 Codes?

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The Fortnite Creative 2.0 update was launched by Epic Games. Only the Windows platform is currently supported by the Public Beta version of the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). The most recent version includes a number of additional items in addition to that. Also, there are several maps that caught the players’ interest. We will explore if Fortnite Creative 2.0 codes can be monetized or not in this article.

Players have access to all the resources necessary to create, develop, and publish a custom map with the Fortnite Unreal Editor. Creator Economy 2.0 was introduced by Epic Games, and island publishers are now eligible for rewards. Epic Games claims that designers may benefit based on the popularity, engagement, and enticement of an island.

Can You Monetize Your Fortnite Creative 2.0 Codes?

Players will not be able to create, publish, or sell seasonal adaptations of prior Fortnite maps, according to the developers, despite the fact that All Original Maps are Eligible for a Payout in Fortnite Creator Economy 2.0.

Gamers are permitted to release their own versions of Chapter 1 maps, but they will not be able to be purchased for real money. Also, in an effort to encourage users to create their own content, Epic Games removed the Support-A-Creator feature from the game.

For more exclusive esports and gaming content, please follow TalkEsport on Google News.

FAQ

What is Fortnite Creative?

Fortnite Creative is a sandbox game mode in Fortnite that allows players to create their own custom maps and game modes using various tools and assets provided by Epic Games.

How do I access Fortnite Creative?

To access Fortnite Creative, launch Fortnite and select the “Creative” option from the main menu.

Can I play Fortnite Creative with my friends?

Yes, you can invite friends to join you in your Creative map and play together.

What can I create in Fortnite Creative?

You can create a wide variety of things in Fortnite Creative, including custom maps, games, challenges, and more.

What tools are available in Fortnite Creative?

There are many tools available in Fortnite Creative, including the ability to place and manipulate objects, create structures, and set up game logic.

Can I share my creations with others?

Yes, you can share your creations with others by publishing them to the Fortnite Creative community.

Is Fortnite Creative free?

Yes, Fortnite Creative is a free game mode available to all Fortnite players.

Can I earn V-Bucks in Fortnite Creative?

No, V-Bucks cannot be earned in Fortnite Creative. They can only be purchased with real money or earned through the Battle Pass.

DRX and T1 Esports Secure Wins in Day 1 of VCT Pacific League 2023

The highly anticipated VCT Pacific League 2023 has kicked off with a bang, and we have our first winners of the tournament, DRX and T1 Esports. DRX faced off against ZETA Division, while T1 Esports battled it out against Global Esports in a thrilling decider. In the end, DRX emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, while T1 Esports secured the series with a 2-1 win.

DRX Dominates ZETA Division in Best-of-Three Series

In the opening match of the VCT Pacific League Week 1 Day 1, DRX faced off against ZETA Division in a studio LAN, best-of-three match. DRX took an early lead, winning the first map, Ascent, with a score of 13-5.

Despite a promising start by ZETA, DRX’s Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan and Jung “Foxy9” Jae-sun proved to be too strong, setting the rhythm for the South Korean side. The second map, Pearl, saw DRX completely dominate ZETA, winning with the same score of 13-5. DRX secured a 2-0 win, sending ZETA packing and setting the pace for the tournament.

T1 Esports Battles it Out Against Global Esports

In the second match of the day, T1 Esports took on Global Esports in a best-of-three series. The first map, Pearl, was picked by Global Esports and saw a promising start for T1 Esports, winning with a score of 13-11. However, Global Esports put up a strong fight on the second map, Haven, with Kim “t3xture” Na-ra leading the charge.

Despite a commanding position for Global Esports, T1 Esports managed to fight back and win with a score of 13-4. The final map, Lotus, was a close match, with Global Esports putting up a fight but ultimately losing with a score of 13-7. T1 Esports secured the series win with a 2-1 score.

Looking Ahead to Week 2 of VCT Pacific League

DRX and T1 Esports have set the pace for the VCT Pacific League, with both teams securing their first series wins. Global Esports put up a good fight against T1 Esports, despite missing some key players due to visa issues, while ZETA Division will need to regroup and work on their strategies before their next match against RRQ. In Week 2, DRX will face off against Global Esports, while Global Esports will take on DRX.

How Many People Play Fortnite in 2023?

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Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite is a battle royale game, which means that players are dropped onto an island and must fight to be the last person or team standing. Do you know how many people play Fortnite in 2023?

Fortnite became popular as it contains several modes, including solo, duo, and squad modes, and players can choose to play with friends or join random teams. Fortnite also features a building mechanic, allowing players to construct structures to protect themselves or gain an advantage in battle.

Fortnite’s popularity has increased significantly as a result of its free-to-play business model, distinctive gameplay, partnerships, and crossovers. Since its debut in 2017, Fortnite has attracted millions of players worldwide and a sizable esports community.

How Many People Play Fortnite in 2023?

The community doesn’t frequently receive updates from Epic on Fortnite’s player numbers. As a result, no figures are official. Fortnite has more than 350 million registered players as of 2020, and by 2021, that figure had increased to 400 million, according to Epic Games.

236 million people play Fortnite per month, according to ActivePlayers. Nevertheless, Epic did not provide this information immediately. But, you may still obtain a general notion of the player base.

For more exclusive esports and gaming content, please follow TalkEsport on Google News.

FAQ

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a free-to-play online video game developed by Epic Games. It is a battle royale game where up to 100 players fight to be the last person or team standing on an ever-shrinking island.

What platforms is Fortnite available on?

Fortnite is available on PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Is Fortnite free?

Yes, Fortnite is free-to-play. However, in-game purchases are available for players to buy cosmetic items, Battle Passes, and other items.

What is the Fortnite Battle Pass?

The Battle Pass is a seasonal progression system that allows players to earn rewards by completing challenges and leveling up. It costs V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency) to purchase and provides access to exclusive rewards for the duration of the season.

Can I play Fortnite with my friends?

Yes, Fortnite has both solo and team modes. You can play with friends in duos or squads, or join random players in team modes.

What is V-Bucks?

V-Bucks are Fortnite’s in-game currency that can be used to purchase cosmetic items, Battle Passes, and other items. V-Bucks can be earned by completing challenges or purchased with real money.

Is Fortnite cross-platform?

Yes, Fortnite supports cross-platform play between different platforms, allowing players on PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android to play together.

What is the Fortnite Creative mode?

Fortnite Creative is a sandbox-style mode where players can build and customize their own island, invite friends to explore, and play mini-games they created.

15 Esports Stats, Facts, and Trends That’ll Blow Your Mind!

Esports, have exploded in popularity over the past decade, becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry. With an ever-growing fanbase, esports tournaments and leagues now draw in huge audiences, both online and in-person, offering lucrative prize pools for top performers. 

Perhaps another booming industry that’s akin to that of esports entertainment is the online gambling sector. Just like its esports counterpart, this industry has experienced exponential growth that has reached revenues just as great. Some of the top-ranking online casinos offering US no deposit bonuses to players have managed to rake in millions upon millions in profits.

As esports continues to dominate headlines and peak people’s interest we thought we’d give you a quick deep dive into the latest trends, fun facts, and interesting statistics. Keep reading on to find out more. 

1. Almost Any Game Can Be An Esport 

From multiplayer online battle arena games like League of Legends to first-person shooter games like Halo and even strategy games like Hearthstone, esports athletes can compete in almost any game if enough people are playing competitively.

For a game to take off within the industry, not only does it need to be fun but it also has to have a compelling gaming experience that keeps players coming back for more. Additionally, the game needs to be able to draw in viewership while fighting games are the ultimate spectator sport, other games need to try a little harder to grasp viewers’ attention. 

2. $40 Million Prize Pool

Unfortunately, not all esports are equally lucrative with each game tournament drawing in varying levels of viewers and prize pools. Dota’s The International 2021 event gave out the largest prize pool in esports history, with Team Spirit earning a whopping $40,018,400. The event continues to be regarded as the most lucrative esports series by a substantial margin. 

3. 1bn Esports Sponsorship Market

Thanks to the growing viewership of esports, players do not need to rely solely on tournament prize pools to generate income. Due to the growing popularity within the industry, brands like Coca-Cola have recognized the marketing potential, adopting a similar approach to women in sports. In fact, after already reaching 895 million in 2023, esports sponsorship and advertising revenues are on track to 1.05bn by 2025. 

4. Esports Hall of Fame 

The Esports Hall of Fame was established in 2016 by the esports company ESL. It is similar to a traditional sports hall of fame and honors esports athletes for their outstanding achievements, contributions, and overall impact on the community. The Esports Hall of Fame has inducted more than 70 individuals well-known figures such as Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Carlos “ocelote” Rodriguez, as of 2021. 

5. Esports Players Are Athletes

According to U.S. legislation, esports pro gamers are recognized as athletes. While these players might not be working on their speed and strength, they are dedicating time to hone their skills and perfect their gameplay with their team members. Just like traditional athletes, esports athletes are encouraged to follow strict diets and sleeping regimes to minimize the chances of injuries before or after the game. 

6. First Official Esports Channel

The demand to see esports competitions in action called for the finally receive the recognition it deserves by getting its own official broadcasting channel. Thanks to GInx Esports TV, viewers are able to witness all the exciting esports action and news broadcast 24/7. The channel offers a great opportunity to bridge the digital divide by introducing a new wave of followers to the sport who might not have been able to access it previously. 

7. No Age Limit to Compete

That’s right, esports is truly for everyone no matter the age, with the youngest ever esports professional getting his start at just 6 years old. Kids of all ages are encouraged to take part, improve their skills and maybe earn a little cash. Just last year, 17-year-old Kyle Giersdorf won a $3 million dollar payout from the Fortnite World cup. 

8. Global Esports Revenue

This booming industry is showing no signs of slowing down with brands finally recognizing the potential of large and engaged audiences. Their investments in esports marketing both directly and indirectly have contributed to the industry’s projected growth from $1.44 billion in 2022 to $5.48 billion by 2029. 

9. First Esports Event

Many often wonder when the start of esports truly began with very few tracing it back to 1972, when Standford University held the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics for the game, Spacewar, on the PDP-1 computer. 

Arguably the first-ever esports tournament, it was divided into three categories Free for all, Team Competition, and Single Competition. The competition saw Bruce Baumgart secure the final first esports prize, a  year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

10. Daigo “The Beast” Umehara’s Impressive Track Record 

Daigo “The Beast” Umehara rose to prominence in the early 2000s and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighting game players of all time. Hailing from Japan, Daigo has won 

six Evo titles and two Guinness World Records over his two-decade career. One for the “Most Consecutive Tournament Wins” which currently stands at 15 and another which he shares with Justin Wong for the “Most Viewed Fighting Videogame.”

11. Celebrity Investors 

You know you’ve made it when celebrities are all eager to invest in your industry. The popularity of esports in recent years has attracted the attention of many high-profile names from Steph Curry and Magic Johnson to musicians like Drake, all along with other investors infusing around  $3.3 billion since 2013.

12. Oldest Counter Strike Team 

Didn’t we mention that there are no age limits when it comes to esports? Well, this Counter Strike team hailing from Sweden, took up the challenge. They formed a team composed of five senior citizens with an age range from 68 to 78 years old and have already bagged the Seniors World Cup beating countries Finland, the USA, and Germany.

13. Viewership Growth

The celebrity endorsement of the esports industry has helped attract more attention, with viewership expected to climb to 34.8 million in 2026. The most viewed event in esports history was the League of Len World Championship 2020 with attracted around 3.8 million viewers globally. With this increase comes the possibility of increased revenue and more opportunities for esports players. 

14. Virtual Reality Expansion 

Virtual Reality has been making waves within the gaming industry for a number of years however it has yet to take esports by storm. Players won’t have to wait too long as industry experts project VR to be one of the latest trends to take over the community opening up a whole of possibilities in competitive gaming. 

15. 5G Network Inclusion

Definitely, the most exciting emerging trend has to be the advent of 5G which will bring about increased connection speeds for users, with raw speeds reaching 10 Gbps, almost 10 times faster than 4G. This will reduce frustrating lags or lapses esports players often face when playing online  A higher connection speed also means that eSports tournaments and competitions will be broadcast live in high definition.

Valve confirms Paris Major as final event in CS:GO, CS2 major set for March 2024

Valve, the game developer behind the popular first-person shooter game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), has announced the cancellation of the second Major of 2023. The tournament, which was scheduled for November 2023, has been scrapped to give way to the upcoming release of Counter-Strike 2.

The BLAST.tv Paris Major, which will run from May 8 to May 21, 2023, will be the last Major in the current version of the game. The next Major will be held in March 2024, after the release of Counter-Strike 2. The new game is set to be launched in the summer, which is just a few months before the now-cancelled Major was supposed to take place.

This decision has been met with mixed reactions from the CS:GO community. While some believe that it’s a good move to give players and teams more time to adjust to the new game, others expressed concern about the financial impact of losing a Major. Graham “messioso” Pitt, the General Manager of Complexity, took to Twitter to express his hopes that the first Major of 2024 will come with a “significant boost to revenue opportunities to make up for the Major taken away from 2023.” Pitt also noted that the cancelled Major is a “huge blow” to teams who rely on the revenue generated from attending these events.

The first Major of 2024 will take place in March, which is a departure from the past two years when the first Major was held in May. The PGL Major Antwerp, which was the first Major of 2022, also took place in May. The upcoming BLAST.tv Paris Major, which is scheduled for May 8-21, 2023, falls within the same window.

Valve has not provided any reasons for the change in schedule and whether it’s connected to the recent changes in the summer tournament break. The break has been moved to June 12-July 9, a month earlier than the previous years. The Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association (CSPPA) has expressed its intention to work with Valve to “better align with the CS:GO Majors.”

Participating in Majors provides teams with significant financial opportunities through the sales of stickers. In the previous two Majors, the PGL Major Stockholm and PGL Major Antwerp, Valve paid out over $70 million to the participating teams and players from the sales of digital items.

In conclusion, Valve’s decision to cancel the second Major of 2023 in CS:GO has raised concerns in the community. While some are supportive of the move to give players and teams more time to adjust to the new game, others worry about the financial impact of losing a Major. The next Major will take place in March 2024, after the release of Counter-Strike 2. The upcoming BLAST.tv Paris Major, which is scheduled for May 8-21, 2023, will be the last Major in the current version of the game.

Counter-Strike 2 gets first update with bug fixes and gameplay adjustments

Valve, the developers of Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test, have released their first update to the game two days after its launch. The update includes various bug fixes and adjustments to audio, graphics, and gameplay.

One of the most notable changes is the addition of the weapon drop sound to the new feature, which displays on the minimap how far various actions from the player can be heard. Valve also reduced the ringing effect of flashbangs in response to feedback that it was too loud, along with some ambient sounds on Dust2.

In terms of gameplay updates, bullet holes in smokes will now appear consistently for everyone and will be fixed to the first-person camera, regardless of viewmodel settings. This change eliminates the competitive advantage that players had previously by setting the viewmodel closer to the middle.

Valve has also fixed various bugs related to smokes, picking up weapons while dead, and voice-related issues, as stated in the changelog. Moreover, the developers have added the command net_graph for players who enjoyed having it on in CS:GO.

CS2 Update Today

Overall, the update is aimed at improving the overall experience of the game and ensuring fair gameplay. Players can access the full changelog for the March 24 update on the game’s official website.

[UI]

  • Fixed common asserts.
  • Removed Trade-Up contract UI for Limited Test.
  • Fixed multiple items showing up in the inspect panel.

[ Audio ]

  • Use correct audio device name when user picks “default” device.
  • Added weapon drop sounds to minimap distance broadcast.
  • Lowered volume of some dust2 ambience.
  • Added some missing ui sounds.
  • Lowered volume of flashbang ringing and volume ducking effect.
  • Reduced stereo spread of grenade explosions.
  • Fixed phasing with deathmatch kill bonus sound.

[ Game ]

  • Fixed various game crashes.
  • Smoke bullet holes are now fixed relative to the firstperson camera.
  • Smoke grenades dropped in small crevices no longer detonate on the incorrect side of thin walls.
  • Players can no longer pick up weapons while dead during a competitive match.
  • Fixed dropping weapons during the team intro.
  • Fixed +voicerecord getting stuck on when held during team intro and released after.
  • Chat messages sent during end of match no longer show players as DEAD if they were dead at the end of the last round.
  • Fixed handling game input keys such as +voicerecord while panorama has focus.
  • Added netgraph.

[ Graphics ]

  • Fixed flickering with MSAA.
  • Fixed smoke cloud volume lighting.
  • Fixed stencil issue on glass when MSAA is disabled.
  • Updated various weapon finishes based on community feedback.

In conclusion, the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test has received its first update, which brings various bug fixes and gameplay adjustments. Valve aims to enhance the gaming experience and provide fair gameplay to its players.

Nasdaq warns FaZe Clan of potential stock delisting

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Esports organization FaZe Clan has been served with a deficiency notice from the Nasdaq stock exchange due to their share price remaining below $1 for over 30 consecutive business days. The notice means that the company now has 180 days to regain compliance, with the share price required to recover to over $1 and remain at that price for 10 consecutive trading days.

As of March 24, FaZe stock had closed below the $1 minimum for 32 trading days, excluding weekends and national holidays. The notice from Nasdaq was received on March 23, informing FaZe that their common stock “failed to comply with the $1 minimum bid price required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market” for 30 consecutive business days.

The company has until September 19, 2023, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, as outlined in a March 24 SEC filing. The filing states that “to regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Common Stock must meet or exceed $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days.”

As of March 24, the closing price of FaZe Clan’s stock sits at $0.67, a significant drop from its all-time peak of over $20 per share in August 2022. If FaZe fails to recover the stock price within the 180-day period, they may qualify for an additional 180-day period. If not, they will be subject to delisting, although they can appeal to the Nasdaq hearing’s panel.

The SEC filing also notes that FaZe “cannot provide assurance that these efforts [to regain compliance] will be successful.” This news comes at a time when FaZe Clan is reportedly exploring options to take the company back private, less than a year after going public. The move was said to be necessary for “financial discipline,” as the company has laid off staff amid the ongoing challenges of the esports and gaming industry.

Moreover, FaZe has been facing internal battles as a handful of original members have spoken out against the organization’s treatment of them. FaZe Clan has responded to these allegations, stating that they know “we haven’t been the FaZe we need to be, but we’re working hard towards fixing that.”

The future of FaZe Clan on the stock market is uncertain, with the organization facing the possibility of delisting if they fail to recover its share price within the allotted time frame. Despite the company’s efforts to regain compliance, there is no guarantee that they will be successful, and the recent news of their exploration of going private suggests that FaZe may be considering alternative options.