While the community agrees on Oleksandr Kostyliev is the GOAT of Counter-Strike, not many would like to think he can replicate his success in Valorant but he begs to differ. While s1mple has taken NAVI to the apex of the CSGO mountain, their Valorant roster is yet to come across similar success.
In recent years, we found several CSGO pros switching to Valorant which rejuvenated their careers and fans fear, s1mple might go the same way after seeing him play Valorant in the off-season in his live stream sessions.
Nothing to fear as s1mple is not leaving CSGO anytime soon however, he does feel that he can replicate his performance in CS if he chose to play Valorant.
During the Valornat match between NAVI and Team Secret, we could see the Ukrainian organisation struggling, to keep up which prompted s1mple to say to his CSGO college tarik, that he would “destroy” them.
“If I were to sit instead of any Na’Vi player right now, I would destroy them. Not 13-0, but I would just shoot them in the head. That’s it. I don’t even need fucking skills, that’s why I play Reyna… I don’t buy armor. I don’t buy flashes. I buy two spells, let’s go. Let’s get it.” said s1mple.
NAVI having secured the service of Turkish stalwart cNed has turned into an even more competitive side which gives us reason to believe that s1mple’s comment was purely made out of sarcasm.
While s1mple boasts the necessary skill to be a successful Valorant player, he is still touted as the best player in the world and will not fail to find himself in the conversation for a few more years which is a good incentive to not switch but who can tell.
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Having been released back in July 2020, Oni has been one of the most popular skins among Valorant players. The OG skin bundle was heavily inspired by Japanese mythology and took the game by storm upon its release which gives all the more reason for fans to be excited as Riot confirms the highly anticipated Oni 2.0 collection.
The launch of the Oni 2.0 was confirmed by the trailer dropped by Riot Vandal, Bulldog, Ares, and a Frenzy along with a new knife. The last generation of the bundle came with a Phantom, Guardian, Bucky, and Shorty in the bundle and the range expands for the 2.0 collection.
Every skin bundle from the early days of Valorant has received a refresh from the developers so it was surprising for the fans that a bundle as popular as Oni had to be the last one to get a 2.0 version.
Carve a path of chaos and corruption with the return of Oni – LOCK//IN with Oni starting in EP_06 // ACTII. pic.twitter.com/8AApEhb6kX
The Oni 2.0 collection is said to launch right after the VCT//LOCKIN and right in time for Episode 6 ACT II.
The bundle is presumed to be priced at a premium somewhere in the range of 8,700VP to 7,100VP. While these skins come at 1775 VP for gun skins and 3550 VP for melee ones however purchasing the bundle would get you the melee without any extra premium.
Goes without saying that the melee has been the highlight of the collection so far because of the special design elements and the animation that it offers. Fans of the OG cannot wait to for the collection to drop.
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Known as the “Politeits Online Patrulje”, Denmark pulls off an initiative to monitor social media and popular video games like CS:GO and Minecraft.
The Politeits Online Patrulje allegedly engages youth through gaming and social media channels like Twitch and TikTok in a bid to forestall antisocial behavior and criminal activity. The aforementioned initiative comes after Netherland’s Gaming with the police effort which helps the law enforcement agents around the world to monitor the up-and-coming youth through multiplayer gamer.
Dubbed as the Politiets Online Patrulje (Police Online Patrol), the former is a new specialized police unit in Denmark tasked with keeping tabs on the youth across the internet.
Alongside monitoring games like CS:GO, Fortnite, and Minecraft, the Politiets Online Patrulje are also tasked with keeping tabs on Steam, Discord, and Twitch. The entire force were revealed after several units donning their Danish Police uniform, playing and streaming video games surfaced on Reddit, revealing the group’s existence.
The Danish Police have announced that they will be conducting social media patrols so that they can “engage in dialogue with children and young people in particular, prevent inappropriate behavior and crime, and intervene in the event of offenses.”
Some reports further claimed these activities to be a part of the Danish Police online patrols in order to engage in dialogue with children and teenagers.
The online patrol team is active across multiple social media channels, including a Twitch handle where users can watch members broadcast themselves playing video games. The group also keeps a TikTok handle, where it showcases some of its activities and stream highlights to its 100,000 followers, where it has received over 750 thousand likes.
Hate speech and other forms of anti-social dialogues have flooded across the gaming community in recent years. Unity’s 2021 study found that teenagers tend to lean towards aggressive behavior patterns from online gaming and video games. According to the research, 70% of gamers have experienced toxic behaviour like sexual harassment, hate speech, threats of violence, and doxing.
The problem seems huge, but it’s unclear how much deploying a few policemen among a few servers could help. Denmark isn’t the only country trying new ways to combat internet fraud, toxicity, and other wrongdoing.
So far the above is edging towards an impending rise in numbers but with Denmark pitching to contribute towards the good cause, there is a sheer possibility that other nations do the same as well.
In 2020, Dutch community police launched “Gaming with the police” to engage youth. Online Police Patrol is gaining popularity on the internet despite a lack of data.
The official Twitter handle of Valorant has tweeted an image where four swords are buried under a tree in front of the Sun. The caption says “再来” which means “again”. According to several leakers and data miners, this tweet hints at the release of the Oni 2.0 skin bundle in Valorant.
This image has hyped up the upcoming skin collection a lot within the Valorant community. As you can see, four Katanas are standing on the ground lit by the sun. The Japanese masks, commonly known as Oni masks, portray red-cheeked Japanese devils. In addition, the Oni demons are said to fend off bad spirits to safeguard their owners.
Moreover, ValorLeaks also tweeted mentioning that the next Valorant skin bundle is going to be Oni 2.0 which makes the conjecture more evident.
The previous Oni bundle was introduced in 2020 and it included Phantom, Guardian, Shorty, Bucky, and a melee weapon. However, the new Oni 2.0 is expected to include the Vandal as well as the Classic.
Even though the developers haven’t confirmed anything regarding the price of the bundle, we expect it to be around 7100 VP to 8700 VP. Therefore, you should start making your wallet ready from now on if you want to purchase the Oni 2.0 bundle.
The release date isn’t confirmed yet. The developers may release the bundle after the ongoing VCT event.
1v1 combat games have been a hit since way back when they first hit arcades in the 80s. Nowadays, they’re a big part of the e-sports scene, and Tekken is one of the most popular games out there. There’s this one dude, Joshua “Ghirlanda” Bianchi, who’s shown the world that if you put in the work, you can rise to the top.
Ghirlanda is a 31-year-old father who’s got not one, but two full-time jobs, plus a family to take care of. Despite all that, he still managed to dedicate two hours every night to practicing Tekken. And it paid off big time, because he made it to the top eight of the Tekken World Tour (TWT) Global Finals in 2022.
This guy’s journey to the top is straight-up inspiring. He didn’t have any sponsorships or support from any brands, but he still made it through the round-robin group stage. He even took down the reigning TWT champ, Yuta “Chikurin” Take from Japan, and unified EVO champ Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique from Pakistan.
Representing Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ghirlanda went up against players like the reigning EVO champ, Jae-Min “Knee” Bae from Korea. But he didn’t let that get him down. He kept at it with his mad skills and made it to the final bracket.
In the final bracket, Ghirlanda used Katarina to beat Arslan Ash’s Kunimitsu with a score of 2-0 in the Dragon’s Nest arena. He totally took advantage of the space and walls of the arena, bombarding his opponent with counter-attacks and combos, and trapping him with wall positioning.
For the second round, Pakistani rep Arslan Ash chose Infinite Azure 2, which eliminated the boundaries brought by the walls in Dragon’s Nest. But even with a wider stage, Ghirlanda still dominated with a sweet lower kick, finishing off the game in style.
Ghirlanda’s success story proves that hard work, dedication, and perseverance can take you to the top. It’s truly inspiring to see someone achieve their goals even with limited time. So, get your game on and follow in Ghirlanda’s footsteps!
You can find a cake in Minecraft which happens to be one of the most upscaled treats one can find in the game. From v1.2, players are now able to craft cakes.
With the release of the Caves and Cliffs update 1.17, players can now celebrate a friend’s birthday while enjoying one of the best PC games in multiplayer by baking them a cake and lighting a candle.
If you craft a cake and wish to trade the same, Villagers might accept it in return for one emerald. A cake can be made in Minecraft, so let’s take a look at that.
How to make a Cake in Minecraft?
Before we get started, if you ever come across a buried treasure chest, you stand a chance to open a cake for yourself. But if you ever wish to bake a cake for yourself or your friends, you may need to get Milk Crates, Sugar, Eggs, and Wheat.
You can get milk buckets from cows, mooshrooms, and goats by triggering use while looking at them with an empty bucket. Chickens produce eggs that are edible. You may need to gather sugarcane in order to get Sugar for subsequent processing. A hen lays an egg every 5-10 mins if you look to farm a dozen eggs. Wheat can be grown from seed or gathered from farms in rural areas.
Just one slice of cake will replenish two hunger levels. While if you eat a whole cake, you’ll gain 14 hunger back.
In addition to the Pandas found in the Jungle, Bamboo Jungle, and Sparse Jungle, these can also be used to lure pandas into the Grassland biome. Panda adults actively seek out cake as a snack. As it turns out, the cake is also a viable option for use as a redstone component.
A piece of cake that has been left untouched for more than 24 hours will produce a 14-decibel signal when placed in a comparator. With each bite, two units of signal strength are lost. The cake candle can be lit with flint and steel, fire charge, or any other type of fire starter.
Esports Layoffs 2023: The impact of the recession has finally made its way to the esports industry, as it joins the long list of businesses that are facing mass layoffs and shutdowns. The severity of the situation has left industry insiders and outsiders perplexed and scrambling for answers. In this article, we explore the reasons behind the crisis and its consequences.
Why are Esports Companies Facing Layoffs and Shutdowns?
The year 2023 has been particularly brutal for the esports industry, as it struggles to weather the storm caused by the global economic meltdown. According to reports, the industry is facing three main challenges:
Sponsors dropping out: Although esports companies were able to establish viable businesses, turning a profit has proved to be a daunting task. As other industries feel the effects of the recession, several sponsors are dropping out, significantly reducing the earnings of esports organizations. Without advertising money, these companies are left with little to work with.
Overhiring: The gaming and esports industry experienced explosive growth during the pandemic, resulting in an abundance of job opportunities. However, as the industry growth slows down, many of these positions are now deemed unnecessary, leading to layoffs.
Investors losing confidence: Top venture capitalists and investing groups have lost faith in esports, and as a result, are stepping back from investing in the industry. This loss of funding has had a significant impact on esports companies’ operational expenses.
Examples of Companies and Detailed Info
The economic meltdown has hit several top esports organizations hard in 2023. Here are a few examples:
The Guard
This organization has let go of all content, social, and talent teams. Some personnel were reportedly fired within days of being hired, and it has been confirmed that the owner is looking to sell their Overwatch and Call of Duty franchises.
eUnited
A well-known organization from North America and Europe, eUnited has let go of all their teams and staff across all levels. The CEO is reportedly the only remaining employee.
FaZe Clan
As the first esports organization to go public, FaZe Clan’s stock price has plummeted, putting them at risk of being delisted. As a result, they have laid off 20% of their staff across all levels.
100 Thieves
While this organization has done well in recent times, they have laid off staff in sales, marketing, content, and human resources, including senior positions such as chief revenue officer, director of people, director of talent, and head of partnerships.
OpTic Gaming
Staff from the social media team to those heading the Esports Management department were laid off in this organization. While the exact number of employees let go is unknown, many of them had been with the organization for several years.
Team Liquid
Several employees were laid off in this organization, but it is unclear which areas were affected, and how many people lost their jobs. According to LinkedIn, there are several vacancies across different roles in the organization.
Riot Games
The timing of the 46 layoffs at Riot Games has raised doubts about the company’s claim of a “strategic shift”. The layoffs affected members of human resources, recruitment, support, and esports divisions.
Consequences of the Layoffs and Shutdowns
The repercussions of the layoffs and shutdowns are dire, and the future of the esports industry is uncertain. Without investors and sponsors backing esports organizations, the industry risks going back to its previous status as a mere recreational activity instead of a billion-dollar industry. The volatility of the industry may also make it challenging to attract professionals, even if the situation improves in the coming months.
Only time will tell what becomes of the esports industry, but for now, the outlook is uncertain and worrisome. The recent layoffs and shutdowns of top esports organizations have sent shockwaves throughout the industry, raising questions about its long-term viability.
It’s clear that the recession has hit the esports industry hard, as sponsors drop out, investors lose confidence, and companies overhire in response to initial success. While the pandemic provided a temporary boost to the industry, the economic fallout from the pandemic has only exacerbated existing problems.
Despite the challenges, there is still hope for the esports industry. As economies recover and stabilize, it’s possible that investors and sponsors will return to the industry, providing much-needed funding and stability. Additionally, companies can take steps to avoid overhiring and ensure that their workforce is lean and efficient.
Overall, the esports industry is at a crossroads, with its future uncertain. But for those who are passionate about esports and gaming, there is still reason to be optimistic. As always, the industry will continue to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances, and we can only hope that it emerges from this crisis stronger and more resilient than ever.
We are talking about the locations of the main CS:GO tournaments.
Esports fans will be able to watch a lot of big CSGO events this spring but some of them stand out with the LAN format and impressive prizes. The enthusiasts of the esports discipline developed by Valve prefer attending such events in person to get bright emotions and a tourist experience.
If you have no scheduled plans for spring but would like to combine traveling to other countries and watching CS:GO matches with other fans of the discipline, we will be able to help you. In this material, we will tell you about the main locations worth visiting to watch the best Counter-Strike.
The final of ESL Pro League Season 17
The 17th tournament in the ESL Pro League series starts very soon. On February 22, 32 teams from all over the world will start fighting for the prize pool of $850,000. Besides the teams which made it to the tournament due to the ESL Rankings or a victory in the regional qualifiers, 15 teams, which are partners of the league, will participate in ESL Pro League Season 17.
The group stage will last till March 19 but we are more interested in the final part of the tournament, which will take place in sunny Malta. 16 teams will fight in a Single-Elimination bracket. All matches, except for the grand final, will be played in a Bo3 format. The champion of ESL Pro League Season 17 will be determined by the outcome of the Bo5 series.
In the previous season, the organization Team Vitality was the winner. Then, they defeated Team Liquid in the final with a score of 3:2. Let’s see if ZywOo and his teammates succeed to become the two-time ESL Pro League champions and also earning $200,000, and a slot in Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023.
The dates of the playoff stage: March 21-26
BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023
The main CS:GO event of the spring will be the tournament called BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. CS:GO fans are offered to visit Paris, the capital of France, where the competition for a colossal $1,250,000 will take place in Accor Arena. 24 teams will participate in the first Major tournament of the year. They will be determined by the outcome of the regional RMR championships.
BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 will be hosted in the format, which is traditional for CS:GO major tournaments. It will be divided into 3 stages: Challengers, Legends, and Champions. The first two stages will be carried out by the Swiss system where teams will be fighting in bo1 matches and the matches for elimination or advancement to the next stage will last till 2 victories.
The best of the best will face in the Champions stage. 8 teams will fight in a Single-Elimination bracket and the format of all matches will be bo3. The winner will earn the main prize of $500,000 and, also, a slot in Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023, just like the champion of the above-mentioned tournament.
Also, it is worth talking in detail about a venue. Accor Arenae, which can include from 7,000 to 20,300 people, is located on the bank of the Seine river. Fans will be able to walk across Paris in the evening and it will be pretty loud and hot in the stands.
The dates: May 8-21
Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2023
The spring CS:GO season will be closed by Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2023. We will go from Europe to North America this time. The ESL tournament will take place in Dallas, Texas, and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will be a venue, which regularly hosts various exhibitions and sports events.
16 teams will be competing for the prize pool of $250,000. The tournament will be carried out in two stages: the group stage and the playoffs. The group stage will be presented in the form of two GSL groups.
6 participants will proceed to the playoffs where they will determine the strongest one in a Single-Elimination bracket. All matches of the final stage, except for the final, are held in a bo3 format. The grand final will be played in a bo5 series. The champion will make $100,000 and a slot in Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023.
The dates: May 29 – June 4
Conclusion
In spring, Avid Counter-Strike fans will be able to visit Malta, France, and the USA where they will be able not just to take a look at local sightseeing but watch the matches between one of the best teams in the discipline. All the above-mentioned tournaments are united by a pleasant prize pool and an opportunity to win a slot in Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023, which is traditionally one of the most iconic CS:GO events.
Do you consider yourself an experienced player of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), only to be suddenly met with an unexpected and incomprehensible error message? The “VAC unable to verify your game session” error message is undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic error messages that can appear for CS:GO players.
What is even more frustrating is that the error is not an indication that your account has been banned by Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC); it simply implies that VAC is incapable of establishing proper communication with your account to verify that the anti-cheat is functioning properly.
But why does this error message occur? Unfortunately, there are several reasons why this error message may appear, and it can happen at any time. Whether it occurs during server outages, after Steam or CS:GO maintenance, or other arbitrary times, it is an exasperating obstacle that must be overcome to resume your gaming experience.
It is important to note that VAC’s failure to verify does not imply that you can start using cheats. The error must be resolved before you can play matches.
CS:GO VAC Verify Error Fix: How to Solve ‘VAC Unable to Verify’
Fortunately, the solution to fix this error is relatively simple, but it can be a little bewildering. Here are the perplexing steps you can take to fix the error:
Step 1: Exit CS:GO and Restart Steam
The first step in resolving this issue is to completely exit CS:GO and restart Steam. When Steam restarts, check to ensure that you are not missing out on any new updates.
Step 2: Verify the Integrity of Game Files
If no new updates are available, go to your Steam library, right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and select Properties at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Next, choose Local Files (the third tab to the right) and select Verify Integrity of Game Files. After a minute or two of loading, your files will be validated, and your game will be reactivated. If everything goes according to plan, the “VAC unable to verify” error message will disappear permanently.
Step 3: Restart Steam Again
Before loading up CS:GO again, it is recommended that you restart Steam again to ensure everything is operating correctly.
Step 4: Reinstall CS:GO
If the error persists, the next step is to reinstall CS:GO. This process can be tedious and time-consuming, but a fresh restart of CS:GO will guarantee that VAC is reinstalled as well, which should resolve any additional problems.
Other “VAC unable to verify” Fixes
If neither the game file integrity verification nor the fresh reinstallation of CS:GO works, you may need to contact Valve about your account. Something on their end may be causing your account’s inability to obtain VAC verification.
In conclusion, encountering the “VAC unable to verify your game session” error in CS:GO can be frustrating and confusing, but don’t panic. By following these perplexing steps, you can quickly return to playing your favorite game. Remember to always keep your game files up to date and avoid using cheats to ensure a fair and smooth gaming experience for all players.
Fnatic, the esports organization, has encountered a major setback as one of their players, Leo “Leo” Jannesson, has been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. The unfortunate news was disseminated via a statement published on Fnatic’s official Twitter handle.
As a result, Leo will not be able to join the rest of the team for their forthcoming match against Sentinels in the VCT LOCK//IN 2023 tournament. Despite this obstacle, the game is still scheduled to take place as planned, but with Leo playing in isolation during the best-of-three series against Sentinels.
In an effort to keep the spirits high, Fnatic encouraged their supporters with a tweet: “Leo will, unfortunately, be playing in isolation for this game, but we know he’s still gonna smash it.”
Leo will, unfortunately, be playing in isolation for this game, but we know he's still gonna smash it. Hope you feel better soon, @leojannesson!
Fans from all over the world are wishing the 19-year-old player a speedy recovery as they eagerly anticipate the Fnatic vs Sentinels match, which will be broadcasted live on Valorant’s official Twitch handle at 11 am CT on February 24th.
