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New CS2 Update Brings Weekly Missions and New Maps

After quite a while, Valve has released a CS2 update that significantly changes the game. The latest update will see a couple of new maps get added to the game, along with weekly missions that players can complete to farm XP.

Daily missions used to come as a part of Operations, but it seems Valve has made them independent. As players now have the chance to get additional XP every week without an Operation, this will likely see a massive rise in daily active users who will be lured to the game, quite a strategic update nonetheless.

The new maps, namely, Agency, Grail, Jura, Dogtown, and Brewery, will replace Basalt, Edin, Palais, and Whistle across different game modes, and it goes without saying that this will not affect the Active Duty map pool.

Here are the patch notes:

MISSIONS

  • Added Weekly Missions, which can be entered through the main menu or play menu.
  • Players receive one mission each week.
  • The weekly mission expires after 7 days and rewards XP for completion.

MAPS

  • Removed community maps Basalt, Edin, Palais, and Whistle from all game modes.
  • Added community maps Jura, Grail, and Agency to Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch modes.
  • Added community maps Dogtown and Brewery to Wingman mode.
  • Re-organized Casual and Deathmatch map groups.
    • Defusal Group Alpha: Dust 2, Mirage, Inferno, Vertigo.
    • Defusal Group Delta: Train, Anubis, Ancient, Overpass, Nuke.
    • Community Map Group: Jura, Grail, Agency.
    • Hostage Group: Office, Italy.

AUDIO

  • Added “Main Menu Ambience Volume” setting.
  • Fixed some cases where shooting visible enemies over the top of smoke would not play an attacker feedback sound.
  • Fixed some cases where gameplay sounds were inaudible or would skip.
  • Removed snd_setmixer, snd_setmixlayer, snd_soundmixer_setmixlayer_amount, and snd_soundmixer_set_trigger_factor console commands.

MISC

  • Fixed a bug where input bindings to scancode56 (US English key “/”) wouldn’t persist across app launches.
  • Lobby invites from players marked with “Block All Communication” in Steam will now be ignored in-game.

Palworld Update 0.5.5 Removes Gliding Pals Amid Nintendo Lawsuit

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Pocketpair issued update 0.5.5 for Palworld on May 8, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This update implemented one notable change, which is the disabling of the option to use Pals for gliding. Players can no longer use Pals for movement in the air; they can only use conventional gliders. Although this shift restricts air mobility, the previously used Pals for gliding now offer passive benefits for flight.

This change is one of a series of game-related changes made by Pocketpair concerning an ongoing legal battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The case, which was filed in September 2024 in the Tokyo District Court, claims that Palworld violates several patents on creature-catching mechanics, such as using throwable objects to capture creatures, determining if a thrown object will enter combat or capture a creature, and riding creatures in the game.

In a statement released with the update, Pocketpair reaffirmed its disagreement with the claims, reaffirming that the patents in question are invalid. The company did admit that it needed to make some concessions to prevent Palworld’s development and release from being disrupted. Pocketpair highlighted that it is dedicated to its community, confirming that although the changes were not perfect, they had to be made to maintain the overall gameplay experience.

The case has wider implications for the gaming industry, specifically regarding the patentability of gameplay mechanics. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have submitted several patents in Japan for creature-catching and riding mechanics. Some of these patents were submitted after Palworld’s launch, which has raised questions about their validity and the possible effect on innovation in the industry.

Despite the legal issues, Palworld has been a huge commercial success. The game sold more than 15 million copies on Steam alone and reached 10 million players on Xbox in its first month. Pocketpair has also announced to bring Palworld to more people through a mobile version, which will be developed in collaboration with Krafton, the publisher of PUBG.

Warzone Ranked Play Disabled in Season 3 Reloaded

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The return of Ranked Play in Call of Duty: Warzone under the Season 3 Reloaded update was received positively from the community. Nevertheless, ongoing technical problems have forced developers to turn the competitive mode off temporarily to provide an even and stable gaming experience.

Since Season 3 Reloaded’s release, a majority of players have been complaining about an increase in game-breaking bugs, constant crashing, and server outages. These problems have also had a damaging effect on the Ranked Play system, where match performance and placing are a primary factor in progression. Disconnections in the middle of a match or freezes at the Winner’s Circle have led to unfair Skill Rating (SR) loss, causing resentment among the community.

As a response to these issues, Raven Software on May 8 stated that Warzone’s Ranked Play would be temporarily removed from service. The move is meant to resolve the server instability and fix the SR distribution bugs that have haunted the mode. The developers have apologized for the inconvenience and promised players that getting Ranked Play back to its original competitive integrity is a high priority.

The short-term removal of Ranked Play has deprived players of access to the competitive mode, although other battle royale playlists are unaffected. Although the developers have not yet given a timeline for the return of Ranked Play, they have stated that the mode will return once the root issues are addressed. Since Ranked seasons reset upon the launch of a fresh seasonal update, it is speculated that the feature might not be back until Season 4 is released on May 29, providing a new competitive beginning.

To help offset the effects of these technical problems, the developers have suspended timeout penalties within Warzone Ranked Play for now. Before, players who got disconnected from a Ranked Play game were given suspensions and SR penalties. This move seeks to protect players from unfair punishment because of server disconnections.

Genshin Impact Ifa Build Guide: Best Weapons, Artifacts & More

Ifa is one of the latest additions to Genshin Impact’s ever-expanding roster of playable characters, offering strong crowd control and elemental support, but only with the right build.

For the uninitiated, Ifa is a 4-star Anemo character who was added to Genshin Impact alongside the 5-star Escoffier with the game’s version 5.6 update.

Take a look at Ifa’s official reveal trailer below:

In this guide, we’ll go through the best Genshin Impact Ifa builds that you can use to maximize his damage output.

Best Genshin Impact Ifa Builds

First, let’s check out the best weapons that you can use on Ifa:

Best 5-Star Ifa Weapons

  • Sunny Morning Sleep-In
  • A Thousand Floating Dreams
  • Starcaller’s Watch

Best 4-Star Ifa Weapons

  • Sacrificial Fragments
  • Mappa Mare
  • Wandering Evenstar

Now that you have your weapon sorted. Let’s check out some of the best Artifact sets to equip on Ifa in Genshin Impact:

Best Ifa Artifact Sets

  • 4x Viridescent Venerer
  • 4x Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City

Lastly, let’s take a look at the talent priority for Ifa in Genshin Impact:

Ifa Talent Priority

  • Elemental Burst
  • Elemental Skill
  • Normal Attack

That’s everything you need to know about the best Ifa builds in Genshin Impact.

Jubilee Might Soon Be Joining the Marvel Rivals Roster

Jubilee, the firework-wielding mutant from the X-Men series, might soon be joining the ever-expanding roster of heroes in Marvel Rivals.

As revealed in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post by prominent dataminer Miller Ross, the arrival of Jubilee in Marvel Rivals has been teased via one of the game’s many Gallery Cards.

According to the popular Marvel Rivals leaker, a line from the “Night of the Year” Gallery Card, which is unlocked at the end of the Hellfire Gala Moments seasonal event, references the iconic character from the X-Men series.

In the Gallery Card, Emma Frost tells reporter Betty Brant that Shogo’s adopted mother, Jubilee, has been lost in the Timestream Entanglement, potentially hinting towards the character being added to the NetEase hero shooter in the near future.

Note that the developers haven’t made any official confirmations regarding the addition of Jubilee to Marvel Rivals.

At the time of writing, Ultron has been confirmed as the next hero to join Marvel Rivals in the upcoming Season 2.5 update, set to launch at the end of May. So, the earliest that fans can expect to see Jubilee in the game is with the game’s Season 3 update, which is scheduled for July 2025.

Marvel Rivals Squirrel Girl Summer Skin Revealed: Price, Release Date & More

Squirrel Girl is getting a new summer skin in Marvel Rivals! The Squirrel Girl ‘Sunshine Squirrel’ skin was officially unveiled by NetEase on May 6th by a post on their X (formerly Twitter) handle. Alongside Squirrel Girl, Rocket Raccoon will also be receiving his summer skin on the same date.

The news comes only a few hours after we reported on the Marvel Rivals summer skin leaks. As per the leaks, fans can also expect to see a new summer costume for Jeff hit the game’s store in the near future.

For now, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the Squirrel Girl ‘Sunshine Squirrel’ summer skin in Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals Squirrel Girl Summer Skin Release Date & Time

As already confirmed by NetEase, the Squirrel Girl ‘Sunshine Squirrel’ skin will be available to purchase in Marvel Rivals starting May 9, 2025.

Here are the specific release times for the Marvel Rivals summer skins throughout the world:

Americas

  • 7 pm PT
  • 9 pm CT
  • 10 pm ET

Europe

  • 2 am UTC (May 10)
  • 3 am BST (May 10)
  • 4 am CET (May 10)

Asia

  • 7:30 am IST (May 10)
  • 11 am KST/JST (May 10)

Marvel Rivals Squirrel Girl Summer Skin Price

The exact price of the Squirrel Girl ‘Sunshine Squirrel’ skin hasn’t been disclosed by the developers at the time of writing.

However, taking a look at similar skins in the past, fans can hope to grab the new summer outfit for their favorite Duelist for around 1800 units.

Who Is Barbeloth in Genshin Impact?

Barbeloth, codename “B,” is a renowned but mysterious character in the Genshin Impact lore. She is an expert astrologer and hydromancer and the mentor of Mona Megistus, one of the game’s major Hydro characters. Although mentioned often, Barbeloth has not appeared in the game physically yet, further enhancing her mysterious nature.

Affiliation and Role

Barbeloth is a member of Hexenzirkel, a secret group of influential witches in Teyvat. These include famous names like Alice (mother of Klee), Rhinedottir (creator of Albedo), and Andersdotter (writer of The Boar Princess). In this circle, Barbeloth stands out for her unmatched proficiency in astrology and hydromancy. With her skills, she can see and interpret the destinies of men and nations.

Mentorship and Influence

As Mona’s teacher, Barbeloth has imparted a wealth of knowledge and skill to her student. Mona usually addresses her as the “old hag,” a title that betrays both affection and frustration. Barbeloth’s instruction has shaped Mona’s approach to astrology so that she develops a great regard for the craft. Even in their differences of opinion, Mona hopes to excel her master at hydromancy.

Barbeloth’s reach is not limited to her mentoring. She was a key player in the development of Simulanka, a fictional world within Teyvat, together with Alice and Andersdotter. Barbeloth becomes the Goddess of Prophecy in Simulanka, where she leads its inhabitants through visions and premonitions. Her input in this world reflects her extensive magical potential and creative skills.

Personality and Traits

Barbeloth is also described as a visionary, one who can see on a large scale. Her passion for astrology can be seen in her choosing to take on the name “Trismegistus,” or “thrice great,” to set herself apart from her students. This is an homage to Hermes Trismegistus, a mythical figure who is equated with wisdom and alchemy.

Although deeply knowledgeable, Barbeloth is renowned for her quirkiness. She is a favorite for choosing hats, having assisted Alice in selecting Klee’s iconic headpiece. Her personality is also marked by an element of genius and absent-mindedness, with her usually being heavily absorbed in reading while overlooking mundane details.

Barbeloth’s legacy is seamlessly integrated into the narrative of Genshin Impact. By mentoring others, aiding in Simulanka, and participating in the Hexenzirkel, she has forever left her mark on Teyvat. Her tale still fascinates players, and her eventual introduction into the game is eagerly awaited.

PGL Astana 2025: All You Need To Know

PGL Astana is just a week away and is all set to be one of the important tournaments leading up to the Major. With several top teams skipping Astana to prepare for the Major, Team Spirit will come into the event as the undisputed favorites.

Unfortunately for the fans, big names like Vitality, Falcons, MOUZ, and FaZe have chosen to skip the event, but Spirit will face tough competition from NAVI, G2, Aurora, and MongolZ. Goes without saying that despite the lack of top teams, Spirit will have it anything but easy if they are to go all the way through.

Teams

  • Spirit
  • Natus Vincere
  • Aurora
  • The MongolZ
  • G2
  • GamerLegion
  • Virtus.pro
  • Astralis
  • paiN
  • MIBR
  • M80
  • FURIA
  • BIG
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas
  • ODDIK
  • HOTU

Schedule

DateTimeTeam 1Team 2
10/05/202510:30AuroravsBIG
10/05/202510:30AstralisvsODDIK
10/05/202513:30The MongolZvsFURIA
10/05/202513:30G2vsMIBR
10/05/202516:30Natus VincerevsM80
10/05/202516:30Virtus.provsNinjas in Pyjamas
10/05/202519:30SpiritvsGamerLegion
10/05/202519:30paiNvsHOTU

Prize Pool

1. $400,000
2. $187,500
3. $150,000
4. $87,500
5-8. $62,500
9-11. $31,250
12-14. $18,750
15-16. $12,500

Talent

Hosts

NameRole
James “BanKs” BanksStage
Richard “Richard Lewis” LewisDesk
Sam “Tech Girl” WrightDesk

Analysts

Name
Dustin “dusT” Mouret
Alex “Mauisnake” Ellenberg
Sudhen “Bleh” Wahengbam
Janko “YNk” Paunović

Casters

Name
Harry “JustHarry” Russell
Hugo “Hugo” Byron
Alex “Machine” Richardson
Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill
Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne
Jason “moses” O’Toole
Anders “Anders” Blume
Daniel “ddk” Kapadia

PGL Astana has everything it takes to be a top-tier CS tournament despite top teams skipping it. While we have IEM Dallas right after this with another set of teams missing, most of the teams will look to keep their best tactics away from the eyes of the world. Astana might give us a sneak peek into what the teams’ strategies would look like in the Major, but not every team will be willing to completely expose their playbook.