Monday, December 22, 2025
Home Blog Page 117

Hoby Darling Joins Riot Games As New President

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Hoby Darling Joins Riot Games As New President

Hoby Darling has joined Riot Games as the company’s next president. The developers behind Valorant and League of Legends confirmed the news in a recent blog post on their official website.

Hoby Darling has spent the majority of his career in sports, tech, and creative culture, leading brands focusing on pushing creative and performance boundaries. Now, in his new position as the president of Riot Games, Hoby will partner with teams across the company to “help Rioters dream big, unlock creativity, and serve players around the world.”

“The first time I walked into Riot, I felt a scrappy, soulful, and courageous energy I knew I needed to be a part of,” Darling said in a statement. “I’ve worked with a lot of companies, and there’s something special about a place that takes risks, challenges convention, and stays fiercely committed to its mission.”

Hoby Darling Joins Riot Games As New President

Darling has previously held senior leadership positions at several renowned brands, including Logitech, Skullcandy/Astro Gaming, Nike, and Volcom.

“Hoby has spent his career at companies that serve the most passionate communities there are, from sports to gaming and beyond,” Dylan Jadeja, CEO of Riot Games, said. “He knows how to bring out the best in teams, and he’ll help Rioters tap into their creativity, sharpen their focus, and channel their competitive fire.”

Hoby Darling’s arrival marks an exciting new chapter for Riot Games. With years of prior experience leading creative and performance-driven brands, he should be well equipped to help guide Riot’s next phase of growth.

Falcons Comeback to Secure Playoffs in IEM Melbourne

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Falcons Comeback to Secure Playoffs in IEM Melbourne

Having opened the series with a loss, the Falcons have made a comeback to book their playoff berth in IEM Melbourne, where they will face Vitality. NiKo and m0NESY shined for Falcons as the final two maps saw complete domination from the star duo to send NAVI to the lower bracket.

Veto

  • Falcons removed Anubis
  • Natus Vincere removed Nuke
  • Falcons picked Inferno
  • Natus Vincere picked Mirage
  • Falcons removed Ancient
  • Natus Vincere removed Train
  • Dust2 was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: Falcons; Winner: NAVI

Falcons started strong on Inferno, prompting NAVI to go 7-1 behind at one point before the CIS squad shifted the momentum and ended up with 4 more rounds by the end of the first half. As Falcons continued to lose rounds on their offence, NAVI made sure Falcons could barely manage a plant. A disastrous T side from the Falcons saw them lose their own map pick of Inferno to a stellar performance by b1t, who inspired the comeback for his team.

Map 2: Mirage; Pick: NAVI; Winner: Falcons

Another disastrous start kicked off Mirage for the Falcons. Going 9-3 down in the first half, the map looked to be a wash for the Falcons, but it was the T side where the stars aligned for them as little by little, the Falcons started winning rounds and thus cutting the lead. NAVI’s defense miraculously could not stop the Falcons winning a series of rounds as a chart-topping performance from m0NESY saw them take the series to a third map. Starting from 9-3 down, the Falcons’ comeback inspired a 13-11 win as they walked into Dust 2 with full confidence.

Map 3: Dust 2; Pick: Decider; Winner: Falcons

Falcons carried the momentum from Mirage to Dust 2 as NAVI failed to deliver any promising rounds early into the map, as it took the final few rounds of the half, which saw them put together 3 rounds before switching sides. NAVI lost a close pistol round, thus giving Falcons the upper hand right from the start, which they capitalized on by winning all the remaining rounds to put Falcons in the playoffs.

Incredible show of resilience for the Falcons as the comeback they mounted started from the rock bottom. As for NAVI, the roster looks to be falling apart, given that this roster is only a shadow of the team that won the Major in 2024. NAVI will continue their journey in Melbourne from the lower bracket, and unless they manage to win it, the roster will head out without reaching the playoffs.

Detective Dotson: The Movie and Game Launch April 24 – Masala Games Unveils India’s First Transmedia Mystery Adventure

Pranav Nalawade
-
0
Detective Dotson: The Movie and Game Launch April 24 – Masala Games Unveils India’s First Transmedia Mystery Adventure

Masala Games, the Ahmedabad-based indie studio led by industry veteran Shalin Shodhan, has announced a landmark release: Detective Dotson: The Movie will debut in Hindi alongside the highly anticipated PC game Detective Dotson on April 24, 2025. This transmedia launch marks a significant moment for Indian indie gaming, blending cinematic storytelling with interactive gameplay in a stylized modern-day India.

A Unique Transmedia Experience

Detective Dotson: The Movie serves as a companion piece to the game, providing backstory and setting the stage for the mystery adventure that players will experience. The film, crafted in Unreal Engine 5, follows Dotson – a grieving amateur detective – as he unravels a deadly conspiracy involving a corrupt corporate empire, a mysterious assassin, and a high-stakes cricket match. The movie’s narrative is tightly interwoven with the game, which picks up after the film’s events, giving fans a seamless story across both mediums.

Star-Studded Hindi Voice Cast

The movie will be released in Hindi with English subtitles and features renowned voice talent from the Hindi dubs of blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Deadpool & Wolverine, and the Harry Potter series. Voiceover artist Sanket Mhatre, known for roles such as Deadpool and Hawkeye, headlines the cast, bringing cinematic flair to the project. According to Shalin Shodhan, the switch to a native Hindi dub was driven by community feedback and resulted in a more authentic and polished final product.

Music and Visuals

Detective Dotson: The Movie also boasts an original soundtrack created in collaboration with Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean, pioneers of Indian rock music. Visually, both the game and film employ a striking 2D-meets-3D art style, reflecting the vibrant energy of contemporary India.

How to Watch and Play

Detective Dotson the game will be available for Rs. 500 on Steam and the Windows Store in India (with a 10% launch discount), and $20 internationally. Every game purchase includes access to the movie. Additionally, select content creators such as LazyAssassin, ThePJOfficial, and Hitesh KS will host special watch parties with bespoke versions of the Hindi dub. The movie will also premiere on Masala Games’ website in both Hindi and English from 6pm IST on April 24.

A Milestone for Indian Indie Gaming

This dual launch represents one of India’s first major video game-to-film crossovers, signaling the growing ambition and capability of the country’s indie scene. As Sanket Mhatre noted, “Video games crossing over into film is the natural order in developed markets and we’re happy to be a part of India’s first video game transmedia effort.”

Where to Find More

Valorant Mobile May Launch With Two Brand-New Maps Missing From PC Version

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Valorant Mobile May Launch With Two Brand-New Maps Missing From PC Version

With the highly anticipated launch of Valorant Mobile being just around the corner, reports have started surfacing on the internet claiming that the mobile port will launch with two brand-new maps that are currently missing from the PC version.

The two new maps in Valorant Mobile—Dust Cargo Yard and Ancient Village—seem to have taken inspiration from Bind and Lotus, respectively. The maps were initially leaked by X (formerly Twitter) user ‘subzidite2’. None of these maps is currently available on the PC version of Valorant or any other platform.

Fans can check out the first leaked images of the new Valorant Mobile-exclusive maps below.

It’s still unclear whether the aforementioned maps are Team Deathmatch maps or traditional bomb-planting maps designed for standard competitive play.

Additionally, at the time of writing, Riot Games has not officially confirmed any of these maps, so take these leaks with a grain of salt.

For the uninitiated, the mobile port of Valorant was announced by Riot in partnership with LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS on April 20, 2025. Pre-registrations for Valorant Mobile are currently open, but limited exclusively to the Chinese region.

Details regarding the global launch of Valorant Mobile are expected to be shared by the devs in the near future.

Valorant Mobile Pre-Registrations Are Now Open: How To Register

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Valorant Mobile Pre-Registrations Are Now Open: How To Register

Following the official announcement of Valorant Mobile on the game’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, the dev team has already opened up pre-registrations for the shooter, but only in select regions.

Riot Games has teamed up with LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS to launch Valorant Mobile in China. While the release date of the competitive FPS title hasn’t been disclosed as of yet, players are currently able to pre-register for the game to be able to access it as soon as it drops.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know regarding how to pre-register for Valorant Mobile.

How To Pre-Register for Valorant Mobile

Before you try to pre-register for Valorant Mobile, it’s important to know that the game will only be available for Chinese players at the time of its launch.

“We’re excited to bring VALORANT Mobile to as many players as possible, but we’re starting in China and taking it from there,” Riot Games said in a statement.

If you’re looking to pre-register for the Chinese version of Valorant Mobile, here’s how you do it:

  • Head to the official website for Valorant Mobile
  • Click the pre-register button
  • Log in with your QQ account or create an account on the platform
  • Finish the registration process

And that’s it! You have now successfully pre-registered for the launch of Valorant Mobile in China.

When is the Global Launch of Valorant Mobile?

At the time of writing, the global launch dates for Valorant Mobile haven’t been revealed by Riot Games. Players outside China can’t sign up for the game via the Play Store or the App Store either.

If you’re located outside China but excited to play Valorant on your mobile device, your best bet is to keep following the Riot Games social media handles and wait for further updates on the topic.

xQc to Host $250K Marvel Rivals Invitational With Popular Streamers

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
xQc to Host $250K Marvel Rivals Invitational With Popular Streamers

Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel, one of the biggest names in streaming, has announced the Marvel Rivals xQc Invitational — a $250,000 online tournament set to feature a bunch of popular streamers and content creators.

The 29-year-old confirmed the news in one of his recent livestreams, explaining that he is organizing a tournament for the NetEase hero shooter alongside Marvel.

“I’ve been working on this for months now, and finally I can kind of, like, announce it,” xQc said during his April 20 livestream. “May 9th, put it on your schedule: xQc Marvel [Rivals] Invitational, $250k prize pool.”

The Twitch star revealed he’s funding a portion of the prize pool out of his own pocket, with the rest covered by Marvel.

“I’ll be able to host my own tournament for the first time in forever. So, that’s happening 100%, locked in.”

Marvel Rivals xQc Invitational Dates & Streamers

The Marvel Rivals xQc invitational is scheduled to kick off on May 9, 2025, as confirmed by the Canadian streamer himself. The full list of streamers participating in the event have yet to be revealed.

xQc has mentioned the possibility of participating in the tournament during his livestream, though nothing has been confirmed yet. He also expressed interest in casting others during the event, regardless of whether he plays or not.

“I hope I can make it a good, balanced, and cool event,” xQc said. “And I might play in it and cast it. I might do a kind of dual production thing where, like, I’m trying to win as well. And if I’m out or not, I can cast the other games as well. So, yeah, I’m just kind of doing both.”

Krafton India Selects 6 Startups for KIGI 2025 Cohort

Aritra Patra
-
0
Krafton India Selects 6 Startups for KIGI 2025 Cohort

Krafton India has revealed the six startups that have been selected for the second batch of its Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) program. They have also expanded the first batch. It reflects Krafton’s dedication to supporting India’s growing game development ecosystem.​

Startups Selected for the Second Cohort:

  • Singular Scheme: Frontier Paladin is in production, with not much public information available. The name points towards a potential action or role-playing game based in a frontier environment, but details are not revealed.
  • Advaita Interactive: Inspectorium is a detective hidden object game set within a steampunk Victorian-era Kolkata.
  • Kleanup Games: Chromadi is an arcade shooter based on retro-style gameplay.
  • Ginger Games: Monkey Mayhem is being produced by Ginger Games.
  • Smash Head Studio: News about their game is in the works.
  • Unwind Games: BaoBao’s Journey is in production by Unwind Games. Although details are limited, the title suggests an adventure or exploration game, potentially with a character named BaoBao.

The KIGI program provides significant support to these startups, such as financial support in the range of $50,000 to $150,000 per team, customized mentorship from industry experts, and exposure to resources such as AWS credits and high-end tools like AppMagic. The program lasts 6 to 12 months, giving a well-structured setting for developers to polish their games and business strategies.

Based on the learning from the initial cohort, which had teams such as ReDimension Games and Shura Games, the second cohort seeks to enhance technical assistance and encourage collaboration among the participants.

What are your thoughts on the KIGI cohort 2025? Let us know in the comments below.

Falcons Beat sAw on m0NESY’s Debut in IEM Melbourne

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Falcons Beat sAw on m0NESY’s Debut in IEM Melbourne

The first match for m0NESY in Falcon’s colors saw the team secure a convincing victory over sAw in IEM Melbourne 2025. While there is a lot of work to be done, the team looks like they have integrated the star sniper well into the team, as both he and NiKo were firing on all cylinders against the Portuguese side.

VETO

  • SAW removed Mirage
  • Falcons removed Anubis
  • SAW picked Nuke
  • Falcons picked Dust2
  • SAW removed Ancient
  • Falcons removed Train
  • Inferno was left over

Map 1: Nuke; Pick: sAw; Winner: Falcons

Flawless start to the map for Falcons saw the team go 6-0 up as a NiKo masterclass kept sAw at bay earlier in the first half. As sAw continued to adapt, Falcons failed to hold onto their lead but managed to edge out the final rounds, thus closing the half with a 7-5 scoreline. Losing the pistol, Falcons lost the two-round lead but hit sAw back right afterwards. From the first gun round of the second half, NiKo and co. managed to put together a streak of rounds and ended up closing the half with a 13-8 scoreline.

Map 2: Dust 2; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons

Falcons started well on the offence in D2 but sAw did manage to keep with them for a few rounds before they stretched their lead to a whopping 8-4 before switching sides. Falcons did manage to go 11-4 up before sAw pulled a few rounds back. The massive lead that the Falcons garnered was slowly fading before they got back on their feet to close out the map with a 13-9 scoreline.

While Falcons shone on m0NESY’s debut, there is still a long way to go for the team if they want to take on the likes of Vitality and Spirit. The team looks to be on an uphill journey since their stunning run at Bucharest, but a win here would put them into the conversation of title contenders.

Riot Games Announces Valorant Mobile, Launching First in China

Moin Khot
-
0
Riot Games Announces Valorant Mobile, Launching First in China

Riot Games has officially announced VALORANT Mobile. This marks a significant expansion of its popular tactical shooter to handheld devices. Interestingly, the mobile version is being developed in collaboration with LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS, renowned for their work on PUBG Mobile.

Valorant Mobile to Launch First in China

The initial release of VALORANT Mobile will be exclusive to China, with plans to expand to other regions in the future. Pre-registration has already commenced, offering players in China exclusive in-game rewards, such as limited-edition player cards and sprays.

The game is listed under the title VALORANT: Energy Operation on the Huawei App Store, indicating a region-specific branding for the Chinese market.

Valorant Mobile: Gameplay and Features

VALORANT Mobile aims to deliver a faithful adaptation of the PC experience, featuring 5v5 tactical gameplay, agent abilities, and precise gunplay. The mobile version will include:

  • A redesigned user interface optimized for touch controls
  • An Advanced Training Mode to help players master high-skill mechanics like jump peeking
  • A Replay System for reviewing matches.

Plans for Global Release 

While the global release date has not been specified, Riot Games has expressed intentions to bring VALORANT Mobile to a wider audience following its launch in China. The company has committed to providing updates as development progresses.

Stay ahead in the world of esports with the TalkEsport app! Download now to get instant access to the latest news, live points tables, comprehensive esports calendars, and live streams of your favorite tournaments. Don’t miss out—get the app today.

WCG 2025 National Showdown India Announced in Partnership with Upthrust Esports

Moin Khot
-
0
WCG 2025 National Showdown India Announced in Partnership with Upthrust Esports

The global esports festival, World Cyber Games (WCG), is all set to make a grand return to India with the launch of WCG 2025 National Showdown India this September. Upthrust Esports, an Indian esports event organizer, will host the Indian edition of the event.

WCG 2025 Announces National Showdown India in Collaboration with Upthrust Esports

After the success of WCG 2024, which introduced the popular “Creator Rumble” format, WCG 2025 is expanding its footprint with National Showdowns in India, Korea, and the Philippines, culminating in a massive global festival in Indonesia this December.

The WCG 2025 National Showdown India will bring together some of the most prominent Indian gaming creators, who will battle it out in the Creator Rumble — a unique competition that fuses gaming skill with board-game-inspired elements of randomness. This format, which debuted in 2024, has quickly become a fan-favorite for its fresh, entertainment-driven approach to esports. Notably, the organizers have not yet revealed the lineup of creators, competition details, and streaming platforms.

To execute this creator-first initiative, WCG’s official organizer, Bigpicture Interactive, has partnered with Upthrust Esports, renowned Indian gaming and esports company.

“India is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing gaming communities in the world,” said  Kyungjun Min, Director of Global IP Strategy Division at Bigpicture Interactive. “We’re excited to collaborate with Upthrust Esports to deliver a creator-first experience that truly reflects India’s passion for gaming and entertainment.”

“We are thrilled to partner with WCG to bring the world’s premier gaming festival to India’s doorstep. This Collaboration not only showcases the incredible talent & passion of our gaming community but also paves the way for a new era of opportunities – where Top Indian Creators will be participating & winning team will go against top global creators in the WCG Festival 2025 at the global stage. Together WCG & Upthrust are redefining what gaming & entertainment means in India & beyond.” said Kartik Sabherwal, Founder & CEO, Upthrust Esports.

1...116117118...1,937Page 117 of 1,937

EDITOR PICKS

Opinions

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

TalkEsport is world's premier stop for esports scores, news and coverage! In the industry since 2009, TalkEsport has garnered immense authenticity and credibility, making it the top destination for Esports!

Contact us: [email protected]

FOLLOW US

© TalkEsport Media & Broadcasting (P) Ltd. All Rights Reserved 2012-2025.