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Epic Games Rolls Out Fortnite Update v40.20

Epic Games rolled out Fortnite update v40.20 on April 16, 2026. It is one of the bigger mid-season patches in Chapter 7 Season 2, covering Battle Royale, Reload, Festival, LEGO, and Save the World.

Servers went down at 4 AM ET on April 16. Matchmaking was disabled 30 minutes earlier, at 3:30 AM ET. Downtime lasted roughly three hours, with servers back online around 7 AM ET.

Showdown Act 2: The Elites

Act 1 of the Showdown Rivalries concluded with Team Ice King defeating Team Foundation. Act 2, titled The Elites, is now live. The story shifts focus to Daigo and the Elites returning to the island, with Jules taking over the versus section of the Battle Pass.

Both teams can unlock new weapons and items by completing Rivalry milestones.

Team Ice King unlocks:

  • New Revolver
  • Recon Scanner
  • Reforged Infinity Blade
  • Slipstreams

Team Foundation unlocks:

  • Super Shredder Shotgun
  • New Building Mechanic
  • New Projectile Launcher
  • New Sanctuary POI Update

New Exotic weapons are also available at Rivalry Machines on the map. Players earn coins by winning duel challenges against other players, then spend those coins at the machines to buy the new weapons. The Eradicator O.X.R. Rifle is one of the new Exotics added to the loot pool this way.

Showdown Act 2 is the second of three acts this season. It will be followed by an Epilogue and a season-ending live event.

Fortnite Reload: Elite Stronghold Map

The Elite Stronghold is a new Reload map added in v40.20. It is set in the Elites’ base of operations and is designed around faster, more compact combat.

Players ranked Elite or higher in Fortnite Reload get early access starting April 18. The map opens to everyone else on April 20.

Save the World Goes Free-to-Play

This is the biggest change in v40.20. Save the World, Fortnite‘s original co-op PvE mode, is now free for all players.

Previously, access required a Founder’s Pack or a Save the World Quest Pack. The mode was in early access until 2020 before becoming a paid product. As of today, it is free and permanent.

Players who already owned the mode before this update keep their Founder benefits, including V-Bucks earned through Daily Quests, Mission Alerts, Storm Shield Defense Missions, and existing Challenges. New players will earn X-Ray Tickets for progression instead of V-Bucks.

As a thank-you to existing players, Epic gave the following rewards on April 16:

  • 1x Hero Supercharger
  • 1x Weapon Supercharger
  • 1x Trap Supercharger
  • 5x Survivor Superchargers
  • 1x Hero Recruitment Voucher
  • 1x Weapon Research Voucher
  • 10,000 Gold

All players who load into Save the World for the first time also receive the Snowstrike Hero, tied to a community milestone event that reached its final goal.

NVIDIA Launches GeForce Now Cloud Gaming Service in India: Pricing, How to Join, and More

The wait is finally over for Indian gamers, as NVIDIA finally launched its GeForce Now cloud gaming service in the country earlier today, bringing high-end PC gaming to users at affordable prices.

For the uninitiated, GeForce Now is a cloud gaming service from NVIDIA that allows players to stream and play PC games over the internet without needing high-end hardware. Instead of running games locally on users’ PCs, they are instead rendered on remote rigs and streamed directly to a user’s device. By doing so, gamers can enjoy AAA titles on modest PCs, laptops, or even mobile devices.

While gamers are free to try out GeForce Now for free, users who pay for one of the premium tiers can have an elevated gameplay experience, with benefits such as shorter queue times, longer play sessions, and access to more powerful rigs.

NVIDIA GeForce Now Live in India

The servers for NVIDIA GeForce Now officially went live in India on April 16, 2026. The servers powering the service in the region are located in Mumbai.

At the time of writing, GeForce Now is still in an “early access” phase in the country, with only the free-tier being available for now.

As a result, players hoping to try out the service should expect to encounter long queue times, that is if they’re able to access it at all in the first place.

The service will initially only be available to pre-registered users, who will be able to stream over 4,500 games from platforms like Xbox, Steam, Epic Games, and others.

NVIDIA GeForce Now Pricing & Subscription Tiers

At the time of its launch, GeForce Now will have three separate subscription tiers in India with a special 90-day subscription period. Users can enjoy a Free Tier, Performance Tier, and an Ultimate Tier, with the latter two being priced at INR 999, and INR 1,999 respectively.

Note that these are “introductory prices,” as confirmed by NVIDIA, and the final pricing will likely change once GeForce Now exits its early access period.

If you had already signed up for early access of NVIDIA GeForce Now, you should receive your invite to try out the Free Tier soon. Otherwise, you may have to wait a bit before getting in on the action.

NVIDIA GeForce Now: How to Join?

Interested gamers can head to NVIDIA’s official GeForce Now website to sign up for the cloud gaming service.

If you’re unable to join the Free Tier, you should look to join the waitlist for the Performance or Ultimate plans to get notified once they go live.

BMPS 2026: Who Gets India’s Second EWC Slot? Global Points System Explained

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BMPS 2026 is no longer just India’s biggest domestic BGMI tournament. It is now the entry point to the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, and for the first time, India has two slots to fill.

Initially, Krafton India had confirmed only one slot for the BMPS 2026 winner, like last year, but PUBG Mobile later increased India’s allocation to two direct slots for EWC 2026. This means two Indian teams will represent India at the World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One slot is clear. The other is not. And that second slot is where things get interesting.

BMPS Winner Gets Slot One. That Part is Confirmed.

Krafton India released the official BMPS 2026 teaser on April 13, 2026, confirming the tournament will run from June 14 to July 6 and offer the winning team a direct qualification slot at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh.

This follows the same model as last year. BMPS 2025 champions Team Aryan represented India at EWC 2025 as the BMPS winners. The BMPS champion earning an EWC slot is now an established tradition.

So slot one is settled. The BMPS 2026 winner goes to Riyadh.

Does BGIS Winner Team Soul Get the Second Slot? No.

The natural follow-up question is whether Team Soul, who won BGIS 2026, might claim the second slot directly.

The answer, based on what has been officially communicated, is no. Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports at Krafton India, has confirmed to TalkEsport that no international slot will be allocated through BGIS. Soul won BGIS 2026, created history in the process, but that title does not come with an EWC ticket.

This means the second slot has no officially announced pathway yet.

Does the BMPS Runner-Up Get It?

The next logical guess is that the runner-up at BMPS 2026 picks up the second slot. On the surface, that seems straightforward. But if that were the plan, Krafton would likely have announced it already. An EWC qualification slot is too significant an incentive to leave unannounced. No official communication has confirmed a runner-up slot as of writing.

So the question remains open.

A Small Detail in the BMPS 2026 Teaser

When Krafton dropped the BMPS 2026 teaser on April 13, there was a detail that went mostly unnoticed. The word “Points” appeared near the BMPS logo in the teaser visual.

Krafton does not add elements to official teasers without a reason. That word may be nothing. But it may also be a hint toward something the community has been watching for a while: the Global Points system.

What Is the Global Points System?

Krafton India introduced a Global Points ranking on their official BGMI esports website. The system tracks team performance across official tournaments throughout the year. Teams that perform consistently across multiple events accumulate more points. It is the same principle used in international circuits like the PMGC points system, where teams earn qualification through season-long consistency rather than a single result.

The official Krafton India esports website currently hosts a team rankings section that tracks standings across events.

When TalkEsport asked Karan Pathak about the Global Points system previously, he clarified that the points were being used for ranking and analysis purposes only, and were not linked to international qualification at that time.

That was then. India now has an extra EWC slot. The situation has changed.

Could Krafton Use Global Points for the Second Slot?

If Krafton decides to use Global Points to determine the second EWC slot, it would reward consistent performance across the full 2026 season rather than a single tournament result. A team that dominates across BGIS and BMPS and other official events would earn that second slot through accumulated performance.

This would be a meaningful shift. Indian BGMI esports has seen strong teams lose entire seasons because of one bad day in a high-stakes LAN. A points-based approach would protect against that, rewarding sustained excellence over a long window.

It would also encourage every team to perform in every official event, not just the final one.

None of this is confirmed. No official announcement has been made about how the second EWC slot will be allocated. The “Points” in the teaser may be a reference to in-game scoring, standard tournament points, or something else entirely. The final decision belongs to Krafton.

What Is Confirmed About BMPS 2026

To separate fact from analysis clearly, here is what Krafton has officially confirmed:

BMPS 2026 will run from June 14 to July 6, 2026. The format includes an online phase followed by a LAN Finals. The BMPS champion earns a direct slot at EWC 2026 in Riyadh.

For teams outside the direct invite list, the Upthrust Esports India Rising Series 2026 offers a route in. The open tournament started on April 3 with 512 teams across 32 groups, with top finishers receiving BMPS 2026 slots.

India also has one confirmed slot at PMGC 2026 through BMSD 2026, with two more PMGC slots available through BMIC 2026, where Indian teams will compete against squads from Korea and Japan.

How the second EWC slot gets allocated is the one major piece Krafton has not yet revealed. When they do, it could reshape how teams approach the entire 2026 competitive season.

Indian Govt May Remove Mandatory Registration for Free-to-Play Games and Esports Under New Gaming Rules

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India’s central government is preparing to ease rules for gaming companies. The key change: non-monetised games may no longer need to register with regulators.

Senior officials told Business Standard that the government is likely to remove the mandatory registration requirement for social-skills-based games and esports that do not involve any upfront monetary transactions. These games will also be considered “deemed approved” by the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI).

The new rules are expected to be released in May or June 2026.

What “Deemed Approved” Means for Gaming Companies

The proposed change is significant for companies operating free-to-play games and non-competitive esports titles.

An official said: “As long as there are no monetary transactions involved, most games should pass muster. Only if there are complaints or instances of unfair or illegal practices in a game or a gaming company will the authority look into it and decide whether to probe.”

In practical terms, this means developers of non-monetary games would not need to go through the OGAI registration process at launch. The authority would only step in if specific complaints arise.

Material Change Notification Rule Also Being Dropped

The upcoming rules will also remove another requirement that had drawn attention from the industry.

Another official said the new rules will ease other compliance guidelines, including the removal of norms to inform the OGAI of any “material changes” to the game, or minor modifications in the nature or offerings of the game.

This rule had required gaming companies to notify regulators any time they changed a game’s features or revenue model. The official explained the original reasoning behind it:

“Now if they suddenly change the revenue model, there are chances of players not being completely aware about it and thus be at a disadvantage.”

Despite that reasoning, the government now appears willing to remove the requirement for non-monetary games.

What the October 2025 Draft Rules Had Proposed

To understand the shift, it helps to know what was originally on the table.

In October 2025, the government had proposed maintaining and publishing a national register of all online social games, esports, and online money games, with mandatory registration of all companies and persons that offer such games in India. The OGAI was to maintain the national registry for all such games, as well as the registration of such persons and companies.

The October draft had also proposed that once a game had been registered in India as either an online social game or an esport, the gaming company would be bound to inform the authority of any material change in the online game. These changes included any modifications to the online game’s features or a change in the revenue model. Online social games and esports that did not inform the OGAI of such changes could have their registration cancelled by the regulator.

That blanket approach received pushback from the industry. One expert argued that a threshold-based approach, based on downloads, revenues, or prize pools, would balance compliance with ease-of-doing business and cautioned that a one-size-fits-all regime could stifle grassroots growth, pointing out that game publishing is still a nascent industry in India.

What OGAI Is and How It Fits In

The OGAI was established as a statutory body corporate with perpetual succession and civil court powers under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. It is tasked with recognising, registering, and categorising online games into esports, online social games, and real money games. It is also responsible for monitoring compliance, handling grievance redressals from users and publishers, and issuing directions to service providers.

Real-money games involving financial stakes, fees, deposits, or winnings convertible to money are completely prohibited under the Act. The law only targets online money games, leaving skill-based games like esports unaffected.

The proposed easing of registration norms applies specifically to that second category: games with no money involved.

What This Means for Indian Gaming and Esports

The Indian gaming industry has grown rapidly over the last few years, and the compliance burden of mandatory registration had been a concern for smaller studios and indie developers in particular.

Removing the mandatory registration requirement for free-to-play titles and esports that carry no monetary transactions would lower the entry barrier for companies that operate in those categories. It also signals a regulatory posture that prioritises oversight of money-based games rather than the broader ecosystem.

The OGAI’s website was confirmed live in March 2026 though still incomplete at the time, with multiple sections under construction and 49 applications submitted, of which 22 were approved.

FAQ

What is the OGAI? The Online Gaming Authority of India is a statutory regulatory body set up under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. It is responsible for classifying, registering, and monitoring online games in India, including esports and online social games.

Why is the government removing mandatory registration for some games? The government is likely removing the requirement for games that do not involve monetary transactions. Officials indicated that non-money games will be treated as “deemed approved,” with the authority only intervening if complaints or violations arise.

What games are affected by this change? Social-skills-based games and esports that involve no upfront monetary transactions are the primary category affected. Games involving real money remain subject to the full regulatory framework, including prohibition under the 2025 Act.

What was the “material change” rule that is also being removed? The October 2025 draft rules required gaming companies to notify the OGAI of any change to a game’s features or revenue model. Failure to do so could lead to registration cancellation. The new rules are likely to drop this requirement.

When will the new gaming rules be released? Senior officials told Business Standard that the new rules are expected to be released in May or June 2026.

Sony Reveals PS Plus Game Catalog for April 2026

Sony has confirmed the full PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup for April 2026. The new titles join the service on April 21, and they cover a wide range of genres. The list of games includes open-world action RPGs, racing, football management, roguelite combat, horror narrative, and deckbuilding.

PS Plus Extra and Premium members get access to the main catalog. Premium members also get one extra PS2 classic on top.

Games Coming to PS Plus Game Catalog on April 21

Here is every confirmed title joining the catalog this month:

  • The Crew Motorfest (PS5, PS4)
    • Ubisoft’s open-world racing game is set in Hawaii. Players race across city streets, rainforest trails, mountain roads, and volcanic terrain. The game supports solo play and co-op, with hundreds of vehicles and a range of themed events and challenges.
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (PS5 / PS4)
    • PS5 players get the remastered version, while PS4 players get the Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. The remaster adds updated visuals and upgraded features over the original. The game follows Aloy, a machine hunter in a far-future Earth overrun by mechanical creatures.
  • Football Manager 26 Console (PS5 only)
    • This entry in Sports Interactive’s management series features the Premier League with full licensing for the first time. The game also includes upgraded match-day visuals, new motion capture, volumetric animations, and new controller shortcuts for in-match adjustments.
  • Warriors: Abyss (PS5, PS4)
    • Koei Tecmo’s action roguelite. Players pick from over 100 playable heroes, build parties by combining unique traits, and fight through wave-based combat set in hell. Defeat and victory both progress the run.
  • Squirrel with a Gun (PS5)
    • A sandbox shooter and puzzle platformer where you play as a squirrel. Players escape a secret underground facility, fight government agents, and collect golden acorns using a variety of firearms.
  • The Casting of Frank Stone (PS5)
    • A narrative horror game from Supermassive Games set in the Dead by Daylight universe. Player choices shape the story and affect character outcomes. The game centers on a group of friends uncovering the violent legacy of Frank Stone in a town called Cedar Hills.
  • Monster Train (PS5)
    • A roguelike deckbuilder where players defend three vertical floors of a train from attacking enemies. The game has six monster clans, 280-plus cards, 25 difficulty levels, and a different deck build each run.

PS Plus Premium Exclusive Addition

  • Wild Arms 4 (PS5, PS4) The PS2 JRPG comes to PS Plus Premium this month. Set in a ruined world called Filgaia, the game picks up ten years after a brutal war. The PS Plus version includes up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

There is also a limited-time offer running through April 30. PlayStation Plus members who play Resident Evil Village for at least 30 minutes will earn a free movie credit on Sony Pictures Core. The credit will be added to the Sony Pictures Core app by May 8. The redeemed movie can be watched ad-free at any time.

G2 Eliminates 3DMAX from IEM Rio 2026

Following a heartbreaking loss, G2 has sailed through to the Finals of the lower bracket by cruising past 3DMAX with a 2-0 scoreline in IEM Rio 2026. A breezy first map followed, but total domination in the second saw G2 secure a convincing win over the French side.

VETO

  • 3DMAX removed Mirage
  • G2 removed Nuke
  • 3DMAX picked Inferno
  • G2 picked Dust2
  • 3DMAX removed Overpass
  • G2 removed Ancient
  • Anubis was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: 3DMAX; Winner: G2

G2 on the defense hit the board first with a pistol-round win, before the gun-round conversion enabled 3DMAX to take the lead. Following the slow start, G2 built up in the game by the end of the first half to secure a narrow 7-5 lead before switching sides. Winning the second pistol allowed G2 to cruise past 3DMAX as the French side failed to post anything more than a single round on the defense, leading to a quick close of the map with a 13-6 scoreline. With 14 kills to his name, G2’s academy gem tAk stood out as the most impactful player with a 1.64 IR, which gave his side an early lead in the series.

Map 2: Dust 2; Pick: G2; Winner: G2

As G2 secured a confident win, 3DMAX opened Dust2 with a pistol round win, only to lose the following round to G2’s force. As G2 got hold of the match, their offense outclassed 3DMAX with a fast-paced and well-organized offense that closed the first half with an 11-1 scoreline. As 3DMAX were drained of all hopes for a comeback, G2 winning the pistol closed the door for a competitive match as they secured the series with a 13-1 scoreline. SunPayus found his groove on the AWP, which led to a 21-kill masterclass, making the difference for G2 when it mattered.

3DMAX bowing out of IEM Rio after two losses in the group stage goes to show how their transition hasn’t been optimal. One can argue that the two losses came against the Falcons and G2, who are arguably among the top 5 teams in the world, but if this roster can really turn its fate around, then it is yet to be seen.

How To Get the Sommerset Fortnite Skin for Free

Popular Twitch streamer Sommerset is officially making her way to Fortnite with an exclusive in-game outfit, and players have the exciting opportunity to grab her skin for free by participating in an upcoming event.

The Fortnite Sommerset outfit will be added to the game’s item shop on April 17, 2026. However, a number of players won’t need to spend any V-Bucks, as the event will enable them to unlock the outfit at no cost.

So, how exactly can you get the Fortnite Sommerset skin for free? Let’s find out!

How To Get Sommerset Skin for Free in Fortnite

Fortnite players looking to unlock the Sommerset skin for free will have to participate in the upcoming Triple Threat Cup, which is scheduled to take place on April 15, 2026.

Players who participate in the challenge and place high enough will be able to get the Sommerset Fortnite skin, alongside various other cosmetics, for free.

While the finer details of the Triple Threat Cup have yet to be revealed, we do know that the event will be a trios tournament that will take place in the Battle Royale playlist.

Players are advised to check out the “Compete” tab in Fortnite for further details on the Triple Threat Cup and how to get the Sommerset skin for free.

If you’re unable to secure a high-enough ranking to secure the free Sommerset skin in Fortnite, don’t worry. You’ll still be able to purchase the Sommerset bundle once it hits the item shop on April 17, 2026, at 8 PM ET.

Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 Update Revealed: Patch Notes, Release Date, and More

The highly anticipated Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 update goes live in two days, and it’s all set to introduce a plethora of exciting new content to the hero shooter.

The upcoming Marvel Rivals mid-season update not only brings some much-needed gameplay improvements and balance changes, but it also adds the new hero Black Cat to the game’s ever-expanding roster.

Alongside the aforementioned changes, fans will be able to see new events, cosmetics, and a ton of other stuff once the update goes live.

In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about the Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 patch, including a list of all changes, its release date, and more.

Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 Patch Notes

With only a couple of days remaining till the update goes live, NetEase has officially shed light on the Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 patch notes.

Here are all the changes that the upcoming update will introduce to the game:

ADJUSTMENTS

Chain-CC Protection

In Season 7.5, we introduced the Chain-CC (Crowd Control) Protection mechanic to ensure combat remains fluid and fair. Here are the specific rules:

– The Trigger: If a Hero suffers 5.5 seconds of total CC duration or is hit by 6 CC effects within a 7-second window, Chain-CC Protection activates. This instantly purges all active CC effects and grants the Hero 30% Tenacity for 3 seconds.
– Scaling Tenacity: Tenacity proportionally reduces the duration of incoming CC. While active, every new CC effect applied to the Hero increases their Tenacity by 10% and extends the buff’s duration by 0.5 seconds.
– Total Immunity: If Tenacity reaches 100%, the Hero becomes completely CC Immune until the buff expires. During this window, incoming CC will not grant further Tenacity or extend the Immunity duration.
– Cinematic Exceptions: Certain animation-driven CC effects (such as Emma Frost’s Carbon Crush and Monster Hulk’s World Breaker) bypass this system. Tenacity cannot reduce their durations, nor will they be interrupted if Chain-CC Protection triggers. Any standard CC effects applied during these cinematic moves will be cleared, and Tenacity applied, only after the cinematic ability concludes.
– Cooldown: The Chain-CC Protection system has a 5-second cooldown, which begins the moment the final Tenacity effect expires.

VANGUARD

Emma Frost

We’re slightly lowering the energy cost of the White Queen’s Ultimate to boost her suppression power on the battlefield. Time to shine, darling!
– Reduce the energy cost of Psionic Seduction (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 3100.

Deadpool (Vanguard)

We’re slightly dialing back Vanguard-pool’s burst damage and the survivability gains from his gun-form Ultimate. Gotta keep things fair, even for the Merc with a Mouth! 
– Reduce The Ban Hammer (Gun Form Ultimate Ability) Bonus Health gained per hammer hit from 80 to 60 (standard) and from 80 to 70 (upgraded).
– Reduce The Ban Hammer (Gun Form Ultimate Ability) damage dealt per hammer hit from 45 to 35. 
– Reduce bonus Attack Speed provided by Deadpool in Your Area – Vanguard to Dual Desert Eagles – Vanguard from 60% to 40%.

Peni Parker

We’re slightly reducing Peni’s base survivability but enhancing the deployment range and protection of her Cyber-Webs, while also improving the hit experience of her Primary Attack. This aims to strengthen Peni in positional warfare! Now she can cover more ground with her Cyber-Webs, and flexibly using their support effects will help the team handle specific enemy dives with more ease!
– Reduce base health from 700 to 650.
– Increase the maximum number of Cyber-Webs that can exist simultaneously on the field from 3 to 4.
– Increase Bonus Health cap provided to Peni by Cyber-Webs from 150 to 200.
– Increase Cyber-Web Cluster Projectile Speed from 120m/s to 150m/s.

DUELIST

Elsa Bloodstone

We’re reining in Elsa’s mobility and her threat level against Vanguards. The monster hunter needs to pace herself out there in the timestream!
– Increase Helix Advance cooldown from 8s to 10s. (Cooldown at max passive stacks from 2s to 4s).
– Reduce Monster-Piercer percentage damage per pellet from 1.2% to 0.8%.
   Reduce total percentage damage when all 5 pellets hit from 6% to 4%.
   Zhiyong Note: When all pellets hit, damage against a 275 HP hero drops from 81.5 (13*5+275*6%) to 76; against a 700 HP hero, it drops from 107 (13*5+700*6%) to 93.

Human Torch

We’re tweaking the Human Torch’s mobility mechanics to boost his burst mobility and enhance his gameplay pacing. At the same time, we want his movements to be a bit more predictable for his opponents. Flame on, but with a plan, Rivals!
– Plasma Body Mechanic Adjusted: Upon casting, he immediately dashes a short distance (10m) in the direction of movement and enters the Plasma Body state for 4s. This ability now has 2 charges, with a 10s recharge time per charge. There is a 4s cooldown between consecutive casts.

Winter Soldier

Bucky had a bit too much CC, which caused some serious frustration for enemies, especially when facing dive Vanguards, Duelists, or anchor Vanguards. He felt more like a “bodyguard” than a lethal operative. We’re reducing his CC capabilities and slightly buffing his frontal damage output to enrich his combat experience and make him feel like the true soldier he is!
– Remove Trooper’s Fist Grounded effect on enemies.
   Reduce Cooldown from 12s to 10s.
– Increase Bionic Hook cooldown from 12s to 15s.
– Increase Roterstern Projectile Damage from 75 to 80
   Decrease Spell Field Damage from 55 to 45.
– Reduce Tainted Voltage single charge energize time from 6s to 5s.
– Increase Kraken Impact Culling Threshold from 15% to 20%.
   Reduce base damage from 80 to 70.

STRATEGIST

Adam Warlock

We’re giving Adam Warlock a little cosmic boost to his healing capabilities!
– Increase Cosmic Cluster cooldown reduction provided to Avatar Life Stream per hit on an enemy from 0.3s to 0.4s.

Cloak & Dagger

We’re slightly reducing the duration of Cloak & Dagger’s Ultimate.
– Reduce Eternal Bond (Ultimate Ability) duration from 13s to 11s.

Jeff the Land Shark

We’re slightly reducing the pressure our favorite land shark puts on the enemy backline. Good boy, Jeff, but let’s give them a breather!
– Joyful Splash damage falloff now starts at 15m (was 20m) and damage drops to 60% of base at 30m (was 65% at 40m).
– Reduce It’s Jeff! (Ultimate Ability) recovery time when failing to swallow any targets from 1s to 0.4s.

Luna Snow

A small encore for Luna Snow to enhance her base combat capabilities!
– Increase Light & Dark Ice damage and healing from 22 to 24.

Ultron

We’re expanding the battlefield coverage of Ultron’s Ultimate. There are no strings on him!
– We’ve adjusted the logic of Ultron’s Ultimate. The four Ultron Drones surrounding Ultron will no longer shoot directly at the crosshair target; instead, they will bombard the area around the target. The bombardment area matches Ultron’s, but with slightly lower values. With this adjustment, the coverage area of Rage of Ultron is increased from a 3m radius to a 6m radius.
– After activating Rage of Ultron (Ultimate Ability):
   Increase Ultron’s Encephalo-Rays Damage from 8 to 18.
   Increase the Drones’ Encephalo-Rays Damage from 8 to 12.
   New Spell Field Damage Falloff: Starts at 1.5m after Encephalo-Rays explode, with a max falloff to 50% at 3m.
   Increase healing effect on allies from 25 to 40.
   (Damage and healing effects on targets within the original 3m radius remain roughly the same).

TEAM-UP ABILITIES

ADJUSTED OR REMOVED

Guardian of the Deep (Venom – Jeff the Land Shark/Hela)

Even the Goddess of Death and a ravenous Symbiote have to admit that Jeff’s healing hugs were getting a little too powerful. We’re dialing back the extra bulk for this aquatic alliance!”
– Reduce excess healing converted to Bonus Health from 100 to 50.
– Reduce healing efficiency from 70/s to 60/s

NEW

Lucky Loan (Black Cat – White Fox/Captain America)

What do you get when you cross a master thief, a mystical Kumiho, and the First Avenger? The ultimate heist crew!
– As the Team-Up Anchor, Black Cat gains a 5% boost in damage output.
– White Fox unlocks the new Nine-Tailed Aura ability through her Team-Up with Black Cat.
– Captain America unlocks the new Vibranium Bastion ability through his Team-Up with Black Cat.

Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 Release Date

NetEase has confirmed that the Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 update will go live globally on April 17, 2026, at around 2 AM PT.

Expect the servers to go down for maintenance for at least a couple of hours as the devs ship out the new update to the game.

Once the maintenance concludes, players will be able to launch Marvel Rivals and check out all the new content that the mid-season update adds to the game.

CS2 Pro Donk Gets Community Banned on Steam, Rendering Millions in Skins Locked

Professional Counter-Strike 2 player Danil “donk” Kryshkovets has received a community ban on Steam, sparking widespread debates on social media forums regarding the potential reasons behind this suspension.

The Team Spirit star got community-banned from the platform earlier today, and visiting his Steam profile shows the current status of his ban.

Taking a glance at donk’s Steam profile, we can see that he currently has one active community ban, with 0 days having passed since his last ban.

Image Credit – ArrowCS

Donk’s community ban has rendered approximately $200,000 USD worth of CS2 items in his inventory untradable for the time being. Should the ban turn out to be permanent, that could mean donk’s items getting stuck to his account for good.

Why Did Donk Get Banned on Steam?

The exact cause of donk’s community ban on Steam remains uncertain at the time of writing, with speculation running rampant across social media about what may have led to it.

While some players have raised accusations of possible cheating against the 19-year-old, the majority of the community believes that this ban may have stemmed from false reports.

Should the latter be the case, donk’s community ban should likely be removed within the next few days following manual inspection from Valve.

Another possibility is that donk may have posted a comment on another user’s Steam profile that the system flagged as suspicious. In such cases, community bans typically last less than a week before being lifted.

In any case, this community ban shouldn’t hinder donk’s ability to play CS2 on official servers. Since this is a community ban rather than a VAC ban, it imposes no gameplay restrictions on the account involved.

Stavn Joins NIP as Primary AWPer

Martin “stavn” Lund has joined Ninjas in Pyjamas as the team’s primary AWPer. The 24-year-old Dane replaces Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, who has been moved to the bench following NIP’s failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major.

Stavn had been away from competitive CS for eight months. He stepped down from Astralis to deal with personal issues that trace back to the death of his brother in 2021.

In January 2026, he posted a statement confirming his desire to return. “With professional therapy and patience, I now feel more grounded than before and ready to strive for greatness,” he wrote at the time.

He is now back, and this time in a different role. Stavn played as a hybrid or secondary AWPer throughout his career. At NIP, he steps into the primary sniper spot.

The move brings Stavn back together with two people he knows well. Rasmus “sjuush” Beck and coach Richard “Xizt” Landström were both part of HEROIC, the project where Stavn had his best results. He also has a history with captain Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, having played alongside him in HEROIC’s pre-COVID lineup.

R1nkle Benched After Cologne Miss

NIP’s failure to qualify for IEM Cologne led directly to this roster move. R1nkle, 21, had been the starting AWPer but was benched as the organisation looked to make changes. Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto also remains on the bench.

Alongside the Stavn signing, NIP confirmed that 19-year-old Polish player Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara’s loan from ENCE has been made permanent. He was ranked as the number one Prospect in HLTV’s Prospects Season 2 for March 2026.

NIP’s Current Roster

The confirmed squad heading into the road to the Singapore Major: