Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Home Blog Page 140

Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Combat Chest: All Rewards

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Combat Chest: All Rewards

Marvel Rivals is introducing a new mini-Battle Pass to the game with the upcoming Season 2.5 update in the form of a ‘Combat Chest’. Similar to other mini passes we have seen in the past, the Marvel Rivals Combat Chest will reward players with a bunch of exciting items that can be obtained by grinding through the limited-time pass before it expires.

The Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 update is set to bring a plethora of content to the hero shooter, including the new hero Ultron, an auto chess game mode, and a lot more. However, if you’re looking to grab some exciting limited-time cosmetics for your Marvel Rivals inventory, you’ll want to keep an eye on the newly introduced Combat Chest.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the rewards included in the Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Combat Chest and how to get them.

All Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Combat Chest Rewards

Unlike the regular mini passes in Marvel Rivals, the Season 2.5 Combat Chest will include four pages of exciting rewards for players to collect. The rewards are split into a free tier, which can be obtained by anyone through grinding, and a premium tier, which is limited to players who upgrade their pass.

Without further ado, let’s check out all the rewards included in the Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Combat Chest:

Page 1

  • Coming Soon (Premium)
  • Emma Frost “Make It Rain” Emote (Free)
  • Storm “Ultimate Wind-Rider” Spray (Premium)
  • Storm “Tempest Scourge” Emote (Premium)
  • Storm “Ultimate Wind-Rider” Nameplate (Free)
  • Storm “Ultimate Wind-Rider” Costume (Premium)

Page 2

  • Krakoa Seedlings Spray (Free)
  • Storm “Kingdom Savior” MVP (Premium)
  • Cerebro Collectible (Free)
  • Psylocke “Harmony Duets” Emote (Premium)
  • Ultron Emblem Spray (Free)
  • Galacta – Mood Bundle (Free)

Page 3

  • Mister Fantastic “Future Foundation” Nameplate (Premium)
  • Emma Frost Emblem Spray (Free)
  • Mister Fantastic “Identity Overhaul” Emote (Premium)
  • Mister Fantastic “Future Foundation” Spray (Premium)
  • Mister Fantastic “We Are the Future” MVP (Premium)
  • Mister Fantastic “Future Foundation” Costume (Free)

Page 4

  • Magneto “0X53574F5244” Emote (Premium)
  • Magneto “Binary Sword” Spray (Free)
  • Magneto “Binary Sword” Nameplate (Premium)
  • Basic – Emoji Bundle (Free)
  • Magneto “Magnetic Melody” MVP (Premium)
  • Magneto “Binary Sword” Costume (Premium)

How To Unlock Combat Chest in Marvel Rivals?

As mentioned earlier, any player can progress through the Marvel Rivals Combat Pass and obtain the free rewards by simply playing the game. If you’re looking to grab the premium rewards, you’ll have to upgrade your pass to the Premium Edition, which is available for 690 Lattice.

To level up your Combat Chest, you’ll have to play Marvel Rivals and earn pass XP. The Combat Chest XP is capped at 7,200 per day, which means you can unlock around four levels each day. Players also have the option to purchase levels directly instead of grinding. Upgrading from a level 1 to level 24 Combat Chest will cost you 4,600 Lattice.

Is Valorant Tracker Bannable?

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Is Valorant Tracker Bannable?

Valorant Tracker is one of the most popular third-party stat-tracking applications used by players to monitor performance and improve gameplay, but can it get you banned?

Valorant is a highly competitive game, with players constantly looking to grab every bit of advantage that they can over their opposition in hopes of reaching their dream rank. While improving your in-game settings, refining your aim, and learning the maps can certainly go a long way in helping you rank up in Valorant, some players opt to go the extra mile and use third-party tools to obtain information not readily available by default.

Valorant Tracker and many other third-party apps let you preview your teammates’ and opponents’ stats even before the match begins, giving you an early edge before you hop on the battlefield. While it doesn’t provide an unfair competitive advantage per se, there’s still confusion among players about whether using Valorant Tracker is a bannable offense.

Can You Get Banned for Using Valorant Tracker?

To this day, Riot Games hasn’t officially made a statement about whether using third-party tracking apps could lead to a ban. However, as per an X (formerly Twitter) post made by the official Valorant handle in June 2022, “using unauthorized 3rd-party apps that pull information hidden by the game client can get you banned.”

The aforementioned post caused widespread confusion among the Valorant player base, many of whom rushed to uninstall third-party apps from their PC to avoid getting banned.

Shortly after the original post, the Valorant Tracker X account addressed the confusion with a statement of their own.

“Tracker Network is a recognized 3rd party developer by Riot Games,” the X post reads. “Our Valorant site and apps are using the official Valorant API provided by Riot Games with approved access. You will not get banned by using Valorant Tracker.”

Despite this statement, a portion of the Valorant community wasn’t convinced that the Tracker app was safe to use in the game. Some users in the replies even claimed to have been banned as a result of using the Valorant Tracker app.

Because Valorant Tracker doesn’t grant a direct competitive advantage to players, it’s unlikely that using it alone would lead to a ban. However, if you have lots of valuable skins in your account and you want to play it extra safe by avoiding any risk of bans whatsoever, it’s best to steer clear of third-party applications in Valorant.

If you’ve been banned as a result of using the Tracker App, you should try reaching out directly to the Riot Support team and try to explain your situation.

Do You Need PlayStation Plus to Play Fortnite?

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Do You Need PlayStation Plus to Play Fortnite?

Fortnite is arguably the most popular Battle Royale in the world and has always boasted its multi-platform presence since its release. A big chunk of their player base comes from users of PlayStation who had this question in mind, whether they would need PlayStation Plus moving forward if they are looking to play the game on PS5 Pro.

Fortnite set the standards for cross-platform play, even though PC players always boasted a distinct advantage over consoles. However, while PlayStation was always at a disadvantage, worries loomed as to whether PlayStation would require players to get a subscription to PS Plus despite the game being free, as is the case for several of the other top multiplayer games.

While PS Plus offers a plethora of features, fortunately for PS users, it is not mandatory for Fortnite. Players who only want to enjoy Fortnite, PS Plus is not an essential item, and players can continue to enjoy the game without having to pay for it.

Now that you know PS Plus is not essential to play Fortnite, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with enough benefits. PS Plus comes in quite handy as it allows players to get special skins and several in-game items. While it is quite expensive to get, make sure the price is worth your while.

How to Unlock FFAR 1 in Black Ops 6?

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
How to Unlock FFAR 1 in Black Ops 6?

FFAR 1 was quite a popular Assault Rifle from back in Black Ops: Cold War days, and now that it is making a return once again, players would like to know how they can get their hands on what could be labelled as one of the most versatile weapons in the game.

FFAR1 is an assault rifle that isn’t particularly good in one area, however, it might be a tool that can come in handy in a plethora of situations. The weapon allows flexibility to have a high rate of fire with little recoil, which can be a good option for being the ideal choice for running and gunning.

You must finish page six of the Season 4 Battle Pass to unlock the FFAR 1 in BO6 and Warzone. However, to unlock levels and finally finish Page Six, you will need to accumulate a significant amount of experience points, which is completely free.

The announcement quickly grabbed the players’ attention, and now that the gun is coming to the game, players will be looking out for it. If you happen to miss out on the gun, in typical CoD fashion, it will make it to the Armoury in due time.

Japanese Government Unveils G-Cans Flood Tunnel in Minecraft

Aritra Patra
-
0
Japanese Government Unveils G-Cans Flood Tunnel in Minecraft

In a pioneering marriage of technology, education, and public infrastructure consciousness, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has released a carefully designed Minecraft map that immerses players in an experiential discovery of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel (MAOUDC), also referred to as G-Cans.

This is not only a demonstration of Japan’s engineering capabilities but also an educational innovation to instill disaster readiness among the populace.

G-Cans: Tokyo’s Suburbs

Situated in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, roughly 20 kilometers north of central Tokyo, the G-Cans plant is a tribute to Japan’s dedication to preventing urban flooding. Designed in the early 1990s and service since 2006, this gigantic underground network was built to combat the recurrent flooding due to typhoons and monsoon rains in the Greater Tokyo Area.

Extending a 6.3-kilometer network of tunnels 50 meters beneath the earth, the complex consists of five enormous vertical shafts, each being 65 meters deep and 32 meters wide. These interconnected shafts direct surplus water into a huge storage reservoir named the “Underground Temple” because of its cathedral-like structure. This 177 meters long, 78 meters wide, and 25.4 meters tall tank rests upon the support of 59 reinforced concrete pillars, each weighing about 500 tons.

With seventy-eight 10-megawatt pumps, the plant can discharge as much as 200 cubic meters of water every second into the Edo River, so effectively protecting Tokyo metropolitan areas from potential flood damage.

New Minecraft Map

Understanding the value of immersive digital platforms in learning, the MLIT‘s publication of the G-Cans Minecraft map is a calculated step towards involving younger generations and the public at large in comprehending intricacies in infrastructure networks. Created with precision to scale, the virtual equivalent mirrors the detailed aspects of the real facility, such as the giant silos, huge tunnel networks, and the famous Underground Temple.

Through this online game, players learn about the working systems of flood diversion, the significance of disaster prevention facilities, and challenges in urban planning in flood-prone areas. The project highlights Japan’s initiative in disaster education, utilizing popular gaming channels to spread important information properly and interestingly.

Japan’s integration of gaming technology with infrastructure education provides a model for other countries struggling with similar environmental issues. As global climate change continues to intensify the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the necessity for novel public education measures becomes more and more critical.

The G-Cans Minecraft project is a model for the way governments are able to utilize online tools to cultivate public knowledge of sophisticated systems, encourage readiness for disaster, and get future generations interested in engineering and environmental sciences.

Valorant Champions 2025: Dates, Venues, Format & Ticket Details Revealed

Aritra Patra
-
0
Valorant Champions 2025: Dates, Venues, Format & Ticket Details Revealed

Riot Games has officially revealed the information regarding Valorant Champions 2025, the culmination of the VCT season. The world-class international competition will be held in Paris, France, from September 12 to October 5, and will bring together the 16 best teams from around the world to compete for the year’s most prestigious Valorant crown and a $2.25 million prize pool.

Venues

The competition will be divided between two iconic locations. The Group and Bracket Stages will be hosted at Les Arènes de Grand Paris Sud in Évry-Courcouronnes, a converted arena that has emerged as one of the emerging hotspots for esports events across the region. Locally referred to as the Karmine Corp Arena, this arena provides a close but charged atmosphere with seating space for approximately 2,200 fans. Sept. 12-22, all 16 eligible teams will fight their way through a double-elimination Group Stage, split into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will go to the Playoffs.

After the group stage, the tourney will stay at Les Arènes de Grand Paris Sud for the Bracket Stage from September 25 to 29. This too will have a double-elimination format, further increasing the tension as teams inch closer to the championship. The event will then move to a much bigger venue for its finale — the Accor Arena in Paris proper. A world-renowned arena with a seating capacity of more than 20,000, the Accor Arena has also hosted major esports competitions such as the 2019 League of Legends World Championship and the 2023 BLAST.tv Paris CS:GO Major, lending prestige to this year’s Champions clash.

Format

The Finals Weekend will take place at the Accor Arena between October 3 and 5, starting with the Upper and Lower Bracket Finals. The tournament will culminate on October 5, when the two highest-performing teams face off in the Grand Final. Although all previous matches would be played in a best-of-three (BO3) format, the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final will be played in a best-of-five (BO5) series, adding greater intensity and stamina to secure the trophy.

Just like in past years, the 16 competing teams in Champions 2025 will qualify depending on their results in the VCT Stage 2 regional competitions, which will end in August. Teams from regions such as EMEA, the Americas, Pacific, and China will fight for international spots, meaning the fans should get an interesting and competitive team lineup on stage at Champions.

Tickets

To control high ticket demand and avoid scalping, Riot Games is adopting a new verification system for ticket purchases. Fans who have a Riot Account opened before April 1, 2025, and have played a minimum of one match. From May 30 to June 15, fans must go to the Champions Ticket Eligibility page and sign in to confirm their accounts.

Authenticated users will get a one-time access code via email in July and an exclusive link to the sales page. Ticket sales will be available on July 9 at 11 AM BST for Mastercard holders, with general access starting on July 10 at 11 AM BST for all authenticated users. Riot has explained that confirmation does not necessarily ensure tickets are available, as it anticipates that demand will well outstrip supply.

Are you going to purchase tickets for the event, or will you enjoy it online? Let us know in the comments below.

Valve CEO Gabe Newell To Launch First Brain Chip Later This Year

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Valve CEO Gabe Newell To Launch First Brain Chip Later This Year

Gabe Newell, founder and CEO of Valve, the company behind some of the biggest video games in history, like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, as well as the creators of the massive PC gaming platform Steam, is making notable strides in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology through his start-up, Starfish Neuroscience.

Starfish Neuroscience, which was founded by Newell alongside Philip Sabes in 2022, is expected to launch its first brain chip later this year.

As per a recent blog post from the company, the brain chip won’t be a full-fledged implant but a custom “electrophysiology” device that can read brain activity and stimulate the brain.

“We believe there is an opportunity to develop a new class of minimally invasive, distributed neural interfaces that enable simultaneous access to multiple brain regions,” Starfish engineer Nate Cermak said in a statement. “We’re working to build new technologies that allow for recording and stimulation of neural activity with a level of precision vastly exceeding what is possible with currently available systems.”

Starfish Neuroscience Brain Chip Spec Sheet

In the blog post, the company also unveiled the current specifications for its first brain chip. Take a look at them below:

  • Low power: 1.1 mW total power consumption during normal recording
  • Physically small: 2 x 4mm (0.3mm pitch BGA)
  • Capable of both recording (spikes and LFP) & stimulation (biphasic pulses)
  • 32 electrode sites, 16 simultaneous recording channels at 18.75 kHz
  • 1 current source for stimulating an arbitrary pair of electrodes
  • Onboard impedance monitoring and stim voltage transient measurement
  • Digital onboard data processing and spike detection allow the device to operate via low-bandwidth wireless interfaces.
  • Fabricated in TSMC 55nm process

Starfish claims that connecting multiple regions of the brain simultaneously, rather than focusing on a single area, could offer new solutions for conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

According to its updated website, the company is also developing a “precision hyperthermia device” to destroy tumors using targeted heat, along with a robotically guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system aimed at treating neurological disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression.

As confirmed by Starfish, it plans on launching its first brain chip towards the end of 2025. The company also states that it is “interested in finding collaborators for whom such a chip would open new and exciting avenues.”

Valorant Mobile Closed Beta Launches in China June 2025

Aritra Patra
-
0
Valorant Mobile Closed Beta Launches in China June 2025

Riot Games has officially revealed that the closed beta for Valorant Mobile will roll out in China in June 2025. Andy Ho, Valorant’s Executive Producer, revealed this in a recent developer update. Riot has said that the beta will become available in the coming weeks.

Looking back at the journey of the game, Ho said, “When we released Valorant back in 2020, we really never thought that in five short years we’d be on the brink of introducing a mobile version of the game to millions of players.”

Pre-Registration and Exclusive Rewards

Pre-registrations for the closed beta are already available for Chinese players. If they pre-register, they will be able to participate in the playtest and receive special rewards in-game. The rewards include up to four special player cards that can be earned by completing certain in-game missions during the beta test. A rare Wingman-themed player card is one of the notable rewards.

To develop Valorant Mobile, Riot Games collaborated with Lightspeed Studios, a Tencent-owned game studio famous for its development of mobile versions of popular shooters such as PUBG Mobile and Apex Legends Mobile. Rick and Sydney from Lightspeed Studios provided insights into the process of development in the developer update and gave a sneak peek into different in-game aspects.

CS2 Austin Major Stage 1 Pick’Ems: Road to Diamond Coin

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
CS2 Austin Major Stage 1 Pick’Ems: Road to Diamond Coin

With the highly anticipated CS2 BLAST Austin Major 2025 just around the corner, Valve has opened up the Pick’Ems for the tournament.

As usual, any CS2 player can choose to participate in Pick’Ems for the Austin Major, but only Viewer Pass holders can make progress on their challenges and earn rewards.

It’s safe to say that the Austin Major Stage 1 Pick’Ems are one of the toughest stages that the CS2 community has seen in a while. With so many evenly matched teams and the inconsistencies they’ve been showing, it’s easy to get your picks wrong if you’re not following the current state of the pro scene.

If you’re confused about your CS2 Austin Major 2025 Pick’Ems, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

CS2 Austin Major Stage 1 Pick’Ems

The opening stage of any CS2 Major is notoriously difficult to predict, and the Austin Major is easily shaping up to be one of the toughest yet. With so many unpredictable matchups, locking in accurate Pick’ems is not an easy feat.

With that being said, I’ve tried to include some of the best picks that you can make on your Austin Major Stage 1 Pick’Ems below. However, it’s important to note that these are just my suggestions, so do your Pick’ems at your own risk—this stage is incredibly volatile, and there’s a good chance some of these picks might not pan out.

Best Stage 1 Picks for Austin Major 2025

Below, we have included our picks for the BLAST Austin Major 2025:

  • 3-0 Picks: Heroic, Complexity
  • 0-3 Picks: Lynn Vision, Fluxo
  • Qualifying Picks: BetBoom, Tyloo, Wildcard, B8, Flyquest, OG

While the 3-0 category is always prone to upsets, Heroic and Complexity seem to be the safest of the bunch, especially considering their recent form. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lynn Vision and Fluxo look like the most likely candidates for a 0-3 exit, making them our picks for early elimination.

All the 3-1 and 3-2 picks have been in decent form lately and should advance to the next stage without much difficulty, barring any major upsets.

If you’re participating in the Austin Major 2025 Pick’Ems, it’s crucial to note that you’ll have to activate your Viewer Pass before the Stage 1 picks lock. If you grab the Pass afterwards, you won’t be able to earn any progress for this stage of the event.

New Marvel Rivals Auto Chess Game Mode: Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol Explained

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
New Marvel Rivals Auto Chess Game Mode: Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol Explained

Marvel Rivals is getting a new game mode! This time, though, players will have to focus less on shooting heads and more on tactical play as the new Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol mode seems to be heavily inspired by Auto Chess.

Auto Chess, which was originally a mod for Dota 2, sent shockwaves within the online gaming community with its unique, simplistic design and strategic depth. Featuring a blend of turn-based tactics and randomized unit placement, Auto Chess quickly managed to captivate players globally, paving the way for a brand-new game genre—auto battlers.

It didn’t take long for other video game developers to come up with their iterations of Dota Auto Chess, with some prominent ones being Riot Games’ Teamfight Tactics and Moonton’s Magic Chess. Now, Marvel Rivals appears to be introducing its take on the Auto Chess genre with the upcoming game mode, Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol.

Marvel Rivals Auto Chess Game Mode

Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol, which is set to be added to Marvel Rivals in Season 2.5, will feature gameplay elements that are seemingly inspired by Auto Chess, but with a bunch of unique twists.

While NetEase has yet to reveal full details about the new Marvel Rivals limited-time game mode, there’s already a wealth of information available about Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol for us to take a look at.

Marvel Rivals Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol Explained

Marvel Rivals introduces a unique twist to its Auto Battler right from the Hero Selection phase. Unlike most other Auto Chess games, players start with six heroes in Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol instead of the usual one. However, not every hero from Marvel Rivals will be available to play in this game mode.

Once you have your roster set, the gameplay kicks off in a style similar to Dota Auto Chess. You’ll have to face off against five other players, with each player starting with 50 points. Each defeat takes away a few points from your total, and the last player standing wins.

Positioning & Synergies

Having good positioning with your characters is extremely crucial in Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol. Generally speaking, you’ll want your tanks at the front, while squishy damage dealers and healers should take the back line.

Taking a glance at the initial reveal, we can see that hero synergies are displayed at the left side of the screen. Players can also buy certain upgrades for their lineups, which are sold as cards in the ‘Card Shop.’ These cards can give your team various buffs to help you in combat. These buffs include additional health for your heroes, bonus damage, damage reduction, and more.

Marvel Rivals Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol Release Date

NetEase has confirmed that the new Marvel Rivals Auto Chess mode will hit the live servers on June 6, 2025.

1...139140141...1,979Page 140 of 1,979

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.