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Forza Horizon 6 Multiplayer Modes Unveiled

Aritra Patra
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Forza Horizon 6 Multiplayer Modes Unveiled

Playground Games has officially revealed the full multiplayer offering for Forza Horizon 6. The suite is called Horizon Play, and it covers everything from returning fan favourites to brand new competitive modes built around Japan’s car culture.

The game launches on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Microsoft Store and Steam. Premium Edition players get early access starting May 15. A PS5 version is also confirmed for later in the year, and Playground Games has confirmed cross-play support across all platforms, including PS5.

What Is Horizon Play?

Horizon Play is the multiplayer suite inside Forza Horizon 6. Playground Games revealed the in-game menu on social media, showing the XP bar for level progression, the account’s current level and rank, and a variety of available game modes, with more hinted below the scroll bar.

The menu confirms both returning modes and newly added ones that will be live on day one.

New Modes

Two new competitive modes are joining the roster.

Spec Racing includes dirt and road racing, but every player uses the same car, which levels the playing field. There are no custom modifications allowed, so results come down to driver skill.

Touge Showdown is a 1v1 mode that rotates across five preset mountain routes, based on the single-player versions of the same events. The races take place on narrow mountain passes inspired by Japan’s landscape. An online championship mode cycles through all five routes continuously for anyone who wants back-to-back head-to-head competition.

Touge Battles are not tied to the main festival progression, so players can jump in after unlocking Horizon Festival, which takes roughly one hour of gameplay.

Returning Modes at Launch

Horizon Play brings back classic modes, including Horizon Racing and The Eliminator, the battle royale-style mode where players race from one point to another across a section of the map, with losing racers eliminated along the way.

The Eliminator now starts all players in a 1984 Honda City. That’s a change from previous entries where the starter car varied.

Hide and Seek, which was added post-launch in Forza Horizon 5, is now available from day one in Forza Horizon 6. The mode puts one player in hiding while five others attempt to find them.

Open World Multiplayer Activities

Outside of the dedicated competitive modes, Horizon Play also includes shared activities built into the open world.

Time Attack Circuits and Drag Meets are seamlessly part of the open world, with no loading screens and no matchmaking required. They include an in-world leaderboard.

Players can also earn co-op LINK skills with other players and show off customised cars at Car Meets.

Forzathon Live has been renamed to Stunt Party. The co-op group event format returns under that new name.

EventLab, the custom track builder, now supports multiplayer building through a feature called Horizon CoLab, where players can create events together anywhere in Japan’s open world. Community creations can be shared for everyone to play.

Legend Island is a high-level area that unlocks only once players reach the highest rank in the Horizon Festival. It features its own Festival Outpost, exclusive events, and serves as the starting point for the game’s Goliath race.

Launch Date and Platforms

Forza Horizon 6 releases May 19, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Microsoft Store and Steam, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The PS5 version arrives later in 2026. Steam pre-sales have already crossed 500,000 copies.

New CS2 Update Improves Cache, Gameplay Mechanics, and Stability

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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New CS2 Update Improves Cache, Gameplay Mechanics, and Stability

The latest Counter Strike 2 update released by Valve is set to bring a range of improvements across maps, animations, and overall stability of the game as it focuses on refining the player experience with bug fixes and animation upgrades, but it focuses especially on the freshly reworked Cache.

The highlight of the update is clearly the polish applied to Cache, as the developers focused heavily on implementing the clipping fixes and geometry improvements that players noticed as soon as the map was released as part of the official map pool. Lesser-known issues like dynamic shadows and surface sound inconsistencies have also been fixed in this update.

In terms of gameplay, aimpunch has been limited to 90 degrees, thus giving the player on the receiving end a better experience. Overall, the update consists mostly of quality-of-life improvements and nothing significant.

CS2 1st May Update Patch Notes

Here are the official patch notes:

[ MAPS ]

Cache

  • Map-wide clipping fixes and geometry polish.
  • Fixed some spots where bomb would be unreachable when dropped.
  • Fixed dynamic shadows breaking in some spots.
  • Fixed some surface sound types.

[ ANIMGRAPH 2 ]

  • Fixed hand popping when counter-strafing with a grenade equipped.

[ MISC ]

  • Limit aim punch to 90 degrees.
  • Added secondary intersection trace for partially-occluded thirdperson weapons.
  • Adjusted ground smoothing at locations where sloped ground surfaces join with step-height transitions.
  • Fixed issue that caused defuse-cables from completely occluded players to also be occluded.
  • Fixed ‘FATAL ERROR: Failed to on-demand compile shader’ affecting some older GPUs.

Valorant May 2026 Night Market Dates Revealed: All You Need to Know

Sonu Banerjee
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Valorant May 2026 Night Market Dates Revealed: All You Need to Know

If you’ve been looking to add some new skins to your Valorant arsenal but don’t want to spend a fortune on the latest bundles, you might be in luck. Riot Games has officially confirmed that the Valorant Night Market is making its return to the shooter, and it’s just around the corner.

Through an official announcement on X, Riot has confirmed that the Night Market is set to return to Valorant after over a month since the last one ended in April 2026.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Valorant Season 2026 Act 3 Night Market.

What is the Valorant Night Market?

The Valorant Night Market is a recurring event that takes place once per Act, enabling players to grab up to six randomly selected weapon skins at discounted prices. The discounts typically range from 10% to 49%, but only skins of specific rarities are included in the rotation.

When the Night Market is available, a small card logo will appear at the top-right corner of the game’s main menu. Players can navigate to this Night Market logo to check out all the available skins by flipping each card to reveal the weapon skin and its discounted price.

Valorant May 2026 Night Market: Start and End Dates

Riot has confirmed that the next Valorant Night Market will kick off on May 7, 2026.

Players will have three weeks to grab their favorite skins before the event comes to an end on May 28.

Which Skins Are Eligible?

As mentioned earlier, not every skin in Valorant is eligible to appear in your Night Market. Here’s what you need to know about the criteria:

  • The skin has to be either the Select, Deluxe, or Premium edition.
  • If it’s a Melee skin, its original price must be under 3,550 VP.
  • The skin had to have been released in the store at least two acts prior to the one in which the Night Market was opened.
  • Gear skins and Battle Pass skins are not eligible.

That’s everything you need to know about the May 2026 Valorant Night Market before it goes live. With that being said, good luck with your card flips!

BMPS 2026 Format Fully Explained: Qualifiers, Promotion-Relegation, and How 64 Teams Reach Jaipur

Divyesh Moghe
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BMPS 2026 Format Fully Explained: Qualifiers, Promotion-Relegation, and How 64 Teams Reach Jaipur

MPS 2026 is not just another BGMI tournament. Sixty-four of India’s best teams, an EWC slot on the line, and a format built to punish inconsistency. Here is everything you need to know before May 6.

Key Takeaways

  • BMPS 2026 runs May 6 to June 21, 2026
  • 64 invited teams compete across five stages
  • Qualifiers use a promotion-relegation system across 4 rounds of 6 matches each
  • Grand Finals take place in Jaipur on June 19-21 with 16 teams and 18 matches
  • Prize pool is over ₹2 crore; the winner qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh
  • Team SouL, GodLike, Orangutan, Genesis, Victores Sumus, and Jonathan’s Team Apex Gaming are among the competing teams

What Is BMPS 2026?

The Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series 2026 is the second biggest BGMI tournament on Krafton India’s official 2026 esports calendar. It is an invite-only competition, open only to teams that earned their place through prior official events.

This year, 64 teams have been selected, down from 96 in previous editions. Fewer teams mean higher stakes from round one. The prize pool stands at over ₹2 crore and is expected to grow through an in-game community event. Beyond the money, the BMPS 2026 winner earns a direct slot at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. India has been allocated two EWC slots this year, making the stakes higher than any previous edition.

Stage 1: Qualifiers (May 6 to May 31)

The Qualifiers are where everything begins. All 64 teams enter here.

They are split into four groups of 16, labelled Group A through Group D. These are not random draws. Seeding is based on performance in previous official tournaments, so stronger teams from BGIS 2026 and other Krafton events get placed in better positions from the start.

How the Promotion-Relegation System Works

This is the part that sets BMPS 2026 apart from a standard group stage format. Teams do not stay locked in one group. After every round, groups reorganize based on performance.

The Qualifiers run for four rounds. Each round consists of six matches. That means every team plays 24 matches in total before the Qualifiers end.

Matches are played across Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo, testing teams on multiple map styles and play approaches.

After each six-match round, the top-performing teams from lower groups move up and the bottom performers from higher groups drop down. Group B, C, and D top 4 teams get promoted. Group A, B, and C bottom 4 teams get relegated. No team is safe after any single round.

This system ensures that only consistent teams rise to Group A by the final round. One or two good matches are not enough. You need to perform across all four rounds.

How Qualifiers End: Who Goes Where

After all four rounds are complete, the final rankings decide each team’s path:

  • Top 8 teams in Group A earn a direct spot in the Grand Finals. This is the biggest reward at this stage.
  • Group A bottom 8 teams and Group B top 8 teams advance to Semifinals.
  • Teams ranked 25th to 56th (Group B bottom teams, all of Group C, and Group D top teams) drop into the Survival Stage.
  • Group D bottom 8 teams are eliminated from BMPS 2026 entirely.

Stage 2: Survival Stage (June 2 to June 5)

The Survival Stage lives up to its name. Thirty-two teams enter. Only eight make it out.

Each team plays 12 matches in a round robin format, giving every squad a fair number of games to prove themselves. But with only the top 8 advancing and the remaining 24 teams going home, the pressure at this stage is as high as it gets outside of the Grand Finals.

Teams in the Survival Stage are mostly squads that struggled in the middle of the Qualifiers ranking. They get one more shot here.

Stage 3: Semifinals (June 9 to June 12)

The Semifinals bring together 24 teams from three different paths:

  • 8 teams from the bottom of Group A in Qualifiers
  • 8 teams from the top of Group B in Qualifiers
  • 8 teams from the top of the Survival Stage

The format here is double round robin. Every team plays 16 matches total. With that many games, a single good day is not enough. Consistency over four days decides who advances.

From the 24 teams:

  • Top 6 teams advance directly to the Grand Finals.
  • Teams finishing 7th to 22nd get one final opportunity in the Last Chance stage.
  • Bottom 2 teams are eliminated.

Stage 4: Last Chance (June 13 and June 14)

Last Chance is exactly that. Sixteen teams compete across 12 matches over two days. Only the top 2 teams earn a Grand Finals berth. Everyone else exits BMPS 2026 without a result.

This stage is where tournament runs are made or broken for mid-tier competitive squads.

Grand Finals: June 19 to June 21, Jaipur

The Grand Finals take place across three days in Jaipur. Sixteen teams compete, drawn from:

  • 8 direct qualifiers from the Qualifiers stage
  • 6 teams from the Semifinals
  • 2 teams from Last Chance

All 18 matches are played across the three days, with six matches per day. There is no relegation here, no second chance. The team that accumulates the most points across 18 matches wins BMPS 2026, takes home the champion’s share of the ₹2 crore prize pool, and earns India’s first EWC 2026 slot.

Teams to Watch at BMPS 2026

Team SouL arrive as the BGIS 2026 champions, having claimed the title and ₹1 crore at the Grand Finals in Chennai. They are the benchmark going into this tournament.

Orangutan finished third at BGIS 2026 and have maintained a stable roster. They are consistent performers who tend to peak in long-format events like BMPS.

Genesis Esports were runners-up at BGIS 2026, making them one of the most dangerous teams heading into May.

GodLike Esports had a difficult BGIS 2026 after Jonathan’s exit and have rebuilt with Saumay joining the lineup. This is a new-look GodLike squad and BMPS 2026 is their first real test under the rebuilt roster.

Team Apex Gaming is the most talked-about new entry. Jonathan Amaral left GodLike on April 12, 2026 to found his own organisation. TAG has since confirmed a lineup that includes Jelly, Hydro, Harsh, and KioLmao alongside Jonathan. This squad carries experience from multiple international events and arrives with a fanbase ready to back every lobby they enter. The full story behind Jonathan’s TAG launch and the roster build is one of the defining storylines of the 2026 BGMI season.

Victores Sumus round out the strong field and cannot be written off.

For a full breakdown of the roster changes that shaped this season, the BGMI April 2026 transfer window breakdown covers every major move.

Why BMPS 2026 Matters Beyond India

India has been allocated two slots at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, where 32 teams from regions including SEA, MENA, Europe, and Americas will compete in PUBG Mobile from August 6 to August 16. BMPS 2026 is the primary route to secure at least one of those slots. The second slot allocation method has not been officially confirmed yet. Either way, the best teams in Indian BGMI know that BMPS 2026 is their clearest path to a global stage.

Vitality Takes Down G2 in BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Vitality Takes Down G2 in BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1

Vitality is through to the semi-finals of the BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1, having defeated G2 2-1. From being heavy favorites, Vitality was challenged to their very limit before they brought out their A game by the end of the series to edge out in a close series.

VETO

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

Map 1: Mirage; Pick: G2; Winner: Vitality

Starting on the defense, Vitality outclassed G2 to get a start on the defense, as the latter managed only two rounds by the end of the first half, indicating yet another dominant Vitality start. With only two rounds to their name, G2 started garnering rounds, having converted their force buy after losing the pistol. A 10-round streak saw Vitality get outclassed on the offense, prompting G2 to push the game to overtime. Winning 3 rounds in a row on the offense in OT, Vitality put a stop to the G2 comeback, who managed nothing more than a single round, leading to a clean close of the game.

Map 2: Overpass; Pick: Vitality; Winner: G2

Following a map that saw two teams remain inseparable for the better part of the half, G2 managed to stay level with Vitality on their defense before switching sides. The close affair continued later into the second half as the G2 offense kept Vitality at bay before a late comeback almost pushed the map to overtime for the second time in the series. As Vitality were about to push the game to OT, G2 managed to close out the map in the final round of regulation to take us to the final map.

Map 3: Dust2; Pick: Decider; Winner: Vitality

Following back-to-back, closely tied maps, Vitality managed to go 4-0 up before G2 could get on the board. As they continued to struggle, Vitality managed to walk away with 9 rounds on the defense as G2 settled for 3. As they continued to get outclassed, Vitality built on their lead with a pistol win as rounds for G2 stopped coming in after 3, leading to a 13-3 dominant win to book a spot in the next round of play.

G2’s loss doesn’t mean they are out, but they will have to overcome an extra round of play should they progress to the next level. Strong performance today from HuNter‘s side, only held back by Vitality’s sheer brilliance, and only time can tell if they will overcome this.

How to Get the Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling in Fortnite

Aritra Patra
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How to Get the Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling in Fortnite

Epic Games is giving away a free Star Wars back bling in Fortnite right now, and you only need to do one thing to get it.

The cosmetic is called the Carbonite Fishstick back bling. It puts Fishstick, one of Fortnite’s most recognizable original characters, inside a carbonite slab. If you know your Star Wars, you know exactly what that references.

The offer goes live as part of the annual Fortnite x Star Wars event running around May 4. You have until October 31, 2026, to claim it.

What Is the Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling?

The Carbonite Fishstick is a back bling cosmetic in Fortnite. It is modeled after the iconic Han Solo carbonite scene from Star Wars, except with Fishstick frozen inside the slab instead.

It does not come with a skin. You can equip it with any outfit already in your locker, including other free Fortnite skins you may have collected.

Epic has not confirmed whether this back bling will ever appear in the Fortnite Item Shop. If it does show up there later, it will cost V-Bucks. Right now, it is free.

How to Get the Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling for Free

To unlock the Carbonite Fishstick back bling, you need to connect your Epic Games account to MyDisney. Once the accounts are linked, the back bling is added to your Fortnite locker automatically.

Here are the steps:

  • Go to the Epic Games website and sign in to your Fortnite account.
  • Click your username in the top right corner of the page.
  • Select Account from the dropdown.
  • On the Account page, click Linked Accounts in the left sidebar.
  • Find the MyDisney icon and click on it.
  • Follow the prompts to link both accounts. If you do not have a MyDisney account, you can create one during this step.

Once the link is confirmed, the Carbonite Fishstick back bling will appear in your locker. No additional steps are needed.

If you previously connected your Epic and MyDisney accounts, you do not need to do so again. The back bling should be delivered to your locker automatically.

The Carbonite Fishstick back bling is available to claim until October 31, 2026. That is a fairly long window, but there is no reason to wait. Epic has not said whether it will extend the offer or bring the item to the Item Shop after that date.

Fortnite Update 40.30 Patch Notes Revealed: All You Need to Know

Fortnite Update 40.30 Patch Notes Revealed: All You Need to Know

Sonu Banerjee
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Fortnite Update 40.30 Patch Notes Revealed: All You Need to Know

The highly anticipated Fortnite update 40.30 is now live, and it has brought with it a ton of fresh new content to the battle royale.

While the newest Fortnite update isn’t nearly as big as the last major update we saw, it does introduce a series of new Star Wars-themed cosmetics to the Epic Games title alongside other changes.

Without further ado, let’s check out everything you need to know about the Fortnite version 40.30 update.

Fortnite Update 40.30 Release Date

The Fortnite update 40.30 is already live, and it kicked off following three hours of scheduled maintenance starting April 30, 2026, at 4 am ET.

Fortnite Update 40.30 Highlights

The highlights of the Fortnite version 40.30 update include the following:

  • New Weapons: Cube Splitter SMG & Reforged Infinity Blade
  • Star Wars Clone Wars Skins
  • Map Change: New Elite Landmark
  • Oathbound Items Return to Fortnite Blitz
  • Custom Match Customizations
  • New Weekly Quests

Additionally, following the incredible success of the Peter Griffin Fortnite skin, a new Animated Wives Bundle has also been added to the game files with the Fortnite 40.30 Update. This new bundle features a Lois Griffin skin alongside a Linda Belcher skin.

That’s everything you need to know about the Fortnite 40.30 update. Since the update is already live, fans can download the new Fortnite version and hop into the game right away!

Marvel Rivals Adds New 1v6 Avengers PvP Mode, Events, and More in April 30 Update

Sonu Banerjee
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Marvel Rivals Adds New 1v6 Avengers PvP Mode, Events, and More in April 30 Update

NetEase officially shipped out the second major update of Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 earlier today, and it has introduced a bunch of exciting new content to the hero shooter.

The highlights of the Marvel Rivals April 30 update include a brand-new 1v6 PvP mode based on Avengers: Doomsday, Times Square events, a series of free rewards, and more cosmetics for your favorite heroes.

The Marvel Rivals Version 20260430 update is already live, and fans can tune into the title right away to enjoy all the new content that it has brought with it.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the Marvel Rivals April 30 update before you hop on the game and check out the changes.

Marvel Rivals April 30 Update: Patch Notes

NetEase has already revealed the detailed patch notes for the Marvel Rivals April 30 update. Be sure to check out all the changes included in the latest update below:

All-New Content

The Avengers Cinematic Crossover

All-New Mode – Path to Doomsday: The Avengers

Chapter 1 of the Path to Doomsday is here, marking the launch of a brand-new The Avengers crossover mode! The epic showdown between the Avengers and Loki is about to erupt. Justice or Mischief? Choose your side and relive the battle where the Avengers assembled!

Event Period: April 30th, 2026, 09:00:00 to May 28th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)

Times Square: Relive Marvel Studios’ The Avengers

1. Marvel Studios’ The Avengers: Battle of New York Highlights Screening

Head over to the viewing area in Times Square to watch iconic clips from Marvel Studios’ The Avengers! Watch the screening continuously for two minutes to unlock the exclusive Gallery Card: The Avengers.

Event Period: April 30th, 2026, 19:00:00 to May 29th, 2026, 03:00:00 (UTC)

Daily Showtimes:
▷ 12:00 PM (PDT)
▷ 4:00 PM (PDT)
▷ 6:00 PM (PDT)
▷ 8:00 PM (PDT)

2. The Avengers Iconic Scenes Photo Op

Say ‘Assemble’! Visit the iconic scene photo walls outside the Avengers’ Gift Shop in Times Square. Take a group photo with the NPCs there to instantly earn 100 Units!

Event Period: April 30th, 2026, 09:00:00 to May 28th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)

New In Store

1. Elsa Bloodstone – Bloody Butler Bundle
2. Iron Man – The Avengers Bundle
3. Loki – The Avengers Bundle
4. Bloody Butler Emoji Bundle
5. Bloody Butler Chroma Marine Maid/Pastel Polisher and Ultimate Ability VFX
6. Loki Emote – Kneel!
7. Captain America Emote – Avengers Assemble!
8. Adam Warlock – Cosmic Warlock Ultimate Ability VFX

Available From: May 1st, 2026, at 2:00:00 (UTC)

9. Team Lobby – Original Avengers

Available From: April 30th, 2026, at 09:00:00 (UTC)

Event: Chrono-Rush

The Chrono-Rush event is back for two weeks! Play matches and rack up Chrono Tokens, with no cap on how many points you can earn! The more you play, the more you get!

Event Duration: April 30th, 2026, 09:00:00 to May 15th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)

Kingpin Dethroned Trophy Exclusive Accessory Emote

We’ve added an exclusive Emote for the Kingpin Dethroned Trophy! Any player who earns this prestigious item in Blood Hunt mode will automatically unlock this unique Emote.
The Emote can be used anywhere, whenever you have this accessory equipped.

Fixes and Optimizations

Heroes

1. Black Cat’s Double-Dipping Dilemma: Fixed a rare issue where landing a grapple on an enemy with Turn of Fortune could unintentionally bypass restrictions, allowing both the Claw Whip and Phantom Pursuit from her Fortune’s Favor ability to trigger and take effect simultaneously. Even the world’s most talented cat burglar can’t pull off a heist of that magnitude at the exact same time! Her luck has now been rebalanced.

Blood Hunt

1. Moon Knight’s Full Moon Math: Fixed a bug where the Full Moon Spin Enhancement Gear Extended Effect couldn’t quite wrap its head around Khonshu’s complicated demands, causing the upper and lower limits of its Cooldown Reduction to display incorrectly and miscalculating its Rating score. The Fist of Khonshu’s calculations are now as sharp as his crescent darts!

Valve Fixes Several Bugs with its Latest Update

Aritra Patra
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Valve Fixes Several Bugs with its Latest Update

Valve dropped a CS2 update around 630 MB on April 30, 2026 @ 3:16 AM IST. Previously, the developers introduced the Cache remake. This time, it is all about bug fixes. The 5.1 GB Cache update came with several bugs. This update fixes a lot of them.

Without wasting time, let’s check out the patch notes.

April 30 Update Patch Notes

Here are the official patch notes:

[ MAPS ]

Cache

  • Bomb explosion radius increased.
  • Lighting Adjustments around Vent.
  • Disabled player collision on sign and removed lamp by squeaky.
  • Reworked e-box on A-site for better visibility.
  • Lowered Checkers entrance frame height at B Main.
  • Removed AC unit above Sandbags and moved pipes.
  • Fixed lack of footstep sounds on top of crates at A-site.
  • Fixed hole in world on door in Sun Room.
  • Fixed wall bangs on A Main wall.
  • Fixed some z-fighting around Garage.
  • Adjusted grenade clipping throughout map.
  • Adjusted player clipping throughout map.

Dust II

  • Blocked visibility through corner of Mid Box (Xbox).

[ SOUND ]

  • Speculative fix for a case where all audio drops out.

[ MISC ]

  • Fixed cases where crouch-jumping in confined spaces could cause the player camera to intersect the ceiling.
  • Adjusted particle effect sprite opacity for fully occluded flashbangs.
  • Improved smoke lighting consistency.
  • Minor adjustments to dropped pistol magazine velocity.
  • Ambient Occlusion adjustment settings in Environment Blend shader restored.
  • Fixed a case where money was subtracted from the wrong player during bot takeover.
How to Play Cache in CS2 in 2026

Xbox Revenue Falls Again in Microsoft FY26 Q3 Earnings: Hardware Down 33%, Gaming Down 7%

Pranav Nalawade
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Xbox Revenue Falls Again in Microsoft FY26 Q3 Earnings: Hardware Down 33%, Gaming Down 7%

Xbox is having a rough fiscal year. Microsoft’s Q3 FY2026 earnings, covering January to March 2026, confirm what analysts had already anticipated: Xbox revenue fell across every major category, while the rest of Microsoft posted record numbers.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft total revenue hit $82.9 billion in Q3 FY2026, up 18% year-over-year
  • Xbox hardware revenue dropped 33% year-over-year
  • Xbox content and services revenue fell 5% year-over-year (7% in constant currency)
  • Total gaming revenue came in at $5,341 million, down 7% from $5,721 million in Q3 FY25
  • Azure grew 40%, and Microsoft’s AI business crossed a $37 billion annual revenue run rate

Xbox Hardware Revenue Drops 33% Year-Over-Year

Microsoft’s Q3 FY2026 earnings release shows Xbox hardware revenue fell 33% compared to the same quarter last year. That is a steep drop for a segment that has been underperforming for several quarters now.

This is not a one-quarter blip. In Q2 FY2026, Xbox hardware revenue had already fallen 32% year-over-year. The consecutive declines point to weakening consumer demand for Xbox consoles in the current hardware cycle.

The More Personal Computing segment, which houses Xbox alongside Windows and search, brought in $13.2 billion. That is down 1% year-over-year, or 3% in constant currency. Lower hardware sales across Devices and Gaming pulled the segment down, with search advertising revenue growth offering only partial offset.

Xbox Content and Services Also Decline

Beyond hardware, Xbox content and services revenue fell 5% year-over-year. In constant currency terms, the drop was 7%.

Microsoft attributed the decline to a tough comparison period. The same quarter in the previous fiscal year benefited from strong first-party game releases, which inflated the baseline. This was an expected result. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood had guided for a mid-to-high single-digit decline in total gaming revenue for Q3 FY2026, and a mid-single-digit fall specifically in content and services.

The actual numbers came in at the lower end of that range, which means the decline was not worse than forecast.

It is worth noting that the recently announced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price cut to $22.99 per month was not yet in effect during this reporting period, which covers January through March 2026. The price change, announced in April 2026, will show up in Q4 FY2026 numbers instead.

Total Gaming Revenue: $5.34 Billion, Down 7%

Microsoft’s total gaming revenue for the quarter was $5,341 million. That compares to $5,721 million in Q3 FY2025, a fall of roughly $380 million or 7%.

For context, gaming is reported under the More Personal Computing segment. It is not broken out as its own business unit in Microsoft’s financials. This means Xbox results move alongside Windows OEM, device sales, and search advertising, all of which also shifted this quarter.

This is the third consecutive quarter where Xbox has posted a year-over-year decline across both hardware and services.

Microsoft Overall Posts Record Results

While Xbox struggled, Microsoft as a whole delivered its strongest quarterly results to date.

Total company revenue reached $82.9 billion, up 18% year-over-year. Operating income was $38.4 billion, up 20%. Net income came in at $31.8 billion on a GAAP basis, up 23%. Diluted earnings per share were $4.27, also up 23%.

Microsoft Cloud revenue reached $54.5 billion, up 29%. Azure and other cloud services grew 40%. Microsoft’s AI business crossed a $37 billion annual revenue run rate, which Satya Nadella called out as representing 123% growth year-over-year.

CFO Amy Hood said the company “delivered results that exceeded expectations across revenue, operating income, and earnings per share.” The quarter’s overall performance was driven by cloud and AI demand rather than consumer hardware or gaming.

Microsoft also returned $10.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.

A Segment Under Pressure

The Xbox hardware decline reflects a broader reality in the gaming console market. Physical hardware sales across the industry have been slowing as the current console generation matures. Microsoft has increasingly shifted its focus toward subscription-based gaming through Xbox Game Pass, but even that segment faces headwinds when there are fewer major first-party releases to drive sign-ups.

According to the official Form 10-Q SEC filing, the Q3 gaming revenue decline was primarily driven by the content and services comparison issue and continued weakness in hardware.

Looking ahead, Microsoft has not provided specific guidance for Q4 FY2026 in this press release. The company says forward-looking information will be shared during the earnings conference call, held at 2:30 PM Pacific Time on April 29, 2026.

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