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How to Complete ARC Raiders Week 22 Trials Challenges

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The Week 22 Trials in ARC Raiders went live on March 30, 2026, and will run until April 5, 2026. Five challenges are available this week, with three reward tiers per challenge tied to specific score thresholds. This week’s batch drops right before the Flashpoint update, so finishing them is a good way to stock up on loot before the new content hits.

Here is everything you need to know to 3-star all five challenges.

How ARC Raiders Trials Work

Each week, players receive five Trial challenges viewable from the Trials menu. Completing actions tied to each challenge earns points. Certain challenges are locked to specific maps or map conditions, and players earn double points on maps running major conditions such as Night Raid, Electromagnetic Storm, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, Cold Snap, or Hurricane.

You need 1,000 points for one star, 2,500 points for two stars, and 4,000 points for three stars. Points carry over across multiple runs, so you do not need to hit 4,000 in one session. However, progress within a single raid is lost if you die. You must extract safely for your points to count.

Trial 1: Search First Wave Husks

This Trial requires you to search the decaying bodies of previous ARC units, which spawn across multiple maps as First Wave Husks. You can find them during the Husk Graveyard or Electromagnetic Storm map conditions, though only the Electromagnetic Storm awards double points. Even if other players have already breached the Husks, you can still search them and earn points.

For the best results, head to Spaceport and follow a route through the map to find these metal remains scattered in various shapes and sizes.

Quick steps:

  • Load into any map, with Dam Battlegrounds or The Blue Gate during Electromagnetic Storm as the top picks
  • Search every First Wave Husk you come across
  • Extract once you have enough points

Trial 2: Damage Shredders on Stella Montis

For the second challenge, you need to damage Shredders on the Stella Montis map. Deploy during Night Raid to earn double points. Run through the following route to find Shredders: Medical Research, then Atrium, then Cultural Archives, then Lobby, then Assembly. Target the Shredder’s thrusters to take them down faster. You can keep running the route even after hitting 4,000 points if you want to push for a higher personal score.

Trial 3: Damage Flying ARC Enemies

To complete this Trial, you need to damage flying ARC enemies. There are six flying ARC types in the game, and hitting any of them counts toward the Trial. This makes it one of the easier challenges to 3-star. A solid method is to use a Renegade or Osprey and snipe flying ARC from the roof of the Pipeline Tower during a Night Raid on Dam Battlegrounds.

When at the Pipeline Tower, use a Zipline or Snap Hook to reach the roof. Deploy a trap near the Zipline base to stop other Raiders from flanking you. Scout flying ARC, including Rocketeers from that position. Use Barricades or the rooftop containers for cover when enemies close in. To kill a Rocketeer, aim for two of its thrusters, or use Wolfpacks to bring it down faster.

Trial 4: Loot Containers in the Traffic Tunnels (Blue Gate, Locked Gate)

The fourth challenge requires you to deploy on The Blue Gate during the Locked Gate map condition. During this event, four unique keys can be found at specific points of interest. After grabbing all four keys, head to the Control Room to open the Locked Gates. This unlocks the path to the Traffic Tunnels, where a Bastion patrols the area. Bring a Deadline or Trailblazers to deal with it. Then loot every available container, including vehicle hoods, bus trunks, and side bays.

Trial 5: Search Rooftop Chimneys in Buried City (Bird City Condition)

For this Trial, load into Buried City during the Bird City map condition. Search rooftops for chimneys and loot them. There are plenty of chimneys available under these conditions, so finding enough should not be a problem. Focus on the eastern side of the map for the best density of chimneys, and extract once you have hit your target score.

During the Bird City condition, you must interact with bird nests across multiple rooftops to earn Trial scores.

Rewards and Ranking

Arc Raiders Challenge rewards are given automatically after a safe extraction. Reaching 1,000 points gives a random Uncommon item. Reaching 2,500 points gives a Rare item. Reaching 4,000 points gives an Epic item or blueprint. Rewards can only be claimed once per tier per week.

When Season 3 ends on April 29, players receive unique cosmetics based on their final rank. Holding at least Rookie II at season end unlocks the Trials Season 3 outfit called The Torque, with extra colorways and variants available for reaching higher ranks like Daredevil and Hotshot.

Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 8 Release Date and Time Revealed

Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 8 starts on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The pirate-themed season brings back three POIs, a new OG Pass with remix skins, a returning LTM, and several weapons that have been out of the game for years.

Here is everything confirmed for the new season.

When Does Fortnite OG Season 8 Start?

Fortnite OG Season 8 officially begins on Wednesday, April 1. While Epic has not confirmed an exact launch time, past seasonal updates suggest players can expect servers to go live at 9 AM ET, following a short downtime. Pre-downloading the update should be possible earlier that same day.

Expect two to four hours of downtime before servers come back up, which is standard for a new OG season launch.

For reference, here are the expected start times by region:

RegionTime
Eastern Time (ET)9:00 AM
Pacific Time (PT)6:00 AM
Central European Time (CET)3:00 PM
British Summer Time (BST)2:00 PM
India Standard Time (IST)6:30 PM
Australian Eastern Time (AEST)11:00 PM

When Does Fortnite OG Season 8 End?

OG seasons typically run for over two months. Season 8 is not expected to wrap up until the first week of June 2026.

For context, Season 7 ran from December 11, 2025, to March 31, 2026, a span of 110 days.

OG Pass Skins

Season 8 brings three new remix skins through the OG Pass, covering Blackheart, Hybrid, and Luxe.

The OG Pass costs 1,000 V-Bucks and does not reward any V-Bucks upon completion. Items from it are not season-exclusive and will likely appear in the Item Shop at a later date. Players cannot access OG Passes from previous seasons.

Season 7 ends when the Season 8 update goes live. If you have unfinished OG Pass progress from Season 7, complete it before downtime begins. The pre-download for the Season 8 update should be available the morning of April 1, before servers go offline.

Jonathan Gaming Opens Up After BGIS 2026: Benching, 5th Place & What’s Next

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Jonathan Gaming has broken his silence after one of the most emotionally charged tournament runs of his career. In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram broadcast channel, the GodLike Esports star addressed his fanbase, the “Jonny Army,” following BGIS 2026, where GodLike finished in 5th place and he faced the rare experience of being benched mid-tournament.

What Happened to Jonathan in BGIS 2026

Jonathan’s absence from GodLike’s starting lineup on Day 1 of the BGIS 2026 Survival Stage in Hyderabad left the BGMI community stunned. For the first time in nearly seven years, one of Indian esports’ biggest names sat on the bench while his teammates took the field. The decision, as clarified by GodLike captain Manya, was purely strategic and not the result of any internal conflict within the squad.

Jonathan addressed the situation himself during a stream with ZGod, confirming that he made the benching decision with the team’s best interest in mind. He put his ego aside and prioritized what was best for the squad, which is why the team topped the Survival Stage standings with the lineup of Manya, Admino, Spower, and Godz. GodLike co-owner Amar also publicly stated that he still dreams of winning an official trophy with Jonathan, making it clear the player remains central to the organization’s future.

Jonathan Returns for Grand Finals

Despite the benching controversy, GodLike confirmed Jonathan’s return to the active roster for the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals in Chennai. ZGod confirmed his return, and GodLike entered the Chennai Trade Centre finals from March 27 to 29 with the lineup of Manya, Admino, Spower, and Jonathan. The team had shown excellent form, and everyone heading into the high-pressure final stage saw Jonathan’s LAN experience as a critical factor.

GodLike’s BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Run

GodLike had a strong start on Day 1 of the Grand Finals, finishing second overall with 63 points and two Chicken Dinners. However, the team could not sustain that form across all three days, ultimately finishing in 5th place with a prize of Rs 20,50,000. Team Soul, led by Nakul, claimed the BGIS 2026 championship with a dominant 173 points across 18 games, including 119 eliminations, while Genesis Esports finished as runner-up.

For GodLike, it was a painful result. The organization had finished as runners-up in the previous edition of BGIS, and Jonathan and the squad were desperate to go one step further this time.

Jonathan’s Message to Jonny Army

After the tournament concluded, Jonathan posted a sincere and emotional message on his Instagram broadcast channel directed at his devoted fanbase. He acknowledged that he went through feelings he had never experienced before during this season, including both highs and significant lows, but said he never stopped believing in himself. He expressed gratitude to his fans for keeping him motivated and pulling him out of his darkest moments throughout the tournament.

Jonathan also said that he feels like he disappointed his fans by not delivering a win, despite the team giving their best effort. This kind of vulnerability from a player of his stature resonates deeply with the BGMI community, and it is exactly why he has cultivated one of the most loyal fanbases in Indian esports. His willingness to be honest about his struggles, rather than deflecting, reflects a genuine connection with his audience.

What’s Next for Jonathan and GodLike

Perhaps the most exciting part of Jonathan’s broadcast message was the hint toward the future. He told the Jonny Army that “very new changes and crazy things” are coming up, signaling that major announcements could be on the horizon for both him and possibly GodLike Esports. Whether this refers to roster changes, new content ventures, or tournament plans for the next competitive cycle remains to be seen.

Jonathan’s ability to bounce back from adversity has been a defining trait of his career. Being benched and not winning BGIS 2026 would break lesser players, but for Jonathan, it appears to be fuel. The BGMI competitive calendar continues beyond BGIS, and with GodLike still among India’s top organizations, the “Jonny Army” has every reason to stay tuned.

iQOO Soul Leave Chennai as Champions of BGIS 2026 as 6,00,000 Viewers Witness Indiaโ€™s Biggest Ever Mobile Esports Final

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In the end, it came down to the last points of the last match – and more than 600,000 people watched it happen live. iQOO Soul left the Chennai Trade Centre tonight as the BGIS 2026 Champions, but not before Genesis Esports pushed them to the absolute limit in one of the most breathtaking title finishes in Indian esports history. The margin was razor-thin. The crowd was on its feet. And when the final numbers were confirmed, Soul had done what they had done across every stage of this tournament – found a way to win.

HunterZ from Genesis Esports was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals, earning โ‚น3 lakhs for his exceptional performance throughout the tournament. LEGIT from iQOO Soul was awarded the Grand Finals MVP, taking home โ‚น1.5 lakhs for his standout gameplay in the Grand Finals. Additional honours included Best IGL awarded to NakuL (โ‚น2 lakhs), Emerging Star going to Detrox (โ‚น1 lakh), and Best Clutch secured by Termi (โ‚น1 lakh). The Fan Favourite Team award was presented to iQOO Soul, who received โ‚น1 lakh.

Team Soul emerged as the champions of the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals, taking home โ‚น1 crore in prize money. Genesis Esports finished as the 1st Runner-up with โ‚น50 lakhs, while Orangutan secured the 2nd Runner-up position with โ‚น35 lakhs. Following them in the standings, Victores Sumus secured fourth place while Godlike Esports rounded out the top five.

Congratulations to iQOO Soul – they were the best team in India across every stage of this competition, and they proved it again today when it mattered most. But if I’m being honest, today everyone won. The players who competed on that stage, the fans who filled the Chennai Trade Centre, the 6,00,000+ people who were watching live on Day 3, the community that unlocked INR 2 Crore of its own prize pool – this was theirs as much as it was Soul’s. BGIS 2026 has shown us what Indian mobile esports looks like when everything comes together. We’re incredibly proud of what this community has built, and we’re already thinking about what comes next.

Karan Pathak, Associate Director โ€“ Esports, Krafton India

How Soul Won It

The story of BGIS 2026 will be told in two halves. The first was Soul’s dominance – methodical, relentless, suffocating. The second was Genesis’s refusal to accept it.

Soul had topped the Semifinals with 172 points, 116 eliminations, and three Chicken Dinners – arriving in Chennai as the team everyone else had to beat. They lived up to that billing across Days 1 and 2, ending Day 2 in first place with 117 points and two Chicken Dinners, winning the final match of the day with 19 points in a moment that felt like a champion planting a flag.

But Genesis was not done. Just three points separated the two sides going into Day 3 – a gap so thin that a single Chicken Dinner, a single clutch elimination, could have rewritten the result entirely. What followed across Day 3’s six matches was the kind of tournament chess that fans will be talking about for years: two teams playing not just for points, but playing against each other – every rotation, every zone, every engagement carrying championship weight.

Soul held. Genesis pushed until the very last circle. When the final standings were confirmed, the margin between champion and runner-up was the smallest it has ever been in a BGIS Grand Final – a fitting end to a tournament that deserved exactly this kind of finish.

The Numbers That Rewrote History

BGIS 2026 broke its own viewership record on back-to-back days. Day 2 had already set an all-time high with a peak of 550,000+ concurrent viewers on the KRAFTON India Esports YouTube channel. Then came Day 3 – the championship day – and the audience surged again, peaking at over 600,000 concurrent viewers as Soul and Genesis played out their extraordinary finale. India was not just watching. India was holding its breath. The fan favourite Team GodLike fought hard and finished in 5th position. 

The INR 4 Crore prize pool – the largest in BGIS history – told its own story about where this community stands. It comprised an INR 2 Crore base pool and an additional INR 2 Crore unlocked entirely by BGMI players through the in-game Discovery Island initiative, where every Classic Mode match contributed toward a shared server-wide tracker. Every milestone was cleared before the first match in Chennai was played.

The live broadcast was available in Hindi, English, and multiple regional languages, making BGIS 2026 the most accessible – and most watched – edition in the tournament’s history.

Final Day 3 Rankings

PrizeWinning Team/PlayerPrize Amount(in Rupees)
ChampionsiQOO Soul1,00,00,000
1st Runner UpGenesis Esports50,00,000
2nd Runner UpOrangutan35,00,000
MVPHunterZ3,00,000
Finals MVPLEGIT1,50,000
Best IGLNakul2,00,000
Emerging StarDetrox1,00,000
Best ClutchTermi1,00,000
Fan Favourite TeamiQOO Soul1,00,000

For highlights and full results, follow KRAFTON Indiaโ€™s official YouTube channel.

Vitality Wins BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

Vitality has secured their 3rd Premier Counter-Strike 2 trophy of 2026, beating Natus Vincere in the Grand Finals of the BLAST Open Rotterdam. Delivering a statement victory in Rotterdam, NAVI was dismantled to its very core as a heavily dominant performance for Vitality concluded a 3-0 Grand Finals, asserting its place as the best team in the world.

Coming into the series with high expectations, NAVI failed to reflect its sharp performance in their Grand Finals showing, as Vitality proved to be still a level above the rest of the Counter-Strike scene.

As It Happened

The series kicked off on Inferno, where Vitality started strong with crisp executions that suffocated the NAVI defense and controlled the pace of the map in the process. Closing a dominant 13-7 win, NAVI were left struggling to find openings as Vitality read every hand they played, leading to a dominant start from the EU squad.

Following a convincing first map from Vitality, NAVI failed to respond, leading to another blowout. The individuals from Vitality stepped up big time, even though NAVI looked sharper with their calls. 13-10 close in the second map showed a better performance from NAVI, but it was far from what was needed to take down Vitality.

Without giving NAVI a chance, Vitality put the nail in the coffin on Dust2. Soaring with confidence, Vitality played a brand of in-your-face Counter-Strike that kept NAVI from finding its footing. Failing to adapt to such an aggressive style of play, Vitality wiped the floor with them as they secured the map and the trophy without dropping a single map.

Vitality’s position as the best team in the world was called into question at multiple points this year, but their dominant performance in the Grand Finals proves they are here to mark an era. As they continue to dominate in this fashion, leading up to the Major, we wouldn’t be surprised if they pick up their 3rd in a row.

Team SouL Emerges as the BGIS 2026 Winners

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iQOO SouL have been crowned theย BGIS 2026 winners, clinching the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 championship after a commanding performance across all three days of the Grand Finals held at the Chennai Trade Centre from March 27 to 29, 2026.

What Is BGIS 2026?

Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 (BGIS 2026) marks the fifth edition of the flagship BGMI tournament that KRAFTON India and Tesseract Esports organize. This year’s edition was the biggest yet, featuring a prize pool of Rs. 4 Crore, the largest in the tournament’s history, with 16 of India’s top BGMI teams battling across 18 matches on Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo maps.

The Grand Finals format was straightforward but ruthless. The team that accumulates the highest cumulative points across all 18 matches wins the championship, making consistency and kill count equally critical in every single game.

Team SouL’s Journey To Becoming BGIS 2026 Winners

Team SouL entered the Grand Finals as the number one seed from the Semifinals, and they backed it up from the very first match. After Day 1, iQOO SouL topped the standings with 66 points from six matches, including one Chicken Dinner and a massive 48 combined eliminations, edging out GodLike Esports who sat just three points behind with 63 points.

Day 2 saw SouL further cement their dominance. They extended their lead to 117 points with two Chicken Dinners and 80 eliminations after 12 matches, keeping them a slim but meaningful three points ahead of Genesis Esports who had 114 points. GodLike Esports ranked third with 96 points heading into the final day.

By Day 3 on March 29, SouL had built too strong a foundation for their rivals to overcome, and iQOO SouL were confirmed as the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Champions, taking home the Rs. 1 Crore first-place prize.

The Players Who Made It Happen

The Nakul-led squad proved why they set the gold standard for Indian competitive BGMI. Nakul, the team’s IGL, earned the top IGL rating of the tournament with a stellar survival average and consistent WWCD calls. His ability to balance aggressive positioning with smart rotations was a key factor in SouL’s run from top of the Semifinals table all the way to the championship.

Goblin was the standout fragger of the Grand Finals, racking up 25 kills in just the first two days and earning the Day 1 MVP award with 18 finishes in six matches. Legit was equally destructive with 23 kills across the same stretch, and Joker entered the finals as the tournament’s overall MVP leader with 58 finishes and close to 14,000 damage across the full event.

The Competition They Beat

SouL’s path to the title was never unchallenged. Genesis Esports pushed them right to the end, sitting just three points back after Day 2 with 114 points, despite not winning a single Chicken Dinner in the first 12 matches. Their aggression translated into 88 eliminations, making them a constant threat.

GodLike Esports, SouL’s arch-rivals, also made their presence felt. They finished Day 1 in second place with two Chicken Dinners and 63 points, fuelling what has become one of Indian esports’ most intense team rivalries. Vasista Esports, Victores Sumus, and Revenant XSpark also performed well but could not close the gap to the top three. For more on how other Indian BGMI teams stack up, check out TalkEsport’s BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Points Table.

Prize Pool Breakdown

PlacementTeamPrize
1stiQOO SouLRs. 1,00,00,000
2ndGenesis EsportsRs. 50,00,000
3rdGodLike EsportsRs. 35,00,000
4thVasista EsportsRs. 25,00,000
5thVictores SumusRs. 20,50,000
6thOrangutanRs. 16,00,000

What This Win Means for SouL

This championship reinforces iQOO SouL’s position as the most consistent and accomplished team in Indian BGMI. Going into the Grand Finals as the top Semifinals seed, they did not just meet expectations. They exceeded them by leading the scoreboard at the end of every single day of competition. For a team that has been consistently among India’s best across multiple seasons, winning BGIS 2026 adds another landmark title to their legacy.

NAVI to Face Vitality in BLAST Open Rotterdam Grand Finals

Natus Vincere has taken down PARIVISION in the CIS derby to reach the Grand Finals of BLAST Open Rotterdam with a 2-1 scoreline. A tight victory in the first map, followed by defeat in the second, only to drop a dominant performance in the final map, saw the newly rejuvenated NAVI pull ahead.

VETO

  • PARIVISION removed Nuke
  • Natus Vincere removed Overpass
  • PARIVISION picked Dust2
  • Natus Vincere picked Inferno
  • PARIVISION removed Ancient
  • Natus Vincere removed Anubis
  • Mirage was left over

Map 1: Dust2; Pick: PARIVISION; Winner: NAVI

Starting their map pick with a pistol win, PARIVISION conceded the first full-buy round to let NAVI hit the board. As PARIVISION managed to win rounds in between, NAVI edged out with a 7-5 lead before switching sides. Winning the second pistol levelled the scoreline for PARIVISION, but NAVI soon took charge of the game on their offense, and just as PARIVISION were about to push the game to OT, NAVI won the final round to win the map with a 13-11 scoreline. Wonderful’s flashy AWPing in the open lanes of Dust2 helped NAVI edge out PARIVISION to secure the first map.

Map 2: Inferno; Pick: NAVI; Winner: PARIVISION

Losing the pistol, NAVI managed to convert their force-buy on the defense as they managed to go 5-2 up before PARIVISION started roping in rounds. Winning 5 rounds in a row, PARIVISION secured a 7-5 lead before switching sides. NAVI’s pistol win levelled the scoreline, but the PARIVISION defense won 5 rounds in a row to close out the map in dominant fashion. Jame topping the charts with 19 kills saw PARIVISION survive for another map in Rotterdam.

Map 3: Mirage ; Pick: Decider; Winner: NAVI

Coming into NAVI’s stronghold, PARIVISON failed to get going as they only managed to win 1 round with NAVI pulling off a near-perfect defense to switch sides with an 11-1 scoreline, which made their qualification a matter of time. PARIVISION’s futile effort to make a comeback started with the pistol win, but NAVI hit a series point with their first full buy round on T side. PARIVISON continued to win 4 more rounds before NAVI secured the single round they needed to go through. A 23 kill masterclass from makazze sealed the fate of PARIVISION in the final map of the series.

PARIVISION is a team that is on the rise, and with top talents under the banner, it is only a matter of time before this team can close out like this on the big stage. Experience and tactical depth are holding them back, and these two things will take time. With the Major coming up, they have time to iron out the wrinkles, and if they do, Vitality’s era might come to an end.

Vitality Sets Foot in BLAST Open Rotterdam Grand Finals

Team Vitality has successfully qualified for the Grand Finals of BLAST Open Rotterdam by defeating Aurora with an effortless 2-0 win. A 13-5 scoreline in back-to-back maps saw Aurora failing to even put up a contest against Vitality as the number 1-ranked team in the world finds itself on the verge of another tournament victory.

VETO

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

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: Aurora; Winner: Vitality

A confident start for Vitality on the defence saw them bully Aurora for 5 rounds before the Turks could see a point on the board. Trading out yielded no more than 2 to Aurora in the first half as Vitality remained dominant till the end, resulting in a 10-2 scoreline. Managing to convert the force after losing the pistol, Vitality managed to drop 3 rounds before getting back on the board. With not much left to do, ZyWoo and co. pulled in the two back-to-back rounds to bring the game to a close as we headed to map 2 with a 13-5 win in favour of Team Vitality. FlameZ with a hot hand proved instrumental in winning the map for Vitality as others enjoyed an easy day in the office.

Map 2: Nuke; Pick: Vitality; Winner: Vitality

Yet another 5-0 start for Vitality on Nuke saw them continue their domination as Aurora struggled to keep up. Winning 3 rounds on the defence, Aurora almost handed over another map to Vitality with ZyWoo having a field day on the offence with his AWP. Trading rounds to kick off the second half, Vitality managed to find their footing with the 3rd round of their defense as they remained flawless for the rest of the half, leading to a quick conclusion of Aurora’s semi-finals. 18 kills from ZyWoo saw Vitality secure another 13-5 win as he heads to the Grand Finals in Rotterdam.

Even though Vitality was expected to go through, fans believed Aurora would put up a better fight. Goes without saying that when Vitality’s gears are clicking, it is very hard to stop them, and as the Turkish side’s run here comes to an end, they will be heading back to the drawing board with several impressive wins to their name.

Azerbaijan Esports Federation Raises Concerns After ENC Partner Selection, as EF Appoints 100+ Nations

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The Azerbaijan Esports Federation has raised concerns following its exclusion from the National Team Partner (NTP) and National Team Manager (NTM) selections for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, after the Esports Foundation announced partnerships across more than 100 countries.

In an official statement, the federation confirmed that it was not selected in the recent process, calling the outcome โ€œdisappointingโ€ despite its existing relationships with major publishers including Electronic Arts, Tencent Games, and MOONTON Games.

However, it is worth noting that on the International Esports Federation’s website, the mention of Azerbaijan Esports Federation returns a 404.

Federation Flags Transparency Concerns

The Azerbaijan Esports Federation, which is officially recognized by the countryโ€™s Ministry of Youth and Sport, stated that it had undertaken structured efforts to build both international and grassroots esports development within the region.

However, it noted that no formal communication had been received at the institutional level regarding the entity selected to represent Azerbaijan. According to the statement, this includes a lack of clarity even through government channels.

The federation also highlighted that it was not given an opportunity to present its case through direct engagement during the selection process, raising broader concerns around transparency and institutional alignment in decisions related to national representation.

ENC Expands Global Footprint

The development comes shortly after the Esports Foundation confirmed National Team Partner appointments across more than 100 nations for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to take place in Riyadh.

The tournament is expected to feature a prize pool of $45 million across titles under the broader Esports World Cup ecosystem, positioning it as one of the largest investments in competitive gaming to date.

In India, NODWIN Gaming was named the official National Team Partner, tasked with leading team formation and national representation for the event.

Uncertainty Around Azerbaijan Representation

At the time of writing, the Esports Foundation has not publicly clarified the selected partner or representative body for Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijan Esports Federation stated that it will continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure that national representation reflects the interests of its players and broader community.

Further updates are expected as additional details emerge regarding the selection process and Azerbaijanโ€™s representation at the Esports Nations Cup 2026.

Regional Game Prices Expected to Shift After Valveโ€™s New Steam Pricing Update

Earlier today, Valve introduced an update to the pricing conversion tools on Steam, adding two new conversion methods that might impact the regional price tags on games throughout the globe.

Additionally, the pricing conversion data on Steam has also been updated to โ€œbetter reflect current market conditions around the world.โ€ According to Steamโ€™s official blog post,ย  these improvements have been made to help game devs on the platform price their titles in 35 currencies and 4 region groups worldwide.

Steam Adds New Pricing Conversion Tools for Game Devs

Following the update, Steam features three different conversion methods for devs to pick from when publishing games on the platform:

  • Exchange Rate Conversion – This method uses simple currency exchange.
  • Purchasing Power Conversion – This method takes into account public data about the average purchasing power of customers in the region.โ€ฏ
  • Multi-variable Conversion – This method uses multiple data sources for each currency, including factors like local purchasing power, expected cost of comparable entertainment goods, and exchange rates.

โ€œThese conversion methods are intended to help developers make informed decisions about pricing and to choose the option that best fits their goals,โ€ Steam said in a statement. โ€œSome developers may choose to use a mix of methods for their games or manually set prices for one or more currencies.โ€

Readers can check out Steamโ€™s regional pricing page to check out how each of these pricing methods converts to all supported currencies for each major USD price point.

Will This Impact Video Game Prices?

Valve has also reassured gamers and game devs that the company wonโ€™t be altering the price tags on any games on Steam. Publishers will still set their own prices on the platform, and game prices won’t change unless they manually submit and publish new prices.

Steam also clarified that publishers are under no obligation to follow any of the suggested pricing conversion options if they choose otherwise.

โ€œYour prices are between you and your customers,โ€ Steam stated. โ€œWhether you follow or diverge from any of the provided conversion options doesnโ€™t impact any of our store visibility systems.โ€

While the new tools aim to make regional pricing more reflective of local markets, the final decision still rests entirely with publishers. This means game prices across different regions could soon see noticeable changes depending on how publishers choose to use these tools.

Needless to say, with the recent surge in PC hardware prices and the ever-increasing price points on AAA titles, gamers will be keeping their fingers crossed for these new changes to help make modern titles more affordable across different regions.