The second match of the day saw yet another upset as Imperial took an early exit from the Austin Major after losing to fellow Brazilian side Legacy, who were largely considered an underdog coming into the tournament.
A shockingly good start to the game for Imperial as they completely steamrolled Legacy on the offence. Legacy managed to win seven rounds early on, while Imperial managed to win just one by the end of the first half. While Imperial managed to win a single round, Legacy posted a performance good enough to close the map without much effort in the second half. N1ssim stood out as the star player for Legacy as they brought home their map pick.
Map 2: Dust 2; Pick: Imperial; Winner: Imperial
Imperial returned the favour from the first map, winning 11 rounds in a row in the first half after starting the map with a pistol round loss. While Legacy pulled back 3 rounds, Imperial found themselves two rounds away from winning the map. Both teams traded rounds, but Imperial’s massive lead gave them enough room to lose a few rounds before closing out the map. With a 1.89 rating, VINI pulled his team back into the series as we went to a third map.
Map 3: Mirage; Pick: Decider; Winner: Imperial
Imperial winning two rounds right from the get-go put them in the lead before Legacy took back control of the game, leading to them securing 9 rounds before switching sides. Despite losing the pistol rounds, Imperial won all of the remaining rounds to secure the map and a place in the third round of the play in Stage 2 of Blast Austin Major.
Imperial’s loss marks a big hit as they were one of the best teams from the region leading up to the Major, and now that they are gone, FURIA remains the only heavy hitters from the region.
TYLOO has taken down Complexity to reach the final round of play in Stage 1 of the Blast.tv Austin Major. A historic win for the organisation puts them a single win away from the next stage of the tournament, as they now sit 2 wins under their belt.
Complexity’s good start on their map pick put TYLOO on the back foot, but the Chinese team managed to get a grip and level the score before the first half concluded. Switching sides with 6 rounds, TYLOO continued the momentum as CoL could not hold onto bombsites, leading them to lose four rounds before putting their first round of the CT side on the board. While CoL did manage to win a few rounds, TYLOO mustered up a big lead with enough room to comfortably close the map without cutting it too close. The Chinese side won the map with a 13-7 scoreline, with a familiar face in JamYoung doing most of the heavy lifting with 22 kills to his name.
Map 2: Inferno; Pick: TYLOO; Winner: TYLOO
Winning the pistol round, TYLOO got off to an early lead but CoL managed to pick up momentum on the defence, leading to them pulling in 7 rounds before switching sides as TYLOO started their defence with a 13-7 scoreline. Losing the pistol round saw the Chinese side go 5 rounds behind before they started mounting a stellar comeback. The streak of rounds saw them hit map and series point while CoL threatened to push overtime as it took the final round of regulation time for TYLOO to edge out a historic win for the organisation.
It was a shocking outcome for Complexity, a team that was arguably one of the favourites coming into stage 1 of the Major. While it comes as a surprise to many, losing EliGE was a massive hit that the organisation failed to cope with. As their string of luck comes to an end as they will take an early exit without getting a shot at playing in front of their home crowd.
BLAST.tv has introduced YouTube’s Multiview feature to the esports scene during the Austin Major 2025.
For the uninitiated, the YouTube Multiview feature lets viewers tune into multiple livestreams at once via split screen. Needless to say, it’s an extremely useful feature for esports events, where multiple streams are usually running simultaneously.
“The BLAST.tv Austin Major is set to be one of our biggest events of the year, and it just got even more exciting with YouTube multiview,” Faye Malborough, Growth Director at BLAST, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to break new ground in esports broadcasting, using technology that’s already elevating the experience for fans of traditional sports and live music.”
This marks the debut of the feature in the world of esports, as Austin Major 2025 is the first-ever esports event to use the YouTube Multiview feature.
Other than esports, the YouTube Multiview feature has previously been used during live coverage of the NFL and the Coachella music festival, allowing viewers to watch multiple streams or performances at the same time.
Counter-Strike 2 fans from throughout the world can tune into the BLAST Austin Major 2025 streams on YouTube right away to check out this new feature in action.
NetEase is giving away a brand-new spray to all Marvel Rivals players for free, but you’ll have to be quick.
The ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals is a playful new addition that lets players enjoy a game —you guessed it—tic tac toe right in the middle of the virtual battlefield. Whether you’re waiting for a round to begin in spawn or taking a breather after the end of a teamfight, this spray lets you engage with friends or even randoms in a fun way.
Now that you know what sets the ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals apart from the plethora of other sprays in the game, you might be curious to know how to get it.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at how to get the ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals for free.
How To Get the Free ‘Tic Tac Toe’ Marvel Rivals
The ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals is a limited-time item that can only be claimed between June 5 and June 12. However, once you claim it, you’ll be able to keep it in your inventory and use it forever.
With that being said, let’s check out how to get the ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals.
To redeem the ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray in Marvel Rivals, all you need to do is log into the game between the aforementioned dates.
Once you’ve logged into the game, the ‘Tic Tac Toe’ spray will automatically be added to your Marvel Rivals inventory.
Fans can check out the official reveal trailer for the new free spray below:
🎮 Claim Your Victory, One Square at a Time! 🕹️
Log in between June 5 and June 12 to receive a FREE Tic-Tac-Toe Spray!
NetEase has just dropped a patch for their flagship hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, on June 5th, and it brings a ton of exciting new content to the game that fans are eagerly looking forward to checking out.
The latest Marvel Rivals update introduces a number of key changes to the game. The biggest highlight of the June 5 patch is undoubtedly the addition of Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol to the title. Heavily inspired by games like Dota Auto Chess and TFT, the new Marvel Rivals game mode presents a unique twist to the auto-battler genre that’s definitely worth exploring, whether you’re a seasoned tactician or new to the format.
But that’s not all, the latest Marvel Rivals patch also adds a couple of stunning new skins for Jeff and Wolverine. If you main either hero, the Sunshine Land Shark bundle and the Weapon X bundle are definitely worth taking a look at.
🐺 Claws Out, Fins Up 🦈
Prey on the weaknesses of your enemies as Wolverine’s Weapon X and Jeff the Land Shark’s Sunshine Land Shark costumes. There’s no need to tame your instincts; the time for animalistic vengeance is now!
This week, step into the metallic mind of Ultron in the all-new game mode: Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol! Command and conquer from Ultron’s perspective and outsmart your foes with machine-like precision.
1. Jeff the Land Shark – Sunshine Land Shark Bundle 2. Wolverine – Weapon X Bundle Available from 2025/6/6, 02:00:00 (UTC)
Limited-Time Login Reward: Tic-Tac-Toe Spray
Log in during the event period to claim your exclusive Tic-Tac-Toe Spray! Challenge your friends to a game of wits and strategy in the spawn room (or the heat of battle). Claim Period:2025/6/5, 09:00:00 ~ 2025/6/12, 09:00:00 (UTC)
Optimizations
1. Loki’s Illusions can now perform emotes with the real Loki during battle. Mischief, multiplied! 2. Players can now have up to 6 sprays at once on the battlefield.
Fixes
All Platforms
1. Enhanced the Jeff-Nado Team-Up Profile story.
Maps and Modes
1. Fixed certain terrain issues in the Hellfire Gala: Krakoa map where characters could become stuck or clip into strange locations.
Marvel Games and Arc System Works have revealed Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a fast-paced 4v4 tag-team fighter arriving in 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC. Unveiled during Sony’s State of Play presentation on June 4, 2025, this partnership represents a major departure from Marvel’s more conventional gaming collaborations, specifically its longtime partnership with Capcom.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls features a cast of renewed Marvel heroes with an anime-style visual makeover, consisting of Iron Man, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Storm, Spider-Man, and more. Every hero has an anime-styled design, showcasing Arc System Works’ classic visual style featured in games such as Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The 2.5D visuals and cinematic cutscenes of the game are designed to create an experience that is at once new and nostalgic for Marvel and fighting game fans alike. Of note is the fact that the characters speak only in Japanese, providing a distinct cultural overlay for the gameplay.
4v4 Tag-Team Mechanics
Breaking away from the usual one-on-one fighting game designs, Fighting Souls presents a 4v4 tag-team system. Teams of four characters can be composed by players, using strategic mixes of main fighters and support characters to perform dynamic combos and special moves.
The design accommodates a wide variety of playstyles, both for newcomers and veterans alike. The design allows for mastery of individual characters while fostering teamwork, presenting depth without excessive complexity.
Marvel’s history in the fighting game space has traditionally been bound to its partnerships with Capcom, which produced highly-regarded games such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Yet, the partnership became troubled, especially with the disappointment of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite in 2017.
Following these new developments, Marvel has pursued new avenues of creativity, which have given rise to this collaboration with Arc System Works. This partnership marks Marvel’s desire to venture into new takes on its universe in the world of gaming.
Release Date
Scheduled for a 2026 launch on PlayStation 5 and PC platforms (via Epic Games Store and Steam), Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has the potential to be a key player in the fighting game scene. The marriage of Marvel’s deep character pool and Arc System Works’ specific design ethos provides a new twist to the genre.
With the release of Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, Epic Games has brought a greatly improved edition of Fortnite that is optimized to take advantage of the console’s latest features. The latest edition not only offers massive improvements in visuals and performance but also enhances features that bring the portable experience more in sync with the other premium platforms.
Fortnite on the Switch 2 now runs at a steady 60 frames per second, a significant improvement from the original 30 FPS cap on the previous Switch. This improvement provides smoother game performance and more responsive control. The resolution of the game has also increased, providing 2176×1224 when docked and 1600×900 in handheld mode, providing crisper visuals and clearer definition in intense combat.
Aside from resolution and framerate, the game is enhanced by longer draw distances where players can see opponents and buildings from farther away. More realistic textures, realistic water effects, and dynamic clothing physics also elevate the gaming experience. These graphic improvements are not only better visual enhancements but also give players tactical benefits in gameplay.
One of the best aspects of Fortnite on Switch 2 is the inclusion of mouse-like controls with the new Joy-Con 2 controllers. From June 7, players can use these controllers for finer aiming, replicating the accuracy usually found in PC gaming. This feature is especially useful for competitive players looking for tighter control while playing.
The Joy-Con 2 comes with sensors that allow for movement detection when the controller is set on a surface, essentially turning it into a mouse-like controller. The control preference can be tailored by the player, with options to control the cursor using the left, right, or both Joy-Cons. The system also caters to left-handed players through the possibility of swapping movement controls between thumbsticks.
Fortnite’s native support for the Switch 2’s GameChat feature represents a groundbreaking enhancement in game communication. For the first time, players can now communicate through voice chats with a maximum of three friends directly via the console without depending on additional apps or hardware. Such native voice communication supports better team coordination and overall gaming experience.
The Switch 2 edition of Fortnite brings back the Replay feature, with which users can replay and dissect their gameplay from various angles. Quick capture of gameplay clips is supported through the Capture button, facilitating easier sharing of memorable scenes. Additionally, players who sign in before March 31, 2026, will be rewarded with an exclusive “Wishing Star” emote as a gesture of gratitude from Epic Games.
The Stage 1 matchup between Heroic and FlyQuest was a nail-biter, with Heroic narrowly securing a 2-1 series victory. Here’s everything that went down in the series:
Game 1: Ancient (Pick: FlyQuest, Win: HEROIC, Final Score: 13-7 )
FlyQuest looked to get an early lead on the T-side of Ancient by starting with a pistol-round win, but a force-buy from Heroic was enough to shut them down the following round. Heroic capitalized on their momentum and went on to grab nine rounds in a row before giving up a round. The first half ended with a 9-3 score in favor of Heroic.
FlyQuest tried to close down the gap by taking the second pistol round of the game, but it didn’t take long for Heroic to regain their composure and bounce back, closing their opponents’ map pick with a score of 13-7 in their favor.
Game 2: Anubis (Pick: HEROIC, Win: FlyQuest, Final Score: 13-11)
FlyQuest were once again the superior side on the pistol round, which enabled them to get an early 3-0 lead on the T-side before Heroic could try and retaliate. While Heroic could snatch a round now and then, the first half of Anubis was pretty much dictated by FlyQuest, who went into the CT-side with a comfortable 9-3 lead.
Heroic looked comfortable heading into the second half of Anubis, narrowing the gap to 9-10 before eventually equalizing at 11-11. However, FlyQuest wrestled back control of the driver’s seat in the following rounds, closing the game with a 13-11 score in their favor.
Game 3: Mirage (Win: HEROIC, Final Score: 13-6 )
Continuing the series’ trend, FlyQuest opened the final map with yet another pistol round win, only to fall to a force-buy from Heroic immediately after. The strong economic advantage helped Heroic get a 5-1 lead over FQ before conceding another round. Despite the early lead, Heroic failed to convert some key rounds as they ended the half with a score of 6-6.
After dropping five consecutive pistol rounds, Heroic finally secured one, arguably the most crucial, as it seemed to set the tone for the remainder of the half. FlyQuest failed to secure a single round on their CT side, allowing Heroic to close out the game with a 13-6 victory.
With this victory, Heroic secured their spot in the Austin Major 2025 Stage 2 with a flawless 3-0 record.
The 1-1 matchups in BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 saw OG dismantle Tyloo on Ancient with a decisive 13-3 win. With this victory, OG finds itself one step closer to securing a spot in Stage 2 of this prestigious event.
OG kicked off the BO1 on the right foot with a win on the T-side pistol round. Tyloo attempted to double down with a force-buy in the next round but failed to convert, leaving them with no choice but to eco the following round. It wasn’t until the sixth round that Tyloo could put up their first point on the board. OG found themselves in a commanding position at the end of the first half, closing it out with a 9-3 scoreline.
A second pistol-round victory for OG after the side swap paved their way for a smooth finish. They finished the game with a convincing 13-3 victory without conceding a single round thereafter.
Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi dominated the scoreboard in Ancient, securing a whopping 19 kills with only 8 deaths.
OG now joins NRG and Nemiga Gaming in the 2-1 bracket in the Austin Major. Fans will have to wait for the remaining matches to conclude before the next Stage 1 matchups are revealed.
Prime Video is launching Esports World Cup: Level Up, a five-episode docuseries that follows the action backstage at the history-making 2024 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The series, premiering June 6, is directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, whose credits include critical hits like Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and Elton John: Never Too Late. With weekly new episodes, the show provides a unique, vérité-style look at the human narratives, high-pressure stakes, and emotional arcs that characterized the most ambitious esports tournament ever produced.
The 2024 Esports World Cup was a watershed moment in the history of competitive gaming globally. Extending over eight weeks of nail-biting action, the tournament united over 1,500 world-class players and 200 Clubs from 100 nations. They played 22 events in 21 high-profile game titles for a combined total prize amount of $62.5 million, historically the biggest in esports. At the center of the competition was the Club Championship, an innovative format where organizations earned points in various games, giving equal weight to consistency, team depth, and flexibility. Team Falcons ultimately became the overall Club Champion, taking home $7 million and making their mark on esports history.
What sets Level Up apart from typical esports coverage is its emphasis on the richly human stories beneath the virtual avatars. R.J. Cutler and his production crew immersed themselves in the tournament, shooting not just in Riyadh’s advanced esports venues but also in gamers’ hometowns around the globe. With raw storytelling and cinematic closeness, the series conveys the gravity of personal concessions, cultural pressures, and professional drive. As Cutler explains, “This story isn’t just about the $60 million on the line, it’s about identity, resilience, and passion under pressure. It’s where digital competition meets real-world consequence.”
One of the many gripping stories captured in the series is Soka from Team Falcons, a tough-talking and bold player who grew up on the rough streets of Oakland. His post-game trash talk tends to hide behind a background of adversity and personal strife, making his breakthrough more effective. And then there’s South Korea’s T1 FAKER, a living legend within the world of esports whose popularity is on par with that of global pop culture stars. Though celebrated as among the best to have ever played, he struggles with living up to his own legend and the emotional burden of being a world figure in an ultra-competitive arena.
Another compelling story is that of Sanford, a 19-year-old Filipino child prodigy, whose career becomes intensely personal when his father has a stroke. Since his family has no other breadwinner, Sanford bears so much more than the weight of winning—his journey is a witness to responsible youth and love for family. Just as inspiring is Atlanta FaZe’s Drazah, who was raised in a shed in North Pole, Alaska. With a single mother and seven siblings raised in humble circumstances, his return to his roots is an emotional reminder of the distance passion and determination can push one toward.
Level Up also shines a spotlight on Chel and Cinny, two rural Indonesian sisters who command the most dominant women’s team in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Their tournament run is threatened by the untimely passing away of their grandfather, pushing their emotional resilience to the test as they struggle to cope with loss and competition. Ukrainian Club NAVI CEO Yevhen Zolotarov has a story full of geopolitical undertones. Competing while his nation is embroiled in war, Zolotarov’s story is motivated by a need to bring hope and attention to his country. And then there’s Mossad Aldossary, the 24-year-old CEO of Team Falcons. A Riyadh native, he captains the country’s number one club with pride and pressure, looking to bring victory home and make history in front of a worldwide audience.
Aside from the tales of individual players and teams, Esports World Cup: Level Up also looks at the cultural and commercial implications of esports on today’s world. The 2024 EWC was watched by more than 500 million people globally, testifying to the rocket-like trajectory that competitive gaming had achieved in becoming a mainstream pop culture phenomenon. Amazon, as the official e-commerce partner of the event, opened dedicated gaming hubs for the Middle East and North Africa regions to increase digital fan interaction. At the same time, the Star Sports Network purchased broadcast rights and broadcast major tournaments in both English and Hindi—a recognition of the nation’s increased interest in esports content.
However, the tournament was not controversy-free. Critics raised an eyebrow over Saudi Arabia’s wider political scene and questioned human rights and sportswashing. Yet there were also moments of symbolic advancement. Team Liquid, for example, was permitted to don Pride-inspired jerseys, a bold move considering the conservative social mores of the region.
In the end, Esports World Cup: Level Up is more than a documentary about gaming—it’s an examination of a changing global culture in which virtual spaces hold the passion and competitive heat previously exclusive to mainstream sports. It’s a glimpse into a new generation of competitors moving through fame, wealth, and self-discovery within an ever-changing system. With its exemplary storytelling and engaging lens, the series presents a vital glimpse into what it means to be a champion in the 21st century.
