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Call of Duty Passes $40 Billion in Lifetime Revenue With Modern Warfare 4 Launch

Sonu Banerjee
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Call of Duty Passes $40 Billion in Lifetime Revenue With Modern Warfare 4 Launch

Only a few days following the launch of Modern Warfare 4, the Call of Duty franchise has surpassed a whopping $40 billion USD in lifetime revenue, marking an incredible milestone for one of the most successful gaming series of all time.

The news came from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma herself, who confirmed this in an X announcement on October 26, shortly after the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. In case you missed it, MW4 came out on October 23 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. 

“One of the most celebrated Call of Duty games in its 24-year history, and now $40B in lifetime franchise revenue,” Sharma said in a statement. “An incredible milestone. Congrats to the Activision team. And to the players, thank you for being with us.”

The number goes on to prove just how far the series has grown, especially within the past few years. In 2020, Activision had confirmed that the lifetime sales for the franchise were hovering around the $27 billion mark. By 2022, it had passed $30 billion, with approximately 425 million units being sold. Data-based estimates in 2024 placed it at roughly $35 billion across game sales, microtransactions, and subscriptions.

This means that about $10 billion in revenue was added over the course of the past four years.

Modern Warfare 4 is the 23rd mainline entry in the Call of Duty series, and the brand is prepared to head beyond games, with a Hollywood adaptation planned for 2028.

Whether Activision’s latest title can keep the momentum going will become clearer once more sales and player data arrives. For now, the milestone is a good reminder that, 24 years in, Call of Duty is still one of the biggest forces in the entertainment industry.

Free Fire India Launch Date Announced: Garena Officially Confirms Launch After 3 Years

Aditya Parsutkar
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Free Fire India Launch Date Announced: Garena Officially Confirms Launch After 3 Years

After more than three years of waiting, Garena has officially announced the Free Fire India launch date. The popular battle royale game will finally be available in India on October 28, 2026, for both Android and iOS devices.

Garena confirmed the news through its official social media accounts, ending years of uncertainty about the game’s return.

The announcement reads: “FREE FIRE INDIA IS HERE! Get ready to jump in Free Fire India from 28 October.” This is major news for the Indian gaming community, which has been waiting for the game’s return since 2023.

Free Fire India Launch Date Confirmed for October 28, 2026

Free Fire India will launch on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. According to Garena’s announcement, the game will be available on the Google Play Store and iOS.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Garena Free Fire India (@freefireindiaofficial)

FF India to Bring Special Events and New Features

Free Fire India will feature special in-game events and campaigns based on Indian festivals and cultures. Garena has also announced a special Diwali event, which will run until November 15, 2026.

Garena has also optimised Free Fire India to run on a wide range of smartphones, allowing players with different devices to enjoy the game.

“India is home to a passionate community of players, creators and esports talent, and we are grateful for their continued enthusiasm and support,” said Vaibhav Das Mundhra, Head of Operations, India, Garena. “With FFI, our focus is on providing a familiar and engaging gaming experience that is thoughtfully tailored for players in India, while encouraging safe and responsible play. This new game reflects our long-term commitment to India’s gaming community, and we look forward to supporting more opportunities for players to enjoy gaming, connect with one another and pursue their shared passions.”

Accessibility has also been an important consideration in the development of FFI. The game has been optimised for a broad range of smartphones, giving players with different device specifications the opportunity to enjoy a familiar and engaging gaming experience.

Free Fire India to Have Indian Servers and Safety Features

Garena has introduced several features to encourage responsible gaming. These include:

  • Parental consent for players under 18 years old.
  • Regular reminders to take breaks.
  • Daily playtime limits.
  • Limits on in-game spending.

Garena also confirmed that Free Fire India will use servers located in India to improve data protection. The company said it has considered feedback from Indian government stakeholders and introduced additional safety measures to follow local laws.

Garena to Support Indian FF Esports

Along with the game’s launch, Garena plans to continue supporting the Indian esports scene.

The company aims to create more opportunities for Indian players through grassroots tournaments, college-level competitions, and international esports events.

Garena also plans to work with local partners to help young players improve their skills and compete at higher levels.

These efforts are part of the company’s long-term plans to grow Free Fire esports in India.

The announcement comes just a day after Garena renamed its official YouTube channels to Free Fire India Official and Free Fire India Esports on October 26.

The sudden name changes sparked speculation about the game’s return.

Additionally, popular Free Fire content creators Desi Gamers and Assassin Army had already indicated that the game would launch on October 28.

Now, Garena has officially confirmed the release date.

Free Fire India Finally Returns After Three Years

Garena originally announced Free Fire India in August 2023, with the game scheduled to launch on September 5, 2023.

However, the company postponed the release just days before its planned launch.

Since then, Garena had not announced a new release date, leaving millions of Indian players waiting.

Meanwhile, the company continued to develop the Free Fire MAX esports scene in India, organising major tournaments such as the Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) and Free Fire MAX Asia Invitational (FFMAI).

Indian teams also returned to international Free Fire competitions.

Now, after more than three years, the wait is finally coming to an end.

Free Fire India will officially launch on October 28, 2026, marking a major moment for India’s mobile gaming community.

GTA 6 Ambrosia Guide: Allied Crystal, Final Chapter MC and the Real Town Behind It

Satyam Kumar
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GTA 6 Ambrosia Guide: Allied Crystal, Final Chapter MC and the Real Town Behind It

GTA 6 Ambrosia is an inland industrial town in central Leonida. It’s built around the Allied Crystal sugar refinery, and the Final Chapter MC biker gang has a strong hold on it. Rockstar describes it as the place where “American industry and old school values still reign supreme.” Its look closely matches Clewiston, the Florida sugar town on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee.

Ambrosia is one of the six regions Rockstar revealed on its official Grand Theft Auto VI website alongside Trailer 2 in May 2025. With the game due out on November 19, 2026, here’s everything confirmed about the town so far, and what’s still guesswork.

Where is Ambrosia in GTA 6?

Rockstar places Ambrosia “in the heart of Leonida.” That puts it inland, away from the Vice City coast and the Leonida Keys. Fans believe it sits in a wider area called Ambrosia County.

Rockstar hasn’t released a fully labelled map yet, so the town’s exact position and size are still unconfirmed. Official screenshots show flat farmland, sugarcane fields, industrial yards and small-town roads.

Ambrosia is one of the six confirmed regions:

RegionWhat it is
Vice CityThe neon-lit Miami-style metropolis
Leonida KeysA chain of islands to the south
GrassriversEverglades-style wetlands
Port GellhornA run-down coastal town
AmbrosiaA sugar-refinery company town in central Leonida
Mount KalagaA national park with hills and forests

What Rockstar officially says about Ambrosia

Rockstar’s tagline for the region is “Keeping Leonida Sweet,” with the subheading “The battle for the health and wealth of Leonida begins here.”

The description sums up how the town works: “The Allied Crystal sugar refinery provides the jobs, while the local biker gang provides almost everything else.”

Put simply, one company owns the economy, and a motorcycle club runs most of what happens outside working hours.

Allied Crystal Sugar Refinery: the town’s biggest employer

The Allied Crystal refinery towers over the skyline in Rockstar’s screenshots. It has tall smokestacks, factory buildings, storage tanks, access roads and work vehicles.

The company also shows up in local politics. Official screenshots show yard signs for a mayoral candidate named Erin Henshaw, and they carry the Allied Crystal logo. That suggests the refinery backs politicians in town, though Rockstar hasn’t explained how it plays out in the story.

Rockstar has said GTA 6 will have hundreds of explorable interiors. It hasn’t said whether the refinery is one of them.

Final Chapter MC: the biker gang that runs Ambrosia

The “local biker gang” from Rockstar’s description is the Final Chapter MC. Members wear leather jackets with club patches, and the patches give 1982 as the year the club was founded. They ride choppers and cruiser-style motorcycles.

Here’s what’s known and what isn’t:

DetailStatus
Club name: Final Chapter MCSeen on patches in official media
Founded in 1982Shown on member patches
Based in AmbrosiaMatches Rockstar’s “local biker gang” line
Named gang membersNone revealed yet
Missions or business roleUnconfirmed

Earlier GTA biker gangs, like The Lost MC in GTA 4 and GTA 5, were tied to drugs and gunrunning. Treat any similar role for Final Chapter as speculation until the game is out.

Is Ambrosia based on a real place?

Rockstar hasn’t named a real-world inspiration. Still, the details line up closely with Clewiston, Florida, a small town on Lake Okeechobee that calls itself “America’s Sweetest Town.”

GTA 6Likely real-world match
AmbrosiaClewiston, Florida
Allied Crystal refineryU.S. Sugar’s mill and refinery in Clewiston
Ambrosia CountyHendry County, Florida
Lake LeonidaLake Okeechobee
Burning cane fieldsPre-harvest cane burning in South Florida’s sugar belt

Other lakeside farm towns, like Belle Glade, may also have fed into the design. The name works on two levels: in Greek myth, ambrosia is the food of the gods, which fits a town that runs on sugar.

Lake Leonida, cane fires and off-road terrain

Burning sugarcane field in GTA 6 Ambrosia

Lake Leonida is officially part of the game. Rockstar’s Ultimate Edition description says the One-Eyed Willie’s mod shop in Lake Leonida “specialises in off-road modifications and hand-painted designs.” Rockstar hasn’t confirmed that Ambrosia sits right on the lake, but the off-road focus fits the farm country around it.

Other details from official screenshots:

  • Burning sugarcane fields. Pre-harvest burning is common in South Florida’s sugar belt, so this is most likely scenery. It isn’t confirmed as a mission.
  • A monster truck in a parking lot, which hints at off-road or motorsport activities nearby.
  • Wide, flat farmland crossed by rural roads, good ground for bikes and trucks.

Rockstar character Raul Bautista, described as “a charming and cunning bank robber,” has an official profile that links to the Ambrosia page. His exact connection to the town hasn’t been explained.

What we still don’t know about Ambrosia

  • The town’s exact spot and size on the Leonida map
  • Whether you can go inside the refinery
  • Which story missions take place in Ambrosia
  • Final Chapter MC’s leaders and role in the plot
  • Whether Ambrosia includes the Lake Leonida shoreline

These should be answered when GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. For more on what Rockstar has shown, read our GTA 6 An Extended Look breakdown, and see how many GTA 6 pre-orders have sold ahead of launch.

HSR 4.7 Livestream Airs October 30: Time in IST, Codes and Aha Reveal

Satyam Kumar
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HSR 4.7 Livestream Airs October 30: Time in IST, Codes and Aha Reveal

The HSR 4.7 livestream airs on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM (UTC+8), which is 5:00 PM IST in India. HoYoverse has titled the Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.7 Special Program “Now, Lay Laughter to All Stars.” It should reveal three redemption codes worth Stellar Jade and give the first full look at Aha, the Aeon of Elation, before Version 4.7 goes live on November 11.

When Is the HSR 4.7 Livestream?

HoYoverse confirmed the Special Program for October 30, 2026, at 19:30 (UTC+8). That is 11:30 AM UTC. The stream goes live at the same moment worldwide, so only the local clock changes.

One detail trips people up every autumn. Europe left summer time on October 25, but the United States stays on daylight time until November 1. For this one week, the gap between US and European clocks is an hour shorter than usual. The table below uses the clocks that will actually be in force on October 30.

HSR 4.7 Livestream Time in IST and Other Regions

RegionTime zoneLocal start time
IndiaIST (UTC+5:30)October 30, 5:00 PM
PakistanPKT (UTC+5)October 30, 4:30 PM
BangladeshBDT (UTC+6)October 30, 5:30 PM
China, Philippines, Singapore, MalaysiaUTC+8October 30, 7:30 PM
Indonesia (Jakarta)WIB (UTC+7)October 30, 6:30 PM
Japan, South KoreaUTC+9October 30, 8:30 PM
Australia (Sydney)AEDT (UTC+11)October 30, 10:30 PM
United KingdomGMT (UTC+0)October 30, 11:30 AM
Central EuropeCET (UTC+1)October 30, 12:30 PM
Brazil (Sao Paulo)BRT (UTC-3)October 30, 8:30 AM
US EastEDT (UTC-4)October 30, 7:30 AM
US CentralCDT (UTC-5)October 30, 6:30 AM
US WestPDT (UTC-7)October 30, 4:30 AM

For players in India, 5:00 PM on a Friday is a friendly slot. Most people can catch the codes live after school or work without staying up late.

Where to Watch the Honkai: Star Rail 4.7 Special Program

The broadcast streams on the official Honkai: Star Rail YouTube channel and the official Honkai: Star Rail Twitch channel. HoYoverse usually posts the stream link and any code reminders on the official Honkai: Star Rail account on X as well.

The codes appear on screen during the stream, so it pays to watch live or keep the official account open in another tab.

HSR 4.7 Livestream Codes: Rewards and Expiry

HoYoverse has not shared the 4.7 codes yet. They only appear during the broadcast. Going by every recent Special Program, expect three codes. In Version 4.6, the three livestream codes added up to 300 Stellar Jade along with Credits and upgrade materials.

Livestream codes expire fast. The 4.6 codes went live on September 20, 2026, and stopped working on September 21. If the 4.7 codes follow that pattern, plan to redeem them by October 31 at the latest.

How to Redeem HSR Livestream Codes

You can redeem codes in two ways:

  1. On the web: Open the official Honkai: Star Rail code redemption page, log in to your HoYoverse account, pick your server, paste the code and confirm.
  2. In the game: Open the Phone menu (Esc on PC), open the extra options menu next to your profile name, choose Redemption Code, paste it and confirm.

Rewards arrive through in-game Mail. The account needs to have finished the early Trailblaze Mission “A Moment of Peace” before codes work. If a code fails, check for a typo, the wrong server, or an expired code. Our older Honkai Star Rail codes list walks through the same redemption steps with screenshots.

Aha the Aeon of Elation in Honkai Star Rail 4.7.
Credit: HoYoverse

What to Expect From the HSR 4.7 Livestream

Aha, the Aeon of Elation, Becomes Playable

The headline reveal is Aha. HoYoverse opened Version 4.7 drip marketing on September 15, 2026, and confirmed Aha as a 5-star Quantum character on the Path of Elation. The playable form is tied to Nihilux, a name players already know from earlier story content. Expect a full kit breakdown, Eidolons and a look at the signature Light Cone during the stream.

Banner Phases and Reruns

HoYoverse has not confirmed the 4.7 banner lineup. Aha is widely expected to lead Phase 1. Leaks from the 4.7 beta point to Silver Wolf LV999, Sparxie and Yao Guang as rerun picks, all of them Elation characters. Treat those names as reported only until the livestream shows the official Warp schedule.

ItemStatus before the livestream
Aha (5-star, Quantum, Elation)Confirmed by HoYoverse
Aha in Phase 1Expected, not confirmed
Silver Wolf LV999, Sparxie, Yao Guang rerunsLeaked, not confirmed
Light Cones and 4-star lineupNot announced

Story, Events and Currency Wars

Version 4.7 is reported to close the current Dvumernia story arc and lean heavily into Aha, who appears in the story disguised as a comic artist. Reports also point to a new Currency Wars season and the usual login event that hands out 10 Star Rail Special Passes. The livestream should confirm the full event list, new areas and any quality-of-life changes.

HSR 4.7 Release Date

The official Version 4.6 notice says 4.6 runs until November 11, 2026, at 06:00 (UTC+8). Version 4.7 maintenance should start at that point, with the update going live later on November 11 for Asia and Europe. For North America, that lands on the evening of November 10. Pre-download is reported to open on November 9.

That gives roughly 12 days between the Special Program and the patch, in line with the 7 to 12 day gap seen across Version 4.x. It also means the current Phase 2 banners for Pearl and Mortenax Blade are your last chance before Aha arrives. They close when 4.6 ends.

If you are saving for Aha, the 300 Stellar Jade from the livestream codes plus the 10 free Special Passes from the 4.7 login event give a small but useful head start. For more Honkai: Star Rail coverage, browse our Honkai Star Rail guides.

ENCE Bankruptcy: Why the EZ4ENCE Club Collapsed After 13 Years

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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ENCE Bankruptcy: Why the EZ4ENCE Club Collapsed After 13 Years

Finnish esports organization ENCE is filing for bankruptcy. On October 26, 2026, the board of directors of ENCE eSports Oy confirmed the decision on X, ending a 13-year run that included a Counter-Strike Major final at IEM Katowice 2019 and an IEM Dallas title in 2023. The CS2 roster, ranked 103rd on Valve’s regional standings, is left without an organization.

What ENCE Announced

ENCE posted a farewell message titled “The End of an Era” on its official X account on October 26, 2026. The statement said the board had “made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy” after 13 years.

The post thanked players, staff, partners and fans. It did not give financial figures, name a single cause, or explain what happens to player contracts or the ENCE brand.

Head coach Aleksi “allu” Jalli, who first played for ENCE in 2013, reacted with one word: “Heartbroken.” He said he would share more about himself and the team once things settle.

Why Did ENCE Go Bankrupt?

ENCE has not given an official reason. The public record from 2026 shows an organization that was already shrinking and changing course before the filing.

  • March 2026: ENCE benched its entire international CS2 roster and coaching staff, saying it had become too hard for a club its size to compete at the top of international Counter-Strike. The plan was to rebuild around Finnish players.
  • April 2026: The ENCE Academy roster was promoted to serve as the interim main team, and the academy program was put on hiatus.
  • June 2026: allu returned to the organization as head coach.
  • Mid 2026: Long-time CEO Mika Kuusisto stepped down after more than seven years in charge. Reports at the time linked his exit to a financial restructuring.
  • September 2026: ENCE reportedly moved its CS2 players onto long-term contracts after an evaluation period.
  • October 26, 2026: The board announced the bankruptcy filing.

The results never gave the rebuild breathing room. ENCE has not played an HLTV top-tier (MVP-awarding) event since September 2024, which made it far harder to attract sponsors and invites.

ENCE’s 2026 Collapse at a Glance

DateWhat happened
March 2026International CS2 roster and coach benched, Finnish rebuild announced
April 2026Academy roster promoted to main team
June 2026allu joins as head coach
Mid 2026CEO Mika Kuusisto steps down (reported restructuring)
September 2026CS2 roster reportedly locked on long-term deals
October 26, 2026Board files for bankruptcy

What Happens to the ENCE CS2 Roster?

ENCE has not said what will happen to its players. In a Finnish bankruptcy, a court-appointed administrator usually takes over the company’s assets and contracts, so the players are likely to look for new teams in the coming weeks. Treat any move as unconfirmed until the players or a new organization announce it.

ENCE’s final CS2 lineup:

PlayerNameCountry
temeTeemu KorvaFinland
millertAleksi LehtopuuFinland
SchwarzGiorgi GakhokidzeGeorgia
joeskiJoe HolmesFinland
HENUHenri YlilehtoFinland
allu (coach)Aleksi JalliFinland

Four of the five players are teenagers, which makes this a young core that other Finnish teams may try to keep together. TalkEsport covered the start of this project when ENCE turned its academy into an interim main roster.

ENCE’s Legacy in Counter-Strike

ENCE was founded in 2013 and grew from a local Finnish team into one of the most recognizable names in Counter-Strike.

The peak came at the IEM Katowice Major 2019. An all-Finnish lineup led by Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen came through the European Minor, beat Team Liquid and Natus Vincere in the playoffs, and reached the grand final before losing 2-0 to Astralis. The run made “EZ4ENCE” a fan chant, and the song was later added to the game as a music kit.

ENCE won BLAST Pro Series Madrid 2019 with that roster. It returned to the top in 2023 with an international lineup led by Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, winning IEM Dallas 2023 over MOUZ and reaching the finals of IEM Cologne and Gamers8 that summer. HLTV counts three MVP-awarding event wins for ENCE in total.

That roster’s core was sold to Team Falcons in December 2023. ENCE never got back into the top tier after the sale, and TalkEsport tracked the slide through the arrival of coach enkay J and several rebuilds after that.

Outside Counter-Strike, ENCE’s best-known name was Joona “Serral” Sotala, who became the first non-Korean StarCraft II world champion in 2018 while playing for the club. Serral later left ENCE after seven years with the club.

A Bad Autumn for Legacy Esports Organizations

ENCE is the third long-running esports organization to close in about five weeks.

OrganizationFoundedClosure announcedYears active
Complexity Gaming2003September 23, 202623
Evil Geniuses1999October 20, 202627
ENCE2013October 26, 202613

Evil Geniuses, which shuts down on November 2, blamed tight sponsorship budgets and the rising cost of competing at the top level. Complexity’s founder said raising new money had become too difficult. ENCE gave no reason, but the pattern is hard to miss. Clubs without a tier-one team or a wealthy owner are running out of options.

Onspot (Jagannath Sahu), FFMIC Caster and Free Fire MAX Creator, Passes Away

Divyesh Moghe
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Onspot (Jagannath Sahu), FFMIC Caster and Free Fire MAX Creator, Passes Away

Jagannath Sahu, the Free Fire MAX esports caster and creator known to fans as Onspot, has passed away. News of his death spread through the Indian Free Fire community on October 26, 2026, and he reportedly died in a road accident. His family and Amigos Esports, where he was management head, have not shared further details publicly so far.

Players, creators and fans have filled his social media with tributes since the news broke. Many of them say he was the first person who taught them how competitive Free Fire actually works.

Who was Onspot?

Onspot was an Indian Free Fire MAX esports caster, creator, analyst and coach. His verified Instagram bio summed up his work in four words: “Educating the esports community.” He ran the ONSPOT YouTube channel, which had around 38,000 subscribers, and had about 37,300 followers on Instagram.

He was also the management head at Amigos Esports, an Indian organisation that competes in Free Fire MAX tournaments.

In 2026, Onspot was part of the official casting desk for the Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) Spring, the national tournament that ended with Team HIND winning FFMIC 2026 Spring.

What kind of content did Onspot make?

Most of his work was aimed at players who wanted to go from casual matches to tournaments. His videos and reels covered:

  • Game sense and decision-making in tournament lobbies
  • Breakdowns of how top Indian teams rotate and play zones
  • Analysis of major events such as the Free Fire MAX India Cup and FFMAI
  • An esports talk show where he discussed the Indian Free Fire scene

He kept posting until the end. His last Instagram reel, uploaded on October 24, was titled “Improve gamesense in tournaments,” and is the kind of practical advice he was known for. That post is now where most fans have gone to pay their respects.

Onspot Free Fire MAX esports tips video
Onspot built his audience with Free Fire MAX tournament tips (Image via ONSPOT/YouTube)

How has the Free Fire community reacted?

The comments under his recent posts have turned into a memorial, with hundreds of messages of “RIP,” “Om Shanti” and thanks. One player he coached wrote that Onspot was the first person they met in esports and their “one and only coach,” and said they no longer felt like carrying on in competitive Free Fire without him.

Fans also shared clips of iQOO Total Gaming IGL FozyAjay looking emotional on his livestream after the news, and tribute edits have been posted on YouTube Shorts. For a creator whose audience was mostly up-and-coming players, the reaction shows how many people learned the game from him.

The Indian Free Fire MAX scene has grown a lot over the past two years, as covered in our look back at Free Fire MAX esports in 2025. Grassroots creators like Onspot did a lot of the work of explaining that scene to new players, from regional qualifiers up to events such as the FFMAI 2026 Fall Grand Finals and India’s run at the Free Fire World Cup 2026 in Paris.

TalkEsport will update this story if his family or Amigos Esports share an official statement or details about a memorial.

Our thoughts are with Jagannath Sahu’s family, friends, teammates at Amigos Esports and everyone in the Free Fire community who learned from him. Om Shanti.

Steam Down: Players Report Widespread Connection Issues on October 26

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Steam Down: Players Report Widespread Connection Issues on October 26

According to reports, the popular gaming platform Steam is facing widespread outages as players are reporting difficulties in accessing it. While the core services of the platform remain operational, the connection issue is isolated to logging in when connecting via the desktop application or browser.

Based on data from DownDetector, the initial sign of the outage was logged at 3 PM IST on 26th October, with over 500 users experiencing the same issue within 3 hours. As core functionalities remain unharmed, the true extent of the issue has been hard to pinpoint with limited information at hand.

Steam Outage Reports Increase as Players Face Connection Problems

As users continue to report outages, DownDetector claims “Login” as the most reported issue, followed by “Server Connection” and “Game Launching”. The graphs fail to showcase the exact nature of what Steam users are currently facing, but the increasing number of reports suggests it is continuing to affect more and more gamers. With more than 300 reports recorded in the past hour, it will be hard for the developers to ignore it.

Photo via DownDetector

Given that Steam houses millions of users, a few hundred reports in an hour mean that this issue is isolated to a particular region or specific users. Interestingly, SteamDB has reported that Steam Store, Community, Web API, and Connection Managers are functioning as usual, making it harder to point out the exact issue that players are facing.

What does this mean for users?

Assuming that users are having difficulty connecting to the Steam server, the Steam desktop application would allow them to launch games that do not rely on the internet in offline mode. It goes without saying that multiplayer titles like Counter-Strike 2, Dota, and PUBG will be out of reach until the issue is resolved.

At the time of writing, the number of reports is far too low for Valve to acknowledge the issue or release a statement. Rather, this would get fixed in the backend in no time. Unfortunately, the exact timeline for this to get resolved is not available, but keep an eye on SteamDB or Downdetector if you are facing anything similar.

Steam users are no strangers to such outages, and similar issues have been resolved within hours in the past. The historic nature of such disruptions suggests that this is a server-side issue, which leaves users with no choice but to hold their horses till Valve manages to fix it.

PlayStation Players Report Unidentified Child Accounts Infiltrating PSN Family Lists

Aritra Patra
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PlayStation Players Report Unidentified Child Accounts Infiltrating PSN Family Lists

PSN account hacked reports are spreading among PlayStation players after users found unknown child accounts in their family lists. Several players on X say unfamiliar accounts appeared without their approval. Some also received emails about sign-in ID changes they never made. A few users claim attackers bypassed two-factor authentication. As of October 26, Sony has not issued an official statement.

This article covers what users are reporting, the earlier cases from October, how to check your PSN family list, and what to do if your account looks compromised.

PSN Account Hacked: What Users Are Reporting

Players on X say unfamiliar child accounts showed up in their PlayStation Network family lists. They did not add these accounts themselves. Some users say the accounts were operating from overseas.

One overseas user posted that they woke up to several unauthorized child accounts on their PSN account. That user also received an email about a sign-in ID change they did not make. Other players report emails about changes to their email address or sign-in ID.

Some of these users suspect attackers bypassed two-factor authentication (2FA). That claim is not confirmed. Neither Sony nor PlayStation has commented, and none of the reports have been independently verified.

It is also unclear whether the reports point to one vulnerability or to several unrelated security problems.

Timeline of the PSN Account Reports

Similar complaints go back to early October. Players have shared their experiences on social media and in subreddits. Some say the problem has kept them from playing games such as Marvel’s Wolverine on PS5.

In earlier cases, accounts were hijacked using a PSN username, an email address, and a transaction ID or purchase date. It also described the method as social engineering aimed at support. It is not known whether the family list reports use the same method.

How to Check Your PSN Family List

You can check your family list on a PS5. Go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Family, then Family Management. Look through every account listed there.

Check your inbox as well. Look for emails about changes to your PSN sign-in ID or email address that you did not request.

Official PlayStation guidelines say a child family member cannot simply be removed from a family list. That may make cleanup harder if an unknown account has been added. If you find one, contact PlayStation Support.

Can Unknown Child Accounts Spend Money?

Reports have raised concern about saved payment details. Users worry that attackers could buy PS Plus subscriptions and other items.

PlayStation’s support page explains how child accounts handle money. They do not have their own wallet. They spend from the family manager’s wallet within a set spending limit, and that limit is 0 by default when the family manager creates the account.

That page applies to accounts created by the family manager. It does not say how the reported unauthorized accounts behave.

What to Do If Your PSN Account Looks Compromised

Affected users should take these steps:

  • Contact PlayStation Support if you see anything suspicious.
  • Review your account security settings.
  • Check your saved payment information.
  • Keep 2FA turned on and reset your password.
  • Avoid sharing personal information online.

PlayStation also has a support page for compromised accounts and unrecognized charges. It tells users to check their PlayStation Store transaction history first.

Sony has not commented on the reports. This story is still developing, and the cause of the reported changes remains unknown.

League of Legends World Champion Cyanide Dies at 31

Sonu Banerjee
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League of Legends World Champion Cyanide Dies at 31

Lauri “Cyanide” Happonen, the Finnish League of Legends prodigy who helped Fnatic win the first League of Legends World Championship, has reportedly passed away at the age of 31.

The news was first brought to light by Finnish outlet Ilta-Sanomat. As per the report, he died on July 31, 2026, but the exact cause of his death has not been made public.

Lauri ”Cyanide” Happonen has past away at the age of 31
byu/taalaporriainen inleagueoflegends

For the unaware, Cyanide was one of the youngest stars in the early years of LoL. During his tenure with Fnatic, he became the youngest player ever to win Worlds at just 16 years of age. The 2011 title was also a huge milestone for the region, as it was the first World Championship won by a European team, and it remains the only one taken by a team from outside Asia.

He stayed with Fnatic through 2014. He then proceeded to play for Origen from 2015 to 2017 alongside his close friend xPeke. He was still involved in the community this year, participating in the League Classic showmatch on July 24 as part of Team Dynasty.

Shortly after the news surfaced on the internet, Fnatic expressed its condolences via an X post. 

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lauri ‘Cyanide’ Happonen earlier this year,” the org said. “During his four-year spell at Fnatic, Cyanide made history as the youngest ever player to win Worlds at just 16. He leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

Former teammate YellOwStaR also paid tribute to the legend, saying Cyanide was “much more than a teammate” to him.

“He was one of the kindest, most genuine souls I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” he said. “We saw each other again at the showmatch in July, and he was still full of dreams, plans, and projects for the future. You will be deeply missed, brother. Thank you for the memories, the time we shared, and for the person you were”

It’s safe to say that Cyanide will forever be remembered as a pioneer of competitive League of Legends and as a player who helped put European esports on the map.

Fortnite Mastery Monday Start Time and Bonuses for October 26

Aritra Patra
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Fortnite Mastery Monday Start Time and Bonuses for October 26

Fortnite Mastery Monday returns today, October 26, 2026, and starts at 6:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM ET. The weekly event lasts 24 hours and ends at the same time on Tuesday, October 27. Players get double Sprite XP and double Sprite Dust from extractions. This is also the final Mastery Monday of Chapter 7 Season 4, which ends on Saturday, October 31.

Below, you will find regional start times and the full bonus list. It also explains how Sprite Mastery works.

Fortnite Mastery Monday Start Time on October 26

Fortnite Mastery Monday begins at 6:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM ET on Monday, October 26, 2026. The event runs for 24 hours. The bonuses end at 6:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM ET on Tuesday, October 27.

During this window, players earn double Sprite XP and double Sprite Dust from extractions. Legendary and Mythic Sprites also appear more often. Cheat codes show up more frequently, and Daily Quests give extra Portable Extractors.

That gives players a full day to level up their Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Sprites and unlock Mastery rewards. Players still leveling One Wish Willow and Honey, along with their Trick or Treat Sprite variants, can use the extra Sprite XP.

Mastery Monday Start and End Times by Region

The event starts on Monday afternoon in the UK and Central Europe. It starts on Monday night in Japan and South Korea. Players in Sydney, Melbourne, and New Zealand get the bonuses early on Tuesday morning because of the time difference.

RegionStart dateStart timeEnd dateEnd time
Japan (JST)October 2610:00 PMOctober 2710:00 PM
Brazil (BRT)October 2610:00 AMOctober 2710:00 AM
India (IST)October 266:30 PMOctober 276:30 PM
New Zealand (NZDT)October 272:00 AMOctober 282:00 AM
PT (West Coast US)October 266:00 AMOctober 276:00 AM
Australia (Sydney/Melbourne, AEDT)October 2712:00 AMOctober 2812:00 AM
UK (GMT)October 261:00 PMOctober 271:00 PM
South Korea (KST)October 2610:00 PMOctober 2710:00 PM
ET (East Coast US)October 269:00 AMOctober 279:00 AM
Australia (Brisbane, AEST)October 2611:00 PMOctober 2711:00 PM
Central Europe (CET)October 262:00 PMOctober 272:00 PM

Each region gets the same 24-hour window. Only the local clock time changes.

Fortnite Mastery Monday Bonuses

Here are the bonuses available during today’s event:

  • Double Sprite XP
  • Double Sprite Dust from extractions
  • Increased Legendary and Mythic Sprite appearances
  • More frequent cheat codes
  • Extra Portable Extractors from Daily Quests

The extra Sprite Dust helps players who are still hunting Halloween additions. The higher Sprite XP helps players working toward Sprite Mastery rewards. These include the retro Back Bling that shows off a mastered collection on a pixelated screen.

How Sprite Mastery Works

A Sprite reaches the Mastery level once it hits level 5. Players then extract it at an Extraction Site or with a Portable Extractor. The extraction marks the Sprite as mastered and moves the Sprite Mastery reward track forward.

This is why the Portable Extractors from Daily Quests matter today. They give players more ways to extract and add Sprites to their collection.

The event is available in standard Battle Royale modes, including Zero Build.

Last Mastery Monday of Chapter 7 Season 4

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 ends on Saturday, October 31. That makes today the final Mastery Monday of the season. Only 5 days remain after today’s event begins.

Epic Games started Mastery Monday on June 8, 2026, after Chapter 7 Season 3 launched. It has returned every Monday since then.

Players with Sprites still waiting to be mastered should bring them into matches before the bonuses end on Tuesday. Today’s double Sprite XP and double Sprite Dust are the last weekly boost of the season.

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