Home Blog Page 211

KRAFTON and Hanwha Aerospace Announce Strategic Alliance on Physical AI

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
KRAFTON and Hanwha Aerospace Announce Strategic Alliance on Physical AI

KRAFTON has announced a strategic alliance with Hanwha Aerospace to jointly develop physical AI technologies across multiple sectors, including defense. The collaboration was confirmed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two companies.

The partnership aims to combine KRAFTON’s expertise in AI research and software development with Hanwha Group’s strong industrial capabilities in defense and manufacturing. Through this alliance, both companies plan to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation physical AI solutions.

KRAFTON and Hanwha Aerospace Sign MOU for Physical AI Development

As part of the agreement, KRAFTON and Hanwha Aerospace will work together on long-term co-development of physical AI technology. The partnership also sets the foundation for establishing a Joint Venture (JV) to further advance research outcomes and commercial applications.

KRAFTON’s experience in operating large-scale game data and physics-based virtual environments will play a crucial role in training and verifying physical AI systems. By using simulation environments similar to those found in advanced games, the company aims to test and validate real-world applications of AI technologies.

The alliance will focus on three main areas:

  • Joint research and development of core physical AI technologies
  • Testing real-world implementation scenarios for AI systems
  • Building technical and operational frameworks for deployment

These efforts are expected to support the transition of physical AI from simulation-based environments to real-world industrial and defense applications.

Joint Venture and $1 Billion AI Investment Fund

As part of the broader collaboration, KRAFTON plans to establish a joint venture with Hanwha Group to accelerate the commercialization of physical AI solutions. The JV will work to turn research outcomes into practical technologies for industries including robotics and defense.

In addition, KRAFTON will invest in a global AI, robotics, and defense investment fund created by Hanwha Asset Management. The fund is targeting a total size of USD 1 billion and aims to identify and support high-growth companies across the AI and robotics value chain.

“KRAFTON will accelerate the development of physical innovation by combining the company’s AI technology and software expertise with Hanwha’s industrial strengths,” said KRAFTON CEO CH Kim. “As our JV with Hanwha evolves to materialize co-development outcomes, we expect it to emerge as a global defense technology company like Anduril.”

Meanwhile, Hanwha Aerospace President and CEO Jae-il Son highlighted that AI technologies are rapidly expanding into new industries, including defense, and that the collaboration with KRAFTON could help set new standards for physical AI development.

Read More: S8UL Signs Pokémon GO World Champion Ved ‘Beelzeboy’ Bamb

KRAFTON Expanding Research in Robotics and AI

The partnership aligns with KRAFTON’s broader push into robotics and AI research. The company recently launched Ludo Robotics, a research entity based in the United States with operations in Korea, led by KRAFTON’s Chief AI Officer Kangwook Lee.

Through Ludo Robotics and the upcoming joint venture with Hanwha Group, KRAFTON aims to explore new opportunities in physical AI, robotics, and real-world automation technologies. The company believes its expertise in simulation environments and large-scale game data can help accelerate the development of advanced AI systems capable of operating in real-world environments.

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 2: Match Timings, Groups, Map Rotation and More

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 2: Match Timings, Groups, Map Rotation and More

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 2 will take place today, 13 March, at the Sandhya Convention Center. The competition intensified on Day 1 as teams battled across multiple maps to secure a strong position in the standings.

After the opening day, Meta Ninza sits at the top of the leaderboard with 53 points, narrowly ahead of Learn From Past, who have 52 points. Genesis Esports currently holds third place with 41 points, keeping themselves firmly in the race for a spot in the Grand Finals.

A total of six matches will be played on Day 2 across Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo. Notably, Group A will compete in all six matches scheduled for the day, making it a crucial opportunity for teams in the group to climb the standings.

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 2: Match Timings, Maps and Groups

MatchMapGroupsTime
Match 7ErangelAC3:30 PM
Match 8MiramarAC4:15 PM
Match 9RondoAC5:00 PM
Match 10RondoAB5:40 PM
Match 11MiramarAB6:20 PM
Match 12ErangelAB7:05 PM

Groups

Group AGroup BGroup C
Wyld FangsLearn From PastWelt Esports
Myth OfficialPhoenix EsportsTeam Soul
Troy Tamilians Esports4Wolf x DoDVictores Sumus
Reckoning EsportsK9 EsportsVasista Esports
Nebula EsportsSinewy EsportsNonx Esports
Madkings EsportsOrangutanVanguard Esports
Godlike EsportsMeta NinzaRevenant XSpark
EvoX EsportsGenesis EsportsTeam Tamilas

Read More: S8UL Signs Pokémon GO World Champion Ved ‘Beelzeboy’ Bamb

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Overall Standings After Day 1

  • META Ninza – 53 Points
  • Learn From Past – 52 Points
  • Genesis Esports – 41 Points
  • iQOO Orangutan – 37 Points
  • HeroXtreme Godlike – 34 Points
  • EVOX Esports – 33 Points
  • iQOO SOUL – 32 Points
  • NONX Esports – 32 Points
  • iQOO Revenant XSPARK – 29 Points
  • K9 Esports – 28 Points
  • MYTH Official – 26 Points
  • Victores Sumus – 25 Points
  • Sinewy Esports – 25 Points
  • Madkings – 24 Points
  • 4Wolf x DOD – 22 Points
  • Phoenix Esports – 21 Points
  • Nebula Esports – 19 Points
  • iQOO Team Tamilas – 18 Points
  • iQOO Reckoning Esports – 18 Points
  • Wyld Fangs – 13 Points
  • Vasista Esports – 10 Points
  • The Vanguard – 8 Points
  • WELT Esports – 5 Points
  • Troy Tamilan Esports – 4 Points

Where to watch BGIS 2026 Semi Finals online?

Fans can watch all the matches of the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 live on the official KRAFTON India Esports YouTube channel. The broadcast will be available in Hindi and English, allowing viewers across the country to follow their favorite teams.

Counter-Strike Star Aleksib Charged with Aggravated Tax Fraud

Aritra Patra
-
0
Counter-Strike Star Aleksib Charged with Aggravated Tax Fraud

Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, the star in-game leader of Counter-Strike 2 team NAVI and the first Major championship-winning team captain from Finland, has been charged with aggravated tax fraud by Finnish authorities. Aleksib earned the charges based on his income during a critical time in his career.

The charges against Aleksib were initiated by the Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) and pertain to events in Vantaa, Finland, between May 19 and September 2020. Aleksib was a member of OG at the time after his successful stint with ENCE Esports, where he reached a Major event final with the team. Aleksib may have abused his winnings and salary during the time and used personal income as corporate income through his corporation, which might have led to a large-scale evasion of taxes.

The case against Aleksib is now in the East Uusimaa District Court with a hearing scheduled in April 2026. However, this might interfere with major events such as IEM Rio and BLAST Rivals. Aggravated tax fraud in Finland can result in up to four years in prison.

However, when contacted by Iltalehti, Aleksib did not wish to comment further, revealing only that it is a matter of “income from competitive gaming.” Still, his achievements are quite impressive, as he led NAVI to a victory in PGL Major Copenhagen in 2024, cementing his position as a Finnish icon.

The case of Aleksib is a famous instance of the increased attention paid to the finances of professional gamers, who are reaping huge rewards from tournaments. NAVI is preparing for several tournaments scheduled for the spring, with playoffs of ESL Pro League scheduled for this week.

Epic Games Responds to Fan Outrage Following V-Bucks Price Increase

Aritra Patra
-
0
Epic Games Responds to Fan Outrage Following V-Bucks Price Increase

Epic Games has addressed the outrage from fans after announcing its decision to change the prices of V-Bucks set to take place on March 19, 2026. Although the prices of these bundles will not change, fans will be receiving fewer V-Bucks for each purchase. For example, fans who purchase the $8.99 pack will now only be able to earn 800 V-Bucks instead of 1,000.

This change has been made to help Epic Games “pay the bills” due to increased operational costs. Fans are expressing outrage on social media and on Reddit about this change. Some fans are expressing disappointment about this change due to the lackluster response to Chapter 7 Season 1 and the increase in crossovers within Fortnite. Fans are expressing that this is a slap in the face and are considering skipping out on the next Battle Pass and Fortnite Crew.

In a post on Reddit, Epic’s community manager, Sean McIntosh, wrote: “Appreciate the posts in these threads today, everyone. There’s been a lot of feedback here, not just about the V-Bucks changes, but sharing your feelings about Fortnite as a whole – especially on this current season. Can’t wait to show you next week’s update <3.” This indicates that there are more updates to come in Chapter 7, Season 2. However, none are announced regarding pricing models.

Epic Games Increases Fortnite V-Bucks Prices

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 1 Overall Standings: Check Full Standings

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 1 Overall Standings: Check Full Standings

The Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 (BGIS 2026) Semi Finals officially kicked off on March 12, with India’s top 24 teams battling for a place in the Grand Finals. Day 1 featured six intense matches where several teams delivered strong performances and climbed the leaderboard.

After the first day of action, META Ninza emerged as the top-performing team in the overall standings with 53 points. Learn From Past, and Genesis Esports also had impressive starts and secured the second and third positions, respectively.

The Semi Finals stage is being played with 24 teams divided into three groups. Over four days, teams will compete in multiple matches, and only the top eight teams from the overall leaderboard will qualify directly for the Grand Finals.

BGIS 2026 Semi Finals Day 1 Overall Standings

  • META Ninza – 53 Points
  • Learn From Past – 52 Points
  • Genesis Esports – 41 Points
  • iQOO Orangutan – 37 Points
  • HeroXtreme Godlike – 34 Points
  • EVOX Esports – 33 Points
  • iQOO SOUL – 32 Points
  • NONX Esports – 32 Points
  • iQOO Revenant XSPARK – 29 Points
  • K9 Esports – 28 Points
  • MYTH Official – 26 Points
  • Victores Sumus – 25 Points
  • Sinewy Esports – 25 Points
  • Madkings – 24 Points
  • 4Wolf x DOD – 22 Points
  • Phoenix Esports – 21 Points
  • Nebula Esports – 19 Points
  • iQOO Team Tamilas – 18 Points
  • iQOO Reckoning Esports – 18 Points
  • Wyld Fangs – 13 Points
  • Vasista Esports – 10 Points
  • The Vanguard – 8 Points
  • WELT Esports – 5 Points
  • Troy Tamilan Esports – 4 Points

Read More: How to Download PUBG Mobile 4.3 Update APK from the Official Website

Day 1 Highlights

The opening day saw several strong performances from top BGMI teams. Meta Ninza secured a massive lead thanks to consistent placements and elimination points across four matches.

Meanwhile, Learn From Past, and Genesis Esports also showcased impressive gameplay and remained close behind the leaders on the leaderboard. Teams like iQOO Orangutan, Godlike Esports, and EVOX Esports also stayed within the top six, keeping themselves in a strong position heading into Day 2.

With three more days of matches remaining in the Semi Finals, the standings are expected to change quickly as teams fight for a top-eight finish and a direct ticket to the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals.

iQOO Announces Free Fire MAX iQOO Pro Series Season 3 with ₹10 Lakh Prize Pool

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
iQOO Announces Free Fire MAX iQOO Pro Series Season 3 with ₹10 Lakh Prize Pool

iQOO has announced the iQOO Pro Series Season 3, a nationwide esports tournament for the Free Fire MAX community in India. The tournament will feature over 3,000 teams competing from across the country and offers a ₹10 lakh prize pool.

The event aims to provide a competitive platform for grassroots players while also giving them the opportunity to compete alongside professional teams. The tournament will include a Community Cup stage followed by the Pro Series, where qualified teams will face invited esports teams.

iQOO Pro Series Season 3 for Free Fire MAX: Schedule and format

The iQOO Pro Series Season 3 will follow a two-stage competitive format designed to identify emerging talent from the Free Fire MAX community.

The tournament will begin with the Community Cup, where 3000+ teams will compete across six qualifier rounds. The top teams from these qualifiers will advance to the Pro Series stage, where they will face invited professional teams.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

  • Playoffs: March 14 – March 16, 2026
  • Grand Finals: March 17 – March 19, 2026

The teams that reach the Grand Finals will battle for the championship title and a ₹10 lakh prize pool.

Speaking about the initiative, Nipun Marya said: “At iQOO, performance sits at the core of everything we build. Our smartphones are engineered to deliver powerful and reliable performance, enabling smooth and immersive experiences across demanding use cases, including high-intensity games such as Free Fire MAX. With iQOO Pro Series Season 3 for the Free Fire MAX community, we aim to create a competitive platform that empowers grassroots players from across India to showcase their skills and compete at a larger stage. As the mobile esports ecosystem continues to evolve, initiatives like these allow us to support emerging talent while contributing to the growth of India’s gaming community.”

Read More: How to Download PUBG Mobile 4.3 Update APK from Official Website

Community Cup rewards

The Community Cup stage will also offer device rewards for the top three teams:

  • 1st Place: 4 × iQOO Z10 devices
  • 2nd Place: 4 × iQOO Z10R devices
  • 3rd Place: 4 × iQOO Z11x devices

Free Fire MAX continues to remain one of the most popular mobile battle royale titles globally, with over 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store and more than 85 million monthly active players worldwide. India remains a major contributor to the game’s player base, with competitive tournaments and creator-led communities helping the ecosystem grow further.

Games With Loot Boxes to Be Rated PEGI 16 Starting June 2026

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Games With Loot Boxes to Be Rated PEGI 16 Starting June 2026

Starting June 2026, any video games with loot boxes or similar mechanics will be rated PEGI 16 across Europe as part of new changes to the age-rating system.

This will impact any game with mechanics like loot boxes, gacha systems, random card packs, or keys that can be used to unlock random rewards, all of which fall under “paid random items.”

The changes come in response to rising concerns that loot boxes in video games closely resemble gambling mechanics, as players often have to spend real money for rewards that are randomly determined and built around a psychological element of chance.

The new changes to the age-rating system will also have an impact on other modern game design and monetization features:

  • Social casino-style games that simulate gambling with virtual currency will now have an age rating of PEGI 18.
  • Limited-time purchase pressure mechanics, such as rotating shop offers or other deadline-based purchases like Battle Passes, may result in a PEGI 12 rating for games involved.
  • Daily reward systems and login streaks that incentivize players to repeatedly log into a game could fall under PEGI 7 to PEGI 12, depending on whether players are penalized for missing days.
  • Games including online communication via text, voice, video, or other means without any form of moderation or safety tools could potentially receive a PEGI 18 rating.

What This Means for Games

These changes to the PEGI age-rating system mean that sports games featuring card packs, gacha titles, and other games currently rated between PEGI 3 and PEGI 12 could be receiving higher ratings going forward, reflecting the increasing scrutiny of monetization in games. However, note that the rule will only apply to titles submitted for rating after June 2026.

Rockstar’s GTA 6 is a recent example: its PEGI 18 rating lists violence, sex and drugs but carries no gambling label, unlike GTA 5 on PS5.

Former Overwatch Director Reveals New Multiplayer Shooter Game

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Former Overwatch Director Reveals New Multiplayer Shooter Game

Jeff Kaplan, the ex-director at Blizzard Entertainment and a developer behind popular titles like Overwatch and World of Warcraft, has revealed a brand-new multiplayer shooter that he’s working on and is currently in development. 

The game in question, The Legend of California, is an open-world, action-survival shooter set on the mythical Island of California during the gold rush era. The upcoming title is being developed by Kintsugiyama and published by Dreamhaven, the game company founded by former Blizzard Entertainment CEO Mike Morhaime.

The official trailer for The Legend of California dropped earlier today, offering the first look at Jeff Kaplan’s latest venture.

“Explore, gather, craft, build, hunt, and fight your way across a vast untamed frontier,” the Steam page of The Legend of California reads. “Whether you choose to travel alone or work together with friends, your mission on this mythical island is not just to survive, but thrive.”

Players can either choose to delve into this title solo or play alongside their friends online and form a company with up to three other players, sharing resources, buildings, progress, and more.

After spending nearly two decades with Blizzard, Kaplan bid farewell to the studio in 2021 and has largely stayed out of the spotlight since. His new project marks a complete shift in setting and tone compared to the fantasy and sci-fi worlds he has previously helped bring to life.

The Legend of California is expected to launch in early access later this year. Fans who are interested in playing the game are able to wishlist the game on the Steam store right away.

How to Get Dead Hand Terminal in CS2

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
How to Get Dead Hand Terminal in CS2

The latest patch for Counter-Strike has introduced the Dead Hand collection, along with a new way to obtain the skins called the Dead Hand Terminal.

In this article, we will try to explore how you can use this Terminal to get the freshly added Dead Hand Collection skins for your inventory.

What Is the Dead Hand Terminal?

The Dead Hand Terminal is a container that is used to access items specifically from the Dead Hand Collection, similar to how a case was assigned to a particular skin collection. Just like those cases, the Dead Hand Collection will drop in your inventory as a part of the weekly drop system.

CS2 Introduces Dead Hand Collection With 22 New Gloves

Once you get said Terminal via weekly drop, you will have access to all the skins that are a part of this collection, and therefore, it fundamentally changes how you can get a skin from a case instead of a game of chance.

How to Get the Dead Hand Terminal

Follow the steps below to get a Dead Hand Terminal in Counter-Strike 2:

  • Play on the official servers and make sure you are eligible for a weekly drop.
  • Once you receive the Dead Hand Terminal from the weekly drop system, it will appear in your inventory.
  • Open the terminal to access items from the Dead Hand Collection.

What Items Are Included in the Collection?

The Dead Hand Collection includes:

  • 17 weapon skins from community artists
  • 22 brand-new gloves

It goes without saying that the Dead Hand Terminal is a way of moving away from the traditional Container system to get skins, but the objective behind this is far from clear, as it renders the need to buy keys useless. Valve never makes moves like this without underlying motives, and with time, we shall realise how this benefits the game as a whole.

CS2 Introduces Dead Hand Collection With 22 New Gloves

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
CS2 Introduces Dead Hand Collection With 22 New Gloves

The highly anticipated Dead Hand Collection is finally here with the latest update for Counter-Strike 2, which brings 22 brand new gloves along with 17 new weapons to the game.

One of the standout items in this collection is the AWP Queen’s Gambit, which is beautifully crafted with gold engraving, and the blue accent makes the design look royal. It goes without saying that this will be the talk of the town for skin collectors, but the AK, USP, and P250 also share a slim, elegant design and are likely to be popular moving forward.

All the Gloves added

Image via Valve

Full List of the 17 Dead Hand Collection Skins

AWP | Queen’s Gambit (Covert)

Glock-18 | Fully Tuned (Covert)

P90 | Deathgaze (Classified)

P250 | Kintsugi (Classified)

AK-47 | Crane Flight (Classified)

MP9 | Urban Sovereign (Restricted)

Galil AR | Galigator (Restricted)

MP7 | Amberline (Restricted)

M4A1-S | Electrum (Restricted)

Desert Eagle | Firebreathing (Restricted)

PP-Bizon | RMX (Mil-Spec)

USP-S | Silent Shot (Mil-Spec)

Five-SeveN | Dark Polymer (Mil-Spec)

Sawed-Off | Fusion (Mil-Spec)

UMP-45 | Fragment (Mil-Spec)

M4A4 | Zubastick (Mil-Spec)

M249 | Bock Blocks (Mil-Spec)

Having new skins in the game is always a refreshing feeling, and while many may argue that the lack of new elements makes the game boring, Valve’s consistent efforts in bringing new cosmetics are one way to keep gamers hooked. The reaction from the community has been largely positive for the new collection, and if they keep going on this track, then retaining players will be a cakewalk for Valve.

1...210211212...2,191Page 211 of 2,191