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Ubisoft Faces Potential 2025 Sell-Off of Assassin’s Creed and Key IPs

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Ubisoft, a prominent player in the gaming industry, may face a critical crossroads in 2025, potentially selling off iconic franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six. This development stems from underwhelming financial performance and dwindling investor confidence, according to industry analyst Joost van Druenen.

Financial Struggles and Market Pressures

The company’s share price has plummeted from $28.19 to $12.30 year-over-year, positioning Ubisoft as a possible target for acquisition or asset liquidation. Analysts have suggested that Ubisoft’s key intellectual properties might be more valuable if sold individually rather than as part of the company’s broader portfolio. Reports indicate that the delayed release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, coupled with the underperformance of titles like Star Wars Outlaws, has contributed to the bleak outlook.

Moreover, Ubisoft’s struggles are compounded by their outdated approach to player engagement and community building. The firm has been slow to adapt to evolving gamer expectations, which has eroded trust among both its player base and investors.

Rising Concerns Among Stakeholders

Stakeholder anxiety appears to be growing. Reuters recently reported that Ubisoft shareholders are exploring options for a buyout. The Guillemot family, which holds a controlling interest in the company, may remain at the helm, while Tencent, the second-largest shareholder, has yet to decide on increasing its stake.

Recent actions, such as the announced shutdown of Ubisoft’s XDefiant, underscore the company’s financial and strategic challenges. Ubisoft’s XDefiant Faces Final Shutdown Amid Developer Layoffs.

Delays in marquee releases, such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, have placed additional pressure on Ubisoft to deliver strong results in a hyper-competitive market. Competing franchises, such as PlayStation’s “Ghost of Yotei,” pose further challenges. While Ubisoft has expressed a commitment to refining its offerings, analysts warn that these efforts may not be enough to rebuild trust and stave off potential sell-offs.

Ubisoft’s future remains uncertain as the gaming giant grapples with mounting internal and external pressures. The next two years will be pivotal in determining whether Ubisoft can reclaim its footing or su

LEGO Fortnite Odyssey: Everything You Need to Know

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The much-anticipated LEGO Fortnite Odyssey is set to revolutionize the metaverse gaming experience, combining the charm of LEGO with Fortnite’s immersive universe. From battling the Storm King to exploring dynamic crafting systems, this expansion is packed with engaging content designed to captivate players of all skill levels. Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting update.

A New Journey Begins in the Storm Chaser Village

The adventure starts in the Storm Chaser Village, led by the resourceful Carl Ruckus and meteorologist Dr. Borrasca. Players will embark on missions to fortify the village and gain the strength needed to confront the Storm King. The introduction of a Journal system allows players to track progress seamlessly, ensuring clarity in their quest.

Conquer Storm Dungeons for Greater Rewards

Storm Dungeons, central to the LEGO Fortnite gameplay, are high-stakes zones filled with challenges and treasures. Conquering these dungeons neutralizes storms in the area, making exploration safer. However, these dungeons regenerate after 24 hours with fresh puzzles and dangers, ensuring that the gameplay remains dynamic and engaging.

Meet the Villains

The Storm King’s loyal Acolytes, elite units with unique abilities, add layers of difficulty to the campaign. Players must also face Raven, the Storm King’s enigmatic second-in-command, before entering the climactic multi-phase battle against the Storm King himself. Victory over these formidable foes promises rare loot, including the Thunderclap Blade and Cyclone Pickaxe.

Enhanced Crafting Mechanics

The update introduces LEGO crafting mechanics, where materials influence weapon attributes and rarity. The Legendary Forge adds another layer of strategy, allowing players to upgrade their gear with Rift Crystals. With resources categorized into rarity tiers, players can make informed choices to craft powerful tools and weapons.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

LEGO Fortnite Odyssey includes significant improvements to gameplay:

  • Combat enhancements: Extended melee attack range and increased stamina efficiency.
  • Exploration aids: Minimap updates to highlight new points of interest.
  • Player-friendly updates: Revive mechanics and reduced crafting costs for essential items.

These updates, alongside vehicles like the Lil’ Barge and Storm Chaser, streamline navigation and add variety to the gameplay.

Upcoming Adventures

The game’s progression system ensures challenges scale with player skill. Storm Chasers offers a balance between casual exploration and intense battles. For more details on the upcoming Fortnite Winterfest 2024: Start Date, and What To Expect, check out this detailed guide.

LEGO Fortnite Odyssey is a masterstroke in combining two iconic franchises. Its blend of exploration, battle strategy, and crafting sets a high standard for future updates in the LEGO metaverse. Whether you are chasing storms or crafting legendary gear, this game promises hours of engaging, evolving gameplay. Prepare to embark on this odyssey and redefine your Fortnite experience.

How to Get the Pushpa Raj Bundle in Free Fire

Garena Free Fire, in collaboration with the blockbuster Indian movie Pushpa 2, has introduced exclusive in-game rewards, including the coveted Pushpa Raj Bundle. This limited-time bundle, along with other themed items like the Gloo Wall – Fire Hai Main, is available through the Free Fire Pushpa 2 Ring event, which runs until January 3, 2024.

What Is the Pushpa Raj Bundle?

The Pushpa Raj Bundle is a premium outfit inspired by the iconic character Pushpa Raj, offering players a unique way to stand out in the battle royale arena. The bundle’s exclusivity adds a sense of prestige, as such collaboration-themed items rarely return after their initial release.

Event Overview: Pushpa 2 Ring

The Pushpa 2 Ring event started on December 6, 2024, and allows players to win the Pushpa Raj Bundle by spinning the event’s prize wheel. Each spin costs 20 diamonds, while 10+1 spins are priced at 200 diamonds. The event also offers Universal Ring Tokens, which can be exchanged for rewards in the event’s redemption section.

Here’s the prize pool for the Pushpa 2 Ring event:

  • Pushpa Raj Bundle
  • Gloo Wall – Fire Hai Main
  • Universal Ring Tokens (ranging from 1 to 100 tokens)

Redeeming the Pushpa Raj Bundle

Players who don’t win the bundle through spins can collect Universal Ring Tokens to redeem the Pushpa Raj Bundle directly. The bundle requires 100 tokens, while other prizes like the Gloo Wall – Fire Hai Main need 80 tokens.

Steps to Obtain the Pushpa Raj Bundle:

  1. Open Free Fire and navigate to the Luck Royale section.
  2. Select the Pushpa 2 Ring event.
  3. Use diamonds to spin the prize wheel.
  4. Redeem the Pushpa Raj Bundle using Universal Ring Tokens if not won directly.

For players looking for ways to maximize their diamonds, check out how to get free diamonds in Free Fire using different methods.

Tips for Success

  • Plan Spins Wisely: Start with small spins to gauge your luck before committing to higher quantities.
  • Save Tokens for Future Events: Any leftover Universal Ring Tokens can be used in upcoming events, making them a valuable resource.

Why You Should Get the Pushpa Raj Bundle

Owning the Pushpa Raj Bundle offers more than just aesthetics; it’s a testament to being part of an exclusive Free Fire event tied to one of India’s most celebrated cinematic franchises. Missing out now could mean waiting years for a similar opportunity.

The Pushpa Raj Bundle and other rewards in the Free Fire Pushpa 2 Ring event exemplify Garena’s commitment to creating immersive gaming experiences. Act fast to secure your spot among the elite.

Perfect World Shanghai CS2 Major Playoffs Pick’Em Predictions

The road to the playoffs of the Perfect World CS2 Major was filled with moments of glory and heartbreaking upsets but like any other Major, we have enjoyed it to the fullest. The 8 top teams in the world at the moment now find themselves against each other for Counter Strike‘s most coveted honour as we chase our Gold Coin having the predictions gone poorly in the opening stage. However, our Elimination Stage Pick’Em was perfect and if you followed it, you need just one more correct prediction to obtain the gold coin.

Our Predictions for the Shanghai Major Playoffs

Perfect World CS2 Major Playoffs Pickem Predictions

There are only two teams who have gone undefeated in the Major so far however, we have picked neither as our champion. Despite losing their opening game to a poor performance, G2 has come into their own and smashed anyone who came their way to the playoffs. We expect them to get past Heroic with relative ease followed by which stands their toughest test in Vitality. If the stars of G2 in NiKo and m0NESY bring their A game, a ZyWoo masterclass might not be enough thus putting the former in the finals.

MongolZ are in a good place to put an end to MOUZ’s run in the Major who somehow landed a spot in the playoffs on the final day. Besides G2, MongolZ did not face the top 5 team in the Major and the playoffs match against Spirit who should get past Liquid might be their last match of the Major.

There is only one way a G2 v Spirit Grand Finals has gone historically and Donk is infamous for struggling against NiKo who has bested him on every single occasion. G2 can go toe to toe in terms of firepower combined with highly experienced individuals, they might just put an end to NiKo’s dreams of adding the elusive Major to his extended trophy cabinet.

VCT Pacific 2025 Dates, Format & Where To Watch

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Riot Games has officially revealed the schedule for the upcoming Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific 2025, and it’s only a few weeks down the road.

Before we delve into the detailed schedule for VCT Pacific 2025, it’s important to know the changes that the new VCT season has in store for the fans.

For starters, two new teams are getting added to the VCT Pacific roster – Nongshim RedForce and BOOM Esports. Apart from that, Championship Points are set to be reintroduced in VCT 2025, with minor tweaks.

Fans can check out the detailed changes by taking a look at Riot Games’ official blog post on the topic.

VCT Pacific 2025: Kickoff

VCT Pacific 2025: Kickoff

The upcoming VCT season starts with the VCT Pacific Kickoff that’s scheduled to take place between January 18 and February 9.

Teams will have will fight their way through a 12-team double-elimination bracket that will span over 12 days. The top four teams that qualified for Champions 2024 will be seeded into the second round of the Upper Brackets, with the two teams from Ascension 2024 being placed on opposite sides of the bracket. The remaining teams will be placed through a random draw. The top two teams from the VCT Pacific Kickoff will secure their spots in the VCT Masters Bangkok.

VCT Pacific 2025: Stage 1

VCT Pacific 2025: Stage 1

Stage 1 will see the participating teams being divided into two groups of six based on their performance in Kickoff. The groups will then compete in a single round-robin format, with the top 4 teams from each group proceeding to the Playoffs.

The playoffs will feature a double-elimination bracket and will determine the three teams that will advance to Masters Toronto.

VCT Pacific 2025: Stage 2

VCT Pacific 2025: Stage 2

To maintain a competitive balance, the placements from the Stage 1 group stage will determine how the two groups are reshuffled in Stage 2.

After a draw, the top two teams in each group will switch groups, followed by the third and fourth-placed teams, and then the fifth and sixth-placed teams.

The teams will then go through a single round-robin, with the top 4 teams from each group advancing to the Playoffs.

The top two teams in Stage 2 will directly qualify for Champions 2025.

Two additional teams will qualify for Champions via Championship points.

Where To Watch VCT Pacific 2025 Kickoff

VCT Pacific 2025 Kickoff

Fans can catch all the action that unfolds during the VCT Pacific 2025 Kickoff by tuning into the official Twitch and YouTube handles of Valorant Pacific.

Perfect World Shanghai Major Playoffs: Teams, Fixtures and More

The month-long festival of Counter-Strike has come to its final stage, and we have the 8 best teams who have made it out of the toughest groups. In a week, we will have our Major winners and every team in the final 8 is capable of causing an upset on their day.

We have witnessed it all, from crazy comebacks to intense overtime. The ones who managed to survive the tides of previous stages are in the playoffs. This article will discuss everything you need to know about the final few days of the Perfect World Shanghai CS2 Major.

Teams

  • Vitality
  • G2 Esports
  • MOUZ
  • Liquid
  • Spirit
  • The MongolZ
  • FaZe Clan
  • Heroic

Fixtures

via HLTV

The challenger stage has presented us with some intense match-ups and judging by how each team has performed, most of the matches can go either way. With no clear favorites, the matches will be a treat for the Counter-Strike community.

When to watch?

via HLTV

Note: The timings mentioned in the picture are in IST.

Where to Watch?

The organizers have outsourced the streaming rights to PGL. Anyone outside of China should be able to catch the matches live on the aforementioned timings on the official Twitch and YouTube channels of PGL.

Besides PGL, several well-known Streamers have secured the rights to stream the matches, refer to the individual match pages on HLTV if you are interested.

Does Marvel Rivals Support Crossplay?

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Marvel Rivals has surprised the fans, putting a gamer in the shoes of popular Marvel heroes in heart-stopping battles. With its fast-paced play action that follows in Overwatch fashion, the game has swept away across the platform of all consoles within a short period of its release.

But can the game allow cross-platform play between its players? Can people from different systems team up and compete with friends while on other systems? Let’s find out.

Does Marvel Rivals Support Crossplay?

Marvel Rivals Crossplay

Cross-platform play between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC is supported in Marvel Rivals. However, there’s a slight catch here: the feature is available only for casual play. This way, you can team up with your friends no matter what their chosen platform is. Simply add their in-game nickname to your friend list, and then you can join the action together.

But things change once the competitive level is applied. Ranked matches are then only platform-specific. It means that players of PlayStation and Xbox will play each other while those using the PC will only play others on the same machine.

Unfortunately, cross-progression is not available for Marvel Rivals at this time. This means you’ll be tied to the specific platform you’re playing on, and your progress, including in-game items and character unlocks, will be lost if you switch between platforms.

Dev1ce Return as Astralis Part Ways With BR0

Astralis has confirmed the return of their star AWPer Nicolai ‘dev1ce‘ Reedtz right after their exit from the Perfect World Shanghai Major, resuming his place as br0 takes his exit from the organization.

As dev1ce stepped down from his role as the IGL, the roster was delivering promising results under the leadership of cadiaN. As we approached the end of the year, dev1ce stepped down from the roster citing stress induced health issues.

The indefinite hiatus from competitive Counter-Strike came to an end as dev1ce resumed his role as the primary AWPer of Astralis under the leadership of cadiaN right ahead of the new season.

Astralis failed to qualify for the Major as their run came to an end in the RMR. dev1ce was arguably the most instrumental piece of their system and his absence saw their preparation go out the window leading upto the RMR.

The addition of dev1ce would like see Astralis bounce back and a stark improvement in performance cannot be ruled out given the immense talent and experience in the roster.

Riot Games Reveals Teaser for the New Valorant Agent 27

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With less than a month remaining until the release of the Valorant Episode 10 Act 1 update, the devs have just released a new teaser for the game’s next Agent.

While the teaser doesn’t disclose much about the new Valorant Agent, there’s still plenty to speculate about based on the hints provided in the short clip. Riot Games is known to drop subtle clues in their teasers, and fans have already started dissecting the Agent 27 teaser, looking for connections to lore, abilities, or his origins.

The 30-second video posted from the official Valorant X (formerly Twitter) handle showcases the new Agent finishing his morning coffee before jumping off an airplane.

The teaser doesn’t reveal the face of the new Valorant Agent, but at first glance, the character appears to be male.

The video has been captioned ‘¿quiubo, VALORANT?’ which has led many players to believe that the new Agent might have a connection to Latin America.

According to prominent Valorant leaker ‘ValorLeaks’, the new Agent is set to be an Initiator from Colombia.

The last Initiator Valorant received was Gekko, who was added to the game nearly 22 months ago alongside patch 6.04. Since then, Riot has added two Sentinels, a Duelist, and a Controller to the title, which is why the next Agent being an Initiator would make the most sense.

However, take this with a grain of salt since Riot has yet to confirm any of this.

Riot Games Confirms Sharing $78.4 Million With VCT Teams in 2024

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In a recent announcement, Riot Games revealed the amount of revenue that they’ve shared with Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) teams throughout the year, and the figures are nothing short of remarkable.

The company confirmed providing a staggering $78.4 million USD to teams competing in the VCT in 2024, with $44.3 Million coming directly from in-game VCT content.

Alongside the Champions 2024 bundle, fans were able to support their favorite VCT teams by purchasing team-specific capsules. These bundles included a Classic weapon skin, a Gun Buddy, and a Player Card, all themed to represent the respective team.

For the uninitiated, Riot Games shares a portion of the VCT bundle sales directly with the partnered teams.

VCT 2025 EMEA apeks

As previously confirmed by Riot, the revenue from the Champions 2024 bundle will be divided into 60 equal parts, with the 16 qualified teams receiving two parts each, while the remaining teams will receive one part each.

In addition to revenue from in-game content, Riot Games allocated significant funds to the teams through team stipends and tournament prize pools.

However, unlike last year, Riot Games has not disclosed the amount of revenue generated from this year’s Champions bundle sales.