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Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025: Teams, Schedule, Format & How To Watch

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The highly anticipated Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 is only a few weeks away, and the excitement is palpable within the game’s community as fans eagerly await more details about the first international tournament of the year.

Valorant Masters Bangkok, which is scheduled to take place between February 20 and March 2, will feature eight elite Valorant teams who will compete for a shot at the lion’s share of the $500,000 USD prize pool. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 Teams

At the time of writing, the following teams have been confirmed to have qualified for Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025:

  • EDward Gaming
  • Trace Esports

Both the aforementioned teams have qualified through the VCT 2025: China Kickoff.

Over the next week, as various regional VCT events wrap up, we’ll reveal the complete roster of teams heading to Bangkok.

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 Format

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 will see eight teams competing in a best-of-three Swiss system format. Teams will need two victories to advance to the Playoffs, while the teams with two losses get eliminated.

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 Schedule

The playoffs will pit the four qualifying teams in a double-elimination bracket. All games in the playoffs will be BO3, with the exception of the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Finals, both of which will be BO5.

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025 Schedule

Below, we have listed the detailed schedule of Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025:

  • Round 1 Matches: Feb. 20 – Feb. 21
  • Round 2 Matches: Feb. 22 – Feb. 23
  • Round 3 Matches: Feb. 24
  • Upper Semi-Finals: Feb. 27
  • Upper Finals & Lower Semi-Finals: Feb. 28
  • Lower Finals: Mar. 1
  • Grand Final + Showmatch: Mar. 2

Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025: Where To Watch

Valorant fans can catch the Masters Bangkok 2025 livestreams by tuning into the official Twitch or YouTube handles of Valorant.

That’s everything you need to know about Valorant Masters Bangkok 2025. Be sure to keep following TalkEsport for further information on the tournament.

Riot Games to Launch League of Legends Game Changers Circuit in 2025

Riot Games is reportedly set to launch a new Game Changers Circuit for League of Legends in 2025. This initiative aims to provide women and marginalized genders with an official esports circuit and a development pathway within the League of Legends esports ecosystem. The Game Changers Circuit is expected to begin in April 2025 and will feature a series of tournaments and qualifiers throughout the year.

The Game Changers Circuit is designed to create opportunities for underrepresented groups in esports. By providing a dedicated platform, Riot Games aims to nurture talent and create role models for aspiring players from underrepresented backgrounds. The circuit will include qualifying events for teams to enter the main competition, a main circuit tournament showcasing top talent, and a potential seasonal championship for the highest-performing teams.

Riot Games has seen great success with its Game Changers program in VALORANT, which has built a diverse and inclusive ecosystem. The 2024 Game Changers Championship saw ten teams compete for a $500,000 prize pool, and Shopify Rebellion became the first Game Changers team to qualify for an official Challengers league. Riot Games aims to replicate this success in League of Legends by providing a similar development pathway and competitive opportunities.

Launch League of Legends Game Changers Circuit

The Game Changers Circuit will be launched in the EMEA region, with at least eight teams expected to participate in the inaugural season. Several LEC teams have already expressed interest in competing, and some have even finalized their women’s rosters in anticipation of the new circuit. The circuit will consist of a group stage and playoffs to determine the eventual winner, similar to other League of Legends competitions.

Riot Games’ commitment to inclusivity in esports extends beyond VALORANT, and the Game Changers Circuit for League of Legends is a significant step towards promoting diversity and inclusivity in the competitive gaming landscape. The initiative aims to increase participation rates among underrepresented groups, showcase talent often overlooked in traditional competitive settings, and build a supportive community for diverse players and fans.

The Game Changers Circuit is expected to have a positive impact on the esports industry by nurturing talent and creating role models for aspiring players from underrepresented backgrounds. By providing a dedicated platform, Riot Games hopes to pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive competitive gaming future.

Riot Games has yet to announce the Game Changers Circuit for League of Legends formally, but sources indicate that an official announcement is expected in early February. If confirmed, the Game Changers Circuit could become one of the most significant competitive developments in years, transforming how marginalized gender players gain access to professional play and offering long-term opportunities for integration within the LEC and beyond.

The Game Changers Circuit represents an important milestone in the evolution of esports, potentially paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive competitive gaming future. As the launch date approaches, more information regarding tournament formats, prize pools, and registration processes is expected to be revealed.

Nvidia RTX 5090 Graphics Card: Price, Release Date, Specs & Benchmarks

We know that we’ve all spent several months waiting for the announcement and the arrival of the Nvidia RTX 5090 which is now officially available! Well, worry not since we’ve covered all essential information about the Nvidia RTX 5090 including its release dates, pricing as well as technical specs, and benchmark stats. 

So, if you’re someone who wants to upgrade your gaming rig according to modern standards, you should stick around till the end!

RTX 5090 Release Date: Here’s when the card comes out

Nvidia announced that the RTX 5090 would officially be released on January 30, 2025, at 9 AM EST (6 AM PST). The RTX 5090’s release will mark the perfect time to start looking closely at online websites for the GPU’s price points.

RTX 5090 Price: Prepare Your Wallet

The full price tag of high-end gaming performance remains an expensive necessity that RTX 5090 users will fully experience.  The manufacturer set the pricing of RTX 5090 at $1999.99 MSRP.  The elevated price requires evaluating if higher performance makes it worth the expense according to your gaming requirements.

If you want to know which 5000 series GPU from Nvidia is an easy buy for you for your budget, check out this article here.

RTX 5090 Specs: Under the Hood Powerhouse

Nvidia RTX 5090 Graphics Card

Here’s a look at what makes the RTX 5090 a strong contender for one of the best GPUs in the market. This graphics card delivers incredible power through its latest edition Ada Lovelace architecture. This review presents detailed information about essential RTX 5090 specifications.

  • Architecture: Ada Lovelace
  • CUDA processor cores: The card includes a specific number that needs further confirmation.
  • Memory: 32GB GDDR7
  • Memory Interface: (To be confirmed)
  • Power Consumption: 575W

The card serves professional gamers and content creators who need next-level performance for their needs.  This high-end video card features an abundant memory size with elevated power usage that indicates its main purpose includes playing 4K games at high refresh rates combined with professional video editing and complicated 3D work.

Makeup Performance Becomes Clear Through The RTX 5090’s Benchmark Results

Time to reveal the benchmarks that everyone has been anticipating.  Reports and leaked performance benchmarks demonstrate that the RTX 5090 achieves notably better results than the RTX 4090.  Several benchmarks indicate this new graphics card provides between 30% to 40% more speed compared to previous models. Better frame rates together with increased resolution settings lead to complete game immersion for players.

The RTX 5090 will excel at 4K gameplay as it provides unrivaled smoothness even when ray tracing features remain activated.

High Refresh Rate Gaming: 

A high refresh rate monitor can reach maximum rates with the RTX 5090 which provides competitive gameplay advantages in quick-paced games. Nvidia retains its ray tracing leadership position with the RTX 5090 through advanced refinement of this technology which delivers more authentic immersive visual experiences.

The benchmarks you see here are early results that might differ from actual gameplay experiences. The complete picture of RTX 5090 performance must be obtained by waiting for independent evaluations coming from Gamers Nexus and similar trusted review platforms.

Is the RTX 5090 Worth It?

People need to evaluate the worth of the RTX 5090 graphics card because its high price demands serious consideration regarding the average gamer’s needs.  People who need absolute peak performance alongside a sufficient budget should opt for the RTX 5090 without hesitation. Budget-conscious gamers have various high-quality options to choose from instead of the RTX 5090 because these alternatives deliver strong performance at cheaper prices.

And on that note, here’s a list of the best gaming CPUs in 2025 that you can pair with an RTX 5000 series GPU – of course without compromising on budget or performance!

The RTX 5000 series GPUs have brought in a brand new standard for performance, but at a significant cost. They’re more advanced for gamers who want to play the latest titles in the market and demand absolute graphics excellence. Just make sure that you absolutely need a certain tier of these GPUs before breaking the bank on one of them. 

Keep watching this space at TalkEsport for the latest updates on RTX 5090 until next time!

Deadlock Changes Are Coming To Valorant, Riot Dev Confirms

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Despite a year and a half has passed since Deadlock was added to Valorant, the Norwegian Sentinel has remained rather underwhelming across all ranks in the shooter.

Since its initial release in June 2023 alongside the game’s Episode 7 update, Deadlock has suffered from abysmal pick rates in both pubs and the pro scene of Valorant. Over the years, the devs have tried making her a viable pick in the meta with multiple buffs to her kit. However, most players have opted to stick to better defensive alternatives like Cypher and Killjoy who excel at locking down sites and holding flank for their team.

For the same reason, it’s hardly surprising that Riot developers have once again announced some significant upcoming changes to the Agent.

Deadlock Changes Confirmed by Valorant Dev

In a recent post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Valorant’s Balance Designer Ryan Cousart has confirmed that they are planning to introduce some changes to Deadlock in the near future.

The dev also revealed that her sound sensor will likely remain untouched, but the rest of her kit could see some improvements.

“We want to keep sound sensor as is,” Cousart said in his post. “For now, but will be looking to empower players that are mastering her reactive, yet aggressive, stall potential.”

“We’ve experimented a bunch of crazy shit with Sound Sensor and honestly… just couldn’t find something that felt right,” the dev said in a follow-up Tweet. “I think we’ve cooked on something light but sweet though that will let Deadlock players do more Deadlock stuff.”

When Are Deadlock Changes Coming To Valorant?

Unfortunately, Riot Games hasn’t announced an official date for the upcoming Deadlock changes in Valorant at the time of writing. However, it’s safe to say that Valorant fans are excited to finally see some Deadlock buffs on the horizon.

If you’re an avid Valorant fan, be sure to keep an eye out on the official social media handles of the game for further announcements on the aforementioned Deadlock buffs.

Eternal Fire Crushes Falcons in IEM Katowice Quarter-Final

Falcons have failed to get going once again as Eternal Fire prooves that have their number online as well as LAN. Sheer dominance across both maps pushes Eternal Fire further into the IEM Katowice quarter-final upper bracket as the Falcons will fight for survival from the lower bracket.

Veto

  • Eternal Fire removed Ancient
  • Falcons removed Anubis
  • Eternal Fire picked Inferno
  • Falcons picked Train
  • Eternal Fire removed Mirage
  • Falcons removed Dust2
  • Nuke was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: Eternal Fire; Winner: Eternal Fire

Despite losing the pistol round, Eternal Fire managed to win the force by putting Falcons on the backfoot right from the get-go as their defense stood little chance against the firepower of the Turks. Halfway into the first half, the Falcons managed to get ahead with a single-round lead but Eternal Fire managed to close their offense with a massive 8-4 lead. Once again Falcons failed to win the second round of the second half after winning the first round which gave them ruined any hopes for a comeback. As expected, Eternal Fire did not let the Falcons in any room and quickly closed out the map.

Map 2: Train; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Eternal Fire

Eternal Fire having little to no experience on Train managed to find answers to everything that Falcons threw at them as their offence posed little threat to Eternal Fire who went on to win 9 rounds in the first half. Falining to win the pistol round, Eternal Fire went 12-3 up, upon which any Falcons had no room for error as they managed to win 3 more rounds as Eternal Fire dominantly won the map.

GTA 6 Might Run On 30 FPS: Former Rockstar Developer

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The gossip around GTA 6 continues, and a new rumor has surfaced, this time concerning its performance. Despite the anticipated graphical leap, whispers suggest the game might launch with a 30 FPS cap on consoles.

This information comes from Mike York, a former Rockstar Games animator with credits on titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 5. In a now-deleted episode of the Kiwi Talkz podcast, York expressed doubt about Rockstar’s ability to achieve 60 FPS for GTA 6.

“I don’t know if they’ll be able to pull off 60 FPS,” York stated, suggesting a 30 FPS lock for consoles at launch. He speculated that this decision could be driven by the need for a stable frame rate, given the game’s expected visual complexity.

But from my experience, they’re going to squeeze every little freaking thing they can out of it and then optimize later for 60 frames because it’s not as important as just making the game amazing at 30 frames.

Mike York

York hinted that the frame rate might be improved through post-launch patches. He also raised the possibility of the rumored PS5 Pro achieving 60 FPS, though he emphasized that this is uncertain.

While York’s experience lends credence to the rumor, it’s important to remember that this isn’t official confirmation from Rockstar. Many gamers expect 60 FPS as a standard in modern titles, especially with the option to adjust settings. However, the sheer graphical fidelity of GTA 6 could indeed necessitate a lower initial frame rate. Whether Rockstar can optimize the game for 60 FPS remains to be seen.

When Does the Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 End?

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The clock is ticking on Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1, and if you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering what’s next. Whether you’re grinding through the Battle Pass or just curious about the future of the island, having a timeline is key. Thankfully, Epic Games has given us a firm date for the end of this “Hunters” season.

So, when can you expect the current Fortnite season to wrap up?

When Does the Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 End?

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 is set to conclude on February 21, 2025, at 2 AM Eastern Time. That gives you roughly 82 days to conquer all your seasonal goals. It’s a generous amount of time, especially considering this is the inaugural season of a brand-new chapter.

While February 21st is the official date, it’s worth remembering that game development isn’t an exact science. Epic has gotten much better at hitting its deadlines, but unexpected hiccups can still happen. So, while we’re optimistic, it’s always wise to take these dates with a grain of salt.

Once February 21st rolls around, we’ll officially be in Chapter 6 Season 2. Behind the scenes, Epic is already busy working on what’s coming next. Data miners have even uncovered glimpses of future Chapter 6 content buried in the game files, which is a good sign that they’re on track.

Charm of the Snake Dota 2 Lunar New Year Treasure: All Sets

Valve is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a brand-new Dota 2 treasure, and it’s packed with festive, themed cosmetics to celebrate the occasion.

The new Dota 2 treasure, Charm of the Snake, features nine cosmetics for various heroes in the game, with all of its contents themed around the Year of the Snake.

Priced at $2.49 USD, the Charm of the Snake treasure offers players a chance to collect some exclusive snake-themed cosmetics for their favorite Dota 2 heroes without breaking the bank.

Here’s a list of all the cosmetics that are included in the Charm of the Snake treasure in Dota 2:

  • Shadow Shaman – Q’uq’umatz Charmer
  • Naga Siren – Call of the Coral Cultist
  • Templar Assassin – Psionic Constrictor
  • Medusa – Obsidian Ophis
  • Earth Spirit – Slithering Stone
  • Snapfire – Madam Mamba
  • Razor – Arc Adder
  • Lich Cobra-Ka (Rare)
  • Necrophos – Serpent’s Spite (Very Rare)

How To Get the Lunar New Year Treasure in Dota 2

At the time of writing, the only way to obtain the Lunar New Year treasure in Dota 2 is by purchasing it via the game’s store. As mentioned earlier, each treasure will cost you a pocket pinch of $2,49.

With the end of Crownfall Act 4 just a week away, the Charm of the Snake treasure is sure to keep Dota 2 skin collectors engaged until the next big update arrives.

Big Beats Heroic, Advances to IEM Katowice Stage 2

BIG Clan has outclassed Heroic in the Play-in stage of IEM Katowice, beating the in-form Danish side with a 2-0 scoreline shocking the CS community given their stark difference in form coming into the tournament.

VETO

  • HEROIC removed Inferno
  • BIG removed Anubis
  • HEROIC picked Nuke
  • BIG picked Ancient
  • HEROIC removed Dust2
  • BIG removed Mirage
  • Train was left over

Map 1: Nuke; Pick: HEROIC ; Winner: BIG

It’s an unexpectedly good start for BIG coming into Nuke which is arguably the best map for Heroic. BIG managed to get a read on everything Heroic threw at them, putting up countermeasures at every step. Heroic barely managed to get a bite of the cherry as a BIG did not let more than one round go their way and switched the half with an 11-1 scoreline. Heroic managed to win the pistol round on the CT side but BIG soon bounced back with a force buy conversion winning the map 13-2.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: BIG; Winner: BIG

While BIG looked dominant on the first of Nuke, they built upon said dominance to go 12-0 up as Heroic’s defense was rendered completely useless by tabseN calling a highly dynamic and well-coordinated offense. Having failed to secure a single round, Heroic had no room for error walking into the second half as their qualification was up in the air. BIG managed to let a few rounds slip at the beginning of the second half but Heroic couldn’t manage any more than 4 rounds and thus won the series dominating one of the most in-form teams coming into the event.

NODWIN Gaming Acquires StarLadder to Expand Esports Portfolio

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NODWIN Gaming announced its acquisition of StarLadder, a leading esports company. The deal is valued at $5.5 million (approximately ₹46.75 crore).

NODWIN Gaming is a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, a prominent gaming firm. StarLadder, founded by Roman Romantsov, is known for organizing major esports events. These include tournaments for games like Counter-Strike:2 and Dota 2.

The acquisition involves a combination of cash and stock. NODWIN will pay up to $2 million in cash and the remaining $3.5 million through a stock swap. As part of the agreement, Romantsov will become a shareholder in NODWIN Gaming Pte and continue to lead StarLadder.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, expressed his admiration for Romantsov’s work. He highlighted Romantsov’s deep insight into stage design and creative broadcast solutions. Rathee believes this partnership will enhance NODWIN’s ability to envision and execute larger and better events.

Romantsov shared his excitement about the collaboration. He emphasized the importance of combining resources and expertise in today’s globalized world. Together, they aim to create extraordinary experiences for fans across multiple games and regions.

This acquisition aligns with NODWIN Gaming’s strategy to expand its global presence. Recently, the company acquired several firms, including Comic Con India and Trinity Gaming. These moves aim to strengthen NODWIN’s position in the esports and gaming industry.