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NODWIN Gaming Acquires StarLadder to Expand Esports Portfolio

Pranav Nalawade
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NODWIN Gaming Acquires StarLadder to Expand Esports Portfolio

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.

Astralis Eliminates FlyQuest in IEM Katowice Play-in

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Astralis Eliminates FlyQuest in IEM Katowice Play-in

Astralis has managed to qualify for the next round of IEM Katowice eliminating FlyQuest after a tough battle that took all the rounds in the 3rd map to decide a winner. Astralis despite struggling manages to overcome a tricky opponent but tougher contests await them in the following stages.

Veto

  • Astralis removed Anubis
  • FlyQuest removed Mirage
  • Astralis picked Train
  • FlyQuest picked Ancient
  • Astralis removed Dust2
  • FlyQuest removed Nuke
  • Inferno was left over

Map 1: Train; Pick: Astralis; Winner: FlyQuest

Astralis kicked off the match with FlyQuest posting a dominant pistol round which gave them a good lead but the Danes did not manage to get more than two rounds in the first half. FlyQuest defense managed to keep up with their firepower with some teamwork thrown into the mix to ensure dev1ce and co. did not manage to get it going. Astralis pulled 3 rounds on the defense off the back of the pistol round win but FlyQuest wasted no time in closing the map out to close out the map.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: FlyQuest; Winner:Astralis

Following a devastating defeat on their map pick, Astralis bounced back on Ancient. Starting strong, FlyQuest failed to penetrate the defense in only one round. FlyQuest managed to win the final round of the first half as Astralis went on the offense with 11 rounds to their name. FlyQuest managed to post 6 rounds in a row to start the second half but Astralis did not let the lead narrow down any further as they closed the map with a 13-6 scoreline.

Map 3: Inferno; Pick: Decider; Winner:Astralis

Arguably the closest map of the series, with both teams trading rounds and eventually closing the first half with a levelled scoreline making the first half one of the most intriguing matches of the series. The second half posed to be another close affair but Astralis managed to edge out the Australians after a tough fight winning the game barely with a 13-11 scoreline.

C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025: Teams, Dates, and Tournament Structure Announced

Hoax
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0
C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025: Teams, Dates, and Tournament Structure Announced

The C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 tournament is set to kick off on February 1, 2025, bringing together 16 top-tier Brazilian teams in an electrifying battle for supremacy. This annual tournament, now in its fifth edition, promises high-octane action with a revamped format featuring three competitive stages: Group Stage, Relegation, and Grand Finals. Notably, the number of participating teams has been reduced from 18 to 16, ensuring a more competitive landscape.

C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 Format and Schedule

Group Stage (February 1–16, 2025)

The 16 teams are divided into four groups, competing in a round-robin format. At the end of this stage:

  • The top four teams will advance directly to the Grand Finals.
  • The remaining 12 teams will enter the Relegation stage.

Relegation (February 17, 2025)

  • The 12 teams will battle in six matches.
  • The top eight teams will secure spots in the Grand Finals.
  • The bottom four teams will be eliminated from the tournament.

Grand Finals (February 22–23, 2025)

The top 12 teams from previous stages will compete for the C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 championship title.

Participating Teams in C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025

The following 16 teams will be competing for glory:

  1. Alfa 34
  2. Alpha7 Esports
  3. Corinthians
  4. E1 Sports
  5. Flamengo Esports
  6. Fluxo
  7. iNCO Gaming
  8. Influence Rage
  9. LOS
  10. LOUD
  11. Pain Gaming
  12. Savex Gaming
  13. Team Solid
  14. Tec Toy Cripz
  15. Vasco eSports
  16. W7M Esports

The C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Free Fire events of the year. With a restructured format and Brazil’s best teams vying for supremacy, fans can expect thrilling matches and strategic gameplay. Mark your calendars for February 1, 2025, as the battle for Free Fire dominance begins!

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EA FC 25 Future Stars: Players, Start Date & More

Aritra Patra
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0
EA FC 25 Future Stars: Players, Start Date & More

Get ready for the Future Stars promo to light up EA FC 25! Following the whirlwind Team of the Year event, EA SPORTS is keeping the momentum going with another fan favorite. This promo celebrates the young guns of football, the rising stars poised to dominate the sport for years to come.  

Mark your calendars: the Future Stars event kicks off on Friday, January 31, 2025, coinciding with the official end of Team of the Year. While the exact duration remains unconfirmed, a two-week run, similar to the FC 24 edition, is anticipated. This would mean two separate squads of players released, with the event concluding around February 14th.

For those unfamiliar, Future Stars spotlights the brightest young talents in football. Since its debut in FIFA 19 Ultimate Team, this promo has offered a tantalizing glimpse into the future of the sport. Bestowing these promising players with significantly boosted ratings and stats, paints a picture of their potential peak.  

Future Stars is consistently a highlight of the Ultimate Team calendar, shining a light on lesser-known players who might not otherwise receive such recognition. Past editions have featured future superstars like Vinicius Jr. and Phil Foden, whose Future Stars ratings proved remarkably prescient. EA FC 25 aims to continue this tradition, identifying and celebrating the next generation of global icons.

Beyond the featured players, we can also anticipate the release of special Icons, honoring legendary players who similarly burst onto the scene early in their careers. And, as always, the promo will be accompanied by a wave of Squad Building Challenges (SBCs), objectives, and Evolutions, providing ample opportunities to upgrade your Ultimate Team squad.

While the official Future Stars squad is still under wraps, some exciting leaks have surfaced. Here are the players rumored to be included:

  • Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
  • Endrick (Real Madrid)
  • Connor Bradley (Liverpool)
  • Lucas Beraldo (PSG)
  • Johan Cruyff (Icon)
  • Xabi Alonso (Icon)
  • Bobby Charlton (Icon)

Imperial Signs chayJESUS to Replace felps

Aritra Patra
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0
Imperial Signs chayJESUS to Replace felps

Imperial has officially welcomed Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy to their Counter-Strike roster, securing the player from Fluxo, both organizations confirmed. This acquisition fills the gap left by João “felps” Vasconcellos, who transferred to RED Canids earlier this month.  

chayJESUS’s journey with Fluxo began in October 2023 after a transfer from Sharks. He spent ten months as a core member of the starting lineup before being benched in favor of Kayke “kye” Bertolucci. Following his time on the bench, he competed in online tournaments with Tropa do Taco, alongside familiar names like Epitacio “TACO” de Melo and Vinicius “vsm” Moreira.

Imperial is banking on this roster change to revitalize the team, particularly after a lackluster end to their 2024 season. Their early exit from the Shanghai Major, finishing 0-3 in the Opening Stage with losses to paiN, FURIA, and Complexity, was a significant setback.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see chayJESUS in action for Imperial. He’s set to debut later this Thursday in the Round of 16 of CCT Season 2 South America Series 6 against Bad News Chickens.

Imperial’s current roster now consists of:

  • Vinicius “VINI” Figueiredo  
  • Lucas “decenty” Bacelar  
  • Kaiky “noway” Santos  
  • Santino “try” Rigal  
  • Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy  
  • Rafael “zakk” Fernandes (coach)

IShowSpeed Named Ambassador of Peru for an Hour, Stuns Crowd with Backflip

Pranav Nalawade
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0
IShowSpeed Named Ambassador of Peru for an Hour, Stuns Crowd with Backflip

YouTube sensation IShowSpeed received the Ambassador of Peru award in front of a massive crowd of 20,000 fans. The popular streamer, known for his energetic personality, celebrated the honor with his signature backflip, electrifying the audience.

IShowSpeed’s South American Tour Gains Momentum

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has been on an international tour since early 2024. His global adventures have taken him to South Korea, Indonesia, and now South America, where he continues to attract massive crowds both online and in person.

His South American tour, which began on January 12, 2025, includes stops in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Guatemala, Panama, and Paraguay. His visit to Peru started on January 27, and his arrival has created a frenzy among fans.

Hundreds of excited supporters chased his vehicle through the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite streamer.

Peru Honors IShowSpeed as Ambassador for One Hour

During his stay in Peru, IShowSpeed received a special Ambassador of Peru award, presented by Mayor Rafael Bernardo López. The award was symbolic, lasting for just one hour, but it was enough to make a lasting impact on both Speed and his fans.

Standing on a balcony several floors high, the streamer addressed the crowd with gratitude.

“Peru, I will forever never ever forget this moment of being a mayor. It means a lot to me!” – IShowSpeed

The Iconic Backflip That Stole the Show

To mark the occasion, IShowSpeed performed his signature backflip in front of the crowd. Perched high above, he fearlessly flipped backward, landing successfully while thousands of fans erupted in cheers.

His fearless antics have become a trademark of his live appearances, making him one of the most entertaining and unpredictable streamers in the world.

What’s Next for IShowSpeed?

While his time in Peru is short, Speed’s South American tour continues. His ability to draw massive audiences proves that his popularity is only growing.

From hilarious pranks to daring stunts, IShowSpeed continues to push the limits of live-streaming entertainment. Fans worldwide are eagerly waiting to see where his next adventure takes him.

MIBR Outshines Astralis in IEM Katowice Play-in

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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0
MIBR Outshines Astralis in IEM Katowice Play-in

MIBR has stunned beating an in-form Astralis 2-0 in IEM Katowice despite coming in as the second favorite as predicted by analysts. Insane has kept his hot hand from 2024 as MIBR has evolved into a force to be reckoned with.

VETO

  • Astralis removed Anubis
  • MIBR removed Dust2
  • Astralis picked Mirage
  • MIBR picked Ancient
  • Astralis removed Nuke
  • MIBR removed Inferno
  • Train was left over

Map 1: Mirage; Pick: Astralis; Winner: MIBR

Despite a strong start, Astralis failed to keep their momentum up for long on the defence with MIBR coming in with solid rounds that broke the momentum of the Danish side. stavn proved to be a lethal assent for the Danes on the defence but that form wasn’t enough to get it to the next half. MIBR in their defence put up a sublime show which made sure their two-round lead did not last for long. Astralis managed to trade rounds on their offense, pushing the game to OT. In overtime, Astralis dropped the ball as MIBR managed to clean-sweep in a dominant fashion winning the map 16-12.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: MIBR; Winner: MIBR

Starting on the T side, MIBR managed to kick their map pick off with a pistol round win and it wasn’t until the fourth round that Astralis got on the board. Astralis managed to pull in a few rounds but MIBR edged out a two-round lead in the first half. Astralis started off the T side on a high note but MIBR caught hold of the game later in the half and managed to push the game over the line. insane with 22 kills dominated the Danes, becoming too much for them to handle as MIBR secured their first win of the event.

Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays: Report

Aritra Patra
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0
Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays: Report

Valorant experienced a surge in cheating activity during the 2024 holiday season and early 2025, raising concerns within the player community. Riot Games acknowledged the issue, with Phillip Koskinas, the head of anti-cheat, explaining that reduced staffing during the holiday break contributed to the increase. With fewer employees available to actively combat and patch against new cheating methods, malicious actors took advantage.

The problem was particularly pronounced in regions like Brazil, where a staggering 10% of ranked matches were plagued by cheaters. Koskinas confirmed the community’s suspicions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the heightened level of cheating during the holiday period. In some regions like Brazil, the “pixelbot” or “colourbot” cheat was particularly widespread.

This relatively simple exploit works by analyzing screen frames, identifying enemy outlines, and automatically aiming at them. Koskinas also highlighted issues in the Asia Pacific region, where some Chinese cheaters used VPNs to circumvent identity verification and play on servers outside their region.  

Fortunately, Riot Games has since addressed the problem. Koskinas stated that the situation is now under control, with the global percentage of ranked games containing cheaters dropping back down to around 1%. To prevent similar spikes in the future, Riot plans to implement “surprise” anti-cheat updates during holiday periods.  

Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays
Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays (Image Via: X)

The intensity of Riot’s response is evident in the numbers. From January 10th to 13th, their Vanguard anti-cheat system issued bans at a rate of nearly seven accounts per minute, marking the highest sustained ban rate they’ve ever recorded. Impressively, cheaters were being banned after an average of just six games, the quickest turnaround currently achievable.  

Beyond the anti-cheat efforts, Valorant has also seen recent content updates. Patch 10.00, released in early January, introduced Tejo, a new Initiator agent hailing from Colombia. The update also shuffled the Competitive and Deathmatch map pools, adding Fracture and Lotus while removing Ascent and Sunset.

ESL Announces IEM Katowice Stage 2 Will Be Played on the New Patch

Aritra Patra
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0
ESL Announces IEM Katowice Stage 2 Will Be Played on the New Patch

ESL has revealed a split-patch format for the upcoming IEM Katowice tournament. The initial stage of the competition will utilize the current game version, while the latter stage will shift to the newly released patch.

This patch transition also impacts other ESL events. Both the ESL Challenger League and the IEM Dallas qualifiers will be contested on the updated version.

Key adjustments within this new patch include a price decrease for the M4A4, bringing it in line with the M4A1-S at $2900. The FAMAS also received some love, improved accuracy, and a price reduction of $1950. Finally, the update targets the run-and-gun meta, reducing crouching accuracy for the MP9, MP5, and MP7 submachine guns.

While the recent update officially added Train to the active duty map pool, this change has had a minimal impact on IEM Katowice. ESL had already integrated Train into their map rotation prior to its official inclusion, and the map will feature in both stages of the tournament, regardless of the patch version.

CS2 Premier Season 2: M4A4 Price Drop, Map Pool Updates & More
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