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StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: All 32 Teams Confirmed

Aritra Patra
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StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: All 32 Teams Confirmed

The scene is set for Counter-Strike 2‘s most anticipated tournament. Having now passed the October 6 VRS deadline, the full 32-team roster of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has officially been finalized, crowning the conclusion of one of the most thrilling qualification battles in CS2 history.

The $1.25 million competition will take place over three stages between November 24 and December 14, with the star-studded playoffs played at Budapest’s 20,000-seat MVM Dome from December 11-14.

The last few weeks leading up to the deadline became an unprecedented worldwide dash, with squads flying across continents to gain valuable VRS points. Among them were some amazing qualification tales from this frantic finale.

Maybe the most thrilling tale is that of fnatic, who beat seemingly impossible odds. With only a 2.9% qualification opportunity as of September 29, the Swedish squad took a transatlantic shot, flying to Philadelphia for Fragadelphia Blocktober. Their 3-2 win over 9INE in the grand final not only brought them the tournament title but also secured the final European Major invite.

https://twitter.com/StarLadder_CS/status/1921944808911667550

The CIS region also had its own thriller as PARIVISION overpowered BetBoom at the Majestic LanDaLan tournament held in Moscow, winning the remaining available CIS spot on the strength of better play on home turf.

South America’s qualification fight came to a fever pitch at Circuit X South America Season 1 in Curitiba, where RED Canids and Fluxo both posted deep playoff runs to earn their Major debut. These results were the turning point in a region where every VRS point counted.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Roster Announced

  • Stage 1 – Opening Stage (8 Teams Advance)
    • Sixteen teams compete for eight slots to advance: FaZe Clan, GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, PARIVISION, fnatic, Legacy, Imperial Esports, NRG, M80, Fluxo, RED Canids, Lynn Vision, The Huns, FlyQuest, and Rare Atom.
  • Stage 2 – Contenders Stage (8 Teams Advance)
    • Eight teams combine with eight qualifiers from Stage 1: Aurora, Natus Vincere, Astralis, 3DMAX, Team Liquid, MIBR, Passion UA, and TYLOO.
  • Stage 3 – Legends Stage (Direct to Final 8)
    • The top division has eight teams with direct promotion to the final stage: Vitality, Team Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, G2 Esports, FURIA, paiN Gaming, and The MongolZ.

The final list boasts strong stories across the board. Three teams make their Major debuts: RED Canids, PARIVISION, and The Huns, the new faces in Counter-Strike.

At the same time, legendary teams achieve their projected returns. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Astralis return to the grandest stage after long hiatuses, bringing star power to an already crowded fray.

The qualification process has provided enormous regional representation, with Europe securing 13 slots, the Americas picking up 10, and the Asia-Pacific region receiving 9. This breakdown demonstrates Counter-Strike 2’s genuinely global competitive scene.

The Major uses Swiss system formatting for Stages 1 and 2, with best-of-one matches until elimination, with advanced games turning to best-of-three. Stage 3 and playoffs use only best-of-three matches, ending with the championship final.

The $1.25 million prize pool pays out $500,000 to the winner, with deep payouts spread throughout the field to ensure a good reward for all qualifying teams.

4 Japanese and 4 Korean Teams Qualified for BMIC 2025

Hoax
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4 Japanese and 4 Korean Teams Qualified for BMIC 2025

The competitive stage for the BGMI International Cup 2025 (BMIC 2025) just became clearer, with all four South Korean and four Japanese teams clinching their spots through fierce regional battles. With the conclusion of their respective seeding tournaments, these eight squads are set to bring international firepower to the much-anticipated event, while eight Indian teams will soon follow through qualification from the BGMI Showdown (BMSD) 2025.

South Korean Team in BMIC 2025

Representing Korea at BMIC 2025 are four of the nation’s top teams, each securing their slots through the Pro Series Korea:

  • Dplus
  • Nongshim Redforce
  • Jecheon Phalanx
  • DRX

These teams have consistently performed at the highest level in the Korean circuit. Notably, Dplus and Nongshim Redforce have previously competed in India in the BGMI India-Korea Invitational back in 2023. On the other hand, Jecheon Phalanx and DRX will first time compete in India.

Japanese Team in BMIC 2025

Japan’s lineup is equally stacked, with four squads earning their place from the Japan League:

  • REJECT
  • REIGNITE
  • MAKING THE ROAD
  • CAG OSAKA

Unlike South Korean teams, Japanese teams have not competed in any BGMI tournament in India. This time, it will be first time that Japanese teams will face off against Indian teams.

Watch the following video to understand seedings from BMSD 2025 and BMIC 2025 to PMGC 2025.

With the eight Korean and Japanese squads confirmed, attention now shifts to India, where the upcoming BGMI Showdown 2025 (BMSD 2025) will decide the remaining eight slots. The stakes have never been higher for Indian teams, as BMIC 2025 will seed two teams directly into the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) 2025, granting the winner a spot in the PMGC Gauntlet and the runner-up a place in the World Group Stage.

BMIC 2025 promises one of the best BGMI competition India has ever seen as the top representatives from three nations will lock horns against each other. Prior to this, we got to witness the India-Korea Invitational back, but this time, there’s one more nation contending in the tournament. Who will triumph? Only time will tell!

Falcons Destroys Astralis in EPL Season 22

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Falcons Destroys Astralis in EPL Season 22

Coming off the back of a disastrous exit from Fissure, Falcons kicks off their ESL Pro League Season 22 campaign with a convincing win over Astralis. Total domination and display of confidence across both maps from the Falcons and their individuals closed the doors for an upset by the Danes.

VETO

  • Astralis removed Train
  • Falcons removed Overpass
  • Astralis picked Inferno
  • Falcons picked Mirage
  • Astralis removed Dust2
  • Falcons removed Nuke
  • Ancient was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: Astralis; Winner: Falcons

Starting on the defence, the Falcons went 3-0 up before the Danes hit the board. The first round pulled in by Astralis saw them pull in 7 rounds in a row before Falcons desperately pulled in the final two rounds to close the half with a 7-5 scoreline. The 7 rounds for Astralis saw a change later in the second half, but not before Falcons pulled in 6 rounds in a row to take the lead. Astralis won one more round as the first map of the series concluded with a 13-8 scoreline. It was an unlucky day for Astralis to face m0NESY and NiKo, who were firing on all cylinders and did most of the heavy lifting.

Map 2: Mirage; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons

A 2-0 start for Astralis saw them win back-to-back pistol rounds, but to no one’s surprise, Falcons took the momentum back. Back and forth between the two teams for the rest of the half saw the scoreline levelled before switching sides. Falcons left no room for error in the second half as a picture-perfect defence laid out by the multi-national roster stopped any hopes for a 3rd map by Astralis. 13-6 scoreline saw Falcons win their opening round of the ESL Pro League with a convincing scoreline. NiKo dropping 2.19 IR on Mirage brings hopes for Falcons, but lately, it has been a rare sight.

The addition of Magisk did not give them a honeymoon start as many predicted, but it goes without saying that they will improve with time, and to face a team of superstars like the Falcons on their debut is not the perfect situation to ease into a roster. EPL will have more chances if Astralis can take them, but something tells us there is more to them than what we say today.

FaZe Forfeits ESL Pro League Opening Match Against G2

Sonu Banerjee
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FaZe Forfeits ESL Pro League Opening Match Against G2

FaZe Clan has unexpectedly forfeited its opening match in the ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2 against G2 Esports.

The news was confirmed by the official ESL X handle just a few hours prior to the scheduled start of the match, catching Counter-Strike fans throughout the world off guard.

At the time of writing, neither FaZe nor ESL has issued an official statement explaining the reason behind the team’s decision to forfeit the match.

As per an HLTV report, this decision may have been the result of a disagreement between FaZe and ESL over the lineup that the team was eligible to use for the tournament.

For the uninitiated, ESL’s General Rules and Roster Restrictions rulebooks require teams to retain a minimum of three out of five players from the roster listed in the invitation ranking. The lineup that FaZe was intending to use at the event only included two of the five players from the July 7 Valve Regional Standings, which served as the basis for tournament invites.

FaZe’s originally submitted roster featured Håvard “⁠rain⁠” Nygaard, thereby meeting the majority requirement. The rule was subsequently violated when he was replaced by Russel “⁠Twistzz⁠” Van Dulken, who was listed as a substitute.

The FaZe vs G2 match was replaced by FURIA vs 3DMAX, which fans can watch live on ESL’s official Twitch channel.

Fortnite and Poppy Playtime Join Forces

Aritra Patra
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Fortnite and Poppy Playtime Join Forces

Epic Games has made it official that Fortnite is teaming up with the horror phenomenon Poppy Playtime, with the legendary blue monster Huggy Wuggy coming to the battle royale on October 23, 2025.

The news broke in a cryptic teaser clip published by Mob Entertainment, the development studio behind Poppy Playtime, presenting itself as security footage from the defunct Playtime Co. factory. The clip, named “Security_0783.AVI,” records Huggy Wuggy standing still in the lobby of the toy factory when an unmistakable Fortnite rift portal materializes behind him, yanking the colossal mascot into another universe.

The Poppy Playtime collaboration comes as part of Fortnitemares 2025, Epic Games’ biggest Halloween event to date. The timing could not be more apt. October 23 positions the release advantageously within the Halloween season while providing fans something to look forward to after the initial rush of Halloween content.

This crossover represents a significant milestone for both franchises. Poppy Playtime, which launched in 2021, quickly captured audiences with its unsettling blend of childlike toy aesthetics and psychological horror, drawing comparisons to Five Nights at Freddy’s. Meanwhile, Fortnite continues its streak of high-profile collaborations, cementing its position as the ultimate crossover platform in gaming.

Although official information is scarce, leaked reports indicate that Huggy Wuggy will be the main skin available through this collaboration. The beloved character, eight feet tall with blue fur, ghostly black eyes, and an abnormally wide smile, surprisingly adapts well to Fortnite’s bright art style.

Avid fans spotted the release date among the static of the teaser video, where “10-23-2025” flashed momentarily on screen. The exactness is characteristic of how Mob Entertainment usually creates hype through cryptic information and concealed content.

How to Use Slurp Geysers in Fortnite?

The Poppy Playtime collaboration is added to a record-breaking roster of horror crossovers for Fortnitemares 2025. The K-Pop Demon Hunters event is already playable, having debuted on October 2 with Rumi, Mira, and Zoey skins, as well as an overhauled Demon Rush limited-time mode.

Other established partnerships are Ghostface from Scream, Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, Art the Clown from Terrifier, and, unexpectedly, the Scooby-Doo mystery gang. This cross-section of characters indicates Epic Games’ approach to offering a mix of truly scary material alongside more suitable family fare.

Genshin Impact 6.1 Livestream: Date, Time & New Content

Sonu Banerjee
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Genshin Impact 6.1 Livestream: Date, Time & New Content

Only a few days remain before the Genshin Impact 6.1 livestream sheds light on all the new content that the upcoming patch will bring to the game, and excitement within the community is palpable.

Scheduled to launch around October 22, 2025, the Genshin Impact 6.1 update is set to introduce a plethora of new content to the HoYoverse title. For the uninitiated, we’ve seen numerous recent leaks suggest that the new playable character Nefer will be added to Genshin Impact with the Version 6.1 update alongside her signature weapon, the Reliquary of Truth.

Alongside these new additions, fans can also expect to see expanded Story Quests, new events, and a lot more!

Genshin Impact 6.1 Update Livestream Date & Time

HoYoverse has yet to announce the official Genshin Impact 6.1 livestream date and time to the fans. However, we still have plenty of information to make an educated guess regarding when the special program livestream is likely to take place.

Generally, Genshin Impact special program livestreams take place two weeks prior to the release of a major update. As mentioned earlier, the Genshin Impact 6.1 update is expected to launch around October 22, 2025.

With that being said, it’s safe to expect the Genshin Impact 6.1 livestream to take place on October 10, 2025.

Be sure to keep following the official social media handles of Genshin Impact for further updates on the topic.

How to Use Slurp Geysers in Fortnite?

Aritra Patra
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How to Use Slurp Geysers in Fortnite?

Slurp Geysers are your go-to quick shield restoration tool in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4, restoring 30 shields per use and shooting you up to the sky for tactical repositioning.

These healing natural springs have turned into survival must-haves in the bug-infested terrain, providing players with a surefire way to sustain defensive leads within heated combat. Learning how they work and how to use them strategically can significantly boost your survival rate and competitive advantage.

How to Gain Shields Using Slurp Geysers in Fortnite?

Slurp Geysers have a predictable pattern, firing every 10-15 seconds when you are in their center. Each blow deals precisely 30 shields and sends you flying into the air, requiring glider deployment to land safely. Their dual-purpose nature makes them useful for both healing and mobility, enabling instant escape from threat areas while restoring your defensive capability.

The geysers look like unique, bright blue, bubbling fountains of Slurp juice held in rocky circular shapes. They are easily recognizable from a distance, so they can serve as accessible navigation points in matches. They differ from consumable shield items that take up inventory slots because these environmental elements have endless healing potential for the course of the entire match.

Slurp Geyser Locations

Four significant bug-infested areas hold the most dependable Slurp Geysers, and each has specific tactical benefits to offer:

  • The Hive (North-Central) is the most trafficked area, centrally located for convenient rotations but drawing many players hoping for quick shield recharges. The raised ground affords great vision for positioning while healing.
  • Ranger’s Ruin (West Side) has a more peaceful alternative with much less player competition. It is the perfect spot for those teams that like coordinated fights and early-game preparation without incessant third-party harassment.
  • Swarmy Stash (Central-East) has several surrounding buildings for natural cover during healing sessions. The defensive location makes it ideal for teams that are rotating from eastern drop zones.
  • Demon’s Debris (South) comes in handy, especially in late-game situations, perfectly located for storm circle rotations and retaining high shield levels.

The “Gain Shields Using Slurp Geysers” weekly challenge involves collecting a total of 100 shields from geyser activations. Because each activation rewards 30 shields, you would need at least four activations to achieve this goal. Completing the quest awards 20,000 XP, and it is an important source of Battle Pass progression.

Aside from questing, Slurp Geysers present great strategic benefit during combat situations. The healing-over-time effect persists even during live fights, providing prolonged defensive support. Intelligent players utilize geysers as anchor points for holding defense positions, keeping far better shield levels while holding strategic map locations.

The mobile nature opens up possibilities for aggressive maneuvers and strategic relocation. Launch yourself across enemy lines for high-ground benefits, or utilize the forced glider deployment to extract yourself from disadvantageous engagements rapidly. This synergy of healing and mobility makes geysers effective shields for defensive maneuvering as well as offensive initiatives.

BGMI Franchise Delayed, Not Cancelled – Krafton India

Hoax
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BGMI Franchise Delayed, Not Cancelled – Krafton India

The highly anticipated BGMI Franchise system will take longer to launch, but it is far from being scrapped. On the third episode of OnPoint with DPK, Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports at Krafton India, addressed the situation directly, reassuring fans, investors, and teams that the system is delayed, not cancelled.

BGMI Franchise Didn’t Go As Expected

Karan explained that while the BGMI Champions League (BCL) had its successes, the franchise model didn’t generate the volume of bids Krafton had hoped for. “Unfortunately for us, the franchise system didn’t do well. BCL for us was a success. Unfortunately, it was not the number of bids that we asked for,” he admitted.

Despite that, he stressed the system is still very much alive. “So no, it’s not shutting down. We’ve taken learnings from it, we are going to upgrade ourselves and come back strong.”

How BGMI Franchise System Idea Came into Existence

Karan recalled a key memory from PMWC 2025, where Team Aryan was competing. “I think we had a conversation on 28th of July, just before Team Aryan went for PMWC 2025. It was their third day, and I ended up going there. I was like, we have enough bids, and have nothing to worry about. I wasn’t supposed to travel if there weren’t any bids, and we had a good laugh and good chat. And I landed there, and they were like, hey, you know what? Three people are joining hands together because they want to make sure that the marketing campaign is done right.”

Temporary Setback, Not Permanent Cancellation

While fans were hoping for the franchise announcement this year, Karan confirmed the timeline is being pushed back. “That will not come on 2nd November (with other major announcements). We are taking a bit longer, and we’ll get back to you.”

The delay, he emphasized, is about learning, restructuring, and coming back stronger rather than abandoning the project.

To those already involved, Karan offered gratitude and assurance. “To all the potential investors or sponsors, you still have your game round next year maybe. And the ones who came on board, I will always look out to you, reach out to you.”

Also read: BGMI Transfer Seasons to Begin in October, Confirms Krafton India

The BGMI Franchise may not be arriving as quickly as expected, but Karan has made it clear that this is a pause, not a stop. With learnings from the initial rounds and continued interest from the community and sponsors, the foundation is being laid for a stronger and more sustainable franchise model in the near future.

Valve Releases Dr Boom Charms

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Valve Releases Dr Boom Charms

Charms were a fun addition to the game at the time of its release and eventually got more popular within the community as professional players started using them in tournaments. While they do not add any value besides aesthetics, the old chars were too bland to be used for a prolonged period.

As CS2 players were getting bored with old charms, Valve has dropped new ones that are more creative and useful than the ones before and are likely to appear in more grenade lineups moving forward.

8 Ball IGL

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The 8 Ball IGL is simple, classy, and elegant, making it look like a hanging fruit off the top of a grenade. The timeless design has ensured that it has a mass appeal and looks cool to have on top of a grenade.

Big Brain

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Quite tacky to begin with, the Big Brain charm may not be for everyone. The odd design may drive away quite a big chunk of the player base, and may not be a popular one.

Biomech

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The CS2 Dr Boom charm Biomech looks something straight out of a science-fiction movie and can grow into a popular one.

Bomb Tag

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Bomb Tag, a befitting name for a grenade charm, is good to have a spicy touch to your everyday utilities in CS2.

Butane Buddy

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Butane Buddy is something straight out of a chemistry lab, and Valve has done everything right with this. Gut feeling is that after the hype dries down, this will be a popular one.

Dr. Brian

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The CS2 Dr Boom Charms, Dr. Brian is quite an animated piece, but this is nothing more than a hit or miss.

Eye of Ball

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

This Eye of Ball can be something we find in the back pocket of Doctor Strange. Clean, magical, and likely to carry a mass appeal.

Flash Bomb

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The Flash Bomb can attract a lot of eyes at first glance, but this is not one that everyone likes and will likely be a strict no for the players who prefer clean aesthetics.

Fluffy

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The Fluffy charm fits the Halloween theme, which it was clearly designed for, but does not stand out compared to more attractive ones in the collection.

Glitter Bomb

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Glitter Bomb, as the name suggests, looks like a burst of colour out of a grenade. Bold colours across the charm, and it goes without saying that this will be one of the more distracting ones.

Gritty

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Neither attractive nor classy, the Gritty charm can be the one to be skipped.

Hungry Eyes

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Bold colours blended with mythical designs, this charm may not be liked by everyone, but not a bad one compared to a lot of poor designs on this list.

Lil’ Bloody

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Bloody, based on the CS2 T-side Agent set, the Bloody Darryls, and will be one of the popular ones.

Lil’ Chomper

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Chomper is Valve’s attempt at a versatile charm that can be used alongside skins.

Lil’ Dumplin’

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Dumplin’, as the name suggests, is a charm based on a dumpling, looks better on a plate than on a nade.

Lil’ Eco

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Eco showcasing green all-over oozes of recycling. The choice of colours is interesting, and it goes without saying that players will avoid the name Eco.

Lil’ Facelift

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Facelift adds to the Halloween theme for the game, and nothing interesting besides that.

Lil’ Ferno

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Lil’ Ferno looks like a dragon forced into a ball, and that will attract a lot of players.

Lil’ Yeti

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The Lil’ Yeti charm looks cold, and the white and blue colors can make it a popular charm amongst CS2 players.

Lil’ Zen

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

The Lil’ Zen charm looks peaceful and classy. Lots to like, little to dislike.

Splatter Cat

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Splatter Cat is highly animated with bold colours all over. Another hit or miss Charm, but certainly can be a popular one amongst players.

Whittle Guy

CS2 Dr Boom Charms

Whittle Guy is busy but clean and aesthetic; this pot looks to be housing a strong genie and will certainly find its place in the inventory of a long list of players.

That is the list of the new charms released by Valve, and while most of them are mass appealing, there are a few that will really turn heads. Goes without saying that Valve has done a fantastic job with this one.

CS2 Adds Game Options for Scope Thickness With October 3 Update

How to Play Valorant’s New Skirmish Game Mode?

Sonu Banerjee
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How to Play Valorant’s New Skirmish Game Mode?

On October 2, 2025, Riot Games unveiled ‘Skirmish’, an all-new game mode for Valorant that enables players to refine their gunplay and test how their marksmanship skills fare against their friends.

The new Skirmish game mode in Valorant can either be played in a 1v1 or team-based format, with the first team to win ten rounds being declared the winner. Similar to Deathmatch, players are unable to use abilities in this game mode and must rely on their mechanical aim to take down opponents. Unlike Deathmatch, however, there are no instant respawns. Once you’re taken out, you’ll have to wait until the round concludes before rejoining the fight.

How To Play Skirmish in Valorant

At the time of writing, the Valorant Skirmish mode can only be played in Custom games. It’s unclear if Skirmish will be added to matchmaking in the future.

To play this new Valorant game mode, simply create a custom game lobby and from the dropdown menu, select ‘Skirmish’. Now, all you need to do is invite your friends and start the game. You’ll be pitted in one of the three available maps that are roughly similar in terms of layout, but with subtle differences.

That’s everything you need to know about the newly added Skirmish game mode in Valorant.

Valorant Masters Santiago & London Confirmed by Riot Games, Champions 2026 To Take Place in Shanghai
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