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StableRonaldo and Lacy Reveal Twitch Earnings After Kick CEO Viewbotting Claims

Divyesh Moghe
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StableRonaldo and Lacy Reveal Twitch Earnings After Kick CEO Viewbotting Claims

Former FaZe Clan streamers Rani “StableRonaldo” Netz and Nick “Lacy” Fosco have both gone public with their Twitch revenue figures after Kick CEO Eddie Craven directly accused them of using viewbots to inflate their live viewer counts.

Kick CEO Names StableRonaldo and Lacy as “Huge Viewbotters”

The accusations came during Kick Talk Episode 76, a conversation between Craven and Andrew Santamaria, the Head of Kick Studios. During the episode, Craven claimed that several former FaZe Clan members who had streamed on Kick were what he described as “huge viewbotters.” He specifically named StableRonaldo and Lacy, alleging that up to 90 percent of their viewership was artificially generated.

Craven went further by claiming that when Lacy streamed on Kick, he had only around 100 genuine viewers, a figure sharply at odds with the thousands of viewers Lacy regularly attracts on Twitch.

StableRonaldo Fires Back With Revenue Dashboard

Shortly after the clip began spreading online, StableRonaldo went live on Twitch and addressed the situation directly. During the stream, he pulled up his Twitch revenue dashboard on screen and walked his audience through his earnings history.

StableRonaldo revealed he had already earned over $352,000 in 2026, just 46 days into the year. His January earnings came in at $266,000, followed by $86,000 in the first 15 days of February.

His core argument was built around a straightforward challenge to the accusations: “If I were to viewbot, wouldn’t I viewbot my revenue too? That’s my question. I dare you. Ask streamers who you think are viewbotting, and show their revenue.”

StableRonaldo also pointed out a significant inconsistency in Craven’s position. He reminded viewers that Kick’s own team had previously offered him millions of dollars to stream on the platform, a deal he said he declined. “If I’m a big botter, Eddie, why did you and your team at Kick offer me millions and millions and millions of dollars?” he said on stream.

Past Accusations Tied to Former Management

The response from StableRonaldo also surfaced older history around viewbotting claims. He referenced a previous situation in which he alleged that a former management team had encouraged him to use viewbots in order to help secure a deal with Kick. He stated at the time that he refused the offer.

Lacy Responds With His Own Metrics

Lacy took a similar approach to countering the accusations. After Craven claimed he had only around 100 real viewers during his time on Kick, Lacy responded by publicly sharing his own earnings and performance data. As part of his response, Lacy questioned how he could have earned approximately 50 times what someone with 100 Kick viewers would earn in the same timeframe.

It is worth noting that xQc has previously stated that Kick’s anti-bot detection systems reduced Lacy’s payout at one point, with the platform stripping out viewer traffic it had identified as artificial. That context has added an additional layer of complexity to the current discussion.

Community Divided on Craven’s Approach

The reaction across the streaming community has not been uniform. Some viewers have praised Craven for openly discussing viewbotting and making clear that Kick does not intend to compensate creators for fake traffic. One comment widely shared online noted that showing ad revenue and earnings is essentially the only way for Twitch streamers to credibly deny viewbotting claims, while also pointing out that sharing such figures can technically put streamers at risk under Twitch’s terms of service.

Others have been more critical of Craven’s decision to publicly name specific streamers as viewbotters without presenting direct evidence, particularly given that Kick had previously pursued those same creators with significant financial offers to bring them onto the platform.

Logan Paul Sells Pikachu Illustrator Pokemon Card for $16.4 Million World Record

Yash More
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Logan Paul Sells Pikachu Illustrator Pokemon Card for $16.4 Million World Record

YouTube star and internet personality Logan Paul has set a new world record after selling his PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator Pokemon card for $16,492,000 at auction. The sale, which concluded on February 15, 2026 through Goldin Auctions, marks the highest price ever paid for a Pokemon card at auction and the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction in history.

The Card That Became a World Record Holder

The Pikachu Illustrator is widely regarded as one of the rarest and most sought-after Pokemon cards in existence. Logan Paul first acquired the PSA 10-graded version in 2021, paying $5.275 million for it. That purchase involved trading in his previous PSA 9 copy of the card along with $4 million in cash.

In the years since, the card became closely associated with Logan Paul’s public persona. He famously wore it around his neck during his entrance at WWE’s WrestleMania 38 in 2022, bringing the card to a global audience far beyond the Pokemon collecting community.

How the Auction Unfolded

Logan Paul announced the decision to sell the Pikachu Illustrator card as part of his plans heading into 2026. As part of his arrangement with Goldin Auctions, he received a $2.5 million advance prior to the sale, money he stated he used toward his wedding and several other major personal expenses.

https://twitter.com/LoganPaul/status/2023087975954063739?s=20

Reports of bids reaching upwards of $12 million circulated before the auction concluded. The final hammer price came in at $16,492,000, generating more than $8 million in profit for Logan Paul after auctioneer fees were factored in. He described the outcome as “crazy” once the sale was finalized.

The auction event also featured expensive first edition Pokemon card pack openings, with buyers having paid approximately $40,000 each for the packs.

A New Record, Replacing an Iconic Sports Card

The $16.4 million sale replaced the previous world record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction. That record had been held by a one-of-one Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Dual Logoman Autographs card, which sold for $12,932,000. Unlike the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator, that sports card carried only a PSA 6 grade at the time of its sale.

Meet the Buyer: A.J. Scaramucci

The winning bidder was identified as A.J. Scaramucci, a venture capitalist. Speaking directly to Logan Paul and Goldin Auctions auctioneer Ken Goldin after the sale, Scaramucci revealed that the Pikachu Illustrator is just the first acquisition in what he described as a personal “treasure hunt” of rare and historically significant items.

“A T-Rex dinosaur fossil, that’s on my list. I’m going to buy the Declaration of Independence, and I’m not stopping there. This was only the beginning,” Scaramucci said.

He also noted a personal connection to the franchise behind the card, stating: “We have been fans of Pokemon since we were kids. This was the right way to start the treasure hunt.”

Controversy Surrounding the Sale

While the record-breaking sale drew widespread attention, Logan Paul has faced criticism in connection with it. The controversy stems from his decision to sell stakes in the Pikachu Illustrator card through a platform called Liquid Marketplace prior to the auction, a move that drew backlash from those who had purchased those stakes.

Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group in $6-$7 Billion Talks to Acquire Moonton From ByteDance

Pranav Nalawade
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Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group in $6-$7 Billion Talks to Acquire Moonton From ByteDance

Saudi Arabia is continuing its aggressive push into the global gaming industry. Savvy Games Group, the Saudi gaming investment vehicle, is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Moonton, the Shanghai-based gaming subsidiary of ByteDance, for between $6 billion and $7 billion. The deal would follow a series of major acquisitions that have placed Saudi Arabia among the most powerful forces in the games business.

According to a Reuters report, the broad terms of the transaction between ByteDance and Savvy Games Group have already been agreed upon. The official announcement could come as early as March, making this one of the faster-moving deals in recent gaming industry history. ByteDance originally purchased Moonton back in 2021 for $4 billion, meaning Savvy Games Group is reportedly prepared to pay well over 50 percent more than that original price just a few years later.

What Does Moonton Actually Make?

Moonton is a Shanghai-based subsidiary known primarily for its 2016 mobile MOBA, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The game has been downloaded over a billion times since its release, making it one of the most-installed mobile titles in the world. Beyond its flagship title, Moonton has continued to expand its game portfolio. Last year the studio released the auto battler Magic Chess: Go Go, the RPG Silver and Blood, and the cooperative vertical shooter Acecraft.

A Top-10 Gaming Acquisition

If the deal closes at the reported $6 billion to $7 billion range, the Moonton acquisition would rank among the top 10 biggest gaming acquisitions in history. It would not be the first time Savvy Games Group has made a headline purchase in the mobile space. The group acquired Monopoly Go developer Scopely in 2023 for $4.9 billion, and in 2025 picked up Pokemon Go creator Niantic for $3.5 billion.

The Much Larger EA Deal Still in Progress

The potential Moonton deal, while significant, is still considerably smaller than Savvy Games Group’s most ambitious move to date. The group is also in the process of acquiring Electronic Arts in a $55 billion deal that would take the Madden and Sims publisher private. EA’s board of directors and shareholders have already overwhelmingly approved that agreement, but the deal is not expected to be finalized until sometime over the summer.

The EA acquisition has drawn scrutiny from several directions. Unions and Democrats in Congress have called for investigations and regulatory due diligence before one of the largest American gaming companies is sold to a foreign government. Adding a layer of political complexity to the situation, Saudi Arabia reportedly has a direct line to the White House through President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner reportedly helped broker the EA deal and holds a personal stake in it through his own Saudi-backed investment group, which observers have noted makes regulatory intervention appear unlikely.

Saudi Arabia’s Growing Gaming Empire

The combination of the Moonton talks, the completed Scopely and Niantic acquisitions, and the pending EA deal paints a clear picture of Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in the gaming sector. Through Savvy Games Group, the kingdom has systematically targeted major mobile gaming franchises and live-service publishers, building a portfolio that now includes some of the most-played titles and studios in the world.

None of the parties involved have publicly confirmed the Moonton transaction at this stage.

Discord Age Verification Policy Stores User Photos for Up to 7 Days, Players Alarmed

Satyam Kumar
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Discord Age Verification Policy Stores User Photos for Up to 7 Days, Players Alarmed

Discord is rolling out a major age verification policy set to go live globally in early March 2026, and users are already raising serious privacy concerns. The platform plans to introduce what it calls a “teenager by default” setting across all accounts, new and existing, which will block access to 18+ channels, servers with sensitive content, and direct messages from strangers. To regain full access, users will be required to complete a mandatory age verification process using either an official document or a video selfie assessment.

What Is Discord’s “Teenager by Default” Policy?

Starting in early March 2026, Discord will apply strict default privacy settings to all accounts on the platform. This means that without completing age verification, users will find a significant portion of the platform restricted. Access to adult content channels, servers flagged for sensitive material, and unsolicited messages from unknown users will all be blocked under the new default configuration.

The policy applies to both newly created accounts and those that already exist on the platform.

Age Verification Now Involves an External Company

One of the main points of concern among users involves how the age verification data is handled. Discord had previously suggested that verification photos would remain on the user’s own device. However, a current experiment running in the United Kingdom tells a different story.

In the UK trial, Discord is working with an external verification provider called Persona. Under this setup, the data does not stay on the device. Instead, it is sent to cloud storage, where it is held for up to seven days. Discord has stated that the system only captures the user’s date of birth and face during the process, and that any sensitive information visible on identity documents is automatically obscured.

Why Users Are Concerned About Persona

The community’s unease goes beyond just data storage. Persona, the third-party verification provider Discord is using, counts Peter Thiel’s investment fund among its backers. Thiel is the co-founder of Palantir, a data analytics company widely known for its work with US government agencies. For a platform like Discord, where many users place a high value on anonymity, these financial connections have added another layer of distrust toward the verification process.

Previous Verification Methods Were Easily Bypassed

Experts have pointed out that Discord is in a difficult position with this decision. The platform had to take stronger action on age verification because previous methods were relatively easy for younger users to bypass. The introduction of a third-party biometric verification system represents a more serious attempt to enforce age restrictions, but it comes at the cost of user privacy and anonymity.

https://twitter.com/itsfolf/status/2021741669511836130

What Users Must Agree To for Full Platform Access

For any Discord user who wants unrestricted access to the platform after early March 2026, the process now involves submitting biometric data to an external company. That data will be stored in the cloud for up to seven days before being deleted. Users who are not comfortable with this arrangement will face ongoing restrictions on what they can access within Discord.

The global rollout of this system is confirmed for early March 2026, following the ongoing trial in the UK.

Ubisoft Reveals Rainbow Six Siege Year 11 Roadmap

Aritra Patra
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Ubisoft Reveals Rainbow Six Siege Year 11 Roadmap

Ubisoft has revealed the new Year 11 roadmap for Rainbow Six Siege. The plan stays true to the game’s 5v5 roots. However, it also introduces aggressive system-level changes. These are some of the biggest updates the tactical shooter has seen in a long time.

Unveiled at the Six Invitational event, Year 11 of Rainbow Six Siege is all about the “more Siege, more often” philosophy, with Ubisoft introducing more regular balance passes, specific map work, and a focus on the traditional 5v5 gameplay experience. In terms of storyline, Year 11 sees the departure of Phobos and the return of Bishop from Rainbow Six Vegas 2.

Year 11 launches on March 3 with Operation Silent Hunt, featuring a headline Solid Snake crossover event that brings the stealth master to Siege as a speed-focused, intel-based attacker. Snake focuses on “on-site procurement,” beginning with reduced utility and looting pouches from downed operators, paired with guns such as the F2, PMR90A2, and the new Tacit .45 pistol. Season 1 also focuses on entry and roam meta play, balancing operators such as Skopos, Alibi, Ela, Flores, Ying, and Amaru, as well as reducing shield-wielding operators so they can no longer break through fully-healed barricades.

Season 2 is where Ranked 3.0 finally arrives, with hidden MMR eliminated, placement matches returning, and ranks being much more directly reflective of a player’s actual skill level. Console players finally gain access to native mouse and keyboard support, but are relegated to PC lobbies, while XIM adapter abuse will now result in a permanent ban. The season also introduces Calypso Casino, a Rainbow Six Vegas-inspired ranked map, as well as a rebalanced Dokkaebi with a more focused hacking device and a new primary gun that all players can access from launch.

Season 3 brings Fireworks, a defender who specifically exists to punish shield usage, in conjunction with a large Villa rework and “targeted map adjustments” that shake up bomb spots, rotations, and lines of sight without doing full reworks. It also launches Operator Mastery, a long-term progression system for each operator, and a new solo-only Legend Division in Ranked play, as well as a 3v3 arcade mode and a drone racing event.

The final season of Year 11 is all about experimentation, with a Testing Grounds playlist that includes a mix of reinforcements, a Hostage mode rework targeted at bringing back competitive play, and a social space to make grouping easier.

Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports Qualify for Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan

Aditya Parsutkar
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Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports Qualify for Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan

Indian Pokémon UNITE esports is set for a major international return as Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports have qualified for the prestigious Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 (PUACL). The tournament will take place in Japan later this year, marking a significant milestone for India’s competitive Pokémon UNITE scene.

Reckoning Esports Clinch India League Title

Reckoning Esports secured India’s primary slot at the Asia Champions League after winning the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 – India League, a $20,000 multi-stage online competition. The tournament featured ten of India’s top esports organisations and was conducted by Skyesports in partnership with The Pokémon Company.

The league followed a circuit-based group stage format across five matchdays before concluding with a King of the Hill Playoffs.

In a thrilling grand final, Reckoning Esports defeated GodLike Esports in a closely fought 3–2 series. The victory not only crowned them India League champions but also confirmed their place at the PUACL 2026 Finals in Japan.

Jeet “Swifty” Kundra from Reckoning Esports shared that winning the India League after a long and challenging season meant a lot to the team. He highlighted how the format tested consistency and mental strength, adding that representing India at the Asia Champions League is a proud moment for the squad.

Read More: BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Expected to Be Held in Chennai; Hyderabad to Host Key Knockout Stages

GodLike Esports Bounce Back Through Winter Tournament

Despite their narrow loss in the India League final, GodLike Esports made a strong comeback in the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament 2026 – India (PUWT), which served as another qualification pathway for the Asia Champions League.

Unlike the India League, the Winter Tournament featured open qualifiers, allowing teams from across the country to compete alongside established organisations. GodLike Esports dominated the single-elimination bracket, showcasing experience and composure throughout the event.

In the grand final, GodLike Esports defeated Orange Flag with a dominant 3–0 scoreline to secure India’s second slot at the PUACL 2026.

Om “Scepter” Gore from GodLike Esports stated that losing the India League final was tough but motivated the team to improve. He emphasized that qualifying for the Asia Champions League after their strong Winter Tournament run feels incredibly rewarding.

Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude, Founder and CEO of GodLike Esports, called the qualification a massive moment for both the organisation and the Indian gaming community. He reiterated the team’s commitment to representing India proudly on the global stage.

Strong Competition from Emerging Teams

The Winter Tournament also witnessed impressive performances from rising teams. Orange Flag emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the event, reaching the grand final after eliminating several strong contenders.

Meanwhile, Revenant XSpark, the 2025 PUWT champions, were knocked out in the semifinals, highlighting the increasing depth and competitiveness within the Indian Pokémon UNITE ecosystem.

PUACL 2026 Set for Japan Showdown

The Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 will be held at Yokohama BUNTAI, Japan, on March 28 and 29. A total of 16 teams from across Asia will compete for the championship title and a share of the $200,000 prize pool.

With Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports representing India, fans will be eager to see how the country’s top teams perform on the international stage.

Mobile Gaming Optimization Guide Android: Zero Lag Settings for BGMI, Free Fire & COD Mobile

Hoax
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Mobile Gaming Optimization Guide Android: Zero Lag Settings for BGMI, Free Fire & COD Mobile

You landed. You looted. But you died to lag. If you’re grinding ranked in BGMI, Free Fire, or COD Mobile, frame drops aren’t just annoying, they cost you matches. Most Android phones default to battery-saving modes that throttle your CPU mid-fight. This mobile gaming optimization guide Android edition cuts the fluff and gives you the exact settings competitive players use to maintain 60-90 FPS consistently.

Developer Options That Actually Matter

Before touching game settings, unlock your phone’s full hardware potential.

Force Peak Refresh Rate

Navigate to Settings > Developer Options > Display refresh rate. Toggle “Force peak refresh rate.” Many phones (especially Samsung and Xiaomi) cap at 60Hz during gaming to save battery, causing stutter. Lock it to 90Hz or 120Hz if your panel supports it.

Mobile Gaming Optimization Guide Android - Force Peak Refresh Rate

Disable Background Process Limit

In Developer Options, find Background process limit and set it to “No background processes.” This prevents WhatsApp, Instagram, and system apps from eating RAM while you’re in a gunfight.

Mobile Gaming Optimization Guide Android - Disable Background Process Limit

Graphics Driver Preference

In the developers settings, change the “Graphics Driver Preference” from default to to “System Driver Preference”.

Mobile Gaming Optimization Guide Android - Disable Background Process Limit

In-Game Graphics Settings for Competitive Play

Stop maxing everything. Visual fidelity costs frames, and frames win fights. This section of our mobile gaming optimization guide Android focuses on game-specific configs.

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

SettingRecommended Value
GraphicsSmooth
Frame RateExtreme (60 FPS) or 90 FPS
Anti-aliasingDisable
StyleColorful or Soft
ShadowsOff

Free Fire Max

SettingRecommended Value
ResolutionStandard
ShadowsOff
Auto-adjust graphicsDisable
Smooth FollowOff

Call of Duty Mobile

SettingRecommended Value
Graphics QualityLow or Medium
Frame RateMax (60 FPS) or Very High
Depth of FieldOff
RagdollOff
Anti-aliasingOff

Network Optimization

High ping kills faster than bad aim. Fix your connection without buying a “gaming router.”

DNS Settings

Switch to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8) in your Wi-Fi settings. This reduces routing hops to game servers, typically dropping ping by 15-30ms in BGMI and COD Mobile.

Disable Battery Saver for Gaming Apps

Go to Settings > Apps > [Game Name] > Battery. Select “Unrestricted” and disable “Pause app activity if unused.” Android’s Doze mode kills network priority for background apps, causing those “network lag detected” messages mid-match.

5GHz Wi-Fi Only

Force your phone to use 5GHz bands only (disable 2.4GHz in router settings or forget the 2.4GHz network). The 2.4GHz band is crowded with Bluetooth devices and neighbors’ Wi-Fi, causing packet loss during peak hours.

Thermal Management Without Coolers

Your phone throttles at 42°C. Keep it cool without bulky fans.

Remove the Case

Silicone cases trap heat. Play bare-backed or use a perforated case. A 5-degree temperature drop prevents CPU throttling for an extra hour of stable FPS.

Play in Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi

Enable Airplane Mode, then turn Wi-Fi back on. This stops your device from searching for cellular towers, reducing chipset heat by 3-5°C during intense sessions.

Storage Cleanup

Keep 20% of your storage free. When NAND storage hits 90% capacity, read/write speeds drop by 40%, causing texture pop-in and late game rendering in Free Fire’s Kalahari map.

RAM Management for Budget Devices

If you’re running 4GB or 6GB RAM, every megabyte counts. No mobile gaming optimization guide Android is complete without memory tweaks.

Disable “Game Boost” Bloat

Xiaomi’s Game Turbo and Samsung’s Game Launcher consume 300-500MB RAM with their overlays. Disable them and use your game’s native FPS counter instead.

Aggressive RAM Purge

Before launching, open Settings > Memory > Clear All. Then lock your game app in recents (tap the lock icon). This prevents Android from killing your game when you switch to Discord or YouTube mid-match.

Lag isn’t always about internet speed. It’s about thermal throttling, background processes, and wrong graphics presets. Use this mobile gaming optimization guide Android edition to implement these settings, test them in a training ground for 10 minutes, and check your FPS stability. Your K/D ratio will thank you.

BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Expected to Be Held in Chennai; Hyderabad to Host Key Knockout Stages

Aditya Parsutkar
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BGIS 2026 Grand Finals Expected to Be Held in Chennai; Hyderabad to Host Key Knockout Stages

The BGIS 2026 is entering its most crucial phase, and new reports suggest that the tournament’s Grand Finals will be hosted in Chennai, India. Over the years, BGIS has traveled across major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Now, the spotlight appears to be shifting toward Chennai, further expanding the esports footprint across the country.

Chennai Trade Centre Likely to Host BGIS 2026 Grand Finals

According to Letsgrowesports, the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals are expected to take place at the Chennai Trade Centre, located in Nandambakkam. Sources claim that organizers have reportedly booked four major halls at the venue: Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3, and Hall 4.

Together, these halls reportedly cover around 14,000 square meters of exhibition space. The estimated audience capacity is believed to be close to 11,000 spectators, which could make it one of the largest offline BGMI events ever conducted.

If confirmed, the event could bring thousands of fans to Chennai, boosting the city’s position in India’s growing esports ecosystem.

Semi-Finals and Survival Stage to Be Played in Hyderabad

Before the Grand Finals begin, the Semi-Finals and Survival Stage are reportedly set to be played at Tesseract Arena in Hyderabad. This venue is already familiar to BGMI fans, as it previously hosted the BGMI Showdown 2025.

The tentative schedule for these stages is as follows:

  • Semi-Finals: March 12 to March 15
  • Survival Stage: March 16 to March 17

Hyderabad has become a regular esports hub in recent years, and hosting these knockout stages further strengthens its reputation as a top-tier venue for competitive gaming events.

Read More: M1 Garand is Coming in BGMI 4.3 Update: All Info About the New Gun

BGIS 2026 Grand Finals: Dates, Format, and More

The Grand Finals of BGIS 2026 are expected to take place from March 27 to March 29. A total of 16 teams will compete for the championship title.

Qualification breakdown:

  • 8 teams will advance directly from the Semi-Finals
  • 8 teams will qualify through the Survival Stage

Over the course of three days, teams will compete in 18 matches. The matches will be played across Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo.

At the end of 18 games, the team with the highest overall points on the leaderboard will be crowned the BGIS 2026 Champion.

5 Best Mobile FPS Games in 2026 For Budget Phones

Hoax
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5 Best Mobile FPS Games in 2026 For Budget Phones

Finding a shooter that doesn’t lag on a mid-range phone or burn through your monthly data is tough. If you’re gaming on a ₹15,000-₹25,000 smartphone with patchy Jio or Airtel connectivity, you need games optimized for Indian conditions, not just graphically intense ports that drain battery in 20 minutes. Here are five best mobile FPS titles available right now in India that balance competitive gameplay with real-world performance.

Top 5 Best Mobile FPS Games in 2026 For Budget Phones

5. Critical Ops

At just 600MB, Critical Ops is the lightest serious FPS on this list. The 5v5 defuse mode is straightforward, no battle royale fluff, no vehicles, just clean gunfights. The 2026 competitive roadmap includes Indian-focused tournaments, and the netcode handles 100ms ping better than most AAA ports.

Critical Ops

Best for older phones (Android 8+, 3GB RAM viable) and players tired of BR grind. Battery drain is noticeably lower than BGMI during extended sessions.

4. Standoff 2

For players wanting CS:GO-style gunplay without the Valorant Mobile wait, Standoff 2 delivers. It’s a 1.2GB download that runs offline against bots (rare for online shooters), making it ideal for Delhi Metro dead zones. The economy system, defuse maps, and spray patterns require genuine skill, there’s no auto-aim crutch here.

Standoff 2

The game has active Indian communities with regular tournaments. It performs consistently on 4GB RAM devices and consumes minimal background data when not downloading skins.

3. Call of Duty: Mobile

If you’re rocking a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 or Dimensity 9000-series phone (OnePlus, iQOO, upper-tier Redmi Notes), COD Mobile is the most polished FPS available. The gunsmith system offers genuine tactical depth, and ranked multiplayer feels more skill-based than battle royale modes.

This demands stable WiFi or 5G. On 4G networks, you’ll experience desync in Search & Destroy modes. Storage requirement is hefty at 8-10GB with all resources downloaded.

2. Garena Free Fire Max

The second on the Best Mobile FPS Games list is Free Fire Max. While BGMI struggles on 3GB RAM devices, Free Fire Max is built for India’s entry-level smartphone market. Matches last 10-12 minutes (perfect for metro commutes), and the 800MB install size won’t kill your storage. The “Max” version adds visual polish without sacrificing the core advantage: it stabilizes at 50-60 FPS on MediaTek Helio G-series chips common in ₹10,000-₹12,000 phones.

Garena Free Fire Max - #2 in 5 Best Mobile FPS Games in 2026

The game has dedicated Indian esports tournaments with Hindi commentary. Data consumption is roughly 15-20MB per match, significantly lower than BGMI’s 35-40MB.

1. Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

BGMI remains India’s best mobile FPS game in 2026 for a good reason. After its return post-ban, Krafton optimized it specifically for India. The game now runs at 60 FPS on Snapdragon 7-series chips and above, and the “Smooth” graphics setting with “Ultra” frame rate is the standard competitive setup for a reason, it keeps latency low during intense 4v4 TDM matches.

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) - #1 in 5 Best Mobile FPS Games in 2026
Image Source: BGMI

The 1.9GB initial download is reasonable, though updates can hit 500MB-1GB monthly. It works on 4GB RAM phones but expect longer load times.

The Top 5 Best Mobile FPS Games list is not definitive, so take it with a grain of salt. Priorities differ, so treat this as a starting point.

The landscape’s shifting. Rainbow Six Mobile and Valorant Mobile are both targeting 2026 launches. If either nails their PC pedigree while handling Indian audience and infrastructure, this list gets rewritten overnight. Worth watching, but don’t wait. Everything here plays solid right now.

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: All Teams, Opening Matches, and Tournament Format

Yash More
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VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: All Teams, Opening Matches, and Tournament Format

The 12 teams heading to VALORANT Masters Santiago have been confirmed, and Riot Games has now revealed the full tournament format along with the opening match schedule for the first international VCT event of 2026.

Running from February 28 to March 15, Masters Santiago will bring together three teams from each of the four VCT regions: Americas, EMEA, China, and Pacific. Here is everything you need to know about the qualified teams, the bracket format, and where to watch.

All 12 Teams Qualified for VALORANT Masters Santiago

The 12 participating teams are split evenly across the four international regions, with each region sending its top three finishers from the VCT Kickoff.

China

  • All Gamers (1st Seed)
  • Xi Lai Gaming (2nd Seed)
  • EDward Gaming (3rd Seed)

Pacific

  • Nongshim RedForce (1st Seed)
  • T1 (2nd Seed)
  • Paper Rex (3rd Seed)

Americas

  • FURIA (1st Seed)
  • G2 Esports (2nd Seed)
  • NRG Esports (3rd Seed)

EMEA

  • BBL Esports (1st Seed)
  • Gentle Mates (2nd Seed)
  • Team Liquid (3rd Seed)

Notable Absences: Fnatic, RRQ, and MIBR Miss Out

Not every team was able to secure their spot at Masters Santiago. Fnatic will be missing from an international VCT event for only the second time since the Partnership Programme was introduced, marking a rare absence for one of the most recognised names in VALORANT esports.

RRQ and MIBR both came close, reaching the Upper Finals in the Pacific and Americas Kickoff respectively. However, both teams lost three consecutive best-of-five series, which ended their hopes of qualifying for the event.

VALORANT Masters Santiago Format: Swiss Stage and Playoffs

The tournament is divided into two main stages: a Swiss Stage and a Playoffs bracket.

The four first seeds, one from each region, receive a direct bye into the Playoffs. These teams are All Gamers, Nongshim RedForce, FURIA, and BBL Esports.

The remaining eight teams will compete in the Swiss Stage, which runs from February 28 to March 4. The top four teams from the Swiss Stage will advance to join the four first seeds in the Playoffs.

The Playoffs will use a double-elimination bracket format and are scheduled to run from March 6 to March 15, with the final matches determining the Masters Santiago champion.

VALORANT Masters Santiago Opening Matches

The opening matchups for the Swiss Stage have been confirmed as follows:

  • Gentle Mates vs EDward Gaming
  • T1 vs Team Liquid
  • G2 Esports vs Paper Rex
  • Xi Lai Gaming vs NRG Esports

Championship Points Toward VCT Champions Shanghai

Performance at Masters Santiago will also contribute to Champions Shanghai qualification. The top four finishers at the event will earn Championship Points as follows:

  • 1st Place: 4 Points
  • 2nd Place: 3 Points
  • 3rd Place: 2 Points
  • 4th Place: 1 Point

How to Watch VALORANT Masters Santiago

All matches from VALORANT Masters Santiago will be broadcast live on the VALORANT Champions Tour’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.

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