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Twitch Revenue Hits “All-Time Low” as Streamers Switch to Kick

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Twitch Revenue Hits “All-Time Low” as Streamers Switch to Kick

Twitch has been bleeding streamers for a long time now as competition from KICK toughens up. This has been readily apparent in the drop in Twitch advertisement revenue, which has hit an “all-time low.”

Reports suggest that Twitch has been losing companies that were bringing in a big chunk of advertising revenue. In addition to this, streamers are also losing potential revenue after streaming on multiple platforms at once. Having the same creator on both platforms gives users less motivation to switch websites and has been a big reason why Twitch is suffering with the emergence of KICK.

“Ad revenue is at an all-time low,” said Knut. “It’s not down to zero, this (graphic) is a little bit overdone, this is a little bit exaggerated. It isn’t cut down to 10%, but it is down. 

“I talked to Mizkif about it yesterday as well, and he said he looked at his and when he saw his dashboard, his ad revenue compared to before is so s*it. But it’s good that we have KICK as well that we can help us.”

Although multi-streaming on KICK slashes the revenue down to 50%, having the flexibility of viewership across both platforms keeps creators from sticking to one. Multi-streaming is becoming more and more popular, and unless Twitch can lock in a few content creators exclusively to their platform, it is difficult to see them retain their throne as the most popular video game streaming platform.

Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store After Legal Victory

Aritra Patra
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Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store After Legal Victory

Epic Games’ Fortnite has successfully returned to the Apple App Store in the United States. The reinstatement came following a landmark federal court ruling that opposes Apple’s long-standing App Store practices, especially regarding in-app payment systems.

In August 2020, Epic Games added a direct payment feature to Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchasing mechanism that charged a commission of 30% on all transactions. The action resulted in Fortnite’s removal from the App Store, and Epic sued Apple for monopolistic behavior.

The fight in court ended in a 2021 decision in which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple’s anti-steering clauses, prohibitions against developers from sending users to other payment options, were against California’s Unfair Competition Law. Apple was not declared a monopolist, but the court required it to permit developers to include links for payments outside of the App Store.

Regardless of the ruling, Apple’s follow-up compliance efforts were not well received. Apple implemented a 27% commission on third-party transactions and made use of “scare screens” in an attempt to deter customers from using alternate payment options. In response, Judge Rogers charged Apple with intentionally violating the injunction and referred it for possible criminal contempt sanctions.

Fortnite’s Reinstatement and Apple’s Response

Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store After Legal Victory

In April 2025, Apple gave the go-ahead for Fortnite’s return to the App Store under judicial pressure. The move was welcomed by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney as a triumph for consumers and developers pushing for fair competition. Apple, however, has strongly disagreed with the court ruling and has appealed, seeking to reverse the ruling.

The ruling has far-reaching implications beyond Fortnite. Developers are now in a position to incorporate alternate payment systems into their apps, hopefully earning more of their revenue that was otherwise taken by Apple’s commissions. This change might lead other leading players like Spotify and Netflix to seek out alternate paths for in-app payments as well.

Additionally, the ruling could affect Apple’s partnerships with other technology companies. Microsoft, for one, has pointed to Apple’s restrictive measures as an obstacle to the opening of its Xbox mobile store, highlighting the wider industry implications of the court’s directive.

In Europe, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to enable alternative app stores and payment systems on its devices. Epic Games has used this law to distribute Fortnite via third-party app stores in the EU, further testing Apple’s grip on app distribution and monetization.

How to Acquire Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite?

Aritra Patra
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How to Acquire Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite?

Fortnite will bring the Mandalorian back into its world with a new, customizable skin in the “Mandalorian Rising” update on May 22, 2025. The drop is a flagship of Chapter 6 Season 3, “Galactic Battle,” that transports players to a Star Wars world with new characters, weapons, and game mechanics.

The Mandalorian skin will go live in Fortnite‘s Item Shop on May 22, 2025. Here is when it will go live in different regions:

  • India: May 23 at 5:30 AM IST
  • United States: May 22 at 8:00 PM ET
  • Europe: May 23 at 2:00 AM CET
  • Russia: May 23 at 3:00 AM MSK
  • Brazil: May 22 at 9:00 PM BRT
  • China: May 23 at 8:00 AM CST
  • New Zealand: May 23rd at 1:00 PM NZDT
  • Japan: May 23rd at 9:00 AM JST
  • Australia: May 23rd at 10:00 AM AEST

How to Get Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite?

How to Acquire Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite

The Mandalorian Warrior skin can be bought alone for 1,800 V-Bucks (around $13) or as a whole “Champions of Mandalore” bundle for 2,500 V-Bucks (around $18). The bundle provides an all-inclusive set of items at a lower price than if they were bought individually.

The Bundle contains:

  • Mandalorian Warrior Outfit: Editable with different pieces and styles of armor.
  • Vibrodagger & Personal Shield Pickaxe: Two-in-one harvesting tools that take design cues from Mandalorian weapons.
  • Mandalorian Cape Back Bling: A cross-over bling that complements the outfit.
  • Whistling Bird Salute Emote: A gesture that pays homage to the Mandalorian signature weapon.
  • Beskar Forge Emote: An emote that depicts the process of forging Beskar armor.
  • For Mandalore Wrap: A Mandalorian emblem and design-inspired weapon wrap.

Further, the skin features a LEGO-style version for application in LEGO Fortnite modes, which adds to its convenience in various game experiences.

This version of the Mandalorian skin provides highly customizable features, and players can change armor components like shoulders, thighs, arms, torso, helmet, and clothing. Which one of the skins mentioned above would you love to have? Let us know in the comments below.

Netflix Announces Clash of Clans Animated Series

Sonu Banerjee
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Netflix Announces Clash of Clans Animated Series

Netflix has confirmed that they’re working on a Clash of Clans animated series, bringing the fan-favorite mobile game to life.

The animated series, called “Clash,” will be based on Supercell’s Clash of Clans, and it’s already in the works at Netflix Animation.

The announcement, which seemingly came out of the blue, has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, with fans throughout the globe sharing their excitement across social media platforms.

Netflix has previously served as the platform for several acclaimed video game adaptations, including League of Legends’ Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, and a lot more. With this strong track record, expectations for the upcoming Clash of Clans animated series are higher than ever.

“Working with the incredible team at Supercell, Fletcher Moules, and Ron Weiner, we’re bringing all the fun, chaos, and spirit of the world of Clash to life in a whole new way,” John Derderian, the Vice President and Head of Animation Series at Netflix, said in a statement. “We can’t wait for fans (old and new) to experience the mayhem.”

Originally released in 2012, Clash of Clans is a free-to-play mobile strategy video game that has garnered the attention of millions of players over the years. In fact, CoC is often regarded as one of the most popular mobile games of all time.

TenZ Returns To Competitive Valorant With Cubert Academy

Sonu Banerjee
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TenZ Returns To Competitive Valorant With Cubert Academy

Legendary Valorant player Tyson ‘TenZ‘ Ngo has announced his return to the professional scene of the shooter as a last-minute substitute for Cubert Academy.

For the uninitiated, Cubert Academy is the academy roster for Sentinels, the organization TenZ currently represents as a content creator, making his sudden competitive comeback all the more surprising.

The news was confirmed via an announcement on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Sentinels, featuring a short video of TenZ himself declaring, “I guess I’m back!”

Later, the 24-year-old confirmed via an X post of his own that he will be livestreaming his POV during the tournament.

“Going to be subbing in playoffs for Cubert Academy, will be streaming my POV on my channels,” he said in his X handle. “Time to make my Challengers debut.”

During his stint with Cubert Academy, TenZ will be stepping in for Logan ‘skuba’ Jenkins, who recently transferred to NRG, till the org manages to find a replacement.

Fans looking to catch the Sentinels star live can tune into his Twitch handle on May 20th, as he makes his debut for Cubert Academy in a best-of-three clash against Winthrop University.

The Finals Announces First Major Event at DreamHack Stockholm

Sonu Banerjee
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The Finals Announces First Major Event at DreamHack Stockholm

On May 20th, Embark Studios announced the first-ever Major tournament for their competitive shooter, The Finals.

As per an official announcement from the company, The Finals DreamHack and ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) will host their first Major event at DreamHack Stockholm.

“This year’s Major will be held at DreamHack Stockholm, part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading force in global esports and gaming entertainment,” Embark Studios said in a statement. “It’s the perfect home for our biggest competitive event yet — right here in Stockholm, the city where THE FINALS was created.”

Scheduled to take place on November 28-29, 2025, the first major event for The Finals will see sixteen of the finest teams from throughout the world battling it out for a share of the $100,000 USD prize pool.

The Finals Major Qualifiers Schedule

Teams competing in the inaugural The Finals Major will earn their spots through a series of Open Qualifiers.

The Finals Major Open Qualifiers are set to kick off in early September 2025.

The top-performing teams from each region — NA, EMEA, and APAC — will then proceed to the Closed Qualifiers

The top 16 teams from the Closed Qualifiers will make their way to the Major.

The Closed Qualifiers for the event will be broadcast live.

Embark Studios has yet to reveal details on how to sign up for the open qualifiers, what the tournament format will be, or the broadcast and viewing schedules. The devs have confirmed that all of this information, along with behind-the-scenes insights, will be shared at a later date.

Actors’ Union Raises Concern for Fortnite AI Darth Vader

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Actors’ Union Raises Concern for Fortnite AI Darth Vader

The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA has raised a complaint against the developers of the popular Battle Royale Game Fortnite over their AI Darth Vader, which, according to them, was created while violating several terms of the agreement between the union and the developers.

According to the union, the developers managed to “replace the work of human performers with AI technology” without informing the union thus violating the terms of agreement thus triggering a complaint stating “unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilising AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work.”

“We must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games,” read their statement.

While the replacement of artists with AI has been a prevalent problem in recent times, this goes to show that it can go wrong in more ways than one. Having AI generate a voice that cannot be distinguished from the real character is truly disturbing, as it goes to show how easily misuse of this technology can happen.

Epic Games is yet to respond to this, but with the laws surrounding AI being in a grey area, it will be hard to fight this in a legal way, and there is a possibility of a disappointing outcome if it goes to court.

LoL 25.11 Patch Preview: All Buffs, Nerfs & Adjustments

Sonu Banerjee
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LoL 25.11 Patch Preview: All Buffs, Nerfs & Adjustments

With the release of the highly anticipated League of Legends 25.11 update being just around the corner, Riot Games has officially shed light on its patch preview ahead of its global release.

The LoL 25.11 patch is set to bring a number of crucial changes to the game that are certain to shake up the current competitive meta of the MOBA. Some of the highlights of the upcoming LoL patch include nerfs to Smolder and Cho’Gath, adjustments to Aatrox and Garen, alongside a plethora of other changes.

If you’re here to know more about the patch preview for LoL 25.11, we have you covered.

LoL 25.11 Patch Preview: All Changes

Without further ado, let’s check out the detailed patch preview for LoL 25.11, including all the Champion buffs, nerfs, and adjustments, as confirmed by Riot Games.

Champion buffs

  • Diana (Jungle)
  • Rengar
  • Ryze
  • Sivir
  • Twisted Fate
  • Twitch (AP)
  • Udyr

Champion nerfs

  • Cho’Gath
  • Elise
  • Lucian
  • Smolder

Champion adjustments

  • Aatrox
  • Annie
  • Garen
  • Kassadin
  • Samira

System buffs

  • Horizon Focus

According to a statement from ‘RiotPhroxzon,’ the current meta is in a good place, so the team is avoiding any unnecessary adjustments.

Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 4 Release Date Announced

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 4 Release Date Announced

After months of waiting, Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 4 finally have an official release date from the developers. In a collective announcement post on X, the official Call of Duty handle has announced the release of their flagship projects for 2025.

The announcement confirms the return of fan favourite character Snitch. With the arrival of Black Ops 6 Season 4, Snitch is set to play a key role in the game as the story pans out further into the future. While the final cut scene had us believe that we saw the end of him, the announcement has shocked everyone, making it interesting to see how he survived.

The official announcement confirmed that the game will be arriving on May 29. The collective release will give us both Black Ops 6 as well as an updated version of their Battle Royale in Warzone.

While this has been the pattern for the past few years, it is interesting to see the developers move up the release date from October. Besides the new campaign and new Warzone season, Black Ops 6 will have tons of new elements across different game modes as promised by the developers, but only time can tell whether they are any good.

Fortunately, the game is just two weeks away, giving us enough time to prepare for its release. CoD boasts a huge player base, which makes its opening day one of the interesting ones, while CoD games have generally given out mixed reactions from fans, Black Ops has been a fan favourite in recent history, and the developers look to continue to build on that success with their latest release.

Nintendo Partners With Samsung for Faster Switch 2 Production

Aritra Patra
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0
Nintendo Partners With Samsung for Faster Switch 2 Production

With the gaming world waiting excitedly for the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, the console’s launch is already greeted by a record-breaking wave of demand. More than 2.2 million requests were made in Japan alone via the lottery system on the My Nintendo Store, a number much more than the initial expectations of Nintendo.

This resounding reaction has encouraged Nintendo to post an apology, stating that the first shipment will fall short of meeting the great demand. To avoid disappointment, the company has inducted unsuccessful applicants into a second drawing by lot automatically, though it admits this step, too, may fall short of appeasing all interested buyers.

Partnership with Samsung to Boost Production

To meet the demand shortage, Nintendo has entered into a strategic alliance with Samsung to improve production capacity. Samsung will provide critical components, such as the main processing units for the Switch 2, in an attempt to boost manufacturing and achieve the sales goal of 15 million units by March 2026.

This partnership is not new, as Samsung already supplied OLED displays for the initial Switch model. Although the Switch 2 ships with a future-proof LCD screen, plans to include OLED technology in future models are also being discussed, promising more immersive visuals for consumers.

The Nintendo Switch 2 brings major hardware improvements compared to its predecessor. It has a 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 1080p, variable refresh rates of up to 120 Hz, and HDR10 support. The console is powered by a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor, paired with 12 GB of RAM, putting its performance close to that of last-generation consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One.

Other upgrades are 256 GB internal storage that can be expanded through 2 TB microSD Express cards, Wi-Fi 6, and an inbuilt microphone for the new GameChat feature. The dock supports 4K/60fps output, addressing those who are gamers and want high-definition experiences.

The Switch 2 costs approximately $449.99 in the United States. While worries have been raised about price rises via global trade tariffs, Nintendo has held these prices stable, although accessory costs have had some changes.

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