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IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 3 Day 2 Recap

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 3 Day 2 Recap

The second day of the IEM Cologne Major has concluded with top sides finding form, underdogs causing upsets, and teams fighting to make a statement on the grand stage of professional Counter-Strike. While the high-stakes game starts tomorrow, the performances today will determine the cushion they have before the playoffs.

As it stands

TeamMRWRLRDRecord
Spirit26131+302-0
FURIA25739+182-0
BetBoom26351+122-0
9z26456+82-0
Vitality26453+111-1
MOUZ25142+91-1
The MongolZ25954+51-1
Falcons2606001-1
G22666601-1
Monte25053-31-1
Aurora24852-41-1
Natus Vincere23540-51-1
FUT25063-130-2
PARIVISION25067-170-2
B823155-240-2
Legacy22552-270-2

Highlights of the day

Losing to BetBoom on Day 1, Asian powerhouse The MongolZ put themselves in the 1-1 bracket, securing a quick 2-0 over B8. Despite losing their own map, FURIA secured a much-needed 2-0 win over MOUZ, and now they are a win away from the playoffs. Monte’s reverse-sweeping PARIVISION gave them their first win of Stage 3 as Jame’s side fell to a 0-2 bracket. G2’s solid performance against FUT gave them their first win of the Stage before their rivals from Day 1 gave us the upset of the day as Falcons’ disasterclass saw them drop the ball against BetBoom, where they walked away with a 2-0 loss. The upset of the day came with 9Z winning back-to-back maps to come back against the favorites, Vitality, to send them down to the 1-1 bracket. The final game of the day had Spirit taking on Aurora, and despite a tough fight, Spirit managed to secure the victory.

Day 3 Matches

TimeMatchFormat
14:30Natus Vincere vs The MongolZBO3
14:30B8 vs FUTBO3
17:00Aurora vs G2BO3
17:00Falcons vs MonteBO3
19:30Vitality vs MOUZBO3
19:30PARIVISION vs LegacyBO3
22:00BetBoom vs FURIABO3
22:00Spirit vs 9zBO3

Closing the day with back-to-back bangers, the Major is now blown wide open. With underdogs performing and favourites failing to meet expectations, this might be one of the most uncertain Majors in recent times. Teams build up form as the event progresses, but picking favourites at this point would be like taking a shot in the dark.

Dutch Gamers Take on Steam in €220 Million Monopoly Claim

Sonu Banerjee
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0
Dutch Gamers Take on Steam in €220 Million Monopoly Claim

Dutch consumer foundation Stichting Consumenten Competition Claims (CCC) has launched legal proceedings against Valve Corporation, the company behind the world’s largest PC gaming platform, Steam.

The case, branded “GameClaim,” represents roughly two million Dutch PC gamers who have purchased games via digital storefronts going as far back as 2013.

In its claim, the foundation argues that Valve exploits its estimated 85% stranglehold on the PC gaming market to keep game prices artificially higher than they would otherwise be under genuine competition.

A key mechanism cited in the complaint is the use of pricing parity clauses. These terms reportedly prevent game devs from offering their titles at lower prices on rival platforms such as the Epic Games Store, keeping the broader market inflated.

The CCC also takes aim at Valve’s standard 30% commission on all game sales and in-game transactions. They argue this cut is not a product of fair market competition but rather a reflection of unchecked monopoly power.

Since then, Valve has pushed back against the allegations, maintaining their stance on the topic that consumers have no shortage of alternatives and that its dominance in the PC gaming market is simply the result of building a superior platform.

It’s noteworthy that the 30% commission, which is frequently cited as evidence of monopolistic behavior, is also the standard rate charged by PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Apple.

The CCC is currently pursuing an out-of-court settlement before escalating things further. However, the foundation has made it clear that it is willing to pursue formal litigation for up to three to five years if Valve refuses to come to the table.

This isn’t the first time Valve has been on the receiving end of a lawsuit involving Steam. We saw a similar class action back in early 2026 in the United Kingdom, which carries a valuation of around €756 million.

Meanwhile, independent developers in the United States are separately pushing antitrust claims against Valve over broadly similar platform practices. The legal pressure on Steam is mounting on multiple fronts, and how Valve responds in the Netherlands could set a significant precedent for the cases still to come.

How to Get King Sprite in Fortnite

Sonu Banerjee
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How to Get King Sprite in Fortnite

While Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 has introduced a plethora of new content to the game, Sprites are undoubtedly one of the biggest additions of the latest update. Unlike their previous implementation in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1, players are now able to permanently collect sprites in the Epic Games battle royale, adding them to their lockers for future runs.

The King Sprite is one of the more interesting picks in the collection of available sprites in Fortnite. It gives players a boost to their Pickaxe damage, which is a niche but potentially powerful perk for players who like to engage in melee combat frequently or just wreak havoc with their melee weapons.

If you’re here to know more about how to get the King Sprite in Fortnite, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about how to add the King Sprite to your collection.

Where to Find King Sprite in Fortnite

Sprites in Fortnite are usually hidden inside Sprite Chests and Rare Chests.

To get the King Sprite in Fortnite, your best bet is to loot Epic Sprite sources and search for Epic Level Vaults spread across the map. Landing near high-traffic POIs can boost your chances since more chests are concentrated there. 

The King Sprite is in the Epic rarity tier, which means it’s not the easiest to come across, but it’s also far from the rarest thing on the island.

How to Add King Sprite to Your Fortnite Collection?

While finding a Sprite in your Fortnite games will grant you its effects for the remainder of the match, it isn’t enough to add it to your locker. You’ll need to bring your King Sprite to an extraction point to claim it, and once successfully extracted, it enters your permanent collection for use in future matches.

If you get eliminated by another player before you can extract, the Sprite goes up for grabs.

Once you have the King Sprite secured, you can level it up to make its ability more powerful, with bonus cosmetic rewards tied to mastering it.

That’s everything you need to know about how to get King Sprite in Fortnite.

How to Fix Forza Horizon 6 Save File Bug

Aritra Patra
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How to Fix Forza Horizon 6 Save File Bug

Players on Xbox Series X|S are losing game progress in Forza Horizon 6 due to a save file bug that is currently under investigation by Playground Games. The studio has issued an official statement and published a support document with steps players can take to lower their risk of data loss.

Reports of missing saves have been surfacing on Reddit and social media. After multiple complaints, Playground Games issued a statement and published a new support document. Some players say they lost more than 100 hours of progress. Reports cover both PC and Xbox users.

Some affected players report that their profile suddenly reset to a blank state after launching the game. Others say save data disappeared after a crash or a failed cloud sync.

Playground Games has not explicitly confirmed the root cause, but details shared so far point toward a problem involving Xbox cloud saves, Gaming Services, and save synchronization between devices.

Disable Quick Resume Right Now

The top recommendation from Forza Support for Xbox Series X|S players is to turn off Quick Resume for Forza Horizon 6. Quick Resume lets players suspend a game and return to it from the same point after restarting the console. Some players suspect that resuming a previously paused session causes issues with cloud save synchronization.

Here is how to disable it, according to the official Forza Support page:

  • Highlight the game box art anywhere in the console experience
  • Press the Menu button
  • Go to Manage game and add-ons
  • Then Quick Resume settings
  • Select Disable Quick Resume

Other Steps to Protect Your Save

Beyond disabling Quick Resume, Playground Games has provided the following advice as a general rule of thumb:

  • Keep your Gaming Services app fully up to date on both PC and Xbox Series X|S. Stay online when quitting the game.
  • Give your save time to sync to the cloud before powering off or switching devices, and do not force quit the game during save screens.
  • Always use “Quit” on console or “Exit to desktop” on PC once you finish a session, and make sure the save icon is not visible when you close the game.
  • On PC, save files are stored at C:\XboxGames\GameSaves/pgs. Copying that file to a separate location is a good way to keep a manual backup.

A theory circulating in the Forza Horizon 6 community connects save corruption to certain cars that recently became available as in-game prizes. The unofficial list includes the 1993 Schuppan 962CR, the 2003 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, the 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000QV, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, and the 2020 Wuling Sunshine S Forza Edition. The risk appears to be tied to interacting with these cars in the garage, specifically painting them, applying liveries or decals, or sharing designs. The connection has not been confirmed by Playground Games.

What to Do If Your Save Is Already Gone

Playground Games is advising affected players to open a ticket on the Forza Support website immediately. “We highly advise that you submit your ticket the same day the issue occurs to increase the chances of recovery. In the meantime, do not start new play sessions or create new saves until Forza Support has reviewed your case,” the studio said.

If Forza Support cannot recover your save fully, they can restore your inventory, including cars, money, and Wheel Spins, but you will need to redo the campaign and collectibles yourself.

Fix Status

Playground Games has confirmed that fixes have rolled out for Windows PC users via Xbox’s Gaming Services application. A system update for Xbox players was scheduled to arrive on June 12, 2026.

PC players on Windows, including Steam, should confirm that their Gaming Services app is running version 37.114.10001.0 or higher.

This issue requires a full Xbox system update to address, which is unusual. It is hard to think of another game that has needed what is essentially an operating system-level fix to resolve a problem affecting players.

Until that update lands, disabling Quick Resume and following Playground’s save guidelines is the safest approach.

How to Get the Dave the Diver Skin in Fortnite for Free

Aritra Patra
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0
How to Get the Dave the Diver Skin in Fortnite for Free

Epic Games has officially added Dave the Diver to Fortnite as part of the Gaming Legends series. The skin is based on the main character from MintRocket’s indie underwater adventure game, and players can get it for free, provided they already own or plan to buy the game.

Here is everything you need to know about the collab, the free skin method, and the Item Shop date.

What Is the Dave the Diver Fortnite Collab?

Epic Games announced Dave the Diver as its latest addition to the Gaming Legends series. The collab was not a surprise for those who follow Fortnite news closely. MintRocket, the studio behind Dave the Diver, was listed as one of the new partners in Epic’s collaboration program, making it one of the more unique entries among the announced studios.

The crossover brings two cosmetics to Fortnite:

  • Dave the Diver Outfit
  • Dave’s Oxygen Tank Back Bling

Both items are based on the main character from the game, where players dive into the ocean during the day and run a sushi restaurant at night.

How to Get the Dave the Diver Skin for Free

Players can claim the Dave the Diver skin for free by purchasing Dave the Diver or the Dave the Diver: In The Jungle Content Pack on the Epic Games Store.

This is part of Epic’s Store Loyalty Promotion. Starting in the first half of 2026, buying certain third-party games on the Epic Games Store automatically grants exclusive Fortnite cosmetics.

Follow these steps to claim the skin:

  • Click here.
  • Purchase the base game for $19.99, or buy the Dave the Diver: In The Jungle Content Pack releasing on June 18, 2026.
  • Make sure you are logged into the same Epic Games account linked to your Fortnite profile.
  • Log in to Fortnite after June 18, 2026, to receive the notification and claim both items.

The skin will not be granted immediately. Players will have to wait until June 18, 2026, to receive the Dave the Diver Outfit and Dave’s Oxygen Tank Back Bling.

There is one thing worth knowing before you buy. If you already purchased the Dave the Diver Outfit and Dave’s Oxygen Tank Back Bling from the Fortnite Item Shop before buying the game on the Epic Games Store, you will not receive duplicate items. Instead, you will get a one-time grant of 1,500 V-Bucks.

Note: As long as you are signed into your Epic account on PC or mobile, or have linked your console accounts to your Epic account, both cosmetics will appear in your Locker on every connected platform.

How to Get the Vini Jr Skin in Fortnite

Team Falcons Defeats G2 to Start IEM Cologne 2026 Major Campaign

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Team Falcons Defeats G2 to Start IEM Cologne 2026 Major Campaign

Falcons has secured their first win of the IEM Cologne Campaign, beating G2 Esports with a 2-1 scoreline. Having lost the first map, Falcons managed to win back-to-back maps to send G2 to the 0-1 bracket. With the stars for the Falcons showing up when called for, the team starts its Major run with what can only be described as what can only be described as a highly convincing performance.

VETO

  • G2 removed Nuke
  • Falcons removed Overpass
  • G2 picked Inferno
  • Falcons picked Dust2
  • Falcons removed Mirage
  • G2 removed Anubis
  • Ancient was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: G2; Winner: G2

Starting the map with no team able to win more than two rounds in a row, momentum kept swaying both ways until the Falcons secured back-to-back rounds on their defense to edge out the half with a 7-5 lead. Falcons went on a winning streak, having won the pistol, only to give away the momentum to force a buy from G2. Winning their first round of the defense, G2 found stability, which ensured it cruised to match point as a poorly played offense from Falcons failed to yield anything significant, leading to a 13-10 win for the huNter-led G2 fueled by NiKo dropping a 27-kill masterclass.

Map 2: Dust2; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons

Trading rounds to open up the game, the Falcons managed to find footing on their offense, which it used to build on to reach a dominant 10-2. G2, playing a highly disconnected game on their defense, swapped sides with only 2 rounds to its name. 5 rounds to streak to kick off the game, G2 managed to close in on the lead before Falcons put together 3 in a row to reach series point. With m0NESY stepping up on the defense, Falcons built late into the game. m0NESY, securing an easy clutch against huNter on the B site, closed the game with a clean 1v1 conversion to take the game to the final map.

Map 3: Ancient; Pick: Decider; Winner: Falcons

4-0 start for G2 put Falcons on the back foot right from the get-go, only to drop the ball later, leading to Falcons recovering with a streak of their own, which concluded the half with the latter leading 7-5. Moving to the offense, the Falcons’ loss to the G2 force led to the scoreline getting levelled before both teams traded rounds to push the game to Overtime. As OT progressed, the Falcons walked away with 2 back-to-back rounds, leading to a 14-13 lead before moving to the defense. Winning back-to-back rounds, the Falcons closed the game with a 16-13 scoreline, with Kyousuke topping charts with 24 kills for them.

G2 losing out to the Falcons despite pushing the game close speaks to how good the Falcons team is, and if anything is to be taken out of this match, it is that G2 are one of the better sides in the event, and they pose a solid chance to go through to the playoffs unless they fail to convert the following matches.

New CS2 Update Improves the Cologne 2026 Major Shop, Storage Units, and More

How to Get the Vini Jr Skin in Fortnite

Sonu Banerjee
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0
How to Get the Vini Jr Skin in Fortnite

Only hours ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, football superstar and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. has made his way into Fortnite as the game’s latest addition to the elite Icon Series lineup.

Fans of the Brazilian star shouldn’t wait too long, though, as the Vini Jr. cosmetics are only available in the Fortnite Item Shop for a limited time. Players will need to act fast before the bundle leaves the store and potentially doesn’t return for quite some time.

Fortnite Vini Jr Bundle Contents

The Vini Jr. collaboration is a full eight-piece cosmetic set, giving players plenty to work with. Here’s everything that’s included in the latest bundle:

  • Vini Jr. skin (Outfit)
  • Vini Fashion Flow (Outfit)
  • Vini’s 7 Striker (Pickaxe)
  • Vini’s Football Maces (Pickaxe)
  • VJR Glow (Back Bling)
  • Vini’s Day Game Gear (Back Bling)
  • On Target (Emote)

How to Get the Fortnite Vini Jr Skin

The Fortnite Vini Jr bundle officially went live in the Fortnite Item Shop on June 10, 2026, at 8 PM ET. The full bundle is priced at 2,600 V-Bucks.

Here’s how you can grab the Vini Jr skin in Fortnite right away:

  • Launch Fortnite.
  • Head over to the Item Shop.
  • Go to the Vini Jr collab section.
  • Select the full bundle or choose the individual pieces that you wish to buy.
  • Hold down Purchase and finish the transaction.

Once you complete the transaction process, you’ll be able to find the Fortnite Vini Jr skin and any other cosmetics you purchased in your game locker.

As mentioned earlier, the Fortnite Vini Jr bundle disappears from the Item Shop on June 20, 2026, at 8 AM ET, so be sure to grab it before then.

That’s everything you need to know about how to get the Vini Jr skin in Fortnite.

New CS2 Update Improves the Cologne 2026 Major Shop, Storage Units, and More

Sonu Banerjee
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0
New CS2 Update Improves the Cologne 2026 Major Shop, Storage Units, and More

Valve has shipped out a brand-new update to Counter-Strike 2 on June 11th, and while it doesn’t introduce any drastic changes to the shooter amid the Major, it does include some nice quality-of-life improvements for the regular player.

The June 11 CS2 update is a small one, and it only includes a few QoL improvements alongside some minor fixes.

The Cologne 2026 Major Shop is seeing a nice little UI change, while the Storage Units in general see some much-needed improvements.

Moving forward, players will be able to accurately assess the lowest and highest prices of any sticker in the last 7 days via the Major Shop. A multi-select functionality has also been added to Storage Units, rendering it much easier for players to retrieve or deposit items in bulk.

In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about the latest CS2 patch.

CS2 June 11 Update Patch Notes Revealed: All Changes

Below, we have listed the detailed patch notes for the June 11 CS2 update, as officially revealed by Valve:

[ COLOGNE 2026 ]

  • Added display of lowest and highest sticker price in the last 7 days in the Cologne 2026 Major Shop.
  • Added stickers showcase to the Cologne 2026 Major Hub tile on the main menu.

[ MISC ]

  • Added multi-select functionality in Storage Units deposit/retrieve UI.
  • Added appropriate error message when user’s inventory is full and they try to redeem Weekly Care Package rewards, Armory items, or items in the Major Shop cart.
  • Fixed number wrapping rules in some languages.

How to Get the Free Groot Ironwood Serpent Skin in Marvel Rivals

Aritra Patra
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0
How to Get the Free Groot Ironwood Serpent Skin in Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals Season 8.5 is live, and NetEase is giving players a free epic Groot skin through the new Shenloong Tournament event. You do not need to spend any money to get it. You just need to play matches and work through the event tiers.

Here is everything you need to know.

What Is the Shenloong Tournament?

The Shenloong Tournament is a new event that launched alongside Season 8.5. It is not a paid battle pass. All 12 rewards in the event can be unlocked for free, including the epic Groot Ironwood Serpent skin.

The event runs from June 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC to July 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC. That gives players about four weeks to finish it.

The Shenloong Tournament event kicked off alongside the new K’un-Lun: Shenloong Arena map, which introduces Bounty Annihilation, a new 18v18 game mode.

How to Get the Groot Ironwood Serpent Skin for Free

To unlock the Groot Ironwood Serpent costume, you need to complete event missions. The skin sits at Tier 12, which is the final tier of the Shenloong Tournament pass. You earn XP by playing matches, and each tier you clear gets you a new cosmetic reward.

Since there is no premium version of this pass, you are not locked out of anything. Every reward is available to all players who put in the time.

There are 12 total rewards in the event. The Groot Ironwood Serpent skin is the last one you unlock. Here is the full list:

RewardType
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” NameplateFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” Animated SprayFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” EmoteFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” Emoji BundleFree
Cyclops SprayFree
Gallery CardFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” Mood BundleFree
Gallery CardFree
Galacta SprayFree
Apocalypse Gallery CardFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” MVPFree
Groot “Ironwood Serpent” CostumeFree

The whole Marvel Rivals bundle is themed around Groot. If you play the character regularly, this is worth completing.

Fortnite Leak Points to The Batman’s Batmobile Arriving in Chapter 7 Season 3

Aritra Patra
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0
Fortnite Leak Points to The Batman’s Batmobile Arriving in Chapter 7 Season 3

A new leak from a known Fortnite dataminer suggests that the Batmobile from Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) is on its way to Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3. If accurate, players will be able to use the vehicle as a car body in both Battle Royale and Rocket Racing.

The leak comes from SamLeakss, a dataminer with a track record in the Fortnite and Rocket Racing communities. According to their post on X, the 2022 Batmobile is currently in development for Fortnite. No official release date has been confirmed by Epic Games, but SamLeakss points to the June 25, 2026 Fortnite update as the likely window for its arrival.

It is worth noting that this is based on datamined information, not an official announcement. Leak timelines can shift.

Vehicle Cosmetic Only, No Skin Confirmed

This crossover looks like it will be limited to vehicle cosmetics. There is currently no indication that a skin based on Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman is in the works alongside it.

That follows a pattern Epic has used for recent collabs. The Ratatouille collaboration, for example, also included only vehicle cosmetics and no character skins. Fortnite already has eight separate Batman outfits, representing different versions of the character across various crossovers. A skin tied to The Batman 2022 has not been confirmed for this update.

The Batmobile body would be usable across Battle Royale matches and in Rocket Racing, where players can equip licensed vehicle bodies from their locker.

The Batman Crossovers in Fortnite So Far

Batman has appeared in Fortnite more than most DC characters. Previous crossovers brought in the Batman Zero skin and the LEGO Batman Legacy pickaxe, among others. The 2022 film, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, has not had its own dedicated skin in the game yet.

The Batman Part 2 is currently scheduled for release in 2027. That film could be the hook for a fuller crossover that includes a character skin tied to Pattinson’s version of Bruce Wayne.

Chapter 7 Season 3 Context

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3, codenamed “Runners,” launched on June 6, 2026, and runs until August 19, 2026. The season is built around the collection of Sprites and features a new storyline following the return of Slone and The Singularity. The June 25 update would be a mid-season content drop, which is a common delivery window for item shop additions and vehicle cosmetics.

Fortnite Sprite Chest Locations in Chapter 7 Season 3 Revealed
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