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Ascent, Lotus Removed From Valorant’s Map Rotation in Act 6, Split & Pearl Returns

Sonu Banerjee
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Ascent, Lotus Removed From Valorant’s Map Rotation in Act 6, Split & Pearl Returns

Valorant fans will soon have to bid farewell to two of the most beloved maps in the current competitive map rotation, as the devs have announced the new map pool for the upcoming Act 6 update.

As confirmed by Riot Games in a recent X post, Ascent and Lotus will be leaving the competitive Valorant map pool with the 11.08 update. The two maps will be replaced by Split and Pearl instead.

The Valorant 11.08 update is expected to go live on October 14, 2025, following the conclusion of Champions 2025. The patch will introduce the new map pool to the shooter alongside a host of other changes.

Following this update, the Valorant competitive map pool will include these maps:

  • Abyss
  • Bind
  • Corrode
  • Haven
  • Sunset
  • Pearl
  • Split

At the time of writing, no new changes or significant revamps for either Split or Pearl have been confirmed by Riot, so expect to see the same iterations of the maps as before when they return to the competitive pool in Act 6.

Note that Ascent and Lotus, alongside all the other maps that are not a part of the active map pool, will still be available to play on modes like Swiftplay and Spike Rush.

Counter-Strike 2 VAC Live Update Wreaks Havoc in Cheat Forums & Nukes Bot Farms

Sonu Banerjee
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Counter-Strike 2 VAC Live Update Wreaks Havoc in Cheat Forums & Nukes Bot Farms

On September 13, chaos broke out in cheat forums revolving around Counter-Strike 2, with cheaters complaining that they were getting banned for using methods that were previously considered undetectable.

This was a direct result of Valve’s VAC Live update on the same date, with the company cracking down on cheaters and rendering nearly all forms of known cheats completely ineffective overnight.

The news was first brought to light by prominent CS2 leaker and dataminer Gabe Follower on X. According to him, the new VAC Live update had completely “annihilated almost all known cheats, including some wallhacks and trigger bots that work through DMA cards.”

The post by Gabe Follower also featured a screenshot in which a presumed cheat developer admitted that the VAC Live update was “pretty strong.”

Before this update, hardware-level cheats such as DMA (Direct Memory Access) cards were regarded as virtually undetectable, since they operate independently of the host system’s software stack and communicate directly with system memory. Valve’s latest update appears to address this blind spot, implying that external devices and memory manipulation techniques operating outside traditional user-mode or kernel-mode injection pathways are now being monitored and flagged.

In a follow-up X post, the leaker mentioned that the new update also cracked down on case farming bots, which were becoming a growing concern within the community, with Deathmatch lobbies frequently overrun by bots farming for cases.

Needless to say, the CS2 community has been ecstatic about the VAC Live update, with many players expressing their joy across social media and forums. Some, however, remain skeptical, claiming that the game will soon be overrun with cheaters again once cheat devs find a workaround.

Valve has not made an official statement regarding this VAC Live update at the time of writing.

Team Falcons Claims The International 2025 Championship

Aritra Patra
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Team Falcons Claims The International 2025 Championship

Team Falcons beat Xtreme Gaming 3-2 in a nail-biting grand final at The International 2025, winning the Aegis of Champions and securing their position in Dota 2 history.

The Hamburg Barclays Arena championship game on September 14, 2025, ended the most dramatic tournament in recent history with both teams showcasing spectacular talent in five fiercely fought games. Team Falcons took home the lion’s share of the tournament’s $2.6 million prize purse, with around $1.1 million.

Historic Achievements for Falcons Roster

The win represents a career highlight moment for many members of the team. Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen finally took home his first TI title after nine consecutive tournament appearances since 2016. The Danish support player’s determination to succeed through almost a decade of tries has placed him among the most iconic winners in the history of the tournament.

Oliver “Skiter” Lepko and Jing “Sneyking” Wu became part of the rare two-time TI champion club after they previously claimed it with Tundra Esports in 2022. Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak and Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf won their first world championship titles.

Most impressively, Team Falcons coach Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling joined the exclusive club of individuals in TI history to have won three championships, having done so previously as a player with Evil Geniuses in 2015 and as a coach with Tundra Esports in 2022. This record-breaking performance makes him one of the greatest competitive Dota 2 players of all time.

China’s Championship Drought Continues

The loss stretches China’s nine-year title drought, with Wings Gaming being the previous Chinese squad to have won the Aegis in 2016. Wang “Ame” Chunyu, who is dubbed “the uncrowned king,” lost his third grand final match in five attempts after failing previously in 2018 and 2021. The experienced carry player’s seventh TI appearance was cut short in familiar heartbreak despite individual brilliance throughout the series.

Xtreme Gaming’s path to the final was especially notable considering. The team played with stand-in Yap “xNova” Jian Wei after Wilson “poloson” Koh Chin was forced to sit out because of health concerns. Even with this loss, they swept the group stage before embarking on a strong lower bracket run to get to the championship game.

The International 2025 featured a new Swiss-system format for the group stage, replacing the traditional round-robin structure. Sixteen teams competed for the championship, with the tournament split between “The Road to The International” and the main event playoffs held at the 16,000-seat Barclays Arena.

This was the first time The International has visited Germany since the first tournament held in Gamescom in 2011. The success of the tournament in Hamburg has paved the way for The International 2026, which Valve announced would be held in Shanghai, China, in August, a faster timing than previously.

NRG Is the Winner of RLCS World Championship 2025

Aritra Patra
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NRG Is the Winner of RLCS World Championship 2025

North American esports organization NRG has ended a six-year championship dry spell for the region by beating Team Falcons 4-1 in the RLCS World Championship 2025 grand final to secure their second world championship in front of an electric crowd at Lyon’s LDLC Arena.

The win on September 14th was a milestone for Rocket League in North America, with NRG being the first North American squad to hoist the world championship trophy since their victory in 2019. The 2,100-day wait for regional dominance was eventually over as Massimo “Atomic” Franceschi, Landon “BeastMode” Konerman, and Daniel “Daniel” Piecenski gave a masterclass display under the leadership of coach Matthew “Satthew” Ackermann.

The final game highlighted NRG’s strategic expertise and nerves of steel. Following an early 1-0 lead for Team Falcons, courtesy of a defensive clinic on Forbidden Temple, NRG took charge of the series with clinical brutality. The game-changer was Game 3 on DFH Stadium, with NRG taking the win in overtime just 13 seconds into overtime, before clinching a 2-1 victory on Utopia Coliseum (Dusk).

BeastMode’s forceful challenge manner matched perfectly with Daniel’s calculated third-man play, while Atomic’s unselfish rotations and accurate shot placing kept Team Falcons under pressure all the time. The American superteam wrapped up their title with a calm 3-2 win on AquaDome (Salty Shallows), sending fans into ecstatic celebrations both on the stage and in the arena.

BeastMode’s standout tournament play was rewarded with the RLCS 2025 Season MVP award, topping off his North American regular season MVP award. The 18-year-old Daniel was in form throughout the season and showed exceptional improvement playing alongside Atomic, with the level of trust and chemistry that has proved so threatening as a roster.

NRG’s Way to LDLC Arena

The RLCS World Championship 2025 featured the most competitive roster of teams in the championship’s history, with 20 teams competing for a respectable $1.2 million prize pool. NRG’s route to victory was by no means straightforward, starting with a dominant 4-0 semifinal win over Geekay Esports in the morning.

The competition was hosted at Lyon’s massive LDLC Arena, where around 36,000 spectators attended the three-day event between September 12-14. The French host showed an electric ambiance that was on par with classical sporting events, as crowds jumped, chanted, and celebrated all day long during the grueling matches.

NRG’s victory was especially notable considering the across-the-board skepticism about North American teams participating in the tournament. The region’s prospects were already discounted by many experts, with some opining that Middle Eastern and European teams would run amok. NRG took their underdog billing to heart, utilizing it as a source of motivation to silence their critics.

Team Falcons, the Middle East and North Africa team, had themselves created history as the first team from the region to make it to a World Championship final. Their path to the grand final, which involved triumphs over tournament favourites such as Karmine Corp, indicated the international expansion of Rocket League esports.

NRG’s championship win earned them the winner’s share of $300,000, with Team Falcons earning $153,000 for their runner-up position. The large prize pool split is a testament to the ongoing expansion and investment in Rocket League esports, amid recent issues within the scene, such as team slates leaving and restructuring within organizations.

ScoutOP Retires from BGMI Esports

Moin Khot
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ScoutOP Retires from BGMI Esports

The Indian esports community witnessed a historic moment on 14th September, 2025, as Tanmay “ScoutOP” Singh officially announced his retirement from BGMI competitive esports following the conclusion of BGMS 2025 Grand Finals. With a simple yet emotional message, “Officially signing off. Tysm for everything,” one of India’s most iconic gaming legends drew the curtains on a seven-year journey that transformed both his life and the Indian mobile esports landscape.

ScoutOP Bids Farewell to BGMI Esports: The End of an Era

ScoutOP’s journey began far from gaming. A promising national-level footballer from Daman, an ACL injury during his engineering studies forced him off the pitch. Discovering PUBG Mobile during recovery, he found a new passion. In 2018, he dropped out of college to pursue esports, quickly rising through the ranks with Team IND before stints at Fnatic, GodLike Esports, Orange Rock, Team Soul, and ultimately his own Team XSpark. He also played for numerous other teams, including 7Seas, Medal Esports, and more.

Throughout his career, ScoutOP carried the weight of India’s hopes on his shoulders. He often reiterated his singular ambition: “The goal still remains the same: To get a trophy for the country and wear that Indian flag.” Despite numerous international appearances, that coveted global championship trophy eluded him. His best finish came as runner-up at the PUBG Mobile World League 2020: East with Orange Rock Esports, a historic second place and India’s highest global placement to date.

ScoutOP’s defining moment arrived at the Peacekeeper Elite Championship (PEC) 2019 in China, where he stunned the world with an 11-kill performance. Facing China’s dominant teams, he eliminated few of the world’s best players, leaving casters and competitors in awe. This legendary display cemented his reputation as one of the world’s deadliest solo players.

His swan song came at BGMS 2025 with Medal Esports, where he and his team finished eighth. While not the triumphant exit he envisioned, ScoutOP’s journey had already cemented his status as a pioneer who inspired an entire generation of Indian gamers.

ScoutOP’s Influence in the Indian Gaming and Esports Industry

ScoutOP is arguably one of the most influencing figure in the history of Indian gaming and esports industry. Not only esports, his influence extends into content creation, where he commands 5.08 million YouTube subscribers and 4.4 million Instagram followers. His livestreams revolutionized the Indian scene, popularizing a ton of metas in PUBG Mobile and BGMI esports scenes, including gyroscope controls. Collaborations with international stars like Dr. Disrespect further amplified India’s presence on the global stage.

As ScoutOP steps away from competitive play at age 29, his dream of lifting a global trophy for India may remain unfulfilled, but his legacy is indelible. He transformed Indian mobile esports from a casual pastime into a respected profession, and his name will forever evoke the golden age of competitive BGMI.

Is Peak Coming to Console? Latest on PS5, Xbox, or Switch Release Plans

Yash More
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Is Peak Coming to Console? Latest on PS5, Xbox, or Switch Release Plans

Peak—the viral co-op climbing game from Landcrab and Aggro Crab that’s selling millions and making friendship groups question their loyalties—is only available on PC (Steam) right now. Despite massive demand, there’s no official Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch port as of September 2025, and the developers’ official stance is clear: PC first, consoles maybe later.

What Did the Developers Actually Say?

In the official Peak Discord FAQ, when asked which platforms the game supports, the answer is:

“At the moment we’re only supporting Windows PC’s for the game, in the future we might decide to support more platforms.”

That’s as concrete as it gets—no commitment, no timeline, no promises. The team is small, and their focus is on fixing bugs and stabilizing the Steam release before considering anything else.

No new content is planned right now—the priority is polish, not expansion. This isn’t unusual for indie breakouts; many successful Steam games take months or years to hit consoles, if they ever do.

Why Wait? What’s the Hold Up?

Peak’s success is real—over 2 million copies sold in less than two weeks—but porting takes time, resources, and a stable PC version as a foundation. The devs have said they’re focused on “network issues and server improvements” and have even added controller support in recent patches, which some see as a possible signal of future console plans. But as of now, it’s all speculation.

Is a Console Version Inevitable?

Maybe, but not guaranteed.

Developers Landcrab and Aggro Crab have experience porting other games to console, so they know the process. But with no official announcement or roadmap, it’s safe to assume next-gen consoles are off the table until further notice.

Community rumors and wishful thinking are everywhere. Some YouTubers and forum posters insist a port is “in the works” or “coming soon,” but there’s no official confirmation. For now, Steam is the only place to play.

What About Those Fake Console Versions?

There are copycat listings and “Peak-like” shovelware popping up on console stores—these are scams or rip-offs. The real deal is only available on Steam. If you see “Peak” on PS, Xbox, or Switch, it’s not from the actual developers.

The Bottom Line

  • Peak is a PC (Steam) exclusive right now—no PS5, Xbox, or Switch version exists.
  • The developers have said they “might” support more platforms in the future—but there’s no official plan or timeline.
  • Don’t expect a console port soon. The team is focused on the Steam experience and bug fixes.
  • Ignore fake listings and rumors. The real Peak is only on Steam.

If you’re a console player eager for Peak, your best option is to keep an eye on official channels (Discord, Twitter, Steam news) and hope for good news down the line.
For now, though, PC is the only true peak.

Pearl & Split Return to VALORANT Map Pool in October 2025

Satyam Kumar
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Pearl & Split Return to VALORANT Map Pool in October 2025

Riot Games has officially announced that Pearl and Split will rejoin VALORANT’s active map pool on October 14, 2025, as part of the V25 Act 6 update. This rotation will see Ascent and Lotus exit the active pool. The decision was confirmed via the game’s official channels, ensuring players and teams have ample notice to prepare for the new competitive landscape.

What’s Changing

Here’s what the VALORANT map pool will look like starting October 14, 2025:

  • Abyss
  • Bind
  • Corrode
  • Haven
  • Sunset
  • Pearl
  • Split

What This Really Means

Pearl and Split are making a big comeback after being temporarily benched, returning some veteran favorites to the mix. Meanwhile, the departure of Ascent and Lotus—both staples in recent months—means teams and ranked warriors will need to adapt quickly.

Riot also mentioned that the Game Changers Championship will be the first major event played on this updated map pool, so expect high-level matches to showcase new strategies and playstyles right out of the gate.

This rotation follows the August 19 update, which saw Abyss reintroduced and Icebox removed. For anyone following VCT Champions 2025, that event is using the current (pre-October) map pool.

Why Map Rotations Matter

VALORANT’s map rotation system keeps the meta fresh, ensures no single map dominates the pro or ranked scene for too long, and gives players a reason to revisit older maps with new eyes. For pros, it means resetting team strategies; for casuals, it brings back maps that might have been gathering dust in their map vetoes.

Pearl and Split’s return signals Riot’s willingness to cycle maps in and out, keeping both flexibility and nostalgia in the mix. Ascent and Lotus fans shouldn’t panic—they’ll almost certainly return down the line, as the map pool refresh is an ongoing process.

Quick Takeaways

  • Pearl and Split are back—Abyss, Bind, Corrode, Haven, Sunset, Pearl, Split will be the new active map pool starting October 14, 2025.
  • Ascent and Lotus rotate out and will not be available in ranked or VCT until future rotations.
  • Game Changers Championship will debut the new map pool at the pro level.
  • Expect the unexpected—competitive and ranked play will see new metas emerge as players re-familiarize themselves with Pearl and Split.

VALORANT’s map rotation is never just a cosmetic change—it resets strategies, shakes up tier lists, and breathes new life into the game. October’s update is a perfect excuse to brush up on those Pearl and Split callouts.

K9 Esports Emerged as the Winners of BGMS Season 4

Moin Khot
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K9 Esports Emerged as the Winners of BGMS Season 4

The Grand Finals of Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) Season 4 has concluded with K9 Esports being crowned the champions, taking home the massive cash prize of ₹60,00,000. After three weeks of extremely intense action, K9 Esports dominated to secure their place as the BGMS Season 4 winners.

K9 Esports’ Journey to Becoming BGMS Season 4 Winners

K9 Esports’ run began in the League Stage, where they consistently performed well to qualify for the Semi-Finals. In the Semis, they carried their momentum, finishing second on the leaderboard and booking their ticket to the Grand Finals with authority. Once in the Finals, they elevated their gameplay further, delivering back-to-back wins and cementing themselves as the standout squad of the tournament.

In the Grand Finals, K9 Esports stood tall against the best teams in India. Across 12 matches, they accumulated 107 total points, with 56 finish points and 46 placement points, along with 3 chicken dinners. Their aggressive playstyle, smart rotations, and clutch end-game calls ensured they always stayed ahead of the pack.

BGMS Season 4 Overall Standings

On the second and third position, Sinewy Esports and iQOO SouL, respectively, both followed closely with 96 points each. Sinewy took tome the cash prize of ₹20,00,000, whereas SouL took home ₹12,50,000.

True Rippers showed a great performance and were in the content till the last match. However, the team got eliminated early in the last match. The team secured fourth place with 93 points with 56 finishes and two chicken dinners, winning ₹7,50,000 cash prize.

Revenant Esports (RNTX) rounded off the top five with 89 points, including 53 finishes and one WWCD.

BGMS Season 4 Overall Standings

With BGMS Season 4 done and dusted, BGMI teams will now aim towards the upcoming challenge BGMI Showdown 2025. With only 4 days to go, K9 Esports will aim to maintain their consistency, while other teams will aim to rectify their mistakes.

Team Falcons Wins Against LEGACY in Fissure Playground 2 Swiss Round 2

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Team Falcons Wins Against LEGACY in Fissure Playground 2 Swiss Round 2

Team Falcons has picked up their second dominant win of the Fissure Playground 2, beating Legacy with a 2-0 scoreline. With two wins under their belt, the Falcons are just a win away from booking their playoff spot. The trio of m0NESY, NiKo, and Kyosuke is firing on all cylinders, and that translates to trouble for the rest of the teams.

VETO

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

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

A strong start for Falcons in Inferno saw the team rack up 6 rounds before LEGACY posted a round on the scoreboard. Rare mistakes from the individuals saw the Brazilian side win back-to-back rounds before the Falcons won 4 rounds in a row to close the half with a very strong lead of 10-2. Losing the pistol round, the Falcons lost momentum to an impressive retake from LEGACY, but the first gun round put them back on the board. Once back on the board, the Falcons closed the map in no time with a 13-4 win, asserting their dominance and firepower over the Brazilians.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: Falcons: Winner: Falcons

Starting strong with a 2v1 clutch from Dumau, LEGACY started strong to take an early lead until Falcons hit the board with a half buy. The surprising recovery from the Brazilians made rounds scarce for the Falcons, as they only managed 4 by the end of the first half. Losing the pistol round sent the super team 4-10 behind before they started mounting their comeback, not only to level the scoreline but to hit series point before LEGACY, who was leading for the better part of the series, somehow pushed the game to overtime by stopping the Falcons’ comeback in the final round of regulation. One overtime failed to separate the teams before the 2nd one led to the Falcons pushing the match over the line to close out the series.

To be able to push Falcons to the extreme, LEGACY showcased their true potential in front of the world. Now they sit with a 1-1 scoreline and have everything they need to secure two more wins to reach the playoffs.

FaZe Defeats 3DMAX in Fissure Playground 2 Swiss Round 2

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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FaZe Defeats 3DMAX in Fissure Playground 2 Swiss Round 2

FaZe Clan completes their comeback against 3DMAX after losing Nuke to reach the next round of play in Fissure Playground 2. With the news of roster change looming over their head, FaZe’s gameplay remains unaffected as they survive the 3DMAX scare.

VETO

  • 3DMAX removed Mirage
  • FaZe removed Inferno
  • 3DMAX picked Nuke
  • FaZe picked Ancient
  • 3DMAX removed Overpass
  • FaZe removed Train
  • Dust 2 was left over

Map 1: Nuke; Pick: 3DMAX; Winner: 3DMAX

A 3-0 start to the defense from FaZe had 3DMAX on the back foot before the French stack started mounting their comeback. Both teams traded rounds fairly well until the very end of the half, when FaZe snatched the final round to step into the T side with a 7-5 lead. Upon winning the pistol round, FaZe dropped the ball, leading to 3DMAX levelling the scoreline before FaZe could get back on the board. Despite their best efforts, FaZe could not keep up with the French defense, who won 6 rounds in a row to win the map with a 13-10 scoreline. Bodyy, despite not topping the charts, proved instrumental with impact all over the map that kept FaZe from getting in their mojo.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: FaZe; Winner: FaZe

Having disastrously lost Nuke, FaZe started strong with a fast-paced pistol round as 3DMAX’s defense was rendered useless for the better part of the half. While 3DMAX did manage to win rounds, they were few and far between. FaZe walked away with a strong scoreline of 9-3, making Dust 2 inevitable before the second half began. 3DMAX’s chances of a comeback were put to bed with the pistol going the way of FaZe, who went on to win the map without dropping a single round. Rain, who hardly had any impact on Nuke, proved instrumental on Ancient with 20 kills to his name to push the game to the next level.

Map 3: Dust 2; Pick: Decider; Winner: FaZe

A successful retake of the A site started FaZe Clan’s defense in the final map. The French side threw everything that they could until the 6th round when they got on the board. A 5-0 start for FaZe soon collapsed, leading to 3DMAX pulling in 4 rounds to close the half with an 8-4 deficit. 3DMAX started their defense with a pistol win before FaZe managed to get back on the board with a force buy conversion. 3DMAX won one round in between, but that was all that they managed with FaZe cruising past to secure a win with a 13-6 scoreline. Topping the charts for the second time was Rain with 16 kills, but it was a FaZe Clan firing on all cylinders that sealed the deal here for them.

FaZe are through to the next round of play, but the cracks have started to show. Jcobbb’s addition did mend the structural issues, but the concerning lack of firepower across the board is what Twistzz will be aiming to fix. If this is the last time we see this roster together, then a win here would be a fitting way to bow out.

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