Over the years, the resolution at which a game is played has been an important aspect in improving comfort and consistency in a game, especially if it is a first-person shooter. When Riot released Valorant, they ensured hitboxes remained the same regardless of the resolution, unlike Counter-Strike 2, where players can stretch them by using any 4:3 resolution.
However, despite losing out on the advantage of having wider hitboxes, many Valorant players prefer playing in stretched mode for how they feel. Placebo or otherwise, playing with a stretched resolution gives players confidence when taking fights, leading to more consistent gameplay overall. The aspect ratio may be stretched, but the choice of resolution varies from player to player, with an objective decision preferable to a more subjective one.
What stretched resolution do pros use?
According to ProSettings, 1280×960, 1440×1080, and 1024×768 are the most popular stretched resolutions at the moment. With three really solid options, it is up to you which one you should opt for if 4:3 is the way you want to go.
To put it simply, you can consider our recommendation:
1024×768 – For Low-End PCs
1280×960 – For Medium-End PCs
1440×1080 – For Top-End PCs
The only difference between these resolutions is the clarity of the image. Higher resolution would give a sharper picture at the cost of performance.
With no difference in hit boxes, it comes down to you to decide if your FPS is high enough to handle the higher resolutions. Higher resolution will give you a better feel, but to what extent are you willing to sacrifice your FPS? It is a decision that comes down to you.
The PUBG Mobile 4.6 Update Beta is now live, giving selected players an early chance to test the upcoming update before its official release. As with previous beta versions, the update will be released in four testing phases, allowing developers to test new features, fix bugs, and improve performance before rolling them out globally. According to the official beta calendar, Beta 1 runs from July 30 to August 5, while the later phases will introduce new themed mode content, World of Wonder updates, Classic Mode improvements, and Metro Royale changes. Here’s everything you need to know about the PUBG Mobile 4.6 Beta.
PUBG Mobile 4.6 Update Beta Date and Schedule
Tencent has confirmed that the beta testing will take place across four different phases.
Beta Phase
Dates
Content
Beta 1
July 30 – August 5
Test server only (No new version content)
Beta 2
August 6 – August 12
Themed Mode, World of Wonder, Classic Mode updates
Beta 3
August 13 – August 20
Themed Mode, WOW updates, Classic Mode, Metro Royale
Beta 4
August 21 – August 23
Final testing with Metro Royale and Classic Mode updates
The developers have also clarified that Beta 1 does not include the new version content. Most of the upcoming features will become available starting with Beta 2.
What is PUBG Mobile Beta?
The Beta version is a separate test version of the game where selected players can try upcoming features before they are released globally.
The beta helps Tencent identify bugs, glitches, balancing issues, and performance problems. Players who report bugs through the beta server may also receive rewards on their main PUBG Mobile account.
Since the beta is limited, only players with a binding code can log in and access the test server.
Whether your old Valorant name feels outdated or you just picked a random assortment of letters as your username during a late-night install, you might find yourself wanting to change your name in Valorant. Luckily, Riot Games enables players to change their Valorant name in the matter of a few minutes, albeit with a series of restrictions.
However, unlike what you’d expect, it’s not possible to change your in-game name from inside Valorant itself, as it lives on your Riot Games account as what Riot calls your “Riot ID.” To change your name in Valorant, you’d have to change your Riot ID.
In this article, we’ll go through what you need to know to change your Valorant name, plus the rules that you’ll need to follow and a few things to watch out for.
What Is a Riot ID?
Every Valorant player has an in-game name that consists of two parts:
Game Name – the text portion that players actually recognize you by.
Tagline – a short string of characters (usually 3-5) that follows a # symbol beside your name.
Together, they form your Riot ID. The tagline makes sure that two people can use the exact same Game Name without conflict, but the full combination has to be unique.
Note that this Riot ID is separate from your account username. The account username you use to sign in to the Riot Client stays private and is never shown to other players.
How to Change Your Valorant Name
Below, we’ve listed all the steps that you need to follow to change your Valorant name:
Under the Riot ID section, you should be able to see your current Game Name and Tagline.
Click into the Game Name field and type your new desired name.
Select a new Tagline to go along with it, or just keep the same Tagline.
Hit ‘Save Changes.’
The system will then check whether that Game Name + Tagline combination is already taken. If it’s free, your Valorant name gets updated right away.
That’s it, your Valorant name should now be updated!
If you can’t see your new name in-game, then you’ll need to exit Valorant, log out of the Riot Client, and relaunch the game.
Valorant Name Change Rules
There are a handful of restrictions that Riot enforces on players when changing names:
Game Names need to fall between 3 and 16 characters.
Taglines need to have between 3 and 5 characters.
Offensive, hateful, or otherwise inappropriate language isn’t allowed, and Riot’s filter will catch most of it automatically.
You can’t include the word “Riot” anywhere in your name.
Avoid putting personal information into your Riot ID.
Impersonating Riot devs, known pro players, or other public figures isn’t allowed.
How Often Can You Change It?
Your Riot ID can only be changed once every 90 days. So once you pick a name, you’re stuck with it for three months.
That’s everything you need to know about how to change your name in Valorant. As mentioned in this article, changing your Valorant name comes down to updating your Riot ID from Riot’s account management page. While you can change your name without spending any money, you’re only limited to one name per 90 days.
So what are you waiting for? Go pick your new Game Name and Tagline that fits Riot’s rules, restart your client, and jump back into ranked with your new identity!
Valve has dropped a new update introducing a fresh series of IEM Cologne Major stickers, following massive outrage over the pricing system. The freshly minted sticker collection brings a square-shaped look for all the teams, with their placement mentioned at the bottom, thus giving fans a new way to celebrate the Major.
Photo via B03
Following the backlash, Valve did not shy away from admitting that the dynamic pricing model was far from optimal and failed to generate ” reasonable prices,” leading to a shift in the Community Market. Prices for popular stickers were shooting through the roof, making the market stagnant, which is never a good thing for Valve, especially because they take a cut from all the sales.
Could've done something a little more ornate with the new border to better fill the space. Elements were already there. pic.twitter.com/KNOqKhrDyC
With the latest update, the Market seems to have stabilised by a massive margin, with the stickers becoming accessible to more and more people, especially with the release of new stickers that will share “50% of the royalties support the teams, players and tournament organizers.”
Community Reaction
While the community is happy to have more affordable stickers, there is a large section of investors who see stickers as an asset and are not happy to have their investments brought down to nought with the latest update.
“Valve just nuked sticker investing, Falcons Gold going from $1,468 to $52 is basically a 0 IQ hold now, resale market can’t compete with fixed pricing like that” – said one fan. Community forums were flooded with comments such as “disaster recovery”, “rip donk investors” and “How did Valve ever think this was a good idea”
As good as the stickers look, the CS2 community stands divided and while many care about the economy that revolves around the game, others worry more about how these assets serve them as investments and while one decision cannot make everyone happy, the market has just become more liquid with more and more people buying stickers now but for those who held them for a long time, this might have been their worst nightmare coming true.
Over the past few weeks, Counter-Strike 2 players have repeatedly expressed their concerns about the current stage of Premier and the game being infested with cheaters. Today’s CS2 update aims to fix that.
The July 29 CS2 update introduces some much-needed changes to Valve’s competitive shooter, bringing improvements to the game’s anti-cheat and adding new Cologne 2026 stickers that are a bit more affordable than the existing ones.
In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about the latest CS2 patch.
CS2 Adds New Cologne 2026 Ranked Series Stickers and Updates to VACnet
These stickers look pretty similar to the ones we already have in the shop, but they indicate a team’s final standing in the design.
“The original dynamic pricing system determined the relative interest in players and teams, but it didn’t produce reasonable prices,” Valve said in a statement. “So the Ranked stickers have a lower price, but with the same relationship between players and teams as the Event Series stickers.”
The devs also confirmed that the Cologne 2026 Major Shop will only be available until September 29th.
Another important change in the new CS2 update is the new and improved VACnet. According to the devs, they have managed to fix a bug in the anti-cheat that allowed malicious players to avoid being processed by VACnet. This has been corroborated by initial reports surfacing on social media forums, where many claim that rage hacks and spin bots are now getting swiftly detected by VAC.
CS2 Cheaters are reporting Valve pushed a VAC Update targeting rage cheats ‼️
Valve has shipped out a new update to VAC with the July 28 CS2 update, and it is wreaking havoc among cheaters.
As per multiple reports on social media forums, third-party cheats in CS2 that were previously considered undetectable have been getting VAC bans since the game’s latest update.
Cheating forums have been filled with posts claiming that the new VACnet update is capable of detecting rage hacks and spin bots in only a few minutes, with several users reporting bans mid-match as a result.
CS2 Cheaters are reporting Valve pushed a VAC Update targeting rage cheats ‼️
Shortly after the reports, Valve itself confirmed the VACnet update via the patch notes for the July 29 update.
“Fixed a bug that allowed malicious players to avoid being processed by VACnet,” the official patch notes read.
CS2 developers just confirmed today's VACnet update: "Fixed a bug that allowed malicious players to avoid being processed by VACnet". pic.twitter.com/22RNZG4PWx
This change to VAC follows a recent ban wave from Valve, which banned over 8000 players within the span of two days. Prior to this, we also saw the CS2 devs hitting nearly a million farming bot accounts with the ban hammer.
Given the recent spike in cheating reports within the CS2 community, it goes without saying that these kinds of interventions from Valve are necessary for a healthier future for the competitive shooter.
Whether these VAC changes are enough to fix the current state of Premier in CS2 still remains to be seen.
Alongside the changes to VAC, the July 29 CS2 update also brought a few other changes to the game, including the Ranked Series stickers, updates to some community-made maps, and more.
Fans can go through the official patch notes for the finer details regarding today’s CS2 update.
The Centre has told Parliament that online games offered as esports are required to be determined and registered with the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 and the rules notified under it. The clarification came on July 29, 2026, in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, answered by Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
What the Centre Told Parliament
Minister of State Jitin Prasada informed the Lok Sabha that the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 received Presidential assent on August 22, 2025. The accompanying Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 were notified on April 22, 2026. Both the Act and the Rules came into force on May 1, 2026.
The minister confirmed that the Central Government has constituted the Online Gaming Authority of India to implement the framework under the legislation.
When Determination Is Required
According to the government’s response, an online game offered by an Online Game Service Provider (OGSP) must undergo “determination” by the Authority in 3 specific situations:
If the Authority directs the provider to seek determination on its own initiative
If the game is proposed to be offered as an esport
If the Central Government notifies specific categories of online social games for determination
When Registration Is Required
The government also clarified that an online game must be registered with the Authority in 2 situations:
If the Central Government notifies the game or category of games for mandatory registration
If the game is to be offered as an esport
Both the determination and registration requirements apply only in the circumstances specified under the Act and the Rules. The government’s reply indicates that games not falling into these categories, including most non-real-money social games, do not automatically require determination or registration.
What Prompted the Question
The clarification came in response to questions on whether the government had made registration mandatory for esports games and gaming firms, whether rules had been framed for the purpose, whether OGAI had been established, and whether games that do not involve real-money play would generally be exempt from mandatory determination or registration.
The government did not explicitly state that non-real-money games are exempt. Its reply indicates that determination and registration requirements apply only in the circumstances specified under the Act and the Rules, including when a game is offered as an esport or where the Central Government notifies a particular category.
Context: What PROGA and OGAI Mean for Esports
PROGA draws a clear line between 3 categories of online games: online money games (banned), online social games (generally permitted without mandatory registration), and esports (permitted and subject to mandatory determination and registration).
The Online Gaming Authority of India was established under MeitY as a digital-first regulatory body. It is responsible for classifying games, maintaining the list of prohibited online money games, overseeing registration of permissible esports titles, and addressing user grievances.
The July 29 Lok Sabha clarification reinforces that position. Esports operators cannot self-classify or operate without going through the OGAI determination and registration process. Non-esport titles that do not involve real-money play sit outside that obligation unless the Central Government specifically notifies them.
For the broader context on how India’s gaming sector has been reshaped by PROGA, including the Supreme Court upholding retrospective GST on real-money gaming and the resulting appeals by gaming founders, see TalkEsport’s report on gaming founders appealing to the GST Council for personal liability relief.
FAQs
What did the Centre clarify in Lok Sabha on July 29, 2026? The Centre confirmed that online games offered as esports must be determined and registered with the Online Gaming Authority of India under PROGA 2025 and the Online Gaming Rules 2026.
Who answered the question in Lok Sabha? Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada answered the unstarred question on July 29, 2026.
When did PROGA and the Online Gaming Rules 2026 come into force? Both came into force on May 1, 2026. The Act received Presidential assent on August 22, 2025. The Rules were notified on April 22, 2026.
Does every online game need to register with OGAI? No. Registration is mandatory only when a game is offered as an esport or when the Central Government specifically notifies a game or category for mandatory registration.
Are non-real-money games exempt from OGAI registration? The government did not explicitly state they are exempt. Its reply indicates that determination and registration apply only in the situations specified under the Act, meaning most non-real-money social games that are not offered as esports are not automatically required to register.
What is the Online Gaming Authority of India? OGAI is the central gaming regulator established under MeitY to implement the PROGA framework. It classifies games, maintains the prohibited games list, oversees esports registration, and handles user grievances.
Best Free Fire settings for low-end devices can significantly improve your gaming experience by reducing lag, increasing frame rates, and making gameplay feel much smoother. While Garena has optimized Free Fire for a wide range of smartphones, many players still use entry-level or older Android devices that struggle to maintain consistent performance. Thankfully, a few in-game setting adjustments can make a noticeable difference. In this guide, we’ll cover the best graphics, sensitivity, control, and performance settings to help you enjoy smoother gameplay in Free Fire in 2026.
Best Free Fire Settings for Low-End Devices in 2026
If you’re experiencing frame drops, stuttering, or overheating, the first thing you should do is optimize your in-game settings. Lower graphics reduce the load on your phone’s GPU, while the right sensitivity settings help maintain accurate aim without sacrificing performance.
These settings are ideal for devices with 2GB to 6GB RAM, entry-level processors, or older smartphones.
Recommended Graphics Settings
Setting
Recommended Option
Graphics
Smooth
High Resolution
Off
Shadow
Off
High FPS
On (if supported)
Auto Scale
On
Visual Effects
Low
The Smooth graphics preset offers the best balance between visibility and performance. Disabling shadows and high-resolution textures frees up system resources, allowing your phone to maintain a more stable frame rate.
If your device supports High FPS, enable it. Even if your graphics quality is low, a higher frame rate makes aiming and movement feel much smoother.
Best Free Fire Sensitivity Settings
Alongside Free Fire graphics settings, adjusting sensitivity improves your aiming consistency, especially on lower-end phones.
Sensitivity Option
Value
General
100
Red Dot
90
2x Scope
80
4x Scope
70
Sniper Scope
50
Free Look
65
These values provide fast camera movement while keeping recoil under control. However, sensitivity is also a matter of personal preference, so you can make small adjustments based on your playstyle.
Best Control Settings
Optimizing controls also contributes to smoother gameplay.
Recommended settings include:
Aim Precision: Default
Left Fire Button: Always On
Quick Weapon Switch: On
Quick Reload: On
Auto Pickup: On
Auto Switch Gun: Off
Keeping the left fire button enabled provides better movement while shooting, which is especially useful during close-range fights.
Additional Free Fire Lag Fix Tips
Even the best Free Fire FPS settings won’t completely eliminate lag if your phone is overloaded. Here are some extra optimization tips:
Close all background apps before launching Free Fire.
Restart your phone before long gaming sessions.
Keep at least 5GB of free storage available.
Use a stable Wi-Fi connection whenever possible.
Disable Battery Saver mode while gaming.
Avoid charging your phone while playing to reduce overheating.
Clear Free Fire cache regularly from your device settings.
These small changes often improve stability and reduce sudden frame drops during intense matches.
Device Optimization Tips
Besides changing in-game settings, optimizing your smartphone can also improve performance.
Enable Game Mode
Many Android manufacturers include a dedicated Game Mode that prioritizes CPU and RAM resources for gaming. If your phone has this feature, enable it before launching Free Fire.
Reduce Background Activity
Disable automatic app updates and unnecessary notifications while gaming. This prevents background processes from consuming system resources.
Update the Game
Garena frequently releases optimization patches that improve performance across different devices. Keeping Free Fire updated ensures you benefit from the latest improvements and bug fixes.
Why These Settings Work
Low-end devices usually struggle because of limited processing power and RAM. High graphics settings require more GPU resources, while background apps consume valuable memory.
By lowering visual quality and optimizing sensitivity, your device can dedicate more resources to maintaining a stable frame rate. As a result, gameplay feels more responsive, enemies appear more smoothly, and aiming becomes easier.
While these settings won’t magically transform an older phone into a flagship device, they can noticeably improve your overall experience.
Finding the Best Free Fire Settings for Low-End Devices is one of the easiest ways to improve gameplay without upgrading your smartphone. Lower graphics, optimized Free Fire sensitivity settings, and proper device maintenance can significantly reduce lag and provide smoother performance.
If you’re playing on an entry-level Android device in 2026, the settings listed above offer an excellent starting point. You can further fine-tune sensitivity based on your preferences, but keeping graphics low and reducing background activity will deliver the biggest performance improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best graphics settings for low-end devices in Free Fire? Use Smooth graphics, disable High Resolution and Shadows, and enable High FPS if your phone supports it.
Does High FPS improve gameplay? Yes. A higher frame rate makes movement, aiming, and camera rotation much smoother, provided your device supports the option.
Which sensitivity setting is best for Free Fire? A General sensitivity of 100 and Red Dot sensitivity of 90 work well for most players, though you can adjust them based on personal preference.
How can I reduce lag in Free Fire? Lower graphics settings, close background apps, free up storage, disable Battery Saver, and use a stable internet connection for the best results.
The Valorant Partner Program is Riot Games’ official creator support initiative, and applications are now open from August 3 to August 28, 2026. Any creator who streams or posts VALORANT content can apply directly through Riot’s Creator Hub at creators.riotgames.com. This is the first time Riot has opened public applications for the Valorant Partner Program in years. Approved creators get access to in-game rewards, dedicated support, early content access, and a new Creator Hub dashboard. Riot has also confirmed it will share more information about the evolution of these programs later in 2026, including a second application window for new creators.
What Is the Valorant Partner Program?
The Valorant Partner Program is Riot Games’ official creator program for VALORANT content creators. It connects streamers, YouTubers, short-form creators, guide makers, and community builders directly with Riot, giving them perks and tools to support their content.
The program was originally part of the broader League Partner Program (LPP), which Riot launched back in 2018 for League of Legends. As Riot expanded into multiple games, including VALORANT, TFT, and Wild Rift, the company paused new applications to rebuild the system from scratch. A closed beta ran with select creators, and the full open application process is now live for the first time for VALORANT in 2026.
Valorant Partner Program Application Dates
Applications for the Valorant Partner Program are open from August 3 to August 28, 2026. This is a roughly one-month window. After the application period closes, Riot’s team will take 2 to 4 weeks to review all submissions. All applicants will be notified around the same time, either through the email they provided or directly on the Creator Hub.
The rollout follows a staggered schedule across Riot’s games:
Game
Application Window
VALORANT
August 3 to August 28, 2026
League of Legends
September 1 to September 30, 2026
Teamfight Tactics
October 1 to October 30, 2026
If you miss the August window, Riot has confirmed that future application periods will open once the support team has scaled to handle more creators. Details on future opportunities will appear on Riot’s social channels and on the Creator Hub front page.
Who Can Apply: Requirements
Riot has moved away from strict follower count thresholds. The program is open to both established and up-and-coming creators. Riot evaluates applications on 3 core criteria:
Passion for the game: Riot looks at how applicants play, create, and engage with VALORANT. A genuine connection to the game matters more than audience size.
Positive community impact: How you interact with others, on your own platforms and on Riot’s channels, is factored into the application. Toxic behavior or a negative track record will affect eligibility.
Active community: The program is designed for creators at different stages of growth, not just those with large followings. Riot is looking for consistent, engaged audiences rather than raw subscriber numbers.
In terms of content volume, Riot has stated it is ideally looking for around 20 hours per month of streaming content, or regular and consistent posting of VOD or short-form content related to the game.
Valorant Partner Program Benefits
Creators accepted into the Valorant Partner Program receive the following perks:
Unlocked agents and in-game items
Complimentary VALORANT Battle Passes
Giveaway codes for fans
Dedicated player support for creator-specific issues
Access to the new Creator Hub dashboard
Drops programmes for community rewards
Marketing campaign opportunities
Early access to select content
The Creator Hub is where partners manage their perks, track application status, and access tools Riot provides. It works across all Riot Partner Programs, so creators can manage multiple game partnerships from one place.
What Riot Has Said About Future Program Changes
Riot has confirmed it will share more details about the evolution of the Partner Programs later in 2026. This includes a re-opening of the application process for new creators before the end of the year. In a post on the official Riot Games blog, the company said: “Our goal is to come back to the creator community with more information in late 2026 regarding the evolution of these programs, including a re-opening of the application process for new creators late in the year.”
Riot has also confirmed that thousands of creators are expected to be accepted across all 3 programs. This is a significantly larger scale than previous partner cohorts. Creators working in cosplay and community art are not included in this round, but Riot has said it is actively exploring separate ways to support them.
Wild Rift creators who already hold partnership perks will continue receiving all associated benefits, even though Wild Rift does not have a formal partner program under this new structure.
Valorant Partner Program and VCT 2027: The Bigger Picture
The creator partner program announcement is separate from the esports team partner program, but both are evolving significantly. As TalkEsport reported, VCT 2027 is switching from a league-based format to a tournament-driven model where any team can qualify for Masters and Champions through open qualifiers. Applications for the new VCT team partnership cycle will be evaluated on community commitment, business sustainability, operational excellence, and competitive performance.
The original VCT partnership program launched in 2023 with 30 franchised teams across 3 international leagues. As TalkEsport covered at launch, all 30 franchised Valorant teams were revealed in September 2022 ahead of that first partnered season. The first cycle officially ends after the 2026 season, with 2027 bringing the new open structure.
In 2025, Riot shared over $86 million from digital goods revenue with VCT partner teams. With VCT 2027 expanding to more than 20 tournaments per year across 16+ cities and a total prize pool exceeding $6 million USD annually, the competitive ecosystem and the creator ecosystem are both growing simultaneously. For the full VCT 2027 structure breakdown, see TalkEsport’s VCT 2027 format explained guide.
How To Apply for the Valorant Partner Program
To apply for the Valorant Partner Program, follow these steps:
Navigate to the VALORANT Partner Program application
Fill in your creator details, platform links, and content information
Submit before August 28, 2026
Wait 2 to 4 weeks for results, which will arrive via email and on the Creator Hub
Applications for the VALORANT program close on August 28, 2026. After that, the next opportunity will be confirmed by Riot later in the year.
FAQs
When do Valorant Partner Program applications open? Applications are open from August 3 to August 28, 2026. Apply at creators.riotgames.com.
Do I need a large following to apply for the Valorant Partner Program? No. Riot is looking for creators at all stages of growth. The focus is on passion for the game, consistent content output, and a positive community presence, not follower count.
What do you get from the Valorant Partner Program? Approved creators receive unlocked agents, complimentary Battle Passes, giveaway codes, dedicated support, Creator Hub access, early content access, and opportunities for marketing campaigns and drops programmes.
How long does Riot take to review Valorant Partner Program applications? Riot estimates 2 to 4 weeks after the application window closes. All applicants are notified at the same time.
Can I apply for multiple Riot Partner Programs at once? Each game has its own application window. VALORANT opens August 3, League of Legends in September, and TFT in October. Separate applications are required for each.
Will Riot open applications again after August 2026? Yes. Riot has confirmed a second application window will open later in 2026. Details will be posted on Riot’s social channels and the Creator Hub front page.
Is the Valorant Partner Program the same as VCT team partnership? No. The creator Partner Program is for content creators on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms. The VCT team partnership is a separate program for esports organisations competing in the Valorant Champions Tour.
Following a record-breaking summer, the Esports World Cup 2026 is coming to a conclusion with the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 Championship Finals.
The Esports Foundation announced today that the tournament’s Grand Finale will be staged at Paris’ historic Accor Arena, where fans will be able to witness CS2 crown both a tournament champion and, potentially, the season’s overall Club Champion.
The venue isn’t a new face to the competitive Counter-Strike scene. Hardcore CS2 fans will be able to remember the Accor Arena hosting the Champions Stage for the CS:GO Paris Major back in 2023, delivering a fairy-tale ending with Team Vitality winning its first Major title in front of the home crowd.
Now, with CS2 returning to the same arena, Vitality has a chance to relive that moment on the same stage.
The stakes in the CS2 EWC 2026 event are higher than ever. The tournament has been expanded to 32 teams over two weeks, running a double-elimination group stage before narrowing to 16 teams for a single-elimination playoff bracket.
28 spots go to the top-ranked teams in the world per Valve’s Regional Standings, while the remaining four slots will be claimed through a 128-team open qualifier taking place in Paris from August 7-9. Be sure to go through our article on the CS2 EWC 2026 event if you’re looking for further information regarding the tournament format, prize pool, and other details.
With heavyweights like Team Falcons, Team Vitality, and Natus Vincere all in contention, the upcoming tournament could easily decide the outcome of this year’s EWC Club Championship.
Holding the Grand Final at Accor Arena extends EWC 2026 beyond its main venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, bringing the tournament’s biggest moment to one of the city’s most iconic arenas and further establishing Paris as the heart of the season.
According to an official blog post, this move was also driven by demand. Tickets for the Grand Final at the Expo sold out quickly, prompting organizers to relocate Championship Sunday to a larger venue to accommodate more fans.
Running from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 brings together more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, competing across 24 games and 25 tournaments for a combined prize pool exceeding $75 million.
