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Esports World Cup 2026 to Proceed as Planned Despite Iran Conflict Concerns

Pranav Nalawade
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Esports World Cup 2026 to Proceed as Planned Despite Iran Conflict Concerns

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has confirmed that the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 will proceed as scheduled in Riyadh despite growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving Iran.

The reassurance comes after recent reports of escalating regional conflict raised concerns about whether the world’s largest multi-title esports event could face disruptions. However, organizers say preparations for the tournament are continuing normally while authorities closely monitor the situation.

The Esports World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together some of the world’s best esports teams, players, and organizations across multiple titles.

Organizers Monitoring the Situation Closely

In an official statement addressing concerns around the regional conflict, the Esports World Cup Foundation confirmed that the event remains on track.

While acknowledging the evolving geopolitical environment, EWCF emphasized that no changes have been made to the tournament schedule and preparations for the event are continuing as planned.

The foundation also reiterated that player, staff, and spectator safety remains the highest priority, and that contingency planning is in place should circumstances change.

Large-scale international esports events typically involve months of logistical preparation, including venue construction, broadcast infrastructure, team travel coordination, and sponsorship activation. With the tournament still several months away, organizers appear confident that there is sufficient time to adapt if required.

One of the Largest Events in Esports

The Esports World Cup has quickly established itself as one of the most ambitious esports tournaments ever created.

The competition features a massive prize pool exceeding $75 million, distributed across numerous game titles including Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and several other competitive titles.

Unlike traditional single-title tournaments, the Esports World Cup operates as a multi-title esports festival, spanning several weeks and hosting dozens of international teams competing across different esports disciplines.

The scale of the event means it draws attention not only from the esports community but also from governments, sponsors, and global entertainment audiences.

Riyadh’s Growing Role in Global Esports

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in esports infrastructure in recent years as part of its broader Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Riyadh has rapidly emerged as one of the most prominent destinations for international esports events.

The Esports World Cup itself was created as a flagship initiative aimed at transforming the city into a global esports hub. Since its launch, the tournament has attracted some of the largest organizations and viewership numbers in competitive gaming.

Beyond the main tournament, the ecosystem surrounding the event includes fan festivals, developer showcases, and large-scale broadcast productions designed to rival major traditional sporting events.

Concerns Raised by Regional Tensions

Recent geopolitical developments involving Iran and surrounding regions have naturally raised concerns among fans and industry observers about the potential impact on international events hosted in the Middle East.

While esports tournaments are generally insulated from political conflicts, the scale and international participation of the Esports World Cup mean that security considerations remain an important part of event planning.

For tournaments of this magnitude, organizers typically coordinate closely with local authorities, security agencies, and international partners to ensure safe operations.

At present, EWCF has indicated that no immediate threat to the event schedule has been identified, and the situation continues to be monitored.

Esports Nations Cup Also Set for 2026

In addition to the Esports World Cup, the foundation is also preparing to launch the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) later in the year.

The ENC is designed as a national-team competition that will see players representing their countries rather than traditional esports organizations. The inaugural edition is expected to take place in November 2026, further expanding Riyadh’s presence on the global esports calendar.

Together, the two events form a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s long-term esports strategy.

For now, preparations for the Esports World Cup 2026 remain firmly on schedule. With the tournament still months away, organizers appear confident that any geopolitical developments can be assessed and addressed well before the event begins.

As one of the largest esports competitions in the world, the tournament’s continuation will be closely watched by fans, teams, and industry stakeholders.

For players and organizations preparing to compete, the focus remains on performance rather than politics. If plans remain unchanged, Riyadh will once again become the center of the esports world this summer.

How to Unlock Hardy Boyz in WWE 2K26

Aritra Patra
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How to Unlock Hardy Boyz in WWE 2K26

The Hardy Boyz, composed of Matt and Jeff Hardy, are scheduled to electrify the WWE 2K26 gameplay with the Season 4 Ringside Pass DLC. The legendary duo is part of the game’s post-launch content, similar to other legendary wrestlers like Kelly Kelly in Season 2 and The Natural Disasters in Season 3.

WWE 2K26 is introducing a new post-launch model called Ringside Pass, which includes free and premium tracks with 120 rewards in 40 tiers. Players can collect RXP by participating in online matches in different game modes, with the number of RXP increasing with the number of wins, and the completion of challenges and milestones. Premium Pass holders will get exclusive rewards like superstars, CAS parts, and MyFACTION packs, which will become available simultaneously with the free rewards.

You have to purchase Season 4’s Ringside Pass, arriving August 24, 2026, through the in-game store or Monday Night War Edition. Hardy Boyz will be available later in premium tiers, along with Lady Shani, Jelly Roll, and other content. Expect high ratings, especially for Jeff, who should be over 90 overall. The stats will be revealed later.

The Season 1 rollout is March 6, early access, followed by Season 2 in April, pre-WrestleMania 42, Season 3 in June, and Season 4 later in the summer. To get the most out of your grind, play online and participate in daily challenges for quicker unlocks. This grind is worth it for the iconic returns.

2K Announces WWE 2K26 System Requirements

HEROIC Eliminates PARIVISION from ESL Pro League Season 23

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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HEROIC Eliminates PARIVISION from ESL Pro League Season 23

HEROIC has pulled off the upset of the event by eliminating PARIVISION from ESL Pro League Season 23 after beating them in the final round of Stage 1 with a 2-0 scoreline. Despite being one of the shakiest teams of the event, they go through over an in-form PARIVISION, shocking fans and critics alike.

VETO

  • HEROIC removed Anubis
  • PARIVISION removed Nuke
  • HEROIC picked Inferno
  • PARIVISION picked Dust2
  • HEROIC removed Ancient
  • PARIVISION removed Overpass
  • Mirage was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: HEROIC; Winner: HEROIC

3-0 start for HEROIC before PARIVISION hit the board. The solid start of the map was further extended with Heroic racing up to 7 rounds before PARIVISION started putting together rounds by the end of the half. Winning 4 rounds in a row by the end of the half, PARIVISION gave away the final round before switching sides with a 5-7 deficit. Moving over to the defence, HEROIC stunned the CIS side by dominating on the pistol round, which they built up on in the following rounds with a flawless performance. Winning 6 in a row, HEROIC closed the map with a 13-5 scoreline and a statement win on their own map pick. Chr1zN topped the board in terms of impact, but a performance like this can only be attributed to a shockingly good team performance, which has been a rare sight for this team as of late.

Map 2: Dust2; Pick: PARIVISION; Winner: HEROIC

Following a crushing defeat, PARIVISION got off to a hot start, winning 4 in a row before HEROIC could hit the board. Despite the poor start, HEROIC recovered, winning 5 in a row to close out the half as PARIVISION only had 5 rounds to start their defence with. Moving to the T side with a lead, HEROIC extended it further by winning the pistol and securing 4 rounds off the back of it before PARIVISION hit the board. Getting their first round on the defence, PARIVISION failed to convert a single round as HEROIC quickly grabbed the following round to close out the game, handing PARIVISION their hardest defeat in recent memory in the process. 24 kills from xfl0ud rounded off a solid team performance and secured an impressive qualification to the next round of play.

With critics piling all over this young HEROIC side, they have done what most couldn’t. It goes without saying that they were the second favourites coming into the game, and to eliminate PARIVISION speaks to the underlying potential this team has, and for it to come out in such a crucial moment may give this side the momentum they needed for the rest of the season.

New CS2 Update Lets You Play With Skins Listed on the Market

Sonu Banerjee
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New CS2 Update Lets You Play With Skins Listed on the Market

Alongside bringing in some changes to the map Inferno and improvements to map scripting, the latest Counter-Strike 2 update has introduced one of the most requested quality-of-life features in the Valve shooter — the ability for players to continue using their CS2 skins even after listing them on the Steam Market.

Prior to the March 4 CS2 update, any skins listed on the Steam Community Market would immediately be taken off your inventory as soon as you confirmed the listing from your mobile authenticator app. While most players weren’t affected majorly by this, it posed a problem for those trading high-tier items, where listings can take longer to sell, thereby preventing them from using skins that technically hadn’t been sold yet.

Moving forward, skins you list in the Steam Market will remain in your CS2 inventory until someone actually buys them.

In fact, players will also be free to use the listed skins in-game, with an “On Market” tag indicating that the skin is currently listed for sale in the Community Market.

While players are free to use the listed skins in-game, they won’t be able to modify them in any way. This means you won’t be able to add or remove stickers, charms, or even place a nametag while the skin is listed on the market.

With this move, Valve once again aims to make trading on the Steam Community Market more convenient for players, provided you can look past the ~15% tax, of course.

How to Get Free Pickle Rick Skin in Fortnite

Aritra Patra
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How to Get Free Pickle Rick Skin in Fortnite

The Pickle Rick skin has been officially confirmed by Epic Games in the latest Wave 3 of Fortnite‘s Rick and Morty collaboration. It is available for free by achieving top positions in the upcoming Pickle Rick Cup tournament.

Pickle Rick Cup Details

This is a solo tournament that will take place on March 6, 2026, from 2 PM ET to 5 PM ET in Battle Royale mode, and players must be 13+ and eligible under Epic’s eligibility requirements, such as complying with Terms of Service, etc. The points are awarded on the basis of positions and eliminations, where each elimination is worth 2 points, and rewards are region-dependent.

Top performers earn the Pickle Rick skin and extras:

RegionSkin PlacementOther Rewards
EUTop 2,350Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling
NA CentralTop 900Pickle Rick! Spray (8 pts)
NA WestTop 400Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling
BrazilTop 400Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling
AsiaTop 250Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling
OceaniaTop 250Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling
Middle EastTop 250Pickle Rick Pack Back Bling

Queue into the playlist tomorrow, focusing on high kill solo plays, and check your region leaderboard in-game. If you don’t catch it, it’ll be available in the Item Shop shortly after with Rick Prime.

White House uses Call of Duty Video to Show Off Iranian Strikes

Aritra Patra
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White House uses Call of Duty Video to Show Off Iranian Strikes

The White House has posted an official video on its X account featuring a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 animation spliced into a real-life video of bombings carried out by the US military on Iranian soil.

The video titled “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” does not start with a satellite image or a map presented by a military spokesperson, but rather with a character playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and activating a secret killstreak reward, MGB or Mass Guided Bombs, which is awarded after a clean 30-kill streak in multiplayer mode. The Call of Duty interface and explosions then cut into a real-life video of bombings carried out by the US military on Iranian soil.

Several CoD gamers have pointed out how seamlessly it has been integrated into the visuals, comparing it to trailers for the military franchise. It has been termed ‘creative messaging’ by several social media users and gamers, with some even calling it a ‘highlight reel’ of military operations.

When Is the Next Fortnite Update? Chapter 7 Season 1 Update Schedule (March 2026)

Yash More
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When Is the Next Fortnite Update? Chapter 7 Season 1 Update Schedule (March 2026)

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1, also known as Pacific Break, has been live since late November 2025. Over the past three months, Epic Games has rolled out several major patches filled with new skins, collaborations, weapons, quests, and gameplay changes. With the season now in its final stretch, players are wondering when the next Fortnite update will arrive and what it will include.

Here is everything we know about the upcoming Fortnite update schedule and the end date for Chapter 7 Season 1.

When Is the Next Fortnite Update?

The next Fortnite update is the v40.00 patch, which is expected to arrive on March 19, 2026. This will not be a regular mid-season patch. Instead, v40.00 will mark the launch of Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2, bringing a full seasonal transition with a new Battle Pass, map changes, and fresh content.

It is worth noting that Epic Games delayed the end of Chapter 7 Season 1 by roughly two weeks from its originally expected end date. The v39.50 update, which went live on February 19, 2026, was the final major patch for Pacific Break.

That update introduced the Fortnite Lantern Fest 2026 event along with a Solo Leveling collaboration featuring skins for Sung Jin-woo and Cha Hae-In. The most recent content update on February 23 added the Grace Ashcroft skin as part of a Resident Evil Requiem crossover.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 Full Update Schedule

Pacific Break followed a structured update cycle with major patches arriving roughly every two weeks. Here is the complete list of confirmed update dates for Chapter 7 Season 1:

  • v39.40 on February 5, 2026
  • v39.50 on February 19, 2026

During the v39.40 window, the South Park: Born in Chaos Mini Pass was removed from the game. The limited-time mode Crown Jam was also taken out shortly after that patch. Loot pool adjustments and bug fixes accompanied each update, as is standard for Fortnite patches.

What Could Come in the v40.00 Update?

Epic Games has not officially confirmed what Chapter 7 Season 2 will include. However, there is widespread speculation among leakers and the community that the next season could carry a Norse mythology theme. If true, players can expect new themed locations on the island along with a completely fresh Battle Pass lineup.

A Honkai: Star Rail crossover has also been speculated, with characters Blade and Kafka potentially being added to the game. A teaser for this collaboration was reportedly spotted earlier, though Epic has not confirmed anything yet.

As with every new season, players should expect a refreshed loot pool, new weapons, map changes, and a full set of weekly quests and story challenges.

When Does Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 End?

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break is set to end on March 19, 2026. The season will have lasted around three and a half months in total, which is close to the standard duration for regular Fortnite seasons. This is notably longer than the shorter Simpsons-themed mini season that preceded it.

Epic Games typically begins releasing official teasers for the next season during the final two weeks of the current one. Players should keep an eye on Fortnite’s official social media channels for any hints about what Chapter 7 Season 2 will bring.

Until then, there is still time to finish any remaining Battle Pass tiers, complete weekly challenges, and earn rewards before the seasonal reset.

Hotfixes Between Major Updates

Epic Games regularly pushes smaller hotfix updates between major patches. These hotfixes can add new game files to the API, adjust weapon balance, fix bugs, or rotate limited-time modes. These do not require full game downloads and are applied during brief server-side maintenance windows.

Players who want to stay on top of every change should check official Fortnite channels and community Trello boards for real-time patch notes and status updates.

Riot Games Drops “Night Queue: After Hours” Event

Aritra Patra
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Riot Games Drops “Night Queue: After Hours” Event

A new challenge for Valorant has been added by Riot Games in its usual stealthy manner. The challenge, named “Night Queue: After Hours,” will be available for a limited time from March 4 at 12 PM GMT to March 23 at 12 PM GMT. The challenge follows the usual milestone-based progression system. The challenge has been added to Riot’s FTW platform, which features various Valorant-themed events based on in-game updates and promotions.

According to Riot Games, Night Queue is an in-game event for Valorant that “was built for those late sessions that hit different.” Riot Games encourages players to “get in games, squad up with your friends, and try out some new comps to work towards some shared goals.” The challenge will be available for the entire duration in all regions.

Night Queue follows the structure of an FTW challenge, with the progression system based on reaching various in-game milestones rather than a battle pass. Like in prior FTW events, such as the Alpha vs. Omega war, participants will be rewarded with points that contribute to a leaderboard system. The better they perform in the challenge, the higher they will be rewarded. Although Riot has not specified all the cosmetic items that can be earned in Night Queue, in prior events, FTW challenges have been based on digital rewards.

Queues in the late hours of the night have always had a reputation that’s different from the daytime-ranked queues, which may be chaotic, full of smurfs, or all about the vibe, according to anecdotal evidence from high-rank players on the community forums.

For Riot, this is another part of their larger move to create time-limited game modes such as Night Market and FTW challenges, which are all built on top of their core 5v5 tactical shooter game.

New Valorant Skin Bundle “SilkLeaf” Revealed: All Skins, Price, Release Date, and More

US Government Considers Forcing Tencent to Divest Riot and Epic Games

Aritra Patra
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0
US Government Considers Forcing Tencent to Divest Riot and Epic Games

US officials are currently debating whether to force the Chinese company to divest some of its largest gaming investments, such as Riot Games and Epic Games.

According to a Financial Times report, which has been picked up by regional tech media outlets such as GameDeveloper, senior officials in the Trump administration are currently divided over the possibility of allowing the Chinese company to hold its stakes in some of the biggest gaming firms in the US and Finland, with the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to take place shortly, with the gaming portfolio of the Chinese company to be discussed.

Apparently, the officials are concerned with the full ownership of Riot Games, the Los Angeles-based game development studio responsible for League of Legends and Valorant, and its 40 percent stake in Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite game and Unreal Engine game development software. Discord has similarly been identified as part of the U.S. assets that could be subject to the forced sale drive.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been scrutinizing the stakes that Tencent owns in Riot Games, Epic Games, and Supercell, with concerns that Chinese national security laws could give the government leverage over the data of millions of Western gamers, according to previous reports. The company has been in negotiations to arrange “risk mitigation” measures to retain its stakes in the gaming firms.

CFIUS can demand structural changes or force foreign investors to unwind U.S. deals entirely, and it is using these powers more aggressively under the Biden and Trump administrations. In fact, Tencent Holdings recently chose to exit its planned role in Paramount Skydance’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery precisely because it did not want to invite a review by CFIUS.

If policymakers take a hard stance against Tencent, it could force it to sell its stakes in Riot Games, Epic Games, and Supercell to new owners in the United States and its allies, or force it to live with far more draconian data and governance restrictions around its gaming subsidiaries. Changes to ownership structures at Riot Games, Epic Games, and Supercell would have significant implications for live service games like League of Legends and Fortnite, and Unreal Engine, which is used for thousands of games globally, even if day-to-day operations continue unaffected in the near term.

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