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When Does CS2 Premier Season 4 Start?

Sonu Banerjee
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When Does CS2 Premier Season 4 Start?

With Valve recently disabling the Premier mode queues for Counter-Strike 2, fans of the competitive shooter are eager to find out when the next season will start.

CS2 Premier Season 3 has come to an end on January 19, and players are no longer able to queue in the Premier mode till the new season hits the server. While the various other game modes in CS2 remain accessible, they do not affect global leaderboard standings or contribute to overall MMR.

If you’re looking to continue your Premier climb in CS2, you’ll have to wait for the highly anticipated Season 4 update. Like every other seasonal update, CS2 Premier Season 4 is expected to introduce a wave of new content to the shooter, including an updated map pool, gameplay improvements, and more.

But when exactly does CS2 Premier Season 4 start? Let’s find out.

CS2 Premier Season 4 Release Date

While Valve hasn’t officially disclosed the release date of CS2 Premier Season 4, players can expect the new update to land on January 20, 2026, at around 4 pm PT.

The devs have confirmed that the new CS2 Premier Season will bid farewell to Train from the competitive map rotation, while Anubis will make its return.

Players who had a minimum of 25 wins in the Premier mode during Season 3 will receive an exclusive Premier Season Three medal showcasing their peak MMR attained over the last season.

That’s everything you need to know about the CS2 Premier Season 4 launch. Be sure to keep following TalkEsport for the first details on when the official Season 4 patch notes drop.

Marvel Rivals Secret Venom Buff Explained

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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Marvel Rivals Secret Venom Buff Explained

Marvel Rivals developers have surprised their playerbase with a secret Venom buff that was quietly released with the latest update and has been kept out of the official patch notes. Venom has been one of the most popular characters in the game, and since they sneaked in such a powerful buff, it was difficult for it to go unnoticed.

The Season 6 update has been one of the most well-received updates that the developers have released since the release of the game, and while the highlight of it was the arrival of Deadpool, a subtle rebalancing of abilities was made to make the game more balanced, and fans suspect that Vemon got a buff during the same rebalancing.

https://twitter.com/MarvelRivals/status/2006591216679297434

The secret Venom buff has quietly improved his accuracy and consistency with the attacks, which are more reliable than before, thereby making him quite an overpowered character to face in combat. Players noticed that his shots have become easier to land and therefore give a more consistent damage output, making him more effective in fights compared to his damage output before the update.

Players have pointed out how the character was awkward to play with before the update, given his unreliable damage output often made his team lack the firepower that they needed, despite Venom succeeding in his actual role. This update has ensured that with more consistent output in attacks, he will turn into quite the hero to deal with in combat.

With the character having one of the worst win rates of the game, this subtle buff might change the tide of its future in the game, and we might see players opt to play Venom more so than they did before.

Ubisoft Reveals Six Invitational 2026 Groups

Aritra Patra
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Ubisoft Reveals Six Invitational 2026 Groups

The groups for the Six Invitational 2026, the premier Rainbow Six Siege tournament have been revealed by Ubisoft. The tournament will be held offline from February 2-15, with the participation of the 20 top-rated teams for the multimillion-dollar prize pool at stake.

The 20 groups are divided into four, with each group consisting of five teams, and the format of the round-robin competition is best of three, with the leaders proceeding to the upper bracket quarterfinals.

Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
Weibo GamingTeam FalconsFaZe ClanSpacestation
M80FURIAG2 EsportsTeam Secret
FEARXElevateShopify RebellionFluxo W7M
Ninjas in PyjamasWildcardDplusENTERPRISE Esports
Project ZeroDaystarBlack DragonsOxygen Esports

A “group of death,” as they call it, will be formed by the FaZe Clan, the undefeated G2 Esports in the SI group stages since 2023, and the Shopify Rebellion. A good balance will be provided by group D, consisting of the Esports World Cup 2025 champions Team Secret, NAL 2025 winners Spacestation, BLAST R6 Major Montreal winners Fluxo W7M, Oceania’s ENTERPRISE, and SI 2025 top eight Oxygen Esports. M80 looks for domination in group A, Falcons in B, and FURIA in B.

The crowd is also eager for fireworks in the early matches featuring regional titans such as the European G2 team, the South American FURIA team, and the North American team M80.

Counter-Strike 2 Premier Mode Disabled Ahead of Season 4 Launch

Sonu Banerjee
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0
Counter-Strike 2 Premier Mode Disabled Ahead of Season 4 Launch

Valve has globally disabled Premier mode queues for Counter-Strike 2, officially marking the end of Season 3.

While CS2 players will not be able to queue into Premier games for the next few hours, you can still play the various other game modes that the shooter has to offer, including Casual, Deathmatch, the regular Competitive mode, and more.

The CS2 Premier queue will be opened back up with the launch of Season 4, which is expected to go live on January 20 at around 4 pm PT.

CS2 Premier Season 4 Update

Much like every other major seasonal update, the upcoming CS2 Premier Season 4 is likely to introduce a bunch of new content to the shooter, including new maps, a fresh map rotation, and potential shifts in the game’s current meta.

Fans also speculate a major update coming to the Armory in the near future, but it’s unclear whether it will coincide with the new CS2 season.

Players who managed to score at least 25 wins during CS2 Premier Season 3 will receive a medal showcasing their peak MMR attained over the course of the season.

For the uninitiated, Valve has already revealed the map pool for CS2 Premier Season 4. The next CS2 season will see Anubis returning to the Active Duty map pool, replacing Train.

The detailed patch notes for the CS2 Premier Season 4 update have not been revealed by Valve at the time of writing.

Free Fire Esports Roadmap 2026 Revealed: Esports World Cup, FFWS Global Finals, and New Clash Squad Event

Aditya Parsutkar
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Free Fire Esports Roadmap 2026 Revealed: Esports World Cup, FFWS Global Finals, and New Clash Squad Event

Free Fire has officially revealed its Esports Roadmap for 2026, highlighting a bigger and more competitive season. The roadmap confirms major international tournaments, expanded global slots, and new competitive formats. With events spread across the year, 2026 is set to offer more opportunities for teams and players from different regions.

Free Fire at Esports World Cup 2026

One of the biggest highlights of the roadmap is Free Fire at the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled from 15 to 18 July in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tournament will feature 24 teams from around the world, bringing together top regional champions and elite squads to compete on a global stage.

FFWS Global Finals 2026

The Free Fire World Series (FFWS) Global Finals 2026 will begin from 6 November in Bangkok, Thailand. This event will also include 24 teams, an increase from previous seasons. The tournament will be played across multiple weekends and will decide the Free Fire world champion for the year.

Read More: 3 Slots Confirmed for India at Free Fire Esports World Cup 2026?

Expansion of Global Slots

Garena has increased the number of teams at global events from 18 to 24, allowing more regions to be represented. Teams will qualify through regional leagues, international qualifiers, and reserved slots for defending champions, making the competition more diverse and competitive.

New Standalone Clash Squad Tournament

A new standalone Clash Squad tournament will be introduced in March 2026. Unlike other events, this tournament will run separately from the FFWS system and will focus only on the Clash Squad mode, offering a fresh competitive experience for players.

Regional Events and Qualification Path

The regional season will include FFWS Southeast Asia Spring, running from 24 April to 31 May 2026, followed by FFWS Southeast Asia Fall from 14 August to 20 September 2026. These events will play a key role in determining which teams qualify for the global tournaments.

Direct Qualification to FFWS Global Finals

An important update in the 2026 roadmap is that the winner of the Free Fire Esports World Cup 2026 will earn a direct slot in the FFWS Global Finals, adding extra importance to the July event in Riyadh.

What the 2026 Roadmap Means for Free Fire Esports

The FF Esports Roadmap 2026 reflects Garena’s focus on growing the competitive ecosystem globally. With more teams, new formats, and high-profile international events, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in Free Fire history.

BGIS 2026 THE GRIND Day 4: Match Timings, Teams, Maps, and More

Moin Khot
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BGIS 2026 THE GRIND Day 4: Match Timings, Teams, Maps, and More

The Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 (BGIS 2026) THE GRIND Day 4 is here. A total of six matches will be played on Tuesday, January 20 across Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo. Day 4 will continue the Group C matches from where Day 3 left off, as teams battle to secure their position in the overall standings and determine their path in the BGIS 2026 Main Event. Check out the BMIS THE GRIND Day 4 schedule, teams, format, where to watch, and more.

BGIS 2026 THE GRIND Day 4: Schedule and Teams

THE GRIND Day 4 will continue the Group C match from where Day 3 left off.”

MatchMapTime IST
Match 7Rondo2:00 PM
Match 8Erangel2:50 PM
Match 9Erangel3:40 PM
Match 10Erangel4:30 PM
Match 11Miramar5:20 PM
Match 12Miramar6:10 PM

On Day 4, Group C will continue competing with the following 16 teams:

  • GLITCHxREBORN
  • Gods for Reason
  • Team Altitude
  • Eggy Gaming
  • Oishani Esports
  • Jux Esports
  • 4 Wolf x DOD
  • Aura Esports
  • Vasista Esports
  • iQOO Revenant Xspark
  • MEDAL ESPORTS
  • Troy Tamilan eSports
  • FS ESPORTS
  • Learn From Past
  • Team versatile
  • RIDER ESPORT

The BGIS 2026 THE GRIND features 64 invited teams divided into 4 groups with 16 squads in each group. Each group will play 24 matches in their respective weeks. Group C continues their campaign today as part of this extensive qualification stage that runs from January 17 to February 1, 2026.
​

iQOO Revenant Xspark leads the Group C standings after Day 3 with 63 points, followed closely by Vasista Esports with 57 points and Gods for Reason with 56 points. The competition remains tight as teams fight for the top 8 positions to qualify for BGIS 2026: Round 3, while the bottom 8 teams will move to BGIS 2026: Round 2.​
​​

Where to watch BGIS 2026 THE GRIND?

Fans can enjoy all matches of the BGIS 2026 THE GRIND on the official YouTube channel of Krafton India Esports in Hindi and English.

3 Slots Confirmed for India at Free Fire Esports World Cup 2026?

Aditya Parsutkar
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0
3 Slots Confirmed for India at Free Fire Esports World Cup 2026?

In a historic development for Indian Free Fire esports, Free Fire Esports MENA has revealed three slots for Indian teams at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2026, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These slots are expected to be awarded through the TEZ Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) 2026.

If confirmed officially, this will mark the first time Indian teams compete at the Free Fire Esports World Cup, facing top teams from across the world.

However, the post revealing this information was later deleted by the Free Fire Esports MENA social media account. Despite this, the official 2026 roadmap still shows three slots marked as “To Be Confirmed”, which strongly suggests that the information was leaked early. Check out the Free Fire World Cup 2026 India slot details.

Free Fire Esports MENA Revealed 3 Slots For India at Free Fire Esports World Cup 2026

On Monday, 19 January 2026, Garena released its Free Fire Esports 2026 roadmap, which included the slot distribution for the Free Fire World Cup 2026. In the roadmap, three slots were reserved under the “To Be Confirmed” category.

Shortly after, the Free Fire Esports MENA social media handle revealed that these three slots are meant for India, to be qualified through the Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) 2026, India’s regional championship. According to the now-deleted post, the top three teams from FFMIC 2026 will earn direct qualification to the Esports World Cup 2026.

Although the post was deleted later, the information had already spread across the community, bringing huge excitement among Indian Free Fire fans. As of now, fans are waiting for an official confirmation from Free Fire MAX Esports India.

Read More: Free Fire MAX OB52 Update Download APK Link and Steps

FFWC 2026 Schedule and Slot Distribution

The Free Fire World Cup 2026 will be held from 15 to 18 July 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring 24 teams from around the world.

SlotsSeeding Tournament Name
1FF x EWC 2025 Champion
8FFWS SEA
3FFWS Brazil
2FFWS LATAM
2FFWS Bangladesh
1FFWS Pakistan
1FFWS MENA
1FFWS Africa
1FFWS USA
1FFWS Nepal
3To Be Confirmed

About Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) 2026

The Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) 2026 is expected to kick off in February 2026. According to reports, this tournament will serve as India’s qualification path to the FFWC 2026, with three slots reserved for the top three teams.

If officially confirmed, this tournament will become one of the most important Free Fire events in Indian esports history.

Marathon Release Date Leaks via Xbox Store

Aritra Patra
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0
Marathon Release Date Leaks via Xbox Store

A teaser trailer hosted on the Xbox Store appears to have accidentally teased the precise release date for the long-awaited sci-fi extraction shooter, ‘Marathon’ by Bungie.

TheJuiceBaba, a Redditor, initially picked up the now-deleted trailer that concluded with “Coming March 5, 2026. Pre-order now.” and a $39.99 price point, as well as the Deluxe Edition. The trailer was found on the Xbox community website and removed as soon as possible, but not before screenshots made appearances on social media websites. This is in keeping with the March 2026 timeframe initially uncovered by Sony’s financial reports and PlayStation Store listings.

RegionTimeDate
India (IST)10:30 AMMarch 5
North America (PT)9:00 PMMarch 4
North America (ET)12:00 AMMarch 5
United Kingdom (GMT)5:00 AMMarch 5
Europe (CET)6:00 AMMarch 5
Japan (JST)2:00 PMMarch 5
Brazil (BRT)2:00 AMMarch 5
Australia (AEDT)4:00 PMMarch 5

Marathon is the revival of Bungie’s 1990s FPS franchises in the form of PvPvE extraction gameplay taking place in the cursed colony of Tau Ceti IV. Players will get the chance to emulate “Runners” who have cybernetic biology to loot items in 25 minutes of competitive play. This project was initially going to come out in 2025, but had some setbacks due to disappointing alpha test results in April 2025.

Bungie changed creative directors and integrated playtest feedback from closed alpha playtests and October 2025 tech tests to receive positive buzz for gameplay polish. Recent hands-on reviews are impressed with their “Bungie shooter sauce” with the harsh risk vs reward gameplay where “if you die, your gear is lost forever.” The game is intended for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC markets.

There is some hesitation due to previous issues with assets and delayed announcements, but now there is some hype again, thanks to a leak and calls for an open beta. While not yet announced by Bungie, this timing seems to indicate that pre-orders and final beta tests are imminent. With esports fans looking at its potential for competitive gaming action, “Marathon” could be a redemption series for Bungie for live service shooters.

Ho Chi Minh City to Host VCT Pacific Stage 1 Finals

Sonu Banerjee
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0
Ho Chi Minh City to Host VCT Pacific Stage 1 Finals

Riot Games has confirmed that the VCT Pacific Stage 1 Finals will take place in Ho Chi Minh City.

This marks Vietnam’s first time in history to host a tier-one Valorant event, as well as the first time one will be held in Southeast Asia.

The news was confirmed by Riot during a press conference in Seoul and was later shared on the official VCT Pacific social media handles.

“This will be our first official tier-1 VCT event in Vietnam, and I’m so excited to bring VCT Pacific to a new region within APAC,” Jake Sin, Head of VALORANT Esports APAC, said in a statement.

The VCT Pacific Stage 1 Finals, which is scheduled to take place in May 2026, will see elite Valorant teams across the Asia-Pacific region battling it out in front of a live audience at Ho Chi Minh City for a spot at the upcoming Valorant Masters London alongside valuable VCT points.

“Bringing an event to Vietnam has actually been on our minds for quite some time,” Sin said. “Our Vietnamese community and viewers have been growing extremely rapidly over the past few years. In fact, Vietnamese is now one of our top 5 languages in terms of VCT viewership.”

The last time a regional VCT event was organized in Ho Chi Minh City was in August 2025, when it hosted the Valorant Challengers SEA Split 3 Playoffs at VPStudio. The event culminated in Motiv Esports taking down FULL SENSE in the grand finals.

Additional details involving the venue, ticket sales, and tournament schedule for the VCT Pacific Stage 1 Finals will be revealed by Riot Games at a later date.

Marvel Rivals Developers Clamp Down on Proficiency Farmers

Aritra Patra
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0
Marvel Rivals Developers Clamp Down on Proficiency Farmers

The other major move by NetEase is the establishment of a combat behavior trace system that targets gamers who cheat by remaining stationary and accumulating hero skill points. The passive strategy known as “Lord farming” by gamers that involves casting skill shots without actual gameplay has escalated with Season 6 and greater skill levels now maximised at skill level 70 and animated Lord titles as rewards.

Also introduced in season 6 was a professionalism of hero skills that made it a status symbol, as it added more levels of grind and reward badges, such that hero skills would become a status symbol and would attract significant investments as a main. This aspect, however, contributed extensively to AFK farming, where players would stay offline as their stats improved. This appears on online forums such as Reddit.

NetEase has issued an official statement on X (Twitter): “Recently, we’ve noticed that some players are exploiting matches by remaining stationary and repeatedly farming stats to gain hero proficiency points. This behavior disrupts normal gameplay and seriously affects the match experience of other players.” The measures taken for this gradually increase, with warnings ranging from permanent bans after multiple instances.

Players appreciate the suppression but are disappointed with the grind-heavy system, with comments such as “300+ hours per character is crazy” amid balance concerns. Players feel that rewards are somehow promoting farming, which has been previously experienced as a major issue for other shooting games as well. Since Marvel Rivals is expanding within the gaming arena, NetEase’s reaction is an indicator of better things, as grind fixes may also be required for maintaining interest.

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