Team Spirit has bagged its first win of the Esports World Cup 2026, taking down Luminosity with a 2-0 scoreline. Following a shocking upset, Spirit has secured a convincing win with a dominant first map followed by a frustrating second, thereby putting a warning for everyone else thinking they were out of it.
Starting on the defence on their opponent’s map, Spirit dominated, taking the lead before the Luminosity offence could even get going. Winning a few rounds ensured that the half became competitive, but Spirit’s lead was too much for Luminosity to surmount. Heading into the offence with a 9-3 lead, Spirit kicked off with a pistol win, went on to win all the way without dropping a single round, and closed the map 13-3.
Map 2: Dust2, Pick: Spirit; Winner: Spirit
Starting on the defence, Luminosity managed to get off to a better start, which saw the first half get levelled before Spirit took over in the next half. Despite the CIS side starting strong early on in the defence, Luminosity managed to push the game to OT, winning the final few rounds in the second half. With the game getting pushed to OT, Spirit managed to outlast Luminosity in an extremely frustrating series of overtime, which saw the map close with a 4-round streak, giving Spirit their first win of the tournament.
Having secured their first win, Spirit is likely to get a significant confidence boost that might help them make a deeper run despite being in poor form. Donk topping the charts is a sign of things to come, but he would need the support cast around him should Spirit contend for the title.
IEM Beijing 2026 has its first wave of confirmed teams. ESL has invited 13 teams to Tier 1 Counter-Strike‘s return to the Chinese capital, marking the first IEM Beijing since 2019. The event runs from November 2 to November 8 at the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena in Wukesong, with a total prize pool of $1,250,000. Team Vitality and Team Spirit both turned down their invites, opening the door for Parivision and FaZe Clan.
Here is the full list of invited teams, why two top sides skipped the event, and what is left to be decided.
IEM Beijing 2026 Invited Teams List
ESL confirmed 13 of the 16 total slots for IEM Beijing 2026 through the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). The remaining 3 spots will be filled by Closed Qualifiers.
The 13 invited teams are:
Team Falcons
MOUZ
Natus Vincere
Legacy
FURIA
BetBoom
G2
Aurora
Parivision
FaZe Clan
Team Liquid
9z
The MongolZ
Here are your first 13 teams invited to #IEM Beijing 2026 through VRS! 🇨🇳
The last 3 teams will be confirmed through qualifiers taking place later this month 👀 pic.twitter.com/nzQkmnEDvl
Team Falcons lead the field as the world’s number one ranked team. MOUZ and Natus Vincere follow as the next-highest ranked sides in attendance. FURIA also joins the lineup as the defending champions of the event’s predecessor, IEM Chengdu 2025.
Team Liquid, 9z, and The MongolZ round out the list through regional representation from North America, South America, and Asia, respectively.
Why Vitality and Spirit Declined Their Invites
Only 2 teams turned down their IEM Beijing 2026 invites out of the 10 global VRS slots on offer.
ESL confirmed that Team Vitality declined due to 2 players taking paternity leave during the event window. Vitality is already using stand-ins at BLAST Porto and PGL Masters Bucharest and would have needed a second replacement player for Beijing, so the roster opted out entirely. The decision pauses their push for a third ESL Grand Slam, after the team completed back-to-back Grand Slams as recently as April 2026.
Team Spirit cited a packed tournament calendar as their reason for skipping the event. Spirit is set to compete at PGL Masters Bucharest, which finishes only 2 days before IEM Beijing begins, and BLAST Rivals Hong Kong starts the day after the IEM Beijing Grand Final.
Parivision and FaZe Step In
With Vitality and Spirit out, Parivision and FaZe Clan take their places as the next-eligible teams in the VRS standings. The switch gives both rosters a chance to build ranking points and match form ahead of the PGL Singapore Major, which begins December 3.
IEM Beijing 2026 Qualifier Spots
Three places in the 16-team field remain open. Two slots go to the winner and runner-up of the Global Closed Qualifier, while the final spot belongs to the winner of the Asia Closed Qualifier. Those qualifiers are set to take place later this month, with the full 16-team lineup expected shortly after.
How to Move BGMI to a New Phone is a common question for players switching to a new Android or iPhone. The good news is that your BGMI progress is linked to your game account rather than being tied only to the old phone. If you use the correct linked login on your new device, your character, skins, rank, inventory and other account progress should remain available. KRAFTON’s current privacy policy confirms that BGMI can use third-party accounts such as Google, Apple, Game Center, Twitter and Facebook to identify players.
The safest approach is to verify your linked account before removing BGMI from your old phone, install BGMI on the new device, and sign in using the same account. This guide explains how to move BGMI to a new phone on Android, iPhone and across platforms without accidentally creating a new account.
How to Move BGMI to a New Phone Without Losing Progress
To move BGMI to a new phone, you do not normally need to manually transfer your game files. Instead, install the game on the new device and log in with the same account that you used on the old phone.
Your BGMI account is associated with account information and third-party platforms used for authentication. KRAFTON’s privacy policy specifically lists Google, Apple, Game Center, Twitter and Facebook among the third-party platforms from which it can receive account information.
Before switching phones, check which login method is connected to your BGMI account. This is the most important step because signing in with a different account can open a separate BGMI profile instead of your existing one.
What You Should Check Before Switching
Confirm the BGMI account you currently use.
Remember which Google, Apple, Facebook or other supported platform is linked.
Make sure you can access that account on your new phone.
Take a screenshot of your BGMI profile and Character ID as an extra precaution.
Avoid deleting your old account or changing its login details before confirming access on the new device.
Do not share your account credentials with another person.
KRAFTON has also advised players to link their accounts to more than one social platform as an additional recovery method and warned against account sharing.
Move BGMI From Android to Android
Moving BGMI between 2 Android phones is usually the simplest process.
First, install BGMI on the new Android phone from an official source. Then open the game and choose the same login method that you used on the old phone.
For example, if your existing BGMI profile is connected to a particular Google account, sign in with that same account on the new phone before launching BGMI.
Once the correct account is authenticated, the game should load the corresponding profile instead of starting a new one.
Do not choose a different Google account simply because it is already signed in on the new phone. The account must be the one associated with your existing BGMI profile.
Move BGMI From iPhone to iPhone
The process is similar when moving between 2 iPhones.
Install BGMI on the new iPhone and sign in using the same authentication method connected to your existing account.
If your BGMI profile uses Apple ID, use the same Apple account. KRAFTON’s privacy policy confirms that Apple ID information can be used when players access its games through Apple.
Players using Game Center should also make sure the same Game Center account is active on the new iPhone.
After logging in, check your:
Character name
Character ID
Outfits and weapon skins
UC balance
Rank
Friends list
Other inventory items
If these details match your old profile, you have successfully accessed the correct BGMI account.
Move BGMI From Android to iPhone
Moving BGMI from Android to iPhone can be slightly confusing because the phones use different ecosystems.
The important point is that you should focus on the BGMI account linked to your profile, not the phone itself.
If your BGMI account is connected to a login method that you can access on both devices, use that same account when signing in on the iPhone.
For example, if the existing profile is associated with a supported Google or Facebook login, use the same credentials on the new device rather than creating a new BGMI profile.
KRAFTON’s privacy documentation confirms that BGMI can process account information from multiple third-party platforms, including Google, Apple, Twitter and Facebook.
Android to iPhone Checklist
Step
What to Do
1
Check the linked login on your Android phone
2
Install BGMI on the new iPhone
3
Select the same supported login method
4
Sign in to the original account
5
Check your Character ID
6
Confirm skins, UC and rank
7
Continue playing only after confirming the correct profile
The same principle applies in the opposite direction when moving from iPhone to Android.
Will You Lose BGMI Skins When Changing Phones?
No, changing phones by itself should not remove the skins from your BGMI account.
Your skins and other in-game assets are associated with your game account and its data rather than simply being stored as permanent items on one physical phone.
However, the key is logging into the correct BGMI account.
If you accidentally sign in with another account, the game may show a different character with little or none of your previous inventory. This can make it appear as if your skins have disappeared.
Before assuming that your skins are gone, log out and verify that you have selected the same account that was used on your old device.
KRAFTON’s terms also make clear that players do not own the underlying rights to in-game data and virtual property in the same way they own physical goods.
Will BGMI UC Transfer to a New Phone?
Your BGMI UC balance is tied to the relevant game account, so switching to a new phone should not by itself be treated as a way of transferring UC between accounts.
The important distinction is between changing devices and changing accounts.
If you log into the same BGMI account on the new phone, you should be checking that account’s existing UC balance. If you accidentally enter a different account, its UC balance and inventory can be different.
KRAFTON’s current Rules of Conduct state that UC is in-game currency and cannot be transferred to another user.
If you recently purchased UC and it does not appear, check that you are logged into the account that received the purchase. KRAFTON has previously instructed players with UC purchase issues to re-login to the Google account used for the purchase and the social account that received the UC, followed by a game restart.
Will Your BGMI Rank Stay the Same?
Yes, your rank is part of your existing game progress. Changing from one compatible device to another does not mean you should have to start your BGMI progression from zero.
The important step is accessing your original account.
After moving to the new phone, immediately check your profile and confirm that your current rank and statistics match what you saw on the old device.
If you see a new character or a completely different profile, stop playing on that account and check whether you selected the wrong login method.
What If BGMI Opens a New Account on the New Phone?
This is one of the most common problems when moving BGMI to another device.
If BGMI starts from the beginning, do not panic and do not start spending UC on the new profile.
Instead:
Open the account/login section.
Log out of the newly created or incorrect profile.
Select the login method you used on your old phone.
Sign in with the correct Google, Apple, Facebook or other linked account.
Check the Character ID after logging in.
Confirm that your old skins, rank and inventory have returned.
The most likely reason for seeing a fresh profile is that you authenticated with a different account from the one linked to your original BGMI character.
How to Safely Move BGMI Before Selling Your Old Phone
If you are selling or giving away your old phone, complete the account check before wiping the device.
Use this order:
Old phone → Check linked account → Install BGMI on new phone → Log in → Verify profile → Only then reset old phone
This gives you a chance to correct login problems while you still have access to the old device.
Also remove your Google, Apple, Facebook or other personal accounts from the old phone before handing it to another person.
KRAFTON recommends protecting your account and specifically warns players not to share account information.
Can You Transfer BGMI by Copying Game Files?
You should not rely on manually copying BGMI’s game folders from one phone to another.
Copying files does not replace account authentication, and modifying game data can create unnecessary problems. KRAFTON’s rules prohibit unauthorized modification of the game client, servers or game data.
The safer method is to install BGMI normally on the new phone and sign in through the supported account you used previously.
KRAFTON also recommends obtaining the game through official channels, with its official website providing links for Google Play and the App Store.
What to Do If You Lost Access to Your Old Login
If you cannot access the account used to log into BGMI, the problem is different from simply changing phones.
First, recover access to the relevant Google, Apple, Facebook or other supported account through its official recovery process.
If you still cannot access your BGMI profile, contact BGMI support and provide the information they request to verify ownership.
Do not give your login credentials to websites or people claiming that they can “transfer” your skins, rank or UC manually.
KRAFTON has warned that compromised accounts can lead to problems and recommends using multiple linked social platforms as an additional recovery method.
Final Checklist Before Moving BGMI to a New Phone
Before resetting your old device, make sure you have completed all of these steps:
Confirm the BGMI account currently in use
Check the linked login platform
Make sure you can access that account on the new phone
Can I move BGMI from Android to iPhone? Yes. Install BGMI on the iPhone and sign in with the same supported account linked to your existing BGMI profile. Your device change itself does not mean you need to create a new character.
Will I lose my BGMI skins after changing phones? No, not simply because you changed phones. The important thing is to access the same BGMI account. If your skins appear missing, first check whether you accidentally logged into a different account.
Does BGMI rank transfer to a new phone? Your existing rank is part of your account progress. Log into the same account on the new device and verify your profile before continuing.
Does BGMI UC transfer between accounts? No. KRAFTON’s rules state that UC cannot be transferred to another user.
Should I delete BGMI from my old phone first?| It is safer to keep the old installation until you have successfully logged into the correct account on the new phone and verified your profile.
What should I do if I see a new BGMI account? Log out and try the same login method and account that you used on your old phone. Check your Character ID to confirm that you have opened the correct profile.
Is manually copying BGMI files to a new phone safe? It is not necessary. Use the official BGMI installation and account login process instead. Avoid modifying or transferring game data manually.
NetEase has shipped out a brand-new update to Marvel Rivals on August 13, and it brings with it plenty of new content for players to explore.
The highlights of the Marvel Rivals version 20260813 update include the wave of Rivals’ Summer Finale ’26 events, a new Storm skin bundle, new animations for the Lady Loki skin line and its temporary return to the shop, and a bunch of other changes primarily focused on cosmetics.
If you’re here to know more about the new Marvel Rivals patch and its contents, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Marvel Rivals August 13 update.
A new update for Marvel Rivals is on the horizon! 🚀
The Patch Notes for August 13 are coming soon, covering all the exciting content and adjustments headed your way for the next week.
Marvel Rivals Version 20260813 Update Release Time
The Marvel Rivals version 20260813 update is already live since there’s no downtime for server maintenance. The latest patch got shipped to the hero shooter on August 13, 2026, at around 9 AM UTC.
Players are able to hop on Marvel Rivals right away to enjoy the new patch.
Marvel Rivals Version 20260813 Update: Patch Notes
NetEase has already revealed the detailed patch notes for the Marvel Rivals August 13 update. Fans can take a look at the full list of contents below:
All-New Content
New In Store
– Storm – Sacred Skies Bundle
Limited Time: August 13th, 2026, 09:00:00 to September 11th 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)
– Limited-Time Return: Loki – Lady Loki Bundle
Availability: August 13th, 2026, 09:00:00 to August 28th 2026, 02:00:00 (UTC)
– Magik – Soul Surfer Chroma Blue Breaker/Sunset Surf, Ultimate Ability VFX, and Customizable Parts – Scarlet Witch – Seaside Sorceress Chroma Pitch Petal/Purple Petal, Ultimate Ability VFX, and Customizable Parts – Storm – Sacred Skies Chroma: Crimson Clouds, and Customizable Parts – Black Cat – Coastal Cat Chroma: Pearl Paws & Golden Claws – Winter Soldier – Summer Soldier Chroma: Chill Current – Star-Lord – Star Swimmer Chroma: Stellar Splash – Black Widow – Aquatic Assassin Ultimate Ability VFX – The Thing – Life is But a Dream Emote – Devil Dinosaur – Best Buddies Emote
Available From: August 13th, 2026, at 9:00:00 (UTC)
Rivals’ Summer Finale ’26
Krakoan Reels Vol.2
Cast your lines! Krakoan Reels Vol. 2 is here. The waters are teeming with a massive haul of new catches and sweet loot, including costumes like Black Cat – Coastal Cat, Winter Soldier – Summer Soldier, and Star-Lord – Star Swimmer. Keep your eyes peeled; there’s a mischievous, special little creature swimming among the new catches waiting for you to reel it in and complete your collection.
Event Duration: August 13th, 2026, 09:00:00 to September 24th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)
Summer Snapshot
We’ve set up new photo spots down by the beach. Strike a pose, take a snapshot, and share it to instantly score 100 Units. Whether you’re flying solo or assembling the whole squad, capture the moment to preserve beautiful memories of this summer.
Event Duration: August 13th, 2026, 09:00:00 to September 24th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)
Pop & Win
This week, we’re spotlighting Magik’s Soul Surfer and Scarlet Witch’s Seaside Sorceress. You still have the chance to snag these two incredible costumes for a wildly discounted price. Step right up and test your luck!
Event Duration: August 13th, 2026, 09:00:00 to September 24th, 2026, 09:00:00 (UTC)
New Content
A “Lady Loki” State of Mind: We’ve designed an exclusive set of movement and combat animations specifically for Lady Loki, ensuring her battlefield presence perfectly marches her mischievous elegance. These new animations are applied to all Lady Loki costumes by default. Fans of the old style can easily toggle back to the classic animations via the small gear icon next to the “Equip” button in the Costume interface.
Jeff Remembers He’s a Shark: After much waddling, Jeff finally recalled he is, in fact, an aquatic creature! Now, when Jeff the Land Shark enters the deep waters of Hellfire Bay Beach, he will automatically transition into a swimming animation to keep cruising through the water.
Fixes and Optimizations
Heroes
– Iron Fist’s Flying Flaw: Fixed an issue where using Yat Jee Chung Kuen during the Ultimate Ability could cause abnormal displacement. Lin Lie’s flow state is restored; no more unintentional movements.
– Rogue’s Stolen Syntax: Fixed a bug where stealing certain heroes’ abilities could cause abnormal text displays on the in-match ability description panel. Rogue might borrow powers, but she shouldn’t be breaking our UI.
Other
– Accessibility Amnesia: Addressed an issue where some Accessibility settings failed to save to the user’s account. Your preferences will now stick around for the long haul.
– Emote Immobility Imprisonment: Fixed a glitch preventing Iron Fist’s Kickflip Cruise, Jeff the Land Shark’s Merc’s March, and Ultron’s Breaking the Strings emotes from being used while moving in non-combat areas. You can now flex and strut in spawn to your heart’s content.
– Dragon Overload: Resolved a visual clash where Iron Fist’s Furious Flow Ultimate Ability VFX was unintentionally overwritten by the White Fox Team-Up effects. K’un-Lun’s street fury will shine through unobstructed once again.
– Winter Soldier Subtitles: We’ve added English and Chinese subtitles to the Captain America: The Winter Soldier highlights screenings.
Twitch AI training opt-out settings have become the center of a major backlash after streamers discovered their content was being used to train Amazon’s generative AI models by default. On August 12, Twitch Support announced a new toggle that lets creators opt out of having their channel content used for AI training. However, the setting is turned on automatically for every account, meaning streamers must find and disable it themselves.
The announcement triggered immediate anger across the platform, with creators demanding an opt-in system instead.
Twitch AI Training Opt-Out: What Changed
Twitch confirmed on August 12 that Amazon, its parent company, can use streamer content to train generative AI models. The company framed the update as adding a new privacy control rather than announcing the training itself.
We've added a setting that lets you opt out of having your channel content used to train generative AI content models across Amazon.
“We’ve added a setting that lets you opt out of having your channel content used to train generative AI content models across Amazon,” Twitch Support wrote in a post on X.
The setting covers a wide range of content. According to Twitch’s own FAQ, streams, VODs, clips, highlights, stream chats, and any text or images on a channel can all be used for AI training unless a streamer switches the toggle off.
Turning the setting off only stops future training. It does not remove content that may have already been used, and it does not opt users out of other AI features on the platform, such as automatic captions or moderation tools.
Where to Find the Opt-Out Setting
Streamers can disable AI training from their account settings. The toggle sits under Settings, then Security and Privacy, in a section labeled “Training for Generative AI.”
Several streamers noted that the setting is not easy to locate, since Twitch did not publish a dedicated blog post explaining the change in detail.
Streamers React to Default Opt-In
The decision to enable AI training by default, rather than asking streamers to opt in, drove most of the criticism. Streamer JayViper pointed out the setting was “ON by DEFAULT” directly beneath a message stating that Twitch respects user privacy.
VTuber Shoto questioned why streamers had to actively turn the feature off “when many community members have constantly vocalized against this development.” Other creators, including Pirate Software, published guides showing viewers exactly how to disable the setting.
A related suggestion on Twitch’s UserVoice forum, asking the company to make AI features opt-in rather than opt-out, had already gathered more than 13,000 votes before the announcement, and support continued climbing afterward.
Twitch Executives Respond to Backlash
Twitch’s head of product, Mike Minton, and head of community, Mary Kish, addressed the controversy directly during a livestream watched by roughly 3,000 viewers.
Minton was blunt about why the feature defaults to on. “If it’s opt-in, nobody would opt in. That’s the honest answer,” he said.
Kish acknowledged the negative reaction. “We don’t expect you to be happy or excited about this. I don’t expect anyone to react to this favourably,” she said, adding that opting out only prevents content from being used in future training.
When asked whether VODs had already been fed into Amazon’s AI models, Minton said he could not confirm either way. “I don’t know what Amazon has done in terms of model training, and what they have used and not used,” he said.
The rollout adds Twitch to a growing list of platforms training AI models on user-generated content by default. For streamers who don’t want their broadcasts used this way, the opt-out toggle is currently the only option, and it must be applied manually to every account.
The PMWC 2026 Grand Finals begin on August 14, 2026, in Paris with 16 teams competing for the PUBG Mobile World Cup title and a share of the $1.7 million Grand Finals prize pool. 10 teams qualified directly through the Group Stage by finishing in the top 5 of their respective groups. The remaining 6 spots were decided through the Survival Stage on August 11 and 12. Both Indian teams, GodLike Esports and Orangutan, qualified directly from the Group Stage.
PMWC 2026 Grand Finals: Group Stage Direct Qualifiers (10 Teams)
These 10 teams finished in the top 5 of their Group Stage groups and earned direct qualification to the Grand Finals without playing the Survival Stage.
Group A Direct Qualifiers:
Position
Team
Country/Region
Group Stage Points
1st
4Thrives Esports
Pakistan
107
2nd
Orangutan
India
91
3rd
Aurora Gaming
Mongolia
—
4th
Team Flash
Vietnam
—
5th
Nigma Galaxy
Bahrain (MENA)
—
Group B Direct Qualifiers:
Position
Team
Country/Region
Group Stage Points
1st
Team Vitality (Bigetron)
Indonesia
148
2nd
IDA Esports
Turkey
108
3rd
GodLike Esports
India
—
4th
Horaa Esports
Nepal
—
5th
S2G Esports
Turkey
—
4Thrives Esports from Pakistan topped Group A with 107 points and 80 kills across 12 matches, despite not winning a single Chicken Dinner. Orangutan finished 2nd with 91 points and 2 WWCDs. Team Vitality from Indonesia dominated Group B with 148 points and 103 eliminations. GodLike Esports finished 3rd in Group B.
PMWC 2026 Grand Finals: Survival Stage Qualifiers (6 Teams)
The Survival Stage was held on August 11 and 12 with 16 teams from both groups competing for the remaining 6 Grand Finals spots.
Note: The Survival Stage concluded on August 12, 2026. Based on live tracker data, the following 6 teams qualified for the Grand Finals through the Survival Stage. TalkEsport will update this section with the final confirmed standings once officially published.
Survival Stage Qualifiers (Official)
#
Team
Country
Wins
Placement Pts
Elim Pts
Total
1
Tianba
China
2
39
70
109
2
Alula Club Esports
Saudi Arabia
1
29
62
91
3
Nongshim RedForce
South Korea
1
30
59
89
4
Furia
Brazil
0
24
61
85
5
ULF Esports
Turkey
2
36
48
84
6
EArena
Thailand
1
33
46
79
All 16 PMWC 2026 Grand Finalist Teams
All 16 PMWC 2026 Grand Finalist Teams
#
Team
Country
Qualified Through
1
4Thrives Esports
Pakistan
Group A (1st)
2
Orangutan
India
Group A (2nd)
3
Aurora Gaming
Mongolia
Group A (3rd)
4
Team Flash
Vietnam
Group A (4th)
5
Nigma Galaxy
Bahrain
Group A (5th)
6
Team Vitality
Indonesia
Group B (1st)
7
IDA Esports
Turkey
Group B (2nd)
8
GodLike Esports
India
Group B (3rd)
9
Horaa Esports
Nepal
Group B (4th)
10
S2G Esports
Turkey
Group B (5th)
11
Tianba
China
Survival Stage
12
ULA
Saudi Arabia
Survival Stage
13
NS RedForce
South Korea
Survival Stage
14
Furia
Brazil
Survival Stage
15
ULF Esports
Turkey
Survival Stage
16
EArena
Thailand
Survival Stage
India’s 2 Teams Both Made the Grand Finals
Both Indian teams qualified directly from the Group Stage. Orangutan finished 2nd in Group A with 91 points and 2 Chicken Dinners. GodLike Esports finished 3rd in Group B. Neither team had to play the Survival Stage.
This is the first time India has had 2 teams at PMWC. Both making the Grand Finals is a strong result. As TalkEsport reported earlier, GodLike and Orangutan were placed in separate groups, and both delivered top-5 finishes.
Teams to Watch in the Grand Finals
4Thrives Esports (Pakistan): Topped Group A with 107 points. Also won the PMGO 2026 Season 1 in June. Going for back-to-back international titles.
Team Vitality (Indonesia): Topped Group B with 148 points and 103 eliminations. The most dominant team across the entire Group Stage.
Tianba (China): Dropped to the Survival Stage from Group B but fought back through. One of PEL’s strongest rosters. Always a threat in Grand Finals formats.
GodLike Esports (India): Finished 3rd in Group B. Competing without head coach Smokie, whose visa was denied for the event.
PMWC 2026 Grand Finals Schedule and Format
Day
Date
Start Time
Grand Finals Day 1
August 14
11:30 UTC+0 (5:00 PM IST)
Grand Finals Day 2
August 15
11:30 UTC+0 (5:00 PM IST)
Grand Finals Day 3
August 16
11:30 UTC+0 (5:00 PM IST)
16 teams play a maximum of 18 matches across 3 days (6 per day). The Smash Rule applies on Day 3. The first Match Point Eligible team to secure a Chicken Dinner is crowned PMWC 2026 champion.
FaZe Clan have come out swinging with a win over BetBoom in the Esports World Cup 2026, after a poor start to the season, showcasing questionable performances that saw them get wiped out of every tournament they attempted to play in. Despite the tight scoreline, FaZe Clan brought out a significantly better performance that gave hope for them down the line.
Converting the pistol, FaZe started with one of their strongest showings in Nuke, where we saw a defence that remained perfect for the better part of the first half, with the team going 9-0 up before conceding a round. Near-perfect defence was put together by FaZe with a combination of individual brilliance paired with proactive movement that saw them secure the opening, which paved the way for their massive lead. With FaZe securing a 9-0 lead, they dropped the ball in the final rounds to give away 3 rounds before switching sides. The second half saw FaZe drop the ball in typical FaZe fashion, which led to BetBoom almost making a comeback. BetBoom managed to race till they levelled the scoreline in no time before the FaZe offence managed to make a dent. While they continued to struggle, FaZe, in the final few rounds come up with the goods only to push it over the line by the skin of their teeth to secure a tight 13-11 win. 19 kills to his name, the young gun and new signing JBOEN stood tall as FaZe’s sharpest weapon in their opening matches.
FaZe set up their next match against Legacy with this win, which might be a better test for them. By no means does this team look ready to take on the top dogs, but with the talent under the banner, we might see them break out at any point in the season.
The best-of-one opening games for the highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2026 are ongoing in full swing, with Falcons securing a dominant win over K27. Coming off the back of winning a Major, Falcons, with the weight lifted off their shoulders, came into the match as heavy favourites, and the scoreboard is a testament to that.
Kicking off with a pistol round win, Falcons’ domination was on display right from the get-go, with the difference in level of individuals readily apparent. Continuing to struggle for the better part of the map, K27 managed to win rounds, but they were rare, which left them no room to mount a comeback in the following rounds. With m0NESY in form on offence, K27 barely managed to get an opening, which ultimately became their undoing, as getting first pick allowed the Falcons’ offence to play freely around the map as karrigan managed to pull the strings with relative ease.
Moving to the offence, Falcons allowed a brief comeback, losing out on the pistol, but that could barely put a dent in the massive lead they managed to garner following the end of the first half. Winning the first fun round, the perfectly played defence saw the map get closed out with relative ease. m0NESY is in peak form, with a supporting cast chiming in as and when needed to ensure Falcons don’t fall to another upset like Spirit.
Winning the opening game puts them in a challenging contest against the winners of the match between MIBR and Astralis. As many teams look out of form, Falcons pose a strong chance of going all the way. With pressure lifted and confidence at an all-time high, we just might see them bring home the EWC 2026.
Stop Killing Games has joined a $457 million lawsuit against Sony, backing Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C) in its case against the PlayStation Store’s digital monopoly. The movement announced its support alongside community resource DoesItPlay? on August 12, 2026. Both groups are backing SM&C’s legal action in the Netherlands, which accuses Sony of controlling PlayStation game pricing through a closed digital ecosystem. The case has gained fresh attention after Sony confirmed it will end physical PlayStation disc production by January 2028.
Here is everything confirmed about the lawsuit so far.
Why Stop Killing Games Joined the Sony Lawsuit
Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay? shared a video from SM&C titled “It’s time to sue Sony, join us.” In the video description, the groups said they are putting their full weight behind SM&C’s case in the Dutch court.
SM&C first filed the lawsuit in early 2025 as part of its “Fair PlayStation” campaign. The foundation argues that Sony holds a monopoly over digital game sales on PlayStation, since players can only buy digital titles through Sony’s own store.
The lawsuit claims this closed system lets Sony set prices without competition, resulting in a so-called “Sony tax.” SM&C says digital games on the PlayStation Store cost up to 47% more on average due to a lack of alternatives.
Sony’s move to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games by January 2028 has added weight to the case. SM&C argues that once discs disappear, Sony will gain even more control over pricing and distribution within its own ecosystem, while also wiping out the secondhand game market.
What the Lawsuit Is Seeking
SM&C is seeking damages of more than €400 million, approximately $457 million, on behalf of an estimated 1.7 million Dutch PS4 and PS5 owners. The claim covers players who made at least one purchase through the PlayStation Store since November 29, 2013.
The case cleared its first hearing on June 29, 2026, at the District Court of Midden-Nederland. That hearing addressed jurisdiction and whether SM&C has standing to represent the class under the Netherlands’ WAMCA collective action framework. A ruling on those questions is still pending before the case can move to the merits stage.
Who Is Behind the Lawsuit
Stichting Massaschade & Consument is a Dutch non-profit foundation that organizes class action lawsuits on behalf of consumers against large companies. Its case against Sony is separate from a similar “PlayStation You Owe Us” lawsuit filed in the United Kingdom, which concluded testimony on May 8, 2026, with no verdict reported yet.
Stop Killing Games is a consumer movement that formed in 2024. It campaigns against video game publishers shutting down games that consumers have already purchased, and it previously gathered more than 1.2 million verified signatures on a European Citizens’ Initiative petition submitted to the European Commission.
Dutch consumers who qualify can register with SM&C’s foundation to join the collective action. The court’s decision on jurisdiction and standing will determine how quickly the case moves toward a full hearing on the monopoly claim itself. Sony has not issued a detailed public response addressing the Dutch lawsuit as of this report.
The MW4 Discord Nitro beta code lets active Nitro subscribers jump into the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta before everyone else. Discord and Activision have teamed up on a limited promotion that hands out a free beta code through the Nitro Home tab, and players don’t need to pre-order the game to use it. The Early Access window runs from August 21 to 25, 2026, ahead of the Open Beta weekend.
Here’s how to claim the MW4 beta code, redeem it, and what else Nitro subscribers get from the deal.
How to Claim the MW4 Discord Nitro Beta Code
Claiming the MW4 Discord Nitro beta code takes just a few steps inside the Discord app. Follow this process on desktop or in the browser:
Log in to Discord with an account that has an active Nitro subscription.
Click the Discord logo and open the Nitro Home tab from the sidebar.
Scroll down to find the MW4 early access promotion under Nitro Rewards.
Select Unlock Reward, then click Unlock to receive the code.
Copy the code and keep it safe.
Once the code is in hand, head to the official Call of Duty beta page to redeem it. Log in with an Activision account, enter the code, and pick the platform and region tied to that account. After submitting, players should see a confirmation message confirming early access is active.
MW4 Early Access and Open Beta Dates
Modern Warfare 4 is running its beta in two phases:
Phase
Dates
Early Access
Aug. 21 to 25, 2026
Open Beta
Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, 2026
The Open Beta weekend is free for everyone, including Nintendo Switch 2 owners. The Discord Nitro beta code only matters for players who want in during the first window from August 21.
Who Can Claim the Free MW4 Beta Code
Only active, paid Discord Nitro subscribers qualify for the MW4 beta code. Discord Support confirmed on X that Nitro Basic, Nitro Classic, and Nitro free trial members are not eligible for the reward.
The standard Nitro tier that unlocks this promotion costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. The cheaper Nitro Basic plan, priced at $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, does not include access to Nitro Rewards like this one. Each eligible account can claim one MW4 beta code only.
Platform Rules and Other Nitro Rewards
The MW4 beta code is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC through Battle.net, Xbox on PC, or Steam. Nintendo Switch 2 is not part of the Discord Nitro early access promotion, though Switch 2 owners can still join the Open Beta from August 28.
The code also locks to whichever platform a player selects during redemption. Choosing PlayStation 5 at redemption means the code won’t work if that player later tries to log in on Steam instead.
Beyond early beta access, Discord Nitro subscribers get an extra perk. Nitro members will receive an exclusive weapon blueprint in Modern Warfare 4 once the game launches on October 23, 2026, as long as their Discord and Call of Duty accounts stay linked.
Other Ways to Play the MW4 Beta Early
Discord Nitro isn’t the only route into the Early Access window. Players can also get in early by pre-ordering Modern Warfare 4, using a code from a participating retailer, or simply waiting for the Open Beta weekend starting August 28, which needs no code at all.
