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Valve Wins Lawsuit Against Patent Troll Leigh Rothschild

Aritra Patra
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Valve Wins Lawsuit Against Patent Troll Leigh Rothschild

Valve has won a historic court victory against prolific patent troll Leigh Rothschild, as a US jury has completely come down on the side of Steam in a lawsuit that relies entirely on the anti-patent troll legislation of the state of Washington.

In a verdict delivered in February, a federal jury in the Western District of Washington determined that Rothschild and his related entities violated the Washington Patent Troll Prevention Act and the state’s Consumer Protection Act, as well as violating a previous licensing agreement with Valve. This verdict came in a lawsuit filed in July 2023, in which Valve accused Rothschild’s companies of making a bad-faith patent claim against software technology that Valve was already licensed to use.

Judge Jamal Whitehead had previously found that Rothschild’s 2022 lawsuit itself violated a 2016 global settlement and license agreement, and that the later dismissal of the case did not cure the violation. The jury also issued an advisory verdict that at least one claim of the alleged US Patent No. 8,856,221 was invalid, which supported Valve’s effort to render the patent nugatory in the future.

Rothschild, whose network of shell companies has filed more than 1,000 patent lawsuits against defendants, including tech giants and small businesses, licensed a portfolio of patents to Valve in 2016 under a perpetual, royalty-free, global license. Rothschild’s shell company, Display Technologies, later sued Valve in 2022 over alleged infringement of a “displaying content” patent that was already licensed in the agreement.

Instead of quietly settling, Valve has now countersued Rothschild and various related entities in 2023 under the Washington Patent Troll Prevention Act, claiming that the infringement threats were part of an overall scheme of bad faith assertion. A jury in Seattle has now agreed, assessing approximately 152,000 USD in damages to Valve, an important legal precedent against the business model of patent trolls.

The case shows that anti-troll laws can be used offensively as well as defensively.

NAVI Kicks Out G2 From PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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NAVI Kicks Out G2 From PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Natus Vincere are through to the playoffs of PGL Cluj Napoca, beating G2 with a 2-0 scoreline. Edging out on the competitive first map and completing a jaw-dropping comeback in the second saw the CIS side knock G2 out of the event in the final round of the group stage.

VETO

  • G2 removed Nuke
  • Natus Vincere removed Overpass
  • G2 picked Dust2
  • Natus Vincere picked Ancient
  • G2 removed Mirage
  • Natus Vincere removed Anubis
  • Inferno was left over

Map 1: Dust2; Pick: G2; Winner:NAVI

Starting strong on the offense, G2 hit the board but lost to the NAVI force in the round that followed. Trading rounds back and forth, G2 managed to find their footing, putting together round after round, exploiting the weak defensive setup from NAVI in mid and short. Having failed to put together till the final round, b1t clutching a 1v2 in A site closed the gap to 7-5 with the CIS side trailing before switching sides. 7 rounds were all that G2 managed to put together as moving on the offense, NAVI managed to play out a perfect half as they reached the finish line without dropping a single round in the process. The G2 defense helplessly failed to win a single round, leading to a 13-7 finish on the map. While iM topped charts with 22 kills, b1t dropped a very impactful performance that turned the tide of the game as G2’s great start to the map looked like a distant memory.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: NAVI; Winner:NAVI

Following a tough loss on Dust2, G2 had a solid start on Ancient. Rock-solid defense from G2 managed to get a read of everything NAVI threw at them before NAVI switched up the play with a fast take of the A site, leading to their first round. G2 managed to win 4 more after losing their first round on the defense before NAVI won back-to-back rounds to close out the half, making the scoreline more respectable than before. Switching sides with a 9-3 scoreline, G2’s offense dropped the ball as they did in the second half of Dust2. The NAVI defense remained absolutely flawless, proactive, and aggressive; they managed to break G2’s plans with aggressive pushes, quick utility, and outright reading their plays like a book. Winning all of their CT rounds, NAVI closed the map with a stellar comeback of 13-9 and secured what is arguably their most impressive win of the year.

G2, having failed to impress coming into the event, bows out most dismally, as the roster will be forced into hitting the drawing board. HuNter has been solid as an IGL, but the team has tons of issues to be ironed out. Only time can tell if the current line-up can work together, but as of now, this will be the last of them in Cluj.

R6 Siege Hackers Can Now Control What You See

Aritra Patra
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0
R6 Siege Hackers Can Now Control What You See

Rainbow Six Siege is now experiencing a new kind of image-based hack that allows hackers to flood players’ screens with disturbing images, ruining gameplay.

As reported, hackers have discovered a means of delivering custom images directly to other players’ screens in the middle of a match in Rainbow Six Siege, filling a substantial part of the screen. In the most lighthearted instances, players are subjected to a cartoon chicken, but the same method is also being employed to compel graphic pornography and gore, such as images of mutilated bodies, onto players’ screens. The effect is an instantaneous full-screen or near-full-screen shock that can immediately ruin a round of competitive play.

For instance, popular R6 streamer BikiniBodhi‘s screen got covered with Charlie Kirk’s image. Because of that, he definitely faced a competitive disadvantage as his full screen got covered for a few seconds.

This is not the first time Rainbow Six’s ecosystem has been abused to push unwanted images at players. In a previous Uplay messaging exploit, attackers included simple HTML and JavaScript code in messages so that opening the message would replace the entire game window with an external image, often pornographic, until the player closed and re-launched the client. The current spate of image exploits in Siege follows the same pattern: using otherwise innocuous UI or overlay mechanics to push content that players never asked to see in the first place.

For content creators, the risks are greater than just losing a ranked match. A single exploited round of hacked gameplay showing explicit or violent images can result in moderation strikes or bans on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, even if the streamer has no control over what is being shown. According to reports, players are being deliberately targeted for pornography and extreme gore content, which violates most mainstream streaming terms of service simply by existing.

At present, there appears to be no publicly described solution or timeline from Ubisoft. If you have also faced such occurrences, let us know in the comments below.

Ubisoft Reveals Rainbow Six Siege Year 11 Roadmap

Krafton India Disqualified 4 Teams from BGIS 2026 for Cheating, Bribery and Unprofessional Conduct

Aditya Parsutkar
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Krafton India Disqualified 4 Teams from BGIS 2026 for Cheating, Bribery and Unprofessional Conduct

The BGIS 2026 tournament has once again come under the spotlight after Krafton India officially disqualified four teams from Round 3. The announcement was made on 18 February 2026, and the reasons range from cheating and hacking to bribery and unprofessional behavior.

Despite strict monitoring and anti-cheat systems, violations continue to surface in the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026. With this latest action, the total number of disqualified teams in BGIS 2026 has now increased from 15 to 19.

Krafton India Takes Strict Action in BGIS 2026

Krafton India has been actively enforcing its official rulebook to maintain competitive integrity in BGIS 2026. In the latest update, four teams The Creator, CZAR Esports, GenOfMiracle, and Super Esports have been removed from the tournament for violating different sections of the rulebook.

The violations fall under Rule 6.2.2 and Rule 6.3 including 6.3.8 and 6.3.13, which deal with cheating and unprofessional conduct.

The Creator Disqualified Under Rule 6.2.2 for Cheating and Hacking

The first team on the list is The Creator, disqualified under Rule 6.2.2.

This rule directly relates to cheating, hacking, or using any unauthorized software, modified game clients, or unfair tools that provide an in game advantage. The rule clearly states that any attempt to manipulate gameplay unfairly can lead to immediate disqualification.

Cheating remains one of the biggest threats to esports tournaments, and Krafton’s action shows a zero tolerance approach toward unfair gameplay in BGIS 2026.

CZAR Esports Removed for Bribery Violation Under Rule 6.3.8

The most shocking case in this list is CZAR Esports, who were disqualified under Rule 6.3.8.

Rule 6.3.8 prohibits bribery or offering gifts, money, or rewards to influence tournament officials, players, or match outcomes. If a team attempts to manipulate results or influence decisions through financial means, it is considered serious misconduct.

Bribery cases are extremely rare but highly damaging to the credibility of esports tournaments. Interestingly, a similar situation occurred in BGIS 2024 when 47 Esports was disqualified for bribery-related violations. This shows that Krafton India is maintaining strict compliance standards across seasons.

GenOfMiracle and Super Esports Disqualified Under Rule 6.3.13

The third and fourth teams GenOfMiracle and Super Esports, were disqualified under Rule 6.3.13.

Rule 6.3 focuses on unprofessional behavior. This includes actions such as inviting unauthorized individuals, obscuring identity, failing to maintain professional standards, or violating confidentiality and conduct guidelines.

Although the exact reason has not been publicly detailed, Rule 6.3.13 generally deals with serious conduct violations that harm the integrity of the competition.

Read More: BGMI 4.3 Update Release Date, M1 Garand, Racing Mode and New Features Explained

BGMI ID Ban Controversy Around GenOfMiracle Players

A day before the disqualification announcement, reports surfaced that two GenOfMiracle players Aiden and Sharan had their Battlegrounds Mobile India IDs banned.

Initially, online discussions suggested hacking as the reason. However, a source from within the team clarified that the ban was allegedly related to UC carding, which means unauthorized purchase of in game currency.

According to the internal clarification, the players were reportedly scammed during the UC purchase process, which ultimately led to their accounts being banned. If true, this is still a serious violation, as carding is strictly prohibited under BGMI policies and can directly impact tournament eligibility.

At the moment, no official detailed public statement has been released by the players themselves.

Total Disqualified Teams in BGIS 2026 Now 19

Earlier in the tournament, 15 teams were already disqualified from BGIS 2026 for various violations, with 3 teams banned. With these four new names added, the total number of disqualified teams has now reached 19.

This clearly shows that Krafton India is actively monitoring gameplay, conduct, and compliance. Whether it is cheating, bribery, or professional misconduct, strict action is being taken to maintain fair competition.

What This Means for Indian Esports

BGIS is one of the biggest esports tournaments in India. Incidents like cheating and bribery not only affect individual teams but also damage the credibility of the entire competitive scene.

However, the strong and consistent enforcement of rules sends a clear message that fairness comes first. Talent and hard work matter more than shortcuts.

As BGIS 2026 moves forward, the focus will now shift back to the remaining teams who continue to compete fairly for the championship.

How to Get Security Breach in Arc Raiders

Sonu Banerjee
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How to Get Security Breach in Arc Raiders

As you spend time exploring various places of the Rust Belt in the world of Arc Raiders, you’ll occasionally come across certain locked containers that cannot be unlocked by regular breaching or with keys. These containers, called Security Breaches, hold some of the most expensive loot you can find in the game, and can only be opened through a special skill that isn’t exactly the easiest to obtain.

The Security Breaches in Arc Raiders primarily contain weapons, ammunition, and quick-use utility items of high value. However, if you’re looking to open these containers in Arc Raiders, you’ll have to invest some serious time into the game first. 

To open these locked containers in Arc Raiders, you’ll need to unlock the ‘Security Breach’ skill for your Raider. Here’s the fastest and most efficient way to get it without wasting your valuable time and resources.

How to Get Security Breach in Arc Raiders

The Security Breach is a skill in Arc Raiders that can only be unlocked after you’ve spent 36 points in the Survival skill tree. Since unlocking the skill itself takes up a skill point as well, this means that you’ll need to spend at least 37 total skill points to be able to unlock Security Breach containers in Arc Raiders.

Image via Arc Raiders Wiki

However, investing all your skill points into the Survival tree right from the start might not be the smartest strategy. Skipping early points in Mobility will significantly slow you down on your grind as you spend more time traversing the topside looking for XP.

As a result, it’s recommended for players to max out the two Mobility skills: Youthful Lungs and Marathon Runner before investing points in the Survival tree.

If you follow this route, you should be able to unlock Security Breach a little later at around level 48 (if you haven’t done any prior Expeditions), but at least you won’t be running out of stamina every ten seconds.

G2 Esports Hosts Government Panel to Discuss Germany’s Esports Infrastructure Development

Pranav Nalawade
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G2 Esports Hosts Government Panel to Discuss Germany’s Esports Infrastructure Development

European esports organization G2 Esports brought together government officials and industry leaders at its Berlin headquarters to examine the future of esports infrastructure in Germany. The evening panel brought together key figures from both the public and private sectors to address critical questions about how Germany can strengthen its position in the global esports landscape.

Key Participants in the Berlin Esports Panel

The panel featured G2 Esports CEO Alban Dechelotte alongside Franziska Giffey, who serves as Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises. The discussion also included former FIFA World Champion Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous and Julions Althof, who holds the position of Managing Director at the Esports Player Foundation.

G2 Esports Chief Operating Officer Sabrina Ratih moderated the panel discussion, guiding conversations between the assembled experts.

Focus on Sustainable Growth and Player Support

The panel centered on how Germany’s existing esports ecosystem can be improved to encourage sustainable, long-term growth. Participants examined the structures required to support players across all competitive levels, from grassroots participation through to professional careers.

One major topic addressed how Germany can position itself as an international hub for organizations and tournament organizers looking to host events. The discussion looked at what infrastructure and support systems would make Germany an attractive destination for major esports competitions.

Germany’s Non-Profit Esports Classification

Panel participants discussed Germany’s recent move to classify esports as a non-profit activity and examined the wider impact this change will have on organizations operating in the country. In September 2025, the German government approved a proposal recognizing esports as a non-profit activity. This decision aims to strengthen fair play principles and encourage a healthy approach to digital media use.

The conversation also touched on the shift toward non-profit models in esports and explored how the industry can promote diversity and inclusion in Berlin specifically.

Government and Industry Collaboration

The panel addressed how Germany can remain competitive with global esports hubs through effective collaboration between government and industry stakeholders. Franziska Giffey highlighted the House of Games initiative, which she has supported as a central hub for the games industry in Berlin.

According to Giffey, the gaming industry has become a key driver of innovation, digitalization, and economic growth. Berlin has committed over 6 million euros in state funding for the industry, with the goal of attracting studios, game companies, startups, and developers to strengthen the city’s position as a leading European innovation hub.

Germany’s Track Record Hosting Major Tournaments

Germany has established itself as a destination for high-profile esports tournaments in recent years. The country has hosted major events including Dota 2’s The International and the Rainbow Six Siege Fall Major.

This year, the city of Cologne will host the 24th Counter-Strike Major operated by ESL FACEIT Group. The tournament marks the fifth time that the premier event for Valve’s first-person shooter title has taken place in Germany, cementing the country’s reputation as a popular destination for tournament organizers.

Benefits of Government-Industry Dialogue

Hosting panels that bring together industry stakeholders and government officials enables productive discussions that can shape the future of esports in Germany. These conversations allow both sectors to understand each other’s perspectives and work together on policies and infrastructure that support esports development.

The G2 Esports panel represents one example of how esports organizations and government representatives can engage in dialogue about the regulatory environment, funding opportunities, and strategic positioning that will determine Germany’s role in the international esports scene. Organizations like G2 have been central to European esports across multiple titles, making their input particularly valuable for policymakers looking to support the industry’s growth.

College Football 25 Early Access Start Time and Release Date Complete Guide

Divyesh Moghe
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College Football 25 Early Access Start Time and Release Date Complete Guide

EA Sports College Football 25 brought college football gaming back after more than a decade. Players who purchased specific editions gained early access to the game before the standard release date.

College Football 25 Early Access Start Time

Early access for College Football 25 began on July 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. This represents a three-day head start compared to the standard edition release.

Some confusion surrounded the exact start time. The EA Sports official pre-order page initially listed early access as beginning July 16. However, the disclaimers section and purchase confirmations indicated July 15 at 4 PM ET as the actual start time.

Players in different time zones could access the game at the following times on July 15:

  • 4:00 PM Eastern Time
  • 3:00 PM Central Time
  • 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Standard Release Date

The full release of College Football 25 occurred on July 19, 2024. This date applied to players who ordered the Standard Edition or planned to purchase the game after launch.

How to Get Early Access

Two methods allowed players to access College Football 25 before the standard release date.

Deluxe Edition Purchase

Purchasing the Deluxe Edition provided three days of early access starting July 15. The Deluxe Edition was priced at $100, compared to the $70 Standard Edition.

Over 2.2 million players purchased the Deluxe Edition to gain early access to the game.

EA Play Trial

EA Play subscribers received a 10-hour trial beginning July 16, 2024. This option cost $6 per month or $40 per year for an EA Play subscription.

The trial lasted 10 hours of actual gameplay time. Players needed to close the application when not playing to preserve their remaining trial hours.

Platform Availability

College Football 25 launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles only. No version was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or PC at launch.

Preload Information

Players could preload the game up to 48 hours before the early access start time. Preloading allowed the game to be ready for immediate play when early access began.

Storage requirements varied by platform. Xbox users needed at least 80GB of free storage space. PlayStation 5 players were recommended to have 100GB available on an SSD for optimal performance.

First College Football Game in 11 Years

College Football 25 marked the first EA Sports college football title since NCAA Football 14 in 2013. The series was discontinued for over a decade due to legal issues involving the NCAA and player compensation.

The return became possible after changes to NCAA rules allowed college athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness. EA secured agreements with over 10,000 college athletes for inclusion in the game.

Game Features and Content

The game included 134 FBS schools with their stadiums, fight songs, and mascots. Real player names and likenesses appeared through the NIL program.

Classic game modes returned including Dynasty, Road to Glory, and Team Builder. An Ultimate Team mode featured current college players, retired legends, and active NFL stars.

Launch Success

At launch, College Football 25 attracted more than 2.8 million players. By November 2024, the game became the best-selling sports video game in United States history based on dollar sales.

Server Issues at Launch

Server problems occurred when the early access period opened on July 15. The high player volume caused connection difficulties for some users attempting to access the game. Players who experienced server connectivity issues during launch week could reference the Dynasty Mode troubleshooting guide to work around some of the early technical problems.

Beyond the Standard and Deluxe editions, EA offered an MVP Bundle priced at $150. This package included the Deluxe

HEROIC’s Primary AWPer Alkaren Faces Visa Issues Again

Aritra Patra
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0
HEROIC’s Primary AWPer Alkaren Faces Visa Issues Again

HEROIC will once again be attending a LAN without their initial AWPer, as Kazakh sniper Alimzhan “alkaren” Bitimbai has been forced to sit out the upcoming DraculaN tournament due to visa complications. This is the latest in a string of travel-related issues that are quickly turning a promising signing into a nightmare for the Danish organization.

In his place will be Simon “yxngstxr” Boije, the benched rifler who has already been called upon several times as a last resort stand-in and will once again be tasked with carrying the AWP. This forces yet another role change within a roster that had been spending the early stages of the season practicing with Alkaren as the key component of their big green, only to have that strategy blown apart by red tape.

This is not a one-off occurrence but rather a pattern. Alkaren had also previously sat out of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 and IEM Krakow 2026 due to visa issues, which meant that HEROIC had to go to the tournament short-handed, with yxngstxr covering for him in both instances. Rumors surrounding PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 suggested that this was already the third Tier-1 event that he has sat out since joining the team, which further emphasizes the severity of the situation for both the player and the team.

On the surface, HEROIC has continued to express its support for its sniper, reiterating that his absence is in no way related to his performance and that the long-term strategy remains the same, which is to fully integrate him into the team once the paperwork is finally in order. However, the reality is that with each LAN that he misses, the situation becomes increasingly frustrating from a competitive standpoint, as practice reps are now divided between two different rosters, on-server chemistry is constantly being disrupted, and a young, rebuilding team is now forced to redefine itself even at the LAN level.

Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update: Release Date, What to Expect, and More

Sonu Banerjee
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0
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update: Release Date, What to Expect, and More

The Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update is the next major patch coming to the Embark Studios extraction shooter, and it’s fast approaching on the horizon.

As revealed in the Arc Raiders roadmap earlier this year, Embark is sticking to its schedule of one major update per month for the first quarter of 2026. The first month of the year saw the devs shipping out the Headwinds update, introducing the Bird City map condition, the Trophy Display project, and the Solo vs Squads matchmaking option to the game.

February 2026 is about to see another major Arc Raiders patch in the form of the Shrouded Sky update. While the detailed patch notes of the update have not been revealed at the time of writing, the aforementioned roadmap sheds light on what the new patch will bring to the game.

In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about the Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update before it hits the live servers next week.

Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Release Date

As already confirmed by Embark, the Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update will officially launch on February 24, 2026.

However, the devs have shared that there will be “no major game update or a store rotation” this week as the team focuses on preparing for the upcoming release.

Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Details: What to Expect?

The Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update is expected to introduce the following new content to the game:

  • A brand-new Map Condition
  • New kind of Arc
  • New Player Project
  • New Raider Deck
  • Map Updates

Alongside these new additions, the Expedition Departure window for this season will also go live with the Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update. Be sure to finish your Expedition Project while you still can and before the Expedition departs.
In case you aren’t done with your Expedition yet, here’s everything you’ll need to finish your Caravan in this Arc Raiders Expedition.

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