Competitive Play
Ongoing coverage on Competitive Play.
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GOALS 2.0.0 Takes Free-To-Play Game Pass Football To The Next Level
The free-to-play football game GOALS has received its largest overhaul with the release of update 2.0.0. This update introduces 5v5 Ranked mode, a new tournament experience called The Trial, and hundreds of underlying changes to gameplay, matchmaking, and progression. GOALS 2.0.0 is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC with full cross-platform play.
Marvel Rivals breaks its 17 month streak of adding 2 heroes per season, but its creative director reassures fans…
Marvel Rivals is breaking its streak of adding two heroes per season, with Season 10 only introducing one new hero, Gorr the God Butcher. This change aims to improve game foundations, balance, and introduce new game modes. Creative director Guangyun Chen and combat director Zhiyong reassured fans that this is not a permanent shift, and the team is also implementing significant changes to the competitive ban system.
Overwatch's newest Emerald rank is like a live grenade wedged between plat and diamond
Overwatch's Season 4 introduced a new Emerald rank, positioned between Platinum and Diamond, to address skill disparity. While intended to provide a better sense of rank identity, the author found Emerald games to be chaotic and frustrating due to inconsistent player skill and frequent mistakes. The article suggests that while the rank may improve over time, it currently represents a challenging environment for players.
Spider-Man is looking exceptionally strong in Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Spider-Man is emerging as a dominant character in Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, with all top 8 players at a recent tournament utilizing him, often as an assist. His strong offensive capabilities and quick overhead attacks make him a powerful choice, leading to discussions about potential nerfs. Other notable characters include Blade and Magneto, while Magik, popular in the beta, has seen a slight dip.
Fableborne opens Guild signups for Season 5 as Guilds 2.0 lifts the prize pool to 95%
Fableborne is opening Guild signups for its upcoming Season 5, which begins on August 12, 2026. The new Guilds 2.0 system increases the prize pool by routing 95% of player webshop spending into it, up from 70% in Season 4. New features include Guild Promo Codes for discounts and a simplified joining process.
Riftbound overhauls its competitive scene for 2027 with new events and prizing revealed
Riot Games has announced significant changes to the competitive structure of Riftbound for 2027, including new events and prizing. The Summoner Skirmish will be replaced by the Riftbound Challenge Series, and Regional Qualifiers are renamed Riftbound Regionals. Regional Championships are now Riftbound Continentals, and a new monthly local event called the Nexus Cup will be introduced.
Marvel Rivals needs to pick a lane and either fully embrace balancing for 'fun' long term or stick to some…
This opinion piece argues that Marvel Rivals needs to commit to either a balanced competitive experience or a more casual, chaotic fun. The article criticizes the new Team-Up system for introducing overly powerful and unbalanced combinations, suggesting that developers should make a clear decision to avoid alienating players.
Apex Legends solo queue launches June 30: Will you be playing?
Apex Legends is launching a mandatory solo queue for its ranked mode on June 30th. The article discusses whether this change will restore competitiveness to the ranked playlist, drawing a distinction between ranked play and casual 'pubs'.
Might & Magic Fates Sets June 23 Release for Stronghold Rising
Might & Magic Fates will release its Stronghold Rising update on June 23, 2026, introducing the new Stronghold faction led by Sandor and the 'Enraged' mechanic. The update also includes a Heroes Pass with seasonal rewards and competitive leaderboards to enhance player experience.
Mega Raichu X and Y are going to be strong in Pokemon Champions – here’s why
The mobile game Pokemon Champions has introduced Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y, significantly boosting the competitive viability of Raichu. Mega Raichu X excels as a physical attacker with Electric Terrain support, particularly in doubles, while Mega Raichu Y is a powerful special attacker suited for singles play due to its No Guard ability and high stats.
Best of Riftbound RQ Vancouver Deck Lists so far
The Riftbound RQ Vancouver tournament has concluded, with competitors sharing their top-performing deck lists. Notable players like AlanZQ and Sam Sherman have posted their strategies, with AlanZQ winning the event using a Diana deck. The article highlights various successful decks across different legends, including Rengar, Master Yi, and Azir, and mentions upcoming details about Set 4 and 5.
Dragapult Isn't a One-Trick Dragon
The Dragapult ex card has become a dominant force in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, particularly the Twilight Masquerade print, due to its Dragon typing granting it no weaknesses. Its evolution line, starting with Dreepy and Drakloak, provides consistency through abilities like Recon Directive, while Dragapult ex boasts high HP and Tera protection. Various builds and support Pokémon like Crispin, Budew, Munkidori, and Meowth ex contribute to its strategic depth and consistent performance in competitive play.
Method of Entry
Method of Entry is an upcoming 5v5 tactical shooter aiming to revitalize the genre with a focus on competitive play and authentic mechanics, avoiding complex hero abilities. The game draws inspiration from titles like SWAT, Rainbow 6, Counter-Strike, Escape from Tarkov, and Rainbow Six Siege. A 5-man developer team is promoting the game, which emphasizes realistic Special Forces scenarios and genuine skill.
Overwatch 10th Anniversary patch nerfs Pharah and Kiriko as mid-season balance shakeup arrives
Overwatch celebrates its 10th anniversary with a significant mid-season patch that includes balance adjustments for heroes like Pharah and Kiriko, alongside competitive changes and a progression overhaul. The patch also introduces the anniversary event, featuring rotating classic game modes and new cosmetic rewards.
Wild Forest Arena Mode Debuts: Open Deck Access for Players
Wild Forest has launched a new competitive mode called Arena, allowing players to freely assemble decks using any units in the game, regardless of ownership or rarity. This mode features its own ELO rating system and leaderboard, with top players qualifying for special tournaments. Arena decks are also usable in private battles for practice, promoting skill-based gameplay over collection size and inclusivity for all players, including those without NFTs.
Valorant pulls Neon after Fast Lane exploit breaks competitive play
Riot Games has temporarily disabled the agent Neon in Valorant on PC due to a graphics exploit tied to her Fast Lane ability that compromised competitive integrity. Neon will be unavailable until Patch 12.09, which will also include balance adjustments to her kit. The studio has not provided an exact release date for the patch.
Immortal Rising 2 Hits Level 60 in Greater Rift Abyss, Triggers Echoglass Amplification Quest.
Immortal Rising 2 has expanded its Greater Rift Abyss to Stage 60, adding 20 new levels and requiring 1,000C in-game currency per attempt. A new Echoglass Amplification Quest allows players to achieve up to plus 900 percent Final Amplification through account-wide achievements. These updates, developed by Badbeans and published by Planetarium, aim to enhance competitive play and account progression.
Pokemon Champions is missing this key feature
Pokemon Champions currently lacks the popular 6v6 single battle format, a staple in most mainline Pokemon games. While other features are expected to be added over time, the inclusion of this specific battle ruleset is not guaranteed. The article discusses the reasons behind its absence, primarily the longer battle times compared to the official double battle format, and suggests it should at least be an optional mode for players.
This Pokemon Champions Addition Should Be A Huge Help To Casual Players
Pokemon Champions has introduced a new Special Roster for the Global Challenge 2026 event, featuring 31 popular Pokemon to help casual players build competitive teams. This update aims to make the game more accessible by providing easier access to meta-relevant Pokemon. The event runs until May 4, with the actual competition starting April 30, offering Venusaur as a participation prize.
Cache Map Returns to Counter-Strike 2 After Community Demands | HappyGamer
Valve has reintroduced the classic "Cache" map to Counter-Strike 2 following extensive community requests. The map, known for its strategic depth and three-lane design, is now available in Casual, Competitive, Deathmatch, and Retakes modes. This return signifies Valve's responsiveness to player feedback regarding map rotations.
