Esports
Ongoing coverage on Esports.
Latest coverage
What Makes a Multiplayer Game Suitable for Esports?
A multiplayer game requires more than just a large player base to sustain a professional esports scene; it needs technical reliability, audience engagement, strategic depth, competitive integrity, and long-term support. Games like Halo, Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Rainbow Six Siege demonstrate key qualities such as clear objectives, high skill ceilings, spectator-friendly features, and developer backing. Factors like randomness, visual clutter, weak anti-cheat, and pay-to-win mechanics can hinder a game's esports potential, while strong community and developer support are crucial for long-term success.
LORDNINE Ushers in a New Era with the Launch of the HELENA Server, Homun Family Activity, and an Epic Tournament
LORDNINE is launching its new 'Helena' server on July 29, 2026, coinciding with its 1st Anniversary celebrations. The event includes a 'Homun Family' community activity, a Skin Contest, and daily in-game rewards. Additionally, the 'Rise of the Tenth Lord Tournament,' a guild competition featuring KOLs from Thailand and the Philippines, will commence with the server launch.
“Ragnarok: The New World” Takes Asia by Storm, Sweeping the #1 Spot on Charts Across Multiple Countries
Ragnarok: The New World has achieved the #1 spot on free game charts across multiple Southeast Asian countries following its July 16 launch. The game's popularity has been amplified by over 100 streamers and viral social media content, alongside in-game rewards, community events, and a collaboration with bubble tea brand Bearhouse. A major esports tournament, the 'Legend Cup,' with a prize pool exceeding USD 1 million, has also been announced.
Marvel Rivals adds the Thebes map and improves the Blood Hunt gear system with its newest patch
Marvel Rivals has received a new patch introducing the Thebes map, featuring locations like Apocalypse's Pyramid and the Temple of Khonshu. The update also enhances the Blood Hunt gear system with new refinement options and introduces a Nightmare Difficulty cap at Floor 300. Additionally, the patch includes new esports features, cosmetic bundles, and various balance adjustments.
Regulators clear the path: Saudi Arabia’s $55B takeover of EA loses its final barrier
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has received approval from the European Commission for its $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, removing a major regulatory hurdle. The deal, which is the second-largest in video game history, has been cleared without competition concerns. This move is part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to diversify its economy and increase its presence in the global gaming market.
European Commission says EA's controversial $55 billion buyout "would not raise competition concerns" and…
The European Commission has approved the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The commission concluded that the buyout would not raise significant competition concerns, given its limited impact on the markets where the companies are active. This approval moves the deal, which would see PIF own 93.7% of EA, one step closer to completion.
ESA Foundation awards 31 university students scholarships to support careers in games and esports
The ESA Foundation has awarded 31 university students scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support their careers in game development and esports. Recipients also gain access to mentoring and industry networking opportunities. The foundation also raised $1.15 million at its annual Nite to Unite fundraiser, contributing to scholarships and other initiatives.
Country Turns To Gaming Legend To Counterplay Online Gambling Epidemic
South Korea has appointed esports legend Lee Sang-hyeok, known as 'Faker', as an honorary police officer to combat a rise in online gambling, particularly among youth. Faker will produce public service announcements to promote a reporting system for cyber gambling issues. This initiative aims to encourage young people to seek help for gambling addiction, with incentives like autographed uniforms for participants.
Faker becomes an honorary Korean police officer to help discourage online gambling
Esports legend Faker, also known as Lee Sang-hyeok, has been appointed an honorary police officer and ambassador for cyber-gambling prevention by the Korean National Police Agency. He will participate in promotional activities to discourage youth online gambling and encourage reporting through a new voluntary system.
Morning Esports and Competitions
Saudia has been announced as the official airline partner for the Esports World Cup 2026. The airline unveiled a specially branded Esports World Cup aircraft, signifying its commitment to the growing esports industry.
Evening Esports and Competitions
Esports consultancy The Story Mob has rebranded itself as a 'strategic player culture advisory.' This move signifies a shift in focus for the company within the esports industry.
Multiplayer RTS ZeroSpace celebrates early access launch with community events
The multiplayer real-time strategy game ZeroSpace has launched into early access, featuring a 12-mission campaign, co-op modes, survival, and PvP. Starlance Studios is celebrating with community events, including the Galactic War Season Zero and the First Contact Invitational esports tournament with a $13,000 prize pool.
Esports consultancy The Story Mob rebrands to "strategic player culture advisory"
Esports consultancy The Story Mob has rebranded as a "strategic player culture advisory" to better serve the broader games industry. The company, founded in 2018, has launched a new service called Play Makers to help brands understand and navigate player culture through immersive strategy sessions. CEO Anna Rozwandowicz stated that the shift reflects gaming's evolution into sport, entertainment, identity, and community.
Off The Grid Summer League Puts $5,000 on the Line Across Five Weekends
Gunzilla Games is hosting a Summer League for its game Off The Grid, featuring a $5,000 prize pool and running from July 17 to August 15, 2026. The event emphasizes solo play and requires consistent performance across five weekends to reach the Grand Finale. Off The Grid, which entered early access in October 2024, combines battle royale and extraction shooter elements with optional Web3 features.
League of Legends streamer Nemesis is apparently a tattoo artist. At least, that's what the Slovenian government thinks
League of Legends streamer Tim 'Nemesis' Lipovšek is dealing with an incorrect job description as a tattoo artist and piercer, assigned by the Slovenian government due to a system error on January 1, 2025. He is now required to gather documents to prove his actual profession and correct the official record, which he never received an email about changing.
University of Silicon Valley is offering gaming scholarships
The University of Silicon Valley is introducing new gaming scholarships, offering up to $15,000 annually to prospective students. These scholarships, divided into 'Legendary' and 'Mastery' tiers, recognize transferable skills like discipline and problem-solving developed through gaming achievements in titles such as Runescape, Dark Souls, and Beat Saber. The program aims to acknowledge completionists and has a history of supporting esports.
Morning Esports and Competitions
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has won the Best Game award at the Develop-Star Awards 2026. The article also briefly mentions morning esports and competitions.
Evening Reading - July 16, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various industry news, including layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, the Call of Duty League Championship, and NVIDIA's expansion into Japan. It also features reviews for Denshattack! and Buc-ee's, a look back at Two Point Studios' decade, and mentions of Netflix's earnings and Hasbro's deal with Nintendo for Legend of Zelda toys. The article also highlights rotoscoping in indie game development and includes a personal reflection from CEO Asif Khan.
F-Zero 99 Festival Event - Dealer's Choice Season Finale
Shacknews will host a final stream for the Dealer's Choice season finale, featuring the game F-Zero 99 during its Festival Event. The stream is scheduled for Sunday at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Shacknews' Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and X accounts. The article also includes a brief bio of Shacknews CEO Asif Khan.
The Pokemon World Championship will feel lesser without Pokemon Unite
The author expresses disappointment over Pokemon Unite's removal from the annual Pokemon World Championships, arguing it was a significant highlight and a unifying force for fans of different Pokemon genres. While acknowledging the game's potential for its own dedicated events, the article suggests the Worlds event will feel less exciting and less inclusive without the MOBA's presence.
