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VCT Pacific player Ban suspended for breaching match-fixing rules

Image credit: Riot Games VALORANT player Joseph ‘Ban‘ Seung-min has received a 12-month suspension from all Riot Games-sanctioned events after breaching rules surrounding match-fixing and match manipulation. Following a four-month investigation, the former Global Esports player was found guilty of breaching Riot Games’ Esports Global Code of Conduct. The ruling prevents him from competing in … Continued The post VCT Pacific player Ban suspended for breaching match-fixing

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 13:29 Uhr

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VALORANT map design is failing the competitive scene – Here’s why

Image credit: Riot Games VALORANT maps overuse chokepoints and long sightlines, favouring passive play. Maps in VALORANT are designed with only Pro play in mind. Predictable layouts limit strategic variety and cause repetitive gameplay. Riot could improve the maps with a higher emphasis on tactical gameplay and broader testing. VALORANT has quickly become one of … Continued The post VALORANT map design is failing the competitive scene – Here’s why appeared first on Esports Insi

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 13:28 Uhr

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Arc Raiders Cold Snap is a cosy seasonal bundle

The Cold Snap Update is a stunning addition across outdoor maps / Image credit: Embark Arc Raiders Cold Snap added a freezing weather condition across all outdoor maps, which negatively impacts health. A new Flickering Flames event has added a new Project and a new merit line with rewards for progress. Raiders can now use … Continued The post Arc Raiders Cold Snap is a cosy seasonal bundle appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 12:51 Uhr

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How 2025 shook up the Fortnite esports scene

Image credit: Epic Games The Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) took major strides in 2025, as esports fans gathered to watch the highest level of play for one of gaming’s most popular battle royale titles. FNCS is the premier esports scene for Fortnite, where players across the world compete in an annual circuit for huge prize … Continued The post How 2025 shook up the Fortnite esports scene appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 12:45 Uhr

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CS2 is 2025’s top esports title based on prize pool

Image credit: StarLadder Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is 2025’s top esports title based on the total amount of winnings that various tournament organisers offered. Valve’s first-person shooter title saw $32.2m (~£24.1m) in prize money awarded to teams competing in events over the past 12 months. According to esports data platform Esports Charts, CS2’s total prize pool … Continued The post CS2 is 2025’s top esports title based on prize pool appeared first on Esports Inside

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 12:05 Uhr

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Star Entertainment CEO resigns as Bally’s takeover moves closer

Image Credit: Samsul Said/Bloomberg Steve McCann, the CEO of Star Entertainment Group, has announced that he will leave his position on December 16th, 2025. While the organisation looks for a permanent replacement, Star Entertainment Group chair Bruce Mathieson Jr. will take on additional responsibilities as Executive Chair. Up until July 8th, 2026, McCann will continue … Continued The post Star Entertainment CEO resigns as Bally’s takeover moves closer appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.12.2025 10:32 Uhr

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BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026 teams revealed

Image credit: BLAST Esports tournament organiser BLAST has unveiled the 32 teams competing in BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026, the first Tier 1 Counter-Strike 2 tournament of the year. Teams begin the tournament competing in online qualifiers, with the top eight securing qualification for the LAN finals taking place in Malta. The 32 teams in … Continued The post BLAST Bounty Season 1 2026 teams revealed appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 19:00 Uhr

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Fnatic signs Vladi to LEC 2026 roster

Image credit: Fnatic UK-based esports organisation Fnatic has signed Vladimiros ‘Vladi‘ Kourtidis to its League of Legends roster for the 2026 season. The Greek mid laner becomes the fifth and final member of the roster set to compete in the inaugural edition of LEC Versus. Announced on December 17th, 2025, Vladi is the second Greek … Continued The post Fnatic signs Vladi to LEC 2026 roster appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 18:35 Uhr

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Rex Regum Qeon returns to Apex Legends

Image credit: Rex Regum Qeon Indonesian esports organisation Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) has announced that it will be competing in Apex Legends again for the first time in six years. The organisation has welcomed three new players who will compete in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Year 5 Championship in Sapporo, Japan. RRQ has … Continued The post Rex Regum Qeon returns to Apex Legends appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 18:32 Uhr

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CS2 player Degster announces free agency

Image credit: ESL Russian Counter-Strike 2 player Abdul ‘Degster‘ Gasanov has announced his free agency ahead of the 2026 season. The AWPer represented the Saudi Arabian esports organisation between January and April, before spending the last eight months on the bench. Announced on December 17th, 2025, Degster revealed that Team Falcons terminated his contract, allowing … Continued The post CS2 player Degster announces free agency appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 17:45 Uhr

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Fortnite returns to EWC with Reload Elite Series Championship

Image credit: Epic Games, Esports World Cup Foundation Epic Games has announced that Fortnite will hold a $2.5m (~£1.86m) Reload Elite Series competition next year, which will conclude at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC). The series is part of the gaming publisher’s partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation, which will see Fortnite and … Continued The post Fortnite returns to EWC with Reload Elite Series Championship appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 17:18 Uhr

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10 best Christmas skins in Fortnite and how to get them

No matter what you want from a Fortnite festive skin, you’re sure to find something to your tastes with this list / Image credit: Epic Games There is a range of festive skins in Fortnite for players to enjoy during the Christmas season.  Most of the skins can be purchased in the shop when they … Continued The post 10 best Christmas skins in Fortnite and how to get them appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 16:55 Uhr

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VALORANT unveils EMEA Challengers, Game Changers and Premier 2026 roadmap

Image credit: Riot Games VALORANT has revealed the 2026 roadmap for EMEA’s Challengers, Game Changers and Premier esports ecosystems. Similar to the 2025 format, next year’s EMEA circuits will be divided into three main events, but with additional competitive opportunities and promotion pathways. VALORANT EMEA Challengers 2026 Image credit: Riot Games Like in 2025, EMEA’s … Continued The post VALORANT unveils EMEA Challengers, Game Changers and Premier 2026 roadmap appeared first on Esport

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 16:36 Uhr

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Riot Games unveils VALORANT EMEA Clash tournament for VCT and Challengers teams

Image credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games Riot Games has announced VALORANT EMEA Clash, a 2026 tournament bringing together both VCT and Challengers teams. From February 16th to 26th, the EMEA Clash will see the region’s top Challengers teams compete against some VCT EMEA rosters that couldn’t qualify for Masters Santiago. VALORANT EMEA Clash is a first-of-its-kind … Continued The post Riot Games unveils VALORANT EMEA Clash tournament for VCT and Challengers teams appeared first on Esports

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 16:01 Uhr

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ESL unveils dates for ESL Pro Tour 2026 events

Image credit: Helena Kristiansson, ESL Esports tournament organiser ESL has unveiled the dates for the seven events forming the 2026 ESL Pro Tour calendar. The upcoming Tier 1 and Wildcard events for the long-standing Counter-Strike 2 esports circuit will take place across Europe, China and the Americas. Revealed on December 17th, 2025, the 2026 ESL … Continued The post ESL unveils dates for ESL Pro Tour 2026 events appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 15:19 Uhr

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History of Counter-Strike scandals: All notable CS controversies explained

Image credit: Valve Cheating infects the pro scene with players like KQLY and emilio getting caught and handed down lifetime bans.   Match-Fixing uncovers an industry of pro CS players throwing matches for skins in an unregulated market.  Skins & Gambling: Unregulated betting of CS2 skins leads to content creators misleading their underage fans into gambling.  … Continued The post History of Counter-Strike scandals: All notable CS controversies explained appeared fi

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 14:50 Uhr

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5 esports games to look out for in 2026

2026 esports games (Invincible VS, 2XKO, and Deadlock) / Image credit: Skybound Games, Riot Games, Valve Longstanding esports games dominated 2025, such as Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, and VALORANT. 2026 sees the release of many fighting games, like Invincible VS, 2XKO, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Valve’s Deadlock and FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods … Continued The post 5 esports games to look out for in 2026 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 13:57 Uhr

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5 best CS2 matches of 2025

Image of IEM Melbourne 2025 stage illuminated with white lighting / Image credit: Lee Aik The best CS2 matches are based on their popularity, how closely contested they were, and the narrative surrounding the matches. Team Vitality has been dominant in 2025 and thus appears in a few of the best Counter-Strike matches. The Budapest … Continued The post 5 best CS2 matches of 2025 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 13:14 Uhr

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Call of Duty League releases 2026 team packs

Image credit: Activision The Call of Duty League (CDL) has launched team packs for all 12 franchises competing in the highest tier of Call of Duty esports. Each bundle includes home and away Operator skins featuring a franchise logo, along with a range of themed in-game items inspired by each of the 12 franchises. Released … Continued The post Call of Duty League releases 2026 team packs appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 13:14 Uhr

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CS2 Budapest Major 2025: Playoff and grand final recap

FaZe made it to the grand finals all the way from Stage 1 / Image credit: Starladder Team Vitality defeated FaZe Clan to notch back-to-back Major victories. Team Spirit’s donk was the best player at the CS2 Budapest Major 2025, setting a record for the best Major performance in history with a 1.57 rating.  The … Continued The post CS2 Budapest Major 2025: Playoff and grand final recap appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 12:50 Uhr

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Riot Games to share over $100m with 2025 VCT partner teams from in-game item sales

Image credit: Riot Games Riot Games has revealed that the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) will share over $100m (~£75m) in 2025 with its partner teams through in-game esports digital goods. As confirmed by Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, more than $86m (~£65m) of the shared revenue was generated directly from esports digital item … Continued The post Riot Games to share over $100m with 2025 VCT partner teams from in-game item sales appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 12:21 Uhr

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SUPERVIVE will end live-service in 2026

Image credit: Theorycraft Games Theorycraft Games has announced that it will end live-service for its MOBA battle royale, SUPERVIVE, next year. Jessica Nam, Executive Producer of SUPERVIVE, shared that the game will be sunset on February 26th, 2026. In the latest Fireside Chat, Nam said: “As time has gone on, it’s become clear that our … Continued The post SUPERVIVE will end live-service in 2026 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 12:00 Uhr

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LOS Grandes returns to CBLOL for 2026 season

Image credit: LOS Grandes Brazilian esports organisation LOS Grandes has returned to CBLOL as a guest team for the 2026 season. The organisation returns to South America’s top League of Legends competition following Isurus vacating its guest slot in early December. Unveiled on December 16th, 2025, the return of LOS Grandes to the CBLOL comes … Continued The post LOS Grandes returns to CBLOL for 2026 season appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 11:32 Uhr

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0.03% of CS2 players earn StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 diamond coin

Image credit: StarLadder Thanks to an unpredictable StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, just 0.03% of Counter-Strike 2 players who took part in the title’s Pick ‘Em challenges earned a Diamond Coin. As a result, the Budapest Major Diamond Coin has become the second-rarest Pick ‘Em reward from the past five Counter-Strike Majors. According to data from … Continued The post 0.03% of CS2 players earn StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 diamond coin appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.12.2025 11:13 Uhr

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