Latest news with #TheESTimes
Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
StarLadder brings CS2 Major to Budapest in 2025
The ES Times — StarLadder is making a major comeback. The tournament organizer has officially announced that it will host the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of 2025 in Budapest, Hungary — marking a significant milestone since its last Major in 2019. For those closely following the CS competitive scene, this is a bold and exciting move. Event dates and venues The Budapest Major is set to take place from November 24 to December 14, 2025. In a break from tradition, StarLadder plans to open its doors to fans from the very beginning of the tournament. Opening matches will be held at the MTK Sportpark, a venue with a 2,000-fan capacity. This shift from typically closed early-stage matches is expected to inject fresh energy and live audience atmosphere from day one. The event will then transition to the MVM Dome — a 20,000-seat arena — where the championship will be decided. A vision from StarLadder leadership Roma Romantsov, CEO of StarLadder, shared his ambitions for the Budapest Major: 'Hosting another Major is a great honor, and we are determined to make it unforgettable.' He also emphasized the importance of the host city: 'Budapest provides us with the perfect stage to push the boundaries of what a live CS2 event can look and feel like.' StarLadder is clearly aiming to make a lasting impression. Legacy and new ownership This marks StarLadder's return to Major hosting since 2019, when it delivered a standout tournament won by Astralis — a moment still remembered by fans worldwide. Now operating under NODWIN Gaming, which acquired the company for $5.5 million (SR20,625,000) in January 2025, StarLadder is poised for a renewed presence at the top of the CS2 scene. Format, prizes, and tickets The Budapest Major will follow the new CS2 Major format, with 32 teams competing for a $1.25 million prize pool (SR4,687,500). The largest share will go to the winning team. Tickets are already on sale. Group stages and playoffs will run from November 24 to December 7, with the finals scheduled from December 11 to 14. If you're planning to attend, act quickly — this is shaping up to be one of the year's most anticipated Counter-Strike events. Sami Belhamra – Esports and Gaming Writer
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
Riot Games targets toxicity in League of Legends with new punishment approach
The ES Times — Toxicity in League of Legends has long frustrated players across all ranks. Now, Riot Games is taking a serious step to tackle the problem. Lead game designer Matt Leung-Harrison recently unveiled a major shift in the game's punishment system. As someone who's experienced the toll of in-game toxicity firsthand, this change feels overdue — but ultimately welcome. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Leung-Harrison laid out Riot's new philosophy: rather than simply applying harsh punishments, the goal is to promote better behavior through smarter, more targeted interventions. 'Our ultimate goal isn't simply to punish bad behavior,' he wrote, 'but to create a healthy, thriving environment in League of Legends that encourages good behavior and reform.' Behavioral notifications instead of harsh punishments According to Leung-Harrison, traditional disciplinary methods haven't effectively reduced repeat offenses. Instead, real-time feedback — such as behavioral notifications that let players know their actions are being monitored — significantly reduced toxic behavior to under 10%. This new system aims not just to penalize, but to educate and encourage players to reform, leading to more positive engagement overall. Smarter use of reports Riot also plans to refine how player reports are used. Many players misuse the reporting tool out of frustration, especially by mass-reporting entire teams — a move that undermines the system's reliability. 'If you just randomly report everyone,' Leung-Harrison explained, 'it reduces our confidence in your future reports.' Reports alone won't trigger instant action but will help Riot identify repeat offenders and apply escalating penalties when necessary. Dealing with the worst While most players can be reformed, Riot isn't letting the most toxic elements off the hook. Leung-Harrison noted that less than 0.1% of players consistently demonstrate abusive behavior until they are permanently banned. Some try to return via alternate accounts, but Riot is actively working to minimize their re-entry. 'We aim to give these players a permanent leave of absence from the game,' he added. A better League in the future Leung-Harrison concluded by thanking the community and Riot's internal teams for their feedback and patience. He reaffirmed Riot's long-term commitment to building a better player experience. 'Thank you as always for your feedback and patience as we continue to strive to make League the best it can be.' While challenges remain, this change in approach may finally mark a turning point for League of Legends — one focused on reform, not just punishment. Mehdi Belhamra – Esports and Gaming Writer
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Lacey breaks off from FaZe Clan: What's shocking him so far
The ES Times — At first, it sounded like a joke. Now it's official: Nick "Lacy" Fosco is no longer part of FaZe Clan. The announcement came straight from Ricky 'Banks' Bengston during a livestream on May 6, when he bluntly declared, 'Lacy is fired from FaZe. Not kidding.' The clip quickly went viral, racking up over 7.4 million views and sparking widespread speculation. No official reason Despite the public fallout, no clear reason has been provided by either Banks or Lacy. Lacy briefly addressed the matter during a Twitch stream, saying, 'I know everyone thinks it's just a joke. It's not. This is very serious,' before abruptly ending the stream. Various speculations As expected, online speculation intensified. While Lacy hasn't made any public demands of FaZe Clan, the silence from his inner circle has only deepened the mystery. Even Rani — a close friend and known associate of streamer 'StableRonaldo' Netz — has remained quiet. Viewers have noticed the lack of updates or statements across Twitch and other platforms. What's next? The next big public appearance for Lacy is expected at the Fortnite FNCS Pro-Am on May 10 in Los Angeles, where he's set to appear alongside StableRonaldo. Some believe this could be the moment when more details are revealed. Is there a bigger change coming? One theory making the rounds is that this might be part of a larger shift involving FaZe Clan and AMP. Speculation intensified after both Lacy and Fanum — a streamer closely tied to AMP — were suddenly wiped from their respective social media accounts. Banks himself even responded to a cryptic post from Fanum, further stoking the fire. Final word For now, there are more questions than answers. Given FaZe Clan's history of dramatic exits and shakeups, this could either be a genuine fallout or part of a larger strategic move. Whether it's a feud, a brand shift, or a carefully staged stunt, fans won't have to wait long to find out.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
BLAST Slam IV is heading to Singapore this November
The ES Times — BLAST has officially announced that BLAST Slam IV, the fourth edition of its Dota 2 tournament series, will be held live in Singapore this November. For the first time in the series' history, fans will be able to experience the action in person. A historic return since The International 2022 BLAST Slam IV marks the first Dota 2 tournament in Singapore since that landmark event. After three editions held behind closed doors in Copenhagen, the series is now set to make its live debut at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. From studio battles to on-field spectacle BLAST began its esports journey by organizing Counter-Strike 2 tournaments and has built a strong reputation for high-profile productions. In November 2024, the Danish organization entered the Dota 2 scene with BLAST Slam I, followed by Slam II in February 2025. Each tournament featured a $1 million prize pool and was broadcast from BLAST's Copenhagen studio. Confirmed live audience from November 7 to 9 This time, things will be different. The final three days of BLAST Slam IV will be held at the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium, with fans welcomed from November 7 to 9. Ticket access and pre-registration Fans who register on will gain early access to tickets one day before the general sale. Once registered and alerts are activated, an email with a purchase link will be sent during the pre-sale period. The general sale begins the following day, so early registration is advised. BLAST has also partnered with a travel provider to offer all-inclusive packages featuring tickets and hotel accommodations for international fans. A major milestone on the Dota 2 competitive calendar Scheduled between the Esports World Cup 2025 and The International 2025, BLAST Slam IV is set to be one of the year's most anticipated live Dota 2 events. As with previous editions, the prize pool will remain at $1 million. More to come from BLAST By November 2026, BLAST aims to have hosted nine Dota 2 tournaments as part of its long-term commitment to the competitive scene. More updates and ticket information will be released soon.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
A new collaboration between Ubisoft and Xbox Game Pass to support Rainbow Six Siege X and BLAST R6 esports
The ES Times — Ubisoft has officially announced an exciting partnership with Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's popular subscription platform. This partnership spans the entire 2025 season and includes integrated support for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X and the BLAST R6 esports program. A strong start in Rio de Janeiro The partnership kicks off during Reload 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, the first competitive stop for Rainbow Six Siege X. From now on, fans can expect advanced integration of Game Pass into several key moments of the BLAST R6 season. Among these moments are the November Major and the Six Invitational 2026, where players will notice a distinct presence of the Game Pass brand. Community events and exclusive experiences Throughout the season, Ubisoft and Xbox Game Pass will offer special community activities and dedicated play areas during major esports tournaments. Additionally, players will be able to meet their favorite content creators through exclusive sessions and unique giveaways. As a player who has been following the series for years, I find these initiatives give us, the community, closer opportunities to interact and participate. Special benefits for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers Starting June 2025, Game Pass Ultimate members will receive unique benefits in Rainbow Six Siege X. New offers will also be released continuously throughout the season to celebrate major competitive milestones. While these benefits will launch with Ultimate subscribers, the plan is to expand this support to a broader segment of users in the future. Official statements confirm the importance of the collaboration. François-Xavier Daniel, Ubisoft's Vice President of Esports, said: "We are excited to work with Game Pass to enhance the entire experience within Rainbow Six Siege X. Thanks to BLAST's support, we have the means to deliver enhanced features and premium content to a global audience." Chris Lee, Vice President of Xbox, added: "Our goal is to deliver even more value to Game Pass subscribers around the world. Partnering with Rainbow Six Siege is a strong step in that direction." More details coming soon Additional content, new events, and in-game surprises will be revealed throughout the 2025 esports season.
