iRacing has announced details on the 17th season of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series ahead of its opening race.

The long-standing sim racing series sees teams competing for a share of a $500,000 (~£366,002) prize pool.

This season features a revised format, expanding the circuit to 24 rounds. The first 11 rounds are designated to the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Qualifying Series, starting on February 10th, with drivers competing at the virtual Daytona International Speedway.

For the first time, three categories of NASCAR vehicles will feature in the qualifying series, testing the skill of drivers in Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series cars. The top 30 drivers from the Qualifying Series standings will join the top 20 from last year’s standings and the top two from the eNASCAR College iRacing Series to earn free agency.

40 of the 52 drivers will earn a full-time place on the starting grid to compete in the Championship, consisting of nine regular-season races and three playoff races.

“The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series is a crown jewel of iRacing’s esports efforts,” said Tony Gardner, President of iRacing. “This year’s all-new format further develops the series with some exciting new refinements that should keep drivers fresh and focused as they set their sights on the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Cup once again.”

NASCAR has been a long-standing supporter of sim racing, hosting a wide range of virtual racing events over the last decade. In October 2025, the series launched the Creator Series featuring high-profile streamers competing for a $100,000 (~£73,155) prize pool.

“The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series has always represented the pinnacle of sim racing,” added Ray Smith, Senior Director of Sim Racing at NASCAR. “We can’t wait to engage this passionate community and crown the 2026 champion this October.”

Arc Raiders was the breakout shooter of 2025, and that momentum hasn’t slowed down a couple of months into 2026. This is, in large part, due to how well Embark Studios has maintained its exciting update schedule, and it seems to be making a big step with its Shared Watch event.

The Arc Raiders Shared Watch event will be doubling down on PvE, rather than PvP, which seems like the logical choice. Arc Raiders players have generally shown an aversion to PvP, despite it being a feature of the game, instead taking aim at the AI-controlled Arcs.

So, let’s answer the questions of: What is Arc Raiders Shared Watch, when will it take place, and what will it bring to the game?

Arc Raiders Shared Watch event is all about teaming up to take down the machines, adding cooperation into the mix. Players will also earn merits from destroying, assisting, and damaging ARC, earning rewards.

Interestingly, no merits will be earned from PvP encounters, with Embark Studios going in the direction that its playerbase is in. With the Arc Raiders Shared Watch details being on full display in the patch notes, it’s clear that playing with friends, or even strangers, is all the rage.

Arc Raiders Shared Watch will run from February 10 to February 24. While it will only last a couple of weeks, those wanting more out of Arc Raiders need not wait long for another event. After the Shared Watch event concludes, players can sign up for the next expedition from February 25.

This new expedition will begin on March 1, and for those who want to know more, check out our coverage on the Arc Raiders 2026 roadmap.

Outside Arc Raiders Shared Watch, Embark Studios has made a myriad of changes to its breakout shooter, which are listed in the 1.15.0 update patch notes. This, of course, comes with balance tweaks, bug fixes, and improvements on known issues.

On top of improving balance, Arc Raiders will be bringing back the Cold Snap condition on outdoor maps. This will hit players with Frostbite damage, increasing the risk-to-reward ratio with increased loot value available. You can also collect and throw snowballs, as well as Candleberries, which aren’t tied to an event anymore.

Two new cosmetics will be added too:

With the Shared Watch Event hitting Arc Raiders for a couple of weeks, it’s clear that Embark Studios is committed to maintaining the momentum it has built from the game’s breakout year. Given that it has maintained a mighty playerbase so far, it gives players plenty of reasons to stay with the game long term.

It also seems like Arc Raiders is going further in the direction of PvE gameplay over PvP. Now that Arc Raiders Shared Watch will be encouraging co-op, it’s the best time to grab a friend, or perhaps make one on your journey topside.

NetEase Games has revealed the line-up of partnered teams for the Marvel Rivals Ignite 2026 season.

Twelve organisations have been named in the latest Dev Vision for Marvel Rivals Season 6.5, featuring familiar brands and newcomers set to compete in the scene.

Among the mentioned teams are the Marvel Rivals Ignite 2025 Grand Finals champions Virtus.pro, who return looking to defend their title in 2026. Other top regional teams include the Marvel Rivals Invitational North America 2025 winner 100 Thieves, alongside FlyQuest, Sentinels and Natus Vincere.

Other familiar brands that competed in the inaugural 2025 circuit have also returned, including Ignite Asia teams Gen.G Esports and REJECT.

New faces have also entered the scene for the 2026 season. These include Spanish organisation Team Heretics, North American team Spacestation Gaming, and esports brand TSM.

Finally, the line-up of partnered teams has revealed that several organisations have partnered up for Marvel Rivals Ignite 2026. Citadel Gaming’s Marvel Rivals roster, one of the top teams in the European scene, has signed with Team Liquid to form Liquid Citadel. Meanwhile, San Francisco Shock, an organisation known for its competitiveness in Overwatch, has teamed up with NRG to form NRG Shock.

What is more surprising are some of the teams that were not mentioned. ENVY, the runner-ups of the Ignite 2025 Mid Season Finals, have not become a partnered team. The brand paused operations in the Marvel Rivals esports scene last November and has yet to share an update.

Another notable team that did not make the cut was OUG, an organisation that won both Ignite Stage 1 and 2 in China, in addition to competing in both LANs in the previous season. Other squads that regularly competed last year, such as DarkZero, Rad Esports, and Crazy Raccoon, were also absent from the 12 mentioned teams.

Marvel Rivals Ignite 2026 features a revamped format, and partnered teams benefit from the new promotion and relegation system.

All teams, partnered or not, can earn Championship Points through the open-bracket seasonal tournaments, the Marvel Rivals Championships. This way, top-performing teams can challenge lower-ranked professional league teams for their spots in upcoming LAN events.

However, partnered teams are afforded limited relegation protection, giving them a better chance than others to reach events in the 2026 roadmap, such as the Ignite Mid Season Finals and Grand Finals.

Additionally, partnered teams receive revenue share from in-game esports-themed cosmetics. This has been confirmed by teams like Virtus.pro, which shared online that an ‘exclusive Virtus.pro partner in-game skin’ is on the way.

The eighth season of the ePremier League enters the final stages of the 2025/2026 season, starting with the Group Stage on February 28th. 

The final 40 players representing 20 football clubs have been decided after several months of online qualifiers and playoffs, each of whom will aim to be crowned this year’s champion.

The Premier League reminded fans of the line-up of EA Sports FC 26 finalists set to compete in the upcoming Group Stage:

Players have qualified for the event through the ePremier League Playoffs, which ran from January 14th to 22nd, 2026

The ePremier League Group Stage will run from February 28th to March 1st, 2026, where clubs will face off in a 1v1 team-based format. The results of the Group Stage will determine the seedings of the final bracket.

The competition then moves on to the Knockouts on March 28th, and the Finals the following day. The weekend features an updated bracket format, where clubs compete in elimination rounds until one team is left standing, crowning them the new ePremier League 2025/2026 champions.

Manchester City has been the reigning champions in the past two seasons, previously won by Tekkz and Bonanno. However, the 2025/2026 season will see the champions face off as rivals in opposing teams.

Other notable players will also compete in the upcoming tournament, including Gorilla, who has become a household name in the professional FIFA scene since his 2016 run.

New clubs are featured this year, with Leeds United, Sunderland, and Burnley competing due to their promotion to the Premier League last season. In particular, Sunderland makes its first appearance in the ePremier League.

Disguised co-founder and former Counter-Strike esports player Robin ‘Fifflaren‘ Johansson has announced his departure from the organisation.

Fifflaren joined forces with content creator Jeremy ‘Disguised Toast‘ Wang in 2023 to launch the organisation when it initially debuted in VALORANT esports.

Fifflaren actually confirmed his departure on January 31st, bringing an end to a three-year tenure working for Disguised as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Over the past three years, the organisation has competed in VALORANT Challengers until 2025 and is currently a part of League of Legends‘ LCS ecosystem as a guest team.

Alongside participating in Riot Games‘ biggest titles, Disguised has previously competed in Apex Legends and the FGC.

“What was supposed to be a three-month contract to set up and field Disguised’s first entry into VALORANT esports turned into three incredible years of building something special from the ground up,” wrote Fifflaren on social media.

“Truly grateful for the opportunity, the community, the players and staff who turned DSG into what it is today. A true David vs Goliath story.”

After leaving Disgused, Johansson reveals that he is open to new opportunities within the esports industry.

Disguised remains a prominent esports organisation in North America and continues to expand into other games.

Competitively, its 2026 season has started on the front foot, securing a place in the LCS 2026 Lock-In playoffs after winning two of its three Swiss Stage matches.

The team begins its playoff run against Sentinels on February 14th. The winner of the LCS 2026 Lock-In qualifiers for this year’s First Stand, the first international tournament of the season. Second and third-placed teams qualify for the Americas Cup, featuring teams from the LCS and CBLOL.

On January 30th, the organisation also announced its expansion into Overwatch esports. As a partner team of the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS), the team will compete in the Pre-Season Bootcamp event taking place from February 13th to 15th.

If you’re hoping to squeeze the most value out of every season, the Fortnite Crew subscription is easily one of the most stacked deals in the game. From exclusive skins and bonus passes to free V-Bucks, members get far more than just cosmetics.

Here’s everything that Epic Games is offering in the Fortnite Crew Pack this month.

The Fortnite Crew bundle in February 2026 features the Sunny Skater Set centered around the new character Soleil.

Here are all the rewards available to active subscribers this month:

Fortnite Crew members can also unlock exclusive Legacy styles for Soleil and her gear for every month they remain subscribed.

To put the cherry on top, all Fortnite Crew members will receive the following bonus rewards:

Fortnite Crew Packs rotate monthly, with Epic Games typically revealing the new bundle on the last day of each month.

The release often lines up with the Item Shop reset at 5 PM PT | 8 PM ET | 1 AM GMT.

When you subscribe, you’ll get the current month’s Crew Pack instantly. If you join anytime during the month, you’ll also receive the next pack when it drops — letting you “double dip” and unlock two cosmetic sets for one payment.

Fortnite Crew subscription costs $11.99 per month in most regions, though regional pricing can vary slightly.

The subscription auto-renews until you cancel and is linked to the platform you purchased it on, meaning V-Bucks may not transfer between platforms, even though cosmetic items do. As long as you’re subscribed, you will keep all items and rewards you’ve earned (even after canceling).

Since November 18, 2025, Fortnite Crew is included as a passive perk in all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plans (for $29.99 | €26.99 | £22.99 monthly). You don’t have to purchase a Crew subscription separately.

Here’s how to get it:

Note: If you don’t see your Fortnite Crew Pack rewards after linking, fully close the game and wait about 30 minutes. The sync between Microsoft and Epic can sometimes have a slight delay on the first day of the month.

To subscribe to Fortnite Crew, simply go to the Item Shop or the Battle Pass tab in-game and select the Fortnite Crew banner.

If you want to cancel your plan, you must do it on the platform that you initiated the subscription. You can learn how to cancel your Fortnite Crew subscription below:

Fortnite Crew is a monthly subscription that provides a 1,000 V-Bucks allowance and instant “VIP” access to five premium passes (Battle, OG, LEGO, Music, and Rocket League). In contrast, the Battle Pass is a one-off purchase that only grants access to that specific reward track.

Beyond that, Fortnite Crew Packs include exclusive outfits, styles, and gear that never hit the Item Shop. For many players, the Fortnite Crew subscription has superior value than the Battle Pass.

This table breaks down the key difference between Fortnite Crew and buying the Battle Pass separately:

Yes, Fortnite Crew is generally worth it, but only for the right kind of player.

If you already buy the Battle Pass every Fortnite season, Fortnite Crew is almost automatically a valuable purchase. You’re basically getting the Battle Pass plus 1,000 V-Bucks and exclusive Crew skins monthly, all for only $11.99.

Even if you don’t care about Fortnite skins, the V-Bucks and Battle Pass alone already outweigh the cost. However, if you’re a casual on-and-off player, then buying the Battle Pass separately is probably the better deal, as you won’t feel obliged to play and make the recurring charge worth it.

Tournament organiser BLAST has announced a Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 partnership with cryptocurrency-based prediction market Polymarket for 2026.

The deal will include its BLAST Premier (CS2) and BLAST Slam (Dota 2) series. The collaboration kicks off with BLAST Slam VI, which is set to begin its studio phase in Malta from February 13th to 15th.

BLAST stated that as part of this deal, Polymarket will be integrated into its broadcast. This includes offering prediction-focused content, desk segments referencing the platform’s markets, and branding on live streams.

Furthermore, for on-ground events, the prediction market will bring the ‘Polymarket Fancam’, along with dedicated streaming booths that will host creators and streamers.

“Esports has long been dominated by traditional sportsbooks, but prediction markets open the door to a more transparent and community-driven way for fans to engage with competition,” said Matthew Modabber, CMO of Polymarket.

“Partnering with BLAST brings that experience to a global audience and helps make prediction markets a natural part of how people watch, debate, and follow competitive gaming. We see this as the beginning of a new chapter for fan participation in esports.”

Today’s announcement comes after BLAST revealed that ASUS is returning as the official monitor, PC, laptop, keyboard, and mouse partner for BLAST Premier events in 2026.

“Esports is evolving rapidly into a more interactive, data-driven entertainment experience, and we are delighted to team up with Polymarket to bring exciting new engagement opportunities to our fans all around the world,” added Alexander Lewin, SVP of Commercial Revenue at BLAST.

Polymarket will make its debut as a BLAST partner at Dota 2’s BLAST Slam VI event. However, its first on-ground activation will be seen at the next arena event, Counter-Strike’s BLAST Open Rotterdam.

BLAST Slam VI is set to host its playoffs at the BLAST studio in Malta, as six teams compete for the title and a share of its $1m (~£730,795) prize pool.

The single-elimination bracket features Team Falcons vs Team Liquid and Team Yandex vs Heroic in the quarter-finals. The top two teams from the group stage, OG and NAVI, directly qualified for the semi-finals.

BLAST Open Rotterdam, on the other hand, is set to take place from March 18th to 29th, with 18 teams competing. The Playoffs stage will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to determine which team will walk away with a lion’s share of the $400,000 (~£292,300) prize pool.

Valve’s upcoming hero shooter and MOBA hybrid, Deadlock, is a feast for competitive players. It has everything from skill expression and playing the map to in-depth itemisation to showcase your mastery of the game. There’s a wide gap between players who are deep into the game’s mechanics and those who are still learning the ropes.

While Deadlock doesn’t have a separate ranked mode for now, it does its best to have fair matchmaking with its ranked system. Let’s dive into how this system works, how your rank is determined, and what this means for players who want to climb up to the big leagues.

New players learning Deadlock wouldn’t know that the game had a dedicated ranked system during early playtesting. Although the game has removed the featured queue, the post is the last official communication on how ranked was calculated. We assume Valve still uses the same or similar logic to determine your individual rank.

Deadlock’s ranked mode was first implemented on October 10, 2024. At the time, there were only specific time windows when the mode was available to keep competitive players concentrated in one mode.

Players who were involved in the playtesting back then needed to complete 50 standard games to qualify. Additionally, it also prevented players with behaviour-related restrictions, such as voice and text bans, from joining the queue.

When in this mode, you will only be matched with players who have the same medal as you. There are 11 medals in total, each with six levels. Everyone’s medals and levels will be displayed in these ranked games. 

Valve has stated that they use an algorithm that calculates everyone’s performance at the same time based on the games you’ve played, how the opponents you played ended up performing in their next games, and more. 

So, rather than updating your rank per match based on a win or loss, every player’s rank was calculated at the same time and recalibrated together. Players also needed to play at least seven games during the week to be eligible for a rank the following week.

Valve reworked its matchmaking on November 21, 2024, and still uses the system in 2026. The biggest change during this update was removing the dedicated ranked mode. This funnels the playerbase into one primary matchmaking mode and helps Valve collect data for its playtest.

Deadlock’s ranked system evolved to become responsive by removing the weekly badge updates. Now, your rank badge updates immediately when your Matchmaking Rating (MMR) crosses the threshold for a higher or lower rank. Valve also regularly adjusts the global curve based on factors such as the number of players, banned players, and other recalculations it deems necessary.

Alongside your core MMR, Valve has also implemented a hero-specific one, based on the most recent 20 matches played with each hero. Basically, if you’re queuing with a hero you have less time in or they’re not the best in your roster, you’ll be put into an easier lobby.

Valve takes this a step further by allowing players to track their progress on regional leaderboards. Every region (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania) has two leaderboards: one for the top 1,000 core MMR players and one for each hero’s top 1,000 hero-specific MMR players. 

But first, you’ll need to have 50 games played in the last 30 days to be qualified for leaderboards. For the hero-specific category, you’ll need to have at least 20 games on that hero in the past 30 days.

If you want to keep a better track of your MMR, go to settings, then game, and there should be options for Matchmaking. There, enable rating change notifications and post-match team ratings to see the change to your MMR and everyone else’s ratings in the lobby.

As Valve hasn’t directly communicated how MMR and matchmaking are calculated, we have to rely on the October 2024 post for a rough idea of how it works. However, we do know other factors that affect this hidden magic number.

Players are free to queue up with a party of any size. However, MMR gains are reduced based on how wide the range is in the party. This is most effective when there are relatively new players in the party paired with someone with a higher MMR. Valve will minimise updates to veteran players as the system tries to figure out a fair matchmaking for newcomers.

At high ranks (Ascendant 1 and above), the party size has been increased from two to three. Valve has somewhat loosened its restriction on having too many high MMR players in the same party, which will most likely lead them to stomping their matches.

Another factor that affects Deadlock’s MMR gain is match quality. Outside of peak hours, Valve’s matchmaking is less likely to find a fair match, meaning it will weigh the match less compared to an average match during peak times.

While Deadlock’s MMR is hidden from the public eye, Deadlock’s ranks are a clear indicator of how far you’re up the skill hierarchy. Unlike Overwatch, there isn’t a need to rank up through passing a series; all you’ll need to do is pass the MMR threshold to get higher or lower.

There are 11 skill rating tiers in Deadlock in ascending order:

Additionally, every medal has subdivisions. Players are assigned levels 1 to 5, then finally a star. Players who don’t have enough games will be temporarily placed in a ranked called Obscurus

Deadlock’s rank system is similar to Dota 2, where players’ ranks are shown through badges based on the global MMR thresholds. These badges reflect where a player stands relative to the rest of the ranked population, with higher badges requiring higher placements on the overall MMR curve. Rather than assigning ranks based on fixed point values, Deadlock uses percentile-based thresholds, which means it can shift higher as the player base grows.

While Valve keeps the real values of the MMR to themselves, we can use third-party tracking websites to get a good idea of Deadlock’s ranked curve. 

This graph shows the number of matches played by each rank in Deadlock. Based on this, you’re an average player (52-49%) if you’re within Ritualist 2 and 3. Any skill tier above that means that you’re better than the regular Deadlock player globally.

The top 30% of players in Deadlock reside above Emissary 4, the top 20% start from Archon 2, and the top 10% of players are between Oracle 3 and 4.

For the top three ranks, Phantom hosts the top 7-4% players in Deadlock. Ascendant goes from 3.4-1%, while Eternus (0.6% onwards) is where the best players in the world reside.

However, sorting by more recent match distribution shows that the curve is rising as new players become better at the game. This also takes into account the rapid influx of new and returning players because of the Old Gods, New Blood update, as well as the introduction of the casual Street Brawl mode.

For example, the top 2% of players in Deadlock are now fighting it out in Eternus. The mean average now lies between Emissary 1 and 2 (51-49%), and the top 10% of players are now all the way up in Ascendant.

Deadlock might not have a dedicated ranked mode in its current state, yet the system is doing its best to get you into fair matches (even if it has the occasional spectacular failure). For the most accurate results, it helps to play solo and consistently with a core roster of heroes, to stay within the expected variance of your skill level.

However, if you’re playing at off hours, with a wide roster, or with a party with a huge gap in skill, Deadlock’s system will place you into lobbies you don’t normally belong to. Either way, remember that the game is still in its playtesting phase, and it’s important to offer feedback to Valve so they can tune out the algorithm’s quirks.

The Dota 2 esports season is officially underway, with its first Tier 1 event, the BLAST Slam VI, currently underway, and its second tournament coming straight after. DreamLeague has been a constant in the Dota 2 esports scene since its kick-off season event all the way back in 2013, and over 12 years later, we have arrived at Season 28.

As a Tier 1 staple, DreamLeague Season 28 is a massive draw, having one of the biggest prize pools in Dota 2, and bringing the best teams in the world to the tournament. The DreamLeague events come fast and thick, with Season 29 taking place less than two weeks later.

So, let’s have a look at everything you need to know about DreamLeague Season 28, including its schedule, participating teams, structure, prize pool, and how to watch the event.

Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 is an online tournament taking place in Europe, much like previous DreamLeague seasons. It will take place from February 16 to March 1, split into three different phases. 

As an online-only event, there is no venue to go to, like the other DreamLeague tournaments, hence why they can occur as frequently as they do.

In total, 16 teams have qualified for DreamLeague Season 28, many of which are names you probably recognise, like last year’s The International winner, Team Falcons. All teams qualify through different means, six of which do so through the EPT Leaderboard.

Here are all 16 teams and how they all qualified for the event:

As mentioned before, Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 will be split into three stages across the two weeks. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1 (February 16 – 19):

Stage 2 (February 20 – 27):

Stage 3 (February 28 – March 1):

As with all the DreamLeague events, Season 28 can be watched on various official ESL streams. It is streamed in English on:

Official ESL non-English streams are also being broadcast on Kick, VKVideo, and Facebook.

Despite its frequency, DreamLeague events boast a mighty $1 million prize pool. This is split into two sections: the Prize Money, at $750,000 and the Club Share, for $250,000. Players will also be competing for EPT points, and all are split as follows:

DreamLeague 28 will be one of Dota 2 esports 2026’s biggest events, by virtue of it being a Tier 1 event. The DreamLeague events have been a staple in the competitive scene for a reason, and are a great example of how to do a high-profile, online tournament.

With a significant prize pool, official streams that make it easy to watch, and 16 of the best teams in the world, there’s no reason why DreamLeague Season 28 won’t be another roaring success. These Tier 1 events will come thick and fast, with this one taking place right after BLAST Slam IV and right before DreamLeague Season 29.

NOVA Esports has won the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 4 (KIS4) championship to kick off the mobile MOBA title’s global esports season. 

The Hong Kong-based esports organisation defeated South Korean side Nongshim RedForce 4-0 in the Grand Final over the weekend, taking home a lion’s share of its $100,000 (~£73,162) prize pool.

NOVA Esports dominated the Group Stage, securing the first seed with a flawless 3-0 record to book its place in the quarter-finals. The momentum continued against Team HAQ, scoring a 4-0 sweep in under 40 minutes.

Blacklist International put up stronger resistance in the semi-finals, taking the opening match in the best-of-seven series. NOVA Esports responded immediately with four consecutive wins to close out the series with a 4-1 scoreline.

Despite finishing the Group Stage in last place, Nongshim RedForce managed to navigate its way through the other side of the single-elimination bracket with victories over Dominator Esports and BOOM Esports to set up a second encounter with NOVA Esports in the Grand Final.

The Grand Final was another one-sided contest, with NOVA Esports breaking through the Nongshim RedForce defence to complete another 4-0 sweep to win KIS4, cementing the team’s place as one of the best in its global ecosystem.

Following the conclusion of KIS4, the attention of the Honor of Kings community turns to the regional leagues, which are set to take place across the world.

In February, the Philippines Kings League Spring Season gets underway, in addition to the MY Honor of Kings League featuring several teams that competed at KIS4. NOVA Esports is among the 10 teams competing in Malaysia’s regional league, and will compete for a share of $60,000 (~£43,917) in prize money.

The winner of the MY Honor of Kings League earns a place at the Honor of Kings World Cup, taking place from July 29th to August 8th as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.