Valorant Masters Santiago kicks off the 2026 VCT global season with a bang, starting February 28 in Chile.
The Swiss Stage from February 28 to March 4 pits eight teams, second and third seeds from EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China, against each other in a brutal fight for four playoff spots.
With $1m on the line and direct seeds like BBL Esports, FURIA, Nongshim RedForce, and All Gamers waiting, expect fireworks.
Continue reading Predicting the Chaos of Valorant Masters Santiago Swiss Stage
The Rainbow Six Siege competitive landscape is shifting once again as Ubisoft welcomes a familiar powerhouse into its inner circle.
Geekay Esports, the Saudi Arabian organisation that has dominated the Middle Eastern scene for years, has officially been named a partner team for the R6 Europe and MENA leagues.
Why the Geekay Esports partnership matters for R6
For those who have followed the rise of esports in the MENA region, this news feels like a natural progression.
Continue reading Geekay Esports Joins Rainbow Six Siege Partner Program for Europe and MENA
Supercell is raising the stakes for the 2026 Brawl Stars Championship (BSC) by introducing a revamped reward system designed to keep both pro players and casual fans hooked throughout the circuit.
This year, the developer is moving away from generic prizes, leaning heavily into the “Chaos Drop” and “Legendary Drop” mechanics to ensure that every stage of the $2 million tournament feels rewarding. Whether you are grinding through the in-game Championship Challenge or competing on the global stage, there is now a tangible path to some of the game’s rarest loot.
Continue reading Supercell amps up Brawl Stars Championship 2026 with new Chaos Drop rewards
The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is revving up as Riot Games unveils VCT Masters Santiago 2026.
This marks the first international LAN of the season, and all eyes will be on Chile this March to see which region snags the first trophy of the year.
Set to take place at the Espacio Riesco in Santiago, the tournament runs from March 1st to March 16th, featuring twelve of the world’s top teams going head-to-head for glory, prize money, and those all-important Champions Points.
Continue reading Riot Games Unveils VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Details: Everything You Need to Know
Gentle Mates have etched their name in Rocket League history, defeating Team Vitality 4-2 in the RLCS Boston Major 2026 Grand Final at Boston’s Agganis Arena.
The French squad pocketed $102,000 and 30 circuit points from the $354,000 prize pool, surging to the top of Europe’s RLCS rankings.
Held from February 19-22, the 16-team event featured top talent from Europe, NA, and beyond, with Gentle Mates entering as Europe’s second seed after dominating regional Opens.
Continue reading Gentle Mates Crowned RLCS Boston Major 2026 Champions After Beating Vitality 4-2
In an important development for the UK’s student gaming scene, Vita Student has been named the new headline sponsor of National Student Esports (NSE) and the British University Esports Championship.
This partnership aims to support the growth of competitive esports in higher education, creating more opportunities for thousands of students across the country.
The collaboration, announced on February 23, 2026, brings together two organizations focused on improving student life.
NSE, the official organization for university esports in the UK, and Vita Student, the leading provider of premium student housing, share a commitment to creating inclusive, community-focused experiences.
Continue reading Vita Student and NSE Team Up to Boost University Esports in the UK
CoinPoker has officially confirmed that its highly anticipated “Level Up” update will go live on March 2, 2026, marking the most significant transformation in the platform’s history.
The update isn’t just a simple patch; it represents a total migration to a brand-new software.
According to the platform, the transition aims to modernize the user experience across all devices—including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android—while introducing a “futuristic” interface designed for both casual players and high-stakes pros.
Continue reading CoinPoker Set to Launch “Level Up” Platform on March 2
VALORANT will see a major change in its international competition in 2026.
Riot Games’ popular tactical shooter is now part of the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC 2026), but instead of the usual club-based VCT system, this event will feature national teams. The announcement comes after Riot Games revealed the VALORANT EMEA Clash earlier this month.
ENC 2026, which will take place in Riyadh and VALORANT matches are set for November 8–15, 2026, giving fans a week of intense national-team showdowns.
Continue reading VALORANT Joins Esports Nations Cup 2026: National Teams to Battle in Riyadh
The world of competitive esports is frequently affected by toxic fan behavior, and Fnatic is responding with firm action.
After seeing an increase in targeted harassment, the London-based esports organization has introduced a new approach to address online abuse, making it clear that harmful behavior will no longer be tolerated.
On February 19, Fnatic posted an official statement on X (formerly Twitter) about a recent increase in personal attacks and reported death threats aimed at its professional players.
Overwatch 2 is no more, as Blizzard has dropped the 2 altogether for an all-new rebrand. The game has gone back to just being Overwatch, and with the name change comes a complete refresh. The season – called Overwatch Season 1: Conquest – focuses on the theme of Talon’s rise to power. Overwatch 2 was not as favoured as the original Overwatch, but is the fresh start with Overwatch Season 1 enough to relive the golden years of Overwatch?
Before we get into the Overwatch season 1 changes, let’s first take a look at the timeline of the Overwatch series.
When Overwatch 2 was released, it faced negativity due to the dev team’s decision to scrap the planned PvE mode and the prices of in-game cosmetics. This was very different to Overwatch 1, which made obtaining skins very accessible if you put in the work and played consistently. For instance, I’ve been an Overwatch player since November 2016. I was able to collect a huge amount of Legendary skins simply by playing often. Loot boxes could also be bought back then, but spending real money wasn’t the only way to get your hands on the best cosmetics.
When Overwatch 2 released, I ended up spending stupid amounts of money to get skins that would have once been obtainable by just playing the game. Yes, Overwatch 2 was now free to play, but charging players upwards of $50 for skins borders on the ludicrous, especially considering the game’s previous structure. Of course, you don’t have to spend money. However, for those of us who have been around since Overwatch’s beginnings, and those used to the corporate cash grab design of free-to-play online games, it’s hard not to succumb to the temptation of spending your money.
The new rebranding of Overwatch isn’t changing the monetisation elements hugely, as the game is still free to play. However, the changes Overwatch 2 made throughout its life have made the game more viable in the long run, such as the new Perks system and the Stadium game mode. It doesn’t feel quite as bad spending money on the game because of this content, and the new and improved Overwatch seems to be focusing on doing even more for the player to at least try and justify some of those skin prices.
The Overwatch Season 1 update has brought about plenty of changes to the game’s structure, with promises of more to come to solidify the game’s future. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable changes.
The biggest surprise with the reveal of Overwatch Season 1 in the Overwatch 2026 Spotlight video was that there would be five new heroes playable immediately when the season dropped. The new heroes are:
One element of Overwatch that fans have been craving for years is more narrative content. With the reveal of Overwatch Season 1, a new cinematic was released called “Reign of Talon”. The cinematic sets up where we are in the story at the time of Overwatch Season 1. Set 10 years after the Blackwatch Retribution missions, Vendetta – daughter of the former Talon leader – takes down Doomfist and forcibly takes over her father’s criminal organisation. Doomfist is presumed dead. Vendetta reigns over Talon, and it is later confirmed that Widowmaker, Sombra and Reaper are no longer Talon operatives.
The narrative significance can be felt in the game, too, such as the Colosseo and Rialto now donning Talon banners. The Overwatch story arcs have become an integral part of the game rather than an afterthought. Faction campaigns are also now available, which allows players to pick a side – Talon or Overwatch – and complete missions to earn rewards relating to their faction.
Overwatch will now focus on structuring seasons around the lore, with new heroes becoming more common. Loot Boxes are also making a return, as they can be earned more easily and more often. There are also plenty of changes to certain hero abilities. Be sure to check out the most recent Overwatch Season 1 patch notes for more information on all the changes.
So, are these changes really enough to bring back the golden days of early Overwatch? Honestly, I don’t think so, but it’s as close as it’s going to get. Blizzard managed to capture lightning in a bottle when they released Overwatch. It was hailed as one of the best games of 2016, and there is no doubt that without it, we wouldn’t have other hero shooters such as VALORANT or Marvel Rivals.
That being said, the hero shooter genre has become oversaturated since 2016. It’s hard for any game to truly stand out among the masses, even a game like Overwatch, which was an OG. However, I do think Overwatch will continue its comeback thanks to the Season 1 changes. The game has already seen a huge return of its player base. I myself have played Overwatch more in the last week than I have in months. Can the game go back to how it was in 2016? No. Can it brush off the controversies of Overwatch 2 and maintain an established player base? If it continues as strongly as it has with Season 1, then yes, it most certainly can.
There are five new heroes in Overwatch Season 1, as listed above.
The Overwatch Season 1 event allows players to pick Overwatch and Talon and make their way through the Faction Pass by completing missions in-game. By doing so, they can unlock rewards.
The Overwatch Season 1 release date was February 10, 2026, and it is set to end on April 14, 2026.
Reign of Talon refers to Talon’s comeback in the Overwatch narrative, initiated by Vendetta.
The post Overwatch Season 1: Is it enough to relive the glory days? appeared first on Esports Insider.
