The MongolZ has moved Azbayar ‘Senzu‘ Munkhbold to the bench ‘after careful discussions’ between the organisation’s players and management.

The news follows the team topping October’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS).

Senzu moves to the bench after a two-year stint on the starting lineup, after joining The MongolZ from Team NKT in September 2023.

Announced on social media, the decision to bench Senzu comes after the team failed to reach the Playoffs at ESL Pro League Season 22 earlier this month.

“Over the past years, Senzu and the boys have together written a new chapter in Mongolian esports, showcasing world-class talent, dedication, and determination,” said the organisation in a statement.

“We deeply appreciate our fans’ continued support and respect for the team as we move forward. Senzu remains an exceptional player, and we wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”

Despite its early Pro League elimination, The MongolZ has experienced a period of success following the Austin Major, winning the Esports World Cup, reaching the final of BLAST Bounty Season 2, and the final of FISSURE Playground 2.

The shock benching is the first roster change The MongolZ has made in two years. In September 2023, it parted ways with Chinguun ‘hasteka‘ Bayarmaa to make way for the arrival of Senzu.

The MongolZ has yet to reveal Senzu’s replacement on its Counter-Strike 2 roster. After finishing the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 in third place, the organisation is set to compete at IEM Chengdu 2025 from November 3rd to 9th.

After Chengdu, the team heads to Hong Kong for BLAST Rivals Fall 2025 in preparation for the StarLadder Budapest Major beginning on November 24th.

Currently ranked first in the global VRS, it will be interesting to see if the team can continue its strong run of form with the arrival of a new player.

BC.GAME‘s Counter-Strike 2 roster has failed to qualify for the Chennai Esports Global Championship 2025 event following a defeat to BIG in the European qualifier.

As a result of the loss, Oleksandr ‘s1mple‘ Kostyliev is still waiting to make his LAN debut for the organisation, after joining in July.

The qualifier for the Tier 2 tournament marked the debut of Denis ‘electroNic‘ Sharipov, who joined the team on October 18th after two months on the Virtus.pro bench.

BC.GAME’s tournament run began on the front foot, with a 13-6 victory against QUAZAR to advance into the quarter-finals. The team struggled to overcome NOVAQ in the quarters, battling back from a 10-2 deficit in map three to set up a clash with BIG in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the bracket, BIG overcame AM Gaming in the quarter-finals, displaying signs of improvement after moving Karim ‘Krimbo‘ Moussa to the bench following a downward turn of form.

Krimbo’s replacement, Gleb ‘gr1ks’ Gazin, proved the difference in the semi-finals, leading the German organisation to a 2-0 sweep over BC.GAME, eliminating s1mple and electroNic from the tournament.

The defeat means s1mple hasn’t appeared at a LAN tournament since his loan to FaZe Clan for the BLAST.tv Austin Major and IEM Dallas 2025.

With 2025 coming to a close, BC.GAME is unable to compete at any upcoming LAN tournaments.

However, the team continues to compete in several Tier 2 online circuits. Until November 2nd, BC.GAME is competing in CCT Season 3 European Series #9 for a chance to win a share of a $50,000 (~£37,385) prize pool.

On November 18th, BC.GAME is one of four teams facing off in the ESL Challenger League Season 50 regional finals. The winner of the event will secure qualification for ESL Pro League Season 23, taking place in February 2026.

2GAME Esports has announced the release of its entire VALORANT roster, comprising all five players and two coaches.

The news comes two months after the Brazilian esports organisation suffered relegation to VALORANT Challengers due to its disappointing performance in VCT 2025.

“Today we officially bid farewell to our VCT Americas 2025 lineup! It was months of dedication, overcoming challenges, and total commitment both inside and outside the server,” shared 2GAME yesterday.

“This lineup made history! It took 2GAME to the international stage, faced giants, and showed that our Brazilian competitive scene has grit and tons of talent. We thank each player for believing in this project and for being part of this journey that will never be forgotten.”

The former 2GAME roster consisted of:

Most of the members had been part of 2GAME since last year when he organisation won VCT Ascension Americas 2024 against M80 to secure its VCT Americas slot for 2025. 

Gobera was signed ahead of this year’s season as a stand-on for spikeziN, but later replaced Brenno ‘zap’ Roberto upon spikeziN’s return for VCT Stage 2.

Prior to their official departure from 2GAME, pryze, gobera and Iz already began seeking other singing opportunities. Moreover, spikeziN has teased a contract with a new team on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account.

Brazilian esports organisation 2GAME Esports ascended to Riot Games’ franchised tier-one VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) in 2024, the same year it entered the game’s Challengers scene.

However, its first VCT season this year looked very different. Winning only two out of its twelve total matches, 2GAME suffered early elimination at every VCT Americas tournament (Kickoff, Stage 1 and Stage 2).

In addition to missing out on main duelist player spikeziN for the majority of the season, 2GAME had to navigate frequent roster shifts and stand-ins.

As a result of its 2025 performance and Riot’s updated Ascension rules, the team was relegated to the 2026 Challengers circuit without the opportunity to defend its tier-one slot at the ongoing Ascension tournament.

“THIS IS NOT A GOODBYE. THANK YOU, VCT AMERICAS!,” clarified 2GAME after its relegation in August.

The organisation also recently bid farewell to its full VALORANT Game Changers roster, leaving fans speculating about 2GAME’s future in the women’s circuit.

Two very different shooters hit the market in October 2025, but they share more DNA than you’d expect. First is Battlefield 6, the latest instalment of Battlefield Studios and EA’s large-scale warfare combat. Then there’s Arc Raiders, scaring people away because of its PvPvE extraction shooter genre. However, Embark Studios, a team made up of former DICE developers, has gone to great lengths to make the genre more appealing.

Knowing that, the comparison between the games goes deeper than first impressions. Both games spring from the same philosophy of systems-heavy, cinematic shooters that set the stage with immersive scale and dynamic events.

Let’s put these two games head-to-head and see how each stacks up for the average player across multiple categories, with a neat scorecard at the end to help you decide which is best for you.

Note: Arc Raiders’ verdict is based on what was shown during the Arc Raiders playtest, tech test, and server slam. Full features will be available on launch.

In Battlefield 6, matches are fast, loud, and oftentimes overstimulating. You’ll be weaving through gunfire as infantry, dodging tanks, or dogfighting in jets, and sometimes pushing for the objective in between the action.

The gunplay and movement feel tight and responsive, with a faster time-to-kill than most shooters, keeping it in line with unforgiving warfare. Every game is pure cinema as bullets and explosions come from all directions, and the fully destructible maps help sell that you’re just another boot on the ground whose life often ends in an instant.

Even with all the chaos, BF6 is surprisingly chill for solo players; you’re not expected to carry the team. Rarely will anyone notice what you’re doing at all. You can jump in, grab a few kills, help out where you can, and still feel like you’re contributing. Anyone can have a fun time without skill requirements needed to get there.

Arc Raiders is a leaner and meaner experience. It’s a third-person extraction shooter where every run feels high-stakes and every mistake can cost you your loot. Unlike BF6, you’re not freely dropped into an ongoing match; you and your squad need to commit to a lobby from start to finish with your loot on the line.

Combat is entirely optional, as your main priority is collecting loot, evading the ARC bots that are much more of a threat compared to games in the genre, and extracting safely with your haul. More often than not, an encounter with another Raider leads to a gunfight, but the proximity chat can lead to unexpected alliances or, at the very least, a truce.

Both games have that element where danger is all around you, but BF6 immediately puts you back into the action, where Arc Raiders sends you back underground with a penalty.

Battlefield 6: 9/10
Arc Raiders: 8/10

BF6 launched with eight multiplayer modes, including the series’ signature large-scale battles to smaller matches with fewer players. Beyond the core modes, BF6 also features custom games powered by EA’s map-making tools. Players can create and share their own rule sets and maps, resulting in everything from fun twists on existing modes to full recreations of classics like Counter-Strike’s Dust II. There’s even a popular server that creates a full-on zombie survival scenario.

Arc Raiders has one core mode and hasn’t mentioned any upcoming game modes for the game. Every outing into the top side follows the same overall goals of scavenging loot and fighting NPC Arcs and hostile players to extract safely. However, staking your own loot on the line makes every mission equally tense.

The game does spice up the core gameplay with different maps, weather conditions, Night Raids with better loot and deadlier Arcs, and other events like an Electromagnetic Storm. Suffice to say, if you’re feeling burnt out with the main game mode, there’s no reprieve from it.

Battlefield 6: 9/10
Arc Raiders: 6/10

Battlefield 6 brings back the classic class system with four familiar roles: Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon. These classes have their own gadgets, weapons, and training paths to make them better at what they do. This time, BF6 is less restrictive with the weapons they can carry (unless in a specific mode that locks them to their signature weapons).

While the whole team shares the same objective, these roles help give individual direction on how to contribute. For example, Engineers risk their lives to keep tanks healthy, yet they also have explosives to take out enemy vehicles. Recon units have snipers for long-distance engagements and can help pinpoint enemies with their gadgets.

Arc Raiders has no fixed classes. Instead, you customise your Raider via skills and gear. The bulk of customisation comes from investing experience earned into a skill tree with three specialisations: Conditioning, Survival, and Mobility. 

These are mostly upgrades to stats like taking less time while breaching or using less stamina. Some capstone upgrades are more tangible in gameplay, such as the ability to craft topside, but these won’t define your gameplay.

Where these games deviate the most is how steady progression is the whole point of Arc Raiders, and how it heavily influences your in-game decisions. What you extract directly shapes your progression. Loot is everything in this game, and you’ll use every part to make yourself stronger for the next topside raid.

Meanwhile, BF6’s progression feels glacial and grindy. Many players even turned to XP farm servers to speed things up (until those got nerfed too).

Battlefield 6: 8/10
Arc Raiders: 10/10

On the live-service front, BF6 has full support from EA, with a seasonal roadmap running through December 2025. This is EA’s golden child, so expect more content, such as maps and weapons. Additionally, BF6 will also make sure to add these assets for creators using the Portal Builder Tool.

Since they’re under the care of an industry giant, BF6 has robust tech in place. EA’s Javelin anti-cheat has overcome its initial setbacks to improve and effectively keep cheaters banned and away from the game.

Cross-platform play is enabled by default (PC can opt out), and progress carries across platforms via EA accounts. The game also has extensive accessibility options like customisable colour profiles and crossplay. EA has been working hard to regain the goodwill lost during the disastrous Battlefield 2049, and it shows.

Based on its first game, The Finals, Embark is known for its positive interactions with the community, especially with how quickly and drastically they’re able to make sweeping changes when a system is universally hated by players.

Embark has started on the right path with its community by listening to feedback during the Arc Raiders beta phase. Embark has moved when the community speaks, like implementing regional pricing, giving updates on features, and posted soundscapes on its socials just for the enjoyment of the community.

Arc Raiders has also taken great care in quality-of-life additions and accessibility, which is more than welcome in a genre known for being exclusive.

Battlefield 6: 9/10
Arc Raiders: 9/10

Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders offer very different interpretations of treating players to a spectacle. BF6 all-out large-scale warfare is always a fun time, but can become shallow in the long run, while Arc Raiders has moments of quiet that explode into very tense gunfights against Arcs or other players.

Based on the average player, BF6 wins in this competition 35 to 33, as it’s effortless to have fun, while Arc Raiders will make you work for it and can take it away from you at a moment’s notice. Regardless, Arc Raiders deserves praise for alleviating the punishment of extraction shooters that turn prospective players away.

Round four of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship Swiss Stage has kicked off, with G2 Esports and Hanwha Life Esports securing a place in the quarterfinals.

Both series featured back-and-forth battles for a spot in the knockout stages. Complete with nonstop fights that had fans on their feet both in the arena and at home. However, in the end, G2 Esports toppled FlyQuest while Hanwa Life Esports emerged victorious against CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO).

Whilst Hanwa Life Esports and G2 have secured a spot in Worlds 2025 Knockout Stage, the tournament is far from over for CFO and FlyQuest. Both teams will have one last chance to advance to the quarterfinals in round five.

The match between FlyQuest and G2 was tense even before both teams stepped on the Rift. With a quarterfinals spot and regional pride on the line, North America’s FlyQuest had beaten G2 at MSI a few months ago, so the LEC representative was looking for revenge.

While FlyQuest and G2 came out strong throughout the series — trading fights and objectives across the map — both also made a lot of mistakes, keeping fans on edge.

FlyQuest played proactively yet patiently in the first game, heavily punishing G2’s mistakes. The LEC Summer Split champion had an early lead thanks to a kill and dragon advantage, yet gave it all up as the LTA North (soon to be LCS) team moved with smart rotations and strong teamfighting.

FlyQuest controlled the tempo of the game with objective plays, picking off G2 members whenever it overextended, and made sure to keep its gold lead growing throughout the mid-game. The team’s patience and precise coordination allowed the organisation to close the game confidently and take an early series lead.

In the second game, the LEC team played more methodically, taking towers, controlling dragons, and building up strong vision around objectives. G2 secured the Baron and the Infernal Soul while forcing favourable fights to pick off key FlyQuest members and securing a stable lead.

Although FlyQuest tried to trade objectives, G2’s superior map control and team coordination eventually allowed it to push into the opposition’s base. The EMEA team evened the series, setting up a winner-takes-all final game that fans couldn’t miss.

With one game separating one of these teams from the quarterfinals, both G2 and FLY pushed to the limit. The last game was a non-stop action, featuring fight after fight from the start. By the 15th minute, kills, gold, and dragons were even between the two teams.

Securing the first major objective, G2 started the Rift Herald and claimed it. However, FlyQuest struck back after taking its second drake, winning a mid-lane fight to even the game again. G2 then grabbed Atakhan, and turned a fight that FlyQuest started, nearly acing the LTA representatives.

The back-and-forth continued as FlyQuest took the first Baron after a disastrous fight for G2, and moved to push top and mid. But G2 then immediately caught most of the LTA first seed in the mid lane, winning the fight despite the Baron buff. 

By 29 minutes, G2 led in kills, gold, and were at dragon soul point, but FlyQuest kept fighting and a few minutes later secured a second Baron uncontested. Nevertheless, G2’s coordination was flawless in the following teamfight — which was so fast the reply from the previous one was still going on broadcast

After taking down four FlyQuest members, G2 pressed onward towards the Nexus to claim the win and lock in a quarterfinal spot. For the first time in three years, an LEC team made it to the Quarterfinals, leaving fans hoping for more.

CTBC Flying Oyster has been one of the biggest surprises of League of Legends Worlds 2025, outperforming expectations and pushing every opponent to its limits.

Even if Hanwa Life Esports (HLE) entered the series as the favourite, many questioned whether it could finally show the form expected from an LCK powerhouse. For much of the match against CFO, Hanwa Life Esports had to fight hard to prove it.

CTBC Flying Oyster came out swinging from the start, diving into fights early to grab a kill and gold lead in the first game of the series. However, HLE stayed calm under pressure. Peanut and Delight’s two-man gank caught HongQ for first blood. Meanwhile, Zeka’s Azir began to take over the map. CTBC Flying Oyster kept forcing teamfights, but Zeka’s sharp roams and massive Emperor’s Divides flipped fights in HLE’s favour.

Hanwa Life Esports turned the game around with clean teamfights and smart setups. Zeka secured a K/D of 5/0 by 13 minutes, and the LCK team slowly built its gold lead. CFO kept trying to single out Hanwa Life Esports members in skirmishes, yet the team’s coordination held strong. A final fight around Baron wiped CTBC Flying Oyster, and HLE closed the game in just over 30 minutes.

Nevertheless, CTBC Flying Oyster didn’t slow down in the second game. CFO’s JunJia predicted Peanut’s jungle pathing perfectly to grab first blood, and CFO’s early dives gave the team control of the top side. The LCP representatives built a steady gold lead, looking much sharper than the game before. However, Hanwa Life Esports started to fight back around 20 minutes, setting up better vision and forcing CFO into bad positioning during fights.

The turning point came during the 24th minute with a teamfight in front of the dragon pit. CTBC Flying Oyster focused on the objective, but HLE played the fight perfectly and nearly aced the LCP team. CFO’s lead vanished in seconds.

Shotly after, Hanwa Life Esports claimed Baron, broke open CFO’s base and ended the series 2–0.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has issued an interim suspension to Swedish Counter-Strike 2 team Northern Lights.

The decision follows a preliminary investigation into breaches of the Commission’s Integrity Programme.

The five players receiving interim suspensions from competing in Counter-Strike 2 esports tournaments are:

The interim suspension follows an internal investigation from Swedish tournament organiser Elitserien on October 8th, 2025. The investigation found the five players guilty of cheating and match-fixing while competing on the Esplay platform.

Avoy, frigolito, and Fraaank received one-year punishments for match-fixing, while Meinz and Axelen received lifetime bans from Elitserien.

“The matters under review concern potential violations of the Anti-Corruption Code and provisions of the Code of Conduct,” said ESIC in a release.

The Commission has also revealed that Northern Lights is unable to compete in all ESIC Member events while the provisional suspension is in place. A final outcome of the investigation is expected at a later date.

Sweden’s Counter-Strike scene has been impacted by cases of cheating and match-fixing throughout 2025. In April, former GODSENT player Joel ‘joel’ Holmlund received a lifetime ban after being found guilty of cheating during online matches.

Cheating has no place in esports, and ESIC has continued implementing various suspensions to preserve the integrity of online and LAN tournaments taking place across the world.

In May, players and staff representing ATOX Esports received a range of bans for alleged match-fixing. Two players and an analyst received lifetime bans, while others received suspensions ranging from one to three years.

The suspension of Northern Lights is ESIC’s second CS2 suspension of October. On October 13th, it issued an interim suspension to SENZA’s players, staff, and coaches for allegedly breaching the Anti-Corruption Code.