ESL Pro Tour 2025/2026: A Fresh Chapter for Competitive Dota 2

Big changes are on the horizon for Dota 2 fans and teams alike. ESL has officially announced key updates to the 2025/2026 ESL Pro Tour (EPT) season, including a revamped calendar, an expanded ESL One, and new opportunities for rising talent through Tier 2 events.

Here’s a closer look at what’s ahead for the Dota 2 competitive scene.

A New Structure: ESL One and DreamLeagues Lead the Way

The EPT calendar will now center around ESL One Spring, which becomes the flagship mid-season event. As part of the changes, ESL One will expand to 16 teams, up from the previous 12, giving more squads a shot at glory on the big stage.

Each EPT season moving forward will feature:

• 3 DreamLeague tournaments

• 1 redesigned ESL One event

To keep things fresh, each DreamLeague will use a unique format, designed to offer variety and excitement for players and fans throughout the season.

Adapting With the Community in Mind

ESL is placing a stronger emphasis on community feedback. The team plans to continually refine event formats based on fan and player input, ensuring the EPT remains both innovative and true to the spirit of Dota 2.

Raising the Stakes as the Season Progresses

The new ecosystem is structured to give more teams a chance at the start of the season, with gradually fewer spots available as the year progresses. This design raises the stakes at every stage—by season’s end, only the most consistent and battle-tested teams will remain atop the EPT leaderboard.

But don’t worry—open qualifiers aren’t going anywhere. Miracle runs are still part of the story, and new contenders will always have a shot to break through.

DreamLeague Division 2: Rebuilding the Tier 2 Bridge

One of the most exciting additions to the EPT is the launch of Tier 2 support through DreamLeague Division 2, which will run across the EU regions.

For too long, the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 Dota has left rising teams without a clear path forward. ESL aims to close that gap. DreamLeague Division 2 will:

• Feature 4 tournaments in the 2025/2026 season

• Offer a combined $200,000 prize pool

• Provide direct qualification paths to million-dollar EPT events

This expansion doesn’t replace the existing qualifier system—instead, it adds more opportunities for teams to prove themselves and earn their place at the top.

A Nod to Dota’s Global Roots

From the very first DreamLeague, the goal has been clear: deliver top-tier inter-regional matchups that showcase the best of global Dota 2. With these upcoming changes, ESL is doubling down on that mission—ensuring top teams from all regions continue to clash on the world stage.

What’s Next

More details will be announced as we approach the start of the 2025/2026 season, including tournament formats, dates, and qualifier information. ESL is committed to keeping the Dota 2 scene dynamic, competitive, and open to the next wave of rising stars.

What’s New in 2025/2026?

• ESL One Spring becomes the central mid-season event, expanded to 16 teams

• 3 unique-format DreamLeagues per season

• Community-driven format updates throughout the season

• DreamLeague Division 2 brings Tier 2 teams into the spotlight with $200K in prizes

• More teams invited early in the season; higher stakes later on

• Open qualifiers continue, keeping miracle runs alive

Final Thoughts

The 2025/2026 EPT season promises to be one of the most ambitious yet, with a focus on competitive integrity, fresh content, and community connection. Whether you’re a top-tier team or an up-and-coming squad hungry for your shot, there’s more reason than ever to be excited for what’s next in the world of Dota 2.

Source: ESL – ESL Pro Tour Ecosystem Update

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Big changes are coming to Marvel Rivals as NetEase officially reveals what’s in store for Season 2—and it’s shaping up to be a game-changer.

Season 2 Release Incoming: “Hellfire Gala”

Season 2, titled Hellfire Gala, is almost here, and it’s bringing not just fresh content but a whole new vibe to the game. Two powerful new heroes—Emma Frost and Ultron—will be joining the ever-growing roster.

• Emma Frost will debut at the start of the season. A Vanguard hero with a unique diamond-and-telepathy-based kit, she’s built to both shield allies and obliterate foes.
• Ultron arrives in the mid-season 2.5 update, though NetEase is staying quiet (for now) about his exact role and abilities. Expect a big impact when he drops.

Major Team-Up Overhaul

Season 2’s biggest shakeup? A full rework of the Team-Up system, which could dramatically shift the game’s meta.

• Several existing Team-Ups will be tweaked, reworked, or removed altogether.
• New Team-Ups are on the way, including:
  • Mental Projection: Emma Frost, Magneto, and Psylocke create deceptive illusions on the battlefield.
  • Arcane Order: Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch unleash a high-DPS magical assault.
  • Stars Aligned: Captain America and Winter Soldier team up for a rapid-response counterattack to help allies in close-quarters combat.

The dev diary also covers some of the older combos being sunset, so be sure to check it out to stay ahead of the curve.

Costume Gifting & Skin Recolors

You’ll now be able to gift costumes to friends—perfect for sharing the love (or flexing your fashion). On top of that, some fan-favorite skins are getting fresh recolors, giving your squad a stylish new look.

Ranked Reset

As with previous seasons, expect a competitive rank reset. Players will drop nine divisions below their highest rank from Season 1.5, so get ready to climb the ladder once more.

What’s Next? Faster Seasons, Monthly Heroes

Looking ahead, NetEase confirmed a bold new direction for Marvel Rivals starting in Season 3:

• Shorter seasons: Now two months instead of three.
• Monthly heroes: A brand-new hero will be added every month going forward.

This faster cadence means more content, more variety, and a livelier meta—just what long-term fans and newcomers alike have been hoping for.

TL;DR – Marvel Rivals Season 2 Highlights:

• Emma Frost (launch) & Ultron (mid-season) join the fight
• Team-Up system gets its first major overhaul
• Costume gifting and new skin recolors arrive
• Ranked reset: drop 9 divisions from your S1.5 best
• From Season 3: faster seasons + monthly hero releases

Source:  Pcgamesn – Marvel Rivals Season 2 release date, new heroes, and Team-Ups rework confirmed

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The Game Awards 2024 delivered thrilling moments, stunning reveals, and a celebration of gaming excellence. Alongside sneak peeks of The Witcher 4, Okami 2, and Naughty Dog’s ambitious space adventure Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the event honored the standout games and creators of the year.

Top Honors of the Night

Astro Bot emerged as the big winner, clinching Game of the Year and three additional awards, including Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game. Balatro also had a triumphant night, securing three wins, including Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game.

Key Winners at a Glance

Here’s the full rundown of the winners and nominees:

Game of the Year

• Winner: Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Game Direction

• Winner: Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Narrative

• Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Silent Hill 2

Best Art Direction

• Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Neva

Best Score and Music

• Winner: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Astro Bot
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Silent Hill 2
• Stellar Blade

Best Performance

• Winner: Melina Juergens (Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II)
• Hannah Telle (Life is Strange: Double Exposure)
• Briana White (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)
• Humberly González (Star Wars Outlaws)
• Luke Roberts (Silent Hill 2)

Games for Impact

• Winner: Neva
• Closer the Distance
• Indika
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Most Anticipated Game

• Winner: Grand Theft Auto VI
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Other Notable Wins

• Best Action Game: Black Myth: Wukong
• Best RPG: Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Best Ongoing Game: Helldivers 2
• Best Esports Game: League of Legends
• Content Creator of the Year: CaseOh

The Game Awards 2024 was a testament to the industry’s vibrancy, creativity, and diversity, spotlighting groundbreaking games and immersive experiences. Stay tuned for next year’s anticipated announcements and achievements!

Source

For more Updates

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The Game Awards 2024 nominations were announced on Monday, with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Team Asobi’s Astro Bot leading the charge with seven nominations each, including Game of the Year. Other notable nominees include Studio Zero’s Metaphor: ReFantazio with six nominations, and Balatro by LocalThunk with five. Black Myth: Wukong by Game Science and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree from FromSoftware both earned four nominations, rounding out the Game of the Year category.

In a shift driven by the growing trend of video game adaptations, major film and TV studios have earned spots in the Best Adaptation category. Nominations include Netflix’s Arcane, Amazon’s Fallout, Paramount+’s Sonic Universe spin-off Knuckles, Amazon’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza, and Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.

Additionally, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is nominated in the expansion pack or downloadable content (DLC) category, with a statement from The Game Awards clarifying that DLCs are eligible for nominations across all categories.

Sony Interactive Entertainment leads the pack with the most nominations—16 in total—followed by Square Enix and Xbox with 12 nominations each. SEGA garnered 11 nominations this year.

Here are some of the standout nominations:

Best Score and Music

• ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
• Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)
• Stellar Blade (Shift Up/SIE)

Best Audio Design

• ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)
• Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)

Best Performance

• Briana White, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Humberly González, Star Wars Outlaws
• Luke Roberts, Silent Hill 2
• Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Best Adaptation

• Arcane (Riot/Fortiche/Netflix)
• Fallout (Bethesda/Kilter Films/Amazon MGM Studios)
• Knuckles (Sega/Paramount)
• Like a Dragon: Yakuza (Sega/Amazon MGM Studios)
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (Crystal Dynamics/Legendary/Netflix)

Most Anticipated Game

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/SIE)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/SIE)
• Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Retro Studios/Nintendo)
• Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)

The 2024 Game Awards ceremony promises to be a thrilling celebration of the year’s best in gaming, with fans eagerly anticipating the final winners in each category.

Source

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