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“Patch 11.08 was a mistake”: VALORANT esports is losing its unique selling point

Following the conclusion of VALORANT Champions Paris in September last year, developer Riot Games dropped one of the most disruptive updates in the history of the game. Patch 11.08 significantly reduced agent utility in an effort to “strike a healthier balance between gunplay and abilities.” Seven months later, VALORANT players – both on the casual … Continued The post “Patch 11.08 was a mistake”: VALORANT esports is losing its unique selling point appeared first on

Esports Insider 11.04.2026 10:30 Uhr

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Esports has changed, but sexist situations won’t go away

Gender-based discrimination in esports is often framed as a problem the industry is slowly outgrowing, and, in some ways, that is true. The scene is more diverse than it once was, and more people are willing to speak up when faced with discrimination. Yet situations like the one recently shared by Ève “Colomblbl” Monvoisin and … Continued The post Esports has changed, but sexist situations won’t go away appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 10.04.2026 10:00 Uhr

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florescent cleared for VCT, but fans question Riot’s inconsistent standards

In May 2025, VALORANT Game Changers star and VCT player Ava “florescent” Eugene was accused of sexual assault by a X (Twitter) user (account now deleted) on behalf of a girl named “Brick.” This was followed by Flor’s former Shopify Rebellion Gold teammates calling her behavior “reprehensible,” stating that they believed the victim. Fast forward to March 2026 … Continued The post florescent cleared for VCT, but fans question Riot’s inconsistent standards

Esports Insider 09.04.2026 18:50 Uhr

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The 2027 VCT tournament-focused structure can fix Tier 2, but Riot still needs to get the details right

Riot Games’ 2027 overhaul of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) reads like a rebuke of its own recent past. The slogan is comically blunt: everything is a tournament. No more long regular seasons. No more hard border between the partnered teams and everyone else. No more waiting an entire year for one promotion match to … Continued The post The 2027 VCT tournament-focused structure can fix Tier 2, but Riot still needs to get the details right appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.04.2026 18:14 Uhr

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The FGC is willing to gatekeep its esports scene, even if it means staying broke

Popular streamer Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp, largely known for being good at League of Legends and being loud, announced that he was going to compete in Street Fighter 6 again, starting with Evo. And the FGC is angry. On stream, Tyler1 announced that he was going to Evo in Las Vegas (which he had to define … Continued The post The FGC is willing to gatekeep its esports scene, even if it means staying broke appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 08.04.2026 23:39 Uhr

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Smash community angry after pro claims Melee is competitive, Ultimate is casual

While Super Smash Bros. is often seen as a united esports scene from the outside, there has always been a bit of tension between Melee and Ultimate players. The two games cannot be more different, and their players are different as well. Recently, the FGC noted that Melee players seem to have a “superiority complex” … Continued The post Smash community angry after pro claims Melee is competitive, Ultimate is casual appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 08.04.2026 03:20 Uhr

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Dota 2 needs more stadium events: I’m a diehard fan and can’t even remember the last five offstage winners

The Dota 2 esports scene is in a healthy place if we’re looking at the sheer number of S-Tier events. We have million-dollar tournaments almost every month, but the issue is — the majority of them are either played in a closed studio or entirely online. And, even though I’m a hardcore Dota fan, these … Continued The post Dota 2 needs more stadium events: I’m a diehard fan and can’t even remember the last five offstage winners appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 07.04.2026 18:22 Uhr

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“We’re not expected to make it”: Cloud9 Coach Immi is not concerned being the only NA VCT team to never make internationals

It’s interesting because Cloud9 is actually not the worst in VALORANT esports, yet it seems to get the most hate. Despite being 14th out of 48 teams in the 2026 power ranking, Cloud9 is often a topic of discussion due to its inability to qualify for an international event. This led podcaster Andre Hopkins to … Continued The post “We’re not expected to make it”: Cloud9 Coach Immi is not concerned being the only NA VCT team to never make internationals appeared first

Esports Insider 06.04.2026 00:25 Uhr

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“How do you fix EMEA?” The VCT EMEA is falling behind, but can it catch up?

VCT EMEA Stage 1 has just kicked off this week. The tournament sees twelve teams compete in the region’s semi-franchised tier-one VALORANT circuit for three slots at the next VCT global event, Masters London in June. However, EMEA’s latest international showing didn’t inspire confidence in the region’s competitive strength. With Team Liquid not advancing past … Continued The post “How do you fix EMEA?” The VCT EMEA is falling behind, but can it catch up? appeared first on Espor

Esports Insider 03.04.2026 10:00 Uhr

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2XKO is not going to last in the FGC, and it’s Riot Games’ fault

2XKO has been handled wrong from the beginning, and I think it’s fair to say it won’t be in the FGC for much longer. It’s a bit jarring, of course. I used to write a lot of articles about how 2XKO would save fighting game esports. It was backed by Riot, which could actually put … Continued The post 2XKO is not going to last in the FGC, and it’s Riot Games’ fault appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 03.04.2026 00:24 Uhr

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The Ruler scandal explained: South Korea’s explosive reaction to what seems like, well, not a big deal

Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk’s tax controversy has become one of those stories that, at first glance, looks smaller than the reaction surrounding it. A mountain out of a mole hill. After all, the taxes were ultimately paid! There’s no lurid criminal indictment attached to the case in the way casual readers might imagine when they hear … Continued The post The Ruler scandal explained: South Korea’s explosive reaction to what seems like, well, not a big deal appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 02.04.2026 22:51 Uhr

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Is the Apex Legends esports scene dying? There’s a reason ImperialHal is considering leaving

Team Falcons’ Phillip “ImperialHal” Dosen recently tweeted that it “might be time to retire,” prompting the Apex Legends esports scene to wonder whether it’s time to wrap it up. It’s been a rough last few years for Apex Legends, with the scene constantly complaining about the updates devs make and esports seeing less viewership. The … Continued The post Is the Apex Legends esports scene dying? There’s a reason ImperialHal is considering leavi

Esports Insider 02.04.2026 02:56 Uhr

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Does G2 Esports’ run at First Stand 2026 mean the gap between Western and Eastern teams in LoL Esports is closing? Maybe

Less than two weeks ago, G2 Esports shocked League of Legends’ fans. At First Stand 2026 semifinals, the European giants didn’t just beat Gen.G, they dismantled the team widely seen as the best in the world with a clean 3-0. With one match, G2 flipped expectations on their head and brought back a level of … Continued The post Does G2 Esports’ run at First Stand 2026 mean the gap between Western and Eastern teams in LoL Esports is closing? Maybe appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 01.04.2026 20:43 Uhr

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But I believe Aang can save the FGC: We need simple fun, like Avatar Legends

I previously argued against Avatar Legends, I’ll admit it. I said they’re just turning anything into a fighting game these days. It’s just the easiest, cheapest option, but most of these games are slop. I’m not taking that back, but I do think Avatar Legends may be a special case. And it may even save the FGC. Avatar … Continued The post But I believe Aang can save the FGC: We need simple fun, like Avatar Legends appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 31.03.2026 18:10 Uhr

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Putting Dota 2 teams to the test: Should Valve have dropped Patch 7.41 mid-tournament?

ESL One Birmingham 2026 has just ended, with Tundra Esports extending their reign by lifting the trophy. But the real story of the tournament was the massive 7.41 Dota 2 patch being dropped in the middle of the million-dollar event. The unexpected timing has sparked the question of whether situations like these are good for … Continued The post Putting Dota 2 teams to the test: Should Valve have dropped Patch 7.41 mid-tournament? appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 31.03.2026 17:38 Uhr

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“Increased focus on fandom”: Jake Sin on selecting the next VCT Pacific partner teams

VCT Pacific has seen tremendous growth since its introduction in 2023, with the region producing some of the world’s most mechanically skilled VALORANT players and countless memorable moments.  From Gen.G being the first Pacific team to lift an international VCT trophy to Nongshim RedForce becoming the first Ascension team to win a Masters event, the league has … Continued The post “Increased focus on fandom”: Jake Sin on selecting the next VCT Pacific partner teams appea

Esports Insider 30.03.2026 22:08 Uhr

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“I dream of working in esports full-time again without being in a continuous state of crippling anxiety:” NLC is just one example of a huge issue in the esports industry

It’s honestly really hard to keep track of which esports entity owes what to whom at this point, and that’s the problem. It feels like there is a new “I didn’t get paid” tweet almost every month from a player, caster, or staff member aimed at team or tournament organizer. One of the latest fiascos … Continued The post “I dream of working in esports full-time again without being in a continuous state of crippling anxiety:” NLC is just one example of

Esports Insider 27.03.2026 20:44 Uhr

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“If they stop doing yearly cycles and start thinking in terms of longevity, it could be interesting”: Former Call of Duty boss discusses esports limitations

The Call of Duty League has never really reached the heights of other shooter esports like VALORANT and Counter-Strike 2. The highest viewership in 2026 thus far has been 353,000, set by the Stage 1 Major, which is nowhere near “dying” status but still far behind the competition. There is a lot of speculation as to … Continued The post “If they stop doing yearly cycles and start thinking in terms of longevity, it could be interesting”: Former Call of Duty boss discu

Esports Insider 24.03.2026 20:22 Uhr

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Street Fighter 6 won’t be getting any gen AI content, marking the FGC safe from slop

There is nothing the gaming community has united on more than a hatred of AI, and that has carried over into the more niche esports scenes as well. The FGC is one of those scenes, fighting back against any sign of AI, like in the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves’ Season 2 trailer. Maybe … Continued The post Street Fighter 6 won’t be getting any gen AI content, marking the FGC safe from slop appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 23.03.2026 22:32 Uhr

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PGL commits $22m to Tier 1 Counter-Strike in 2027 and 2028

Esports tournament organiser PGL has announced it will commit at least $22m (~£16.5m) to the Counter-Strike 2 ecosystem over the next two years. As a result, the organiser will host six Tier 1 tournaments in 2027 and 2028, offering stability and sustainability within the first-person shooter title’s expanding tournament calendar. Revealed on March 9th, PGL … Continued The post PGL commits $22m to Tier 1 Counter-Strike in 2027 and 2028 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.03.2026 12:40 Uhr

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Crazy Raccoon unveils OWCS roster for 2026

Japanese esports organisation Crazy Raccoon has revealed its Overwatch esports roster for 2026. Seven players, which includes a mixture of new and returning names, will represent the organisation in the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) circuit this season. Since the start of 2026, two new players have joined Crazy Raccoon. Kim ‘vigilante‘ Joon last played for … Continued The post Crazy Raccoon unveils OWCS roster for 2026 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.03.2026 12:28 Uhr

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FURIA and Gentle Mates suffer VALORANT Masters Santiago elimination

VCT Americas first seed FURIA and EMEA side Gentle Mates have become the first Playoffs contestants to be eliminated from VALORANT Masters Santiago. The two teams were sent home by BBL Esports (EMEA) and All Gamers (China), respectively, with both organisations remaining in the running for the first global VCT trophy of the year. BBL … Continued The post FURIA and Gentle Mates suffer VALORANT Masters Santiago elimination appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.03.2026 12:16 Uhr

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MOUZ and Team Spirit qualify for ESL Pro League Season 23 playoffs

MOUZ and Team Spirit have become the first teams to qualify for the ESL Pro League Season 23 playoffs after winning three matches during the second online stage of the tournament. The two teams will form part of an eight-team field that will compete at Stockholm’s Annexet to be crowned champion. MOUZ Continues Consistency MOUZ … Continued The post MOUZ and Team Spirit qualify for ESL Pro League Season 23 playoffs appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.03.2026 11:29 Uhr

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JD Gaming secures the last spot for First Stand 2026

Chinese esports organisation JD Gaming is the last team to qualify for First Stand, the first international tournament on the 2026 League of Legends esports calendar. The team locked its qualification after advancing to the grand final of the LPL Split 1 Playoffs, and will head to São Paulo, Brazil, as the second seed from … Continued The post JD Gaming secures the last spot for First Stand 2026 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.03.2026 11:23 Uhr

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