For the first time in the tournament’s history, the PMWC has moved away from Saudi Arabia and is being held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in France. The event runs from August 6 to 16 as part of the Esports World Cup, bringing 32 leading PUBG Mobile squads into a live arena environment in one of Europe’s most recognisable cities.

The venue shift is important because hosting a global mobile tournament requires far more than placing players in front of a large audience. Organisers must deliver identical devices, stable networks, secure competition systems, broadcast infrastructure and a stage capable of handling fans, sponsors and international media. A successful Paris event would show that PUBG Mobile can move between regions without losing competitive quality or atmosphere.

The tournament also carries serious financial weight. The total prize pool is $3,025,000, with the largest share reserved for the Grand Finals. The group stage, survival stage and final phase all offer teams opportunities to earn money, but the competitive value of reaching the final weekend is much greater.

The structure is divided into three stages. The group phase ran from August 6 to 9, followed by the Survival Stage on August 11 and 12. The Grand Finals are scheduled for August 14 to 16, with 16 teams competing across 18 matches.

The defining tactical feature of the finals is the Smash Rule. Under a conventional points system, a team can win by accumulating the highest total through placements and eliminations. The Smash Rule adds a second requirement. A team must first reach the designated target-point threshold and then secure a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner to become champion.

That change transforms the endgame. A squad can lead the standings yet remain vulnerable if it cannot close out a match. Conversely, a team sitting behind the leaders may become the champion by reaching the threshold and producing one perfectly timed victory. The format creates a balance between sustained excellence and late-stage execution.

Teams must therefore manage two competing instincts. Early in the finals, survival and steady points remain essential because a squad cannot reach the target without consistent performance. Once the threshold is within reach, however, teams may need to take greater risks, contest stronger positions and prioritise the chicken dinner over safe placement points.

This creates fascinating strategic possibilities. A leading team may avoid unnecessary fights and wait for a favourable final circle, while a trailing team could accelerate its aggression to collect eliminations and control its path towards the target. The best in-game leaders will need to recognise when patience has stopped being useful and when a calculated gamble is required.

The format also makes momentum more powerful. A single victory can change the entire championship race, especially if several teams reach the target around the same time. Players will face immense psychological pressure, because one late-game rotation or failed engagement could decide millions of dollars and a world title.

Indian fans have an additional reason to follow the tournament. GodLike Esports and Orangutan became the first Indian teams to qualify for the PMWC Grand Finals, with both sides progressing from the group stage. Their performances will be measured not only by eliminations but by their ability to adapt to the Smash Rule.

PMWC 2026 is ultimately redefining what a mobile esports championship can look like. Paris provides the global setting, but the Smash Rule supplies the drama. In this format, survival earns opportunity, strategy creates position and only a final act of courage can deliver the crown.

]]> https://www.thesportsroom.org/craimes-street-fighter-6-triumph-shows-how-the-next-esports-era-is-being-built-by-teenagers/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:41:51 +0000 https://www.thesportsroom.org/?p=59152 At just 15 years old, Jaime “Craime” Bustos did what many veteran competitors spend years chasing. He won the Street Fighter 6 title at the Esports World Cup, took home $250,000, and became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. For Team Falcons, it was a major standings boost. For the fighting game scene, it was a reminder that the next wave of esports stars may already be here.

Craime’s victory stood out not only because of his age, but because of the composure behind it. In a bracket loaded with experienced names and proven title winners, he did not look overwhelmed by the moment. He lost the opening round of the grand final against Japan’s Hibiki, then adjusted quickly and took control of the series, finishing with a convincing 5-2 win. That kind of reset under pressure is usually the sign of a competitor who understands more than just button inputs. It reflects matchup awareness, emotional control, and the ability to adapt in real time.

That is why the performance resonated beyond the trophy itself. Fighting games have always rewarded precision, timing, and pattern recognition, but at the elite level they also demand calm under stress. Craime showed all of that. He was not simply reacting faster than his opponents. He was solving them. Against some of the scene’s most respected players, he maintained structure, punished mistakes, and forced others to play on his terms. For someone so young, that is extraordinary.

His win also speaks to the broader rise of fighting games inside global esports. While team-based titles often dominate the largest viewership totals, fighting games continue to produce some of the most intense and readable competition for live audiences. Every round matters. Every read can swing a match. That makes games like Street Fighter 6 especially effective on big stages, where even casual viewers can understand the tension of a comeback or the value of one decisive punish.

Esports organizers have noticed this. The growth of fighting game events in major tournaments suggests that publishers and tournament operators see long-term value in titles where individual skill is easy to showcase and stars can emerge quickly. Unlike many team games, fighting games do not hide talent behind systems or rosters. One player can become the story. Craime’s rise is proof of how powerful that format can be when the right personality and the right performance align.

For Team Falcons, the title had added importance because it delivered 1,000 Club Championship points and pushed the organization higher in the overall standings. But even beyond the team implications, the bigger takeaway is what Craime represents: an era in which teenagers can arrive on the biggest stage with enough technical maturity to beat established names and reshape the competitive landscape.

That matters for the future of esports viewership too. Younger fans often connect strongly with fast, high-stakes formats, and fighting games are built for that kind of engagement. They are easy to clip, dramatic to watch live, and filled with momentum swings that work well across streaming platforms and social media. As esports continues to compete for attention, that combination could make fighting games one of its most valuable growth engines.

Craime’s victory was a championship performance, but it was also a signal. The next great esports story may not come from a seasoned veteran or a long-developed dynasty. It may come from a teenager who understands the game, trusts the moment, and refuses to be intimidated by it.

]]> https://www.thesportsroom.org/five-nights-at-freddys-special-delivery/ Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:28:22 +0000 https://www.thesportsroom.org/?p=38613 The renowned augmented reality mobile game that sent chills down players’ spines, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Special Delivery (FNAF: AR), has officially ended. With this reveal, the franchise’s experimentation with augmented reality comes to an end.

A very Special (Delivery) thank you to you all 🐻😱💙…https://t.co/zOAMehf8Cq pic.twitter.com/xWVmQFR49G

— FNAF AR (@FNAFAROfficial) February 1, 2024

Five Nights at Freddy’s: AR Fades to Black – Servers Shut Down After Bridging Franchise Lore

Launched in 2019, Special Delivery bridged the story gap between the games Help Wanted and Security Breach. Players stepped into a world where animatronics lurked in their surroundings, ready to jump out and terrify them. The game’s unique blend of AR technology and horror elements made it a standout experience for fans of the franchise.

Illumix didn’t catch players off guard. On February 1st, they announced that the servers for Special Delivery would close down on March 14th. Today, that day has arrived, and the game has officially closed its doors. The ability to download the game from Apple or Google Play stores was disabled earlier, ensuring that only those who had previously downloaded it could continue their eerie encounters.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Bidding Farewell With a Bang – A Fond Look Back and Future Frights

As a parting gift, Illumix showered players with rewards. Reduced prices on in-game items, accessible DLC with Faz-Coins—these gestures turned the game’s final days into a celebration. While fans would have loved for Special Delivery to stick around indefinitely, this last hurrah allowed them to savour the experience one last time.

Although Five Nights at Freddy’s: AR might not be able to send chills down players’ spines through their phones any more, the franchise is still growing. The series’ distinctive blend of suspense and terror will continue to be delivered in future instalments, which fans can’t wait for.

ALSO READ: Ivan Thomas as Head Coach- A Calculated Move By Hampton University

No more CSGO

Counter-Strike Global Offensive, which was released in 2012 has been one of the most popular competitive shooting games of all time and over the years, it grew into a popular game and by far the most-played game on Steam.

As it aged, fans grew impatient for a new release or a revamp to the game that was still running on an outdated engine.

In September 2023, after much anticipation, CS2 was released, which is an overhaul of CSGO on the Source engine. It entirely replaced the previous game but CS:GO remained playable through a launch option for CS2. However, that is gone forever.

CS:GO has been ceased

Following the release of CS2, Valve clarified the speculation regarding the future of CSGO. Unfortunately, fans, who hope to still play the old version will no longer be able to play the game. The developers confirmed that support for CSGO would cease entirely on January 1, 2024.

Until that date, the game was playable through the CS:GO Legacy Version, available in the ‘betas’ menu of CS2’s properties.

But, Valve explained, “After January 1, 2024 the game will still be available, but certain functionality that relies on compatibility with the Game Coordinator (e.g., access to inventory) may degrade and/or fail.”

This indicates that the Legacy Version option will still exist, but with the development team no longer looking after it and there is a good chance that it will be functionally inoperable.

It is needless to say that all eyes will be on Counter-Strike 2, and Valve’s upcoming plans with the franchise. The game had a mixed reaction from the fans since its release, and player counts have fallen over the months. However, the Counter-Strike community is optimistic that future updates will bring back the game’s former glory.

Their names are all over the Rockstar games, and a lot of people credit Dan Houser, who worked as a producer and writer on several of the greatest titles released by the company, such as Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, as one of the primary creatives on Rockstar’s best games.

Sam Houser took over as CEO of Rockstar Games when Dan Houser departed. Dan Houser has been quietly developing Absurd Ventures, his own business. Houser took Michael Umsworth and Lazlow Jones, two of Rockstar’s most prominent creative figures and writers with him on this new journey. But the firm isn’t just into making video games, at least not exclusively.

They have job listings for video games, Absurd Ventures is a multi-media company, looking to launch new franchises in ways beyond gaming. The company announced its first two projects earlier today, a new graphic novel known as American Caper and a narrative-driven audio series known as A Better Paradise. You can read the descriptions for the two projects below. These two projects are expected to arrive in 2024.

“AMERICAN CAPER centers on two normal, badly-damaged American families in a world of corrupt business, inept politics and bungling crime. AMERICAN CAPER will debut as a graphic novel that is being illustrated by renowned comic book artist, Simon Bisley.”

“A BETTER PARADISE is an existential suspense thriller, set in the near future. A 12-episode audio fiction series based on the A BETTER PARADISE universe is currently in production. Absurd Ventures is partnering with @QCODEmedia to co-produce the audio series.”

AMERICAN CAPER and A BETTER PARADISE⁰First stories coming in 2024⁰⁰We will soon introduce two universes, their characters and lore…⁰https://t.co/zAcpW0O1C5⁰https://t.co/fPzDtzbZU5 pic.twitter.com/iyXwe7eBOo

— Absurd Ventures (@AbsurdVentures) November 29, 2023

Rockstar Games revealed the news in a social media posts. The developer confirmed rumors from earlier in November that it would share a first official look at the game early next month.

Rockstar Games teased the fans as they didn’t share a full reveal for the game. They are “very excited” to finally debut the highly-anticipated GTA 6.

“We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto,” it said. “We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.”

The post began by noting that Rockstar’s 25th anniversary would be celebrated the following month, which suggests the GTA 6 trailer would be released on the same day. Only the vague “December 1998” window exists for its foundation date, as the studio was only announced on January 22 the following year.

However, December 7th is the day of the Game Awards, so that presents another possibility for the trailer’s release. Although Rockstar has not yet confirmed, GTA 6’s presence at the awards show wouldn’t be out of place considering that it often has a ton of new trailers and announcements from the top creators.

We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.

Thank you,
Sam Houser

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) November 8, 2023

There is good reason for players in the sports, gaming, and entertainment industry to stay updated on the trends in the sector. Understanding what is in store will also motivate you to support the growth of the young industry.

Important to note is that the gaming, entertainments, and sports trends overlap and are also connected. Here are some esports trends to take note of.

1. Mobile Esports

Mobile esports is on the rise, and as aforementioned, esports trends are connected to the gaming and entertainment industry. Today, gamblers don’t need to drive to casino venues to enjoy poker as they can access it anywhere. They can get more than traditional casino venues offer; for instance, they get incentives like the Slotastic casino bonuses.

The convenience applies across the board in gambling, gaming, and the sports industry. Mobile esports is growing tremendously and has appealed to millions of fans worldwide. The industry is set to flourish with increased access to the internet and smartphones.

Seeing this growth, other industries are aligning themselves to support the sector thrive and leverage its development for their growth.

2. Cyber Security

With the high growth rate of the esports industry, it is becoming a target for cybercriminals. The industry’s growth attracts more fans, investors, games, and sponsors. With the inflow of cash involved, we should expect more ransomware, malware, and DDoS attacks.

It is projected that the number of IoT devices will reach 18 billion by the end of 2030, and as they get widespread, cybersecurity concerns will increase. Players in the industry need to keep in mind the looming security threats and measures to ensure that sensitive information is protected.

Esports fans should, for instance, avoid suspicious esports sites, install antimalware software on their devices, and use two-factor authentication to keep their accounts safe.

3. The Prominence of Blockchain

Note that esports is founded on sponsorships. The industry is currently attracting support which forms a significant part of the industry revenue. To diversify their income and minimize risk, esports companies are exploring different ways to monetize fans.

Most are eyeing revolutionary blockchain technology and innovations such as NFTs to achieve this. Esports companies are also leveraging that a considerable part of their fanbase comprises innovative young individuals willing to accept new ways of doing things.

While some companies are counting on blockchain to diversify their revenue streams, others are exploring ways they can use it to enhance engagement. It is vital for esports companies and related industries to identify ways they can leverage blockchain to improve their fan’s experience and support their growth.

4. The Growth of Co-Streaming

Esports companies are getting into co-streaming partnerships and leveraging the opportunity to market their brands and, at the same time, enhance fans’ experience. Organizers and publishers are using the strategy to reach broader audiences and grow their revenue.

Broadcasting companies are allowing co-streaming to increase viewership, which has many benefits for every player involved. Co-streaming is also allowing esports companies to diversify their portfolio.

This year and beyond, we should expect more streaming companies to get into partnerships to leverage the growth in audiences to increase their opportunities and revenue.

5. Live-Streaming Platforms are Becoming More Interactive

Some shows have already integrated AI-controlled features, which has seen significant revenue growth. Integrating AI and other interactive features in streaming platforms will enhance user experience and increase engagement.

Audiences can join ongoing games, support virtual contestants and enjoy more viewer interaction. The experiences will make live-streaming more memorable, giving esports companies more opportunities to monetize the consumers directly.

6. Esports is Increasingly Becoming Sponsorship-Driven

As aforementioned, the industry’s foundation is revenue coming from sponsorships. While more esports companies are looking for alternative sources of income, sponsorships will remain a significant aspect of the industry’s operations.

As the esports industry grows, its recognition as a source of entertainment for billions of fans across the globe increases. This has increased sponsors’ interest in the industry. Investors are exploring ways to fit in the industry, and many organizations are willing to support the industry’s growth.

Many brands are eager to associate themselves with esports through sponsorship deals as they are also getting value from esports’ growth. As the industry increasingly becomes sponsorship-driven, we should expect it to grow to the level of the sports industry eventually.

7. Esports Betting

The esports industry is hugely tied to the betting industry. As much as the sector is still behind its betting and sports counterparts, there is excellent growth potential.

It is important to note that it offers several options of products to the fans, like esports betting in addition to live-streaming. The tournament structures and sportsbooks are changing, offering esports ways to fit them in their product development strategies.

Conclusion

The esports industry is fast-growing, and we cannot afford to ignore or underestimate it. Esports companies and the fan base should be alert to the opportunities the sector will bring and the troubles it attracts.

It’s done with reverence to Akira Kurosawa: Ghost of Tsushima Director 

Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, Ghost of Tsushima has nearly sold 10m copies since it was launched in July 2020 on PS4 (Later released on PS5 in August 2021). The plot follows a samurai named Jin Sakai, who is on a mission to defend Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan.

In a recent interview with Collider, Stahelski substantiated that his movie adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima will be “a complete Japanese cast, in Japanese”.

Stahelski admitted that even though his plan may “scare the s*** out of most people”, he has received a green signal from Sony, and also added that western audiences have been well habituated with such works and are familiar with reading subtitles.

“Honestly, it’s probably the same things that would scare the shit out of most people. It’s a fantasy period piece. It’s done with reverence to Akira Kurosawa, who’s probably in the top five biggest influences of my life as far as film goes,” said Stahelski.

It’s a chance to push technology and people in a story that’s timeless,” the 53-year-old continued, “It’s your typical mythological story of good versus evil, finding a man, watching him change the world or the world changes him. It’s all the Joseph Campbell stuff that you’d love in a story. You put that in with, obviously, so I’m told I have a bit of a Samurai fetish, which is probably true from Manga and anime and stuff.”

“So, I think if we did this right, it would be visually stunning,” Stahelski added. “It’s character driven. It’s got an opportunity for great action, great looks. And honestly, we’d to try to do it, all in character. Meaning, it’s a Japanese thing about the Mongols invading Tsushima island.”

“A complete Japanese cast, in Japanese. Sony is so on board with backing us on that. I’ve been going to Japan since I was 16. I have a love of the country, love of the people, love of the language. To try to direct not only in my language, but someone else’s and culturally shift my mindset to bring apart that in a cool way that still entices a Western audience.”

One of the most heavyweight names in today’s movie industry and everyone’s beloved Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Holland starred as everyone’s favorite explorer, the protagonist Nathan Drake in the movie Uncharted, which shares the same name with the action-adventure franchise devleoped by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the movie was released on 7th February, serving as a prequel to the video game series. Aside from Holland, it stars Mark Wahlberg as Nathan’s mentor Victor “Sully” Sullivan, Antonio Banderas as Santiago Moncada, Sophia Ali as Chloe Frazer, Tati Gabrielle as Jo Braddock, Rudy Pankow as Nathan’s brother Samuel “Sam” Drake, as well as voice actor Nolan North, who portrayed Nathan Drake in the games, in a cameo role.

While some of the best video game franchises didn’t see their movie adaptations to be highly successful, the likes of Asassin’s Creed (2016), Max Payne (2008), Hitman (2007) and Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) to name a few, Tom Holland’s Uncharted has been sailing a different stream and has already made a global collection of $357.9 million and is expected to cross $360 million, three times of its budget, within this week.

Uncharted is now the 4th Highest Grossing Video Game Movie ever at the Box Office

• Domestic – $133.5m
• International – $223.9m
• Global – $357.5m

This week it will pass earning 3x its Budget of $120m and will be profitable off theatrical run alone before ancillary markets pic.twitter.com/7d2X9AcEW5

— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) March 27, 2022

Ahead of Uncharted remains the 2018 movie Rampage in third place ($428m), the 2019 movie Detective Pikachu in second ($433.4m), and the 2016 movie Warcraft: The Beginning as the highest-grossing video game movie of all time ($439m).

These kinds of reversals of fortune are a good sign for the league, it means that teams are improving to the point where they can be serious competition for the established leaders. For a team like Vitality, it might finally be time to live up to their early promise.

When Vitality appeared on the scene in 2016 it was assumed that they would be the new stars. Whether it was bad luck or their ever-changing roster, for some reason they haven’t lived up to those expectations. This could finally be their season.

In weeks three and four, Vitality will be facing Rogue, Misfits and Astralis. We might be in for some more exciting upsets as they seem to be in good form. With such an exciting Spring Split underway, this could be the time to get into betting on the LEC. 

The world has finally accepted that esports are just as real as any sport played with a bat or a ball. Just because the players aren’t running around and the ‘action’ takes place on a virtual plane, doesn’t make it any less real.

Betting on esports might seem a bit odd until you consider that betting on fantasy football, another sport that doesn’t take place in the real world, is a massive industry with millions of participants. Betting on League of Legends, CS:GO, Valorant or Rocket League is really no different.

If you’re new to betting on sports, whether traditional or esports, consider using a bookmaker guide before you place any bets. These guides will not only provide you with a list of the most trustworthy sportsbooks, they also have useful information on odds and how to understand them.

Before we take a look at how the Spring Split has gone so far for these teams and what we might be able to expect from their upcoming matchups, let’s take a quick moment to understand the LEC.

LEC Spring Split

The League of Legends European Championship is one of the biggest esports tournaments of the year. It doesn’t offer the same massive prize pool as some of the other major tournaments, like the CS:GO PGL Major – but it does showcase some of the best talent in the industry.

The LEC is broken into two sessions referred to as Splits, Spring and Summer. The top 10 teams participate in a double round robin group stage. Then the top six teams face off in the playoffs. The tournament is hosted at Riot Games’ studio in Berlin.

Since the tournament began in 2013, it has largely been dominated by G2 ESports and Fnatic. In the last few years though, other teams have begun to break into the top ranks. Whether or not G2 and Fnatic can hold onto their positions this year is still uncertain.

Vitality

Vitality has been through a lot of changes over the years, constantly shuffling players in and out of their lineup. This constant change could be part of the reason why they haven’t had as much success as people thought they would — it takes time for a bunch of players to actually become a team.

Their current line up — Alphari, Perkz, Carzzy, Labrov and Selfmade — is a prime example of this. They are a super team of star players, but will need time to figure out how to play together. Teamwork matters and could be what finally boosts Vitality into the top three.

Rogue

Rogue is heading into week three with a perfect record, five wins and no losses. They are currently tied with Fnatic at the top of the table. This is all pretty exciting for the fairly new team. Rogue only recently began playing in the LEC as a European franchise team

This Spring Split couldn’t have started any more differently than their first one in 2019. That year they lost their first eight games before giving up and dropping out of the competition to focus on rebuilding their roster and training up their academy roster.

All the effort they put in must have worked, as Rogue now looks like one of the strongest contenders for this year’s championship.

Misfits

In the 2017 Spring and Summer Splits, Misfits came in fourth and second, respectively. Since then, they haven’t made it into the top four. Their current Head Coach Carter, formerly known as Candyfloss, has been working hard to make sure the team is ready for this season.

Going by the numbers, it looks like Misfits are off to a great start. Looking at who they’ve played makes things murkier – most of their wins have been against bottom tier teams and their losses have been to the elite. We won’t know for sure how well they’re really playing until they’re up against a team like Vitality.

Besides Vitality, in Weeks three and four Misfits will be facing off against top teams G2 and MAD Lions. Depending on how all three of these games go, we could either see a jump up in their power rankings or a huge fall.

Astralis

Astralis might seem like the new kids on the block but they’re actually the rebranded and expanded Origen. Origen was one of the early LEC teams and they came second overall in their first two Splits after joining in 2015.

Since then, they’ve had their ups and downs. They’ve bounced from the top to the bottom and back again and for a while vanished from the scene altogether. Since the rebrand in 2021, they’ve hung near the bottom half of the table.

This Spring Split has been off to a rough start for the team. In the first two weeks, they lost all five of their matches. To be fair, they were facing Fnatic, Rogue and G2. Weeks three and four could lead to a rebound for Astralis as they face off against more mid-range teams instead of the elites.

Vitality should be able to outplay Astralis, they’re a stronger team with more confidence heading into week three. It’s impossible to overemphasize how important the mental side of the game is and how badly a string of losses can shake a team.

All things considered, Vitality is likely to increase their power ranking over the course of weeks three and four. They may lose to Rogue, who are having a phenomenal season so far, but if they can gel as a team, they’re likely to beat Misfits and Astralis and secure themselves a heavy bump in the rankings.