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uk-rainbow-six-personalities-criticise-2022-six-invitational-for-having-no-live-audience:-‘this-event-isn’t-just-about-esports,-it’s-for-the-whole-community-to-get-together’ ESports News UK

UK Rainbow Six personalities criticise 2022 Six Invitational for having no live audience: ‘This event isn’t just about esports, it’s for the whole community to get together’

November 14, 2021E-SportsNewsUK

From big tournaments to the PGL CSGO Major to smaller UK gatherings like Epic.LAN (34), live audiences are starting to trickle back into esports events. But not all of them are switching to live audiences straight away, given the situation around Covid-19. The recent League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) 2021 did not have a live audience, neither did the 2021 Dota 2 International, and neither will the Rainbow Six Siege Invitational in Montreal, Canada in February 2022. Continue reading UK Rainbow Six personalities criticise 2022 Six Invitational for having no live audience: ‘This event isn’t just about esports, it’s…

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valve’s-dota-2-tournament-scraps-live-audience-due-to-the-pandemic Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Valve’s Dota 2 tournament scraps live audience due to the pandemic

October 4, 2021RockPaperShotgun

Four days before the start of their huge Dota 2 tournament, Valve have called off having a live audience at The International. This year’s event in Romania was meant to be a glorious return after 2020’s International was cancelled by the pandemic, but that pandemic is not yet over. With Covid-19 infection rates in Romania rising again, Valve will still hold the tournament but now without the audience. They’re automatically refunding event tickets, obvs, but oof that’ll be a lot of people out travel costs. Read more

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the-next-insomnia-gaming-festival-could-be-byoc-only-and-take-place-in-october-2021-at-a-different-venue-(or-country!)-–-exclusive-interview-with-craig-‘wizzo’-fletcher ESports News UK

The next Insomnia Gaming Festival could be BYOC-only and take place in October 2021 at a different venue (or country!) – exclusive interview with Craig ‘Wizzo’ Fletcher

June 28, 2021E-SportsNewsUK

The new owners of Insomnia Gaming Festival are thinking about dropping the expo for a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer)-only event this year, due to the pandemic. SuperNova Capital – which acquired Insomnia from GAME last month – is looking at running the event in mid-October. And tickets could go on sale in the next month as a best-case scenario. But it admitted things are still ‘up in the air’ for Insomnia in 2021, depending on how the situation and government guidelines around Covid-19 change. Continue reading The next Insomnia Gaming Festival could be BYOC-only and take place in October…

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how-lockdown-changed-gaming-in-the-uk:-9-key-takeaways-from-ofcom’s-online-national-2021-report ESports News UK

How lockdown changed gaming in the UK: 9 key takeaways from Ofcom’s Online National 2021 Report

June 11, 2021E-SportsNewsUK

Ofcom has published its Online National 2021 Report which features a host of data about gaming habits in the UK – and how these changed after the pandemic hit last year. We’ve rounded up 9 stats from the report. 1. Almost two thirds of adults played games last year With people at home for much of the year, online gaming saw a big increase in 2020. Nearly two thirds (62%) of adults, and 92% of 16- to 24-year-olds, said they played games on an electronic device, and over half of all gamers agreed that gaming helped them get through lockdown….

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red-bull-kumite-london-preview-with-uk-fgc-commentators-f-word-&-tyrant:-‘hopefully-this-kicks-off-more-offline-events-as-it’s-been-really-tough-without-them;-i’d-like-to-see-the-uk-fgc-maintain-its-level-of-hunger-beyond-this-event’ ESports News UK

Red Bull Kumite London preview with UK FGC commentators F-Word & Tyrant: ‘Hopefully this kicks off more offline events as it’s been really tough without them; I’d like to see the UK FGC maintain its level of hunger beyond this event’

May 21, 2021E-SportsNewsUK

Red Bull Kumite London gets underway this weekend (May 22nd and 23rd, from 2pm to 10pm BST each day on Twitch and YouTube), with some of the world’s best Street Fighter players going head-to-head. The event marks a return to a physical offline setting at London’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere, and features a host of UK FGC (fighting game community) talent, including participating players ProblemX, Hurricane, Boltstrike and Jones, as well as hosts for the event such as Ryan Hart and Damascus. Continue reading Red Bull Kumite London preview with UK FGC commentators F-Word & Tyrant: ‘Hopefully this kicks off…

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gdc-survey-finds-35%-of-developers-say-their-productivity-is-better-from-home Rock,Paper,Shotgun

GDC survey finds 35% of developers say their productivity is better from home

April 28, 2021RockPaperShotgun

As we’ve already seen several instances of so far, attitudes about remote work have been shifting in the games industry since the Covid-19 pandemic forced a work from home lifestyle last year. Multiple companies have since instituted permanent work from home policies, such as Square Enix and Hi-Rez Studios, after finding that the setup was working well for them. According to this year’s GDC survey, many developers personally feel that they’re doing well working from home. A total of 67% of the more than 3,000 developers surveyed feel that their productivity has been the same or better since working remotely….

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pax-east-2021-is-cancelled-but-pax-online-is-coming-back-in-july Rock,Paper,Shotgun

PAX East 2021 is cancelled but PAX Online is coming back in July

March 29, 2021RockPaperShotgun

If you’re looking at the 2021 calendar and really starting to miss your usual gaming convention trips, PAX has some good and bad news. The bad news is that PAX East, which had been tentatively scheduled for June 2021, is officially cancelled. The good news is that PAX Online will make a comeback in July and the organizers are feeling “cautiously optimistic” about hosting PAX West in person this September. Read more

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pokemon-world-championships-2021-axed-due-to-coronavirus VG247

Pokemon World Championships 2021 axed due to coronavirus

February 12, 2021VG247

By Alex Calvin, Friday, 12 February 2021 16:55 GMT Event has been bumped until next year.The Pokemon Company has cancelled the Pokemon World Championships this year because of the coronavirus.In a post on its website, the firm wrote that the upcoming event for the Pokemon Trading Card Game, video game, and its Pokken Tournament DX World Championships would be moved until 2022. This is due to – what else? – the on-going coronavirus pandemic.The Pokemon Company says it has spoken to the World Health Organization, Public Health England, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in order to help…

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no-physical-fortnite-events-planned-for-2021,-epic-games-confirms VG247

No physical Fortnite events planned for 2021, Epic Games confirms

December 6, 2020VG247

Epic Games has confirmed that physical Fortnite events, such as the Fortnite World Cup, will be held online-only throughout 2021.Epic said it has no plans to hold in-person Fortnite events next year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues.The publisher noted that its desire is to hold online-only events for the foreseeable and that extends even to the biggest annual events in the Fortnite calendar, such as the Fortnite World Cup.of interest to visit too, with more expected as the season progresses.“Our intent is to eventually hold global in-person tournaments again, but our priority for any such event is the health and safety…

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far-cry-6-and-rainbow-six-quarantine-delayed Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Far Cry 6 and Rainbow Six Quarantine delayed

October 29, 2020RockPaperShotgun

Despite having just launched one blockbuster with another due next month, we might have a while to go before Ubisoft’s next round of games. During today’s financial earnings report, Ubisoft revealed that both Far Cry 6 and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine have been pushed back into the next financial year, setting their release dates as no sooner than April 1st, 2021. (more…)

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counter-strike:-global-offensive-rio-major-cancelled,-and-valve-addresses-cheating-coaches Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Rio Major cancelled, and Valve addresses cheating coaches

September 10, 2020RockPaperShotgun

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down yet another gaming event. This time it’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive‘s Rio Major, and Valve say they won’t be scheduling any more of the tournaments until LAN events are safe to hold around the world again. Valve have also addressed coaches being able to cheat in competitive games for years using a bug, detailing the action they’ll be taking against these cheaty cheaters. (more…)

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one-of-tony-hawk’s-pro-skater’s-empty-schools-is-still-closed-for-the-pandemic Rock,Paper,Shotgun

One of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s empty schools is still closed for the pandemic

September 3, 2020RockPaperShotgun

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 doesn’t need to explain why its schoolyards, warehouses and backlots are devoid of human life. It’s a skateboarding game, who cares? Nevertheless, a little bit of worldbuilding has landed Tony’s kickflip adventure squarely in reality, revealing that at least one of the game’s school stages has been closed for Covid-19. (more…)

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if-you-buy-a-halo-face-mask,-the-profits-will-be-used-to-make-two-more-for-frontline-workers VG247

If you buy a Halo face mask, the profits will be used to make two more for frontline workers

August 24, 2020VG247

You can now buy an officially licensed Halo face mask online, and if you do, the profits will be used to manufacture two more for medical facilities and frontline workers. A new type of Halo face mask is now available to purchase on Metathreads. At $19.95, it’s pretty steep – however, the description notes that for every Halo face mask sold, two more will be provided to people working in healthcare and other frontline services free of charge.If you’re curious and are feeling particularly charitable, you can check out the design of the Halo face mask below, which is being…

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rockstar-donates-5%-of-revenue-from-in-game-purchases-to-charity VG247

Rockstar donates 5% of revenue from in-game purchases to charity

August 3, 2020VG247

By Cian Maher, Monday, 3 August 2020 18:52 GMT Rockstar Games has donated 5% of the revenue it earned from in-game purchases in GTA Online and Red Dead Online throughout April and May to a variety of charities all over the world. The news comes from the Rockstar Games Twitter account, where the company posted a statement about its recent donations. You can check out the tweet below. Rockstar Games COVID-19 Relief Update: https://t.co/ylZhMgt450 pic.twitter.com/fw7YevRWmZ — Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) August 3, 2020“The Rockstar Games community is amazing,” reads the official statement. “Recently we pledged to donate 5% of our revenue…

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