Latest news with #Counter-Strike
The Verge
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
If you don't feel like paying thousands of dollars to get your hands on the
Counter-Strike's rarest skin IRL. coveted AWP | Dragon Lore skin in Counter-Strike 2, now have it on your gaming gear for far cheaper. SteelSeries is teaming up with Valve to launch a $150 wireless gaming mouse and a $45 XXL mousepad wrapped in the ultra-rare design, which shows a knotwork dragon shooting flames from its mouth. The gaming mouse and mousepad launch on July 1st, but are available for preorder today. 1/3
New York Post
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
The retro console you never knew you needed just went on sale
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: This retro console comes with 70,000+ games pre-loaded, and it just went on sale. With all the bad stuff going on in the world right now, I was really wishing I could transport myself back in time. Unfortunately, I'm not Marty McFly and I can't find a time machine, so I had to find another way. I stumbled upon the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro, a retro-inspired game console loaded with all the classics and even some new-age favorites. This gaming system has all the best parts of an old-school console with the blessings of modern technology. It comes with more than 70,000 games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Counter-Strike with 60+ pre-loaded emulators. Advertisement It supports multiplayer mode so you can even share the enjoyment with your family and friends. When you get tired of gaming—if that's even possible—you can use it to stream your favorite shows through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Turn on some Seinfeld, Full House, or Beverly Hills 90210 to keep the nostalgia going, or choose a new Netflix classic like Squid Games or Stranger Things. The bundle includes everything you need to get started and get gaming. It's a true plug-and-play experience—just like the days before you had to create accounts or download everything from the cloud. It even comes with 2 controllers, but it's compatible with a bunch of others. Plug in your old analog joysticks or grab your tried-and-true Bluetooth controller. You can keep living in the glory days and reminisce on when 3D was the coolest thing to happen since sliced bread by downloading an additional 20,000 3D games at no cost. But seriously—what happened to 3D? Whether you want to re-live the glory days and escape reality or just play some old favorites, you can snag this gaming and streaming console for just $89.97 (reg. $159.99) while supplies last. You even get free shipping—the reverse of those 'just pay shipping and handling' infomercials you used to love. Now, if only there was a way to bring back Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks… Sale ends June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Don't miss your chance for a reunion with Pac-Man. StackSocial prices subject to change.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Darker side of competitive gaming
E-sports event at Filoil Flying V Center in Manila in 2019. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star LIKE traditional sports, e- sports faces its own set of challenges related to integrity and fair play. From game manipulation to toxic player behaviour, the fast-growing industry is under pressure to clean up its act. The lack of unified regulation, combined with rapid commercialisation, has allowed various forms of misconduct to slip through the cracks. Here are the five most common e-sports violations, along with a closer look at how cheating manifests in the competitive gaming world. Match fixing and betting scandals One of the most damaging issues in competitive gaming is match fixing – when players or teams intentionally lose or manipulate the outcome of a match. This is often tied to illegal betting rings, where insiders place large wagers based on pre-arranged outcomes. Cheating and use of unauthorised software The use of third-party software – such as aimbots or wallhacks – remains a persistent problem. These cheats can give players unfair advantages like perfect accuracy or the ability to see enemies through walls. Despite improved anti-cheat systems, players continue to find new ways to circumvent security, especially in online qualifiers and smaller-scale events. Financial misconduct There have been reports of alleged financial mismanagement within some Malaysian e-sports organisations. These include unethical sponsorship deals, unclear prize money distribution and financial exploitation of younger players. In 2023, it was reported that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said that our e-sports industry was under scrutiny for alleged corruption and gambling issues. Player misconduct and toxic behaviour While e-sports is a team effort, player conduct off screen is just as important as the performance in game. There have been cases of cyberbullying, harassment and verbal abuse among players, often during livestreams or social media interactions. Contractual disputes and unfair player treatment Many professional players, especially in smaller organisations, face unclear or exploitative contracts. Issues range from excessive buyout clauses and benching (known as 'cold storage') to unfair revenue sharing. Some players are prevented from leaving teams or seeking better opportunities, leading to prolonged legal battles and stalled careers. Unfair advantage At the same time, cheating in e-sports isn't always black and white – and the terminology can vary depending on the game. Here are some of the most notorious methods used to gain an unfair advantage: > Aimbotting: Software that automatically locks onto enemies and fires with perfect accuracy – common in first-person shooter (FPS) titles like Counter-Strike or Call of Duty. > Wallhacking: A cheat that allows players to see through walls or other barriers, revealing the positions of opponents who should be hidden from view. > Bug exploiting: Using game glitches or unintended mechanics to gain an edge. While not technically hacking, it is often considered unethical and against tournament rules. > Doping: Similar to traditional sports, doping in e-sports involves the use of substances like Adderall, Ritalin, or beta-blockers to enhance focus, reaction time, or calm under pressure. > E-doping: A broader term that includes the use of both software and hardware cheats (like modified controllers or macros) to unfairly boost performance.
Digital Trends
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Valve has officially put the kibosh on this eight-year-old Counter-Strike remake
Classic Offensive, the popular community remake of Counter-Strike, is officially kaput. The team announced the decision yesterday on various social media pages, saying 'This decision follows abrupt actions by Valve that prevent us from releasing or continuing development on the project.' The project was first greenlit seven years ago on Steamworks and has been in development ever since. The team describes it as 'Re-balanced and revitalized, Classic Offensive is an homage to the original vision of the game that started it all.' Classic Offensive was uploaded to Steam for review in October 2024, only to receive a rejection the following January. When the team shifted its focus to updating via ModDB, Valve issued a Cease and Desist notice. Recommended Videos According to Valve, Classic Offensive would violate the 'derivative content' guidelines of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. Valve's decision comes at an odd time, especially for a platform that has traditionally fully supported modding communities. The company recently released the full source code of Team Fortress 2 and was one of the first outlets to allow modders to monetize their creations. The Classic Offensive team issued a warning to other modders, saying, 'This situation has implications far beyond our project, raising serious concerns for the future of modding within Valve's ecosystem. Modders should reconsider how they see Valve: a company that benefits from community creativity while being able to shut down years of work without warning, despite going through their defined process which they can change drastically at any time.' In response to Valve's decision, the team has launched The website aims to provide a full timeline of development, credit everyone who worked on the project, and preserve the trailer for the game. It also champions the tagline #AllowClassicOffensive, a rallying cry that has gone up from fans who want to see the project return.
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BLAST Partner with Nova Wallet for five events including the Austin Major
London, 30th April 2025 - Esports entertainment company BLAST has partnered with Nova Wallet ahead of the upcoming BLAST Premier Rivals S1. Nova Wallet has come onboard as the Official Self-custodial Wallet Partner for four BLAST Premier events: BLAST Premier Rivals S1, BLAST Premier Bounty S2 and BLAST Premier Open S2, BLAST Premier Rivals S2. Nova Wallet will also partner with the sold-out Austin Major taking place at the Moody Center this June. As Official Global Partners, Nova Wallet will feature across BLAST Counter-Strike events via digital broadcast integration and in physical print-form on BLAST backdrops. Nova Wallet will also create specially curated content for the Austin Major in June and BLAST Premier Open S2 in Wembley in September. Outside of broadcast integration, fans will be able to participate in the Nova Wallet x Hydration prediction mini-game, secured by Polkadot, allowing everyone to get involved and play along both at the arena and at home. Freddie Beale, Head of Sponsorship Sales at BLAST shared, 'BLAST has a huge calendar for Counter-Strike events in 2025 and we're delighted to welcome Nova Wallet on-board for the rest of the competitive season. Nova Wallet's bespoke mini-game will allow fans to interact with our events in an innovative new way, whether inside the arena bowl or watching at home and we can't wait to share more details in due course. With events spanning three different continents we're excited to showcase Nova Wallet across the globe including at the prestigious Austin Major in June.' Anton Khvorov, CEO at Novasama Technologies added, 'We're excited to partner with BLAST for the remainder of the 2025 CS competitive season. We can't wait for fans to get their hands on the Nova Wallet x Hydration mini-game and dive into the action – whether they're in the arena or watching from home. And above all, we're thrilled to introduce BLAST's passionate community to Polkadot and the limitless possibilities of web3 technology.' Nova Wallet will first feature at the BLAST Premier Rivals S1, featuring eight of Counter-Strike's best teams battling over a $350,000 prize pool. The BLAST studios will welcome teams on the 30th April, crowning our Rivals champions on 4th May. For more information, visit Nova Wallet . ### About BLAST BLAST is on a mission to take esports to the next level of global entertainment. BLAST excites and invites billions of fans to join the esports revolution, creating live and digital experiences - from tournaments that pack out major arenas around the world to content designed to blow audiences' socks off. Renowned for unparalleled production quality and game-changing, fan-first moments, BLAST brings together the best teams and biggest superstars to compete for glory and multi-million-dollar prize pools. Tens of thousands of fans attend adrenaline-pumped live events in major arenas from London and Copenhagen to Atlanta and São Paulo, while millions more tune in from around the globe via international broadcasts. BLAST collaborates with some of the world's top game publishers and brands to elevate their properties into amazing esports experiences. Current partnerships include world-leading publishers such as Epic Games, Valve, and Ubisoft, delivering, marketing, and producing esports for popular titles like Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2. About Nova Wallet Nova Wallet is the ultimate mobile Polkadot wallet with support for 100+ networks and over 200 assets. With features such as Staking support for 13+ assets, Hardware Wallet integrations for Ledger and Polkadot Vault, DApp Support for both Substrate and EVM chains, Push Notifications, NFTs, and advanced features such as Proxy account support — Nova Wallet is the fastest, most convenient, and secure mobile wallet for the Polkadot Ecosystem. Nova Wallet also supports Transfers, Buy/Sell feature and in-app Swaps, with a Nova Debit Card coming soon for real-world spending. Nova Wallet is fully open-sourced and is funded by the Polkadot Treasury. Developed by Novasama Technologies.
