Gaming
Riot Games lays down Esports plans for VALORANT in 2021
In partnership with seven Esports organizations across Southeast Asia
Riot Games struck gold when they introduced the world to VALORANT, their take on team-based shooter games. With the launch of the VALORANT Ignition Series, they hoped to kickstart their game’s rise in Esports. With 2020 possibly ending soon, they turn their focus to the future of the game, and providing more competitive opportunities. For them, that all begins in 2021 as they lay down plans for Southeast Asia!
Essentially, Riot Games partnered with seven Esports organizations across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong for regional tournaments. These tournaments hope to bring the best out of these markets when it comes to the character-based 5v5 shooter game. Now, it will be up to these organizations to host these tournaments and showcase intense and high-stakes action. Eventually, teams who participate and win have a chance to represent their country on the international VALORANT stage.
Also, Riot decided to extend the invitation to the collegiate ranks to cultivate the next generation of gamers in the Esports scene. These will bring an exciting series of tournaments to college students who wish to experience the thrill of insane competition.
To know more and possibly participate, kindly reach out to the following organizations for your respective markets:
- Mineski Philippines (Esports) and AcadArena (Collegiate) for the Philippines
- The Gaming Company for Malaysia and Singapore (Esports)
- PGL and Eliphant for Singapore Collegiate
- Professional Gamers League and Eliphant for Singapore (Collegiate)
- Talon for Hong Kong and Taiwan (Esports)
- Taiwan Mobile and TeSL for Taiwan (Collegiate)
- ESL for Thailand
- ONE Up for Indonesia
Update as of October 21, 2020
In addition to these 2021 plans, a nationwide VALORANT tournament is already underway in the Philippines via VALORANT First Strike: Philippines. The eight teams that will battle it out in this PhP 500,000 (around US$ 10,300) tournament will advance from the Mineski VxV community cup. Registration is ongoing and will close on October 28, 2020.
On other VALORANT tournaments
RIOT: Mineski has been appointed to handle official VALORANT esports and collegiate in the Philippines for 2021, but this doesn’t stop other organizers from running their own community VALORANT tournaments. We are always looking to support community-led initiatives and competitions, and organizers will be able to work directly with Riot on grassroots activities.
Gaming
Horizon Hunters Gathering is an upcoming co-op roguelite spinoff
If you liked Nightreign, you might like this.
Like Valve, the PlayStation’s tentpole franchises are allergic to the number 3. The Last of Us, the ongoing God of War arc, Spider-Man, and Horizon all don’t have a third game yet. These franchises, however, have all gotten rumors of spinoffs. Now, Horizon is getting more than just a rumor; an official co-op spinoff is happening. Say hello to Horizon Hunters Gathering!
Today, Guerilla unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, an official co-op roguelite set in the Horizon universe. The game will feature multiple players working to take down difficult enemies, bosses, and dungeons.
The title shares similarities with Elden Ring Nightreign. For one, players can choose between six characters with different roles. The main mode, called Machine Incursion, takes players to a wide map with powerups and roaming monsters. The map then has a shrinking ring that… well, you know what a shrinking ring does.
Horizon Hunters Gathering also has a different game mode called Cauldron Descent. Compared to the Nightreign type of gameplay, Cauldron Descent is a more traditional roguelite mode. Players enter a dangerous dungeon and choose alternate paths that vary in challenges.
Both game modes will be available through an upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program.
Because this is from Guerilla themselves, this is an official game. But it’s far from the only spinoff for the universe. Previously, NCSoft, a South Korean gaming studio, announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMO set in the Horizon universe. Like Horizon Hunters Gathering, Steel Frontiers has an unknown launch date.
SEE ALSO: Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMO set in the Horizon universe
Gaming
Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine
But it’s still scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Overshadowed only by the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming Steam Machine was one of the most exciting gaming devices announced last year. Unfortunately, especially if you were waiting intently for the console’s launch, Valve is delaying the device by an undisclosed amount of time.
Initially, Valve anticipated a launch for the Steam Machine sometime in the first half of 2026. However, as the calendar rolls on into the second month of the year, the company has yet to announce either a price or a launch date for the console. Valve says that both should be out by now.
In a recent update, the company confirms that ongoing chip shortages have forced a reevaluation of the Steam Machine’s price and shipping date. This also goes for the Steam Controller and the Steam Frame. Valve is going back to the drawing board to figure out what is feasible for the console market.
On the bright side, Valve is still aiming to launch all three devices in the first half of the year. It’s just a matter of determining when that is.
The Steam Machine is just the latest in a growing line of devices affected by the chip shortage. Today, chipmakers are funneling their supplies to the supposed demand for AI servers. Naturally, more infrastructure means less chips reserved for regular consumers.
Also recently, NVIDIA was rumored to skip this year for a new GPU launch because of the AI “boom”. It’s the first time that this has happened in thirty years.
SEE ALSO: Valve announces its own console called the Steam Machine
Yesterday, AMD made the bold claim that the next-generation Xbox is coming next year. In a world drowning in manufactured hype for AI, hearing about GPUs going back to gaming is refreshing. NVIDIA, however, still has its pipelines clogged with artificial intelligence. According to reports, the company will not release new graphics cards this year.
This is unprecedented. A new graphics card is often a highlight for gamers every year. Even in recent times when prices beggar belief, a newly launched chip still generates hype.
Now, for the first time in thirty years, NVIDIA will not launch a new card in a calendar year (via The Information). Like a lot of things happening this year, AI is the culprit.
Buoyed by the dreams of billionaires, GPU companies are busy dedicating their stock of chips for AI servers. Because these servers artificially blew up the demand for GPUs, everything else that needs such a chip is projected to see a price hike this year. This includes smartphones, gaming consoles, and cars. Regular consumers have been left to deal with the aftermath of the imaginary AI boom.
According to The Information, NVIDIA’s current lineup is only partially composed of chips meant for gaming. Only around 8 percent of its revenue came from that segment in the first nine months of last year. In its defense, AI chips are much more profitable right now, but it’s still a big blow against consumers who just want to play games.
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