Gaming

Garmin launches an Instinct smartwatch for esport athletes

Comes with exclusive features too

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Garmin Instinct Esports Edition

Garmin’s line of Instinct smartwatches traditionally caters to outdoor sports, with variants built for running, swimming, and even golfing. Now, the company is introducing a new smartwatch variant that caters to e-sport athletes and gamers  — Garmin Instinct Esports Edition.

For some skeptics, this is not just another Garmin smartwatch though. It actually comes with a unique set of features for esports athletes and gamers. The most unique feature of the smartwatch is the ability to live stream the health data of a gamer to audiences.

Thanks to a dedicated esports activity tracking function, gamers can keep tabs on their heart rate and stress while in a gaming session. A PC tool called STR3AMUP! broadcasts these data to live stream platforms, allowing audiences to see a gamer’s vital info too. That tool also allows customization so gamers can personalize the data to their own liking.

Now, some might be skeptical about this. After all, health data are sensitive information and some audiences might not really find those data useful.

However, Garmin sees potential with their smartwatch all the more thanks to an exclusive live broadcast feature. During a game, gamers can tune in to the new Body Battery  Energy Monitor reading, which combines heart rate, stress, and sleep data to determine their body’s energy.

Same specs as other Instinct smartwatches

Besides those unique selling points, Garmin Instinct Esports Edition is no different from the regular Instinct smartwatch. As such, it has a heart rate monitor, all-day activity tracking, and some smart features like receiving and viewing notifications.

Unfortunately, there is no support for third-party apps like other Garmin smartwatches. Support for music storage isn’t here too.

On the bright side, the smartwatch can stand the extreme elements thanks to a fiber-reinforced polymer body and a water rating of 10ATM. Garmin’s official battery figures are 80 hours in esports mode and 14 days in smartwatch mode.

As for the pricing, the smartwatch starts at US$ 299.99 and comes in a sole Black Lava configuration. Gamers can now purchase it directly from Garmin’s website.

Gaming

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 available on March 24

Featuring Hollow Champions tournament, new Agents

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Version 2.7 of Zenless Zone Zero will become available on March 24 across platforms. Called “Champions Never Fall to the Past”, the update features the Hollow Champion competition and new agents.

The Hollow Champion competition sweeps across New Eridu — hosted by TOPS — spreading excitement as far as beyond the city center.

Competitors can take home high-stakes rewards, including the rare Porcelloy W-Engine. The tournament’s scale draws not only familiar allies, but even several unexpected participants.

There’s the Public Security’s Metropolitan Order Division, aside from the Cunning Hares and Sons of Calydon. It is said that the Calydon’s Sweepers will also step into the competition.

New Agents emerge

Furthermore, among the figures emerging from the shadows is the infamous Black Wolf Romeul. In battle, Romeul can activate a Corruptive Barrier for increased CRIT Damage Resistance and Interruption Resistance. This also causes opponents to continuously lose HP.

To break through this barrier, teams must be capable of delivering sustained Anomaly damage. This adds a new tactical layer for those wanting to challenge him.

Moreover, Cissia of the Metropolitan Order Division will also enter the race. As an S-Rank Electric Attack agent, Cissia gains three stacks of Venom upon entering battle.

Each stack deals Electric damage, while temporarily increasing her own CRIT Rate. The Venom gradually dissipates over time, but Cissia can also generate additional stacks through her EX Special Attack. As the stacks accumulate, she may expend them with her Basic Attack, Serpent’s Kiss.

Joining Cissia is the Angels of Delusion lineup, captained by their dancer, Nangong Yu. The S-Rank Ether Stun Agent enhances her team’s Anomaly Buildup Rate against Stunned enemies.

During combat, she automatically regenerates Downbeat over time. Additional Downbeat is also restored whenever a squad member inflicts Anomaly on enemies.

Once the Downbeat is sufficient, she can unleash powerful charged attacks to extend the enemy’s Stun duration. This is while her own Stun and Anomaly buildup accelerates. Meanwhile, her Ultimate can activate Ether Veil: Delusion Reprise to boost the squad’s entire Attack.

Proxies can unlock an exclusive faction wallpaper after collecting all members of Angels of Delusion. In addition, S-Rank Ice Rupture Agent Yidhari and Electric Attack Agent Seed will also return to Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7.

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Gaming

Infinix expands SEA footprint with more official MLBB tourney partnerships

Infinix becomes MPL Indonesia, MSL Thailand official partner

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Infinix has announced a landmark expansion of its partnership with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports.

As part of the strategic move, Infinix is now the official partner of various MLBB tournaments across Southeast Asia.

The smartphone brand is now the Presenting Partner of the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Indonesia, as well as the Titling Partner of the MLBB Development League (MDL) Indonesia.

Infinix also strengthens its regional footprint further as the Official Sponsor of the MLBB Super League (MSL) Thailand.

These partnerships build on successful collaborations with the Philippines and Malaysia, deepening Infinix’s commitment to the region’s most competitive markets.

Next-level fan, community engagement

As an official partner, Infinix will deliver comprehensive end-to-end support for the tournaments. This includes supplying tournament-grade hardware and executing localized fan engagement initiatives.

Infinix’s AIoT devices are also going to be on display at the tournaments. Moreover, their flagship regional esports IP, the Infinix Campus Cup, will bring the competition to campuses with offline matches played on Infinix gaming phones.

Uniting Southeast Asian markets

The 2026 MLBB Tournament Series officially kicks off on March 20, with the brand powering the opening matches of MPL Philippines and MSL Myanmar as their Official Gaming Phone.

On March 27, Infinix will debut its presence at MPL Indonesia Season 17, followed by the opening of MDL Indonesia three days after.

As a presenting partner, Infinix will also crown the MPL Indonesia season champions with the “KINGFINIX” title.

The regional expansion continues on April 3 with the start of MPL Malaysia and MPL Cambodia. Infinix’s strong presence across the region then culminates with MSL Thailand on April 18.

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Gaming

Valve is embroiled in a lawsuit with New York over loot boxes

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Valve has been embroiled in an odd war as of late. A few weeks ago, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the gaming company for allegedly encouraging children to gamble through loot boxes primarily found in Counter-Strike 2. Today, Valve is fighting back by declaring how little its loot boxes have to do with gambling.

For years, governments have had a problem with loot boxes. To them, the mechanic makes it too easy for gamers to fall into a gambling addiction. In essence, loot boxes are earnable packs that contain a single or a number of random items that the player can use for their game. Most of the time, these items are purely cosmetic and don’t give a gameplay advantage.

Like Blizzard before it, Valve is also defending its loot boxes as non-essential to how players engage with their games. “There is no disadvantage to a player not spending money,” their statement reads.

Additionally, Valve says that their loot boxes are no different from Pokémon cards and Labubu blind boxes. As such, the company is also defending their users’ right to transfer obtained items to other users, as with two players trading cards or Pop Mart figurines.

Now, these items have monetary value in the market. In the same way, a rare Counter-Strike 2 skin can fetch thousands of dollars. However, Valve says that they are already proactive in shutting down accounts made only to gamble and avoiding pro-gambling businesses.

Valve is capping off its statement by saying that the NYAG is forcing the company to collect more information from its users, especially those using VPNs to prevent being located in New York. The company says that it will continue to protect user data, despite the demand.

SEE ALSO: Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine

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