CS2 update, FaZe may miss the Cologne Major, first details about Xbox Project Helix — news digest for March 12

We have prepared a digest of the main news for Players readers for March 12, 2026.

A lot of new glove and weapon skins added in the CS2 update

• Valve released a fresh update for Counter-Strike 2. The main part of the update is the Dead Hand Collection, which includes 17 weapon skins and 22 completely new gloves. These are the first fully new gloves added to CS2 in a long time, since the previous ones were introduced back in the CS era.

Microsoft revealed first details about Xbox Project Helix

• Journalist Tom Warren showed the first slide from a presentation dedicated to the new console under the codename Xbox Project Helix, and also quoted the Vice President of Next-Gen Xbox, Jason Ronald.

Overwatch creator Jeff Kaplan announced The Legend of California — an open-world game set during the Gold Rush

• Famous game designer and former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan announced his first game after leaving Blizzard. The project, titled The Legend of California, was revealed during his appearance on Lex Fridman’s podcast.

FaZe Clan may fail to qualify for a CS Major for the first time

• VRS ranking analyst Jesper Larsen pointed out the critical situation for FaZe Clan in the race to qualify for the next Major. The team, which recently finished 2nd at the previous Major, risks missing the tournament for the first time in a long period.