Dota 2 Receives Patch 7.41c, Riot Removes Neon from VALORANT — News Digest for May 7

We have prepared a digest of the main esports and gaming news for May 7, 2026.

Dota 2 Receives Balance Patch 7.41c

• During the night of May 7, Valve released update 7.41c for Dota 2. The developers introduced balance changes to a number of heroes and items.

Striker: Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup Venues May Change Due to the War in the Middle East

• HLTV editor-in-chief Milan “Striker” Švejda said that the organizers of Esports World Cup 2026 and Esports Nations Cup 2026 are currently considering backup locations for hosting the events. He shared this information during the HLTV Confirmed podcast.

Film Studio with Dedicated Esports Arena to Be Built in the United States

• Preparations are underway in Wood River, Illinois, for the large-scale Hollywood River Studios project (also known as Wood River Film Studios) — a major film and digital media complex that will occupy around 105 acres of the former Envirotech business park.

Riot Removes Neon from VALORANT Until the Next Patch — Developers Promise Character Changes

• Riot Games announced that the agent Neon has been temporarily disabled in VALORANT matches. The reason is a critical bug related to her Fast Lane ability, which affects competitive integrity.