Players has prepared a digest of the main news for August 17, 2026, for its readers.
FaZe Clan — EWC 2026 Rainbow Six Siege Champions: Final Day Recap and Major Tournament Sensations
The two-week Rainbow Six Siege tournament within the Esports World Cup 2026 has concluded in Paris. In the decisive Brazilian derby, FaZe Clan claim another trophy in a clash against FURIA, while North American squad DarkZero won the third-place match against sensational underdog Geekay Esports.
Team Falcons — EWC 2026 Rocket League Champions: Final Day Recap and Major Tournament Sensations
The Rocket League tournament within the Esports World Cup 2026 with a $1,000,000 prize pool has concluded in Paris. Team Falcons emerged as the winners of the competition, sweeping North American team Spacestation Gaming 4:0 in the grand final to claim the main trophy.
Microsoft May Hand Halo Over to Activision: Call of Duty Developers Could Be Brought In
The Halo franchise is going through a difficult period. Halo Infinite, released in 2021, failed to meet Microsoft’s expectations, the TV adaptation of the series was unable to secure a strong audience, and the recently released Halo: Campaign Evolved has, according to early estimates, sold just over one million copies. Against this backdrop, Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, has also faced layoffs.
August 17, 2014: How NiP Won Their Only CS:GO Major
On August 17, 2014, ESL One Cologne 2014 — the third Major in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive history — concluded in Cologne. For Ninjas in Pyjamas, this tournament was special: the team that had dominated CS:GO for a long time finally earned its first and, as it later turned out, only Major title.
Update 2.0 for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Will Become Available on August 20
A major update featuring a new engine version, updated graphics, and a host of other improvements will be free and available to all game owners. Players can look forward to an updated engine version, improved graphics, three types of binoculars, and much more.