We have prepared a digest of the main news for July 15, 2026, for Players readers.
France officially bans esports betting
The French government has officially introduced a nationwide ban on betting on esports competitions. The decision was adopted at the national level as part of broader efforts to regulate the gambling market and protect consumers. As a result, all online platforms offering esports betting services within the country are now considered illegal.
Warner Bros. has officially announced the start of production on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and released the first behind the scenes footage featuring Andy Serkis returning as Gollum.
The developers of the tactical shooter VALORANT have released patch 13.01. The main focus of the update is centered on returning two duelists to the meta, reducing the firepower of the popular rifle, as well as implementing strict sanctions against rank manipulations.
Chinese Courts allow inheritance of game accounts and virtual items: digital ownership precedent set
While debates regarding digital ownership between users and publishers continue in the West, a precedent has formed in China allowing heirs to gain access to game accounts, in-game purchases, and other digital assets of deceased relatives. This was shared by Reddit user u/Slawrfp, whose wife is a Chinese lawyer and certified translator, summarizing several successful court cases.
Forza Horizon 6 Receives Massive Series 3 Update and New Italian Car Pack
Playground Games has released the massive Series 3 update for Forza Horizon 6, titled Italian Exotics. Alongside a new seasonal Festival Playlist, the update introduces new features, bug fixes, additional content, and the paid Italian Passion Car Pack.
Fortnite unveils official key art for its DC summer collaboration
Epic Games has revealed the official key art for the Hot Bat Summer event, offering a first look at Fortnite's upcoming summer collaboration with DC.
NAVI Junior and Noir Verse find out their opponents: groups announced for Urban Riga Open S6
The organizers of the LAN tournament Urban Riga Open Season 6 have officially presented the group stage distribution. Eight squads will compete for a prize pool of $5,000.
PlayTime's Official Statement Following Disqualification from Esports World Cup 2026
The esports organization PT Sports has released its official stance following the high-profile scandal and the team's removal from the Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 tournament.
