We have prepared a digest of the main news for August 9, 2026, for Players readers.
M. Zubair Becomes Esports World Cup 2026 TEKKEN 8 Champion in Paris
M. Zubair (All Gamers) achieved a clean victory over LowHigh (DRX) in the grand final of the tournament, which took place from August 5 to 8, despite barely scraping through in the early stages.
On August 9, 1996, Death Crimson was released in Japan on the Sega Saturn — a little-known rail shooter that subsequently earned a reputation as one of the console's most infamous games. Today, it is remembered not only for its technical issues, but also for the amazing story of a failure transforming into a cult game.
Top Women's CS2 Player of 2025 ASTRA Switches to VALORANT
French esports athlete Mayline-Joy "ASTRA" Champliaud, who was named the best player in the women's Counter-Strike scene for 2025, has decided to switch games. The 25-year-old player will continue her career in VALORANT, explaining her decision by pointing to the crisis in women's CS and a lack of tournament practice.
Konami Announces Playtest for New Football Action Game Kick Buds on PC and Mobile
Konami has presented a new football game titled Kick Buds. Unlike eFootball, which focuses on realism with real players, leagues, and teams, Kick Buds offers a completely different gaming experience. The project combines football and action in a 3v3v3 PvP format with arcade-style, easy-to-learn controls, as well as support for co-op mode and playing with friends.
REANIMAL Gets Its First DLC, The Prisoner, With New Characters and Locations
The dark adventure REANIMAL from Tarsier Studios, the creators of Little Nightmares, has received its first story expansion, The Prisoner. The DLC continues the game's grim journey through a world filled with monsters and deadly obstacles. The original game was well received by players and managed to earn stronger reactions than Little Nightmares 3.
Having secured a 2:1 victory over SK, the Ukrainian esports organization NAVI improved their record at the start of the Summer Split to 2-1. Now the team is preparing for another serious test — a match against G2. The team's toplaner, Volodymyr "Maynter" Sorokin, shared his thoughts on their form, individual development, and key goals for the season.
