We have prepared a digest of the main news for August 5, 2026, for Players readers.
MLBB Retains Viewership Lead at EWC 2026, While League of Legends Demonstrates Record Growth
Following the first four weeks of the Esports World Cup 2026, clear leaders in viewership have emerged. Although the absolute top spot remains with the mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends showed the best growth dynamics compared to last year.
Electronic Arts Officially Comes Under Control of Saudi Consortium: $55B Deal Completed
Electronic Arts has officially completed the transaction to be acquired by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The value of the deal reached $55 billion, making it the second-largest acquisition in the history of the gaming industry, following Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard.
Agefield High: Rock the School, a Spiritual Successor to Bully, is Set for Release
In August 2026, the video game industry will welcome Agefield High: Rock the School, a project positioned as a spiritual successor to Rockstar Games' cult classic, Bully. Since an official sequel from the original developers was never released, the new game aims to satisfy fans' expectations and fill this niche.
EA Reportedly Preparing Major Layoffs After Going Private
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company following its acquisition by the Consortium, a group backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake. Shortly after the deal closed, reports revealed that EA is planning to reduce annual expenses by $700 million.
On August 5, 1995, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island was released in Japan for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. At first glance, it was just another game in the Mario universe, but in reality, Nintendo created a project that overturned conventional ideas about platformers. It not only gave Yoshi his own story, but also proved that a bold art style, unconventional game design, and innovative technologies could remain relevant for decades.