Prepared a digest of the main gaming and esports news for May 14, 2026.
RUMOR: GTA VI pre-orders to begin on May 18
- American retailer Best Buy accidentally revealed the launch date for GTA VI pre-orders. The information was reported by The Sixth Axis.
HLTV: EWC may be held in Paris
- HLTV reported that, according to GamesBeat, the Esports World Cup 2026 could take place in Paris instead of Saudi Arabia. The decision is reportedly linked to the unstable situation in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Iran. Sources claim that the organizers have already informed partners and members of the esports scene about the possible relocation of the tournament.
NAVI Junior finish third at VALORANT Challengers 2026 NORTH//EAST: Stage 2
- NAVI Junior ended their run at VALORANT Challengers 2026 NORTH//EAST: Stage 2 in third place. In the match for a spot in the grand final, the team lost to Team Liquid Academy 2–3 (8:13 on Haven, 13:9 on Pearl, 13:11 on Fracture, 8:13 on Breeze, and 11:13 on Split).
Print run of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. board game destroyed in fire
- The Ukrainian store “IgroMag” announced that the print run of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. board game, which was supposed to go on sale soon, was destroyed in a fire. The information was shared on the store’s Facebook page.
Rumor: Rockstar Games preparing a major GTA VI marketing campaign during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- According to insider reports, Rockstar Games plans to use the 2026 FIFA World Cup to promote the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI. The information was shared by the popular football account The Touchline on X.
Riot Games shared plans for upcoming Valorant updates
- The Valorant development team presented a detailed roadmap for the shooter’s near future. The announced changes will affect the competitive mode, gameplay mechanics, and agent balance.