We’ve prepared a digest of the key gaming and esports news for Players as of February 23, 2026.
Ukrainian Games Festival to be held offline for the first time
- Agency Palaye, which launched the Ukrainian games festival on Steam in 2022 under the name Ukrainian Games Festival, has announced that in 2026 the event will take place in an offline format for the first time. The festival will be held in San Francisco alongside the Game Developers Conference.
Top EMEA Masters Winter teams to compete for Esports World Cup 2026 qualification
- Sheep Esports has shared details about the new format of EMEA Masters in League of Legends. The tournament will now become part of the qualification system for the Esports World Cup 2026. The changes aim to further integrate regional leagues (ERLs) into the global competitive ecosystem.
GTA 6 price for Xbox and PC appears online
- A listing for Grand Theft Auto VI has appeared in a digital store, showing a $120 price tag for the standard edition on Xbox. The information has sparked discussion among players, as the publisher has not yet officially confirmed the pricing.
Major format changes: Stage 3 without BO1 matches
- At IEM Cologne Major 2026, the format will be adjusted. Stage 3 will no longer feature BO1 matches, while Stage 1 and Stage 2 will retain them. Stage 3 is the final phase before the playoffs and one of the most crucial stages for all participating teams.
Warner Bros. plans to release Hogwarts Legacy 2 alongside a series
- Warner Bros. considers the sequel to Hogwarts Legacy a top priority. However, the company intends to synchronize the game’s events with the upcoming HBO series set in the Harry Potter universe. As a result, the game’s release could be pushed to a significantly later date.