Marvel Rivals might be the new kid on the competitive shooter block, but it’s already making big moves in how it wants its esports scene to grow. And if you’re expecting it to follow the same franchising path we’ve seen in other big titles, think again.

Right now, the game is in the middle of its first-ever LAN event, the Marvel Rivals Ignite Mid-Season Finals, part of a whopping $3 million Ignite series that’s been helping put the game on the esports map. Naturally, that’s got fans wondering: where does competitive Marvel Rivals go from here?

Image Credit: NetEase Games

Learning from the Overwatch League’s Missteps

Marvel Rivals sits in the same “hero shooter” category as Overwatch, so comparisons are unavoidable. The Overwatch League went with a franchise model, where teams paid around US$20 million for a permanent spot. This meant no relegations, which was great for stability and appealing to sponsors, but also led to things feeling a bit stale for fans.

In the end, that model didn’t save it. The Overwatch League folded in 2024, leaving a big “what not to do” example for newer titles.

The Overwatch League is officially ending after 6 seasons pic.twitter.com/6g4ka9xnRn

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) January 23, 2024

Marvel Rivals’ Head of Esports, Adam Huang, has made it clear in an interview with Jake Lucky that NetEase isn’t rushing into the same structure:

“For the beginning we will not undergo this, because they will restrict how we behave. We want to go independently… If everything goes smoothly, we’ll consider every possibility in the future.”

Marvel Rivals will not be pursuing a Franchise League model for the foreseeable future, according to Adam Huang, their lead of Esports Tournaments

“I think for the beginning we will not do this, because they will restrict how we behave” pic.twitter.com/wVEi9RGekx

— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) August 7, 2025

So, What’s the Franchise Model Exactly?

In simple terms, a franchise model is when teams buy their way into a league and keep their spot no matter how well, or badly, they perform. Think of it like buying a permanent seat at the table.

Call of Duty League is a prime example, with city-based teams like Atlanta FaZe or London Royal Ravens. League of Legends has the LCS, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang runs its MPL (Mobile Legends Professional League) in the same way.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Franchise League MPL | Image Credit: Moonton

CS2 and VALORANT, though, have different approaches. CS2 still thrives on open qualifiers, if your squad’s good enough, you can climb all the way to a Major. VALORANT uses a partnered league system for its top tier, but also has Ascension tournaments where teams can fight their way in. Marvel Rivals, at least for now, is leaning more towards the CS2-style openness.

Open Qualifiers and Big Upsets

The current Marvel Rivals setup allows any team to join through online qualifiers, with some invitations going to squads that impressed in earlier events. And it’s already giving us classic underdog moments, like when Virtus.Pro, favourites to win EMEA, didn’t even make it to the Mid-Season Finals.

Esports Skin Bundles Could Be Next

While franchising is off the table for now, Huang says they’re exploring other ways to financially support teams, like in-game esports bundles.

Image Credit: NetEase Games

These could work a lot like Overwatch’s team skins or VALORANT’s Champions bundles, where a slice of the revenue goes to the teams or adds to prize pools. Huang explained they’re looking at bundles that could help both all teams equally and the top finishers at big events.

“If we want to build this ecosystem, we have to do more than the initial prize pool… maybe bundles that contribute to the players, to the teams, and to the Grand Finals prize pool.”

Marvel Rivals could be adding esports skin bundles in the future👀

“We have to launch something similar to team bundles… maybe bundles that contribute to the players, teams, and grand finals prize pools” pic.twitter.com/TlV92MCJN5

— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) August 7, 2025

With the Ignite series still in full swing, Marvel Rivals is clearly in no rush to lock itself into a rigid system. For now, the open-door approach feels fresh, and in a scene where franchising has had mixed results, that might just be the smarter play.

The post Marvel Rivals Esports Will Stay Open for All Teams, No Franchise Model – For Now appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Team Spirit’s CS2 zweih has been locked out of official servers after a Steam Account Alert, but unlike some recent cases, he says his account hasn’t actually been hacked.

On 6 August, Steam Support flagged his account with a warning that it “may have been accessed by someone else,” and restricted key features including playing on VAC-enabled servers, trading, and using the Steam Community. For a pro player, that’s a big problem, no ranked matches, no scrims, no practice on official servers.

“Hello @CounterStrike, I have an account alert on Steam, but it seems that no one have accessed my account but me. Now I can’t join @valvesoftware servers, please help me we need to practice,” he tweeted.

Hello @CounterStrike, I have an account alert on steam, but it seems that no one have accessed my account but me. Now I can’t join @valvesoftware servers, please help me we need to practice pic.twitter.com/r29EIoeZSP

— zweih1437 (@zweih1437) August 7, 2025

Backing him up, both his teammate donk and the official Team Spirit CS2 account tagged @CounterStrike, asking for help. Donk even added a “check DM please” to speed things along.

@CounterStrike help needed 🛴 https://t.co/BqjJPUVr8M

— Team Spirit CS2 (@Team__Spirit) August 7, 2025

@CounterStrike check dm please

— donk1337 (@donk1337) August 7, 2025

In a follow-up, zweih revealed he contacted Steam Support immediately, but 50 hours later he still hadn’t heard back. His frustration was clear, adding a sarcastic, “doesn’t bother anyone :)” to the post.

Thank you guys for your advices, the fact that i wrote to steam support instantly after i get it and didnt get any response in 50 hours doesnt bother anyone 🙂

— zweih1437 (@zweih1437) August 8, 2025

This situation has drawn comparisons to m0NESY’s recent Steam account scare. Last month, the G2 AWPer lost access to his $55k inventory after his account was hacked mid-game. In that case, Valve confirmed the breach, suspended the account to protect his items, and restored it shortly after.

m0NESY’s Steam account was hacked, and @CounterStrike stepped in to help. 🫡

Stay safe everyone! I would appreciate if he can share more details on how he got into this scenario. pic.twitter.com/YCTFCaRapp

— Thour (@ThourCS2) July 20, 2025

The difference here is that zweih insists no one else has accessed his account. It’s possible that Steam’s automated systems flagged unusual activity, such as a login from an unexpected location or network, and locked the account as a precaution. That’s not the same as a confirmed hack, but the end result for the player is similar: a sudden lockout and a halt to competitive practice.

Whether it’s a real breach or just an overly cautious security trigger, situations like this highlight how vulnerable even pro players can be to Steam account restrictions. And with tournament schedules and scrim blocks to keep, any downtime can be costly.

Image Credit: HLTV.org

The post Team Spirit zweih Got Locked Out of Steam, Another Pro Hack After m0NESY? appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Endless indies, PlayStation Classics, epic adventures, gravel churning racing and stealthy shooters are all free to play on PlayStation Plus.

A few years back now PlayStation split up their subscription service, PlayStation Plus, in to differing levels.

If you’re a casual gamer, the lower monthly subscription called ‘Essentials’ may be the one for you. This gets you monthly games, online multiplayer, and exclusive discounts at a low monthly price. Or ramp up your PlayStation gaming with two more options offering up an expansive virtual play buffet.  ‘Extra’ adds a game catalog of downloadable PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles.

A ‘Deluxe’ aka ‘Premium’ 12 month subscription includes all the benefits of ‘Essential’ and ‘Extra’, plus a catalog of classic games from older PlayStation consoles (PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP) and game trials. If you live in a region that does not have cloud streaming, ‘Premium’ is listed as ‘Deluxe’.

PlayStation Plus does a couple of other things too.

Get yourself online and battle against other like-minded players. Secondly, your precious game data and game saves upload to the cloud, saving storage space on your console.

This is especially great if you change or upgrade your console, say a PS4 to PS5 or to a PS5 Pro.

No need for timely external hard drive backups.

The games catalogue on offer is vast and varied catering to every genre. PlayStation are also releasing some the their old catalogue with an ever growing Classic library. All free to play for the length of your subscription.

Is a PlayStation Plus sub worth it?

It sure is. The subscription service unleashes the power of PlayStation, expands your game library for the duration of your subscription and it gets you social as you race, fight or team up with the players around the world.

The post PlayStation Plus Feature appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

For storage on the go, Kingston have you sorted.

This year’s (2025) XS1000 portable SSD series sees 1TB to 4TB in storage options via SSD packed into a casing that is smaller than  a credit card.

Kingston sent STG Play a 2TB Kingston XS1000R to test out.

Now, let’s mention portable PC gaming, which is on the rise.

With differing manufacturers offering anywhere 2TB down to a laughable 512GB for your onboard storage, it does not take long for that to get chomped up by data heavy games from Steam.

If you have a substantial games library, and like me, want game options on the go, and try to cram as many games on to the portable PC as you can, the Kingston XS1000R series is a must have.

The SSD has a singular USB-C port with USB-A 3.0 to plug in to your device. Thankfully Kingston provide a USB-A to USB-C in the box.

This is especially necessary if you are going to use on a later model Apple laptop.

Having that extra 2TB on the go is excellent, but can you play games directly from it?

Yep, the Kingston XS1000R doesn’t miss a beat, with 1050 Mbps read and 1000 Mbps write.

Secure and reliable, the palm sized SSD does not miss a beat.

An Apple MacBook Pro was able to write at around 147 Mbps, read at 78 Mbps. An OneXPlayer Pro 2 was around the same for read, but write speed was a higher at 112 Mbps.

Trying this on a gaming laptop, the ASUS ROG X13 beat all of the above.

Write speed climaxed at 286 Mbps, read 174 Mbps.

A 2025 Android smartphone saw the slowest though. Write at 52Mbps and read a very low 18 Mbps.

If you have a microSD card in your portable device, to save regular data corruptions, my advice is to swap out for one of these. Small, pocketable and of course ready to go.

Totally reliable and a trusted triple AAA brand that is focused on both quality and speed the Kingston XS1000R SSD is going to see you right for multimedia rendering, gaming on any platform or simply expands on local storage.

Game on the go without interruption with Kingston XS1000R Series.

The post Kingston XS1000R 2TB SSD Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

His cargo holding backpack has been hung up for good as the courier Sam Porter (Norman Reedus) as he lives a reclusive existence with baby Lou.

But this peaceful existence isn’t to last. His courier services are required once more.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the United Cities of America are connected via a Chiral network and the prior governing body known as BRIDGES has been decommissioned in favour of AI.

Although unrecognisable gameplay is within two countries, Mexico and Australia.

Eleven months after the first game, Sam is visited by an old ally Fragile. Thinking he was well hidden, for the protection of Lou, Fragile tracks him down and requests he aides her to expand the Chiral network.

He agrees, but only for the safety and wellbeing of Lou.

This new AI, called APAS uses automated vehicles, and this is where Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has some real differences to the first.

No longer can it be labelled a walking simulator, Sam has access to vehicles for faster travel, and trust me, you need fast travel. Your environments are sparse and wide. While you can opt to walk it, and doing so you may meet a few NPCs, friend, foe or in need, as well as a few pick ups, you’re far better to get a ride.

Vehicles offer some customisation too. Being electric their batteries will die out. Need to go longer, faster? Upgrade with a better battery, if you have it. Need some firepower? Add a gun turret.

Sam must face with some very challenging environmental issues too.

At any moment, both procedurally and sporadically weather changes can go wild, with deadly sandstorms that can immerse from seemingly nowhere, earthquakes can disrupt your path ahead. This is an unforgiving and difficult world for a mild mannered delivery guy.

If you played the first Death Stranding you will notice, soon in to play, a much more amped up level of combat. Here you can choose differing ways to take down a foe via stealth, direct, or simply run a different, at times, more difficult path.

Asides from quick thinking in combat choices you also need employ real world logistics and strategy. Consider the path ahead. The terrain, is Sam’s backpack going to slow him down, can he navigate across perilious rocky outcrops without losing balance and falling to his death.

From delivering supplies to encampments and outworld survivors, to rebuilding infrastructures and more, this is one cinematic masterpiece that graphically out does any other current gen title on any platform.

You can lose yourselves for hours, days even, just exploring the higely vast open world.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sees Hideo Kojima once again writing and directing the game. Bringing in present day, real world events, as epic as it is, it could also be seen as a warning to humankind.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a game you need to play and likely the only game I’ll give a full 5 / 5 score this year.

The post Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Review) PlayStation 5 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The latest PlayStation exclusive to get a PC port is 2024’s Stellar Blade, just over 12 months after its release on PlayStation 5.

Developed by Shift Up who were known for mobile games released thier first high profile title last year, which had been in development for around 5 years.

Stellar Blade sees you take on the role of Eve. An intergalactic warrior who finds herself in over her head, initially, with the deadly perils that face her.

Gameplay ushers you in, but quickly picks up pace, as Eve evolves in to the herione she is destined to be. During this you will also exerience combo-up and up-skilling.

Weaponry is a bit lax, but Stellar Blade most definitely sees Eve wielding one nasty sword.

And this game is all about the moves. There’s a skill tree where you can hone, fine tune Eve’s moves – the testing out of different fighting techniques makes Eve’s battling abilities unique to you and how you mix and match them.

Graphically, the game is stunning and and after having played through both an early preview and now this full game, I was still left wanting more monsters to slaughter.

Gameplay is a mix. Combat can be deadly if you’re not attentative or strategic.

If you’re not careful you’ll be annihilated over and over again, but making use of stealth, strategy and timed hits you’ll get through. Death places you back at your last checkpoint, depending on how far you progressed at the point you died this can be annoying, enemies all respawn, but you do not lose anything that you have earned.

While there’s definitely some recognisable influences within Stellar Blade, this is a stand-out JRPG, and is one to look out for PC gamers.

The post Stellar Blade (PC) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The timeless tale of Pinocchio and his creator Geppetto took a twisty and dark road with the release of Lies of P in 2023.

A third person action adventure game with RPG mechanics and an unforgiving combat difficulty.

Beautifully designed you are P, a puppet with unique abilities. You are special. You’re the only puppet with human-like intelligence. The only puppet who is able to tell a lie.

Set in a 19th century cyberpunk-like world in a city known as Krat, where puppets that once served man went postal.

Now the developers have just released one epic DLC, that could have been a singular game release entirely, Lies of P: Overture.

P is warped back to the beginning. Overture is a prequel to the main game, before the puppets went on a murderous massacre.

Guided by a mysterious Stalker, P will uncover the reason why the cyber puppets went rogue.

This is a whole different Krat than we have seen before, as the adeventure takes you beyond the city and only you know of what the near future is about to hold.

Lies of P: Overture plays similarly to the original game, with RPG elements and that brutal unforgiving combat.

This new DLC is only accessible via completing the full game, up to Chapter 9. You of course need the original game and the patience and tolerance to forge through.

Expect to die. A lot. Lies of P is not a ‘run and gun’, combat needs to have a more strategic method in order to survive.

Lies of P is coming on to two years since release but is still one of the most beautifully styled games available. The Overture DLC simply adds to this, while maintaining the original playstyle and expanding upon the darkest Pinocchio story ever told.

The post Lies of P: Overture (Xbox Series X|S) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Lost in Random is a surprise indie adventure and strategy game released by EA Games in 2021.

A dark narrative where children are giving a number when they turn a certain age. The ‘lucky’ ones are chosen to live in the Queen’s tower. But this is simply by chance, by a roll of the dice.

Now developers Thunrderfull and Stormteller Games has released the second chapter; Lost in Random: The Eternal Die.

But things have changed since the first game.

You take on the role of the now dethroned Queen Aleksandra, who once reigned and controlled the citizens of Random. She is joined by her companion Fortune, a dice.

This new adventure, styled in the same way graphically mixes up the gameplay across four procedurally generated worlds.

As the Queen you now must battle your way through different stages and survive boss battles.

What makes both Lost in Random games different is the combat.

You use the animorphic dice in order to roll a ‘punch’ or use a combat skill. In The Eternal Die Fortune can also be used to pave the path ahead, sometimes the journey is hidden.

But The Eternal Die takes a more battle arena feel as opposed to an adventure. Areas you go to and from are much like arenas and are only escapapble by clearing the area of enemies, and of course surviving.

Difficulty spikes almost immediately from the first combat scene. The Eternal Die is not kids play at all.

Fortune and Queen Aleksandra will encounter many NPC’s. Some will need you to do things for them before they offer any help, others just have a grudge against the once ruling monarch.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a commitment of a play. Given that levels newly generate, each play through is different, you die and return, but it’s not what it was before.

This definitely makes the game refreshing, although the actual gameplay is somewhat repetitive.

The Eternal Die is a worthy play, if you have the patience and are familiar with the first game.

If you’re new to the world of Random, my recommendation is start with the first game before taking this one on.

The post Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Xbox Series X|S) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

We are very much in the market of remasters.

Recently The Last of Us Part 2 released, the epic RPG Oblivion, and here we have a rework of Days Gone, a game that released six years back on PlayStation 4.

Playing out like a Hollywood blockbuster, or a TV series that you never want to miss an episode of, Days Gone places you in the role of Deacon, a biker, member of the ‘Mongrels’, who himself has had a very checkered and colourful path leading up to the outbreak that wiped out humans, turning them in to what is known as ‘Freakers’. An insanely feral zombie like humanoid that will do anything to get to living flesh.

Your play starts out after all of the drama and chaos ensued when the outbreak occurred. Before you is an open world in the back roads of Pacific North West America. Yourself, as Deacon and his best friend Boozer are embarking on many a deadly road trip as mercenaries for hire, taking bounty’s and slowly making their way North.

Of course, nothing really goes to plan. Asides from hordes of ‘Freakers’, Deacon must look out for other humans aswell. A ravaged nation gives birth to sects, groups, small and large camps, survivors ruthlessly doing what they must to continue their existence. Some friendly, some definitely not.

The back story opens up throughout play, and you eventually find out that maybe, just maybe there’s more to the outbreak that spread across the Globe. You also learn more about Deacon. The good, the bad and his lost love.

Resources are scarce, including medical supplies, ammunition and fuel.

Deacon traverses the ‘Freaker’ infected countryside and towns on his bike. The relationship between man and machine is paramount in this game.

You must also continually look for fuel (syphon from abandoned vehicles, steal from camps or find fuel cans by exploring environments), and keep up maintenance on your bike.

Almost like a character of its own, Deacon’s bike can be a needy beast. It will wear down with use and depending on your driving skills, or lack off, and may need more or less maintenance as you forge ahead.

The storyline will update to your play style – and while there is a main story, there is so much to be done on the side.

Days Gone is a game that adheres to how you play and will work the main story in with your in-game activities.

Whatsmore, unlike previous zombie titles, in Days Gone, it’s not only the human population that was afflicted.

Hiding in the wilderness does not mean that you are safe. Infected bears and dogs are also hungry for non-infected humans.

Then there’s the hordes. This is where the chaotic energy of this game comes in as literally hundreds upon hundreds of ‘Freakers’ surge towards you. Each individually animated – pushing eachother, tripping over eachother… in Days Gone, it is okay to run away if you can.

Asides from the rabid dogs and bears there are differing levels to ‘Freakers’ aswell. The most unique are Newts, which appear to be infected children. There’s also a sect known as Rippers. Somewhat transformed, most definitely insane from the apocalyptic-like events that took place.

Days Gone is not a run and gun title. A lot of stealth and strategy will come in to play. More often than not, you will either have no ammo, or be extremely limited – down to your last bullet. Making use of cover, stealth and your environment will get you through. Maybe.

The infected are tuned to listen out for noise. One sound at any given time, could attract a giant horde. Your one bullet that you have in your chamber is not going to go far.

You need to be super resourceful where you can. It’s almost as if the devs at Bend Studio give you just enough, but no more.

Scout around, explore. It’s a large landscape and a lot of goodies to be found. Scrap which can be used for trade or to craft items. Bike parts as and when you need them. Med kits are a necessary. ‘Freaker’ and Newt ears are taken as trophy’s, these too can be used for trade with other NPC’s and in friendly camps.

Days Gone has a very robust RPG element. Your skill points, earned throughout gameplay with varying objectives achieved or completed are used for Deacon upgrades; health, stamina and more. Your bike can and will also take on necessary upgrades aswell.

Crafting weapons and enhancements is super rewarding and will of course give you more of an advantage in-game.

Days Gone shouldn’t be coined as ‘just another zombie’ game. It is a fully engaging story mixed with compelling and challenging survivalist gameplay. It’s original release, and now this remaster I feel is easily overshadowed by the likes of The Last of Us, another zombie-esque game, but Days Gone is unique enough to be in its own class.

This new redo features new modes of play, Horde Assault, Permadeath and Speedrun.

If you never picked up the PlayStation 4 version, now’s the best time to join the biker gang and fight for survival.

The post Days Gone Remastered (PlayStation 5) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The age of darkness has descended upon the world of DOOM with id Software’s latest chapter in the decades long first person shooter franchise.

With a focus more on combat than the hectic fast paced slaughter we have seen in prior games, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a slower jaunt through hellish planets.

Storywise this is a prequel to 2016’s DOOM and furthers the story of the rise of the Doom Slayer, being the Kingdom’s last hope.

Still retaining the first person play and gore fest that we know and love in this mech-tech / horror crossover you are eqipped with the Gauntlet for some up and close melee, an array of automatic weapons and a few new editions such as the bone firing Skull Crusher and Shield Saw for blocking and long range.

Take downs of larger enemies, especially the ‘Leaders’ offer the opportunity to enact a brutal finisher and the environments (Planets) you find yourself in are mostly free roam.

Kill a ‘Leader’ and reap their essence for vitality upgrades and more.

There’s pick ups everywhere, but to find the real good stuff you need to look out for hidden spots, and most are not easily discovered. But there are secrets everywhere, but nowhere. From Codex, gold, chests through to DOOM collectables and more to be located.

Gold can also be gained from completing Mission Challenges.

Finding Sentinel shrines enable upgrades of armor and weapons. You need gold, rubies or wraithstones to spend

Life sigils are another hidden goodie. These if needed will ressurect you on the spot, without, you’ll restart at the last checkpoint if you’re taken down.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a solid play, if you don’t spend the time to look around for hidden treasures it can also be a quick playthrough to with 22 chapters in total.

The game also has unlockable cosmetics include unlockable or secret skins for your character and weapons and there’s a Milestones from the main menu where you can track your play.

At the end of each chapter you are given a summary on your exploits. Something Milestones does not do is allow you to warp back to a Planet you have previously finished, to do this, you need to go to Chapter Select so us completists can revisit an area to find hidden secrets that were missed.

In all DOOM: The Dark Ages gives us the demon filled, blood-lust that we love from the DOOM games, but it paces itself without the chaos and plays out like a satisfying mech, tech, hellish gore fest.

The post Doom: The Dark Ages (PlayStation 5) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.