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Pete Parsons leaves Bungie, Justin Truman steps in as CEO

by admin August 23, 2025

Pete Parsons has announced his departure from Bungie after being CEO for nearly a decade.

Parsons shared the news in a blog post, adding that Bungie’s chief development officer Justin Truman will step into his role.

“This journey has been the honour of a lifetime,” wrote Parsons. “I am deeply proud of the worlds we’ve built together and most of all I am privileged by the opportunity to work alongside the incredible minds at Bungie.”

“When I was asked to lead Bungie in 2015, my goal was to grow us into a studio capable of creating and sustaining iconic, generation-spanning entertainment.”

Parsons detailed what Bungie has accomplished during his tenure, including the launch of Destiny 2, its exit from Activision in 2019, and Sony acquiring the studio for $3.6 billion in 2022.

He initially joined Bungie in 2002 as an executive producer and studio manager, working on Halo 2 and Halo 3. Parsons took over Bungie in 2016 following the departure of former CEO Harold Ryan.

Speaking of Truman, Parsons said he has “full confidence” that he is the “right person to lead Bungie forward”.

“I have worked alongside Justin for many years,” said Parsons. “His passion for our games, our team, and our players is unmatched.

“As a leader in engineering, production, and design – and most recently as the general manager for Destiny 2 and our chief development officer – he has been instrumental in bringing some of the most memorable moments in Bungie’s history to life.”

Image credit: Bungie

In a statement from Truman, he reflected on what Bungie has gotten right, and what it’s gotten wrong.

“When we’re at our best, we create [these] worlds alongside you, our player community, and build something that matters,” he wrote.

“I’ve also been part of these efforts at Bungie when we’ve maybe not been at our best. When we’ve stumbled and realised through listening to our community that we had missed the mark.”

He continued: “I know I’ve personally learned a lot over the years, as have all of us here, from those conversations. I am committed to supporting and working alongside every member of the team here as we continue pouring our hearts and souls into these worlds.

“We are hard at work right now doing that – both with Marathon and Destiny. We’re currently heads down, but we’ll have more to show you in both of these worlds later this year.”

“I am committed to supporting and working alongside the team as we continue pouring our hearts and souls into these worlds”

Justin Truman

During Parson’s tenure as Bungie CEO, an IGN report detailed claims of sexism, racism, and systemic discrimination at the developer experienced by current and former employees.

“I am not here to refute or to challenge the experiences being shared by people who have graced our studio with their time and talent,” said Parsons.

“Our actions or, in some cases, inactions, caused these people pain. I apologise personally and on behalf of everyone at Bungie who I know feel a deep sense of empathy and sadness reading through these accounts.”

Parsons also oversaw waves of layoffs, including the loss of 17% of Bungie’s headcount last July.

At the time, he cited Bungie’s “rapid expansion” during an “economic slowdown” and a “sharp downturn in the games industry” as prevailing factors.

“We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running into the red,” he said.

This June, Bungie announced the delay of its upcoming title Marathon which was initially due to launch on September 23, 2025.

Following Sony’s latest financials, the firm’s chief financial officer Lin Tao confirmed that Sony expects Marathon to launch “within this fiscal year”.

“Based on the progress, in the autumn time frame, we believe we can communicate when we will be launching [Marathon],” said Tao during an earnings call. “We believe this launch will happen.”

Looking at Bungie overall, Sony said the developer is becoming less of an independent subsidiary, and is instead merging more into PlayStation Studios.

“At the time of the acquisition, we were offering a very independent environment,” Tao added. “However, thereafter, we have gone through structural reform.”

“This type of independence is getting lighter. Bungie is shifting into a role which is becoming more part of PlayStation Studios. In the long term, the direction is for [Bungie] to become part of PlayStation Studios.”

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

An image of the Abyss map in VALORANT. This map is an ancient temple located deep underground.

Esports

All maps in current pool

by admin August 23, 2025

VALORANT currently has 12 maps in total, but only seven remain in rotation at a time for the competitive (ranked and premier) and deathmatch modes. If you’re looking for a list of active maps in the current VALORANT map rotation, you’ve come to the right place.

VALORANT’s map rotation is changed frequently to help keep the experience fresh for veteran players as well as allow newbies to settle in. As part of this initiative, freshly crafted maps are added to the pool every few Acts, while Riot keeps rotating existing maps in and out of the rotation. Maps that return to the rotation after are sometimes reworked based on community feedback and the meta, but they may come back without any changes.

As of Season V25, Act Five, here’s the current VALORANT map rotation and pool, plus an outline of future or upcoming plans for the pool.

What are the current maps in the VALORANT map pool rotation?

The VALORANT ranked map pool as of Season V25, Act Five, includes the following maps:

Sunset
Ascent
Haven
Corrode
Bind
Abyss
Lotus

The most recent changes to the competitive map rotation went live with Patch 11.04 (the beginning of Act five in Season V25), bringing back Abyss to the rotation and removing Icebox.

Sunset

Beautiful and serene. Image via Riot Games

Inspired by sunny Los Angeles, Sunset is relatively straightforward with no distinct gimmicks, outside of a single Ascent-like door connecting mid to B that can be opened, closed, or destroyed. Quick decision-making is key if you want to win on this map, especially when it comes to rotations. Make sure you take special care of that prominent mid-section and have a strong sentinel to take care of flanks and guard your space.

Ascent

Jett’s playground. Image via Riot Games.

Ascent’s unique feature is the switch-activated doors that lead into each site. One door leads from B Site to Mid Market. Another from A Site to A Tree. Using these doors to stall time and get information about the retake can make or break rounds. At the same time, you can preemptively destroy these doors to deny that information.

Mid control is crucial on Ascent, as it allows the attacking team to scale either Mid Catwalk to go A or Mid Market to take over B.

Haven

Welcome back. Image via Riot Games

Haven is VALORANT’s first three-site map and one of the community’s most beloved maps. It’s a large, attacker-friendly map where players may find it easier to retake sites instead of holding them down.

With multiple entry points onto sites, including C Garage, Mid, and A Sewer, you have to spread out your teammates and utility to gather information on attackers. Luckily, Haven never received any significant changes, so if you played it before, you’ll feel right back at home.

Corrode

Corrode your enemies. Image via Riot Games

The newest VALORANT map, Corrode is a three-lane, two-site “radianite salt mining facility,” which encourages a balanced mix of fast-paced and measured possibilities. While it doesn’t feature any gimmicks (like teleporters, breakable doors, etc.), gameplay isn’t simple on this map.

Whether you’re an attacker or defender, there are a lot of angles and open spaces to clear before you can even think about taking control of its cramped sites. There’s also a significant mid section that facilitates flankers and snipers and lets aggressive players run it down with a shotgun. With so many possibilities, you’d have to embrace the retake (or flank/rotate, in case of attackers) approach in most situations. Lastly, beware of determined Sova and Cypher mains, as most of the map is wall bangable.

Bind

Use the teleporters for a quick rotation. Image via Riot Games

Bind’s signature element is its two teleporters, allowing for quick rotations around the map. Playing on this map requires a lot of patience, as even if the entire attacking team is out on A, there’s still a risk of late rotation toward B. There’s no mid-section, so your team can make do without a sentinel to control flanks.

Playing closer angles has always been a viable strategy on Bind, with agents like Raze and even Harbor finding their voices here. If you’re struggling with the Vandal, buying a Judge almost guarantees a kill or two every round. This is also why you must absolutely have at least one initiator on your team to win on Bind. You can also spray through smokes to get some free kills. Besides closed spaces, several longer sightlines can be held with an Operator, like the B Long and A Tower.

Abyss

Don’t look down. Image via Riot Games

Abyss is certainly one of the most ambitious and unique map designs that Riot has put forth. The entire map is littered with pitfalls where you can plunge to your death. So if you’ve got a phobia, just don’t look down. It’s also the only map in the pool with no boundaries.

If you’re open to taking the risk, the scary edges and narrow structures open a plethora of tactical opportunities. For example, you can get a head start on the enemy team using alternative paths if you play capable agents or are simply good at movement. You can also use certain abilities quirkily to push unsuspecting enemies off the cliffs—or save your gun when there’s no way out. The possibilities are endless.

Lotus

Three sites and a dream to catch. Image via Riot Games

Being the only three-site VALORANT map other than Haven, Lotus offers a ton of strategic possibilities to keep players on their toes.

Besides three intricate plant sites, Lotus also features significant neutral spaces promoting chaotic yet fun clashes. You also get to take advantage of unique features, including a rope ascender, a silent drop, a breakable door, and two rotating doors, to tackle your enemies.

Icebox (out of rotation)

Oh, so cold. Image via Riot Games

Icebox’s closely packed and complex design promotes a lot of strategic diversity and sharp gunplay. It’s also one of the only VALORANT maps to feature Spike plant spaces at different heights: Both sites have “nests” where you can plant the Spike and defend it from afar. Whether you’re a defender or an attacker, mid control is crucial to secure a round win on this map. The unpredictability may get to you, but it’s also one of the many reasons to love Icebox.

Icebox was the latest VALORANT map to be removed with Patch 11.04.

Fracture (out of rotation)

A fracture to take care of. Image via Riot Games

While it was never a fan-favorite map, Fracture’s quirks can give rise to several unique strategies, keeping players on their toes. It hasn’t undergone any change since Patch 7.04, which had revamped multiple of its features. With four neutral zones that hold the two plant sites, two attacker spawns, and a defender spawn in between, Fracture makes sure you’re wary of the flanks—or suffer the consequence.

Breeze (out of rotation)

A breezy adventure for sniper mains. Image via Riot Games

If you love keeping your enemies on their toes, Breeze is likely one of your favorite VALORANT maps. From long halls to wide open spaces, its features are all about unleashing your creative and aggressive potential. At the same time, it’s incredibly sniper-friendly, which can be a turn-off for some players.

While it’s currently out of competitive rotation, Riot should add Breeze back to the pool in a future Act—possibly with some adjustments.

Split (out of rotation)

Ah, Split; They don’t know the meaning of the word. Image via Riot Games

Set in Tokyo, Split is a close-quarter map with multiple areas and angles for you to hold. There are barely any long-range sightlines apart from Mid and A Screens, but even those can quickly be covered with smokes to make space for the attacking team.

Split’s quirk is the two ziplines. One connects the B site with B Tower, allowing for a sneaky defense angle. Another is in Mid Vent, connecting Mid and A Ramps. This area often becomes either an ambush from a rotating side or a death pit.

Pearl (out of rotation)

We’re going down. Image via Riot Games

This underwater map isn’t everyone’s favorite and has no unique mechanical features, but it offers a variety of plays through Mid control. Mid on Pearl has multiple paths connecting almost every corner of the map, from bomb sites to team spawns.

While you can hit a site directly, you’ll often be stopped by a simple Sage wall or a smoke, where Mid comes into play. You can also take an opportunity to catch an enemy flank or become the flanker yourself through the Mid Connector.

Why is there a map rotation in VALORANT?

Falling to death is certainly a change of pace. Image via Riot Games

VALORANT maintains its reputation as a live-service FPS title that consistently gets tons of new content since its initial release. Riot hasn’t slacked off in releasing new agents, skins, and maps.

Currently, Riot adds a new map to VALORANT about every six months. The map rotation concept was only introduced in 2022 during the game’s fifth competitive Episode, once there were eight total standard maps. Team Deathmatch maps are not counted towards this total.

In June 2022, during the Pearl map’s release, VALORANT maps design lead Joe Lansford announced Riot’s decision to have a seven-map competitive rotation pool. The decision was made after gathering feedback from esports teams, players, and professional organizations.

Lansford further explained how learning a new map in a tactical shooter can be challenging, a thought that drove the decision to have active and inactive map pools. Mastering a map is even harder, and having a “whole bunch of maps is a steep learning curve.” The team believes “seven is a nice sweet spot that offers both variety and mastery.” New players will have less to learn while diving into VALORANT, and existing players don’t need to learn a new map.

Crucially, the map rotation concept only applies to the Competitive, Premier, and Deathmatch modes. Unrated, Spike Rush, and other alternate modes continue to include all 11 maps, while the Team Deathmatch mode has a separate pool altogether.

Starting with the 2025 season, VALORANT’s competitive map pool sees changes with every Act. As part of this, Riot cycles existing maps with or without changes every Act, while adding new maps every once in a while.

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Laci pretends to be a princess for two children in Royalish

Esports

The inspiration behind new doggie horror Good Boy

by admin August 23, 2025

Good Boy is a horror movies that’s told from the point-of-view of a dog, and the idea for that intriguing concept came from an unexpected celluloid source.

Good Boy is a haunted house movie in which a clever canine called Indy endeavours to save his master from a supernatural threat that only the dog can see and hear.

The horror movie has done the festival circuit and reviews have been rapturous, with Good Boy currently on a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%.

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Director Ben Leonberg has already spoken about how he coaxed such an amazing performance out of the dog in question, who also happens to be his own pet pooch. While below you can find out how he came by the high-concept idea…

How Poltergeist inspired Good Boy

MGMThe dog in Poltergeist helped inspire Good Boy.

In and interview with Filmmaker, Leonberg revealed that the idea came to him while viewing one of the great horror movies.

“I was watching Poltergeist probably for the 100th time,” explains Leonberg. “The opening follows the family’s golden retriever who we learn can clearly perceive the ghosts before anyone else.

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“This same trope – the dog who ‘knows better’ – appears in tons of horror movies, and I thought that someone should make a movie from that dog’s perspective.”

Then it was about finding his lead, though he didn’t have to look far: “Indy, my actual dog, is the second part of the equation, and the secret sauce that makes the concept work.

“He naturally has this really intense, unblinking stare. He usually hits you with it before meal time, but on the occasions when he’s just staring at ’empty’ corners, or tracking smells only he can perceive… it’s really spooky. I think every dog owner has wondered, or worried, why their dog suddenly barks for no reason, or stares at ‘nothing.’

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Why Indy wasn’t first choice to star

IFC Films

That’s not so say Indy was a lock-in for the lead. During a conversation with Variety, Leonberg explained how the movie nearly went from short to feature without his beloved best friend.

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“There was this short film contest called The Rode Reel, which was the biggest online short film contest we entered,” says Leonberg. “We didn’t make the short with the express purpose of [adapting it into a feature], but there was a big financial prize, which was the kickstart to making this movie. We won, but then Indy was nominated for best actor.

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“When I started writing the film, I didn’t intend to make the movie with Indy, but people were reacting to him so strongly and so positively. I do think he legitimately has some quirks that make him uniquely suited to do this. It kind of forced our hand. He became my leading man.”

Good Boy is out in US cinemas on October 3, 2025, and UK theaters a week later, on October 10, while it will launch on this streaming platform first. Before then, head here to see where Poltergeist appears on our list of the best horror movies of all-time.

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Micah Parsons watches from sidelines as Cowboys finish preseason

by admin August 23, 2025

Todd ArcherAug 23, 2025, 01:11 AM ET
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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ preseason is over — now the Micah Parsons Watch takes a different turn.

At 4:35 p.m. CT, roughly two and a half hours before kickoff of Friday night’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons, Parsons walked down the hall to the Cowboys locker room eating nachos. An Atlanta fan taking a tour of the stadium shouted to him “Come to the Falcons,” which prompted Parsons to make a ‘call me’ sign to his ears.

As he approached the locker room doors, he made a similar gesture as fans cheered for him.

During the game, Parsons was the only player not to wear a jersey on the sidelines. He instead wore a navy hoodie with grey sleeves and a winter hat. To start the third quarter, Parsons laid down on the medical table behind the bench as the Cowboys’ offense drove down the field.

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Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said he was not aware of what Parsons was doing, since “I was calling the game.”

“At the end of the day, we’ll look at the film and we’ll talk to everybody involved and we’ll have a great assessment of how we did both on and off the field,” Schottenheimer said.

After the game, Parsons — who has scrubbed references to the Cowboys on his social media feeds — replied to an X post that noted he was only laying on the medical table for a brief period of time.

“I actually appreciate this,” Parsons wrote in his response on social media. “The way media shapes perception and narratives is wild-and if he hadn’t said anything, everyone would’ve just run with it. I’d never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives.”

Parsons declined to answer questions after the Cowboys’ 31-13 win, but cornerback Trevon Diggs answered some on his behalf, even saying Parsons had an MRI on his back Friday.

During the June minicamp and again at the start of training camp, Parsons said he was dealing with back tightness. He received treatment while in Oxnard, California, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones believed the back tightness was in the same category as the trade request — just part of the negotiations for a long-term deal.

Asked if he thinks Parsons will play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, Diggs said, “It depends on how his back feels. I know he was real sore this morning. He went and got it checked out. That’s the last thing I heard from him.”

Over the past two days, Jones praised Parsons and said the offer he believes the two agreed to in March would have been for the largest guaranteed money given to a non-quarterback. But Jones also said on Michael Irvin’s YouTube Channel that when the Cowboys attempted to send the details to Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, they were told to “stick it up our ass.”

“I’d never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives,” Micah Parsons wrote on social media in response to the reaction to a photograph that showed him laying down on the medical training table at the start of the third quarter Friday. Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Whether that was the direct quote or not, the Cowboys and Mulugheta have not exchanged contract proposals, and the team appears ready for Parsons to play the season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract at a cost of $21.324 million.

“I wish everything could be handled and everything could be taken care of,” Diggs said. “He’s one of our star players. He’s the heart and soul of this team. I just wish things weren’t how they are. I wish it was different circumstances, but everybody has to do what’s best for them at the end of the day. I feel like just leave it in God’s hands and God will figure it out for everyone.”

Parsons has not practiced the entire summer as he conducted a hold-in while the Cowboys were in California, as well as the two practices that were held at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. He took part in walk-throughs and attended meetings, including one prior to Friday’s preseason finale.

The Cowboys will begin preparation for the Sept. 4 opener after final cuts are made Tuesday. The Cowboys are scheduled to have their first practice after setting the roster on Aug. 29. Following an off day, they will practice Aug. 31-Sept. 2 before flying to Philadelphia the day before the game.

Earlier this week, Schottenheimer expressed confidence Parsons would play against the Eagles.

After what has transpired over the past two days, does Schottenheimer remain confident?

“I do,” he said.

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Ubisoft announces two updates for Division games

by admin August 23, 2025

If you somehow haven’t gotten enough Division content this year, Ubisoft wants to make sure you have plenty to look forward to. First, The Division 2: Survivors will bring it’s take to the extraction genre. Second, a beta test is coming in September. Check out more details below!

The Division 2: Survivors

The Division 2: Survivors will bring an updated take on the survival extraction experience to The Division 2!

Development of The Division 2: Survivors is currently in the early stages, under the leadership of Magnus Jansén as Creative Director – a veteran of the Division from the early days of the original game.

“The Division 2: Survivors is as much your baby as it is ours, and we strive for transparency during its development. Clear communication and community involvement are a focus as we build the new experience, and we will be closely involving you as we move forward on the development journey,” said Julian Gerighty, Executive Producer.

The Division Resurgence

We also shared details on the upcoming the Division Resurgence: a free-to-play mobile RPG shooter MMO, offering the same gameplay experience as the Division games adapted to mobile gaming.

The Division Resurgence takes players back to the streets of Manhattan, set several months after the conclusion of the Division 1. With a familiar map updated to reflect the passage of time, the Division Resurgence will bridge the narrative gap between the Division 1 and 2, adding to the existing lore with additional story beats over time.

Community is key, and so we will be firing up our testing phases in September. A closed test on both iOS and Android will allow us to gather your feedback and insights, with further test sessions to follow. Head to the Division Resurgence webpage for more info on how to join in.

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more The Division 2 and The Division Resurgence news and info!

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

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McDonald’s delays One Piece Happy Meal promotion after Pokemon card chaos

by admin August 23, 2025

McDonald’s Japan has delayed its upcoming Happy Set toy promotion after complaints that its recent Pokemon card giveaway caused food waste and resale problems.

The company announced Thursday that its collaboration with the manga and anime series One Piece, originally scheduled to begin on August 29, has been postponed. Customers will instead receive toys from past Happy Set meals.

The decision comes after the Pokemon promotion earlier this month, which saw limited-edition cards given away with Happy Meals. The campaign led to long queues, bulk purchases, and images of discarded food as buyers sought to secure the collectible cards.

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McDonald’s said many outlets ran out of cards on the first day despite the campaign being planned for three days. The company later apologized and pledged to review its promotional strategy after the cards began appearing for resale online, with some listed for tens of thousands of dollars.

One Piece collaboration put on hold

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency has instructed McDonald’s to improve its sales practices and reduce food waste. The company has since introduced limits on the number of Happy Meals that can be purchased in a single order.

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The One Piece promotion was intended to feature toys tied to the long-running franchise. The series began as a manga in 1997 before expanding into an anime two years later, with related games and merchandise becoming major hits in Japan.

McDonald’s has not confirmed when or if the One Piece Happy Set promotion will be rescheduled.

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

2025 fantasy football draft guide – Rankings, mock drafts and analysis

by admin August 23, 2025

Aug 22, 2025, 07:04 AM ET

This page will be updated throughout the summer, so continue to check back for the latest content.

As the weather heats up, so does our excitement about the 2025 fantasy football draft season.

Whether you play in a casual redraft league, an intense deep dynasty format or anything in between, we at ESPN Fantasy are here to help.

This draft guide will serve as a one-stop shop for all of our best material as you prepare to make the best fantasy football picks possible in every draft you’re in: Rankings and cheat sheets; player projections; mock drafts for different league types; sleepers, busts and breakouts; and plenty of helpful information and tips from our expert team of fantasy football analysts.

It doesn’t matter whether you have been doing this for years or are a fantasy first-timer. We have everything needed to help you draft a great team and start the season with a shot at a championship.

Fantasy football cheat sheets, projections and depth charts

Your League, Your Rules

Create a league and customize league size, scoring and rules to play in the league you want to play in.

Create a league today!

Cheat Sheet Central
A one-stop shop for printable cheat sheets that fit your specific needs.

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet
All the names we’ve been talking about in a printable cheat sheet for your draft.

2025 projections
Mike Clay’s projected output for players at every fantasy position, sortable by category.

Depth charts: Offense | Defense

Rankings

2025 rankings hub
A range of rankings types to suit you, including our staff consensus by position, superflex, IDP, dynasty and individual overall lists.

Fantasy football rankings: Eric Moody’s QB tiers
How to approach drafting quarterbacks, especially if you don’t land one of the “Big 4.”

Fantasy football rankings: Eric Karabell’s RB tiers
Outside of Ashton Jeanty, in which tiers do the top rookies appear?

Fantasy football rankings: Eric Karabell’s WR tiers
There is great depth at WR, but it’s important to know when the value drops off.

Fantasy football rankings: Eric Moody’s TE tiers
Tight end tiers are top-heavy, with lots of uncertainty thereafter.

Mike Clay’s “The 192”
The 192 players who should be drafted in 12-team leagues, broken down into tiers.

Insurance RB rankings
A list of backup running backs best positioned to succeed if given a full workload.

RB ranks: Most reliable TD scorers
Which backs can you bank on near the goal line? Here are the most dependable backs.

From Chase to London, ranking the most reliable TD scorers among WRs
A deep dive into trustworthy TD scorers among wideouts based on target data, efficiency and more.

Mock drafts

The Mock Draft Project 2025: Results for over 30 expert 10-team PPR mock drafts

More mocks:
12-team, PPR (8/18) | Fantasy Marathon: 10-team, PPR (8/12)
12-team superflex, PPR (8/5) | 10-team superflex, 1/2 PPR (7/24)
8-team, PPR (7/9) | 12-team, non-PPR (6/24)
12-team, 1/2 PPR (6/12) | 10-team, PPR (5/6)

Advice and analysis

Tough draft-day decisions: Can you pick a top-5 QB and top-3 TE and still like your team?
Daniel Dopp shares takeaways from more than 100 drafts to help you make tough decisions in your upcoming drafts.

Tristan H. Cockcroft’s best picks for each draft slot in Rounds 1 and 2:
8-team leagues | 10-team leagues | 12-team leagues

Joe Burrow, Ladd McConkey among Matt Bowen’s top 10 draft targets
The players he’s been drafting all summer, along with a handful of late-rounders to put on the radar.

Field’s favorites: Jaylen Waddle, TreVeyon Henderson among popular draft targets
Field Yates offers up the players has been happy to snag most often in drafts this summer.

Mike Clay’s Ultimate Draft Board
Perfect picks for every round in a 12-team league.

Tory Horton, Jaxson Dart, Adonai Mitchell among deep sleepers
Tristan H. Cockcroft names names for those in deeper leagues seeking off-the-radar types who may emerge in 2025.

Answering one key preseason question for 20 NFL teams
NFL Nation reporters answer the most important fantasy questions, providing insight from training camps.

‘Do Draft’ list: Henry, Purdy, Kelce among players being undervalued
In the perennial counterpart to the Do Not Draft list, Eric Karabell discusses players who are being underappreciated in drafts.

‘Do Not Draft’ list: McCaffrey, Andrews among players being overvalued
Eric Karabell serves up his annual list of players going earlier than they should in 2025 drafts.

Fantasy football ‘drumbeat’ players: Nix, Hampton among those generating buzz
Liz Loza serves up six potential league-winning players who are generating serious excitement in fantasy circles.

Benson, Higgins lead the “Have Skills, Need Opportunity” team
Ten players who have the skills to be fantasy factors but are waiting for a chance to prove it.

Six late-round “fliers” that can help you win your league
Liz Loza offers up six players you need to be considering late in fantasy drafts.

Fantasy Focus breakouts: Williams, McCarthy and more
Field Yates, Mike Clay and Daniel Dopp identify players you can count on to break out.

Numbers you should know before your draft
Tristan H. Cockcroft uncovers some interesting stats that could impact draft day decisions.

Ward, McMillan and others primed to follow path of 2024 breakouts
These players are in position to follow a similar path to last year’s breakouts and produce big numbers.

Year 2 player spotlight: Maye, Harrison, Odunze among popular breakouts
The ESPN Fantasy staff lists NFL sophomores being undervalued in drafts and a few under scrutiny.

Murray, McCaffrey among “red flag” players worth drafting
You have to take risks to win in fantasy football. Liz Loza highlights players who are worth taking the chance on.

Opportunity knocks: Players poised to take advantage in 2025
Eric Moody lists those who will benefit most from teams’ vacated touches or targets from last season.

11 players who will score fewer TDs in 2025
Mike Clay gives his annual list of players he expects to reach the end zone less often this season.

Nine players who will score more TDs in 2025
Mike Clay lists the players most likely to increase their touchdown output in 2025.

Expect a return to form from these bounce-back candidates
Eric Karabell lists some of his favorite candidates to rebound from a disappointing 2024.

10 undervalued pass catchers with intriguing upside or safer floors
Matt Bowen lists his favorites with week-winning potential and others who are dependable, despite lower ADPs.

Top storylines for 2025: What to expect from CMC, Tyreek and more
Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp and Field Yates enjoy a robust conversation about topics that fascinate them heading into this season.

Don’t be surprised if … these 19 things happen in 2025
Eric Karabell offers his thoughts on players who could delight or disappoint in 2025.

The 20 rookies that should be drafted
Fans get excited about rookies, but which ones are truly worth taking in fantasy drafts this summer? Matt Bowen has a list.

16 players to trade for or trade away in dynasty leagues
Knowing when to hold and when to walk away from players is critical to dynasty league success. Eric Moody is here to help.

Players to upgrade, downgrade due to 2025 schedule
Mike Clay details the teams and players with the easiest and hardest schedules in fantasy terms.

Strategy/ways to play

The Playbook: Planning a winning fantasy football draft-day strategy
Mike Clay goes position by position and lays out a successful approach for 2025 fantasy football drafts.

The Playbook, Part 2: Fantasy football draft tips for nontraditional formats
Mike Clay discusses his draft approach in various intensive league structures that get less attention.

A fantasy football beginner’s guide to salary cap drafts
Eric Karabell’s provides an introduction to the ins and outs of salary cap drafts for fantasy football.

Why this is the season to try an IDP league
Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why drafting defensive players increases the fun you can have playing fantasy.

What is a superflex league, and why should you try one?
Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why starting two QBs instead of one maximizes the fun and also changes the way you draft.

10 ways to make your league more fun
Daniel Dopp provides custom options to increase the enjoyment of playing fantasy football for you and your leaguemates.

Individual player analysis

Drake Maye a top-10 QB in 2025?
Eric Moody explains why Maye is in position to take the next step in Year 2.

Should you take Ashton Jeanty over Saquon Barkley in fantasy drafts?
Liz Loza and Tyler Fulghum debate whether the hot rookie or the 2,000-yard back is the better choice.

The Travis Hunter Experience: How to maximize his fantasy potential
Want to play in a league in which you get points for all of Travis Hunter’s contributions? Here’s how you do it.

Miscellaneous

New features in ESPN Fantasy app: Easier navigation, improved personalization
A list of the newest elements added to the fantasy app, all of which you can enjoy this season.

Fantasy football team names: How to pick a winner
If you’re seeking inspiration for naming your fantasy team, Liz Loza provides a blueprint.

The Fantasy Team Name Generator
Answer a short quiz and be rewarded with a suggestion for a team name that fits your style and personality.

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Harlowe the Gravitar headlines this week’s Borderlands 4 vault hunter showcase

by admin August 23, 2025

When you play Borderlands, you gotta have at least one tech oriented vault hunter, right? Here she comes. Harlowe the Gravitar has the skills to pay the bills with her inventions, ready to decimate hordes of bandits. Check out her trailer and overview below.

Today, 2K and Gearbox Software shared the Gameplay Overview for Harlowe the Gravitar, one of the final entries in a series of introductions to the four all-new Vault Hunters who are wreaking havoc on Kairos in Borderlands 4! Harlowe the Gravitar is a former Maliwan combat scientist, driven by the need to understand how things work. Nothing says “power fantasy” like wiping out waves of enemies with a combination of crowd-control abilities and area-of-effect annihilation—both of which happen to be her specialty.

In the Harlowe Gameplay Overview, you can discover how Harlowe uses her collection of combat-ready inventions to dominate any space by nuking the battlefield with Cryo and Radiation damage, or protect herself and co-op allies with enhanced shielding and more.

Borderlands 4 launches worldwide on September 12, 2025 via PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It will also be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on October 3, 2025 and is available for pre-order now across all platforms.

For the latest information on Borderlands 4 and to pre-order the game, visit www.borderlands.2k.com, and follow the game across YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Borderlands 4 news and info!

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Hollow Knight: Silksong to release on September 4, 2025

by admin August 23, 2025

Team Cherry has announced a release date for its long anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong, which will launch on September 4, 2025.

Speaking to Bloomberg, the Australian indie developer also revealed that Hollow Knight has sold 15 million copies since its release in 2017.

When asked why it’s taken seven years to develop Silksong, co-founders Ari Gibson and William Pellen explained that the team were “having fun” and that as a small team, “games take a lot of time” to make.

“The whole thing is just a vehicle for our creativity,” said Gibson. “It was never stuck or anything. It was always progressing. It’s just the case that we’re a small team, and games take a lot of time. There wasn’t any big controversial moment behind it.”

Silksong was initially designed to be an expansion pack for Hollow Knight, but it grew too big so Team Cherry decided to change it into a full sequel.

“Even at that point we were recognizing that it was going to become another giant thing to rival the scale of Hollow Knight or probably exceed it,” Gibson explained.

“And then because of how we work, obviously the world ended up just as big or bigger. And the quest system existed. And the multiple towns existed. Suddenly you end up six, seven years later.”

Pellen added: “You’re always working on a new idea, new area, new boss. That stuff’s so nice. It’s for the sake of just completing the game that we’re stopping. We could’ve kept going.”

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As for why Team Cherry didn’t post frequent updates on the game’s development, Gibson said they thought “updates were going to sour people on the whole thing” as all they could say was “we’re still working on it”.

They also wanted to avoid spoiling the game.

“Instead of popping up and bugging people for the sake of it, it felt like our actual responsibility was to just work on the game,” said Pellen.

“Probably at the time we thought we’d go quiet for a year or two, then the game would come out.”

Gibson added: “I think we’re always underestimating the amount of time and effort it’ll take us to achieve things. It’s also that problem where, because we’re having fun doing it, it’s not like, ‘It’s taking longer, this is awful, we really need to get past this phase.’

“It’s, ‘This is a very enjoyable space to be in. Let’s perpetuate this with some new ideas’.”

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Canadian police investigating after beef thieves steal $160k worth of product

by admin August 22, 2025

Windsor police are investigating the theft of a semi-trailer loaded with more than $160,000 worth of beef after it was stolen in broad daylight earlier this month.

Authorities said the trailer, which held 530 boxes of boneless beef chuck roast, was taken from a parking lot on Cabana Road East near Windsor International Airport on August 2. The theft happened at around 6:30 p.m.

Investigators believe a dark grey Jeep Rubicon and a white Cascadia Freightliner were used in the crime. Two suspects were seen breaking into the truck before hooking up the trailer and driving away. Police say the vehicle is thought to have headed east on Highway 401.

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Windsor Police

Police ask for information

The first suspect is described as slim with long curly dark hair, dressed in all black. The second wore dark pants, a light-coloured shirt, and a dark baseball hat.

Windsor police are asking residents and businesses along Cabana Road East, between Walker Road and Baseline Road, to review security or dashcam footage for possible evidence.

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As for their motivation, it’s unclear why they’d want to steal so much meat and what they plan to do with it.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact Windsor police’s Target Base Unit or provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

This isn’t the first high-dollar food theft to take place over the last couple of years. Back in 2024, a 63-year-old man was arrested in the UK after allegedly stealing $400,000 worth of cheese.

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August 22, 2025 0 comments