The bans were issued after cyber and Depact were found exploiting a recently-publicized bug in Counter-Strike 2, which allows cheat-protected commands to be activated through the console on public servers.
These commands enable players to manipulate their game environment, including seeing opponents through walls by making textures transparent.
Following the bug’s notoriety on Sunday, FACEIT promptly announced that they were aware of the issue and were exploring methods to patch it on their end.
They also stated that appropriate actions would be taken against those exploiting the bug.
We're aware of an exploit/bug in the game, currently exploring if we can patch it on our side. Rest assured, appropriate actions will be taken against those exploiting it.
— FACEIT Community Support (@FACEITSupport) April 7, 2024
Subsequently, FACEIT’s anti-cheat team identified users who utilized the exploit and began issuing bans, with cyber and Depact among those receiving two-year bans for exploiting the bug during a FACEIT match.
In response, Eternal Fire terminated the contracts of cyber and Depact, citing their unprofessional behaviour and stating their commitment to distancing themselves from any actions that negatively impact the game, such as cheating.
The bans and subsequent actions by Eternal Fire have sparked discussions within the CS2 community regarding the severity of the punishment.
While some argue that the bans could potentially derail the young players’ careers, others maintain that FACEIT’s rules and punishments have always been clear.
Though the bans restrict cyber and Depact from participating in matches on one of CS2’s premier matchmaking platforms, they do not explicitly prohibit them from pursuing professional careers.
However, it is likely that the bans will have significant ramifications for their future prospects in the competitive scene.
KAMUOYUNA DUYURU / ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/HcDomu3Me6
— Eternal Fire (@eternalfiregg) April 8, 2024
??The Gucci Gaming Academy is a development program aimed at empowering emerging esports talent while also ensuring a healthy gaming environment. It primarily aims to boost players’ abilities through intensive training and teamwork practices. The development program is intended to provide assistance and improve gamers’ soft skills.??
The academy will also pay attention to the rising number of mental and physical problems caused by the pressures of in-game performance and internet criticism.??
Gucci Gaming Academy was announced on Sunday during the grand finals of the PGL Antwerp Major. The academy is the first major gaming education program founded by a luxury fashion brand.
??It will commence operations with four CS:GO players that have already been competing in the FACEIT Pro League (FPL). The competitive online league has served as a springboard for some of esports’ most distinguished pro players. Over time the academy will look to gradually increase this number.??
In addition to in-game performance, interviews will be used to analyze applicants’ personal values and soft skills, such as their propensity for teamwork and attitude to dispute resolution. Players will be a part of the academy for approximately a year, or until they get signed to a professional team.
??Nicolas Oudinot, EVP of New Business and CEO of Gucci VAULT, spoke about Gucci’s mission to maintain a purposeful relationship and give back to society.
??“Gucci is at the forefront of the luxury industry’s foray into the world of gaming and as part of our mission to build meaningful relationships with communities in a genuinely authentic way,” he said.
“We are dedicated to supporting the up-and-coming generations of players to help manage the challenges they may face as a result of participating in esports. Understanding the issues that are relevant to them and learning about these from the people they affect are at the core of this collaboration.”
??Commentator James Bardolph and retired CS:GO professional players Stephanie “missharvey” Harvey and Christopher “GeT RiGhT” Alesund are among the Gucci Gaming Academy’s ambassadors. They will also serve as mentors to the academy’s athletes, holding monthly one-on-one sessions with each player.??
The co-founder and CBO of FACEIT, Michele Attisani, had said in a release that the academy will provide a clear path to a superstructural system by linking the FACEIT Pro League, wellness, and education. The physical and mental conditions imposed on players aspiring to compete at the professional level will be prioritized.
??“We are proud to announce the launch of the Gucci Gaming Academy. Together, we identified a need to create a new initiative that would aid the development of new talent,” she said.
“The Academy will offer a clear path to pro structure connecting the dots between the FACEIT Pro League, education, and well-being. The physical and mental demands on players looking to compete at a professional level are high.”
??Attisani also added that there is a need for new talents to be privy to the inner workings before entering the space. She stated that it is important for them to garner the right support to help them cope with the immense pressure that comes with being a professional esports player.??
“Players have rigorous training schedules, compete in high-pressure tournaments, and immense pressure from fans, so it’s important that new talent entering the space are equipped with the right support structure at an early stage in their development,” Attisani said.
“Supporting and empowering young esports talent is at the core of FACEIT’s values and through our shared vision with Gucci, we hope the Academy helps equip the role models of tomorrow.”
]]>Announced on Wednesday and backed by FACEIT, the new league is scheduled to commence in March. It will feature two offline seasons per year, with 12 teams vying for US $2 million in prize winnings. League organisers have also promised that FLASHPOINT players will enjoy the largest revenue sharing scheme in esports history.
Out of 12 teams who will compete in the league, 10 spots will be locked in for FLASHPOINT’s partner firm. MiBR, MAD Lions, Dignitas, Cloud9, Gen.G Esports and c0ntact Gaming are already confirmed, leaving four more spots to fill. The two remaining spots will be awarded to teams who will make it through the qualifiers, beginning on Thursday, February 6, across North America, South America and Europe.
The format for FLASHPOINT will be quite different compared to the ESL, ELEAGUE, BLAST and ECS leagues. The new competition will have a unique format which will “complement their overall focus on banter between the teams and showcase the players’ personalities, while still providing intense competition”.
FLASHPOINT LEAGUE FORMAT
The 12 teams participating in FLASHPOINT will initially be seeded 1-12 based on a Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association (CSPPA)-approved ranking system. The inaugural season will be split into two phases. In each phase, the 12 teams will be divided into three GSL double-elimination groups of four teams, where each match will be played as best of three (Bo3).
Before each phase kicks off, FLASHPOINT will feature a group selection show where the teams themselves will determine how the groups will look by selecting their opponents.
In phase one, the top three seeds will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. After that, the captain of the team placed into Group A will choose another team out of the remaining nine to be placed into their group. The process will repeat with Group B and Group C. For the remaining spots, the most recently selected teams will get to choose their opponents from the remaining pool of unassigned teams, starting with Group A. The same system is then used for the selection of the last three teams.
The teams that were placed into the groups last will then have the opportunity to propose a swap with another team. The swaps can occur either within the group, to change up each team’s first opponents, or between the groups. However, the top-three seeded teams will get a chance to veto any swap with 2/3 consensus.
For phase two, the top three teams based on their placement in phase one get seeded into groups first. Otherwise, the selection process remains identical to phase one.
At the conclusion of phase two, each team will receive playoff points based on their performances over the course of the tournament. These points will be used to determine which eight teams enter the playoffs. The points distribution is as follows:
First place: 75 points
Second place: 50 points
Third place: 30 points
Fourth place: 15 points
The league is intended as esports’ answer to UFC and WWE with entertainment-driven sports properties, including a separate broadcasted event for the group selection process.
FLASHPOINT bills itself as the fix for the financial instability in the CS:GO scene as well as the hectic and sometimes unbearable schedules pro players have to go through. While the league will directly compete with other competitions, its teams have a free pass to participate in other leagues if they desire to do so.
In an intriguing twist, the league’s bylaws stipulate that all partner teams must retain a spot inside the top 20 in the CS:GO world rankings. If any teams fail to meet that criteria, they will be hit with a monthly fine of $100,000 until they reclaim their position in the top 20. The rule was implemented keep the quality of the league at a respected level.
Perhaps the most exciting addition to the FLASHPOINT CS:GO league is its on-air talent, which will include Auguste “Semmler” Massonat, former Overwatch League presenter Christopher “MonteCristo” Mykles and Duncan “Thorin” Shields, who will also serve as the competition’s creative director.
Joining them will be Jason “moses” O’Toole, Anders Blume, Sean “seang@res” Gares, Freya Spiers and the well-known casting duo of Dan “DDK” Kapadia and James Bardolph.
]]>Released in 1996, Quake has become one of the most popular and well-known FPS games in the world throughout its 23-year history. Seven editions of the game have hit the shelves in that time, the latest being Quake Champions.
With a huge global fanbase, there have been numerous Quake esports tournaments all over the world in the last two decades. But while CS:GO, Call of Duty and other shooter games have become staples of the competitive gaming industry, Quake players have had to wait patiently for a fully fledged professional platform.
The Quake Pro League will officially start at QuakeCon 2019 in July, where FACEIT will choose the top 20 Quake Champions players; 10 from North and South America and 10 from Europe and the CIS region. The selected players will then compete against each other in weekly competitions, where they will earn global ranking points ahead of the Quake Pro League launch in August.
GG Bet
150%
Get €5 freebet!
18+ Gamble responsibly. Min deposit after code activation for freebet is €10. 1x turnover requirement. 14 days expiry. Max funds transferred to real balance is €5.
Betway
￡30
€30 Welcome Free Bet
New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: ￡10. First deposit matched up to ￡30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply
QPL will be divided into four stages, each featuring 10 weeks of online competition. In between those stages, players will get to participate in three major offline events that are set to take place in October/November, February/March and May/June.
The QPL will also feature a completely new game mode, Timelimit Duel, which has been tailor-made for the league to showcase the talent of the players and add an extra entertainment factor for viewers.
It was further revealed that there will be weekly online competitions for challengers from all regions that will run in parallel to the QPL. The top four players (two from NA/SA and two from EU/CIS) in those events will qualify for the Quake majors, where they will get to go head-to-head with the pros. Challengers will play the lowest-ranked QPL players in relegation/promotion matches where if the pro fails to win, the challenger will take their place in the next stage of the league.
The prize pool and exact dates of the Quake Pro League remain a mystery, but more information will be revealed in the coming weeks.
SEE ALSO: BETTING ON ESPORTS LEAGUES
Featuring 14 teams from major esports organisations and two teams who will come out of qualifiers, the FACEIT Pro Series will mark the first-ever officially licensed Apex Legends event. The announcement was made on FACEIT’s Twitter account on May 27 and received a lot of positive responses from fans of the game.
The FACEIT Pro Series: Apex Legends will consist of eight different events in the course of eight weeks. Each tournament will have a $5,000 prize pool, with the remaining $10,000 going to the best performing team overall.
The 12 invited teams are G2 Esports, CLG, Fnatic, Cloud9, 1000 Thieves, MisfitsGG, Dignitas, compLexity, Gen.G., TSM, NRG, T1, Immortals and Team Liquid. The remaining two slots will go to the best performers in the FACEIT Pro Series Qualifiers on May 31.
GG Bet
150%
Get €5 freebet!
18+ Gamble responsibly. Min deposit after code activation for freebet is €10. 1x turnover requirement. 14 days expiry. Max funds transferred to real balance is €5.
Betway
￡30
€30 Welcome Free Bet
New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: ￡10. First deposit matched up to ￡30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply
T1 is the standout team in the Apex Legends esports community. With BcJ, Kurt and ZerG on the roster, they win almost every Apex Legends tournament they play.
Still, with a lot of talented players participating in the upcoming events, it will be interesting to see how the best Apex Legends players perform and if T1 are really as dominant as they are thought to be.
Being the first-ever official Apex Legends tournament, there are some concerns about the view count. But with several big Twitch streamers as players, alongside the professional CS: GO broadcasting team of Daniel Kapadia and James Bardolph, the upcoming events look more than ready to attract the attention of the wider gaming community.
FACEIT has not yet released any official rules nor formats for the upcoming events.