Gaming
VCSA 2026 Split 1 registrations close 4 March
Open qualifiers 7-11 March, Youtube broadcast starts 16 March with 8 teams in Split 1.
MUMBAI: Valorant Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 is loading up for battle because when South Asian squads gear up, the headshots are about to rain. Nodwin Gaming, in partnership with Riot Games, has kicked off the broadcast phase of VCSA 2026, with Split 1 registrations open until 4 March 2026. The season’s official streams will hit Nodwin Gaming & Valorant Esports South Asia Youtube channels, spotlighting top regional talent chasing the VCT Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) spot.
The refined format features Open Qualifiers (7–11 March), Split 1 Playoffs (8–9 April), two Splits with Promotion & Relegation, and Grand Finals. Split 1 includes 5 teams from qualifiers plus 3 direct invites from VCSA 2025 (top 3), in a single round-robin Bo3 format over 28 matches across 14 days. Top 6 advance to Split 2, bottom 2 face relegation.
Eligibility, Immortal 1 plus rank (V25 Act 6), teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives. Game Changers South Asia runs parallel with open qualifiers and Split 2 winner advancing to Pacific Stage.
Building on 2025’s record 12 million views and 50,000 plus peak concurrent viewers where Velocity Gaming clinched VCT Ascension Pacific via a 3–1 Grand Final over S8ul the 2026 season promises fiercer competition.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder & CEO Gautam Virk said, “As we head into the broadcast phase of VCSA 2026, the excitement across the ecosystem is palpable. This circuit represents the pinnacle of competitive Valorant in South Asia.”
Riot Games head of Esports India and South Asia Sukamal Pegu added, “Competing in VCSA continues to be one of the most defining experiences for teams in South Asia.”
In a region hungry for global glory, VCSA 2026 isn’t just a tournament, it’s the launchpad where local legends ace their way to the big leagues.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
