Press Release
The current year is drawing to a close, which means it’s the perfect moment to explore the most intriguing rumors, insider whispers, and upcoming events awaiting us in 2026. In this overview, experts from 1xBet Philippines legit have gathered everything worth knowing about the near future of e-sports.
Counter-Strike 2
The new version of the world’s most popular esports shooter launched only two years ago, so expecting sweeping gameplay overhauls from Valve in 2026 would be unrealistic. However, changes to the tournament format and calendar clearly need refinement.
Most teams are calling for the removal of Bo1 matches from major events: after the transition from 16 rounds in CS:GO to 12 rounds in CS2, these games became dramatically more volatile. In such a format, even a stronger roster can simply lose by dropping the pistol round and a couple of eco rounds.
The second major request concerns the exhausting tournament schedule. For example, in 2025, ESL, PGL, BLAST, and other organizers collectively staged around 20 flagship events — whereas only a few years ago the calendar featured slightly above ten.
The 2026 schedule is still being finalized, but fans are already guaranteed two CS2 Majors — the summer IEM Cologne Major 2026 and a winter Major, details of which have not yet been disclosed.
Dota 2
Toward the end of the year, rumors began circulating that Valve is finally preparing to take Dota 2 esports seriously once again. There is no confirmed information yet, but the game’s competitive infrastructure unquestionably needs revitalization.
Since the golden era of The International 2021, with its unprecedented $40 million prize pool, the overall rewards have plummeted to under $3 million. Viewership is falling (1.785 million peak), and the once-legendary prestige of the Aegis of Champions has noticeably faded.
For comparison: the most recent League of Legends World Championship featured a $5 million prize pool, peaked at 6.752 million viewers, and saw T1 claim their third consecutive title. If Valve doesn’t want to surrender the entire MOBA esports landscape to Riot Games, decisive action in 2026 is essential.
League of Legends
At first glance, everything appears prosperous for League of Legends. This season, Riot Games launched the new Pacific league LCP and experimented with the Americas by splitting the region into LTA North and LTA South — but next year, they will revert to the familiar LCS and CBLOL. In 2025, Riot Games also opened sponsorship access in European and American LoL and Valorant leagues for legal betting companies such as 1xBet.
That same year also saw the debut of the First Stand Tournament — meaning LoL now boasts three major international events, alongside the Mid-Season Invitational and the World Championship. The widespread adoption of Fearless Draft made matches even more dynamic and tension-filled, while the surrounding media ecosystem (champion cinematics, tournament anthems, the Arcane series, and music from virtual groups like K/DA, True Damage, and Heartsteel), along with the vibrant format of their large-scale events, is something other e-sports can only envy.
So what more could players and fans possibly ask for? Naturally — League of Legends 2! The first version was released back in 2009 and, although it has been refreshed countless times, its visuals no longer fully meet modern expectations. According to unconfirmed reports, Riot Games is considering unveiling a second version of League of Legends on a new engine in 2026.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) / Valorant Mobile
Right now, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang from Moonton remains the most popular mobile e-sports title on the planet. At one point, Riot Games sued MLBB developers over alleged plagiarism but achieved little success. Their countermeasure, League of Legends: Wild Rift, never approached the immense popularity of MLBB or PUBG Mobile.
According to industry whispers, in 2026, Riot Games will attempt to secure a foothold in the booming mobile e-sports sector through Valorant Mobile. The game officially launched in China this August and received a warm reception from players. If Riot succeeds in creating a well-structured e-sports ecosystem around the mobile version, with the same meticulous detail as LoL, a new titan of mobile e-sports may soon emerge.
Conclusion
Without focusing on any specific titles, 2026 promises continued financial growth for e-sports, an influx of new sponsors, substantial investments, the rapid expansion of mobile e-sports, and the active adoption of emerging technologies (AI, VR, NFT). Step by step, e-sports is transforming into a full-fledged industry for mass audiences on par with traditional sports. And that’s excellent news for true fans of digital competition—especially those who actively support and bet on their favorite e-sports teams on the 1xBet online platform.
