Running from June 5 to 21, the massive in-game event aims to unite gamers and football fans worldwide to experience the spirit of “Kick Off for Passion,” where Garena players can immerse themselves with a football-inspired festival experience, fresh game modes, and plenty of free elements to unlock.

At the heart of the “Fire Kickoff” campaign is the transformation of Bermuda’s Factory area into a football field, alongside the introduction of football-inspired gameplay features such as Football Form and Football Blast, bringing the spirit of the sport into both Battle Royale and Clash Squad modes. 

Beyond gameplay, players can take part in a five-stage football tournament journey through a dedicated event interface, where they can complete challenges and unlock exclusive themed rewards such as a football-themed backpack and the Female Bundle grand prize. 

As part of the campaign rollout, players can also access a range of football-themed collectibles through the in-game store, including a customisable Unisex Football Jersey, Gloo Wall skins, sports car skins, hairstyles and themed emotes. 

More campaign content and themed rewards are expected to be revealed throughout the event period. 

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Arena of Valor, the popular 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, is the international version of Honor of Kings, developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite for Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch outside of Mainland China.

In a LinkedIn post, Calvin Lin, managing director and head of cards and unsecured loans at DBS Taiwan, noted that this marks the bank’s first new co-branded credit card since integrating its consumer banking operations. He said the move reflects DBS’s commitment to creating financial products that align with the lifestyles of younger, digitally engaged consumers.

“This isn’t just about launching a new credit card; it’s a heartfelt commitment to innovation and to deeply understanding the evolving needs of the next generation. We are thrilled to bridge the virtual and real worlds for Arena of Valor players and DBS customers alike,” Lin said.

Ng Sier Han, CEO and general manager of DBS Taiwan, added that the partnership is intended to link financial services with the growing esports sector. He highlighted that the card was designed to enhance the esports experience while positioning DBS as a financial partner for younger demographics.

“We believe this partnership with Garena isn’t just about transactions; it’s about building a meaningful connection and empowering a generation that thrives in both digital and physical realms,” Ng said.

In a separate LinkedIn post, Dong Ting Tsai, vice president and head of card co-brand product at DBS Taiwan, also highlighted the significance of the launch. 

“As our first co-brand product since the Citi portfolio migration, this launch opens a new chapter that redefines how virtual and real-life finance converge and also demonstrates how we realize One Bank synergy to connect capabilities across the franchise and maximize impact for our customers and partners,” he said. 

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Sources told Reuters that its gaming livestream business and its development arm Garena would be cut, as well as staff working at Booyah!, a gaming livestream and community app, would be let go and the app would no longer be updated.

In addition, Sea Labs, the tech conglomerate’s development arm, was shutting some of its biggest experimental projects and cutting staff, including blockchain and public cloud projects.

In a statement to Reuters, Sea said that they have made some changes to improve efficiency in their operations that impact a number of roles, as well as focusing on the long-term strength of their ecosystem.

Sea is the parent company of regional e-commerce giant Shopee.

Meanwhile, some of Garena’s popular developed games include League of Legends, Arena of Valor, Point Blank, FIFA Online 3, and Free Fire, which was banned in India, after government officials allege that data collected from Free Fire was sent back to servers in China.

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