On August 31st, Lionel Messi officially announced his retirement from Argentina on social media.

During his two decades with Argentina, the 39-year-old led the team to major achievements including 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles, 2022 World Cup title, and this year's World Cup final appearance. He also holds the record for most appearances and all-time top scorer for Argentina with 207 appearances and 125 goals.

Messi has left a significant mark on FIFA, and his retirement will not only impact the real world of football. As a highly anticipated player card for FC 27, will Messi's OVR rating be affected after the game's release?

Messi

Before discussing his in-game rating, let's review Messi's representative achievements.

In fact, his path to fame was not smooth. He spent many years in the shadow of Diego Maradona, experiencing much doubt and disappointment, with the pressure even leading to a brief retirement from the national team in 2016.

His subsequent return changed everything.

Argentina won the 2021 Copa América, Messi's first major international title. A year later, he reached the pinnacle of his career: Argentina defeated France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, with Messi scoring the winning penalty in the shootout to lead Argentina to World Cup victory.

Following this, Messi helped Argentina win the 2024 Copa América, solidifying their dominance in international football.

In 2026, he made his sixth World Cup appearance, becoming the first player to reach 34 World Cup appearances and breaking his own record in the competition. He also became the all-time top scorer in World Cup group stage matches in 2026.

These achievements and statistics are crucial to his rating in FIFA 27, making him one of the most valuable players. While OVR and FUT coins alone cannot fully capture his achievements as a player who has continuously redefined top strikers over the past two decades, Messi's current rating is a testament to his talent.

EA SPORTS FC 27 currently rates Messi an overall of 89, making him one of the highest-rated players in the game and a top-tier attacking midfielder.

His speed is rated 76, and his technical attributes are equally impressive, especially Ball Control and Composure at 94, and his free-kick accuracy at 93. Compared to FC 26, his primary position has changed to CAM.

These statistics and changes reveal a key characteristic of Messi's current form.

He is no longer primarily portrayed as an explosive winger who relies on speed to break through defenses. Instead, FUT 27 emphasizes the qualities that have kept him a threat throughout his career, such as vision, passing, ball control, shooting, and the ability to control the attack.

In other words, Messi's 89 OVR rating not only affirms his brilliant achievements but also reflects that while his physical condition has declined with age, his technical level remains among the world's best, and he remains a top player in FC 27 SBCs.

Impact of Retirement

Messi has only retired from Argentina, not from professional football. He remains an Inter Miami CF player, and EA's FC 27 database will still list him as an MLS club.

EA's official explanation of player ratings states that the initial rating table represents Gold, Silver, and Bronze Player Items available at the time of Ultimate Team mode launch.

The page also specifically points out that this rating table does not reflect real-time status updates in other modes.

In other words, there is no reason for Messi's 89 overall rating to suddenly drop simply because he no longer participates in international matches.

Instead, more important factors are his performance at Inter Miami, playing time, and physical condition, all of which will affect any future database adjustments EA makes.

The only potential impact is what will happen if his role at the club changes.

At 39, Messi can no longer maintain the physical output he had at Barcelona. This is evident in FC 27, where his speed rating is 76, and his physical attributes and stamina are relatively low. As he posted, "I've given everything I had; I have nothing left to give."

If his appearances or impact in FC 27 decrease, EA may eventually adjust his individual attributes and consequently his overall rating.

Final High-scoring Basic Card

Currently, the main question for FC 27 players regarding Messi is whether his 89 OVR player card will be one of the last few high-scoring base cards.

Messi's 89 overall rating is already quite special, as it combines the physical attributes of a veteran with high-scoring technical ability. His speed is no longer as explosive as it once was, but his other attributes remain excellent.

This makes his base card in FC 27 seem like a microcosm of the final stage of his football career.

As Messi's club career nears its end, this distinction may become increasingly important. If his physical attributes continue to decline, EA may eventually have to consider the extent to which his technical advantages can compensate for the loss of speed and stamina.

For FUT players, this also means that Messi's future cards may increasingly rely on special events rather than his base rating.

Since EA now allows event player cards to upgrade in real-world performance, even if Messi's base rating eventually drops, it doesn't necessarily mean the end of high-rated Messi cards in Ultimate Team.

In fact, his status as one of the most iconic players in football history may make future special edition cards more appealing to collectors and veteran fans.

Besides completing objectives and challenges in SBCs, avid collectors will be willing to spend a significant amount of FC 27 coins to collect his cards.

What Can Fans Expect?

Currently, there's no need to worry about Messi's OVR in FUT 27; his rating will still change based on his performance in Inter Miami. If he performs well later, his rating will be adjusted accordingly.

He will never be just an ordinary Ultimate Team basic card.

Moreover, for him now, what he needs is no longer a World Cup trophy, a Ballon d'Or, or a new record. He will continue to accompany fans and players in another way.

Based on official developer interviews and extensive community discussions, I believe Patch 3.30 has the potential to be one of the most transformative patches for PoE to date.

Grinding Gear Games has publicly acknowledged that endgame content has become predictable and tedious, and this patch aims to address this issue through a radical overhaul.

This article will predict what changes Patch 3.30 will bring to Path of Exile.

Core Concept

GGG has not yet announced a release date for Patch 3.30, but it is expected to be released by the end of 2026.

The primary driving force behind Patch 3.30 is community dissatisfaction with the current game environment. Players have expressed concerns about the overly predictable nature of loot acquisition, finding the thrill of random drops lost.

This is indeed the case; too many valuable rewards come from fixed chests and block drops rather than monster kills, making the game feel more like a chore than an adventure.

The developers have confirmed that the current strategy of grinding through maps and monsters is outdated. They want to refocus on killing monsters for optimal rewards. In addition, they will add more content and interactive elements between league mechanics to revitalize the game and attract more returning players.

Loot Rework

The core of this patch is a major balance adjustment to loot. Most high-value drops will be redistributed to killing monsters, and chests and league-exclusive containers will become basic rewards, rather than primary sources of additional income.

Furthermore, many rare and unique items currently obtainable only through specific mechanics are expected to be added to the global loot pool. This aims to restore the excitement of obtaining top-tier items from any monster in any location.

Meanwhile, the penalty for dropping currency from bosses and rare and unique monsters may be further reduced, making Path of Exile Currency rewards from killing these high-value targets more consistent.

Patch 3.30 aims to address this issue by fundamentally reworking item drop methods and locations, drawing inspiration from the success of Path of Exile 2 to make loot drops more random and unpredictable.

League Mechanics

Path of Exile Patch 3.30 will abandon isolated selection and reward systems, focusing instead on more frequent interactions between different league mechanics. The goal is to create more unexpected encounters on the map, encouraging players to try combinations they've never considered before.

Furthermore, the development team will re-examine almost all existing league mechanics, giving them new, interesting, and unique elements, injecting new vitality into the game's decade-long accumulation of content.

Mercenary Balance

Mercenary has become an important part of PoE, and Patch 3.30 is expected to significantly adjust it. Radiant Mercenary's Flame Link skill is likely to be significantly nerfed, as it currently deals a lot of damage and is slightly overpowered.

In addition, some powerful mercenary types (Kineticist, Manyshot, and Combatant) may be nerfed. Meanwhile, Tier 5 mercenaries will receive significant buffs or be reworked to make them competitive.

However, beyond simple damage adjustments, players are calling for deeper gameplay optimizations. The mercenary recruitment process has always been heavily influenced by randomness, with players reporting having to grind thousands of maps to find a mercenary suitable for their Ascendancy class.

In response, I believe GGG could change the way mercenary skills are generated, or add a system similar to mercenary gems, allowing players to reset mercenary skills.

Furthermore, players continue to have concerns about mercenary AI, often reporting that mercenaries waste time on useless targets, leading to inefficiency. Currently, according to my sources, the developers are reviewing restrictive support gems to ensure mercenaries can utilize existing skills more effectively. Players can look forward to this.

Return of Mirage

Multiple sources indicate that Mirage league mechanic is highly likely to return in PoE Patch 3.30, injecting new vitality into the game. However, the specific method of its return is yet to be determined.

I believe it will likely bring its signature challenge and reward cycle, requiring players to enter twisted and high-risk map areas to rescue the imprisoned Djinns. The details are as follows:

Wish System

Before entering Mirage, players may choose from a series of wishes that will imbue Mirage area with powerful affixes, significantly increasing the difficulty, but also granting richer rewards.

Djinn Sigils and Special Currencies

A core part of the league's reward system may introduce special currencies, such as Coins of Skill, Power, and Knowledge. These currencies can be used to provide powerful Weaker Link bonuses to skill gems.

Chase Unique Items

Some unique items that were popular with players in Mirage league will return, such as Mirage Belt and Tooth Ring, with corresponding balance adjustments.

Other Content

A New In-Map League Mechanic

A brand new league mechanic is also planned for release in Path of Exile Patch 3.30. This mechanic will focus entirely on monster juicing within map content, without requiring additional loading pages.

Harbinger Rework

Harbinger Rework may also be reworked, but its progress is currently unknown.

New Boss Encounters

This patch may introduce additional Uber boss encounters as part of a game structure adjustment.

These are the predicted contents for PoE Patch 3.30. This patch is massive, with its core loop revolving around strengthening monsters for greater rewards. It has the potential to be a pivotal moment, redefining how players will enjoy the game for years to come. Let's look forward to it!

As MLB The Show 26 enters the later stages of its lifecycle, community trust in SDS is clearly declining. While content continues to be released, player concerns are not being adequately addressed.

Gameplay remains the most controversial aspect, and modes like Weekend Classic still have room for improvement. The pace of graphical enhancements in MLB The Show is increasingly failing to meet the expectations of PS5-generation players.

So, has SDS begun to reduce its investment in MLB The Show 26? EZG.com will examine what the game most urgently needs to change, and whether San Diego Studio still has a chance to regain player base with a truly significant update.

Gameplay

Currently, MLB The Show 26's gameplay is still significantly affected by the changeup meta, especially the prevalence of slow changeups paired with sinker strategies. Meanwhile, shrinkage-induced exit velocity instability is also considered a major source of MLB 26's problems.

Switch Hitter Meta further amplifies the matchup pressure on pitchers. Facing numerous lefties, some righty starters struggle to maintain consistent performance, while the high priority of changes gives pitchers with quality changes and deceptive pitch mixes a greater competitive edge.

Johan Santana is a prime example. His primary circle change has a significant speed difference, coupled with a cutter that can cross the plate and a fastball with up to 96 MPH, making him difficult to handle in MLB 26. The required number of MLB The Show stubs has now risen to 45K.

If MLB The Show 26 could eliminate shrinkage while retaining its existing game framework and reduce the long-term dominance of a single pitch type in the meta, the gameplay experience should improve significantly.

Weekend Classic

Weekend Classic should be a true weekend mode, not just another Monthly Classic. Even if it can't offer the same level of rewards and MLB 26 stubs every week, it should at least give us a reason to participate every weekend.

Theme Team Mode is also worth adding. With the continuous release of a large amount of themed content, we often lack a truly suitable MLB 26 playing environment for these cards. Adding Theme Team Mode would give different types of cards more room to maneuver and further enrich Diamond Dynasty's gameplay.

Salary Cap Mode could also be an option. Theme Team and Salary Cap don't necessarily need to appear simultaneously, but this mode can break the fixed lineups and mainstream meta of MLB 26, giving Diamond Dynasty more lineup combinations.

The stadium design for MLB 26 Weekend Classic also deserves a rethink. A dedicated weekend classic stadium can make the playing environment more unified. A similar idea could be used for the future return of Battle Royale, setting different dedicated BR stadiums based on wins.

Weekend Classic could assign different Stadiums according to Divisions such as Bronze, Silver, and Gold, but the core is to ensure consistent gameplay conditions across all Stadiums, only changing the visual presentation. There shouldn't be stadiums like Coors used in lower-level matches, while those like Polo Grounds are used in higher-level matches.

Elevation should be kept at a moderate level, outfield wall distances should be normal, foul territory shouldn't be too large or completely absent, batter's eye should be kept clean, and other differences can be left to visual design.

It's worth noting that the performance of Created Stadiums in online mode has always been controversial. Whether player-created or officially designed by MLB 26, stadiums can experience performance issues due to the impact of assets on the server and gameplay.

Field of Dreams is a typical example; this stadium design is unique, but its actual performance is not ideal, and these issues need to be addressed by MLB The Show 26 team.

Graphical Boost

Graphical boost has also become an increasingly obvious requirement. eBaseball Pro Spirit's graphics are already excellent, and 2K visuals are becoming increasingly impressive. In comparison, MLB The Show still has a PS4 game-like feel.

As PS5 era enters its later stages, MLB The Show 26 needs to truly leap into the next generation in terms of visual presentation. While some content has indeed been optimized, it's not yet enough to give us a feeling of something completely new, premium, and cool.

Is SDS Slacking Off?

It's still inconclusive whether MLB The Show 26 has officially slacked off. Content will continue to be updated, and Postseason Content will be available, but aside from these regular updates, San Diego Studio is practically relegated to radio silence.

We can see that the update schedule for MLB 26 is unstable. Some weeks see three or four Content Drops, some only one, and some weeks offer almost nothing but Tops Now Spotlight. For a AAA game that releases a new title every year, such an update frequency makes it difficult to maintain long-term community enthusiasm.

The cheating situation cannot be ignored either, especially the bots on Marketplace. The fact that these issues persist into 2026 is already disappointing enough. If the official team wants to maintain Diamond Dynasty's MLB 26 stubs system and player trust, the cheating issue clearly needs a more direct approach.

Live streams have also been absent for a long time, and MLB 26 social media content consists mostly of pre-arranged posts or routine content updates, rarely featuring truly new content that sparks community discussion.

Therefore, the genuine issue now isn't whether MLB The Show 26 will receive any more content, but whether the official team is still willing to make monumental adjustments. Currently, the likelihood of large-scale adjustments is decreasing.

However, if MLB 26 were to suddenly release a content update or game patch in mid-September, clearly stating that player feedback has been heard and positive changes are being made, the community's attitude could change immediately.

After all, MLB The Show 26's lifecycle is far from over. For a AAA game still with a long operational lifespan, if the current problems continue into the later stages, it's clearly not an ideal outcome.

Moon Studios has confirmed that No Rest for the Wicked 1.0 will not be released as originally planned in October 2026; the new release date has been moved to March 2027.

For a game that has been in Early Access for over two years, this five-month delay is more than just a change in release date. 

Moon Studios explicitly stated in its announcement that the team still hopes to use this extra time to continue improving performance, adjusting Class System, and completing more polishing before the official release.

This also raises a more pressing question: after several major updates, why does NRFTW still need to postpone 1.0 to next year?

1.0 Delayed to March 2027

Moon Studios had previously set October 2026 as the specific target for 1.0; now, the release date has been moved to March 2027.

In its announcement, Moon Studios stated that because of the limited team size, it hoped to use the extra development time to improve performance, further refine the class system, and complete overall polishing before the official release.

Moon Studios also apologized to players for the delay.

The team's stance was clear: 1.0 was a crucial milestone marking the end of the game's long Early Access phase, and therefore they wanted the final release to meet their expected standards, rather than compressing development time to secure an October release date.

This change also means that PC and PS5 players will have to wait a few more months.

As for Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2, both platforms are still in the works, but neither has been confirmed for March 2027 launch window.

Why is More Development Time Needed?

Performance remains one of the most pressing issues for NRFTW to address.

The game underwent intensive bug fixes when it entered Early Access in 2024, with Moon Studios releasing a series of hotfixes to address GPU usage, collision issues, progression issues, and various performance problems. Subsequent major updates have also been accompanied by continuous optimization work.

Now, on the eve of 1.0, performance is still listed separately as a reason for delays, indicating that the final release will have significantly higher requirements for stability, frame rate performance, and experience under different hardware conditions.

For an action RPG that emphasizes real-time combat, dodging, and precise controls, performance issues directly affect the combat feel, making them difficult to treat as minor issues that can simply be addressed after release.

Furthermore, Moon Studios mentioned in its announcement that it hopes to further adjust the class system.

Character progression in the game has always revolved around equipment, attributes, weapons, build combinations, and how players use No Rest for the Wicked Gold, rather than fully adopting the traditional ARPG design of a locked class at the start.

Therefore, the adjustments to the class system currently mentioned by the developers may involve different build roles, progression paths, and gameplay distinctions.

At this stage, the official details regarding the changes haven't been released, and it's best not to prematurely interpret them as a complete class rework. However, since this item, along with performance, is cited as a reason for delay, it's clearly on the list of important adjustments before 1.0.

Furthermore, the announcement also emphasizes broader overall polish. This could include bug fixes, UI improvements, control feedback, combat balance, system interactions, and various other details.

After nearly three years of Early Access, Moon Studios is facing more than just the question of "how much content to add"; they also need to truly integrate the numerous systems accumulated over long periods of iteration into a cohesive whole suitable for a 1.0 release.

Nearly Three Years of Early Access

No Rest for the Wicked was first officially announced at The Game Awards in 2023 and launched on PC Early Access on April 18, 2024.

Since then, Moon Studios has adopted a continuous update development approach, releasing The Crucible, The Breach, and The Breach Refined, while continuing to advance co-op modes, character progression, equipment, NRFTW gold economy, and other system adjustments.

Originally targeting October 2026 for 1.0 already meant that the game would have spent more than two years in Early Access. Now, with the release date further delayed to March 2027, the gap between the official release and the initial Early Access launch will be nearly three years.

For players who have been waiting for the full release, an additional five months will undoubtedly be disappointing, especially since October 2026 had previously been a relatively clear target.

Judging from the update pacing of the past two years, this delay also fits Moon Studios' existing development approach. 

Major updates tend to arrive after longer development cycles, while existing character builds, equipment, and other systems continue to be reworked before 1.0.

A Public Beta in December

The delay does not mean complete silence from now until next March. Moon Studios has confirmed that more Closed Beta tests will be held in the coming months, with an Open Beta planned for December 2026.

Since NRFTW team has clearly prioritized performance, the class system, and overall polish, the public beta in December is likely to be players' first opportunity to get a more complete picture of 1.0.

The performance improvements, build structure, and overall system completion should be much closer to the final release than they are now.

Player feedback will continue to be used in the final stages of adjustments. At least some of the development time added from October to March will be used for actual testing and feedback loops, rather than simply being an internal delay.

Founder's Pack Deadline Extended

Because of the delay of NRFTW 1.0, the deadline for obtaining Founder's Pack has also been adjusted. The original deadline for PC was July 10, 2026, but it has now been extended to January 1, 2027. Players who joined Early Access after July 10 will also be included retroactively.

PS5 pre-orders will begin in January 2027, giving pre-order customers a chance to receive Founder's Pack. PTR access is particularly valuable, as the developers plan to extend this testing access beyond 1.0 release. 

Compared to mere cosmetic or identity markers, this reward means Founders players may still have early access to some test content after the official release.

No Rest for the Wicked has already experienced a long Early Access period, and a further five-month delay is certainly not good news.

This announcement at least provides a more concrete development direction and schedules an Open Beta in December.

If these core systems are still undergoing significant changes by the end of the year, then whether the five-month extension is merely for final polishing or signifies that NRFTW 1.0 structure is not yet fully stable will become a more pressing issue.

Helldivers 2 is confirmed to release Update 7.1 this September, bringing a brand new Warbond and two new rewards.

Following Helldivers 2's consistent update pattern, Update 7.1 will undoubtedly introduce more weapons and equipment to adapt to the new battlefield changes.

This has sparked heated discussions within the player community, with players expressing their expectations and suggestions for the upcoming content.

The Released Roadmap

While Arrowhead hasn't released all the details of Helldivers 2 Update 7.1, the studio has revealed some upcoming content. Update 7.2 is planned to bring more substantial content, including new biomes, enemies, missions, and new content for Galactic War.

This gives players a clearer understanding of the developers' future update strategy. They won't introduce entirely new game systems with every update, but will focus on Warbonds, weapons, equipment, balance adjustments, and some minor gameplay improvements, while major updates will expand the overall Galactic War experience.

Regarding Update 7.1, the main known information includes a confirmed September release window, new War Bonds, and two new rewards. No other weapon, strategy, equipment changes, or balance adjustments have been officially announced.

Nevertheless, current community suggestions reflect the high expectations many players have for the next update to Helldivers 2.

A wider variety of weapons, more practical strategies and support equipment, stronger defensive measures, and some minor improvements to enhance the gameplay experience would all make Update 7.1 more meaningful.

Weapon Changes

Weapons are arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment in Helldivers 2. In a shooter, having powerful weapons can even mean invincibility in a match.

Currently, player suggestions and changes regarding weapons mainly focus on the following:

• Increased Damage
• Weapon Characteristics
• Increased Rate of Fire
• Penetration

These changes primarily target basic performance, making some Helldivers 2 weapons that are currently underutilized due to their low strength more competitive after the update, without fundamentally changing how they function.

Currently, the strongest calls are for buffs to shotguns, with most players hoping for armor penetration increases for M90A Shotgun and SG-88 Break-Action Shotgun, providing more options against different enemy targets.

Furthermore, players have suggested increasing the explosive damage of PLAS-39 Accelerator Rifle from 100 to 125, and granting Reprimand One-Handed trait.

These suggestions reflect the player community's general desire for more weapons to be versatile across different gear configurations, rather than relying solely on a few consistently effective weapons.

Strategy and Support Gear

Besides primary weapons, players have also proposed several changes to strategy and support gear.

For example, Maxigun is reportedly allowed to fire at 60% movement speed; Arc Thrower will receive automatic charging and release, while Sterilizer's spray range will be increased; Supply Pack's replenishment mechanism will be improved, and Dog Breath's capacity will be increased from 100 to 125.

These suggestions aren't just about increasing damage, but about making certain support options easier or more practical in missions. Players already enthusiastic about these strategies will gain greater flexibility, and often overlooked H2 items may become more appealing.

Shields

Defensive gear is another area players expect from Helldivers 2 Update 7.1 that goes beyond simple numerical tweaks.

The duration of Shield Generator Relay will be increased from 40 seconds to 60 seconds. The proposal also increases the duration of another shield from 20 seconds to 30 seconds.

The idea behind these changes is simple: players want defensive gear to provide more reliable protection in encounters, rather than disappearing before it even has a chance to function.

Gameplay Improvements

One interesting player improvement is allowing Lure Mine users to switch between different detonation delays, including 5 seconds, 15 seconds, and 60 seconds. Smoke effects will also slow enemies by 10%.

The proposal also suggests providing more scope options for weapons equipped with Custom Optics, while granting melee weapons 25% melee damage resistance while in use.

Another interesting suggestion is to reward 5 Helldivers 2 super credits upon completing Tactical Objectives. Warbond Support Weapons may also appear as loot at Points of Interest.

While these ideas don't quite reach the level of new weapons or strategies, they could potentially change how players interact with quests and gear in their daily lives.

Judging from the current discussions, players don't just want Update 7.1 to simply increase weapon damage. Rather than direct buffs, they care more about weapons and gear having clearer roles and functions.

Some players believe that adjustments to details like melee weapon armor penetration, magazine capacity, ergonomics, and specific gear functions might be more meaningful than simply increasing damage.

At the same time, the community is also concerned that some overly powerful automation enhancements could create new metas.

Overall, players are hoping for more usable options, not for all gear to become overpowered.

What Can We Expect?

For Update 7.1, players are currently more concerned about what Warbond will bring.

After all, the new Warbond is already a relatively familiar part of Helldivers 2 update cycle. Recent community discussions have even seen some players jokingly calling the new Warbond part of expected, routine content and hoping that Arrowhead will deliver some truly exciting changes.

Therefore, if Update 7.1 includes weapon balance adjustments or gear tweaks in addition to the new Warbond and two rewards, it might be more meaningful for many players than simply adding a few new items.

Especially regarding weapons, player suggestions don't necessarily mean they want all gear to be overpowered. More often, they simply want different weapons to have more defined use cases.

Of course, these are currently just community suggestions and haven't been confirmed by Arrowhead. The most reasonable expectation for Helldivers 2 Update 7.1 is probably a solid content update.

If the developers decide to adjust weapon balance or gear performance at the same time as Warbond release in September, then community suggestions might help them understand what players care about most.