League of Legends Patch 26.5 notes released with major balance changes
Riot Games has released the official Patch 26.5 notes for League of Legends, locking in the final adjustments required for the upcoming First Stand international tournament. The update introduces a new cosmetic line while stabilizing the competitive volatility introduced in February’s Demacia-themed patches.
While the headline attractions are undoubtedly the new cosmetics—Corrupted Petricite skins for Maokai and Xerath, plus a Prestige edition for RequiemSona—the patch’s primary mandate is tournament readiness. You can check the full list of tweaks in the official patch notes, but the focus remains on refining the meta rather than upending it. Key updates include:
- New Skins: Corrupted Petricite Maokai, Corrupted Petricite Xerath, and Prestige RequiemSona.
- Tournament Tuning: Final balance passes to prepare the First Stand competitive stage.
- System Refinements: Standardization of outliers from the previous patch cycle.
Coming hot on the heels of Patch 26.4—which saw fighter-heavy champions like Volibear and Garen muscle their way back into the top lane hierarchy—this update serves as the competitive bedrock for the year’s first major global clash. It is a delicate time for balance; shifting the numbers too drastically now risks turning the international stage into a clown fiesta, though long-time viewers might argue that often represents League at its peak. The inclusion of the “Corrupted” skin line feels like a particularly apt, if unintentional, nod to the current state of solo queue mental health.
The update is live now across all regions. Riot has confirmed the new skins will be available in the shop starting today, March 4, 2026. We are keeping our eyes peeled for Patch 26.6 on March 18—because nothing says stability like an impending April Fool’s update.
PlayStation Plus subscribers have a major new MMO to add to their libraries this month, as The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road is now available to claim at no extra cost for a limited time.
The collection is part of the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for March 2026, which also includes Monster Hunter Rise, Slime Rancher 2, and PGA Tour 2K25.
Players can claim the Gold Road Collection between March 3 and April 6, 2026, after which the offer will rotate out with the next batch of monthly titles.
What’s included in the Gold Road Collection
The version of The Elder Scrolls Online offered through PS Plus is the Gold Road Collection, a bundle designed to give newcomers access to the game’s full story arc across Tamriel.
It includes:
- The base game
- The Gold Road chapter
- All previous major chapters and expansion zones
These chapters span locations such as Morrowind, Elsweyr, Blackwood, and High Isle, offering hundreds of hours of quests, PvE content, and PvP activities across the MMO’s massive world.
The Gold Road chapter itself centers on a new storyline in West Weald, where players must defend the city of Skingrad against a dangerous Daedric cult tied to a returning Daedric Prince.
A huge amount of ESO content for free
For players who have never jumped into the MMO, this PS Plus promotion effectively provides the entire core ESO experience in one download. The Gold Road Collection bundles multiple expansions that were originally sold separately, making it one of the most content-rich giveaways the service has offered.
As with other PlayStation Plus Monthly Games, the title remains playable as long as your subscription remains active, provided it’s added to your library before the April cutoff.
Good timing for returning players
The promotion also arrives during a busy year for The Elder Scrolls Online. The MMO continues to receive regular updates and balance changes, with Update 49 expected soon, bringing gameplay adjustments and ongoing improvements to the experience.
With nearly a decade of expansions behind it—and still more updates planned—the PS Plus offer is one of the easiest ways yet for players to dive back into Tamriel.
