Today’s Gaming News (Jan 3, 2026): Marvel Rivals’ Chrono-Rush + a Fast “Catch-Up” Guide

SEO title (≤ 70 chars): Jan 3, 2026 Gaming News: Marvel Rivals Chrono-Rush Guide

Meta description (≤ 160 chars): Today’s game news recap plus a practical Marvel Rivals Chrono-Rush plan to finish your Battle Pass faster—without wasting matches.

Quick Summary

Marvel Rivals has a New Year patch and a limited-time Chrono-Rush event designed to speed up Battle Pass progress (runs through Jan 16, 2026 (UTC)). ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Elden Ring Nightreign received a hotfix regulation update to address a progression-stopping boss issue (Regulation Ver. 1.01.6). ([bandainamcoent.com](https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/elden-ring-nightreign-hotfix-regulation-ver-1-01-6?utm_source=openai))
Assassin’s Creed Shadows previously shipped a small hotfix with platform-specific download sizes and photo mode crash fixes. ([ubisoft.com](https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/news/RuJqjgCPRvnM6Prn0tVh8/ac-shadows-title-update-101-hot-fix-release-notes))

Today’s Gaming News Highlights

Marvel Rivals: New Year patch + Chrono-Rush event is live

Marvel Rivals rolled out a New Year update timed for January 1, 2026 at 09:00 UTC with no server downtime, headlined by Chrono-Rush—a catch-up event that boosts Battle Pass progress by awarding extra Chrono Tokens for playing matches, with no upper limit on earnings. The event runs until January 16, 2026 at 09:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))

The patch also calls out store rotations (including a limited-time Lady Loki bundle window) and traversal emote behavior changes (standardized forward movement), plus several bug fixes. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))

Elden Ring Nightreign: Hotfix to unblock a boss fight

Bandai Namco posted a hotfix for ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN that temporarily addresses an issue where the battle against Everdark Sovereign Sentient Pest would not progress in certain conditions. The published version display is App Ver. 1.01.4 / Regulation Ver. 1.01.6 across PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. ([bandainamcoent.com](https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/elden-ring-nightreign-hotfix-regulation-ver-1-01-6?utm_source=openai))

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Title Update 1.0.1 hotfix (platform sizes noted)

Ubisoft’s release notes for Title Update 1.0.1 list patch sizes by platform (including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Mac) and mention stabilization plus photo mode crash fixes (with platform-specific notes). ([ubisoft.com](https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/news/RuJqjgCPRvnM6Prn0tVh8/ac-shadows-title-update-101-hot-fix-release-notes))

Guide Corner (How-to / Walkthrough / Rules / Strategy)

Marvel Rivals Chrono-Rush: A simple “play more, waste less” catch-up plan

Chrono-Rush is explicitly framed as a Battle Pass catch-up window where you earn extra Chrono Tokens by playing matches, with no cap during the event period (through Jan 16, 2026 (UTC)). ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))

Step-by-step: your 30–60 minute daily routine (low stress, consistent gains)

Step 1: Decide your goal before queueing. Pick one: “earn tokens fast,” “practice a hero,” or “play with friends.” Mixing goals mid-session is where progress slows.
Step 2: Play shorter sets, not endless marathons. Do 2–3 matches, take a 2-minute break, then repeat. You’ll make better decisions and avoid tilt-queueing.
Step 3: Prioritize finishing matches cleanly. Rage-quitting or mentally checking out wastes the match time you could be turning into tokens (Chrono-Rush rewards are about playing matches). ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Step 4: If you’re behind on the pass, play your most reliable role. The goal is consistency: fewer blowouts, fewer “I’ll try something new” spirals.
Step 5: Check the Luxury Battle Pass final page option. The patch notes state the final page includes an option to exchange Chrono Tokens for Accessory Points, which may affect how you plan your end-of-event spending. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))

Quick rules explainer: what changed in this patch that affects moment-to-moment play?

Traversal emotes: The notes say traversal emotes are standardized to only move forward, and you change facing direction via camera adjustment—so don’t rely on “sideways” traversal behavior if you’re styling mid-rotation. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Bug fixes: The patch lists multiple hero-related fixes (including edge-case ability interactions) that may slightly change the reliability of certain combos from last week. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))

Common Mistakes

Waiting until the last weekend. Chrono-Rush is generous, but real life happens—spread your matches across the event window (ends Jan 16, 2026 (UTC)). ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Queueing while tilted “to farm tokens faster.” You usually lose more time to bad games than you gain from playing angry.
Ignoring patch behavior changes. Traversal emote movement standardization can throw off muscle memory if you used emotes as “micro-movement” between cover. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Not restarting after updates. Some games require a restart to ensure the latest update fully applies (especially when version checks matter).

Advanced Tips

Play “decision-light” heroes when grinding. When your goal is steady match completion, pick heroes you can execute under pressure without overthinking.
Stack objectives with friends. Coordinated groups reduce match volatility, which improves your ability to stay consistent over a long event window.
Track your token spend plan now. Since the patch mentions exchanging Chrono Tokens for Accessory Points on the Luxury Battle Pass final page, decide whether your priority is finishing tiers first or converting at the end. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
If you play multiple platforms, verify the update actually applied. Some titles display app/regulation versions separately (common in online-focused games). ([bandainamcoent.com](https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/elden-ring-nightreign-hotfix-regulation-ver-1-01-6?utm_source=openai))

How to research better (Checklist)

Start with official patch notes/release notes (developer/publisher site first).
Confirm the version number and timestamp (UTC vs local time can change “today” vs “yesterday”).
Check targeted platforms and note platform-specific patch sizes or differences. ([ubisoft.com](https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/news/RuJqjgCPRvnM6Prn0tVh8/ac-shadows-title-update-101-hot-fix-release-notes))
Use a secondary source for context (reputable outlet or patch aggregator), but don’t treat it as “source of truth.”
Bookmark the game’s “News” hub so you’re not relying on social reposts.

FAQ (5–8 Qs)

What is Chrono-Rush in Marvel Rivals?
It’s a limited-time event meant to help players catch up on Battle Pass progress by earning extra Chrono Tokens through matches, with no upper limit during the event. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
When does Chrono-Rush end?
The patch notes list the event window as Jan 1, 2026 09:00 UTC to Jan 16, 2026 09:00 UTC. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Did Marvel Rivals have server downtime for the Jan 1 patch?
The notes say there’s no server downtime—“just patch and play.” ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
What changed with traversal emotes?
The patch states traversal emotes are standardized to move forward only, and you change facing direction with the camera. ([marvelrivals.gg](https://marvelrivals.gg/marvel-rivals-version-20260101-patch-notes/))
Elden Ring Nightreign: what version do I need for online play?
The hotfix post lists App Ver. 1.01.4 and Regulation Ver. 1.01.6 and notes online requires applying the update. ([bandainamcoent.com](https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/elden-ring-nightreign-hotfix-regulation-ver-1-01-6?utm_source=openai))
Assassin’s Creed Shadows hotfix: are patch sizes different by platform?
Yes—Ubisoft lists different sizes for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Mac in Title Update 1.0.1 notes. ([ubisoft.com](https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/news/RuJqjgCPRvnM6Prn0tVh8/ac-shadows-title-update-101-hot-fix-release-notes))