The dark fantasy shooter Witchfire launches in Early Access. What to expect and on which platforms you can play, find out here.
What kind of game is Witchfire? Witchfire is a dark first-person shooter developed by the creative minds behind games like Painkiller and Bulletstorm.
The story of Witchfire takes us to a dark world where war rages between witches and the Vatican. The Vatican employs forbidden pagan magic to defeat the witches.
This magic transforms willing sinners into immortal witch hunters known as Preyers. You take on the role of such a Preyer, armed with powerful spells and strange weapons from the Vatican, hunting witches through a dark world. Your goal is to find the infamous and powerful witch in order to retrieve a legendary artifact.
As in their game The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, the development studio The Astronauts relies on photogrammetry technology to create a dark fantasy world.
The game has been available since September 20. Currently in Early Access only at Epic. The release on Steam is planned for a later date.
You can watch the gameplay trailer for Witchfire here:
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Witchfire: New first-person shooter sends you on a witch hunt in a dark fantasy world
Who is Witchfire suitable for? The game aims to engage both roguelite fans and players who usually prefer to avoid roguelites. The developers promise challenges, yet a satisfying gaming experience and offer players various paths to victory.
What does the community say? Some players have already played Witchfire and shared their first impressions on Reddit. Most of them are positive:
TiredofBeingTired describes his first impression: More fun than I expected, and much harder than I expected (which I think is a good thing!) Satisfying shooter, and you never die unfairly. If you die or take damage, it’s because you didn’t react to something that was shown to you.
Darkmatter 12 praises: So far, it has been really fun, the gameplay is smooth and it runs fantastic.
citromviasz says: I find it very good. Fair challenge, no stupid enemies. Pleasant.
Roketzu criticizes the many effects: There are too many screen effects that make it difficult to see clearly in a game that doesn’t have the best visual clarity to begin with because it focuses on making the game look pretty.[…]
Are you looking forward to the full version of Witchfire? Are you already playing it in Early Access? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Yesterday, Enad Global 7 held their Capital Markets Day. During this event, current figures were discussed, as well as plans for the future. The company purchased the MMO company Daybreak in 2020, which also owns the rights to EverQuest. It has now been revealed that a new EverQuest MMORPG is set to be developed in the future.
What kind of game will it be? Currently, there are not many details. It is intended to be a new MMORPG in the EverQuest universe and not a remaster. EverQuest is described as an important milestone in the genre and still has active fans who wish for a continuation, as stated in the presentation.
However, the new game is not expected to be more accessible to the general public but rather have a hardcore approach and pay homage to the old titles.
Screenshot from the Capital Markets Day video (via YouTube).
The development is not expected to really pick up speed until 2025; currently, they are still in the idea phase. Nevertheless, a release is already planned for 2028.
EverQuest still has over 100,000 active players per month
Is this worthwhile for the company? Yes, because EverQuest is still a popular MMORPG, even though it is extremely outdated. According to statistics from the presentation, the first part has about 100,000 different active players per month, while part 2 has around 30,000.
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3 MMORPGs that are still played a lot even 20 years after release
Wasn’t there already a new EverQuest? Yes. The title was called EverQuest Next and was developed in the early 2010s. The MMORPG was very ambitious:
The classes were supposed to offer a lot of freedom, and you could mix abilities from different frameworks, although you could only carry a certain number of them at the same time. It was reminiscent of Guild Wars 1 and the secondary class system.
You were supposed to be able to change the world and build your own structures.
The NPCs were intended to react dynamically to the player.
The movements were very fluid, allowing sliding, climbing, and using a double jump.
The graphics made a good impression.
Players were supposed to design cities, areas, and quests through the decoupled EverQuest Landmark, which the developers could theoretically have integrated into the game. This way, players were to be involved in the further development.
In Pokémon GO, strong monsters in particular are very popular among trainers, especially shinies. But now a decision by the developers regarding one monster is causing quite a frustration in the community. We at MeinMMO will show you what happened and what players wish for the future.
Which Pokémon is it about? Numerous trainers in Pokémon GO are enchanted by the shimmering Pokémon. They differ in color from their actual form. Particularly popular are monsters that are not too common in the game. This also applies to the Psychic-type Pokémon Unown, which can usually only be caught at special events in the game.
Even during the current Psychic event, it is represented in three different forms in raids. But shiny hunters must now be very strong. The monster, which can usually be found as shiny in the game, has been briefly disabled by the developers in its shimmering form. How the trainers are reacting to this has been summarized for you below.
Decision causes frustration: The news about the missing shinies of Unown P, S, and I is causing quite a frustration in the community. Although the developers announced this decision before the event in the context of the event announcement on the Pokémon GO blog, many did not initially notice the change.
Only the corresponding shiny stars were missing from the announcement. However, Unown had previously been available as shiny in the game, so players did not expect that these could no longer be active. It was only through posts from other players on social networks that they finally became aware of the deactivation.
Why are the trainers so angry? Unlike many other monsters, Unown is not so often found in the game, which is why some had hoped for a shiny. Normally, shinies remain active in Pokémon GO after their release. Therefore, the deactivation now primarily causes incomprehension among the players.
Additionally, you can currently only get Unown from raids. So if you want to secure it, you have to invest raid passes. This is particularly annoying when you overlook the missing shiny star in the announcement and are now trying to hunt for a shiny that you cannot obtain. You can read the following in the comments on Reddit:
BazF91: Turning off shiny Unown in raids feels like a betrayal. Even though Niantic mentioned in the event details that shiny Unown would be turned off, they must know that there are people out there who don’t know that and will still raid Unown, hoping to get a shiny. For most Pokémon, a shiny, once activated, is never turned off again. […] I don’t understand why Niantic is so stingy in this case regarding the release of shiny Unown.
ComprehensiveAd9781: I didn’t notice that the shiny was turned off until I saw this post. I would have wasted raid passes.
KarasLegion: I literally wasted raid passes on them, hoping it would be a shiny, and then I see some random person on Reddit posting that they turned shinies off. Yay!
New feature in raids: Furthermore, trainers have long criticized the communication and transparency of decisions by the developers. Players have been demanding the disclosure of shiny rates and better communication with players for years.
Even with the change of shiny Unown, it could have saved trouble, according to the Reddit user Throwaway98455645. He thinks that a corresponding shiny indicator in gyms would make sense, so that trainers can already see before a raid whether the Pokémon is available as shiny.
As he explains on Reddit: A simple solution to this problem would be for Niantic to display the shiny symbol or a text on the raid’s start screen, when the raid boss is shiny-eligible. Like many other things in this game, it would be a huge improvement to the quality of life if one could look up things like this directly in the game. It is frustrating when you have to interrupt the game to open an external document (even if it was created by Niantic itself).
General shiny release: Other players, on the other hand, wish for a general adjustment with the shinies. They believe that these should be available as soon as a monster is released in the game and should then be permanent. In return, they could imagine that shinies are no longer widely distributed during community days.
Whether Niantic will make improvements here and become more transparent in the future or even reconsider their shiny system remains to be seen.
What do you think about Niantic’s decision not to be able to catch Unown as shiny at the moment? Have you also played raids in vain? And what do you think of the proposal for a shiny indicator in raids? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
In EA Sports FC 24 you can once again check the probabilities of getting the best players. We present you the chances of the different packs.
Which players do we count among the best in FC 24? We count all players with a rating of at least 84 among the very good players, even if some lesser playable cards may be included. Especially at the start of FC 24, it seems sensible to take all high-rated players to have materials for SBCs in the club.
Since these high-rated players are likely to be very expensive at the beginning, most players take their chances by opening packs. We show you how likely it is to get good to very good players in FC 24.
The pack probabilities in EA Sports FC 24
Where do the pack probabilities come from? The probabilities of getting players from different rating ranges can be found in the shop. Next to the packs, you’ll see a small “i”, which stands for info. If you click on it, the different probabilities of getting players from a certain rating range will appear.
What is the probability of getting an 84+ player? Currently, only a Premium Gold Pack is available in the web app for FC 24 to obtain the best gold cards. The price for this pack is 7,500 coins, as in all FIFA titles. The chance of receiving a player with an overall rating of 84+ is 7.8%.
Statistically, you will get a player with a total rating of at least 84 in about every 14th Premium Gold Pack.
The opportunity to pull a player from the Team of the Week has not yet been specifically named, but last year it was around a probability of 1.7%, which would correspond to about every 50th pack.
All probabilities for the Premium Gold Pack are also listed here for you.
Can I increase my chances of getting very good players? Indirectly, yes, as every 24 hours you also have the option to open a so-called preview pack in the shop. These packs cost neither coins nor FC Points the first time you open them. Only if you like the contents can you decide to buy the pack.
For completeness, we also list the probabilities for the silver and bronze premium packs. Especially strong silver cards could become really interesting with the new evolution feature.
Probabilities in the Premium Silver Pack
In EA Sports FC there is also a Premium Silver Pack again. In this pack, the probability of getting a silver player with a rating of 74 or higher is 14%. So, in every seventh pack, one of the best silver players could appear.
Among the silver players, there is one of the fastest stars in FC 24 who also plays in Germany.
Probabilities in the Premium Bronze Pack
Finally, EA offers the Premium Bronze Pack. This pack provides the opportunity to obtain bronze players at an extremely low price. It costs only 750 coins and offers a probability of 36% to get a bronze player with a top rating of 64.
A bronze player has even made it into our list of 5-star skiller in FC 24. This player could become an interesting card for the evolution developments in FC 24.
So you have all the probabilities for the currently available packs at a glance. During the year, perhaps already for the Early Access promo in FC 24, the shop will be replenished with additional packs and new probabilities.
In the end, the question arises whether the probabilities are high enough to spend coins or FC Points on them.
Are packs a worthwhile investment? Whether you want to spend your coins on packs or even invest real money in the game is completely up to you. However, given the probabilities, it’s clear that one shouldn’t expect the strongest cards from packs.
In most cases, the investment is likely not worth it, considering the fact that 84+ includes many players who, despite high ratings, will not belong to the most playable cards in FC 24.
Often, it is actually more sensible to receive packs as rewards from various game modes like Rivals, Squad Battles, Champions, and more. The earned coins should then be better spent on the transfer market to directly buy the players you need for your team instead of relying on luck.
Starfield has many little details and fans love it – even if some of them are easy to miss. Now a player has discovered a detail that he initially thought was a bug. But a note later revealed to him what was really going on.
A Reddit user named “Zergerge” reports in a post that he discovered coffee in combat robots. He was exploring some planets when he stumbled upon an abandoned factory where he had to fight a few pirates. Shortly after the battle, he found the deactivated defense robots of the factory.
In Starfield, these defense robots are found at every corner. They are armed, can be turned on or off via a computer, and are meant to protect facilities or space stations from attackers. They also drop loot such as “Weightless Wire” when destroyed.
Since the Reddit user was after that loot, he destroyed the robots. To his surprise, he found coffee among the mechanical companions’ wreckage alongside technical components. Initially, the user thought it was a bug, as he stated in his post – then he found out the truth.
Start video
Starfield: How to get one of the best spaceships early!
What’s the deal with the coffee? A few minutes after Zergerge destroyed the robots and thought the coffee was a bug, or incorrectly placed loot, he found a note.
The note came from the HR department of the factory and reminded the staff that the robots serve security and it violates company policy to allow them to brew and deliver coffee.
So the armed defense robot had coffee in its inventory because the employees had reprogrammed it and tasked it with preparing the hot drink.
Even Vasco, the faithful companion robot of the protagonist, is not only good for carrying coffee and other loot, but he could also surprise a player with a particularly witty response:
With the Quantum Stream, JBL offers a microphone for gamers. The price is under 100 euros. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has taken a look at the model and reveals whether the money is worth it.
The most important points at a glance:
JBL Quantum Stream is a USB microphone for gamers under 100 euros
The microphone can be placed on the table or mounted on a stand
The package includes the microphone, a USB cable, and a manual
The build quality is good, but not as premium as the Yeti Nano
The sound quality is clear and understandable, with slight background noise
The JBL Quantum Stream is a small USB microphone for the desk. You can place it on the table or attach it to a desk mount. There are several competing products in the “100 euros” range.
In my test, I examined the Quantum Stream and explain whether the microphone might be worth it for you. You can also listen to a sample recording of the microphone below.
Who tested this?
I am the Tech Editor at MeinMMO and have a fondness for peripherals, testing mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO. Gaming mice, in particular, are among my absolute favorites. Besides the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck and on my Nintendo Switch.
The JBL Quantum Stream was provided to me by the manufacturer for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Technical Details (click to expand):
JBL Quantum Stream
Sampling rate
48 kHz
Directionality
Cardioid (unidirectional), Omnidirectional
Frequency response
20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sound pressure
-37±3dB (1kHz@1Pa, 0dB=1v/Pa)
Price (RRP)
89.99 euros
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Contents, Design, and Setup
What does the package include? The package includes the microphone, a manual, and a USB cable to connect the microphone to your computer.
How is the microphone built? It features a casing that resembles a cylinder or a can. On the front, there is a dial module with which you can adjust the volume. The underside of the microphone is equipped with RGB lighting, which is very subtle and discreet.
On the top of the microphone, you can mute or reactivate the microphone by touching it (touch field). A similar function is also present in the Roccat Torch (for testing).
JBL Quantum Stream package: microphone, cable, and manual. The stand is pre-installed but can be removed.
A metal stand is already mounted on the microphone but can be removed anytime if you prefer to mount the device on a stand. There is enough space on the underside for another mount or a screw. Additionally, the foot of the microphone can also be tilted in all directions. This is especially helpful if you want to turn or tilt the microphone towards you.
What does the microphone look like? The microphone comes in a simple black color and otherwise opts for a discreet design. The RGB lighting is also subtle. There are no additional color accents. The manufacturer’s logo is located on the front side.
The microphone itself is almost entirely made of plastic. An exception is the underside, where the mount for the foot or a screw is made of metal. The microphone foot is also made of solid metal, giving it a high-quality impression.
Overall, the device makes a good impression for around 100 euros but doesn’t quite reach the build quality of Logitech’s Yeti Nano.
JBL Quantum Stream, underside: Here is a USB-C port, space for the stand (middle), and a headphone jack.
Software
When you connect the microphone to your PC, you are greeted by an installation assistant from the manufacturer and can set up the microphone directly. Ideally, you do not need to search for the software, as the device does it for you. The installation is quick, and then there is a kind of tutorial that explains all the functions. If needed, you can skip it, as most features are really self-explanatory.
The manual guides me through the software. This is practical, but it can be turned off.
The software itself is designed to be very user-friendly, and JBL uses a simple interface in its “Quantum Engine” without advertising elements. The only thing that annoys me is that there is a 3D animation of the microphone rotating in the interface. Unfortunately, you cannot turn off the animation.
This is what the software “Quantum Engine” looks like. The red microphone (right) is rotating constantly.
In the software, all important settings can be made. These include the directionality (cardioid or omnidirectional) or an equalizer. You can also turn off the lighting if it bothers you. Personally, the RGB lighting has never bothered me because it is really not intrusive.
Sound Quality
During my initial recordings, I had the microphone connected to a USB hub and experienced extremely unpleasant noise in the recordings. It was only when I connected the device directly to my computer that the loud noises in the recording disappeared.
In the sound check, the microphone performs surprisingly well, and I am clearly audible in the recordings. The sound is significantly better and not as strained and artificial as with the Yeti Nano. However, some slight background noise is audible. But this is not unusual for a USB microphone.
I have included a sample recording for you in the article:
“JBL Quantum Stream test recording”.
Conclusion: Very good microphone for under 100 euros
With the Quantum Stream, JBL offers a surprisingly good microphone for less than 100 euros. The speech sounds clear and understandable; the settings directly on the microphone are somewhat limited. However, all important aspects can be quickly set via the software.
If you want to upgrade your setup and are looking for a good microphone, you should give the JBL Quantum Stream a chance.
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What alternatives are there?
The Yeti Nano is Logitech’s entry-level model and is regularly available for under 100 euros. The sound quality is worse than the Quantum Stream, but the build quality is better.
The Roccat Torch is also a good alternative. I like the voice quality even slightly better than on the Quantum Stream, but the build quality is significantly worse, and the microphone is quite bulky.
Further recommendations: If you are looking for suitable headphones for the microphone or just a gaming headset, check out our buying guide here on MeinMMO: Here we present the best gaming headsets, headphones, and microphones that you can currently buy.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the eighth installment in the Yakuza series. Since the seventh part of the series, Kazuma Kiryu has been replaced by Ichiban Kasuga as the protagonist. A new trailer now gives a brief glimpse of the story of the eighth main part.
What is Like A Dragon about? Up to and including the sixth main part, the series is known as Yakuza, since the seventh part, the subtitle Like A Dragon has been added. In Infinite Wealth, Ichiban not only travels to Yokohama but also to Hawaii.
The Yakuza series is known for its quirky minigames and absurd humor. Anyone who has a problem with men in diapers, dominatrixes, or toilet jokes should steer clear of this series.
Start video
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth shows story in 10 minutes
Returning characters from the seventh part of the series will be included, and even the protagonist from Yakuza 1-6 will be back in the game. But new faces are also joining, including the famous action actor Danny Trejo as Dwight.
It seems that Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth could be an emotional rollercoaster and herald the end of Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the first six parts. It remains to be seen whether he can defeat his illness in the end.
But Ichiban Kasuga also has his own story to tell as the protagonist. He travels to Hawaii to talk to his mother. However, he gets involved in such crazy events that he even wakes up on the beach in Hawaii without any clothes on.
A player in Baldur’s Gate 3 can’t get enough of a companion and keeps exploding him over and over again. MeinMMO reveals what it’s all about.
Warning Spoiler: The article contains story spoilers from Act 1 and about Astarion.
In the captivating world of Faerûn, there is a character that stands out in impressive ways: Astarion. Played by Neil Newbon, this role has captured the hearts of one player and presumably many more.
This player has developed a special love for him and repeatedly makes an unusual decision: He lets Astarion explode with a super weapon, simply because he is thrilled by Astarion’s subsequent reaction.
This is how you can reduce your carrying weight:
Start video
3 Tips to Reduce Your Carrying Weight in Baldur’s Gate 3
Neil Newbon is so good that I have to kill Astarion every time
It concerns the decision to activate the solar lance at the end of the Githyanki cradle in Act 1. If you kill Astarion with this super weapon and then revive him, he freaks out. The player raphades is so thrilled with Astarion’s voice actor that he sacrifices Astarion in every new save.
He writes:
No, this is not an “I hate Astarion when I kill him” post. I really love Astarion and keep him in my team in every run. […] The intensity of the dialogues is simply perfect; ever since I found out about it, I blow up the cradle with Astarion in it every time I get there, just to be spoiled by this voice acting talent.
Despite his love for Astarion, he feels the irresistible urge to sacrifice his favorite character in this crucial scene – just to enjoy this moving performance by Neil Newbon once again.
Here you can see the amusing scene:
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Astarion says among other things: What the hell were you thinking activating that lance? I was right there!
If you sincerely apologize to him and promise to be more careful next time, you will receive the following humorous reaction: Next time? No, no, no. If there is a next time, I will be the one aiming the ultimate weapon, thanks. Shall we go now? Or do you want to unleash more chaos here?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players have numerous dialogue options available. Due to this variety, many players start multiple runs to ensure they don’t miss any important content. Perhaps you might decide to bombard Astarion with the solar lance – just for this humorous scene it is definitely worth considering.
Enad Global 7 acquired the MMORPG company Daybreak in 2020. Now they have shared details on finances and player numbers in a presentation. This included not only the two MMORPGs mentioned in the title but also EverQuest, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Planetside 2.
How many players do the individual MMORPGs have? A graphic showed the MAUs – monthly active users. Here, every person who logged in at least once in the respective game counts:
DC Universe Online has a bit over 300,000 different players.
The Lord of the Rings Online has about 100,000 players.
EverQuest 1 has just under 100,000 players.
Dungeons & Dragons Online recently had a small peak with around 60,000 players.
EverQuest 2 has approximately 25,000 players.
Planetside 2 has around 150,000 players.
The numbers cannot be determined exactly because the corresponding graph contains many lines and was also only visible in a small format in the presentation. We have included a screenshot for you:
Screenshot from the video for the Capital Markets Day (via YouTube).
However, it should be noted that many more players will certainly log in over the course of a month.
Anyone who wants to dive deeper into the topic of numbers can listen to the podcast by MMO editors Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner. They have dealt with it:
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The presentation stated that DC Universe is the most susceptible game to fluctuations because it relies heavily on casuals. There are supposed to be regularly new players coming, but many also leave again.
Other titles like EverQuest or LOTRO, however, have a very stable player base with people who have remained loyal for decades and return for larger updates. This is evident from the LOTRO graph when the 15th anniversary was celebrated in April 2022. There was a significant spike upwards.
Start video
The 3 largest MMORPGs in Germany in 2023, according to Google
Overall, the numbers are very stable, especially compared to 2019, i.e. before the pandemic. Moreover, every MMO is currently “highly profitable”.
For next year, the developers expect a slight increase for EverQuest because the MMORPG will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
In addition, a new title in the H1Z1 universe and one for Mechwarrior are planned. Releases for 2026 and 2027 are being eyed. The presentation also included a lot of information on finances, the general development of the gaming market, and monetization.
What do you think about the player numbers? Which MMORPG surprised you, both positively and negatively?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Mortal Kombat 1 does not look as good on the Nintendo Switch as hoped. Now Nintendo has even removed the associated trailer.
What is the deal with the failures and the mockery? Mortal Kombat 1, the latest installment in the popular fighting game series, was released on September 19, 2023.
Since the reboot of the 30-year-old first part was announced in May 2023 with a fantastic trailer, fans of the series have been looking forward to the release – not least because of the impressive graphics shown in the trailer.
But this pretty graphics are not available on all platforms. Mortal Kombat 1 was released not only for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, but also for the significantly less powerful Nintendo Switch and has since received a lot of criticism.
The gameplay trailer shows how good Mortal Kombat 1 can look on PC, Xbox, and PS5:
Start video
Mortal Kombat 1 – Gameplay Trailer
Nintendo removes trailer for Mortal Kombat 1
What now with the trailer? Nintendo has removed the Switch trailer for Mortal Kombat 1. The link that previously led to the trailer now only reads “Video not available” (via YouTube).
The removal of the trailer may be due to the fact that the Switch trailer partially contained PC gameplay that not only looked too good but even included Steam achievements, as one user shows on Twitter/ X.com:
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Even before the removal of the trailer, the Switch version received criticism
How bad is the Switch version? Users on social media agree: Mortal Kombat 1 looks significantly worse on the Switch.
Especially the characters have received a severe downgrade for Nintendo’s console, as piles of comparison images show. On Twitter/ X.com, the difference to the PS5 version is illustrated with several comparison images:
The Switch version, however, is not only criticized for looking worse than the PS5 version. Even in a comparison to genre competitor TEKKEN 6, which was released in 2007 for the PSP, Mortal Kombat 1 does not look good (via Twitter).
MK creator promises update for Switch version
What’s next for the Switch version? As Ed Boon, regarded as the creator of the “Mortal Kombat” series, stated in an interview with BBC, the Switch version “will definitely get an update”.
He further explains: “A number of issues that have arisen will definitely be addressed.”
So it is possible that there will be an update that slightly improves the title’s appearance. How significant the jump will be ultimately depends on the Switch.
If you want to discover more fighting games, you might find the upcoming 2023 title “Die by the Blade” interesting:
Pokémon GO wants to lure you outside once again with the Nichts wie raus-event at the end of the month. You can especially look forward to some changes to the routes. We have summarized what other content there will be from MeinMMO below.
What event is it about? Unlike other games, trainers in Pokémon GO are encouraged to go outside, explore their surroundings, and play together with others. With the Nichts wie raus-event, which starts in a few days, you will be drawn outside.
Those who take advantage of it can expect plenty of spawns and bonuses. These will mainly revolve around content in your area, such as showcases or the routes. The latter are also set to receive some updates. We will show you what those changes are and what else to expect below.
When does the event run? The Nichts wie raus-event starts on September 27, 2023 at 10:00 AM local time and runs until October 2, 2023 at 8:00 PM local time.
New content in the routes
What improvements are planned? In addition to the actual event content, the announced changes to the routes are a highlight for many players. In recent weeks, these have caused frustration for some trainers. This could improve in the future, as the developers plan the following updates:
More trainers can create routes
Trainers can encounter Zygarde cells more frequently
Trainers will receive a notification when routes are nearby
Moreover, there will be updates aimed at improving gameplay quality in the routes.
Why are the changes so important? Since the release of the route feature, there has been ongoing harsh criticism from the community. This is because there are still no routes in many regions. Those who own routes struggle with Zygarde cells.
Zygarde cells are very hard to find, but are required for completing the special research Von A bis Zygarde as well as for changing Zygarde’s forms. Thanks to the changes, there could soon be not only more routes, but trainers could also finally find more Zygarde cells.
All spawns, shinies & bonuses for the Nichts wie raus-event
These spawns await you: During the Nichts wie raus-event, you can not only look forward to updates on the routes but also to some changed spawns in the wild and from eggs. Hisui-Fukano will celebrate its shiny debut in the game.
And with a bit of luck, other Pokémon can also be caught in their shiny forms. Keep an eye out for the following:
Wild spawns: Enton*, Fukano*, Onix*, Evoli*, Barschwa*, Fleknoil*, Pamo and with a bit of luck Arkani
2-km eggs & 7-km eggs: Hisui-Fukano* and all monsters that normally hatch from these eggs
All event bonuses: Of course, various bonuses will also be available to you during the event. The focus is mainly on going outside. So you can look forward to the following content:
Kecleon spawns more frequently at PokéStops
If you explore routes with your buddy, it collects candies faster
3x XP when you complete routes
Event Field Research
Encounters with Hisui-Fukano*, Hisui-Sniebel, Hisui-Baldorfish and Pamo
Limited research Nichts wie raus (free)
Rewards: Items, Stardust, and encounters with Hisui-Fukano*
Limited research Feurige Abenteuer for about 2 Euros
Rewards: Encounters with Hisui-Fukano* & Fukano, 2 incubators, and 2 super incubators
Showcases with Fukano and Hisui-Fukano
Updates for the routes
various event boxes
Wanderbox for 1,990 coins in the in-game shop (10 super incubators, 12 incubators, 2 Knursp)
Hisui-Fukano wig for your avatar for 200 coins in the shop
What do you think of the event content? Which bonus do you definitely not want to miss? And what is your opinion on the route updates? Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and discuss it with other trainers.
For a long time, Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler was criticized for his streams about the FIFA franchise. Then came a change of heart: the streamer no longer wanted to show gambling mechanics on Twitch. Now he explains why he will still play EA Sports FC .
What is Trymacs’ relationship with the franchise? Trymacs was long one of the biggest streamers for FIFA. In 2020, he was ranked 3rd worldwide among the most-watched streamers on Twitch for the then-current FIFA 2021 (via sullygnome).
Trymacs distanced himself from the criticism of the loot box model in games like FIFA: He showed his viewers how low the chances of getting good cards were and would rather discourage them from spending money on the game.
With the upcoming release of EA Sports FC 24 on September 29, the streamer received many questions about whether he would show the FIFA successor on Twitch.
In a video released on September 19, 2023, he makes a clear statement.
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“Complete Online Casino for Kids”
Will Trymacs show EA Sports FC 24? Yes, Trymacs plans to play the FIFA successor on his stream. However, there is a big “but.” He will no longer play the Ultimate Team mode: Nothing has changed; it is a complete online casino for kids disguised as a football simulator, said Trymacs.
The streamer emphasizes that his concern is solely about the gambling aspect. If it was just about throwing money into the game and buying a Mbappé directly, he would have no problem with that. In the packs, everything—from the sound to the visuals and effects—is designed to make someone somewhat addicted, according to Trymacs.
And even if you’ve never opened a pack and are watching it with me, I’m already harming you. Especially younger viewers even more than usual. Some people are susceptible to that. I have a huge community, a lot of viewers who partake in that experience, and I don’t want to do that anymore. That was a big mistake in the past.
For the same reason, he also does not show Counter-Strike cases, although that is currently very popular among many of his streaming colleagues. However, if something changes in the Ultimate Team in the future, Trymacs could envision a return.
Stepping away from Ultimate Team means financial losses for the streamer. FIFA was by far the most successful game on his channel so far. But he simply cannot reconcile it with his conscience any other way.
What does he want to show instead? Trymacs explains that he will show other game modes of EAFC 24. He will compete in friendly matches against his friend streamer Chefstrobel, play Pro Clubs with his viewers, or try his hand at the career mode.
Meanwhile, Trymacs still wants to try to get people away from the game. He will also absolutely continue to insult EA, clearly. How that ended for him last time, you can read about here:
The prices in World of Warcraft are rising. The cause are bots that exploit a new method and become incredibly rich.
Gold is still an important resource in World of Warcraft. Whether it’s about repair costs, buying a new mount, or paying for the subscription with a WoW token. For this reason, the actually forbidden sale of gold remains a problem in the game – especially because bots continually find new methods to gather a lot of gold.
What is this exploit? The exploit allows characters to defeat numerous enemies in the blink of an eye, which are actually well below their level. However, these enemies still drop loot as if they were level 70. This means that the bot loots the loot from several dozen level 70 creatures every few seconds, even though it is actually killing creatures that are more than 20 levels below it.
We won’t explain exactly how the exploit works, and we strongly advise against using it. When Blizzard fixes these exploits, all accounts that have exploited them are usually punished – and this can lead to permanent account closure.
Although Blizzard has already fixed parts of this exploit, clever players – and also the bot operators – have already found ways for the exploit to still work in other areas with a bit more effort.
An outdated, now patched version of the exploit can be seen here:
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How much can one earn with the exploit? Even though the exploit partly depends on drop luck, it results in about a profit of 1,200,000 gold per day, if the bot runs continuously for 24 hours.
This also means that the costs for creating an account are recouped extremely quickly with this exploit. In less than 24 hours, the bot operator has already covered the costs for the account, and from then on, everything is profit.
Typically, Blizzard bans bots in waves, so several weeks may pass before action is taken against such bots.
What is the problem with these exploits? The amount of gold in World of Warcraft has a direct impact on prices in the game, such as the WoW token. In the US region of the game, the price recently climbed to a new high of 353,000 gold. Many players see the exploitation of the aforementioned exploits as a reason for the increasingly soaring prices.
The development team at Bungie is currently very busy. Many players are complaining about connection issues and error codes in Destiny 2, which are preventing them from playing. In a statement, Bungie clarifies what is behind this.
What struggle does Bungie currently have to fight?
The development team did pull the plug and announced a fix
Currently, players are struggling with error codes and connection issues that are not related to the exploit
After yesterday’s maintenance, several error messages suddenly appeared for many players. The fans assumed that the error codes and connection issues were caused by the last patch. But Bungie has now clarified that something completely different is behind it.
The translated statement from English reads as follows:
In recent days, we have observed an increase in error codes and connection issues. The team has confirmed that these error codes are not related to the planned fixes for the recently occurred crafting issue, but are the result of DDoS attacks. Although we usually do not confirm this kind of attack and do not intend to do so in the future for reasons of general game security, we believe it is right to communicate the additional stress on our systems given the recent circumstances to our players.
We would like to thank our players for their patience as our teams work diligently to ensure the integrity of the game and continue to implement our roadmap for future stability improvements.
The development team has thus struggled with hacker attacks in recent days. Normally, Bungie would not make such DDoS attacks public. However, due to recent events, the team decided to inform the players about it.
The players hope that such problems are not part of “The Final Shape”:
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“Thank you for letting us know”
Due to the many problems Destiny 2 is currently facing, many players could be upset. However, in the comments, it becomes clear that many users understand Bungie’s situation.
The community is grateful that Bungie has decided to make the hacker attacks public. We have selected some voices for you so that you can get a rough idea of how players are reacting to the situation:
Iiizwerg: “Please what, this is crazy. Thank you for the communication.”
AD2P_Twitch: “It’s a shame that some people feel the need to ruin it for everyone else! Thanks for the transparency regarding the recent DDoS attacks you faced! Take the time you need to get the issue under control, we’ll all still be here to log in and grind again!!!”
NewEra7Official: “On top of the crafting exploit, this is a hell of a weekend for you.”
There are sporadic comments where players still complain about the situation. The community advises these users to take a break from the game and wait until Bungie gets the situation under control. When that will be the case is currently unfortunately unpredictable.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Wargaming (World of Tanks), MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski had the opportunity to interview Victor Kislyi. Victor is the founder and CEO of Wargaming, a studio that has its roots in Belarus – these roots have been completely uprooted due to the war.
On the morning of February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. A war breaks out. The war continues to this day.
In 2023, a game studio with Russian roots celebrates its 25th anniversary. In 1998, Victor Kislyi founded the studio Wargaming in Minsk (Belarus). It is today particularly known for its vehicle shooters like World of Tanks and World of Warships. On April 4, 2022, Wargaming announced that it intends to completely leave Russia – and follows through.
On the occasion of this anniversary, Wargaming offered us an interview with Victor, which we will publish in two parts on MeinMMO. The first part of the interview focuses on the profound experience of managing several hundred employees and a studio in a war zone.
We had to make many sacrifices
MeinMMO: A topic that is surely not easy to talk about is the ongoing war in Ukraine. How has the current situation in Ukraine affected daily operations and development at Wargaming?
Victor Kislyi: When the war in Ukraine began, we first had to help our employees in Kyiv. Of course, we held many meetings afterward, and the management team came to the decision to cease all activities in Russia and Belarus. We were as united in this decision as never before. And we all made the only right decision. And why? Because we all decided to stand on the right side of history.
But for us, that was of course a catastrophe. Before the war, two-thirds of our employees worked in these three countries (Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine). And we had to relocate the employees, about 1000 families, meaning they had to leave their homes and move to a completely unfamiliar country.
And it was very painful when we made the financial decision. It was clear that we would certainly suffer a significant financial loss the next morning. We are talking about 250 million US dollars in revenue that we lost overnight. One-third of our player base came from Russia and Belarus.
Developer Sergey Kuravskiy released the Halloween mode for World of Tanks from the bunker in Kyiv in 2022.
We also lost about one-third of our employees – we suffered a lot of damage and had to make many sacrifices during the restructuring because we had to act quickly. We had to discontinue some development initiatives; we lost 3 new, unannounced games, to be precise. The withdrawal from Russia and Belarus was more substantial for us than for most other global companies.
But under these truly bad circumstances, we managed to maintain our live games without interruption; we had new game modes and new content. We did not forget our main task as a company, which is to make our millions of players who entrust us with their time worldwide happy. It was not easy, but our employees did not forget this mission that we have as Wargaming, even though they were very stressed, and I am very proud of that.
MeinMMO: What was the first thing that went through your mind when you received the news of the invasion of Ukraine?
Victor Kislyi: The first thing that went through my mind was horror, and I thought of the suffering of the Ukrainian population, and of course, my thoughts were immediately with our 430 employees in Kyiv (Ukraine) and their families. We had some emergency plans prepared that were implemented in the first one to two hours after we learned of the events.
MeinMMO: What measures has Wargaming taken to ensure the safety and well-being of its employees and their families in the affected areas?
Victor Kislyi: For such a case, we already had plans. First, we provided buses to bring our employees and their families to safety in western Ukraine. This happened only a few hours after the invasion began. We took everyone who wanted to a safe place where accommodation and a temporary workplace were prepared. We also had additional financial resources to assist people with travel and relocation.
But we not only helped our employees; we also donated one million dollars to the Ukrainian Red Cross, contributed to the procurement of ambulances and medical equipment for Ukraine, supported victims of the destroyed power plant Kakhovka, and much more. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary, Wargaming donated a total of 250,000 US dollars through the platform United24. The money was used to purchase medical equipment to help those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Anyone who can and wants to contribute can do so, for example, through Action Germany Helps, which provides humanitarian aid to those affected in Ukraine. Here is the link to Emergency Aid Ukraine.
In an internal crowdfunding project, €200,000 was raised and used to buy and deliver six ambulances for Ukraine.
There is no turning back
MeinMMO: How will the current events in Ukraine affect the future of Wargaming?
Victor Kislyi: We made the right decision immediately after the invasion and implemented it faster than any Western company I know, faster than humans can. We have no presence, no connections, no influence, no exchange of money, no workforce, whatever, neither in Russia nor in Belarus. We are proud of that.
There is no turning back, no regrets. We believe that we have chosen the right side of history.
This is our starting point for the future.
Many thanks to you, Victor, for your openness and time.
In the second part of the interview, Victor shares insights into difficult decisions, the workday of a studio head, and offers assessments on the future gaming market:
For some major streamers, the new season in EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team has already begun. However, during their pack openings, it becomes clear that this year it is even less certain whether you will pull a strong or a weaker player.
How does the animation work when opening a pack? The sequence of the animation you see after opening a pack has been established over the years and is always the same: First, the nation appears, then the position, next the club, and finally you see the rating, the name, and the image of your drawn star.
As the individual components of the card are revealed gradually, the excitement increases immensely. However, the potential for disappointment in FC 24 is particularly high, and we will explain why. Additionally, we have compiled the biggest trolls so far for you.
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What is the risk of being trolled when opening packs? A good, functioning football team requires all positions to be filled at least twice.
For FC 24, this means that for one position in a club, several players are available. You can also pull these in the packs. It becomes critical when the same position in the same club is occupied by strong and less strong stars from the same country.
An example from the past: Lionel Messi (91) and Ángel Di María (84) played for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Ligue 1 in FIFA 23. But that was not all they had in common. Both Argentinians also played on the right wing (RF).
If after opening a pack “Argentina, RF, PSG” was displayed, many players probably could hardly believe their luck in pulling Messi before being brought back to the bitter reality when Di María appeared on their screen.
Such mix-ups, also known as trolls, exist in FC 24 more than ever before, and that also has to do with the addition of female players in Ultimate Team.
New female players increase the risk of being trolled
Why is the risk of mix-ups greater with the new female players? The player pool has grown even larger with the inclusion of women’s teams. More stars also means more opportunities to be trolled.
A prime example is the midfield of FC Barcelona. For the position of central midfielder (ZM), there are overall 5 players who qualify for that one spot in the team. The ratings range from 91 to 83.
Theoretically, one could not complain about either card. While we certainly do not need to introduce Kylian Mbappé, Marie Katoto is the star player in the PSG women’s team. However, when you already have the chance to pull one of the best cards in the game, the disappointment must be great, especially since Mbappé is also among the fastest players in FC 24.
PSG has double the frustration potential this year. In addition to the previously shown example, the RF position could also involve a deceptive twist. While Dembélé is among the 5-star skillers and is generally one of the strongest pace dribblers in FC, Baltimore’s card is only a solid card for starter teams.
Rashford is back on the rise at Manchester United since last year, while Sancho is increasingly sidelined. The gap between joy and sorrow could hardly be greater, both in FC 24 and in real life.
Musiala or Müller
While one star is on the rise, the light of the other is gradually fading. Youngster Musiala has clear speed and dribbling advantages over veteran Müller.
At Real, Éder Militão has already provided quite a shock. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear and will be out for a long time. In FC 24, the confusion between the two center-back cards could also cause a scary moment.
Finally, we ask you: What was the troll in FIFA that immediately comes to mind? Did we forget any star pairs in EA Sports FC 24 that can mislead? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
A brave player in Baldur’s Gate 3 decided to taste all Vettel potions from Act 1 so that you don’t have to. MeinMMO reveals what they do.
Spoiler: The article contains spoilers from Act 1.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, hidden dangers lurk frequently, including the mysterious Vettel potions. The fight against the Vettel can become one of the toughest challenges in the game. However, after you defeat the Vettel, a mysterious loot is revealed in their cave – ten potions, about which hardly anyone knows what they do.
A brave player from Baldur’s Gate 3 decided to try all the mysterious Vettel potions. Surprisingly, it turned out that some of these potions can actually be useful – at least temporarily.
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5 helpful tips for Baldur’s Gate 3
Player drinks Vettel potions for science
What kind of potions are these? In a Reddit post, the player PartyRooster explains the effects of each of these ten potions. It is no surprise that most of these potions are not very effective but rather harmful. However, PartyRooster discovered two exceptions during his risky tasting:
The potion Heart of Stone grants you poison resistance until the next long rest.
The potion Mother’s Loathing gives you the ability Bite (2d4 piercing damage) until the next long rest.
However, the other potions turn out to be treacherous debuffs that can get your hero into trouble.
You should avoid these potions:
Butterflies in my Stomach: Causes internal bleeding and deals 1-6 piercing damage for four rounds.
Insanity’s Kiss: You will be hostile to all for 5 rounds.
Faltering Will: Gives you a disadvantage on Wisdom checks until the next long rest.
Lost Time: Inflicts -2 on your armor class and prevents you from taking reactions for 50 rounds.
Lover’s Avarice: Reduces your Wisdom by 1 until the next long rest.
Missing Pets: You are frightened for 3 rounds.
Wilted Dreams: At the next long rest, you will take 3-18 psychic damage upon waking.
Broken Promise: +2 Strength until the long rest. However, after the rest, you will permanently receive -1 on your Strength.
Broken Promise proves particularly sly and deserves its name: At first, you gain +2 Strength temporarily, only to find out in the end that you now have -1 on Strength permanently. A deceptive potion that comes with high costs.
The Vettel is known not only for its dangerous potions:
PartyRooster emphasizes that the potions have no negative effects on opponents and therefore it is not worth using them against enemies. Caution is advised, as later in the game you will encounter even more dangerous potions.
The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 holds many surprises, and the Vettel potions are no exception. Thanks to PartyRooster, we now know what to expect when we indulge in these mysterious potions.
Some of these potions can be useful, if only temporarily. But most carry dangers that do more harm than good.
In any case, be careful and don’t drink everything you find – after all, even the most promising potion can have dire consequences.
EA Sports FC 24 has introduced the first Team of the Week. This is special because the game has not officially been released yet.
What is TOTW 1? The Team of the Week is a classic, as it provided new special cards weekly in the FIFA series for players who performed exceptionally well.
These cards are characterized by improved stats, a special design, and a higher price in the transfer market. Furthermore, they are sometimes needed for specific SBCs.
What makes TOTW 1 special? EA Sports has released the new TOTW 1 even though the game is not actually out yet. Some players, such as content creators, can already access and stream the game, but the actual release dates are still pending.
Today, on September 20, 2023, the launch of the web app is next. Theoretically, you should be able to pull the TOTW 1 from packs there if you have the coins for it.
However, you should prepare for the fact that this is highly unlikely, as it takes a lot of luck to pull special cards in Ultimate Team.
This is what TOTW 1 looks like, and we show it to you here.
For EA Sports FC 24, the web app launched on September 20, 2023. The official release date of the companion app is also known. All information about the launch of the apps can be found here.
When does the companion app for EA Sports FC 24 launch? The companion app for smartphones launches on September 21, 2023, just one day after the web app.
Tip: Prepare with backup codes for login issues of the web app
It is possible that at the release, everyone will want to enter the app at the same time and you will then only receive a verification code very slowly to log in.
To avoid this problem, you can prepare backup codes – before the web app is available. More about this here:
6:00 PM has passed, and we still expect a release around 7:00 PM. Last year it was even around 7:45 PM. However, you can use this time to prepare, more on that in the next entry.
5:00 PM
Another hour has passed and the web app is still not available. A release at 7:00 PM is becoming increasingly likely.
4:00 PM
Even after another full hour, there is still no sign of the web app.
It remains the case that the web app will be “available shortly”. We still expect a release around 7:00 PM. It is possible that the first TOTW with special cards will also be released then.
Today is the release day of the web app for EA Sports FC 24. However, at 10:00 AM, the app is still not available. In the past, the release typically took place in the evening, last year it started around 7:45 PM.
However, it is still unclear when exactly the release of the web app will take place. The website for the web app states Available shortly. Therefore, we keep an eye on current information here in the ticker.
As soon as the web app is active, you will find out here!
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EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team Deep Dive Trailer
EA Sports FC 24: Difference between web app and companion app
What is the difference between the web app and companion app? Both apps serve to allow you to manage your ultimate team in EA FC 24 even away from the console. The web app runs simply through the browser of your choice. Meanwhile, the companion app is an app that you need to download from your smartphone’s app store.
In terms of content, the apps are identical.
What about the web app for FIFA 23? If you want to access the web app for FIFA 23 now, you will only find the screen stating that the web app for EA Sports FC 24 is being prepared. So you cannot use it anymore.
The companion app on smartphones is still accessible. You can still use it for FIFA 23.
What are the web app & companion app for in EA Sports FC 24?
What you need the apps for: If you play ultimate team, you can use some features of the mode in the app. These include:
Buying and selling players on the transfer market
Completing SBCs
Opening rewards
Collecting objectives
Setting up your team
Customizing your club items, such as stadium, jersey, etc.
If you want to do these things, you do not need to turn on your console, but can use the apps instead. However, you can only play actual games on the console.
The loot shooter The First Descendant is currently inviting players to an open beta, with over 70,000 participants already.
What kind of game is it? The First Descendant is an upcoming loot shooter from the Korean development studio Nexon, set to be released as a free-to-play title on Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Just this weekend, the shooter showcased 17 minutes of gameplay.
The First Descendant uses Unreal Engine 5 and features a third-person perspective. Additionally, the shooter is set in a sci-fi environment where players must fight against alien invaders. They have various classes available, each with special abilities.
Alongside shooter gameplay and evil aliens, The First Descendant also offers a 4-player co-op including crossplay on all platforms, raids, and various boss fights. As a reward for completing a mission, players can earn loot and materials.
You can watch the gamescom trailer for The First Descendant here:
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The First Descendant – Official Trailer Reveal gamescom 2022
Beta is already running, access can be requested
When is the beta? The crossplay open beta for The First Descendant started on September 19, 2023, and will run until September 25, Nexon announced at the gamescom ONL 2023.
How can you participate in the beta? If you want to join the beta, you can sign up on the official game website (via tfd.nexon.com). There you will select your platform and provide your email address.
As a PC player, you also have the option to request beta access on the Steam page of The First Descendant (via Steam).
How is the beta received? The beta for The First Descendant has already gathered over 70,000 players on Steam alone on the first day (via Steamcharts) – it is unknown how many players join on consoles.
The first beta players feel reminded especially of Destiny and Warframe – this was already apparent from the first trailers of the shooter. Gameplay-wise, the similarity to Warframe stands out (via Reddit). Destiny can be seen more in the design of the maps.
Overall, The First Descendant receives both praise and criticism. Some enjoy the controls and gunplay and have fun with the shooter despite bugs (via Reddit).
The missions may be repetitive according to Reddit, but still entertaining. Overall, The First Descendant has potential, but it is no Destiny or Warframe killer.
Also, MeinMMO author and Destiny expert Britta participated in a beta for The First Descendant back in October 2022 and summarized her impressions:
