Especially the veterans among you might remember the name Kungen. The Swede is the most well-known player from “back in the day.” Now, with the new hardcore servers of WoW Classic, the experienced warrior is playing WoW again and is live on Twitch.
Who is the player?
Thomas Bengtsson “Kungen” (translated: “the king”) Amèdèo was considered the best warrior in the world during Vanilla and The Burning Crusade. Blizzard even brought a card to the collectible card game in his honor.
Currently (as of August 29), Kungen is playing his Tauren warrior at level 37 – almost like back then. However, how long he will remain active is uncertain. Already with the launch of WotLK Classic, Kungen wanted to return, but he disappeared again a few days later.
It is stated on his channel that he currently has no other source of income than Twitch. This suggests that he might be taking it more seriously this time. However, Kungen has previously talked about serious health issues that could interfere with a “stable life and stream”.
However, it is possible that the challenge of the hardcore servers is exactly what Kungen needs. Because these are significantly harder than the already somewhat tedious WoW Classic.
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WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
Hardcore servers excite fans, offer a unique challenge
If your character dies on a hardcore server, you can no longer resurrect them. They are permanently dead, so you only have a single life.
This challenge has been self-imposed by many fans before. Meanwhile, the servers are officially set up for this. There are even real duels to the death, rooted in the lore as Mak’gora.
The thrill of hardcore characters has already been immensely popular in action RPGs like Diablo and is now finding its way as part of WoW. The developers even want to take it a step further and introduce a mode that makes hardcore even harder:
About three years ago, JAW DROP announced the cooperative online survival game Deathground, and this week they released a gameplay trailer with new information for you. The primary inspiration for the game seems to be Jurassic Park. However, the horror aspect could clearly be inspired by Alien Isolation.
What is it about? Deathground is a survival co-op game that will be available on Steam, where you fight for your survival against deadly AI dinosaurs. In the co-op mode, you will team up with three other players on a mission to reach the “Deathground,” where you can find high-quality loot.
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Deathground Trailer
On your mission, you will encounter dangerous dinosaurs that will make it quite challenging for you with their artificial intelligence. Similar to Alien Isolation, the behavior of the creatures will be not very predictable. The dinosaurs will not only search your hiding places or pick up your scent to track you down, but they will also hunt you in packs.
The reactions to the trailer are mostly positive on Youtube. For example, bluej5033 writes that “he has been following the game for a long time and can’t wait to play it.” Many users share this opinion, but also hope for improvements in performance by the release.
Especially the characters and dinosaurs still move in a very robotic manner in the trailer. Players hope that the movements and animations will be revised and become smoother overall.
When will it be released? The developers have not yet announced a specific release date. The game will be available on Steam, where you can already add it to your wishlist.
If you are already excited for some dinosaur action, check this out:
In League of Legends, most people are focused on winning, which is why many currently popular champions tend to have a solid win rate. However, on the top lane, the situation looks a bit different at the moment. There are 3 champions that are very popular, but actually lose the majority of their games.
Which champions are they? The 3 champions are classic top laners: Aatrox, Darius, and Renekton. All three have a win rate of under 50% when looking at the statistics of all ranks, according to U.GG. (As of: 29.08.2023)
This means they have a negative win rate and lose most of their matches. The ban rate of Darius and Aatrox is also particularly notable. Although they are not strong, it seems that no one wants to play against them.
If a champion is in a balanced state, he would have a win rate of around 50%. If a champion wins many of his matches, the win rate goes over 50%. However, it must also be noted that the pick rate is relevant in determining how strong a champion is.
If a champion is hardly played but wins most matches, he is not necessarily strong; the players who play these champions are just really good.
Start video
Naafiri: The Hound of a Hundred Bites -Gameplay Trailer for League of Legends
Despite their negative win rate, they are played
Why are the 3 currently not so good? Many factors are relevant in this context, but a few assumptions can be made. Looking at U.GG at the counters of the 3 champions, there are champions like Malphite, Illaoi, Garen, and the newest champion Naafiri. These champions are currently strong, are often picked, and counter Renekton, Darius, and Aatrox.
At the same time, the items of the champions are currently not that strong. Especially Goredrinker, Bruiser items, and lethality builds that focus on healing. Goredrinker is expected to be buffed in the next patch, as the released patch notes for 13.17 from RiotPhroxzon show on Twitter.
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For Aatrox, the passive and W ability will change in the next patch, allowing him to deal magical damage. This could also change his build and preferred items. Naafiri, who is currently a major threat on the top lane, will receive a few nerfs.
Why are these champions still played? All 3 champions are simply very popular champions that are fun to play due to their mechanics. Renekton and Darius are also generally very popular champions that usually have a loyal player base.
From Thursday, we will be able to see whether the patch notes for 13.17 and especially the buffs to Goredrinker can change the win rate or even the pick rate of Renekton, Aatrox, and Darius.
What do you think about the three champs? Do you want to see them more often, or like many players, have you no desire to play against them? Unlike the 3 top laners, there are also some champs that many players may have never seen:
In Pokémon GO players are reporting new bans due to an exploit that netted some trainers a lot of XL candies. What was going on?
The exploit is related to the new routes feature. Players could utilize the routes through an exploit to get a lot of XL candies for their buddy Pokémon.
Partly, as players report in the subreddit TheSilphRoad regarding Pokémon GO, trainers were able to grab thousands of candies that were not intended to be available.
What is Niantic doing now? Apparently, initial bans are now being issued to players who exploited the system and hoarded XL candies. User milotic03 shared relevant screenshots in the subreddit, reporting bans that can range from 30 to 230 days.
Additionally, further exploitation of the exploit could lead to permanent bans.
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How the community is reacting: Generally, players are reacting positively in the comments about the bans, as hoarding XL candies is a significant advantage when leveling Pokémon for PvP, for instance. Especially for rare monsters, it is very challenging to obtain the necessary candies for a high level in the Master League.
At the same time, the exploit with the routes joins a series of problems that players have with the feature. Some emphasize in the comments that they do not find any routes at all, while others apparently exploit them in unintended ways:
I haven’t even found a route, and I live in a city with almost a million inhabitants, writes user toki_goes_to_jupiter (via reddit).
Jesus, people are already exploiting routes and the only one I’ve found nearby goes straight through a house of a little kid, comments user AlternatieNet8931 (via reddit).
Overall, some users are reporting that they still see problems with the routes – aside from the exploit that brings in XL candies. Developer Niantic seems to at least have this on their radar now and is taking action against cheaters.
What do you think of the routes so far? Let us know in the comments!
A user constantly experiences crashes with their PC games. After 2 years, he finally opens his PC and realizes he should have done it much earlier.
A player reports that his games keep crashing. In another post, he explains that he hadn’t opened his PC for years and just decided to do it now.
To illustrate, he posts a picture showing the entire “horror” inside his PC. Many community members are somewhat astonished at how a PC can look like that.
Start video
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”
Gaming PC is completely dirty, even though it was on the table
How can the PC be so dirty? The community initially speculated that the heavy dirtiness must be because the owner had his PC standing on a carpet or similar surface. However, he explained that his PC had been on the table the entire time.
He mentioned that he had regularly cleaned the room itself, but he had never thought to clean the corner of his PC.
Why should you clean your computer regularly? Dirt and dust clog airflow paths or your fans. This causes some components or parts to fail to dissipate heat properly, leading to overheating.
The processor and graphics card then throttle performance to cope with the heat or shut down in emergencies to protect components. Your PC will become slower as a result.
By the way, pollution can never be entirely avoided. Particles enter the house through ventilation, and furniture and clothing also shed small particles. Human skin sheds skin flakes and hair, which also contribute to dust formation. With a good dust filter or case, you can at least reduce pollution.
The games are poorly optimized and aren’t compatible with your hardware.
Your graphics card drivers are hopelessly outdated and can cause the game to crash.
You have issues with temperatures in your computer that also affect performance.
Hardware defects can also lead to crashes.
What can I do about it? In the best case, first check on Reddit or Steam if other players are reporting similar issues when your game crashes. If it indeed seems to be a game issue, then you’ll need to wait for a patch or lower your graphics settings. This can often work wonders.
However, if you are the only person experiencing problems, you should check your drivers and your hardware. Perhaps your hardware is overheating or a component is damaged or even broken.
When checking your graphics card, keep an eye out for the following signs that could indicate a defect:
Shadowheart is one of the companions that can accompany us on our journey in Baldur’s Gate 3. A player hired the voice actress behind the cleric to make an important confession to his wife.
What is behind the confession? The player confessed to his wife that he cheated on her. To convey this to her, he hired Jennifer English through cameo.com. She is the voice actress of Shadowheart. She explains to the betrayed woman in a video message who he cheated on her with.
The player cheated on Jennifer English. So not with her as a person, but with the character she voices in Baldur’s Gate 3. He wanted to jokingly inform his wife that he has been dating Shadowheart in the game.
To ensure that his wife doesn’t get a shock and understands it as a joke, English makes it clear from the beginning that it is about a fictional character in a fictional world.
She explains that she has had “many lovers” recently and that the mentioned husband was one of them. This likely refers to the numerous players who chose to have a romance with Shadowheart.
Don’t feel like playing your own character anymore? Then check out the following MeinMMO video:
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Reset Character and Choose New Class
Husband Makes Public Confession
In a separate article, the author explains himself and how the romance came about (via dotesports.com). However, he publishes the article anonymously, as his name should not be found through search engines in connection with “cheating”.
This would make his father-in-law extremely angry, as he might not understand the joke.
The husband describes how he included Shadowheart in the team, had deep conversations with her, and then it led to their first kiss. He poetically explains how he ended up having a fling with Shadowheart. The player is a traveler, and Shadowheart’s sleeping bag is the destination of the journey.
However, by the end of his article, he apologizes to his wife:
My beloved wife, I am at a loss for words to apologize. I don’t know how I can make it up to you. So I turned to Shadowheart herself, hoping that she, as a woman, would be able to empathize with the situation.
Therefore, he hired Shadowheart, who – contrary to his expectations – shows no remorse in her video message.
By the way: If you are also interested in a video message, you can look for other voice actors on the respective page. For example, we found the voice actors of Astarion, Karlach, and Lae’zel.
How did the story end? The player swears that he will not touch Shadowheart anymore. He has started a second playthrough and does not want to start a romance with Shadowheart. But this time he has fallen for Tiefling Karlach, who is hiding in Act 1.
There are even more companions with whom we can have romances and with whom we can have sex. But the characters can not only be dated, they are also useful companions for battles in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Currently, the Strategy Festival is running on Steam, where you can find many different games from the strategy and tactics genres. One of them is XCOM 2 by Firaxis Games. Although MeinMMO author Niko Hernes sees himself as a Tactics Noob, the game has kept him engaged for over 100 hours.
What kind of game is XCOM 2? XCOM 2 is a strategy game focused on turn-based tactics. In combat, you control soldiers across various randomly generated maps and must complete missions there. You fight against aliens with various abilities and must try as best as you can to survive with your troops and finish the mission.
If a soldier dies in the field, you lose him forever. Whether he was a new recruit or an important pillar of your team doesn’t matter, but it certainly increases frustration, which is why rushing in and shooting isn’t always the right way to go.
In your base outside of missions, you can improve your units, research and develop new weapons to make your team better and refine your strategy. The main game offers you 5 classes that you can specialize in their skill trees.
I personally am a strategy and tactics noob, but I still dared to tackle XCOM 2. After a few initial missions, I thought I was doing okay, and my units were getting better. This made me more confident in missions, but also more reckless.
Then I rushed into a mission with my best squad to casually save some civilians. But suddenly, the nice hostages turned into drooling aliens and wiped out my entire squad.
My beloved soldiers, whom I had grown attached to over hours, were suddenly gone, and I was practically back to square one. That may sound frustrating at first, but I was still hooked and fascinated because, after all, it was partly my fault.
That’s the allure of XCOM. You can become very strong, but if you make mistakes and are also unlucky with shooting, you lose powerful units. Anyone who has low frustration tolerance should be careful with this game. But for those who thrive on this challenge, XCOM 2 offers a tactics masterpiece.
If the main game isn’t enough for you, there is also a comprehensive add-on in the form of “War of the Chosen” and an active modding community that can probably offer hundreds more hours of fun.
How much does XCOM 2 cost currently? On Steam, you can get the main game for €4.99 until September 4, 2023. If you want to start with all the content right away, you can get the XCOM 2 Collection with all DLCs for €11.76. For the playtime you get, both offers are a real bargain.
Many games today also rely on a turn-based tactic system, including Cantata:
The next expansion of World of Warcraft revolves around pirates. At least that is what analyst Bellular believes and lists evidence for his theory.
World of Warcraft Dragonflight is still ongoing, but there are already numerous ideas and theories about how Blizzard’s MMORPG could continue afterward. Theories and analyses are circulating all over the internet, and analyst Bellular has already come up with some quite convincing ideas that we want to briefly introduce to you here.
Who is Bellular? YouTuber Bellular has been dealing with the story and the general development at Blizzard for many years. In his videos, he continually revisits small story snippets and connects them with the bigger picture of the Warcraft story.
In doing so, Bellular often extends the story and points out clues and details that likely indicate the future of World of Warcraft.
In one of his most recent videos, he explains quite confidently that Blizzard has three possible paths open for the next expansion, and the most likely one is: The South Seas expansion that fans have been wanting for many years.
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The South Seas is, as the name suggests, the southern sea in the world of Warcraft, thematically located somewhere between Pandaria, the Maelstrom, and the Eastern Kingdoms. This area is primarily populated by pirates and the infamous “Plunder Isle,” a pirate stronghold held by the Bloodsail Buccaneers and other pirate factions.
Not much is known about this island so far, aside from the fact that it was once available as a map in Warcraft III.
What supports Bellular’s theory?
Bellular has gathered a lot of evidence. One of the biggest story clues is the implementation of the “Nightsquall” in patch 10.0.5. In one book, this mysterious night elf pirate is mentioned, who is trying to unite all pirates under one banner.
According to his recruitment posters, the Nightsquall is the only living being that has ever been to the “other side” of Azeroth and returned from there. Because we already know that there is another large continent that is presumably called “Avaloren” – which the Titans have hidden from us.
Additionally, one of the latest mounts for a long subscription to WoW is a special fish that increases riding speed in water. It has become a tradition in WoW that before the announcement of a new expansion, mounts are added to the shop whose models later also appear in the new expansion – this was already the case with Shadowlands, for example.
What’s in the South Seas addon?
Bellular assumes that the next expansion will focus on the South Seas and will also bring some revisions in the old world – such as the retaking of Gilneas, the resettlement of Lordaeron, and of course pirate islands and an underwater area, presumably to advance the Naga storyline.
Whether the next addon will already include Avaloren is something Bellular is not so sure about. He believes it is likely that the “South Seas expansion” explains more how we get to Avaloren – by following the Nightsquall and discovering what path he has found and what secrets may lurk in Avaloren.
Whether Bellular is right with his theory, we will probably find out in two months at the latest. Because at the beginning of November 2023, BlizzCon will take place and then Chris Metzen is likely to officially unveil the next World of Warcraft expansion.
Already in the first act of Baldur’s Gate 3 there are some profound decisions to be made that will significantly influence your gameplay. While some are actively presented to you, you’ll probably encounter others more incidentally. In this article, we present the five most important decisions and their consequences.
A word in advance: This article contains mild spoiler potential. We try to avoid major plot points, but we would like to make you aware that it is not entirely without spoilers, as we lay out the fundamental points of each decision.
[toc]
1. Who to take along, who to leave behind?
In the tutorial area, you cannot avoid letting Lae’zel fight by your side. The Gith almost insists on being with you – who would say no to such persuasion in a blade.
You can also already free Shadowheart on the Nautiloid. However, once it is downed and you can freely move around the crash site, the decision is up to you: Who lives, who dies, who writes history (with you)?
Lae’zel, Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, Karlach, and Wyll are the six possible companions in Act 1. Their stories are also closely intertwined with the main story. Taking them along or leaving them behind can have significant impacts on the further course of the game.
Whether Gale accompanies you depends on whether you want it. However, it also depends on a successful or unsuccessful check.
Once you enter the Emerald Grove for the first time, it quickly becomes clear that with the Druids, unfortunately, it’s not about tree cuddling and dancing happily in circles. The situation is actually quite tense: A goblin horde threatens the peaceful gathering.
The deputy leader of the Druids, Kagha, has ordered to shield the grove from the outside world and wants to get rid of a group of Tiefling refugees first.
The refugees have barely made it back from one of the hells to the material plane. They are naturally hoping for protection and safe passage.
Zevlor, the leader of the Tieflings, does not want to leave the grove. At least not until the threat from the goblins is lifted. Without this, he and his people would not be averse to departing for Baldur’s Gate.
Your decision has far-reaching consequences: The Tieflings can appear later in the story, one of their smiths is more or less essential for Karlach’s story, and you could miss out on important items and information – depending on how you decide.
When you enter the goblin camp – whether in a good or evil run – you meet Priestess Gutt. She is one of the three leaders of the camp. Her task is to teach the newcomers in the ranks of the Absolute and to brand them with the Mark of the Absolute.
If you haven’t broken in with sheer violence, you can speak to her. If she recognizes you as a “true soul” aka bearer of a mind flayer parasite, she will offer you the mark.
Whether to accept it or not has various advantages and disadvantages:
Throughout the game, you will repeatedly deal with the cultists. If you have the mark, infiltrating their ranks becomes easier and their followers can be deceived by you. Additionally, there are some powerful items that you can only use with the mark.
On the other hand, the fact remains that Gutt brands your character with the mark. It cannot be removed throughout the entire game, which leads to certain NPCs treating you with distrust from the start. Whether the items bound to the mark are worth this sacrifice is something to consider.
Lae’zel insists from the beginning on visiting the cradle. She hopes for support from there and a safe way to remove the parasites.
You can find the Gith cradle on the mountain pass that you can enter west of Waukeen’s Rest. The area is more difficult than the alternative, the Underdark. The game even displays a warning if your level is not high enough. Therefore, it seems like a good idea to take the path underground.
On top of that, the Gith are anything but friendly – as they make clear during a first encounter at the bridge to the mountain pass.
All in all, it’s not a bad decision to skip the cradle. However, we can recommend that after an extensive excursion with a level-up in the Underdark, you still venture into the mountains: The cradle is important for Lae’zel’s story and feeds you a lot of information about the main story.
You do not have to visit the Gith cradle. However, it is worth it.
5. Save the Emerald Grove or destroy it?
One of the most important, if not the most important decision in Act 1 is whether you save the Emerald Grove or destroy it with the goblins.
Your decision has far-reaching consequences and largely determines whether you have a “evil” or “good” run ahead of you. It also affects whether you can recruit Halsin or Minthara.
This decision also ultimately determines how the refugees will fare, whether you fight against or with the cult of the Absolute, as well as which NPCs will be friends or foes.
For spoiler reasons, we would prefer not to reveal more about this decision at this point. However, we can state that both sides have their advantages, and it may be worth making a different decision on a second run. Baldur’s Gate 3 is an incredibly extensive game that reacts and adapts to each of your decisions. Therefore, it is certainly worth a second, if not even a third or fourth look.
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These were the five most important decisions in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. How did you decide? Did you visit the Gith cradle? What do you think of Raphael? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers behind Diablo 4 have planned an event for a short time only, during which you can farm more gold and XP. When you can participate and which players are eligible for this bonus, you can find out on MeinMMO.
What kind of event is this? This is a short event called “Mother’s Blessing”, during which players can earn 25% more XP and gold while looting and leveling up.
How long does the event last? The event starts on Friday, September 1st at 7 PM German time and ends on Tuesday, September 5th at 7 PM. So you have 5 days to immerse yourself in the grind and get the most out of Diablo 4. We will now show you for whom the blessing applies and why you should participate.
Don’t forget to explore every cellar in Sanctuary, it could be worth it:
Start video
Diablo 4: That’s why you should check every cellar
More gold and XP for everyone
Who is this blessing for? This blessing applies to all players of Diablo 4. Whether you are out in a season or exploring the eternal realm. Both modes benefit from this bonus.
Why should I participate? If you’ve taken a break and instead played Baldur’s Gate 3, now would be the perfect time to return. Especially if you’ve wanted to try new builds with different classes, but the grind was too exhausting, a return is especially worthwhile now.
However, if you are in the endless realm and your hero still hasn’t reached the maximum level, you can now catch up on the last missing levels.
Coincidentally, this event lasts 5 days and Diablo 4 has a total of 5 classes. So you can level up one hero per day.
How do I make the most of the bonus? To perfectly utilize the bonus, you can stack additional XP bonuses. This way you receive even more experience for your heroes.
It is therefore worthwhile to consume potions and play in a group. Both actions give you a percentage more XP on your journeys.
Are you going to check back into Diablo 4 in line with this Mother’s Holy Blessing? Or are you waiting for Season 2? Let us know in the comments!
At gamescom 2023, the head of Diablo 4, franchise manager Rod Fergusson, was very talkative and shared a lot about the future of the action RPG. You can find out what information he revealed here on MeinMMO.
Especially the large, Xbox-affiliated developer studios were present at gamescom and revealed a lot about their games. The biggest games were Starfield (Bethesda) and Diablo 4 (Activision Blizzard).
Rod Fergusson from Diablo 4 had quite a bit to say. We have already evaluated some of the interviews on MeinMMO:
In this article, we gather further statements that Fergusson has confirmed in interviews with other media. This includes information about leaderboards, new world tiers, MMO content, and when there will be fresh information about Season 2. The interviews have been compiled by wowhead.com.
You can watch the Season 2 trailer for Diablo 4 here:
Start video
Diablo 4 presents new Season 2, coming this fall – Blood & Vampires
Diablo 4: Fergusson Interviews at gamescom
The following information comes from interviews with TVMovie, 4Players, GameStar, and ScreenRant – you can find the four sources at the bottom of the article.
Season 2 is particularly aimed at players who are just starting with Diablo 4
They want to improve interaction with the community and create more transparency
The Blood Knight from Diablo Immortal will not be coming to Diablo 4
There are no plans to introduce a test realm – they prefer to improve communication and the reception of community feedback
The concept of a season is based on two ideas: a strong story and the power-fantasy of the season mechanics
With Season 2, new enemies, uniques, and legendaries will be introduced
The story of Season 2 will revolve around a distant vampire hunter, who gradually warms up
In the first week of October, there will be a “Deep Dive” into Season 2 and the vampiric powers
To play the 5 new bosses of Season 2, players will need to “summon” them or complete certain tasks – they will not just be found in the world
A lot of “Quality of Life” improvements are planned for Season 2
Season 2 compared to Season 1: They aim to always create a new experience, there are no templates for the seasons
The “accessibility” of the content for every type of player is particularly focused on with new content
No more MMO features like raids are planned, but there are no taboo topics – something like that could be possible someday
Currently, Fergusson does not want to share any information about world tier 5
The Eternal Realm should also be enjoyable in the future, but the focus of Diablo 4 is on the seasons
The previous changes should not aim to make the game slower – the intention is actually to create more options for new and different builds
Leaderboards could come in Season 3 – they want to improve balancing first
Fergusson would like to see something completely new in Diablo 4 that still aligns with the familiar mechanics – he mentions the new class Blood Knight in Diablo Immortal as an example
A new class should depend on playstyles that are currently not represented in Diablo 4
These were the further interview statements from Diablo head Rod Fergusson at gamescom 2023. If you have any questions or comments about the individual points, please leave a comment.
Season 2 of Diablo 4 starts on October 17, 2023, and revolves around blood and vampires. However, there will not be a new class yet. When the first new class arrives is still unknown.
In Bethesda’s new sci-fi epic Starfield, there will be countless planets to explore, and the game reveals what to expect before landing.
The release of Starfield is only a few days away, and fans of the role-playing game are eagerly exchanging observations from trailers and the gameplay showcase in June. The nature of the planets keeps coming up in discussions.
What does Starfield tell you about planets? When you are in space with your purchased or custom-built ship, you can hover your cursor over various planets.
When your cursor is over a planet, you’ll see various information about the respective celestial body on the left side of the screen. Alongside the name and the system, you can already tell here, before landing, whether a planet is fertile or not.
Moreover, you’ll learn whether and what types of flora and fauna can be found on the planet, whether there is water, and what kind of climate awaits you there.
The Reddit user Dull-Caterpillar3153 shared a screenshot with information about the planet “Porrima1” of the Porrima system.
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The Reddit screenshot shows us the following information about the planet Porrima 1:
Type: Uninhabitable
Gravity: 0.38 G
Climate: Arid
Magnetosphere: Unknown
Fauna: None
Flora: None
Water: None
Start video
7 gameplay highlights from Starfield that you should know about
What do the details tell us? Based on the given details about a planet, you can already answer some questions about what might wait for you there. Can you move around without a spacesuit? Are there cities and outposts with people or even other creatures?
In the case of Porrima 1, these questions are likely to be answered with “no”. Without flora, fauna, and water, many beings, especially humans, will struggle to survive there.
Also, the information about the atmosphere, gravity, and climate indicates that you will need your spacesuit.
However, this does not mean that an uninhabitable planet is entirely empty. It is conceivable, for example, that space pirates or smugglers might be active on such a planet and hide goods.
If you want to read more about the planets in Starfield, we have good news for Pluto fans:
The new Free2Play shooter Synced aims to shake up the genre with completely new mechanics. After a rather questionable first presentation, the shooter has reinvented itself and now looks really good. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was able to play it again at gamescom 2023. However, he is still not entirely convinced.
The idea behind the shooter: Nanites threaten humanity in a dystopian setting. You have the power to control these little bots and can manifest them as “Nanos”, strong companions with special abilities.
In terms of gameplay, the shooter strongly resembles Destiny. However, there is no “Open World”, but rather several missions on different maps, which are sometimes more open and sometimes more linear. You can play either purely in PvE or in PvEvP: solo or in a team of up to 3 players.
Synced will be released on September 9 for PC and will be completely Free2Play. A release for PS5 and Xbox will follow later. In the game, there is a Battle Pass and a shop where you can purchase cosmetics and new characters for current information. The exact monetization is yet to be decided.
Here’s how Synced plays: At its core, Synced is a classic PvE shooter. The gameplay is quite simple to explain: I start a mission, receive a short briefing, and then follow the instructions in the hub.
The tasks in the missions I know from the gamescom event as well as from the beta usually proceed similarly. Kill enemies, collect loot, and at the end defeat a large boss.
In the optional PvEvP mode, there are other teams you compete against. Whoever has the most points at the end (or is the last standing) wins. However, this mode is not needed at all, as the truly exciting aspect is the pure PvE.
My colleague Christian Fritz Schneider from GameStar has also played it and feels similarly puzzled after the playtest as I do:
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Synced offers some mechanics that I haven’t seen or at least haven’t seen developed like this in a shooter. Three factors make the game really good for me already:
Nanos and characters are a cool mechanic and allow for many combinations of specialists and skills.
The gunplay is fun, and there are some really crazy weapons involved.
The game is engaging and entertaining: you get into it quickly, and a round ends after 10-30 minutes.
The idea is to build your own playstyle, essentially your own “loadout.” During testing, I could choose from one of 6 different “runners” with dozens of different weapons, special perks, and one of 4 “Nanos.” Depending on the runner and nano, the abilities complement specific playstyles:
one nano is a pure long-range fighter, another sets up a shield, while another exposes enemies.
Nanos either directly intervene in gameplay or stick “onto the arm” of the player, where they provide passive bonuses.
especially in co-op, you can perfectly strategize with friends regarding who plays how and in what way to best approach a mission to complement each other.
The sheer variety of weapons is a point I find particularly appealing. In classic categories like sniper, LMG, and shotgun, there is a standard arsenal, but also completely crazy weapons like a sniper rifle that shoots black holes.
Games are played in rounds lasting roughly 10 to 30 minutes. At certain stations, you can purchase upgrades for the ongoing round, which can lead to exaggerated synergies, as known from such “roguelite” approaches. Enemies can also drop permanent perks for character customization.
When we were finally able to get our hands on it for the first time, it was already clear that a solid shooter is emerging here:
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Already 10 minutes in the tutorial of the new loot shooter Synced: Destiny is facing competition
Wants too much, offers too little
Nevertheless, I still doubt whether the game will really be a big hit. I am sure that Synced will attract more than just a few hundred people to take a look at it. After all, it is Free2Play.
Especially specialists and tinkerers will want to spend a lot of time here. This was already similar in The Cycle, where one could let loose and dive deeper into the mechanics to significantly improve. However, that is exactly what is in Synced’s way.
The game seems to target casual players with its rather short rounds and the choice of characters and weapons according to my assessment. Therefore, I see several reasons that could hinder Synced’s success:
All systems are very complex. Anyone who wants to see everything must engage with the game. As a casual player, you see very little.
For hardcore players, there is simply a lack of replay value. The missions are all very similar and eventually just become no challenge anymore.
The PvP mode is actually redundant; the PvE is all you need from Synced.
Especially PvP is probably intended for experts, but I predict big problems with toxic opponents and cheaters. That is the fate of every Free2Play shooter, and Synced will also suffer from it.
If the developers, NExT Studios, completely eliminate the PvP and instead focus on creating a cool PvE shooter, perhaps even competing with Destiny or The Division with an open world, I see great potential in Synced.
I genuinely wish the game significant success, solely because I want to see what it can become. For playing a bit with friends in the evening, the shooter is actually ideal.
On August 30, 2023, the version 1.3 “Worldly Ruins in the Eye of the Sky” of Honkai: Star Rail starts. Here you will find all the important information about the new version summarized.
When is version 1.3 coming out? On August 30, 2023, at 00:00, the update for Honkai: Star Rail will run and is expected to last 5 hours.
During this time you will not be able to play the game. However, you will receive 300 Stellar Jade as compensation. You can already pre-download the new version.
Here you can see a trailer for the new version 1.3:
Select a MMO video…
These are the new contents of version 1.3 in Honkai: Star Rail
What new characters are there in version 1.3? In the new version, Imbibitor Lunae, the dragon form of Dan Heng, and Master Diviner Fu Xuan will be added to the game as new 5-star characters. In addition, the 4-star character Lynx, the youngest of the Landau siblings, will be introduced as a new playable character.
More about the new characters and their abilities can be found here:
What banners are there in version 1.3? The banners will be divided into two phases. The first phase will run from the beginning of the update on August 30, 2023, until September 20, at 11:59 PM (server time) and will include the following banners:
“Epochal Sky Prism”: Imbibitor Lunae as a 5-star character (Destruction, Imaginary); Yukong, Asta, and March 7th as 4-star characters
“Radiant Anchorage”: 5-star Light Cone “Brighter than the Sun“ (Destruction) with Imbibitor Lunae; 4-star Light Cones “Dance! Dance! Dance!“, “Planetary Rendezvous“ and “Landau’s Choice“
Here you can see the banners of version 1.3
In the second phase, there will be these banners:
“Visionary Prediction”: Fu Xuan as a 5-star character (Preservation, Quantum); Lynx, Hook, and Pela as 4-star characters
“Radiant Anchorage”: 5-star Light Cone “Their Eyes Are Already Closed“ (Preservation) with Fu Xuan; 4-star Light Cones “Perfect Timing“, “Under the Blue Sky“, “Trend of the Universal Market“
What events are there in the 1. part of version 1.3? More information is available about these events that will soon start in the new version of Honkai: Star Rail:
Gift of the Odyssey: Event period from the update to 1.3 until October 10, 2023, at 03:59 AM (server time), log in for 7 days to snag 10x special passes
Hustle and Bustle in Aurum Alley: Event period from August 31, 12:00 PM until September 18, 2023, 03:59 AM with 4-star character Sushang and 1840 Stellar Jade as rewards
Planar Rift: Event period from September 6, 2023, 04:00 AM to September 13, 2023, 03:59 AM, with doubled rewards for planar ornaments
What else is there in version 1.3? In the new version, these permanent contents will be added:
New chapter of the Trailblaze mission
New area Aurum Alley
Companion missions for Imbibitor Lunae and Luka (directly at the beginning of the new version)
Companion missions for March 7th and Lynx (from September 20, 2023)
Update of the Universe Simulation: Swarm Disaster
5-star Light Cone available in Herta’s shop
New opponent and 2 new stages
Maximum Trailblazer power increased from 180 to 240, new power system added
An NPC in Baldur’s Gate 3 is not getting what he deserves. Fans are angry – because the popular Drow is still buggy.
Baldur’s Gate thrives on the great character stories of the companions and the convincing world full of choices. Some evil choices lead to possibilities that a ‘good’ character would never have. However, one consequence of these choices is disappointing. In the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, fans are now demanding ‘justice’ – because one companion is still buggy.
Spoiler warning: The article contains light spoilers about Baldur’s Gate 3 and a character’s story.
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What is the problem? Even though Minthara is not one of the Origin characters from Baldur’s Gate 3, she is quite popular. She can join the group and is especially interesting for ‘evil’ characters. To make her join, it is necessary to make some dark decisions, especially in the first act.
This, in turn, leads to a number of ‘good’ characters not joining the heroes’ group or breaking contact. You forgo Wyll, Karlach, and also Halsin, and in exchange, you get Minthara.
However, Minthara is significantly less developed. In the launch version of the game, many of her dialogues were buggy and never triggered. Apparently, the romance with her did not make it into the final game.
Although the first major patch promises that Minthara is now ‘fixed’, many fans still report that the dialogues with her do not start correctly and the romance can never come to a conclusion.
What do the players demand? With ‘Freedom for Minthara’, they mainly demand that the dialogue options be unlocked. For many, it simply feels disillusioning to sacrifice three characters and numerous NPCs just to unlock Minthara, who, however, has hardly any story and only rarely participates in dialogues.
The hope is that Minthara will be ‘truly’ fixed in the next major patch.
For the future, many hope that Minthara will be further developed in a ‘Definitive Edition’. After all, there are many hints and voicelines in the game data that suggest a much more extensive and dramatic story with Minthara – even talk of a pregnancy is mentioned.
This is what the community says: In the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, a corresponding post has now received over 4,500 upvotes. Some opinions from the post:
‘Minthara is, surprisingly, an amazingly complex character for someone who dies in 90% of the playthroughs. It is extremely unfortunate that her character progress does not go as far because despite her straightforward nature, she is quite nuanced. Oh, what could have been …’
‘Minthara fans are really the most oppressed group in this game.’
‘I absolutely agree. She already has her backstory. She just needs the necessary interactions. Especially since it somehow has to compensate for the fact that you lose three other characters for her.’
Do you have Minthara in your party? Do you like how you can interact with the Drow?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As part of gamescom 2023, we conducted an interview with Matt Firor, the studio director and thus head of The Elder Scrolls Online. We talked to him about the past, the latest expansion, and also the future of ESO.
The Elder Scrolls Online released the expansion Necrom this year. This included the new class Arcanist and a self-contained story that is not supplemented by another patch. This created room for a special update in the fourth quarter.
We talked with the head about this update, but also about the general development of player numbers and the new class.
Necrom and the Epic Games Store lead to the highest player numbers since 2015
MeinMMO: How is ESO doing right now, especially compared to the last few years? For me, Elsweyr was one of the best gaming experiences, and I feel that Blackwood and High Isle have not performed as strongly.
Firor: ESO has been steadily growing since One Tamriel in 2016. Morrowind was very strong and reached a new peak until the pandemic hit and the numbers exploded. Now we no longer have those pandemic players – like all other games – but our numbers have stabilized a bit below that line.
With Necrom, they went back up strongly, and with the release on the Epic Game Store, it went crazy. To answer the question: Currently, as many people are playing ESO as have not since 2015. I mean, you saw login queues for the first time.
MeinMMO: Do you have a rough overview of how many players actually tried the Arcanist after the release of Necrom?
Firor: Most of them. At least almost everyone temporarily tried the class. Many also played on to max level and even beyond. Our data shows numerous Arcanists who have reached level 50.
It’s also a really fun class.
MeinMMO: One criticism is that with each new class you have to play through the old areas again. Have you ever considered bringing a special starting area or game content just for one class to make the gameplay a bit more interesting?
Firor: Yes, we have, but ESO is so big that even I have discovered things that I could do differently with my Arcanist while leveling than before. There are so many expansions, areas, and DLCs through which you can play. I played the DLCs Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood and leveled through the mini-games there.
If you want to, you can always find a new way to advance a character.
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The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom gameplay trailer
The upcoming patch targets experienced players
MeinMMO: Time and again, you read about players who are dissatisfied with the development of ESO. They say that major highlights are missing, even though you have released things like the card game or the new class recently. Are these players lost forever because they have unrealistic expectations, or can you still win them back?
Firor: I totally understand this point. Many of these players have been around in ESO for 9 years and have seen a lot. But we can only deliver a certain amount of content. Looking at the last 10 years, we have brought many crazy new things – not just the new class or a card game.
We have released One Tamriel or DLCs like Thieves Guild or Dark Brotherhood. I could name so much more, like the PvP Battlegrounds or the antiquities system. But we cannot deliver such things every month.
But in the fourth quarter of this year, a special patch will be released. It is primarily aimed at the players asking this question. It will not be a story DLC but will appeal to experienced players. We will soon hold a stream where we will present the content in more detail.
MeinMMO: Lastly, the question again. What are your favorite DLCs or expansions that can currently be played in ESO? And which was the most important for the game itself?
Firor: I have two favorites. Orsinium is my favorite chapter, even though we didn’t call it a chapter back then. Everything about it is fantastic. It has the traditional “Elder Scrolls” political elements with different factions.
My favorite story is the one from the DLC Murkmire. The main story is short, but you start like Indiana Jones and then suddenly go back in time. It’s just fun.
The most important expansion for the game was Morrowind. Additionally, One Tamriel should be highlighted, as it laid the foundation for today’s ESO.
Thanks to Matt Firor for the interview! If you want to read more about the development history of ESO, we have a suitable article here:
In Pokémon GO today, on August 29th, the Spotlight Hour featuring Tentacool begins. We will show you everything about the bonuses, the shiny, and the event times.
What kind of event is this? In Pokémon GO, every Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, a Spotlight Hour takes place. During the event, a Pokémon along with a bonus is the focus. At the beginning of each month, the team from Niantic determines which combination of Pokémon and bonus will take the spotlight in the following weeks.
The bonuses can include more XP, more Stardust, or more candies. During today’s event, you will encounter Tentacool from the first generation and receive more candies.
Spotlight Hour on August 29 – Start, Bonuses, Shiny
When does the event start? As always, you can join in starting at 6:00 PM today. The event will be scheduled to end at 7:00 PM.
What bonuses are available? The most noticeable bonus consists of significantly higher spawns of Tentacool. You will be able to find the creature on almost every corner in the wild. If you desire more encounters, you can light a incense.
Additionally, you will receive double the amount of candies for sending Pokémon. Today marks the last Spotlight Hour in August. There is already a glimpse of Community Day dates and event dates for the next months:
Is there a shiny Tentacool? Yes, the shiny variant of Tentacool has been active in Pokémon GO for a long time. Even during the Spotlight Hour, you may encounter shinies if you’re lucky. However, keep in mind that the odds are not increased.
Is the Spotlight Hour today worth it? As attackers, Tentacool and its evolution are not particularly strong. In the Ultra League, Tentacool ranks in the middle tier. However, there are many stronger alternatives.
Pokémon GO is a game that encourages you to go outside. This, of course, does not align with Antarctica. However, this only somewhat deters a trainer.
In the subreddit TheSilphRoad, which revolves around Pokémon GO, a trainer received a lot of attention for his post titled: I play Pokémon GO in Antarctica, AMA (Ask me Anything) (via reddit). No wonder: The frosty environment seems like the last place one should play Pokémon GO.
Over 2,100 upvotes and more than 900 comments were received by user cware196, who described being stationed at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. There, he works as part of the support team – and takes the opportunity to play Pokémon GO at one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
How this works, the user reported in his post, which we are embedding here for you.
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We summarize some of the most exciting points for you here.
This is how Pokémon GO runs in Antarctica
What is it like to play Pokémon GO in Antarctica? A user asked about the spawns out there. According to the Antarctica trainer, this is one of the main problems because: Since we can’t walk around and play outside, we only have a few buildings to play from, explains cware196. This leads to many spawns repeating.
However, he is at least not alone: 144 people are currently on the station, of which 10 are playing Pokémon GO. So a small community has indeed formed in Antarctica.
Besides the cold weather, the lighting conditions in Antarctica are also interesting. Because a trainer asked how the day-night cycle is implemented in Pokémon GO, since it deviates a bit in Antarctica.
Seems to be pretty accurate, but I’ve only played in the dark since we got Starlink in the middle of winter, explains the trainer: The sun rose for the first time in 4 months, two days ago. So, playing outside is really not recommended.
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Pokémon from the Paldea region will soon appear in Pokémon GO!
But generally, not much is happening outside. The game is limited for the station teams to those buildings, also because there is Wi-Fi there. And, importantly: According to the player, there are even two gyms and four stops, which are however partially attacked by spoofers.
This makes it even possible to engage in raids in Antarctica when the monsters appear there. However, this has not been a problem so far: We get all raid Pokémon, which is cool, responds the player to the question of what his best spawns were: Dragonite and a shiny Rapidash are my favorites. In his two months of playing so far, he has gathered a total of 4 shinies.
It is more challenging when it comes to egg hatching because one does not move around much. It takes about 10 days to hatch a 5-kilometer egg, according to cware196.
Generally, the player experience in Pokémon GO can vary significantly from player to player – depending on where one plays the game. Antarctica seems, unsurprisingly, to be a place where playing Pokémon GO is rather restricted.
The Twitch streamer Asmongold, as an MMO veteran, should actually be used to difficult boss fights, but an enemy in the latest game from FromSoftware is making him despair.
What kind of game is this? Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon (PC, Console) is the latest game from the Japanese development studio FromSoftware, known for their award-winning titles: Elden Ring, the “Dark Souls” series, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Bloodborne.
Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon (AC6) is an action game where you control a heavily armed mech and engage in massive battles. Mechs are combat machines reminiscent of giant robots, but are often piloted by humans.
In AC6, you can customize your mech with different parts to suit your play style or the conditions of a battle. Besides various combat styles, mechs feature enormous mobility, able to execute quick movements both on land and in the air.
A special feature of the gameplay in Armored Core IV is, as expected from FromSoftware games, that there is a high level of difficulty with challenging boss fights.
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FromSoftware shows Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon in the overview trailer
Why did Asmongold end the stream? Asmongold faced a boss fight against the IA-13: Sea Spider in AC6 that lasted over 4 hours and was streamed live on Twitch (via Twitch).
Time and time again, the Twitch streamer had to endure some devastating defeats. Eventually, plagued by frustration and humility, he could no longer bear his never-ending despair and made a temporary closure:
“I’m done. I don’t even know what killed me. I have no idea what the hell killed me. I don’t even know what it was. Oh my god. […] Alright, let’s try again tomorrow […]. I’m going to sleep now. I’m so tired.”
Afterwards, Asmongold ended the stream. You can see a clip of his rage quit on YouTube:
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Despite the rage quit and the intermittent high frustration from Asmongold, the streamer was able to experience a happy ending in his battle with the Sea Spider: just one day later, when Asmongold dove into the boss fight again during a livestream, he finally emerged victorious.
Who is Asmongold anyway? Asmongold, or Zackrawrr, is considered the largest MMORPG streamer on Twitch, showcasing various MMOs and other games that require a lot of grinding.
In recent weeks and months, his channels have featured not only AC6 but also games like Diablo 4, Wayfinder, and Remnant 2. Additionally, the streamer spends a lot of time in the “Just Chatting” category, reacting to various videos and gaming news.
While Asmongold has over 3.4 million followers on his main channel, which he hardly uses anymore, his second channel has “only” 1.4 million followers. Nevertheless, he prefers to stream there rather than on his main channel and revealed in September 2022 that returning to his main channel even causes him panic attacks.
Diablo 4 offers many hours of gameplay in its campaign, but what to do when you are done with it? We show you all the options so you know what you can do after the campaign.
What to do after the campaign? After you have finished the story, you will be brought back to Kyovashad. You now have the opportunity to do whatever you want. Depending on where your priorities lie, you can decide for yourself what you want to do. The following things might be suitable:
All these things you can do without any problems even without a season. However, if you are a seasonal player, you can do the following things:
Build a powerful build with the new season mechanics
Prepare for the upcoming ladder and come up with a strategy
Practice for the ladder
Follow the season’s story
Complete the season journey
Every player has their own preferences regarding what they want to do after the story. Especially the side quests are exciting opportunities to dive deeper into the world of Sanctuary and experience the fascinating stories of the inhabitants. But there is also the endgame that you can try out.
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Diablo 4 presents new Season 2, coming this fall – Blood & Vampires
What is there in the endgame? Diablo 4 offers you many options in the endgame to further strengthen yourself. You can complete quests from the Whispering Tree, defeat world bosses, finish nightmare dungeons, or challenge more difficult world tiers. Additionally, there are Legion events where you can unleash yourselves to grab loot.
So there are many ways to keep yourself busy. Which activity have you chosen? Let us know in the comments!
