How did the debacle of the Overwatch League come about? Some casters analyze it and see many mistakes that have been lined up by the league.
Overwatch fans simply do not get a break. After the launch of Overwatch 2 was a disappointment and a large part of the PvE modes was cut, now the Overwatch League is also facing the axe.
Many former casters and fans are currently analyzing what went wrong. Even though there seems to be agreement that the Overwatch League is disappearing, some have hope: After this, it can only get better.
What’s going on with the Overwatch League? Blizzard has announced that team owners will be allowed to vote after the current season whether they want to continue under “new guidelines”. If they opt out, each team will receive $6 million.
Since Blizzard has also laid off 50 employees, a large part of the eSports department, it seems that this vote is just a formality. It appears that it is already assumed that the team owners will take the money and put a checkmark next to it.
What do the casters say about it? Erik Lonnquist, known to many as “DoA”, is one of the original Overwatch casters and has commented on games even before the Overwatch League was founded.
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He left the Overwatch League in 2019 because, in his view, “promises were not kept” and due to “the incompetence at the upper management level of the Overwatch League”. He further explains:
We had the right people, the resources, and, most importantly, a great game. The people in leadership were changed in 2019 and from then on it went downhill.
In the meantime, Lonnquist even believes that Overwatch is better off without the league:
I honestly believe that Overwatch eSports will be better when the Overwatch League disappears. Bring back regional leagues with regional identity. Bring back tournaments in the MLG style on weekends.
The three big mistakes of the Overwatch League
The former caster Makowski also has an opinion on this and outlines what he thinks went wrong with the Overwatch League:
The biggest advantage of eSports, according to Makowski, is that it exists online and is therefore fundamentally global. A localization would have ruined that – especially since many players did not live near the city they represented in the team. There was hardly any community interaction or local collaborations. Putting city names over team names was therefore considered a mistake.
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The second mistake was, according to Makowski, that team owners were expected to build a new brand each. Instead of using their old, already established brand names, they had to combine the team name with a city and build a completely new brand. This costs time and money, both of which could have been used differently. Telling a well-known team name that it cannot use this name in Overwatch “will go down in history as a major blunder”.
The third mistake was the high entry fee. Until then, organizations had operated relatively efficiently without needing to build up large capital. Several million dollars in fees forced companies to raise money and simultaneously raised expectations that it would be profitable – while it was never quite clear how that was supposed to work.
This created unrealistic expectations for both investors and companies. Furthermore, companies were effectively forced to promote a game in which they competed out of their own pockets.
Blizzard had more or less let Overwatch 1 die without reason by virtually halting development to focus instead on Overwatch 2. This lack of new content would not have been good for the eSports scene – especially in a game that still had so much growth potential, as was the case with Overwatch.
What does the future of eSports in Overwatch look like? That is uncertain. Most think that eSports in Overwatch will recover on its own as soon as it no longer runs under the banner of the Overwatch League and new tournaments and formats emerge.
Others hope that after the acquisition by Microsoft, there will simply be a major restart and the Overwatch League will be fundamentally rebuilt.
Which of these scenarios will come true remains to be seen. But the Overwatch League is likely to go down in history as one of the biggest blunders in the history of Activision Blizzard and esports in general.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a stream from July 19, 2023, just one day before the start of season 1, Asmongold summarized his thoughts on the patch.
What does Asmongold praise? Asmongold praises the changes to “vulnerability” and thinks the adjustment is clever: “By the way, a good decision. I agree with the vulnerability decision. I think that’s clever. […] Basically, it was [the vulnerability] much better. It was much better than anything else.”
With vulnerability, you deal more damage to opponents. That alone is a reason why many builds rely on the effect. Furthermore, you can find gear that provides multipliers for vulnerability, allowing you to deal significantly more damage to vulnerable opponents.
With update 1.1, the damage of the effect is weakened and reduced by 40%.
Start video
Diablo 4 shows gameplay trailer for Season 1 and some players mock it
Asmongold: “Everything is worse”
What else does Asmongold say about the changes of update 1.1? Aside from the adjustments to vulnerability, Asmongold has nothing good to say about the patch, stating: “Number one: Everything is worse. Number two, everything is harder.”
Additionally, the streamer says that leveling is slower, hell floods are worse, and damage reduction is decreased. He then addresses some issues that the game has had in recent weeks and concludes: “None of it is fixed.”
We are including the Reddit clip with Asmongold’s statements here:
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Asmongold’s summary of the patch was also shared in the Diablo 4 subreddit. There, the clip collected nearly 14,000 upvotes within a day and was commented on over 2,100 times. Many players agree with the streamer’s statements, especially the criticism.
Developers “want to enable more successful builds”
What do the developers say about vulnerability? Asmongold’s assessment of vulnerability aligns with the developers’ insights. Blizzard also found the damage too high:
We have noticed that critical hit damage and vulnerability damage are often seen as a fixed requirement for the success of a build in Diablo IV. We believe that with this step, more successful builds can be enabled, and we will continue to make adjustments in line with this goal.
With the nerf to vulnerability, Blizzard aims to create more build diversity.
Additionally, the development studio responded to the significant criticism from players and reversed an unpopular change from update 1.1 just one day before the start of season 1:
An episode of the animated series Spongebob was later removed by the production company from the American television program. When it briefly reappeared on a streaming platform, there was the 2nd ban.
Since 2018, the Spongebob episode Mid-Life Crustacean (English title: Mid-Life Crustacean) has been banned by Nickelodeon from the television program in the USA.
Actually, the ban was supposed to apply to the streaming service Paramount+ in the American region as well. However, the forbidden episode surprisingly surfaced for a short time – until it was removed again.
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Why was the episode banned? The episode Mid-Life Crustacean was likely removed from the program by Nickelodeon due to the “Panty Raids”.
In the episode, Mr. Krabs feels old and wants to relive his youth. Together with Spongebob and Patrick, he wants to experience a fun Saturday night.
However, this leads to an embarrassing moment where Mr. Krabs accidentally steals his mother’s underwear.
It is suspected that this is way too much for a children’s series in the USA. A spokesperson for Nickelodeon also stated to IGN that some story elements “are not suitable for children”, which is why they had removed the series from the television broadcast in the USA since 2018.
Also, the streaming service Paramount+, which is available through Amazon Prime Video, did not make the episode available. Since the two episodes were released as a double feature, The Great Snail Race was also removed.
Recently, however, the double episode surprisingly reappeared, as a Twitter user noted with surprise on July 17, 2023:
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However, the episode disappeared again shortly after, as it was actually never the plan to make the episode accessible again.
It was due to a glitch that made the episode available despite the ban, as a spokesperson for Paramount explained to IGN:
Due to a technical error, the episode was accidentally released for a short time on the Paramount+ Channel on Amazon Prime Video. It has been removed since.
On Twitter, there was also once a rumor that Spongebob was supposed to be completely canceled. You can find more about this here with our colleagues at Filmstarts.
Even when accessing from Germany via Amazon, the episode cannot be watched through the Paramount+ subscription. However, the episode is still available for purchase or rental on Amazon for Spongebob fans.
Also, the episode airs normally on television in Germany, along with all the other episodes.
Are you a fan of animated series and films? Then you should take a closer look at this recommendation:
Remnant 2 will be released on July 25 for PC (Steam, Epic), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was allowed to play the entire game in advance and is thrilled. Unplanned, he spent hours solving puzzles and suddenly an entire day was gone.
What do Diablo, Call of Duty and Dark Souls have in common? Nothing, but Remnant somehow connects all three games anyway. Well, at least something like that. The action RPG is at its core a Soulslike. Tough bosses, builds, and loot, pretty much everything as in Dark Souls.
In addition, there’s an interesting grind with crafting and classes for new possibilities as well as firearms. You heard right: Remnant gives the dusty genre an interesting twist by making rifles, crossbows, and pistols the standard repertoire.
I played the first part, Remnant: From the Ashes, for so long that I almost overslept work. Now the creators Gunfire Games have made a successor, which I was able to play in advance in the review build.
With the expectations of a pleasant action game for in-between, I went in. Excited about the story, the weapons, and the characters, I come out of the test after nearly 30 hours now. Of those, 15 hours alone on my free day to finish the story. The game hits exactly the right nerve.
Start video
We played Remnant 2 – Is the co-op game worth it?
As a sharpshooter against nasty bosses
What most of you probably want to know now is: How exactly does it work, a Dark Souls with guns? The short answer is: extremely well. In third-person, meaning “over the shoulder”, you control most of the time.
If you have a rifle with a scope, you can also switch to first-person perspective. But that doesn’t mean you can comfortably stay back to shoot the enemies from a safe distance. Fights usually go like this:
Spot the enemies and plan: 3 targeted shots to take out the group
First shot connects, enemies notice, rush towards me
Someone sneaks up from behind and hits me
Quickly switch weapons and fend off with the pistol as the angry mob arrives
Panic, roll around, reload, stab blindly with the melee weapon, and try to survive
Heal and back to step 1
Aside from boss fights, this sums up the first hours in Remnant 2 surprisingly well. Because the bosses are actually quite a tough number. As you would expect from a Soulslike, you normally need many attempts before you win.
This is mainly because you first have to learn the “attack patterns”, so: how does the boss announce which attack and how do I dodge it? Once that’s figured out, you have a chance. Difference from Dark Souls: not every hit is a oneshot. At least not on the second of four difficulty levels.
Remnant 2 can be played entirely in co-op with friends. My friend here was colleague Maik Schneider, who lost interest after the first chapter of the story. That’s a shame on one hand, but on the other hand good, because:
Together, the game was really fun, causing laughter and shared despair
However, the story suffered a bit because Maik couldn’t see or benefit from my decisions
Overall, we talked more at times than listening to the really well-designed NPCs, which I only really appreciated when playing solo. There are some pretty wacky and interesting characters with whom you can talk and for whom you can complete tasks.
In total, there are 6 worlds in Remnant 2, Earth included, and each has different enemies, bosses, dungeons, and NPCs. Depending on how you decide and react, there are even different rewards and endings. For instance, I accidentally wiped out an entire species and destroyed their home world. Oops …
My dog “Hund” is the best partner
What surprised me the most were the new classes, or “archetypes.” Even in Remnant: From the Ashes there were different archetypes, but they had little impact. Essentially, it was like in Dark Souls: your starter build, which you could always adjust in the end.
The class thus has a much greater impact than I initially thought. I chose the “Helper” class, which is referred to as a support and has a dog as a companion. The entire playstyle revolves around this idea:
I buff my dog, myself, and friends with damage or speed, can even heal
My dog attacks enemies or protects me
Through special abilities, I can “train” my dog to taunt enemies, heal friends, or amplify damage
Unfortunately, I found no way to give my companion a name, so he simply remained “Hund” until the end. But: you can pet the dog!
Other classes, like Hunter or Gunslinger, are more focused on “face-to-face” damage. Especially in co-op with different classes, this is a great addition to the playstyle that games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne lack.
Start video
Remnant: 2 Archetype Introduction – The Helper
Story hui! Endgame … is also here
The biggest strength of Remnant 2 so far is the story. I don’t want to spoil anything, but fundamentally it’s about finding out how to stop the ‘Seed’. It’s a kind of space parasite that infects and destroys all sorts of worlds. A bit like Tyranids from Warhammer.
To prevent that, I travel through worlds, help the inhabitants there, and search for a way to finally destroy the Seed. How it turns out is… surprising. Play it yourself, I only took about 20 hours.
However, that’s also the biggest weakness, in my opinion. After these 20 hours and a few more for the pretty cool puzzles, there’s actually not much more to do.
The endgame involves playing the ‘Adventure Mode’. These are randomly generated worlds with new tasks, bosses, and rewards. The campaign is also randomly generated each time. It’s cool, but whether it lasts for more than 2 playthroughs, I can’t say.
At least messing around with different classes or builds for the highest difficulty, trying out new weapons, and solving all the puzzles still keeps me going. What I should do next in Remnant 2, I’m not so sure.
There were also some technical issues, which the colleagues talked more about than I would have noticed, especially FPS drops and stutters.
Nevertheless, I like the game very much. Especially to have some action with friends for just 2-3 hours in the evening, the game is ideal. As soon as you are too tired or frustrated for the current boss, you just continue tomorrow.
Remnant 2 will be released on July 25 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, but without crossplay, as I was informed. Those who pre-order the more expensive Ultimate Edition will even have early access from July 21. The next weeks will be quite tight when it comes to good, new games:
With PS Plus Essential, subscribers can pick up 3 games for PS4 / PS5 every month at no additional cost. We show you the schedule for PS Plus and which games could be coming on MeinMMO.
What does the schedule look like? With PS Plus, there is a fixed date for the release of the free games – the first Tuesday of the new month. Based on experience, the games are usually presented on the Wednesday of the week before:
PS Plus: Games available from Tuesday, August 1
Usually around noon at 12:00 PM
Possible announcement: Wednesday, July 26
Game reveals often around 5:30 PM
The times and date of the reveal are based on experience and are subject to change. What is certain is the release date on August 1.
Further down, you will find speculations about which games could be coming in the subscription. Remember to activate your games for July in time for your game library:
Which games could come in August? Currently, there are no leaks regarding PS Plus in August 2023. However, we have looked around in the community, checked rumors, and list a few possible titles for you.
However, please keep in mind that this is not reliable information, but rather speculation and rumors circulating on the internet. There are some big hits among them this month:
“EA Sports” games
Possibilities include the titles UFC 4 or FIFA 23. Both games have sequels coming and especially with the FIFA series, you need a lot of attention to make the new name of the next generation known. Because FIFA is now called EA Sports FC – here are the details about the changes in FC 24.
Spider-Man
There is also a sequel coming soon and PlayStation often brings its big titles to PS Plus when there is enough time since the release. The action game is very popular and is considered one of the best superhero games ever.
A charismatic, little horror game with an exciting and fast-paced story. A typical game for PS Plus that can be discovered aside from the big hits. The title has been on the market for several months now and would be a suitable candidate – you can read a review of The Chant from the colleagues at GamePro.
Chained Echoes
With Chained Echoes, the German developer Matthias Linda has created a tribute to the 16-bit games of the 90s. Turn-based combat in the style of the early “Final Fantasy” games meets an exciting story – mechanics and story unfold in the game and provide dozens of hours of entertainment.
What does PS Plus Essential offer? PS Plus Essential is the first level of Sony’s PS Plus subscription system and is important if you want to play online games. In addition, you will receive at least three games for your library every month. Provided you still have the PS Plus Essential subscription when you want to play one of the games.
In addition to the games, there are free content for free-to-play games and exclusive offers that can save you quite a bit during sales. You also get the ability to save your game progress in the cloud.
You are on the go and suddenly your battery is empty from gaming? Here it is advisable to have a power bank with you. Because they provide you with enough power even on the go. MeinMMO presents you the best power banks in this article.
What is this article about? In our article, we want to introduce you to the best portable batteries (power bank / power banks) that you can currently buy.
This is how we proceeded: We have looked at reviews, testimonials, and customer ratings for some power banks. In addition, we in the MeinMMO editorial team have tested some of these portable batteries ourselves and included these experiences in this list.
Do you have a great and recommendable power bank that is not on our list? Then write to us in the comments or give feedback.
This article was published on March 12, 2021, and is regularly updated with products or notes. On July 20, 2023, we comprehensively updated the article and exchanged several products.
What you should consider when buying a power bank
As a rule, you should pay attention to a handful of tips and hints before purchasing a power bank.
Connections: What outputs does the power bank offer? Better devices often offer you several outputs such as USB-A or USB-C. Many devices use different connections. While older phones tend to rely on USB-A, new devices use USB-C. USB-C can charge significantly faster thanks to technology (Power Delivery).
What additional features? Modern devices often offer you fast charging functionality, wireless charging, or a solar panel. If you do not need that, you can save a few euros.
Size and weight: Small power banks usually fit easily in your pocket, while larger spare batteries are more suitable for the backpack and offer more capacities. However, they are often heavier as well.
Warranty: Pay attention to how extensive the warranty is for the device. If something goes wrong or breaks, you can send the power bank back anytime.
What is the power bank used for? Be clear about what you need the power bank for. Are you taking the bus and train to work, or are you also in nature for days in rough weather (hiking, camping vacation, etc.)?
Traveling by plane: Please note that you are only allowed to take power banks with a maximum output of 100 watts in your hand luggage. The regulations may vary depending on the airline.
In the following section, we present to you the best power banks that you can currently buy. We also explain to you which power bank is best suited for whom and present you with further alternatives.
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Best power bank up to 10000 mAh – Anker Power Bank PowerCore Slim
Who is the power bank suitable for? If you are looking for a small and light power bank for everyday use, then check out the Anker Power Bank PowerCore. This gives you enough power to charge about two smartphone batteries on average.
This is what the Anker Power Bank PowerCore Slim offers: With the Power Bank PowerCore from Anker, you get a small and compact power bank. It is about the size of a usual playing card. According to the manufacturer, you can charge your smartphone an average of 2.5 times (depending on the phone’s battery size).
The power bank supports fast charging (Quick Charge and Power IQ), and included in the delivery is a micro-USB cable and a bag for storage. You will have to buy a USB-C or Lightning cable separately.
The downside is that you cannot charge the power bank itself while also charging a connected phone. When charging, the power bank turns off all connection ports.
Pros
due to compact size well suited for travel
high charging speed thanks to Quick Charge
delivery includes cable and bag
Cons
simultaneous charging and discharging not possible
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 14,000 ratings. The charging speed and compact size are particularly praised. In the category “For on the go,” the power bank receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Alternative up to 10000 mAH – POSUGEAR Power Bank 10000mAh
Who is the power bank suitable for? Similar to Anker, you also get a small and handy power bank from POSUGEAR and can save a few euros in comparison.
This is what the POSUGEAR Power Bank offers: The power bank offers you 10000 mAh, which can charge a phone once or twice. The device offers good performance in a handy size. The price is also reasonably set at around 12 euros.
In contrast to the more expensive Anker PowerCore, however, you do not get a storage case or additional cable.
Pros
handy size in credit card format,
solid performance
affordable price
Cons
no accessories included
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon with more than 3000 reviews. The good charging performance (4.1/5) and the good price-performance ratio (4.1/5) are praised. Buyers particularly commend the compact size and ease of use.
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Best power bank 20,000 mAh – Anker Power Bank, 325 Power Bank
Who is the power bank suitable for? For around 60 euros, you get a high-quality power bank with enough capacity for multiple charges. If you are often on the go or do not want to recharge your power bank constantly, then we recommend this device.
This is what the Anker Power Bank 325 offers: The high-priced model from Anker is among the best models if you are looking for high capacity, good charging speed, and a fair price. With 20,000 mAh, you can charge most devices 2 times or more.
Pros
high output power
supports fast charging function (QC protocol)
good workmanship
Cons
no additional accessories included
high price
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 3255 ratings. The high output power and sufficient capacity are praised.
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Best power bank 50,000 mAh – Ehrlich 50000 mAh Power Bank
This is what the power bank offers: With the power bank from Ehrlich, you get a good and powerful overall package for around 50 euros. This allows you to charge your devices several times before you need to plug the power bank back into the mains.
However, please note that you must register a 50,000 mAh power bank at the airport if you want to take it with you. For models with less than 27,000 mAh, there is no registration requirement.
This is what buyers say: The product is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon with more than 700 reviews. Praise goes mostly to the high performance and good workmanship. Some criticize that the charge indicator is not always accurate and that the device is quite bulky.
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Best power bank for traveling and festivals – INIU Power Bank
This is what the power bank offers: For around 15 euros, you get the power bank from INIU. The model offers you only 10,000 mAh, but weighs less than 200 grams. Therefore, this device is a handy, slim device for on-the-go, which we can recommend.
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 30,000 ratings. Many praise the low weight, good workmanship, and adorable design.
Our alternative from a well-known manufacturer would be the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000, which you can also find as a general recommendation in our list. It is slightly heavier and at around 30 euros somewhat more expensivethan the model from INIU.
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Best power bank for iPhone – Apple External MagSafe Battery
Apple’s in-house external battery is aimed exclusively at owners of an Apple device. The model can be easily attached to the iPhone via magnets and charges your phone this way. Another advantage is the pleasant, compact size.
The device is compatible with iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 Pro.
The biggest disadvantage is that the official product is very expensive. On average, you pay around 100 euros. Cheap imitators are already available for around 30 euros, but generally offer you less performance and poorer workmanship. Also, there are a lot of counterfeits around that you should be careful of. In doubt, you should stick with the official product.
This is what buyers say: The Apple product is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars with over 4,000 reviews. Many praise the design and high-quality workmanship. There is criticism that the model does not fully charge the iPhone battery, stopping at 90%.
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Who is the power bank suitable for? If you are on the go with a laptop and need a socket, then the Omnicharge Omni 20+ is a good choice. It offers capacity, and you can also connect large devices like laptops, monitors, and others to the power bank. Due to the many features, the price is also substantial. If you do not need a socket, then you should opt for significantly cheaper models.
This is what the Omnicharge Omni 20+ offers: The Omni 20+ offers you 20,000 mAh and a multitude of additional functions. You can power various large devices like laptops or monitors through the DC jack, and the device also offers a wireless charging function.
On the display of the power bank, you can view important information regarding values and data. Overall, the Omni 20+ offers a comprehensive package if you require many functions.
The biggest downside is the steep price of nearly 300 euros. Particularly annoying is the lack of included accessories, as neither a power adapter nor storage is provided.
A protective case can be ordered from the manufacturer Omnicharge for around 40 euros, but it is cumbersome and expensive, as you would need to order from the USA, which incurs import fees.
You can also get a cheaper version of the power bank with less capacity for just over 100 euros.
Pros
high-quality workmanship
good capacity
many functions such as a socket and inductive charging
display with many indicators
compact size
Cons
high price
low included accessories
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 44 ratings (Amazon.de) and 4.5 out of 5 stars with 169 ratings (Amazon.com). Praise goes to the good craftsmanship and many features. However, many buyers also wish that a protective case or proper packaging would be included in the delivery.
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Alternative for the best power bank for iPad Pro and laptop – Omars Power Bank
Who is the power bank suitable for? If you are looking for a powerful power bank for laptops, MacBook Pro, or other large devices, then you should take a look at the power bank from Omar.
Especially the large version with 40200 mAh is highly recommended when you are on the go. Alternatively, you can also go for the version with 24000 mAh, but this one drains quickly when used with your laptop.
This is what the power bank from Omars offers: The power bank from Omar offers you not only a high capacity (40200 mAh) but also good workmanship. Thanks to the AC socket, you can also charge larger devices like notebooks and others. This device is particularly suitable if you are on the go and do not have a socket nearby.
The downside is its high weight, as the power bank weighs a good kilogram.
Pros
high capacity (40200 mAh)
charges itself quickly
suitable for larger electronics devices without issues
Cons
heavy weight
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 596 ratings. Praise goes to the good performance, decent workmanship, and fast self-charging of the power bank.
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Best solar power bank – Hiluckey Wireless Solar Power Bank 26800 mAh
Who is the device suitable for? If you are often outdoors and looking for a robust, outdoor-friendly power bank with a solar panel, then check out the power bank from Hilucky. The price is around 30 euros.
This is what the Hiluckey Wireless Solar Power Bank offers: The most striking feature is the integrated solar panel in the power bank. If you are out and about, you can attach the power bank to your backpack and recharge it. Via the power grid, it takes about 7-8 hours until the power bank is fully charged.
Additionally, you can charge up to 4 devices simultaneously with the device. There is also a QI wireless function through which you can also charge.
Pros
robust, waterproof, and stable, suitable for outdoor use
integrated solar panel
charging up to 4 devices simultaneously possible
almost 30000 mAH charge
Cons
cheap USB cover
This is what buyers say: The power bank is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 935 reviews. The high-quality and robust workmanship, making the power bank withstand a lot, is particularly praised. Thanks to the high performance, many devices can also be operated with it.
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What you should consider with a power bank
On the next page, we explain more about the topic of power banks. We will cover, among other things,
what a power bank actually is.
how the power bank works.
how long the lifespan of a power bank is.
Additionally, we give you a reference to an article with helpful tips if you often play on your smartphone.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft scans your chats in real time – and offensive messages will be filtered. Censorship or a really good feature?
The next update of World of Warcraft is already available on the PTR. The Patch 10.1.7 Fury Incarnate not only brings new content for Night Elves and Undead but also some comfort features. Blizzard wants to moderate the chat between players in real time – toxic messages should be automatically filtered out.
How will this work? With Patch 10.1.7, the chat in World of Warcraft will be moderated in real time. This means that if the game detects that a message contains offensive words, the filter will act automatically.
If the game detects a potentially toxic message, it will immediately be hidden and you will be presented with an option to display the message if desired.
If you still want to see the message, the “Report Player” option will immediately be displayed below, allowing you to report the message and the corresponding character right away.
By the way, the system is only active for characters that are not on your friends list. Chat messages from friends are generally not filtered.
What does reporting bring? The reporting system in World of Warcraft is controversial. Although Blizzard has not confirmed this, parts of the sanctions seem to be processed automatically. This has caused problems in the past. A “crafting cartel” simply silenced unwanted players by repeatedly reporting them to eliminate competition.
Currently, players in WoW are struggling with the new mega dungeon:
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WoW Cinematic: Nozdormu sees the rise of the Eternals in a vision
What does the new system bring? The new feature is likely to protect players who simply do not want to come into contact with toxic messages. At the same time, it also makes it easier to report the respective offenders directly, as this option is displayed much more prominently rather than appearing only via a right-click on the name.
It is, therefore, another step towards making World of Warcraft a friendlier environment.
Is the feature mandatory? No. If you do not wish for messages to be filtered, you can simply disable that in the options. All messages will then be allowed through to you. You will, of course, still have the option to report an offensive message.
What do you think of this innovation? A good thing to reduce toxic comments? Or does it do nothing at all?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Behind the Chatbot ChatGPT lies a lot of potential, but many are also afraid for their jobs. An author has now reported how ChatGPT took over her workplace.
Our title image is a symbolic image.
Who is it about? Emily Hanley is a freelance writer and comedian and wrote texts for various companies. These include, according to her own statement, for example:
Articles for websites and brand blogs
Social media posts
and email marketing campaigns.
In an interview with Business Insider, she reports how she lost her job because of ChatGPT. Because employers and clients found that AI is not only cheaper but also faster.
She herself says: If a robot can do your work cheaper, it will do so, and you will lose your job.
Fewer and fewer orders from clients
This is how she lost her job: Hanley recounted that she initially received fewer and fewer orders: She used to get 10 orders per week, then only 5, then 3, and finally just 1 single order per week.
When she asked her boss what was going on, he explained: Clients were no longer willing to pay for writing texts if the writer could not also handle email management and other tasks.
Most clients were small businesses, start-ups, and young brands that were adapting to new technologies to save costs. And with that, the author became uninteresting for the companies.
What happened next for her? Although she was not fired, she also no longer received orders to work on. For her, that was tantamount to a dismissal. Afterwards, she applied for new positions:
In the next three months, I applied constantly for positions in content and copywriting. With each week that passed, I expanded the scope of my search, with each week that passed, I expanded the scope of my search, and desperation pushed me like a mother with a shy child further and further.
Initially, she turned down a well-paid job: A company was looking for a copywriter to train its artificial intelligence. Afterwards, her work would likely have been replaced by the AI she would have trained herself. She was not interested in standing on the street again after the fixed-term 6 months because then the AI would have taken over her job (again).
At first, she thought that her job must be safe from AI. After all, why would anyone suddenly replace her tasks with a robot? This was not only the case for her but also for many other colleagues. However, she believes her worldview was too naive. She says in the interview:
I naively assumed that artists and creatives would be safe from automation technology, for how could something replace the wonder of the human spirit – and even if it could, why would we want that? Aha! Today I know that even in the most creative industries, creativity never comes before the end result. If a robot can do your work for less money, then believe that is exactly what will happen.
What is Hanley doing now? Later, she became a “brand ambassador.” She stood in various stores and offered samples of mineral water to passersby. She is not really happy with that, but at least she can pay her bills.
And she is not the only person who has lost her job to AI in recent months. The company “Challenger, Gray & Christmas” investigated how many people have lost their jobs due to AI like ChatGPT, and by May 2023, that number was already in the thousands:
The visitors of the San Diego Comic Con were probably quite surprised when they saw the restaurant ‘Cluckin’ Bell’ from Grand Theft Auto in real life last year. The restaurant only opened its doors for the comic convention and plans to be on-site again this year.
Even in the latest installment GTA 5, the chicken-specialized restaurant provides us with all sorts of burgers, chicken wings, and other treats.
The restaurant chain is a reference to Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The name is derived from “Fucking Hell”.
The restaurant is designed in yellow and red colors and has some bells hanging in the room, which have a rooster comb on them. The bell is also the logo of the fast-food chain. The employees wear a yellow T-shirt, yellow pants, and a rooster head with a hole for the face.
The restaurant chain called Smokin J’s BBQ wanted to recreate the restaurant almost 1:1 at the San Diego Comic Con and provided the convention visitors with chicken dishes. However, the replica not only drew the attention of the visitors but also of GTA owner Take-Two.
How the restaurant ultimately looked is shown to us by user KevClipz in a video on Twitter:
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How was the project killed? Actually, the company wanted to open a replica of the restaurant at Comic Con in 2023 as well. However, Take-Two got wind of the matter and sent the responsible parties a cease and desist letter.
Take-Two demands that the fictional brands from the GTA series cannot be used for their own restaurants, even if they only open temporarily. The publisher probably does not appreciate it when other companies profit from their in-house brands.
However, the owners of the fake restaurant are not worried, as a representative of Smokin J’s BBQ explains. The responsible parties plan to simply change the name of the restaurant (via rockstarintel.com):
Last night we received a cease and desist letter from the law firm representing Take-Two Interactive. Consequently, we were forced to cancel the Burger Shot event planned for this weekend. We will still conduct an installation of the ‘Cluckin’ Bell’ type next weekend, but it will now be a parody called ‘Dont Cluckin Tell’.
The community is not happy that Take-Two wants to shut down the restaurant. Some users quote a line from GTA San Andreas, in which the NPC Big Smoke places a large order at Cluckin’ Bell. They are disappointed that they might not be able to enjoy the fast food any longer. (via twitter.com)
Others make fun of it with memes on Twitter, saying that Take-Two efficiently acts against other companies but cannot handle a hacker.
This refers to the incident where a lot of material about GTA 6 was leaked. Players were able to see early gameplay for the first time, which ironically also comes from a fast-food restaurant.
Everything about the incident can be found on MeinMMO:
A cosmic monster returns to World of Warcraft: The Black Blade of the Empire, the Knaifu-Waifu of the priests… or simply Xal’atath.
Originally, Patch 10.1.5 Rifts of Time was supposed to be just a minor interim patch, but the content is significantly larger than expected. Especially the details in the development of the story are quite significant. However, one detail has completely escaped many players. Blizzard has hinted at the return of one of the best characters ever: Xal’atath is back.
Who is Xal’atath? Xal’atath was the artifact weapon of shadow priests during the “Legion” expansion. It repeatedly whispered things to the priest, mostly from the time of the Black Empire when the Old Gods were at war with each other.
What exactly Xal’atath is has never been clearly defined. It could be the claw of the Old God Y’Shaarj or perhaps an Old God itself, who was subdued early by the others.
At the end of Legion, Xal’atath, like all other artifact weapons, is used to draw the corruption from the Sword of Sargeras. After that, the weapon is lost.
During the “Battle for Azeroth” expansion, we found Xal’atath again, freed the being from the dagger, and gave it its own elven body – before it betrayed us to N’Zoth and disappeared through a void portal. But now it is back.
Where has Xal’atath appeared? Anyone who has played the new mega-dungeon “Twilight of Eternity” and saw the last cinematic has also seen Xal’atath – or overlooked it. Because it is only recognizable for a brief moment as a silhouette. As Iridikron steps into the void portal after his dark speech, one can see the silhouette of an elf in the shadows. Since this is a void portal, it can only be Xal’atath.
Easily overlooked – yet the clear outline of an elf.
But there is another clue. During a new quest in Thaldraszus, we must collect the belongings of a bronze dragon that were plundered or ravaged by “beings from an alternate timeline”. There we encounter not only Fel-corrupted elves but also followers of N’Zoth – and a special rare mob.
“The Maw of K’Tanth” – a term we only know thanks to Xal’atath.
The enemy named “Zal’kir the Chosen” has the subtitle “The Maw of K’Tanth”. An seemingly random name yet one that has only been mentioned once in the story of WoW: Xal’atath mentioned “The Battle of K’Tanth” when the priest took her to the Broken Shore.
It seems rather unlikely that precisely in this patch a creature with this name appears, where Xal’atath is also visible. At the same time, Zal’kir drops a weapon called “Black Blade of K’Tanth” – which is suspiciously close to the name of Xal’atath, who is called “Black Blade of the Empire”.
It remains to be seen whether we will see Iridikron and Xal’atath during the course of Dragonflight. Currently, it looks more like these are already story developments leading to the next expansion.
Are you excited about the return of Xal’atath? What do you think kind of chaos will she unleash?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The acclaimed indie game Vampire Survivors was the big surprise hit on Steam in 2022. For developer Luca Galante, the success was unexpected, as it changed everything.
Where does the information come from? On July 17, 2023, a documentary about the surprise hit of the year 2022 was published on the YouTube channel Noclip. It also includes an interview with Luca Galante, the creator of the game.
The special thing: Developer Luca Galante already had a job and worked on his own projects on the side.
Vampire Survivors is available on Steam for less than 5 €. What other bargains are worth it, you can see in our video:
Start video
5 fantastic games for under 5 euros on Steam
Steam hit was actually just a hobby project
How did Vampire Survivors come about? The native Italian Galante moved to England to pursue a career in the gaming industry. However, it started quite unglamorously in gastronomy before he could enter the gaming industry.
Galante seems to have spent most of his career before Vampire Survivors at a company that produces a gambling game for mobile. While it was a stable job, it was not really fulfilling for the developer.
In his spare time, he began working on his own projects. After spending several nights developing a Unity-based role-playing game, Galante ultimately decided on a less extensive project in Java: Vampire Survivors.
Sam McGarry, a former colleague of the developer, who now works with Galante at his own studio poncle, recalls: When the former employer held a showcase where employees could present their hobby projects, colleagues couldn’t detach themselves from the roguelite. Xbox chief Phil Spencer experienced something similar.
Developer quit his job for Vampire Survivors
What changed for the developer: The success of his small side project with Castlevania assets surprised hardly anyone more than Galante himself. At that point, he had just started a new job.
In February 2022, he told NME that Vampire Survivors “had exceeded his expectations by a factor of 1,000” and “changed everything.” Galante had just quit the new job after barely a week: The game was simply too successful and required too much attention.
When he saw the numbers rising, he immediately asked his environment for help. Galante has now assembled a team and already published additional content for Vampire Survivors. It remains to be seen where the journey will go next.
The interview is part of a recent video from Noclip that highlights the creation of Vampire Survivors. The founder of the channel, Danny O’Dwyer, recently stumbled upon crates full of footage from a decade of gaming history and saved them from going to waste:
The Hatch Day with Riolu is a new event in Pokémon GO. We will show you what to expect on Saturday.
What kind of event is this? Hatch Days work similarly to Community Days and focus on a Pokémon that is in the spotlight. During a Hatch Day, the chances of certain Shinies are increased and the selected Pokémon should occur significantly more often in 2 km eggs.
Here we show you everything you need to know about the three-hour event.
Hatch Day on July 22 with Riolu – Start, Bonuses, Shinies
When does the event take place? On July 22 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.
What bonuses are there? The focus of the event is Riolu, which will hatch more frequently from 2 km eggs and whose Shiny chances are increased. In addition, you will receive:
Double Stardust when hatching Pokémon
More 2 km eggs when spinning PokéStops
Special research for the event when spinning PokéStops
Limited Research: During the event, you can complete a Limited Research that rewards you with a Super Incubator at the end. It’s important that you have only a little time for this, as the research also ends with the event. You must complete the tasks and collect the rewards by 5:00 PM.
Tip: Keep in mind that Riolu only hatches more frequently from the 2 km eggs you receive during the event and put in your incubators. Therefore, make sure to clear some space beforehand. On Sunday, the repeat of the Community Day with Squirtle will take place. A bonus of this date is the quadruple hatch speed of eggs. So you can hatch all the 2 km eggs you received during the Hatch Day with Riolu even faster on Sunday.
What does Shiny Riolu look like? In the following graphic, we show you the comparison of Shiny Riolu and its normal form as well as Lucario:
Why is it worth it? Riolu is popular among trainers. The reason is its evolution Lucario, which is among the best fighting attackers in Pokémon GO. At the event, you have the chance to acquire strong fighters.
For this reason alone, many trainers want to participate in this event and upgrade their collection. Will you join in too?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The preparatory patch 1.1 for Season 1 in Diablo 4 was not well received by the players at all. Blizzard has responded with some emergency measures. Among them is now the first change that is being reverted. World tiers no longer have a level requirement.
At least one change regarding the world tiers has already been revoked by Blizzard.
Which change was reverted? Since the patch, world tiers 3 and 4 had a level restriction downward. World tier 3 required level 40 to visit, and world tier 4 even level 60. This change was not even mentioned in the patch notes.
As community lead Adam Fletcher writes on Twitter, this change is now being reverted. Players can now visit the higher world tiers again as soon as they are capable with their build.
The change upset many fans because some players were already significantly ahead of the levels in the higher world tiers – to level up faster or to already play some of the new content that only comes with world tier 3.
On Reddit, the decision is well received. But players are not satisfied yet; they are demanding more.
Start video
Diablo 4 shows gameplay trailer for Season 1 and some players mock it
“Good. And now the rest”
According to many fans, the reversal is at least a good first step toward improvement. However, it is not enough to make up for the damage caused by patch 1.1.
The players demand that other criticism points also be addressed, such as:
less experience points when fighting harder opponents
dungeons that suddenly become even harder
hell tides where the good chests now cost significantly more and require more grinding
general nerfs to classes, especially to the sorceress
Although there have also been some positive changes, several users on Reddit agree that the patch could simply be entirely reverted. No one would be sad about that; the previous status quo had been significantly better than it is now.
One particularly critical player even states: The patch has so far achieved the opposite of what it was meant to do. Instead of reigniting interest and encouraging players to play with the season, everything has only gotten worse. He has never seen anything like it.
Blizzard, on the other hand, has already noticed how poorly the new patch is received. In addition to the first change being reverted, a “emergency campfire chat” has already been announced, which aims to smooth out the waves:
The eSports is facing a problem, and Overwatch 2 seems to be the first victim. Blizzard pays teams when they withdraw – effectively killing the league.
The most important points at a glance:
– Blizzard makes too little money from the Overwatch League to be profitable. – The Overwatch League pays team owners 6 million dollars if they want to withdraw. – Blizzard has laid off 50 employees from the eSports sector. – The future of the Overwatch League is uncertain, even though Blizzard insists that there will still be Overwatch esports.
That Blizzard’s originally ambitious goals for Overwatch and Overwatch 2 have not been realized is evident not only from the fragmentation of the long-awaited PvE mode but also from the Overwatch League. It was supposed to bring a truly major eSports event that captivates numerous viewers and generates a steady stream of revenue for Blizzard.
However, this dream seems to have burst. The Overwatch League is facing major changes – and anything other than “the end” seems hardly conceivable.
At least the story fans got a bit of Overwatch 2 content:
Start video
Today you can watch the “Overwatch anime” – But don’t set your expectations too high
What happened? The quarterly report from Blizzard revealed what a financial burden the Overwatch League actually is for Blizzard. Each year, the league costs a lot of money, while it accounts for only about 1% of revenues – far too little to be profitable.
This announcement was accompanied by two drastic steps.
On the one hand, Blizzard laid off 50 employees from its own eSports segment. As an anonymous former employee reported, these layoffs came almost out of nowhere, and no one affected was offered the opportunity to apply for or switch to another position in the team (via The Verge).
This employee also believes that Blizzard will virtually no longer be able to manage esports with the reduction of the team. He describes it as a “skeleton team” that might still be able to handle the current season and then cease operations.
On the other hand, Blizzard is allowing the owners of various teams to vote on new contracts and rules at the end of the season. If the team owners do not choose the new rules, they can also accept a cash payout of 6,000,000 US dollars to completely withdraw from the league. For this purpose, Blizzard has already set aside 114,000,000 US dollars.
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What will happen to the Overwatch League? That is uncertain and will likely only become clear towards the end of the season, when it becomes apparent how the team owners decide. However, it is also clear that Blizzard has already commented on the matter.
Sean Miller from Blizzard said:
I want to make it clear in one thing that Overwatch remains committed to a competitive ecosystem, both in 2024 and beyond. And we are working towards reviving the global scene and prioritizing players and fans.
What led to this decision? Blizzard originally wanted to make a big deal out of the Overwatch League. But the league never really took off, and current viewer numbers for Overwatch 2 also paint a rather bleak picture. Interest in the game has rapidly declined on Twitch; even the launch of Overwatch 2 and numerous Twitch promotions have only led to a brief increase in viewership.
This is not only due to the fact that esports are currently in poor shape, but also to Overwatch 2 specifically. The controversial switch from 6 to 5 players per team has already caused discussions in the league a while ago.
That Overwatch 2 was released in a difficult state and then also simply cut the long-awaited “hero mode”, i.e., the cohesive PvE campaign with talent trees, may have been another nail in the coffin of interest in the game.
So quite a bit is changing at Blizzard and Overwatch 2 specifically. What this means for the professionals who currently have to worry about their future remains uncertain for now.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Jake “Jake Creates” is a content creator whose content revolves around robotics and technical gadgets. He recently gave his viewers on Twitch control of a robot arm equipped with a knife. It ended predictably chaotically.
What was that all about? Jake Creates claims to be an engineer who has become a content creator. On TikTok, he posts videos for his more than 66,000 followers, in which he transforms a toaster into a functioning controller or creates a robot flower pot that yells at him when the plant inside is not watered enough.
However, during a Twitch stream on July 15, Jake focused on a different project: He programmed a robot arm that could be controlled by his viewers. The content creator equipped the arm with a knife and placed a tempting red balloon on the table. It went as expected.
Twitch streamers are constantly coming up with new actions to entertain their viewers. Sometimes it backfires.
Start video
Twitch streamer shaves his head for donation and is bitterly disappointed!
“It scared me more than I thought it would”
How did the experiment go? The viewers of Jake Creates were able to control the robot arm using various commands in the chat. They were able to influence the vertical and horizontal movement as well as the stretching and bending of the arm.
The streamer himself wisely kept out of reach of the knife-wielding robot arm. Eventually, the viewers managed to stab the defenseless balloon with the knife, causing it to burst with a loud bang.
Even though Jake was fully aware of this possibility, the loud noise seemed to catch him a bit off guard. At the decisive moment, a shrill scream can be heard off-screen, followed by a cough and a noticeably deeper “Ah.”
We have embedded the clip for you here:
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After recovering from the shock, Jake explains: “It scared me more than I ever thought possible.” The content creator quickly unplugged the robot arm from its power source before it could cause any further damage.
However, it seems that this project was just the beginning, as Jake hinted that viewers might someday take control of a NERF gun.
A recent eSports player also demonstrated a combination of creativity and technical skill. When a power outage threatened his participation in a tournament, he quickly used his car to provide power:
With EA Sports FC 24, the successor to the FIFA series is confirmed. Traditionally, in the months leading up to the release, there is much speculation about new ratings and potential upgrades for the players. We show you the stars that could get significantly better cards in Ultimate Team in the new FIFA successor.
Even in the last year of the traditional football simulation, certain players distinguished themselves with strong season performances. Some youngsters experienced a real performance explosion this season. But there were also a few seasoned veterans who made a strong impression this season.
What kind of list is this? Our predictions are based on the actual performances of the players and the awards (Team of the Week, Player of the Month Awards) they received due to their exceptional performances.
Forecast: Better Ratings in EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team
For our predictions, we presented the potential ratings of the players using the Card Creator from futbin and marked it with “via futbin.com“.
The French midfielder had his best season at LOSC Lille so far. 17 goal involvements were recorded for him at the end of the season. Like good French wine, Rémy Cabella is returning to top form at an advanced age for a footballer.
The technically skilled Korean impressed this season with six goals and as many assists. With his strong dribbling skills, he positioned himself for bigger tasks and will play for Paris Saint-Germain in the upcoming season.
The Ukrainian prodigy came to Chelsea FC with enormous expectations. The disastrous season could not be saved by the youngster. Especially at the U21 European Championship, Mudryk was able to prove his skills and was among the best players of the tournament. Coupled with one of the most exciting transfers this transfer period, Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea FC could find its former strength again with this duo.
Martinelli had an outstanding season with Arsenal FC. The Gunners put up a long fight against Manchester City for the title. This was also due to the 20 goal involvements of the Brazilian, who significantly increased the consistency of his strong performances this season.
Nicolas Jackson made a name for himself particularly towards the end of the season in Spain with strong performances and received a Player of the Month award. His scoring qualities did not go unnoticed by other top European clubs, so Chelsea FC secured the services of the Senegalese striker.
Another former Senegalese star player from Chelsea FC is transferring to Saudi Arabia for the new season. And he is not the only player being transferred from London to the desert. Check out our article on the Saudi Pro League in EA Sports FC 24 to learn more.
At just 14 years old, Moukoko was already considered one of Germany’s attacking hopes for the future. In the first half of the season, Moukoko had a really strong phase, regularly scoring his goals and being part of Borussia Dortmund’s starting lineup. In the second half, he couldn’t maintain his strong performances due to an injury, yet we expect an upgrade to a gold card.
Moukoko is not only one of the faces of the Ultimate Edition, which you can pre-order now, but he also showcases his skills in the new gameplay trailer. Here you can watch the full trailer again:
Start video
EA Sports FC 24: The official gameplay trailer
Next up are more players who could potentially receive strong upgrades.
Xavi Simons was able to prove this season why Paris Saint-Germain once poached him as a 16-year-old youth player from FC Barcelona. He had an impressive season at PSV Eindhoven and was one of the key players on the way to the championship. EA recognized this with a Team of the Week and a Player of the Month award.
The Belgian striker was one of the absolute shooting stars this season. Three Team of the Week cards and one Player of the Month card in FIFA 23 say it all. Openda, who will be on the hunt for goals for RB Leipzig in the upcoming season, will receive a substantial upgrade.
Even if German football is currently not in a good place, there was always one man on whom to rely this season. “Lücke”, as the fans affectionately call him, became the best German striker in the Bundesliga and also secured the top scorer award. Füllkrug was named Player of the Month twice and was also featured in the Team of the Week just as many times.
His Future Star card in FIFA 23 hinted at an upgrade. Strong 23 goal contributions were collected by Balogun this season at Stade de Reims. He is now returning after his loan to Arsenal FC, where he will encounter significant competition in attack.
Especially under former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, Tel has flashed his class several times in his appearances as a substitute. The lightning-fast offensive player with strong dribbling will hope to achieve his breakthrough in the upcoming season.
“Kvaradona,” as the Neapolitans dubbed their Georgian exceptional player, in reference to club icon Diego Maradona. The SSC Napoli attack with Victor Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia was difficult to stop this season. Strong 22 goal involvements contributed to “Kvaradona” winning the championship. Among his many special cards were also two Player of the Month versions.
Thus, we have reached the end of our list of the most significant upgrades that we expect in EA Sports FC 24. We are quite sure that one or another player will appear in a similar manner in the FIFA successor.
Do you agree with our predictions? Do you think we are exaggerating or underestimating? Maybe you expect other players with significant upgrades? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
The lifecycle of the Nintendo Switch is approaching its end. Nevertheless, blockbuster games are still being released on the hybrid console. One title that has occupied me for a long time this year was The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, on October 20, 2023, another title, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, is coming to the shelf that has the potential to be a Switch hit.
What is Super Mario Bros. Wonder about?
The game will again be a classic 2D side-scroller
There are new Wonder Flowers that open up completely new dimensions
For the first time, Mario and his friends can become elephants
Princess Daisy is playable outside of a spin-off for the first time
The title allows us to sit with up to four players on one screen and hop from platform to platform together. There’s nothing particularly special about that at first glance, but the so-called Wonder Flowers spice up the game with new dimensions.
The Wonder Flowers can be admired in the fitting trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder:
Start video
Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be released in October for Nintendo Switch
Thanks to the Wonder Flowers, it becomes possible to change the environment in unforeseen ways. Suddenly, the pipes become wiggly creatures, or Mario himself turns into a dangerous spiky ball.
The trailer also shows how Mario alternates between running normally and then in an extended form through the level. With other Wonder Flowers, it can happen that suddenly a horde of Triceratops runs across the screen.
The possibilities seem endless and bring a creative twist to the dusty 2D side-scroller genre. Therefore, I am already looking forward to the many dimensions into which the Wonder Flower will transport me.
Even without the Wonder Flower, the game has a lot to offer: There are fat hippos rolling around and Koopas zooming on inline skates.
I haven’t even mentioned my personal highlight yet: In the game, it’s for the first time possible to play as Daisy outside of a spin-off like Mario Tennis or Mario Kart. The lively princess appeals to me more than Princess Peach, which is why I am thrilled about her appearance.
It remains to be seen how chaotic the game will get when I grab three friends to play the title together. But already, Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks like a title for which I will gladly dust off my Nintendo Switch.
Only a few hours remain until the release of Season 1 for Diablo 4. To make sure you know what to expect, what you need to know, and how the release will go, we will show you everything important in our overview.
When does Season 1 start? The first season of Diablo 4 is set to start today, Thursday, July 20 at 7 PM. The patch with the new Legendaries has already been released (here are the patch notes for Update 1.1).
Important things to consider at the start: Before you jump into Season 1, you should keep a few things in mind if you played during the release of Diablo 4:
Season 1 will last three months before it will be replaced by a new one.
You can only play a season if you have created a seasonal hero.
Heroes on the eternal realm can already play with the new Uniques and Legendaries before the start of Season 1 on July 18.
In a season, the season journey, a tried-and-true feature from Diablo 3, will help to entertain you.
Map and statue progress of your main character will be transferred to your seasonal hero as soon as you log in with that character at the start of Season 1.
Renown will be partially reset. Later rewards concerning the Paragon must be unlocked again.
The Rebirth feature from Diablo 3 is not planned for Season 1 yet, but the team is aware of the community’s desire. (via twitter.com)
Now let’s move on to the important information about Season 1, its mechanics, and what story you can expect at the start.
Diablo 4: Everything about Season 1 – Story and Mechanics
What is Season 1 about? In the Season of Malice, you must help a former scholar of the Cathedral of Light to contain a new threat. Mysterious growths are spreading in beasts, and you need to find out where this plague is coming from and how you can stop it.
Start video
Diablo 4: The Official Announcement Trailer for Season 1
Players will also have the opportunity to farm these hearts by finding corrupted tunnels. Corrupted enemies are guaranteed to spawn in them.
Important information about eternal heroes: This mechanic can only be used if you are playing a seasonal hero. An eternal hero does not benefit from the story and the mechanic.
Diablo 4: Everything about Season 1 – Battle Pass, Costs, Content
What does the Battle Pass offer? The Battle Pass in Diablo 4 is purely optional and only provides you with cosmetic items and some items to make building your build easier.
How much does a Battle Pass cost? The Battle Pass will offer three options in Diablo 4:
Free path – costs nothing, offers 27 levels with content
How do I level the Battle Pass in Diablo 4? The Battle Pass must be leveled to obtain the cosmetic items. To do this, you need to earn “Favor.” Favor can be seen as XP of the Battle Pass. You collect it by looting and leveling, playing the campaign, or completing seasonal tasks.
Today begins Season 1 of Diablo 4. To keep you informed about what to expect at launch, the Battle Pass, and the content, we summarize all important information for you here in our current overview.
When does Diablo 4 Season 1 start? On July 20 at 19:00, Season 1 will start. The new Patch 1.1 for Season 1 in Diablo 4 has already been released along with its patch notes. With this foundation, the chapter begins.
All important information about Season 1 at a glance:
A season in Diablo 4 lasts for 3 months, after which new ones follow with a reset. There should be 4 seasons offered each year.
Seasons bring new items, quests, and Battle Passes in Diablo 4.
To play a season, you always need a seasonal hero. This starts at level 1.
Your drive in a season is the Season Journey. This gives you many tasks you can complete.
The Battle Pass also rewards you with cosmetic items if you purchase it. However, there is also a free path.
Renown is partially reset. Exploration and reputation will transfer to seasonal heroes. Later rewards related to Paragon must be unlocked again.
The new season mechanic Corruption provides you with new powers that are said to be similar in strength to Legendaries
There are four types of corruption that you can convert into jewels to then socket into your armor.
These are said to significantly strengthen you.
No new class is planned for Season 1.
The Rebirth feature from Diablo 3 is not yet planned for Season 1, but the team is aware of the community’s wish. (via twitter.com)
Now follow more important details regarding the Battle Pass of Diablo 4.
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Diablo 4: That’s why you shouldn’t play on World Tier 2
Diablo 4: Mechanics and what bonuses you can expect
In Season 1, everything revolves around corruption and the malevolent hearts that you can find in Sanctuary.
There are four different types of hearts
So far, there has been no information regarding the effects of the hearts, but after Patch 1.1, a lot has been revealed. Blizzard has now published all possible hearts and how they will support you in your build. Open the box for more details.
All effects that hearts can have
General
Arc of Light (Common, Attack): Critical hits electrically charge the opponent for 0.75-2.50 seconds, causing lightning to bounce to all other charged opponents and dealing 68-136 lightning damage.
Dark Dance (Common, Attack, World Level III): At over 60% health, base skills cost 68-51 health every 5 seconds instead of your primary resource. Skills that consume health deal 10-20% more damage.
Enticing Fate (Common, Attack, World Level III): You gain 40-60% critical hit damage, but your non-critical hits deal 20-15% less damage.
Lionheart (Brutal, Defense): You gain 10% barrier generation. With an active barrier, you heal 3-7 health per second.
(Brutal, Defense, World Level III): 10-20% of damage taken is instead suppressed. When you use a defensive, deception, or macabre skill, all suppressed damage is amplified by 250% and explodes, dealing 1360-2040 fire damage to nearby enemies.
Steadfast Heart (Brutal, Defense, World Level III): You become immune for 2.0-4.0 seconds when you lose more than 20% health after a single hit. This effect can only occur every 110 seconds.
Persistence (Fury, Versatility): Resource depletion effects are 40-50% less effective. Additionally, you gain a bonus of 3.0-8.0% on resource generation.
Revenge (Fury, Versatility, World Level III): Every time a control loss effect affecting you is removed, you deal 510-680 fire damage to nearby enemies.
Calculation (Fury, Versatility, World Level III): After consuming 150-200 of your primary resource, your next attack stuns hit enemies for 2 seconds.
Malevolent Pact (Furious, Super): After killing every 20 enemies, you receive a different malevolent bonus:
Common: You gain 20% attack speed.
Fury: Core and base skills have a 15% chance to fully restore your primary resource.
Brutal: You gain a barrier every 21 seconds that absorbs 85-102 damage.
Stealthy Death (Furious, Super): Your damage-over-time effects are 30-40% stronger per different control loss effect on the target. Unstoppable monsters and staggering bosses instead take 110-130% bonus damage from your damage-over-time effects.
Barber (Furious, Super, World Level III): Critical hits and all subsequent damage within 2.0-4.0 seconds are absorbed by your target. Then, the absorbed damage discharges on nearby enemies. The stored damage increases by 10% per second.
Barbarian
Focused Rage (Common, Attack): If you consume 60-100 rage within 2 seconds, the critical hit chance of your next skill that is not a base skill increases by 20-30%.
Returning Life (Brutal, Defense): At less than 40-60% health, you receive 50-60% more healing from all sources.
Punishing Speed (Fury, Versatility): Your skills have a 20-30% chance to knock down all enemies for 1.25 seconds when the attack speed of the corresponding skill is greater than 20-35%.
Suppress Pain (Furious, Super, World Level IV): There is a 5-15% chance that incoming damage is ignored and you are healed for 17-68 instead.
Druid
Moon Wrath (Common, Attack): When you kill enemies, there is a 5% chance that a wolf companion will be summoned to aid you for 20-30 seconds. Additionally, you gain +3 on wolves.
Enraged Winds (Brutal, Defense): When there are 8-13 enemies near you, you automatically cast Cyclone Armor. This effect can only occur once every 10-20 seconds.
Unavoidable Power (Fury, Versatility): While you have an active ultimate skill, up to 30-50 distant enemies are pulled to you.
Untamed Beast (Furious, Super, World Level IV): If you are hit by a stun, freeze, or knockdown effect, there is a 40-60% chance that Grizzly Wrath will automatically activate for 3 seconds.
Necromancer
Sacrilege (Common, Attack): When you come near a corpse, an equipped corpse skill is automatically activated every second, causing 30-40% less damage.
Aging Aura (Brutal, Defense): When there are at least 5 enemies near you, you gain an aura that automatically curses nearby enemies with aging for 5-15 seconds.
Frost Terror (Fury, Versatility): Luck Hit: There is a 10-20% chance to fill enemies with fear for 2.5 seconds. Enemies gripped by fear will be frozen for 20% for each second.
Great Feast (Furious, Super, World Level IV): Each servant drains 1.0-2.0 essence per second but deals 50-75% bonus damage. Without servants, you benefit from this bonus and drain 5 essence per second instead.
Hunter
Flechette (Common, Attack): Lucky Hit: You have up to a 20% chance to fire 3 flashbangs that deal 26-32 physical damage and stun enemies for 0.5 seconds.
Misdirection (Brutal, Defense): When you use a deception skill, you leave behind an unstable shadow bait trap that lures enemies. The shadow bait trap explodes after 6.0 seconds, dealing 680-1020 shadow damage. This effect can only occur once every 5 seconds.
Attention (Fury, Versatility): Lucky Hit: There is up to a 20-40% chance that your assassination skills will slow targets by 40% for 3 seconds, and your precision skills will push back enemies.
Abominable Apothecary (Furious, Super, World Level IV): Your attacks have a 5-15% chance to apply all infusion effects at 40-50% of their normal strength.
Wizard
Tal’Rasha (Common, Attack): For each unique element that you deal damage with, you deal 3-10% more damage for 7-12 seconds.
Ban Break (Brutal, Defense): After taking elemental damage, you gain 20-40% resistance to that element for 5 seconds.
Malice (Fury, Versatility): When you are afflicted by a control loss effect from an opponent, there is a 20-40% chance that the opponent and all nearby enemies are afflicted with that same effect for 3 seconds.
All-Might (Furious, Super, World Level IV): Core skills that fire a projectile consume all your mana. For every 35-45 additional mana consumed, you fire an additional projectile and increase the damage by 3.0-5.0%.
Developer’s Comment: Locked hearts can be exchanged between players because we want hearts to feel like an accomplishment for defeating the challenging malevolent monsters. Jewelry with malevolent sockets can be traded to ensure that there are multiple sources for jewelry with malevolent sockets that match the locked hearts that players have earned.
How can I farm the hearts? You can effectively farm these hearts in Tunnels of Malevolence. There are a total of 6 dungeons that together form the tunnel system. Once you reach such a tunnel, you will always find two outgrowths that give you a furious heart and a random heart depending on the type of dungeon.
Can I upgrade or recycle hearts? In Season 1, you can convert unusable or poor hearts into the respective breed’s secret in Cormond’s wagon. This way, hearts can be upgraded or even created. More about this can be found in Blizzard’s overview. (via news.blizzard.com)
Diablo 4: Battle Pass – Content, Costs, Duration, and Skins
What is a Battle Pass in Diablo 4? The Battle Pass offers the opportunity to exchange playtime for rewards. The more you play, the higher you progress in the pass.
There is a free path with content that all players receive, as well as a premium path, which costs you around 10 euros and distributes even more items. Included are:
Cosmetics for equipment
Mounts
Trophies
With each season comes a new Battle Pass and brings a different theme. You will have approximately 3 months for a season and thus also to level up the Battle Pass.
How does the Diablo 4 Battle Pass work? The Battle Pass of Diablo 4 has a free and a premium path.
The Battle Pass of Diablo 4
Depending on what you choose, you will receive more or fewer cosmetic items. These items, such as armors and weapons, will be unlocked for all classes across your entire account and on every platform you play on.
Additionally, there will be seasonal blessings that you can activate with the free Battle Pass.
Boosters in the free Battle Pass
These provide you with bonuses such as:
More XP from defeated enemies
More gold from selling items
Increases the chance to obtain rare materials from disassembling items
Increases the duration of your elixirs
These bonuses are accessible to all players and can be activated with the “Ashes” currency from the free pass. Blizzard emphasizes that this is not pay-to-win as every player has access to it, whether with or without a premium pass.
How do I level up the Battle Pass in Diablo 4? The Battle Pass needs to be leveled up to receive the items. To do this, you need to earn “Favor.” Favor can be considered as XP for the Battle Pass. You collect it by looting and leveling, playing the campaign, or completing season tasks.
Skins for Season 1 – What you can expect: In an older developer stream, Blizzard has already revealed first insights into an upcoming season and showed what items and armors you could obtain. This dark armor for hero and horse is supposed to be available in the first season if you purchase the paid path of the Battle Pass.
This is what the armors look like:
This is what Season 1 is likely to look like
The armor is dark, adorned with ornamental embellishments, black shades, and skull helmets.
What do I get in the premium path of the Battle Pass? The Battle Pass offers you a lot of cosmetic items for your heroes. You will receive:
Two armor sets for each of your heroes
Weapon skins
A mount armor
A mount
Emotes
And more
You can earn these throughout the 90 levels of the paid Battle Pass.
These were all the most important details regarding the Battle Pass of Diablo 4. What do you think of the pass? Will you purchase it or do you not support the system? Let us know in the comments!
Activision Blizzard has presented the financial report for the 2nd quarter of 2023, which ended on June 30. For game developer Blizzard, the 3 months were marked by the release of Diablo 4: Revenue figures have risen sharply, but player numbers have continued to decline despite the major release. Compared to the quarter that ended on December 31, 2022, almost every 2nd player from back then is gone.
How does Blizzard measure its player count?
Blizzard refers to “MAU” – the monthly active user.
A person can count as multiple “MAUs” if they log into different games. Someone who plays Diablo 4, WoW, and Overwatch 2 in one month counts as “3 MAUs” for that month.
To count as a MAU, it is enough to log into a game once: The MAU value for a quarter is derived by summing the MAUs for the 3 months and then dividing that value by 3.
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Diablo 4 shows gameplay trailer for Season 1 and some players mock it
Blizzard’s player count falls from 45 million to 26 million
How have player numbers developed? Blizzard had its highest value in years half a year ago, in Q4 2022: There it had 45 million MAUs. This high number apparently resulted from the release of Overwatch 2 and the WoW expansion Dragonflight.
But already in the 1st quarter of 2023, player numbers had significantly dropped to 27 million.
Now one might assume that the release of Diablo 4 stopped the downward trend, but the opposite is the case: In the 2nd quarter of 2023, the number of MAUs fell to 26 million. Thus, Blizzard has 42% fewer players than it could report half a year ago.
The player numbers from Activision Blizzard.
Why isn’t Diablo 4 showing up strongly in the statistics? The release of Diablo 4 on June 5 came at an unfavorable time statistically. Because the MAUs only count for the month of June. They therefore only account for one-third of the statistics.
Moreover, it doesn’t help that people have played a lot of Diablo 4, because someone who looks at the game for 2 minutes counts the same as a player who is active for 200 hours.
Despite fewer players, Blizzard achieves record revenue thanks to Diablo 4
Is Diablo 4 a success? Yes, it seems so. Blizzard managed to more than double its revenue compared to the previous quarter. From $443 million, it rose to $1.058 billion.
It is said that over 10 million players played Diablo 4 in June and invested more than 700 million hours.
Even though the 2nd quarter of 2023 was the weakest quarter in terms of players since the 1st quarter of 2022, it was Blizzard’s highest revenue quarter in a long time.
Blizzard is able to earn more money with fewer players.
However, even Diablo 4 is currently facing a backlash:
