Pokémon GO has a new feature: the PokéStop Showcases. We will show you what they bring and how they work.
Update, 08.07.2023: The feature has officially been introduced, but some trainers still seem unable to see any showcases. Niantic announced on its own website that the issue is known and is currently being investigated (via niantic.helpshift.com).
In these showcases, certain Pokémon are compared with each other. For this, you need to bring your monsters to the showcase at the PokéStop and let them compete against other candidates. However, it’s not about things like the strongest attackers in Pokémon GO, instead, things like the size of Pokémon are compared.
Depending on how your monsters perform, you will receive rewards. How this works in detail, we will present to you here.
Showcases are a new feature of the current season “Hidden Gems”.
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Pokémon GO shows the new season ‘Hidden Gems’ in the trailer
How Showcases work in Pokémon GO
Where can I find Showcases? Showcases take place at various PokéStops in Pokémon GO – always at the same ones. So look for a showcase PokéStop in your neighborhood and enter the competition there.
Corresponding PokéStops are marked with a symbol.
How do I participate in the Showcase in Pokémon GO? Here’s how it works:
Go to a PokéStop with showcase symbol
Select Showcase
Submit your Pokémon
The symbol will change color from green to purple
After the showcase ends, you will receive rewards
Which Pokémon can I use? In principle, there will probably be changing monsters for showcases. It all starts with Squirtle. In the first showcases, you can compete with others and see who has the largest Squirtle.
What do I get from showcases? Showcases provide rewards such as Stardust and XP. Those who reach the highest ranks can also receive incubators or star pieces. For first place, there is a medal.
You can receive the rewards through the Today view.
What do you think of the new feature? Can you make use of the showcases, will you try them out? Tell us in the comments!
Larian Studios is currently working on Baldur’s Gate 3 (Steam, PS5), the highly anticipated sequel to the famous role-playing series. The latest info about the RPG is interesting, but also quite … disturbing.
What is Baldur’s Gate 3?
The ‘Baldur’s Gate’ series consists of several classic, turn-based role-playing games. They are based on the famous pen and paper ‘Dungeons & Dragons.’
The third part revolves around the eponymous city of Baldur’s Gate. You play a group of adventurers who can complete quests and experience a lot together.
The core of the game is a deep story, relationships, and romances, but also fights against villains as well as traditionally various endings depending on your choices.
This is new: In a new stream, the developers introduced the latest ‘Origin.’ These are pre-made characters that you can play instead of creating your own. Origins have their own stories that you can discover throughout the game.
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The developers of Baldur’s Gate 3 show the legendary city
The last of these Origins is called ‘The Dark Urge,’ which means something like the Dark Desire and is not actually a character. Strictly speaking, you only play a parasite that has been implanted in someone’s brain.
You can freely choose race, class, gender, and appearance. Only one thing remains the same: you play a mad, bloodthirsty murderer whose main principle is to slaughter as many people as possible. Anyone, anywhere, the priority is to kill.
MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski was live at the event in Belgium when the character was introduced and could speak with the bosses. In the interview, the developers explained that The Dark Urge can become so incredibly evil that even your worst companions want nothing to do with you anymore. You can find the interview now on MeinMMO:
Other topics of the stream included the final antagonist that was missing, as well as some options for diversity in the game. Orin the Red is a shapeshifter whose goal is to bathe Baldur’s Gate in blood. Fitting for the new character.
When it comes to diversity and inclusion, Larian has gone a bit … far. First, the decidedly positive aspects:
Customization options like heterochromia, freckles, skin colors, and more are in the game.
You can also adjust the appearance using an age slider in addition to the ‘standard’ looks for heroes.
Things get questionable when it comes to romances. Traditionally, being able to choose a partner is an important feature in role-playing games. Here, Baldur’s Gate 3 is said to have particularly few boundaries.
What is particularly emphasized, however, is that shapeshifters will definitely be an option as well. Also, those who have always wanted to cuddle with a guy who can literally turn into a bear will have the opportunity to do so. I’ll just leave that there.
When will Baldur’s Gate 3 be released? After a surprising announcement, it is now confirmed that Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released on PC on August 3. However, it has already been in Early Access since 2020.
The PS5 version will be released a little later, on September 6. You can play either solo or in co-op with friends. There is even a sort of master mode where you can create adventures for a group. We’ve already tested the game for you in multiplayer:
Xur is known for his weekly visits to public places in Destiny 2, where he offers his Exo goods. However, that comes at a price and Guardians must be ready to trade in their legendary shards. MeinMMO tells you where you can do this and what for.
Destiny 2: New dungeon “Ghosts of the Deep” from Season 21 brings the Ghoul into play
All information about Xur on July 7, 2023 – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
When does Xur come? Xur, the Agent of the Nine, appears in Destiny 2 every Friday at 19:00. His visit then ends again on the following Tuesday at 19:00. During this time, all Guardians can purchase exotic items from him.
Where is Xur? This is his camp for the weekend
Xur’s position: Xur usually stays at a public place in Destiny 2, which changes every week. Guardians must find him to shop. However, MeinMMO always posts his exact location and what he has for sale shortly after he appears.
Here is where Xur is: In the Hangar, on the Tower.
Xur’s inventory from July 7 – July 11 – All exotics at a glance
What does Xur have for sale? Xur, the cosmic seller with a hint of the mysterious, returns with an enticing offer of exotic treasures. MeinMMO shows you what he has to offer. You can then decide for yourself if you like it.
Weapon: Coldheart – Trace Rifle for 29 Legendary Shards
Titan: Graviton Forfeit – Gauntlets for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +2
Resilience: +20
Recovery: +11
Discipline: +16
Intellect: +2
Strength: +16
Total: 67
Hunter: Wyrmkrone – Helm for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +17
Resilience: +8
Recovery: +7
Discipline: +6
Intellect: +2
Strength: +26
Total: 66
Warlock: Wings of Sacred Dawn – Chest Armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +17
Resilience: +10
Recovery: +7
Discipline: +12
Intellect: +15
Strength: +6
Total: 67
Additionally, you will find an unique roll for each Exotic every week from unavailable exotic missions from past DLCs in Xur’s offerings. However, you can only buy these weapons from Xur if you own the corresponding expansion.
Currently, he has these two weapons for sale:
The exotic hand cannon “Fatebringer” (Beyond Light DLC) with “Storm’s Eye”
The exotic scout rifle “Tale of a Dying Star” (Beyond Light DLC) with “Vorpal Weapon”
The Trials of Osiris are back
The 14th Saint invites you to the PvE endgame
The 14th Saint is ready to test your nerves and put you to the test in the Trials of Osiris. Get ready for a fireworks of frustration, curses, and possibly a few epic triumph moments on the Lighthouse.
Which map is in play this week? Unlike in normal PvP, where the maps rotate, in the Guardian versus Guardian endgame there is only one set map every weekend that you play on.
This week you will play on the map: Midtown.
PvP map “Midtown”
This is the reward for a flawless run: For a flawless run to the Lighthouse, you will not only receive a special emblem. Also, a very special weapon, which you get for seven wins, drops as an exclusive master version. You can earn it until the upcoming Tuesday, July 4, at 19:00.
The master Trials weapon this week is: The Immortal, a Strand SMG.
Focus on what you want: Through the focusing system, players can also focus old gear and weapons from the Trials that they want or are still missing.
Your earned Trials engrams can be specifically focused on your desired weapon with the 14th Saint. Additionally, there are enhancement prisms and ascendant shards.
Remember that your rewards increase even further once you have a full pass – even if you lost one or two games.
Furthermore, Bungie has changed the “Pass of Grace” for Season 21.
The “Pass of Grace” now forgives two losses if you have not been flawless in the week.
If you achieve flawless during the pass reset, a single loss is forgiven on every pass again.
This way, everyone gets a better chance to go flawless for the first time every week. For those who can go flawless without having to rely on both pardons, there are additional opportunities to earn extra rewards while your first pass remains flawless.
When do the Trials officially start? The Trials of Osiris begin today, July 7, 2023, at 19:00 and end with the weekly reset on July 11, 2023, at 19:00.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon Sleep, you catch Pokémon while sleeping – literally. MeinMMO author Max Handwerk got to try this out once.
If there’s one thing I’m truly terrible at, it’s sleeping. I wake up too easily, sleep too late, and generally too little. At least that’s what my morning dark circles and rather depressed mood until the first coffee suggest.
Accordingly, I was quite tense when I was provided with a phone featuring the new app Pokémon Sleep for a night this week.
What is Pokémon Sleep for an app? – Pokémon Sleep will be available for iOS and Android – It is free, but there is an in-game shop for items, etc. – The app is set to launch in summer 2023 – It was originally introduced back in 2019
The basic ideas of the app briefly overviewed:
You start the app and let it run next to your pillow at night.
The app records your sleep. This happens via audio and movements.
The more you sleep, the higher your sleep score will be.
This score is then calculated with the strength of a Snorlax that you can find in the game each week.
This results in a so-called sleep power, which attracts other Pokémon.
Additionally, it records whether you have light sleep, half sleep, or deep sleep.
Depending on the sleep power, Pokémon will be attracted, which you will find around Snorlax in the morning after waking up. Your sleep type determines what kinds of monsters you get. And those, in turn, you can collect in various sleeping poses.
In simpler terms: Sleep a lot, sleep well, and you will get numerous Pokémon that you can record in your SleepDex. It’s a collecting game that runs alongside your sleep. This is summarized by the trailer – and I describe my experiences below.
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Catching Pokémon in Sleep: This is Pokémon Sleep
A night with Pokémon Sleep – These were my results
Placed the phone next to the pillow, rolled to the side, dozed off – I admit, in terms of tests, Pokémon Sleep was the easiest game I’ve ever had to try out. At least at the start, because the interesting part actually comes in the morning.
When I woke up, I grabbed the app and let it tell me how I had slept. Pokémon Sleep indicated that I had slept a total of 6:20 hours, most of which was in light to half sleep. Not impressive; I was awarded 75 points.
Compared to my morning state – relatively tired and a bit grumpy – this matched. This is standard for me, as already mentioned, but maybe the app teaches you something about your own sleep behavior.
I could then see the reward around Snorlax:
Two Houndours in different poses
one Pikachu
one Bulbasaur
one Mankey
and one Caterpie
They had gathered there and were also just waking up.
This “waking up in the morning and checking what has gathered” – that moment I quite enjoyed. I was immediately struck by my collector’s instinct and thought, ‘next time, I’ll definitely sleep for 8 hours’ for more Pokémon.
Pokémon gather around Snorlax, you can view your sleep data
The game is really cutely designed. The graphics, the design of the Pokémon, everything creates a relaxed and slightly sleepy atmosphere, which fits well not only for falling asleep but also for waking up.
What I didn’t expect were the many activities that were now on the agenda. While I couldn’t do much on the evening of the test, suddenly in the morning, it was time to work a bit.
A professor named Neroli guides you through the game and shows all kinds of features.
I received berries from helper Pokémon that I should feed to Snorlax so that it gets stronger.
You can recruit these helper Pokémon from the monsters that gathered in the morning. They bring various abilities with them and can also evolve.
A cooking element is also present in the game, with which you can feed Snorlax with additional meals.
There are various items, such as smoke, that can attract more monsters overnight.
Pokémon Sleep is therefore not just “sleep, collect”, but a bit more. You have something to do, can engage more deeply with the game, and improve various values as well as collect items.
The main aspect of the game: The sleep aspect is obviously in the foreground. And I admit: that’s something I have to get used to first.
Many people already track their sleep at night with gadgets like smartwatches and the like. I’ve always avoided that so far.
If you want to play the game, you have to accept that your sleep is monitored. The game detects how deep you sleep and can even play back audio snippets from the night for you the next morning. This way, you can find out if you might have been mumbling or snoring. Whether you like this is something you have to decide for yourself.
Furthermore, the game must run overnight, ideally with a cable to ensure sufficient power – and the phone should lie on the mattress next to you instead of, for example, on a nightstand. This might not be for everyone either. By the way, the game cannot be connected to a smartwatch, but it can be connected to the new GO Plus+. This offers a way to set the phone aside.
However, if you have an interest in sleep research and your own behavior, Pokémon Sleep offers a way to connect the whole thing with some playful elements. Particularly the exchange with other testers in the morning about what had appeared where was enjoyable. Pokémon collectors will definitely get their money’s worth here.
With Threads, Facebook has released its own alternative to Twitter. Since then, the number of users has been steadily increasing. A well-known YouTuber has now reached a million followers, even surpassing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
On July 5, 2023, Meta, the company behind Facebook, released Threads: this is meant to represent an alternative to Twitter. Since then, user numbers have steadily risen, and thousands of people are installing the new Threads app.
The well-known YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has now surpassed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg by reaching the first million followers.
Threads has already reached 15 million users within a few hours
Shortly after the launch of Threads, MrBeast and Mark Zuckerberg engaged in a head-to-head race for one million followers on the new app.
Just 12 hours after launch, Threads recorded over 15 million users. Not much later, the first accounts were able to boast of having one million followers on the platform.
By now, both Mark Zuckerberg and MrBeast have broken the million mark. However, MrBeast was the first person to reach one million followers. This is reported by the website Dexerto.
This mainly shows the reach MrBeast has in the online world. With 165 million subscribers, he is among the largest YouTubers in the world, and it is probably not surprising that he can gather more followers in a very short time than the head of Facebook/Meta.
The biggest YouTuber in the world beats Mark Zuckerberg on Threads
MrBeast is currently considered the biggest YouTuber. Since November 2022, he has officially been recognized as the individual with the most subscribers on YouTube. This ended the reign of the then king of Twitch, PewDiePie.
His content is a mix of charitable actions and expensive stunts, but his actions are not entirely uncontroversial. He is regularly accused of doing charitable acts just for views and not questioning why millions of people have to suffer from an illness:
Actor Chris Pine, the lead in the latest film on “Dungeons & Dragons” explains what makes the role-playing game so great. In his opinion, it should even be played in schools.
At the end of March 2023, the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was released, based on the well-known pen-and-paper role-playing game from 1974.
In it, Chris Pine, known to many as young Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek films, plays the role of ex-bard Edgin.
On the occasion of the film, the actor gave an interview on March 29, 2023, where he shared his own D&D experiences (via SlashFilm).
Here you can see a trailer for Dungeons & Dragons:
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie
“I think this is probably the coolest thing I’ve experienced in a long time”
The actor shares that he is still quite new to the D&D area but has already encountered the role-playing game through a relative:
“My entry came through my nephew, who is a big player, and he has been playing with the same group of kids for six years, with the same Dungeon Master [game master in D&D]. He has written his own campaigns and drawn his own maps.”
Pine’s nephew guides the whole family through one of his self-written campaigns. The actor notices how accessible the game is for newcomers as well.
In his opinion, less the expertise matters, but rather the ability of the participants to act and improvise: “It’s said: ‘This is what it looks like. This is what you have. This is your obstacle. Now go.'”
This evening, the whole family has a lot of fun, and Pine recognizes a tremendous potential of the game for schools:
[…] Why I think it should be played in schools is because it immediately teaches teamwork. It trains the imagination. It’s fun, it’s improvisational.
And within minutes, everyone is on the same page. There is no argument about whether you’re cool or not. You’re arguing about whether you should have climbed over the rock to kill the dragon or not […].
The actor adds that the game night of the ancient role-playing game was an absolute highlight for him: “I think this is probably the coolest thing I’ve experienced in a long time.”
If you’re still not sure whether Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is right for you, you can find an opinion piece by MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotman on the fantasy film:
On July 6, 2023, Threads was launched. The service is officially not available in Germany. But with a trick, you can try the app in Germany as well.
Can you use Threads in Germany? No, officially Threads is not coming to Europe. This is mainly due to the strict data protection regulations in the EU. Threads processes your data directly from Instagram, which is not legal in Europe.
Nevertheless, it is possible to use the app in Germany as well. MeinMMO explains how you should proceed.
Installing Threads in Germany: Here’s how
This is how you use Threads in Germany: Depending on whether you use an Android or iOS phone, you will proceed differently:
With Android, you download the APK of Threads. An APK is an installation file with which you can install the app on your phone. You won’t find the app in the German Google Play Store. Then, you need to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources in your settings.
With iOS, you need to change the country in the App Store. In the USA and the UK, you can already download the app. However, this is not quite easy, as the US site requires an American credit card.
A VPN service is also recommended. The VPN makes it look like you are in a different country than you actually are, to the app or website. Either the USA or the UK is recommended, as Threads is available there. It doesn’t matter much which service you choose.
Will Threads ever officially come to Germany? Many suspect that Meta/Facebook wants to try the service first and will wait to see how strong the response to Threads is. Europe may still be an option afterward. However, that is not certain.
The Twitch streamer Asmongold is open about having mental health issues and suffering from panic attacks. However, some viewers suspect it’s a ploy to avoid streaming. The 32-year-old clarifies that this is not the case.
What are these allegations about? On the night of July 6, 2023, a viewer in the Asmongold Subreddit pointed out that the Twitch streamer still owes the community a special stream.
This concerns the donation goals that Asmongold set up for a series of charity streams in March 2022. For $200,000 in donations, the Twitch streamer wanted to continue the popular series “The True Story of Asmongold”,” where he talks about his early adventures in WoW.
In total, Asmongold and his organization OTK raised $500,000 to support Ukraine. However, fans have been waiting for the video in vain.
Start video
Career and life of Asmongold in 3 minutes – What makes him special?
Viewers mock mental health issues
What does this have to do with mental health issues? While the original post is only about a promised content that has not yet been delivered, the comments quickly take a different direction.
Several supposed fans mockingly say that the mere mention of the missing content might be too much for Asmongold:
“You just gave him another panic attack”
“Dude, don’t remind him that he has responsibilities. He’ll end up in the hospital with a heart attack.”
“Now comes another six-month streaming break, well done.”
Some even went as far as to suggest that the streamer is faking panic attacks to avoid producing content (via Reddit).
What does Asmongold say about this? The Twitch streamer discovered the post and initially agreed with the author: “You are right, I need to do that.” However, the mood shifted when he saw the comments.
Asmongold says it’s okay for people to criticize him for not having held the stream yet. However, he finds the comments that touch on his mental health unacceptable:
I just want people to understand the reason why I had a panic attack. It was because I had just spent 13 hours playing a game. I thought I had a blood clot. I went to the emergency room and had an ultrasound on my leg because I was really scared.
[…]
You can talk about this crap [the missing video] as much as you want, that’s fine. But don’t say that I would get a panic attack from it. I just don’t want people to think that I would use mental or emotional issues to get out of doing a stream.
The Twitch streamer explains that it is harder for him to film the part for the expansion Cataclysm because he has to censor so much. He probably just has to put a black bar over the entire chat so that no one can read what’s being said.
Asmongold seems to intend to keep his promise to the fans. However, he did not mention a tentative date for the continuation of the series.
Other Reddit users are also shocked by the comments. In a thread in the streaming community r/LivestreamFail, some write that they initially understood the frustration from the harsh accusations to mean that the other side believed Asmongold had simply not donated the money from his donation streams.
That they are instead getting upset due to the absence of promised rewards and writing such comments is something users cannot comprehend: “All of this just because of a story.”
However, it is not the first time that some fans of Asmongold have gone overboard:
Blizzard often gives away “free” items through Amazon Prime for fans who play their games. Also, Diablo 4 has now received a new bundle through Twitch, but this has now become a topic of discussion in the community.
What is the problem? Users are discussing a new item bundle from Prime Gaming on Reddit. The Brackige-Strap bundle is assigned to Diablo 4 and can be collected for free with an active “Amazon Prime” subscription. (via gaming.amazon.com)
Nevertheless, many fans find the bundle familiar. It was sold in the expensive item shop before its free debut, and that rubs some players the wrong way. For them, it feels like a slap in the face.
Don’t you know the official trailer for the upcoming Season 1? Here it is in full:
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Diablo 4: The Official Announcement Trailer for Season 1
“I see this as a lesson, not to spend more money on Diablo 4”
How are the players reacting? Some fans are not really satisfied with Blizzard’s decision. Reddit user ProvokedGaming shares an experience from his close circle:
My wife was upset. She bought it and then they denied a refund since it was free just a week later. She said she’s no longer interested in spending money in the item shop.
And this is not the first case. ShannaraAK is also frustrated about his hasty purchase:
Yes. In the shop. I was dumb enough to buy it, now they are giving it away. Un-be-liev-able.
Moreover, Reddit user sawshuh also considers this a lesson on what he will not do in Diablo 4 in the future:
I won’t even bother trying. I simply view this as a lesson learned, to spend nothing in D4.
Can I spend money in Diablo 4 without worry in the future? Depending on the item or cosmetic skin, you might decide that you do want to spend real money. You can never know in advance which bundle or set Blizzard will offer through Twitch Prime, but either way, they are just cosmetic items that are not necessary.
Diablo 4 also offers plenty of free transmog options that you can find in the world of Sanctuary, which are even prettier than the skins in the item shop:
A ban in a shooter leads to imprisonment. The player did not accept the ban and committed a serious crime.
That gamers sometimes have quite a fiery temperament is not really new information. However, how far some go to vent their frustration on others occasionally reaches alarming qualities.
In 2020, the then 19-year-old Yanni Ouahioune was banned in Rainbow Six Siege. In response, he called the police and claimed that a hostage situation was taking place at the Ubisoft building in Montreal and “dozens of employees were being held captive”.
The call led to a lengthy, large-scale police operation that was quite stressful for everyone involved. While the police secured the building and several streets were blocked off, Ubisoft employees barricaded themselves for protection in their offices or fled to the roof—before the operation turned out to be a “prank” and the search for the perpetrator began.
What kind of crime is this? These actions are commonly referred to as “swatting” and are a “trend” that began in the USA and has since spread around the world. Usually, a SWAT team is sent to the home of streamers, often with the claim that the person is currently conducting a hostage situation. The caller can then often “enjoy” live as the police storm the victim’s apartment—and not only takes on the costs of the police operation but also the life-threatening situation for the victim and roommates, who often suffer from psychological effects for a long time afterwards.
Why was he banned in the first place? The reason for the ban was simple: Ouahioune was considered a notorious cheater and used unauthorized software, such as aimbots, to gain an unfair advantage in the game. As in most other games, such cheating is usually punished with a temporary or permanent ban. The latter then led to the act for which he is now charged and convicted.
According to reports, Ouahioune made the call from his parents’ house and had it routed through Russian servers.
What sentence was handed down? According to the Montreal Gazette, the proceedings were divided into three different cases before the court in Paris. The court ruled that Ouahioune must serve a prison sentence of 3 years and additionally compensate the victims appropriately. Furthermore, he was required to join support groups and work towards being able to participate in such.
In the other two cases, he is accused of launching a DdoS attack on government offices and threatening the developers of Minecraft.
However, it is likely that mitigating circumstances were present, as Ouahioune had been undergoing psychological treatment for several years prior to the act.
The strategy game Moonbreaker was showcased at Gamescom 2022 and was released on Steam in September 2022. At the release as an early access title, it could only attract a few players, but in summer 2023, it is thriving. The recent reviews stand at 98% positive, it costs €22.50 in a sale, and players are slowly discovering it. The revival was sparked by a YouTuber’s video on June 16.
What was the deal with Moonbreaker?
Moonbreaker was shown at the opening of gamescom 2022. It received applause in the hall, but we predicted back then from MeinMMO: “The game looks as good as dead,” because Moonbreaker is a “turn-based tabletop tactics game” and those are considered, at least since Atlas Reactor, to be poison for sales. Atlas Reactor even died 3 times.
The special feature of Moonbreaker is that you can paint the game figures yourself.
There was really nothing against Moonbreaker itself. It is an exciting project, backed by the team that previously made Subnautica, and Brandon Sanderson, a popular US author.
Start video
Moonbreaker: Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Moonbreaker flops at release, but the developers immediately get to work
What has changed? The game experienced a resurgence: A YouTuber, Bricky, with 930,000 subs, uploaded a video on June 16. The video is titled: “Moonbreaker is SO GOOD! I am losing my mind …”
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The video has received over 440,000 views and breathed new life into Moonbreaker:
Since June 16, player numbers have increased by 840%.
Where there were previously 10 players on average, in June there were suddenly 80, and now it is back to an average of 100.
The YouTuber seems to be right with his tip, because those who try Moonbreaker are clearly enthusiastic: The reviews on Steam show 98% positive reviews, fantastic. Many testers point out that they bought Moonbreaker after Bricky’s recommendation.
Moonbreaker could become an example of a game where the developers, by making the right decisions after release, turned a certain flop into a success.
But they will still have a long way to go.
Currently, Moonbreaker is available in the Steam sale for €22.49. It is reduced by 25%. Officially, the game is still in “Early Access”:
The hunt for the unique card The One Ring in the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering is over, and the lucky finder is not a big Twitch streamer or a wealthy collector. Now, the ring bearer talks about how the find will change his life.
What is the card about? On June 23, 2023, the crossover of Magic: The Gathering with The Lord of the Rings was released. In addition to the well-known characters from Middle-earth, the expansion also brought a special treasure.
The One Ring is a true one-of-a-kind. The card with the serial number 001/001 and the distinctive flavor text in Elvish Tengwar script will only be printed once and would therefore be the crowning achievement for any collection.
In the end, however, it was not a wealthy collector who found the card, but just a special lucky one who suddenly held a treasure worth 2 million US dollars in his hands.
In a conversation with Dexerto, the anonymous finder talks about the moment that changed his life.
If you missed the One Ring, you can at least look forward to a new game in the universe of The Lord of the Rings:
Start video
LotR Return to Moria – Summer Game Fest Trailer
Finder describes the big moment: “My hands were shaking”
How did the find come about? The ring bearer tells Dexerto that he spontaneously decided to purchase the collector boxes. He had actually already pre-ordered a box to pick up on June 17.
But on the morning of June 16, he woke up and went to his trusted card store to ask if they had collector boxes for sale. He bought two and opened them at home. In the 6th booster of the second box, he then found the One Ring.
What was the big moment like? The anonymous finder describes his first reaction as “absolute shock”:
My hands were shaking when I realized which card I had drawn. I knew this was a life-changing moment.
“Such a thing doesn’t happen to people like me”
Where do we go from here? The finder reports a feeling of happiness that comes over him when he reads something about the card or sees a video. He watched a content creator who speculated on the card’s value in a livestream.
Meanwhile, the lucky one sat there with a big grin, holding the treasure in his hands: “It’s just amazing. The whole experience was incredible.” However, he does not want to keep the unique card:
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will change my life. Such a thing doesn’t happen to people like me. I plan to [sell the card] to invest and build a future for myself.
The ring bearer believes that the crossover with The Lord of the Rings and the hunt for the One Ring has done the MTG community good. It has attracted new players and brought back old ones. Additionally, the new set is fun: “I hope there will be more such collaborations and hunts.” However, a find like that is probably only made once in a lifetime.
Before the release of the One Ring, the coveted Black Lotus was considered the most valuable Magic card. If the collectible item is also adorned with a special signature, it can quickly be worth half a million dollars:
The PS5 and PS4 store currently has a great sale. Many big and small games are currently discounted. A very special offer is the Metro Saga Bundle. A collection of the Metro trilogy. You can find out why the survival shooters are worth it here.
What is the Metro Saga Bundle? The bundle includes the 3 parts of the Metro series. This includes the following games:
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro Last Light Redux
Metro Exodus
The 3 games tell the story of Artyom, who lives in a Russia devastated by a catastrophe. All remaining humans live in a large subway complex and try to survive. Life is hardly possible on the contaminated surface, as it is not only toxic but also inhabited by mutants.
You can see a gameplay trailer for Metro Exodus here:
Start video
Metro Exodus – Gameplay Trailer
The best story shooter of this generation
What makes the Metro series so special? The 2 big highlights of the series are the story and the atmosphere. Being in the cramped environment of the Moscow subway creates a dense atmosphere. The many characters trying to continue their lives in one way or another intensify this feeling.
But the surface is not a saving environment, rather an even greater danger than staying below. While the first two parts are mainly set underground, Metro Exodus tries to break out and offer an open world.
The gameplay is oriented towards survival horror games. Weapons are not high-tech products, and you have to manage the ammunition carefully. In the Metro games, ammunition is not only for shooting, but also for trading as currency.
How much does the Metro Saga Bundle cost? Until July 20, 2023, you can get the bundle for €8.99 for PS4 and PS5 in the PSN store.
In addition to the Redux versions of the first two parts, you will also receive the Gold Edition of Metro Exodus. This includes, in addition to the main game, 2 story DLCs, in which you play 2 new characters.
If you’re in the mood for a dense atmosphere and an exciting story, with survival horror and shooter elements, then you can’t go wrong with the trilogy for €9.
If you are into survival and MMO, then the following game might be for you:
In the loot shooter The Division 2, an exploit was discovered that unfairly granted players experience points. Ubisoft takes this issue seriously and imposes harsh penalties. Players find this unacceptable.
What was this exploit?
Players could join an agent who was already in the PvE mode Descent, and in this way, they could practically obtain free XP and SHD levels with little effort. Ubisoft deemed this unfair.
As reported by a Polish MMORPG site, relatively few people were aware of the existence of this bug, but some exploited it to the maximum.
There is a YouTube video from June 20, 2023, explaining the game error to generate attention for it. The video has only been viewed by about 4,640 people.
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The Division 2: Season 11 – Trailer
How is Ubisoft dealing with the exploit? Ubisoft is surprisingly strict in dealing with the exploit. They explain that individuals have gained “unfair amounts of XP and SHD levels” through this. They take it very seriously to provide a fair gaming environment and have identified individuals who systematically exploited the bug:
Anyone who exploits this kind of exploit for the first time receives a 2-week ban from Division.
Additionally, their accounts will be marked, and further violations will lead to an extension of the ban.
Those who have repeatedly committed such violations will permanently lose their accounts.
Moreover, the experience gained through this means will be reset, affecting every player who has been identified. Ubisoft aims to provide everyone with the same chances. To conduct the EXP reduction, they scheduled a server downtime and maintenance on the morning of July 6.
What are the reactions? The reactions on Twitter appear to be negative:
One user says: He did not exploit the bug but sees Ubisoft’s actions as a major mistake. Because it takes far too long to reach level 1000.
Another user says: Ubisoft is extremely quick to close an XP bug, but when it comes to fixing broken things, they take their time.
A third user says: Ubisoft is the only company that punishes players for exploiting a bug they had in their game and overlooked.
Apparently, it’s impossible to please everyone. In many games, exploiting such bugs goes unpunished, which frustrates players who do not exploit the glitch and feel like The honest one is the fool. However, when a developer takes action like Ubisoft, it’s also not right.
Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman was asked if he would be interested in playing the world’s most famous secret agent: James Bond. However, the actor declined the offer.
Many know Hugh Jackman for his iconic role as the X-Men superhero Wolverine.
With James Bond, the actor would have had the chance to take on another cult figure. In 2002, Pierce Brosnan ended his career as Bond, a role he portrayed in 4 films. The studio was looking for a new cast. However, Jackman turned down the offer, allowing Daniel Craig to take on the role of Bond.
Why Jackman turned down the tempting offer, he recently revealed in several interviews.
Another actress was also initially skeptical about whether she should take the role or not. The reason was Terminator Schwarzenegger:
Start video
“Sarah Connor” thought that Arnold Schwarzenegger was just a bodybuilder pretending to be an actor
Hugh Jackman asks a fellow actor for advice
In addition to Hugh Jackman, the role of James Bond is also offered to 6 to 8 other actors simultaneously to step into the shoes of actor Pierce Brosnan.
This is not yet a firm commitment, but the chance to take on the role, as the actor repeatedly emphasizes.
At that time, Hugh Jackman was fully occupied with X-Men. He also already knew that there would be a sequel to the superhero film with X-Men 2.
Since the offer is so tempting, he seeks another opinion. So he calls fellow actor Russel Crowe (Gladiator, 2000) to ask him, “What do you think I should do?”
The experienced colleague then gives him advice: Jackman should be aware of the direction his career would take should he agree.
Here you can watch an interview where Hugh Jackman tells the story:
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“You should do something that you really love” is the advice given to Hugh Jackman. So the actor first gathers extensive information about the production, asks who the director is, and what the script looks like.
Hugh Jackman is not completely satisfied with the role and asks if some changes are possible:
I simply felt at the time that the scripts had become so incredibly and crazily out there, and I felt they needed to be grittier and more real.
And the response was: “Oh, you have no say. You just have to sign.”
Another aspect also weighs on the actor’s mind: If Jackman had also taken on the role of James Bond, he would have been jumping back and forth between the two well-known franchises in the future. For other roles, the actor would then have had no time at all.
In the end, Hugh Jackman declined the offer and Daniel Craig made his Bond debut with Casino Royale in 2006.
Would you have liked to see Hugh Jackman as James Bond? Let us know in the comments.
In a new livestream, the developers from Blizzard announced the Blood Knight. This is the first new class in Diablo in the last 9 years. What now bothers many: the class is not coming for Diablo 4, but for the significantly less popular Diablo Immortal.
What kind of class is this?
Blood Knights are a kind of mixture between Paladin/Crusader and Vampire. They use blood magic and melee to shred opponents.
The class also has 2 forms: Human and Beast, so it can, similar to the Druid, take on other shapes.
Blood Knights are the first new class in the entire Diablo franchise since the Witch Doctor was introduced with Diablo 3 in 2012, or the Crusader with Reaper of Souls (2014). However, many fans saw the latter as rather the Paladin with a different name.
You can play the new class for free starting July 13.
After the major Pay2Win allegations and the general discontent with Diablo Immortal, many fans, out of principle, want nothing to do with the mobile spin-off. However, many think that the Blood Knight looks pretty cool.
Diablo 4 launched on June 2 and 6 with 5 classes: Barbarian, Druid, Hunter, Necromancer, and Sorceress. Blizzard has already stated in advance that more classes will follow, probably only with later expansions.
Fans hoped to at least get information about the upcoming class. Seeing the Blood Knight now leads to discussions in the community. He fits well with the much darker tone of Diablo 4. But he is not necessarily the right choice as the first new class, some players think.
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Diablo Immortal: The announcement trailer for the new class Blood Knight
“We still need a holy class”
In several threads on Reddit that revolve around the stream, there are scattered discussions about the topic of the new class. Some players there think: the Blood Knight looks damn cool and if Blizzard is now testing him in Immortal to bring him to Diablo 4 later, they are fully satisfied.
Others think: traditionally, Diablo 4 actually needs a different class. At the moment, there is still no holy class and none that plays with heavy armor and shield. Only Necromancers are currently using shields.
At the end of the story of Diablo 4, the Knights of Regret and the Church of Inarius turn against you. They become “the evil ones” and a new threat, instead of being a help against the demons. Knights of Regret are thus out of the question, Paladins are corrupted by Mephisto, and Crusaders are practically extinct. A holy class would be hard to imagine at this point.
There have also been hints that the 6th class will be something “darker”. A sign on a jug in the shop hinted at this. Players suspect: a kind of cultist or dark summoner is coming – or indeed a Blood Knight.
Fans are wondering whether the seasons will thematically have anything to do with the new classes. However, Blizzard has announced that the main story will be continued in expansions; seasons will have their own side story. A new class will probably come rather in an expansion.
The story of the first season is, by the way, the corruption of all Sanctuary:
For mages in World of Warcraft, an era is coming to an end. The loyal water elemental is disappearing for frost mages in its current form.
World of Warcraft is constantly evolving. The gameplay experience of classes is continuously changed by reworks. However, Blizzard does not dare to touch some of the most iconic abilities. But that seems to be changing now. With the upcoming patch 10.1.5 “Tears of Time”, it’s the mages’ turn. A major talent rework is on the way, which means drastic changes. Mages will have to say goodbye to their water elemental.
Is the water elemental completely disappearing? No. However, frost mages will no longer have the option to choose the elemental as a permanent companion with patch 10.1.5. Instead, the elemental can only be selected as an option that is active during the “Icy Veins” spell and supports the mage for a few seconds.
A short trailer for the next patch can be found here:
Start video
WoW Cinematic: Nozdormu sees the rise of the Eternals in a vision
Why is the elemental being “axed”? There are several reasons for this. On the one hand, the talent to summon a water elemental has long been unpopular among players. The elemental was simply too weak and almost always lost to the alternative “Lonely Winter” – as a result, the mage lost access to the water elemental, but most of the mage’s spells became significantly stronger.
In addition, the water elemental turned the mage into something he should never have been. For Ion Hazzikostas, the game director of WoW, explained in an interview with wowhead:
The pet [water elemental] already has a low rate of talent choice, and when we go through the interactions – is this a class that we try to force into the role of a pet class instead of a pure ranged spellcaster? […] and I believe that having the elemental as part of Icy Veins contributes to that fantasy and makes it more significant when active, while simultaneously clarifying that mages are not a pet class – just as most have played him anyway.
Since when has the water elemental existed? The frosty companion has a long tradition among mages. For already in Warcraft III, the human hero Archmage could summon a water elemental, making him one of the best and most versatile starting heroes. In World of Warcraft, the elemental only came with the end of Vanilla, i.e., the “pre-patch” of The Burning Crusade. At that time, the water elemental was the final talent in the frost tree of mages.
So, on the upcoming Wednesday, an era for mages ends. Even though it is a shame to lose the water elemental as a loyal companion, the reality was already such: Most mages have given up this pet.
Pokémon GO is celebrating its 7th anniversary, but is also experiencing a controversial year. What’s next? MeinMMO author Max Handwerk and MeinMMO author Franzi Korittke look at the topic.
Happy birthday, Pokémon GO! One should definitely note: 7 years is a damn long time in the gaming world. To keep so many players engaged and provide them with wonderful moments for so long is truly an impressive achievement.
And sure, even though the massive hype of the release in 2016 has never been reached again in this form: Pokémon GO has managed to maintain a passionate player base.
For me, the game has been a constant presence on my phone since 2018, and I wouldn’t want to miss it.
Big events still manage to draw many players to parks. During raids, one can still encounter groups of players wanting to catch a rare monster. And to this day, the game manages to evoke a plethora of emotions among Pokémon fans. For that, it can pat itself on the back.
But the truth is that the emotions of the players have not only been positive this year. Pokémon GO is celebrating its 7th anniversary – and the myth of the cursed seventh year, in which a relationship can suddenly become complicated, seems to apply to the relationship between Pokémon GO and its community as well.
Pokémon GO turns 7 – What does the future hold?
Waves of Pokémon, gym battles, raids, mega raids, crypto raids, the battle league, new features, new monsters, unforgettable events: Pokémon GO has done a lot right in the past years. Otherwise, the game probably wouldn’t have survived this long, Pokémon or not.
But at the same time, there have always been problems that dealt harsh blows to the game’s mood. This primarily concerns communication between the community and developers.
Some recent examples:
In March, Pokémon GO changed the prices of remote raid passes and set a daily limit. This angered many players.
This year, 2023, is a prime example: The unpopular decision regarding remote raids frustrated loud parts of the community, leading to even calls for boycotts that were partly implemented.
Additionally, community-driven projects collapsed, like the Pokeminers or most recently the research center TheSilphRoad. That so many elaborate fan projects are turning away from the game can’t be a good sign.
The initially missing communication from the developer on this topic further fueled discontent, before interviews explained that they understood the frustration but wanted to pursue the path in line with their own vision.
Nevertheless, Niantic remains optimistic. They want to excite the community with new features, as stated in an interview with Game Director Michael Steranka. If this works out, great. But they’ve also put themselves out there quite a bit, and mistakes will be scrutinized even more critically by the community.
New features – or improvements to the player experience – Niantic will have to bring in one way or another. Because every game eventually wears out if no new stimuli are set.
The very fundamental principle of Pokémon GO has already changed over the years – shifting from release waves full of Pokémon to an event-driven calendar, which distributes new monsters more in small portions. This keeps players engaged, but also carries the risk that long-term players simply don’t have much to discover.
There are many such examples. Just recently, the event “Dark Flames”, featuring the new monster Tortunator was introduced. However, it didn’t spawn in the wild at all but was hidden behind raids. Meanwhile, there was nothing new to discover in the wild – and generally in other events, Pokémon GO usually offers only single monsters.
The release of actual waves of monsters, from which one can feast for days to weeks by finding fresh monsters in the wild – that has been a long time ago.
Accordingly, Pokémon GO has to succeed in convincing with other aspects of the game. Recently introduced were the crypto raids, and the just released showcases aim to bring fresh wind into the game.
Moreover, Pokémon GO now has the opportunity in good summer weather to convince players that “playing outside together” is really worth it, as emphasized in Niantic’s vision. This opportunity should be seized to regain the goodwill of the fans – through fun features, but also through better communication with the community.
Events like the GO Fest with Mega-Rayquaza are meant to excite players:
Start video
Mega Rayquaza appears in Pokémon GO
Now there is the possibility to build a base – and then create excitement again. After all, in the end, everyone just wants to have fun with the game – and that would actually be a good birthday wish.
Also, the Pokémon GO expert from MeinMMO, Franzi Korittke, has an assessment:
Pokémon GO needs to take the right path
Pokémon GO has become a kind of balance for me, which is why I have been playing the game daily since 2019. Especially new Pokémon and cool events make it interesting for me, and I still have a lot of fun catching the monsters. I particularly find the new crypto raids cool as they seem to bring the local communities closer together again. But I’m also really looking forward to the new features, such as the “Ready” button in raids, new routes, and the competitions at PokéStops. Here, Niantic has definitely headed in the right direction.
However, I find the remote raid changes unfortunate. Even though I enjoy participating in raids locally, I have really enjoyed raiding regularly with foreign friends over the past few years. This has significantly decreased due to the price increase and limitations, which I find incredibly unfortunate. For the future, I hope that Niantic takes more into account the wishes of the community and allows them to help shape the game to a certain extent.
Franzi Korittke MeinMMO author for Pokémon GO
What do you think about the current state of Pokémon GO? How should the game evolve for you? Tell us in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Normally, 6 certain Uniques are so rare in Diablo 4 that most players wouldn’t even dream of getting one of these items dropped in the near future. But overnight, these items apparently dropped like crazy, and Blizzard completely removed the drop possibility.
What happened? Yesterday evening, the 1st Season for Diablo 4 was announced. But alongside the announcement, a bug seems to have sneaked into the game, and during the night from Thursday to Friday, many players had the 6 rarest items drop from the Helltide chests as if they were ordinary Legendaries.
Blizzard responded this morning and completely removed the drop possibility of these 6 items. Until the hotfix, which is supposed to arrive later today, it is not possible to obtain these 6 items. The following 6 items are referred to:
Bringer of Doom – Sword
The Grandfather – Two-Handed Sword
Ring of the Starless Sky – Ring
Andariel’s Visage – Headgear
Harlequin’s Crown – Headgear
Molten Heart of the Blessed – Amulet
Here you can see the trailer for the 1st Season of Diablo 4:
Start video
Diablo 4: The Official Announcement Trailer for Season 1
Many players are angry
While some Reddit posts celebrate their sudden drops from the Helltide chests, other players, especially Europeans who slept through the time, are angry. In a Reddit post titled #shakos4europe, users talk about their frustration:
Bnois: I am so bitter right now.
Cazaderon: I don’t want to lie, but I am angry…. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am anyway.
Exc8218: Damn, us Europeans should also get a few hours of higher drop rates to make it fair, lol.
Even the official Blizzard post about the situation is commented with words like: This company is a joke. I can’t wait until someone sues you for this.
Update: Meanwhile, Blizzard has fixed everything with a hotfix, and the items are dropable in the game again. According to their post, 142 accounts received these uniques due to the bug. They are allowed to keep them.
While these items shouldn’t be so easily obtainable as they were last night, Blizzard should probably work on the drop rate adjustment for these 6 items, because it seems that many players are frustrated with the situation.
The streamer Wudijo had luck elsewhere in Diablo 4:
Twitch has introduced a new feature called Hype Chat, but one of the biggest German streamers, Marcel “MontanaBlack” Eris (35), wants nothing to do with it. He warns his viewers against spending money on it.
What is this feature? On June 22, 2023, Twitch introduced Hype Chat for partnered streamers. According to the streaming platform, this is supposed to be a way for viewers to stand out from the crowd of chatters.
Fans can send chat messages worth between $1 and $500, which are then pinned to the top of the chat. The more money spent, the longer the message is highlighted. A portion of the revenue from Hype Chat purchases goes to the content creators (via Twitch).
However, this is precisely the catch, as streamers like MontanaBlack see it as yet another way for Twitch to take a cut of the money that should rightfully belong to them. This is a very sensitive issue for some.
Start video
MontanaBlack falls out with Mod – BigMac wants money, complains: “9 years thrown away”
What bothers MontanaBlack? In a Tweet on June 22, the streamer criticized that he did not want the feature and there was no way to disable it. MontanaBlack elaborated on his criticism in a stream.
The 35-year-old believes that Twitch is only interested in profiting from the content creators’ earnings. A large part of the financial support for streamers typically comes from third-party providers like StreamElements. However, Twitch gets nothing from that.
MontanaBlack has been frustrated with Twitch’s development for some time. He says:
The platform does not provide adequate support for streamers during major events.
Finally, he criticizes the Partner Plus Program, from which only 2% of streamers worldwide benefit.
With the new feature, even more money should be taken from streamers, so they would earn even less, MontanaBlack believes. It is an absolute disgrace.
“Whoever uses it is to blame themselves”
This is how MontanaBlack plans to boycott the feature: The Twitch streamer explains that he will simply not read messages highlighted through the Hype Chat feature, thereby not giving them the attention that fans actually pay for.
Subsequently, the 35-year-old also raises the minimum amount that fans have to spend to highlight their message to the highest possible amount of 100 €. “Whoever uses this now is to blame themselves,” says MontanaBlack.
A recording of the stream can be found on the YouTube channel of MontanaBlack, starting at 12:15 he talks about the new feature.
Despite his criticism, MontanaBlack will likely remain on Twitch for the time being. However, this has less to do with his loyalty to the platform and more with the fact that he does not want to jeopardize his good reputation by switching to the controversial competitor Kick. At least not for a few measly millions:
