In Pokémon GO, the event “Ascending Shadows” is currently taking place, reaching its peak on Saturday. If you want to play Crypto-Raids, you should keep the day free.
For a few days now, the new Crypto-Raids have been active in Pokémon GO. Many different monsters in their Crypto forms are ready as bosses to be fought and captured by you.
On Saturday, there will be even more of these raids for you. We will show you the details for the event’s peak.
What happens on May 27 in Pokémon GO?
When does it start? The big Crypto-Raid event starts on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM local time. It will be active for ten hours and ends again at 8:00 PM.
What happens there? Niantic itself states that the event “Ascending Shadows” with Team GO Rocket reaches its peak at that time. During the ten hours, only Crypto-Raids will take place. Raids with “normal” raid bosses are not supposed to occur during this time.
So if you are excited about the new raids and can’t get enough, you should be ready on Saturday. We have analyzed the raids for you and show 3 bosses that are really worth it in Crypto-Raids. Take your chances if you want to catch some strong attackers for your collection.
In Level 1 Crypto-Raids, you will find:
Crypto-Quapsel*
Crypto-Machollo*
Crypto-Knofensa
Crypto-Tanhel*
In Level 3 Crypto-Raids, you will find:
Crypto-Lorblatt
Crypto-Igelavar
Crypto-Tyracroc
Crypto-Sniebel*
(Pokémon marked with a * can be found as Shiny)
What else is happening? At this time, you may also have the chance to see the first Shiny Crypto-Mewtwo in Pokémon GO. For many trainers, this weekend is already an important date with a focus on the new raids.
Cinderstone Online is a new indie MMORPG from the developer Codevision. It shines with adorable graphics and lets you fight against gods who want their lands back. This MMORPG features all the standard elements of the genre and won’t cost you a cent over the weekend.
How can you try it out? The developer Codevision is currently calling for a stress test on Steam over this weekend. The MMORPG will then launch on May 29, 2023, directly into early access. You can sign up for the stress test via the Steam platform:
After that, the game will launch in early access on Steam for €24.99. Alternatively, you can purchase one of the Founder Packs on the publisher’s website and play through a separate launcher. You can also join other MMORPG fans on Discord, via this link.
Check out a trailer for Cinderstone Online here.
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Codevision shares new beta trailer for the indie MMORPG Cinderstone Online
What kind of game is this? Cinderstone Online is an MMORPG that can be played on Steam or through its own launcher. It is a colorful game where players must protect the world from rivaling gods who want their stolen lands back. You can find out which colorful title might interest you here.
Players can fight their way to glory by farming, trading, and conquering to become the ruler of an entire region. There are many places to explore and secrets to discover. Cinderstone Online aims to engage players through the following features (via Steam):
An open world full of colorful graphics to explore
Unique characters and creatures
A variety of dynamic quests and challenges that alter the game world
A crafting system for creating items
A dynamic housing and farming system
A system for trading with other players
Choose from different roles, including trader, guardian, or thief.
A PvP system for fighting against other players, including guild wars over castles and power
Roles such as trader, thief, and guardian strongly remind of the MMORPG ArcheAge. Carts must be transported from one city to another, and they can be ambushed by thieves. Fortunately, there are guardians who (hopefully) know how to prevent this.
Whether the game lives up to its promises will ultimately have to be seen. Since it doesn’t cost anything to try it out over the weekend, it’s worth a look.
What do you think about Cinderstone Online? Will you try it out? Let us know in the comments.
If you want to know which MMORPG might be worth checking out, you can take a look at the following article: the 15 best MMOs and MMORPGs of 2023
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What are Twitch Drops? Many new games cooperate with the streaming platform Twitch and offer Twitch Drops. For example, you watch a specific streamer for a few hours and receive in-game items in return.
In the case of Diablo 4, it is about cosmetics for equipment and there is also a mount.
Diablo 4 heats up release with new trailer – shows in live action how good druids and necromancers look
Setting up Twitch Drops
How can I participate? For this, you need an active account on Battle.net and an account on Twitch. You do not need to own Diablo 4 for this.
You now need to connect your Battle.net account with Twitch. You can find the link here: Connect Battle.net with Twitch.
At the bottom of the list, you will find “Twitch”. Click on “+Connect”, then on “Continue” and log in with your Twitch account. Now click on “Authorize” and then once again on “Continue” in the Battle.net window.
You can actually also collect the drops without linking a Battle.net account. However, the drops will expire within 7 days after receiving them.
Diablo 4: Twitch Drops – Streamers
Which streamers are participating? The list of participating streamers is incredibly long. Developer Blizzard has prepared a PDF document for this:
You will find over 90 pages with almost 50 streamers per page here. If you want to know if one of your favorites is included, use the search function in the document (Windows: CTRL+F / Mac: Command+F). More streamers may be added.
You actually do not have to watch the same streamer and can switch between them, the time still continues to run.
Diablo 4: Twitch Drops – Items
How do I get the items? The action runs over four weeks, and in each week there are new items for different classes of Diablo 4. You will receive codes for the items via your Twitch notifications, which you must redeem in your Battle.net account.
There is currently a sale on Steam offering discounts on several Warhammer games, with one title even being given away forever. But you have to be quick, as the offer is only valid for a few more days.
Which game is free? During the sale, you can add “Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War” to your library for free. You have until June 1, 2023, at 19:00 to do so.
What kind of game is this? Warhammer 40,000: Gladius is a dark strategy game released in 2018, focusing on the planet “Gladius Primus.”
Gladius Primus was originally considered an archaeologically interesting planet, as the relics found there offered a glimpse into an unexplored past. But today, it is only a site of war for control over natural resources.
You take control of one of four rivaling and warlike factions: the Space Marines, Orks, Astra Militarum, or the Necrons, and build your dominance on Gladius Primus.
In addition to space mummies and space machos, the title features faction-specific technologies that you can unlock, a randomly generated game world, and an online mode. Throughout a round, you build buildings, create armies, and gather various resources – always aiming to invent new technologies and keep the war machine running.
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War on Steam
You can watch a gameplay trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Gladius here:
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Warhammer 40,000 Gladius shows the gameplay of the strategy game in the trailer
Steam sale with numerous Warhammer games
Which games are discounted during the sale? In addition to the free Warhammer: Gladius, Steam offers other Warhammer titles at reduced prices. We have summarized a small selection for you:
Additionally, two DLCs for the F2P title “Warhammer Horus Heresy: Legions” as well as the shooter “Necromunda: Hired Gun” (€13.99 instead of €39.99) set in the Warhammer universe are on sale.
With “Warhammer 40.000: Boltgun,” you can also grab a discounted game that was released on May 23, 2023:
A nearly legendary shirt can now be unlocked for your WoW characters. We’ll tell you how to do it – and why it’s worth it.
In recent months, World of Warcraft has increasingly collaborated with other platforms to bring special items to the people of Azeroth through various promotions. There are always special rewards through Twitch and Amazon – just like this time.
A truly “epic” shirt awaits all Amazon Prime customers.
What kind of shirt is this? The “Epic Purple Shirt” is an item that originally comes from the trading card game of World of Warcraft. In the booster packs, there were special loot cards that allowed you to obtain exclusive items in the game. However, the collectible card game has been discontinued for many years, so there is no longer a way to obtain these rewards today – unless you buy the old cards from lucky sellers and hope that you won’t get ripped off.
Many of these items are now being reintroduced by Blizzard over time.
The “epic” shirt awaits new owners.
As the name suggests, the shirt is a dark purple shirt that has golden embellishments and features an arrow on the front that points downward. The shirt is unlocked as a transmog template, so you can use it over and over again.
How do you get the shirt? To do this, you need to be a customer of “Amazon Prime”. If that’s the case, simply visit the “Prime Gaming” page and navigate to the game “World of Warcraft” and then to “Epic Purple Transmog Shirt”. Then, you just need to click on “Get in-game content” and a few seconds later, the shirt should already be unlocked in World of Warcraft.
You need to hurry though, the offer is only valid until the end of June.
Currently, there’s a lot to do in WoW:
Start video
WoW: Patch 10.1 Ember of Neltharion is live – Here is what to expect starting now
Keep in mind that you must link your Battle.net account with your Prime account beforehand so that the reward can be attributed to the correct account.
What do you think of this type of reward? Cool that the items are becoming accessible again? Or unfair to those who received it from the collectible card game back then?
New games have recently had terrible releases – especially on PC. Soon, a highly anticipated title will be released with Diablo 4, and the new Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been well received almost everywhere. But are new games still worth your time, or is the risk of a flop too high?
The poor releases are fueling rumors in the community: is it the publishers who are pushing for completion? Or is it the developers? Is there ultimately a technical problem with graphics cards behind this?
In any case, the experiences have dampened the enthusiasm of many fans and sowed skepticism. Nevertheless, there are still some bright spots: the new Zelda is particularly well received, countless players are looking forward to Diablo 4, eagerly awaiting the release after the beta.
You can find all the information about Diablo 4 and its release in our overview here. The latest trailer, however, once again leads to divided opinions:
Start video
Diablo 4 heats up release with new trailer – shows in live action how good druids and necromancers look
Are you still taking vacation for new games?
We now want to know from you: do you still take time when a new game is released, or do you prefer to wait for what testers and early players say? Is it worth planning a vacation for the hope of a hit, or is the risk of a flop too great?
Feel free to discuss in the comments: have the technical conditions of late discouraged you? Have tests like the betas and the server slam of Diablo 4 helped you decide whether to take your time? Or do you generally play later, when all bugs are fixed and the first seasons start?
We previously asked you about pre-orders in a related topic. Some of you have become quite strict about it, while others are still a bit more free with their money:
The differences in playing Pokémon GO between rural and urban areas can be quite significant. A trainer reports a shocking experience. What exactly happened to him is summarized here on MeinMMO.
Most trainers are now aware that there are ongoing differences in playing Pokémon GO between rural and urban areas. Affected players often find themselves at a disadvantage, especially during raids or special events.
How enormous these differences can actually be can be seen in a Reddit post by a trainer. We at MeinMMO show you what he experienced and how the community reacted to it.
Trainer from the countryside is completely shocked
What differences are there? Like most other rural players, the Reddit user -PM_ME_UR_SECRETS- knows the numerous limitations of playing Pokémon GO in such areas. Often, there is a lack of available PokéStops and gyms, making it hard for these players to participate in special events, like Community Days, raid days, or research days.
In addition, the local community is often very small or even non-existent. Many of them travel to larger cities on special event days to compensate for this disadvantage and secure the desired Pokémon.
-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS- happened to spend his last Community Day in Las Vegas by chance and was simply shocked by the extent of differences, which is why he felt the need to share this with the community.
This is what a rural player experienced: In the Pokémon GO subreddit, he posts a picture showcasing the mentioned event day. In it, you can see countless PokéStops, all equipped with lure modules, as well as a massive number of Fynx spawning around them. Additionally, there are 5 gyms nearby where raids are taking place.
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It thus becomes clear that many trainers must be playing there. A sight that is likely the exception in most rural areas. -PM_ME_UR_SECRETS- illustrates this through a comparison image that shows nothing but yawning emptiness.
In the text, he explains (via Reddit.com): “I happened to be in Vegas during Community Day last weekend and couldn’t believe how lively the game was. Now I’m back home, and it’s just depressing to know how the game is meant to be and what I have to deal with.”
Players sympathize with the trainer: “I feel for you”
Trainers have had similar experiences: In the community, like-minded individuals can quickly be found who also confirm in the comments that they were shocked by this sight. They live in rural areas themselves and can understand the huge difference well. Some of them have even had to experience this stark contrast themselves (via Reddit.com):
PedroPrisma: “I am one of the 10 players that my city has.”
SvenTurb01: “We have one gym that was vacated about a week ago, completely empty. It has still not been taken over and just sits there, all gray and sad.”
MC-Kirby: “Yeah, no kidding. I feel for you, buddy, I really do. I was not just in Tokyo during the Slowpoke CD in March, but also at the Pokémon Center in Tokyo. I literally couldn’t even see the map on my screen because dozens and dozens of Slowpoke were stacked all over the screen, and so many golden lure module PokéStops that I couldn’t even spin them all. But since I got back home in April? Dead. Nothing. Not a single PokéStop, not a single gym, and most of the time not even a single damn Hornliu for kilometers. It’s so damn depressing.”
jjjunooo: “I feel that. I started playing when I lived in a small town, and I had to walk an hour to spin a PokéStop and visit 2 gyms and 4 PokéStops. I wouldn’t say it was completely rural, so it wasn’t as bad as some people’s experiences. Last year, I moved to a big city outside of the city center, and that’s a huge difference!!!”
By the way: In Pokémon GO, mobility can really pay off. Tell us in the following survey how many kilometers you walk per week:
Trainers want to help and give tips
This is what trainers recommend: In the comments, you can find not only trainers with similar experiences but also a range of tips. Users recommend that affected rural players apply for new PokéStops themselves.
For this, they currently only need trainer level 37 or higher to register at Wayfarer, the relevant page of Niantic. Alternatively, they could ask other trainers for help who have already achieved this level. This is what can be read (via Reddit.com):
technodoki: “You can submit an application for PokéStops near you. I’ve heard they approve rural stops faster than urban ones.”
Dentunam: “My town was also a ghost town. When I started playing Pokémon GO, we had maybe 1-2 gyms and 7-8 PokéStops. After I reached level 38 (before it was reduced to 37), I suggested everything. Now we have over 10 gyms and over 35 PokéStops. Grind friendship ASAP to level 37 and nominate everything!!”
This is what it can look like when you make the effort and submit a multitude of stops, as we will show you in the following post:
Trainers express criticism of suggestions: Many affected individuals find these tips in the comments rather unhelpful, as some have already tried them. The problem is mainly that there aren’t many approved locations to suggest for a new PokéStop.
Additionally, submitted applications are often rejected by the community over and over again. This makes it even more challenging for rural players to obtain new PokéStops and gyms (via Reddit.com):
atomhypno: “I’ve been trying this since I hit level 37, but there’s hardly anything nearby that I can propose as a PokéStop.”
RUN-PMT: “I have the same problem; around me, there’s nothing but forests and swamps. Honestly, I’m considering applying for something like ‘Community Dump’.”
Qwopmaster01: “Reaching level 37 is not the problem; it’s getting stops approved in rural communities. Rural players are constantly denied legitimate PokéStops with reasons like ‘on a farm’ or ‘private property’. Some people just can’t grasp that a town or village exists unless a massive concrete slab appears on Google Maps. In the last year, over 20 PokéStops were approved in the city where I work, but not a single one in my rural village.”
However, there is another problem: Even if enough PokéStops and gyms are present, without the support of other trainers, they can hardly tackle the tough raids, such as the upcoming Crypto Raids with Mewtwo.
This additionally depresses rural trainers, as KntKoko explains on Reddit: “I have 2 of the 4 [accounts] in my town. I’ve placed my lowest monsters in my town’s gyms, and since then, they have remained untouched. And they expect me to be able to beat Crypto-Mewtwo.”
Whether these differences will change in the future remains to be seen. Should there be any new information about this, you will find it here on MeinMMO.
What are your experiences playing in urban and rural areas? Have you also noticed such extreme differences? Or are you even trying to apply for new PokéStops in your area? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
ChatGPT is one of the most famous AI bots. However, new regulations are set to be introduced in the EU to regulate AIs. The founder and inventor explains that ChatGPT will be taken offline in Europe if these are too strict.
There have been discussions for some time about regulating AI systems. In Europe, there are already initial draft laws, but the head of Open AI, Sam Altman, is not particularly excited about it.
Altman is currently traveling around the world, speaking with large tech companies, businesses, and political decision-makers about AI models. He is specifically concerned about AI-friendly laws. Above all, the possible regulations from the EU do not make him happy, and there are various reasons for that.
Start video
Amazon presents cute robot – Watch the trailer on how Astro protects your home from bandits
ChatGPT will leave the EU if it cannot comply with the laws
Sam Altman, founder and inventor of OpenAI, spoke out against strong regulations on AI during a panel discussion in London. He would be disturbed if the EU defines AI systems like ChatGPT as “high-risk systems.”
Altman said that based on how the proposed law is currently formulated, both ChatGPT and the large language model GPT-4 could be classified as high-risk. Then the company would also have to implement new guidelines.
If we can meet the requirements, we will, and if not, we will shut down the operation [of ChatGPT]… We will try. But there are technical limits to what is possible.
The “problem” here is also the European Data Protection Board of the EU. They stated that they want to closely examine ChatGPT. The AI must comply with the EU’s data protection laws. In the USA, there were apparently no such major concerns; in the EU, they look a little closer.
The EU AI law is one of the laws that the EU Commission proposed in 2021. In this draft, AIs are classified into three risk categories (via europaparl.europa.eu).
The EU already has clear bans in mind. Systems are to be prohibited from the outset,
that use subliminal or intentionally manipulative techniques.
exploit the vulnerabilities of people.
be used for social scoring (classifying people based on their social behavior, socioeconomic status, or personal characteristics).
In the lowest category are so-called “high-risk AI systems.” These are allowed but must adhere to certain standards for transparency and oversight.
And this point is a thorn in Altman’s side. He opposes the EU regulations requiring OpenAI to disclose the sources of training data.
The developer NCSoft of the upcoming MMORPG Throne and Liberty has shared information about the business model. The current Closed Beta is being used to test the business model. Although it is tailored for the Asian market, rough outlines of the monetization in the MMORPG for the West can already be derived.
What does the business model look like? The MMORPG Throne of Liberty currently offers several services in its beta version. These include Season Pass and Growth Magazine Pass. Additionally, there are also pay-for-convenience items (faster progress) and cosmetic items.
Appropriately, there are the Lucent and Cosmetic Coins, or coins. These can be earned through the in-game market or so-called express requests.
Check out a trailer for Throne and Liberty here:
Start video
Throne and Liberty Director Preview Highlights
Beta shows Season Pass, Pay2Progress, and Trade
How does the Season Pass work? Through the Season Pass, players can claim rewards by completing quests and reaching designated success levels. It should be noted that the achievements and level caps have been adjusted to the Closed Beta and may differ from the final product, let alone the Western version.
The Premium Pass also offers additional benefits. It includes the following extra features:
Lucky Collector: If items drop during hunting, they are unbound and can then be traded.
Play Without Connection: If the connection drops or ends, the character continues to farm, up to 8 hours a day.
In this regard, NCSoft justifies the Premium benefit Lucky Collector with protection against monopolization and oversupply. The Premium benefit Play Without Connection is intended for situations with limited connectivity or connection drops on the PC.
What pay-for-convenience items are available? For the most part, these are consumables and materials to upgrade your equipment (Pay2Progress), which can also be crafted in-game. This includes food and elixirs.
These items are directly available in the Lucent Shop. In this way, you save in exchange for Lucent Coins accordingly game time.
How does trading work in the game? There is a market, or trade exchanges in the game. The general exchange is characterized by the following features:
The minimum level for trading is 15.
The trade currency is Lucent.
The trading fee, however, is the currency Solent.
The base fee is 30% plus the guild tax of the guild that wins the siege wars.
However, items obtained from bosses can be traded without fees.
Guilds can also trade items internally without fees.
What are express requests? In addition to a request system that allows for further rewards during the day and is limited to 20 tasks daily, there are also express requests.
These can be accepted by the request manager in the city and bring higher-tier random rewards, such as crafting materials. However, an express request costs 35 Lucent Coins. Updating the request list costs Solant Coins.
What are Cosmetic Coins for? These are used to purchase wild transformations. This item not only changes the character’s appearance but also provides faster movement properties.
In addition, these coins can also be used to purchase Amitois. These are similar to pets from Black Desert Online, which offer a special attribute and collect loot for the player.
Pay2Win in the West still unclear
Whether we can ultimately speak of Pay2Win in the Western version cannot be said in advance. The fact is, there are no equipment items to buy directly, but there are consumables to improve one’s equipment, and indeed for real money (even if it must first be exchanged for Lucent Coins).
To what extent pay-for-convenience items will make their way into the Western version remains uncertain. After all, NCSoft is still testing for its own domestic market and intends to implement feedback on the business model if current information is available.
What do you think of the business model? Does it seem fair to you or does it contain intolerable advantages over others? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
On May 24, the PlayStation Showcase 2023 took place, revealing numerous trailers to the world. MeinMMO attended the event and summarized the five most viewed trailers for you.
What kind of list is this? The PlayStation Showcase 2023 featured a wide selection of trailers for various games as well as new PlayStation hardware.
We at MeinMMO attended the event and compiled a list of the 5 hottest trailers. As a basis for the list, we analyzed the view counts of the trailers on the PlayStation YouTube channel (as of May 25, 11:00 AM).
[toc]
Spider-Man 2 Gameplay Reveal + Kraven the Hunter
What kind of game is this? The most popular trailer of the event is the gameplay trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. A total of 10 minutes of action-packed gameplay was revealed.
We saw that in Spider-Man 2, you not only take on the role of Miles Morales but also embody Peter Parker and can switch between the two heroes.
Additionally, a short cinematic trailer introduced us to the evil opponent of the spider duo – Kraven the Hunter. Together, both trailers have over 3 million views and stand at the very top of the showcase.
How popular is the trailer? The gameplay trailer for Spider-Man 2 has 2.7 million views. In addition, there are 375,000 views for the trailer introducing the villain “Kraven the Hunter.”
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Gameplay Reveal Trailer PS5
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
What kind of game is this? With “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater,” fans of the series finally receive what they’ve been waiting for: a remake of the originally designed Metal Gear Solid 3 by Hideo Kojima.
However, the trailer showed us not much, except for various animals in a jungle eating each other, as well as a brief look at the iconic Solid Snake.
How popular is the trailer? The trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is the second most popular trailer of the event, garnering a strong 478,000 views.
Start video
Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater Announcement Trailer PS5
What does the trailer show? The trailer shows a brief look at two new hardware products from PlayStation: Project Q, a handheld, and the PlayStation earbuds.
How popular is the trailer? The introduction of the new PlayStation hardware has 374,000 views on YouTube, significantly outpacing games like Final Fantasy XVI (172,999), Dragons Dogma 2 (192,000), and Alan Wake 2 (204,000).
Start video
PlayStation Showcase 2023 Accessories Sneak Peek Trailer
Phantom Blade Zero
What kind of game is this? While many PlayStation fans were waiting for something related to Ghost of Tsushima – a sequel or the long-awaited PC port – viewers got to see “Phantom Blade Zero.”
The action RPG may not have a graphics style comparable to Ghost of Tsushima but impresses with Asian martial arts. The gameplay shown appears to be both fast and bloody.
In addition to a remarkable skill with the sword, we also saw some parkour abilities, allowing the played character to run along walls or climb pillars that supported the building in which the fight took place.
How popular is the trailer? The trailer for Phantom Blade Zero collected a total of 355,000 views and is the third most popular game of the night, after Spider-Man 2 and Metal Gear Solid Delta.
Start video
Phantom Blade Zero Announce Trailer
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
What kind of game is this? Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be the newest installment of Ubisoft’s popular game series and will take you to the streets of Baghdad. There, you take on the role of Basim, already known to fans of the series as one of the key characters in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
The trailer from the PlayStation event also revealed that AC Mirage is set to be released on October 12, 2023.
How popular is the trailer? The gameplay trailer for AC Mirage has nearly 251,000 views and thus ranks last in our top 5. However, we only focused on the numbers from the PlayStation channel. The Ubisoft channel would add another 391,000 views.
Start video
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Trailer
If you missed the PlayStation Showcase and want an overview of the trailers shown, MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has summarized all announcements and presentations from the event for you:
Bungie has introduced a new shooter that already promises a feature players are wishing for in Destiny 2.
“Destiny 2” developer Bungie announced an upcoming game called Marathon at the PlayStation Showcase on May 24, 2023, which will continue the namesake game series from the 90s and is the studio’s first new project in over 10 years.
Marathon will be an extraction shooter focusing on PvP, set in a sci-fi universe. Extraction shooters or EFT-likes are games like Escape from Tarkov, where looting equipment, completing missions, and then escaping from the map are the primary focus.
Generally, extraction shooters rely on PvEvP, so it can’t be ruled out that Marathon, despite its PvP focus, will also offer PvE combat.
Marathon is still under development, and a release date is not yet known. The shooter is set to be released for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and will offer cross-save and crossplay features.
Here you can see the announcement trailer for Marathon:
Start video
Marathon Announce Trailer PS5 & PC
What do Destiny players wish for? According to Bungie, Marathon is said to have dedicated servers – a wish that many Destiny players have had for some time.
Back in March 2021, a fan asked in the official Destiny forum why Destiny 2 might not have dedicated servers (via Bungie.net).
However, some fans reiterated their wish for dedicated servers during the context of Marathon. Various players wrote on Twitter:
“What we have been demanding for Destiny 2 for years.”
“Something that Destiny needs.”
“If they offer dedicated servers for Marathon, why not for Destiny?”
What are dedicated servers? In video games, a dedicated server is a server offered within a game by the developer. Players can join such a server individually and independently from other players or their connection.
Where does the info come from that Marathon will have dedicated servers? From Bungie itself. On the official website of the developer studio (via Bungie.net), Christopher Barrett, Game Director at Bungie, says:
We are also focusing on accessibility and competitive integrity, which are very important to us. We prioritize security and focus on strict anti-cheat measures, as well as dedicated servers, global data centers, active community conversations and feedback, and much more. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the competitive experience in Marathon is fair and fun for every player.
An overview of the most viewed trailers from the PlayStation Showcase can also be found on MeinMMO – even if Marathon is not included:
Anime series often have quite funny and very long names. But why is that? We reveal the reason behind this curiosity.
Whether you are a big anime fan or can hardly relate to the medium – everyone has certainly wondered about the strange names. Especially in recent years, the names seem to have become increasingly absurd.
Where series used to have short and snappy titles like “Bleach”, “Dragon Ball” or “Death Note”, today there are names that often represent whole sentences, such as:
“After I got rejected, I shaved and took in a high school Runaway”
“My Reincarnation as a Slime in Another World”
“Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!“
“The Misfit Of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates & Goes To School With His Descendants”
I wish one of the four names were invented – but none of them is. These are all actual anime names, and they are all quite popular.
Why are anime names so long?
But the question remains: Why do creators give their series such strange names? Are they just running out of ideas, or are all the “cool” names already taken?
The real reason is much simpler:
Most anime begin as manga or light novels and are often offered digitally on the internet. The websites that offer manga, light novels, or webcomics have long not only a few dozen titles – but thousands or tens of thousands.
Therefore, the authors’ intention is no longer to find a “cool” name for the series – but one that essentially summarizes the whole storyline. What used to be a blurb or the back description of a book is now simply included in the title.
Since on the large websites with thousands of comics and mangas begging for attention and readers, fewer and fewer users take the time to click on each individual work and take a closer look – thus the title must already summarize what it’s actually about.
As these stories are often adapted into anime later, the name that was already used in the original emerges – and thus it is indeed a pretty long monster.
If you see the story “After my Rebirth as a Demon, I have to work in Online Journalism and collect souls” soon – then you know why the name is as it is.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Digital Extremes starts its closed beta test for the co-op RPG Wayfinder. The game developed by Airship Syndicate recently faced technical issues that made a beta test impossible. Now, it seems that the discrepancies have been resolved. Find out here how you can (still) participate in the beta, but be warned – Digital Extremes wants to conduct the closed beta under the highest secrecy.
How can you participate in the closed beta? You can participate in the closed beta by visiting the game’s page and signing up for the current closed beta test there. You can do this here:
There, you need to provide information about yourself, namely your date of birth and an email address. After that, with a little luck, you will be selected and may then try out the co-op title Wayfinder on Steam yourself.
Check out the gameplay trailer for Wayfinder here.
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Wayfinder – Extended Gameplay Trailer
When does the beta run? The current closed beta runs from May 24 at 5 PM to May 29, 2023, at the same time. As reported by colleagues from mmorpg.org.pl, it seems that despite the ongoing CBT, it is still possible to participate in the closed beta afterwards (via mmorpg.org.pl).
Moreover, the website for Wayfinder reveals that early access will start in summer 2023. The game is expected to be officially launched at the end of 2023.
At this point, we want to give you a warning regarding the closed beta. The publisher Digital Extremes does not wish for any information from the beta to be shared with third parties. Those who do not comply with this agreement may face unpleasant consequences.
Former developers describe Wayfinder as their personal Wildstar 2.0
What kind of game is Wayfinder? The game is essentially a dungeon crawler in loot frenzy and is driven by features like crafting. It is considered an action MMO with different heroes that also have different skills.
It was developed by Airship Syndicate, the maker behind Ruined King: A League of Legends Story.
In addition to the developer Airship Syndicate, Digital Extremes acts as the publisher. This is known especially as the developer of the popular action MMO Warframe.
What do you think of the game Wayfinder? Can it compete with Warframe or Destiny, or is it more aimed at Monster Hunter and similar games? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a new survival MMO, you explore a fantasy world full of mysterious creatures. The game aims to be inspired by Zelda: BotW.
What kind of game is this? Towers of Aghasba is a survival MMO that was presented at the PlayStation Showcase 2023 and takes place in a fantasy world inhabited by numerous mysterious creatures.
The gameplay focus is expected to be on PvE, and it will include various quests typical of survival gameplay, which can be obtained from NPCs like the “Forest God”.
Generally, players are meant to help and cooperate with each other. To create an optimal foundation for this, the developers want to gather 15 to 25 players on a server. However, depending on optimization, this number could be increased.
Towers of Aghasba is set to be released initially on Steam and later for consoles. The release is planned for 2024, although there is still no exact date.
You can see the trailer for Towers of Aghasba here:
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Towers of Aghasba shows its fantastic world in the trailer
Why is it interesting for Zelda fans? In a Q&A, the developers of Towers of Aghasba write that “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is one of the fundamental inspirations for the gameplay of the game (via Discord). Accordingly, exploring the game world and using a glider is also very important.
In terms of the visual representation of the game, Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed animated film “Princess Mononoke” served as an inspiration, as well as various tribal cultures from Africa, Asia, and the Maya.
What do players say about the trailer? The trailer for Towers of Aghasba was able to create a positive first impression among some players on YouTube. The visual representation of the game world received multiple praise for its beautiful presentation.
doorbell8132: “Certainly a spectacle worth seeing. I can only hope it plays as beautifully as it looks.”
werewolfgirl1995: “This game looks fantastic, and the environment looks so full of life!”
quazar4773: “The world looks fantastic; hopefully, it is as immersive as it appears. Reminds me of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Shadow of the Colossus.”
Overall, many players seem curious about how Towers of Aghasba will play. Visually, the title has definitely made a strong impression. Perhaps we have seen the first scenes of a potential survival gem.
Diablo 4 will be released simultaneously for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox and offers full crossplay between platforms. It is possible that the servers on some platforms will go live a few minutes earlier.
There will be no further test before the release. Anyone who wants to play must wait until these days. After the very smooth server slam, Blizzard does not expect major issues with the servers at release.
When can I start the preload? The preload begins on May 31 at 01:00 AM German time for all platforms and all versions. Whether you have pre-ordered or not, you can download the full game from then on.
The exact download size has not yet been revealed. However, according to system requirements, you need 90 GB of storage space; the betas were between 75 and 85 GB in size (with HD textures). You can find more in our article: Diablo 4: Preload – All about date and size on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation
Diablo 4 heats up release with new trailer – shows in live action how good druids and necromancers look
Energy drinks, setups, builds planning – How do I prepare?
The community currently has many fans sharing how they are preparing for the release of Diablo 4. Most of them showcase their stylish PC setups that resemble altars for Lilith or discuss game mechanics.
One particularly engaged gamer has decided to buy 120 energy drinks and more junk food to survive the release. Her boyfriend is not sure whether to be worried or to marry her.
Especially the core gamers of the community are already considering which class and builds they will play. They are laying out routes, making plans for quick leveling, or determining where they will get the best loot later.
MeinMMO is currently working on a handy overview for your ideal preparation. You will find it on our site in the coming days. If you still need to decide on a class, our quiz will help you:
Jens “Knossi” Knossala and Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler are two of the biggest streamers on German Twitch. It is not uncommon for influencers to have their own products, but a pizza restaurant chain like the one they are starting now is quite rare. We at MeinMMO reveal what we know about Happy Slice.
What’s the deal with the pizza? Knossi and Trymacs are launching their joint pizza chain, Happy Slice, today, on May 25th. So far, it is a purely digital restaurant chain, with pizzas available at 72 locations. Currently, there are 14 varieties, including 4 vegan options (via Happy Slice).
On the Twitch channels of Knossi and Trymacs, the streamers are accompanying the launch of Happy Slice with a stream. Some fans will even receive their pizza personally from the streamers.
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From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi
The first delivery goes unexpectedly
How did the launch go? Just as you would expect from the two, a bit chaotic. Currently (as of 7:30 PM), the two have successfully delivered their first pizza. On the way, they were already spotted and besieged by a group of young fans.
Upon arrival, they were invited into the apartment, where Knossi immediately let his guard down: As it turned out, the viewer designs his own fashion and spontaneously left a few samples with the streamer. For that, the two promptly forgot their delivery backpack.
In addition to today’s launch, the two want to be in Cologne, Berlin, and Hamburg this weekend with a bus and provide their fans with pizza on-site. If the first delivery is an indicator, fans can certainly look forward to plenty of entertainment.
In advance, Knossi and Trymacs teased their planned project on social media. However, they revealed a bit more than planned, as clever viewers leaked the website more than a week before the release:
After 4 years and 2 expansions, WoW Classic has now received the notorious WoW Token in Europe and America. Fans did not take this well. However, Blizzard states: in the fight against bots, this measure is necessary. And it won’t have a big impact anyway.
Players can buy the token for real money and then sell it for gold in the auction house. Buyers can exchange it for game time. Price is determined by supply and demand.
The change is received almost entirely negatively. Now the company defends itself, stating that the fight against bots is part of the explanation.
This is what Blizzard says now: In a detailed post in the forum, community manager Kaivax explains that the step to the WoW Token was not an easy one. The team resisted the introduction for a long time.
However, WoW and WoW Classic are overrun with bots that farm gold and illegally sell it for real money to players, so-called “RMT” (for “Real Money Trade”). This problem has accompanied WoW Classic since its release.
In Wrath Classic, your weekly activities are mostly self-sustaining. […] Completing your weekly raid, a few dungeons or dailies gives even the most diligent and well-prepared players more gold than they need to maintain.
In Classic and Burning Crusade, gold was an even bigger issue. There, a token was unthinkable. Kaivax says that Classic is meant to convey the feeling of the past, not to be a 1:1 copy of what used to be. While the constant grinding in the endgame was necessary back then, it feels more “out of place” today. In Wrath, the problem is not as severe.
Kaivax admits that the fight against bots and trade cannot be won – yet the team continues to fight. The token is just a tool for this battle. However, there are always new technologies from fraudsters to circumvent Blizzard’s measures.
The release of WotLK was quite overrun – apparently, thousands of bots have snuck in among the players:
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At the release of WotLK Classic, hundreds of players are squeezing onto a boat and I am right in the middle
“We don’t want this; it doesn’t fit Classic”
The reactions in the forum remain negative. Kaivax’s post receives strong criticism. The Classic community does not want any changes to Classic, although there are already too many of them.
Some accuse Blizzard of not caring about the fans’ concerns. Total chaos reigns in the subreddit, where the rule against discussing private servers was even lifted for a short time.
While there are no real defenses of the statement, at least a few players seem to view the token less strictly. For instance, some ask if the removed dungeon finder will come back into the game or if the token can also be exchanged back into Battle.net credits. A few players apparently want to buy Diablo 4 with WoW gold.
However, the majority’s sentiment is that they do not want to play Retail but rather Classic. The token does not fit in there. However, significant changes are also on the horizon for Retail:
2023 has already given us some terrible flops. Between delayed releases, huge day-one patches, and questionable monetization systems, frustration among many gamers is high. With The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PC, PS, Xbox), a game is now being released that can overshadow the previous disappointments.
What kind of game is it? The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an action game developed by the Hamburg studio Daedalic Entertainment. Adventure fans actually know them mainly for point-and-click titles like the Edna-duology, The Whispered World, or the Deponia series.
Gollum was announced back in 2019 and was originally supposed to be released in 2021. After a delay, the release took place today, on May 25, 2023. And already, it has secured a place as the lowest-rated game of the year – at least so far, as the year still has several releases ahead.
But Gollum can once again undercut the devastating Metacritic scores of the mentioned titles. Currently, it stands at a rating of 38 for PS5 and 43 for PC in the red zone. And that in an industry where a score of 60 is already considered pretty bad.
What do the ratings look like? The reviews on Metacritic range from 20 to 70, with the latter standing quite alone so far. We have summarized some of the worst ratings for you:
Push Square calls Gollum “a broken mess of a game” and criticizes the outdated level design, clunky controls, and the “boring story”.
Gfinity writes briefly and concisely: “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is, like the titular character, ugly, deformed, and infested with bugs.”
GamesRadar+ saw potential with a rating of 40, although its “high points quickly get lost among all the ways the execution stumbles”.
The only exception is IGN Adria with a score of 70 points:
Surprisingly competent 3D stealth platformer, which has managed to accurately showcase one of the most famous anti-heroes in the world of fantasy entertainment. Despite its underdeveloped visual presentation, it is still one of the rare “Lord of the Rings” games that is worth playing.
Whether the ratings can recover once some of the bugs are fixed remains to be seen. However, given the criticism of nearly all major elements such as mechanics, the story, and graphics, it seems rather unlikely that Gollum will develop into a success.
The price is unlikely to contribute to improving the mood. After all, one might concede Gollum the lack of an AAA budget, but at 50 € (60 € for the Collector’s Edition), the new LOTR game is not exactly an indie bargain.
It probably doesn’t help that the developers at least got the name of the special edition right:
Soon Diablo 4 will be released on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. To get in the mood, some fans have cleaned and decorated their desks to match the dark atmosphere of the game. Especially Lilith seems to be a popular motif to keep the hype alive.
When will Diablo 4 be released?
The official release of Diablo 4 is on June 6 at 01:00 German time. You can find all the information about the game in our overview here.
After the tests, thousands of players are eagerly waiting for the release and showing how they are preparing for the release night.
Here are the setups: For months now, fans have been showcasing their setups for Diablo 4 on Reddit, Discord, and Twitter, displaying their monitors, computers, and desks.
Even though some players apparently identify as Inarius fans, Mother Lilith clearly has more followers. Although Lilith herself isn’t exactly “good”, pursuing her own plans, many pledge their loyalty to her.
Accordingly, many setups are kept in bright red with Lilith as the motif. The mother has even made her way onto some fans’ water cooling systems, ensuring that the processor doesn’t overheat:
Play Diablo 4 before release – All about early access on June 2
Pre-order customers of the Deluxe or Ultimate edition of Diablo 4 will gain access to the early access of the game. In addition, there are some digital goodies. You can find all the information about the editions of Diablo 4 and what they include here.
Many players seem to find the extra cost of at least 20 euros worth it to play earlier. The early access includes the entire game. However, they don’t have a real advantage, except that they can level up earlier.
Diablo 4 will have seasons and a battle pass. However, both will only become active after the launch, and there will be no leaderboard to compete on at the start. Accordingly, early access is not “pay-to-win” or unfair, but just exactly that: early access.
As posts on Reddit and Co. show, many players are very excited about the release of Diablo 4 and hope that Blizzard delivers. The direct predecessor, Diablo 3, is already 11 years old, and Diablo Immortal hasn’t caught everyone’s attention.
However, some fans have pretty crazy ideas about the perfect preparation:
With Patch 13.10, many items in League of Legends received varying degrees of adjustments. Youmuu’s Ghostblade became a Mythic item and was made correspondingly stronger. Too strong, as many players find. In the next patch, Youmuu’s Ghostblade will therefore receive significant nerfs.
What makes Youmuu’s Ghostblade so powerful? Primarily, the new passive Heimsuchen makes the item incredibly strong.
With the passive of Youmuu’s Ghostblade, you collect up to 100 shards while moving. The more shards you have, the higher your movement speed becomes. At 100 shards, you gain additional lethality. Combined with its good stats, the item is very strong.
The win rate of most AD assassins using the item has increased by about 1.5%
ADC’s and bruisers are also successfully using the item
Win rates are partially above 55%
Eclipse
Only 4 assassins are among the top 20 most used champions utilizing the item
The best users of the item are ADC’s and bruisers
The shield and the percentage damage based on the target’s maximum health do not help assassins
Duskblade of Drakthaar
While 9 of the top 20 most played Duskblade users are assassins, only 3 have a positive win rate of over 50%.
The most successful Duskblade users are bruisers and ADC’s
The removal of invisibility weakened the item
Giving all legendary items ability haste is pointless, as most assassin items already have ability haste.
The buffs will likely not improve Duskblade
Youmuu’s Ghostblade is statistically the best Mythic item for AD assassins and is also successful in other roles. There’s a lot to talk about, similarly to a Rift change in Patch 13.10.
In the next patch 13.11, Youmuu’s Ghostblade will be significantly nerfed
How will Youmuu’s Ghostblade be nerfed? Primarily, the item’s passive will suffer in the next patch.
Bonus lethality factor from 8 to 20 reduced to 3 to 12 (depending on the level)
Distance required per stack increased from 45 to 55
Ability haste reduced from 20 to 15
The nerf on the lethality factor is harsh. At the first level, 5 less and at the last level, 8 less significantly weakens the item. The reduction in ability haste will also hurt some assassins. Collecting stacks will also be slowed down due to the nerfs.
While the values of the nerfs may still change before the patch’s release, if they do go through as stated, it is expected that many win rates of AD assassins will decline.
