Destiny 2 bans well-known Twitch streamer, but colleagues refuse to acknowledge it: “If he were guilty, he wouldn’t lie to us”

A content creator from Destiny 2 is currently facing a ban from Bungie that threatens his career and reputation. Now, more and more fellow streamers are taking his side because they believe in his innocence and are calling for a reevaluation of the decision as well as the restoration of his reputation.

Update: We have updated this article on April 18 with an update from Bungie on the subject. You can find it at the end of the article.

What ban in Destiny 2 is being discussed? Recently, there was a secret meeting at Bungie to which various content creators were invited, including the well-known Twitch streamer and YouTuber “Ekuegan”.

He is mainly known for his carries of other players through tough PvE content, such as the Nightfall Strikes, and has already spent over 14,000 hours playing Destiny 2.

After the aforementioned meeting, however, extensive information about the upcoming Season 21 leaked through various and also rather blurry screenshots on a Discord server, prompting Bungie to investigate.

Did Ekuegan risk his reputation with a leak or not?

After a public warning on Twitter regarding strict compliance with NDA confidentiality clauses and the reminder that this is a breach of trust by developers, Bungie ultimately held “Ekuegan” responsible for these leaks.

A soft ban was imposed on him, banning him from further Bungie meetings and citing a blurred taskbar on the leaked photos and desktop icons as the reason.

More on the topic
Destiny 2 bans Twitch streamer who played 14,000 hours for breach of trust – he claims to be innocent
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However, the affected streamer insists despite the evidence provided that he is innocent. He claims he was set up.

I just know that [Bungie] made a big mistake and I will clear my name.

announced Ekuegan today via Twitter

Friends and streamer colleagues consider his ban unjustified

It’s about good reputation and a lot of income: After the ban became known through an article by Paul Tassi, friends and well-known streamer colleagues of Ekuegan have now also spoken out.

They are publicly taking his side now with the hashtag #FreeEkuegan, speaking of an unjustified ban and lamenting the lack of transparency in the decision.

Well-known Destiny 2 content creator Gladd writes: “I have always found Ekuegan to be friendly to me and the community. He is a support. I trust him; take that for what it’s worth. At least Bungie needs to take a closer look at this.”

MegsOnTwitch also comments on the situation and says if he were guilty, he wouldn’t lie to us, his friends and colleagues.

Ekuegan was close to tears when I spoke to him about it earlier. You could literally hear the pain and frustration he feels about it in his voice. If he were guilty, he wouldn’t go so far as to lie to close friends. I hope the truth will come to light. […] If enough of us, who believe he didn’t do it, speak up, maybe [Bungie] will notice and take a second look at all the pieces.

posted Megs via Twitter

Is this justice or favoritism? While the support from the streamer community gives Ekuegan hope, there are also critics. Destiny 2 players are talking about favoritism.

It is complained that the streamer colleagues of the banned creator simply believe him without knowing the facts. They see the solidarity of the streamers as a threat to the objectivity and transparency that should actually prevail in the streaming industry.

DynasticReign has this to say:

Why should Bungie be obligated to reveal the facts of their investigation into him? If it happened that quickly, it means that it was pretty obvious that it was him. Stop with this ‘Oh, he’s a nice person, so it’s impossible he could have done it.'”

comments DynasticReign under the Twitter post by Gladd

The player Tim Dunn also argues: “Do you think Bungie hasn’t looked at this closely? I noticed he never denied that the information came from his PC, he just denied that he shared it.”

One thing is already clear from the case of the banned Twitch streamer in Destiny 2. The reputation of a content creator can become endangered incredibly quickly.

UPDATE 04.18.2023: Will Bungie review the case again now? No. The Bungie team has made it clear on Twitter that nothing will be reviewed again. They shared the following message with the players:

Our security and legal teams have examined irrefutable evidence, including video recordings, verified messages, and images that show a timeline pattern confirming that the same person has leaked confidential information from community summits over several years.

We are very disappointed that we received this information and wish that things with this person had gone differently. We do not take these measures lightly, and we are confident in our decision.

This is our final statement on this matter.

via Twitter

Ekuegan’s streamer colleagues will therefore likely not be able to achieve a re-examination of the case.

What do you think of his ban? Do you believe Bungie investigated properly and rightly suspended him? Or do you think his friends and colleagues are right that he would never risk his career as a content creator and the associated reputation in the industry and that someone must have set him up? Do you think Bungie needs to take another look at the case? Let us know in the comments.

There is currently also movement on the cheating front in Destiny 2, as the manufacturers of the nasty hardware cheat devices are now warning of the new detection systems from the developers:

Manufacturers of cheat hardware are getting nervous, warning of bans after updates in Call of Duty and Rainbow Six

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

One of the most popular survival games on Steam is getting an update soon that sounds so good that players want to return

The survival game Valheim will soon have new modes. For example, you can play in hard mode or much more relaxed. There will also be a building mode.

That the modifications will be available soon was announced by the developers Iron Gate Studio back in January 2023. On Twitter, director Jonathan Smars is now revealing more detailed information about the new feature.

Very difficult or very relaxed

“Are you ready for the hardcore mode in Valheim… or do you prefer it more relaxed?” tweets Smars and shows a short video of the upcoming modifications for your Valheim worlds. The following presets are available:

  • Easy: Fights are easier and there are fewer attacks on your base
  • Hard: Fights are more difficult and monsters attack your base more often
  • Hardcore: Fights are much more difficult and monsters attack even more frequently. If you die, all your items and skills are lost forever. You cannot use portals.
  • Immersive: Here, you cannot use a map and also no portals.
  • Hammer Mode: In this mode, you can build all buildings for free. There are no attacks on your base, the difficulty settings are normal – this is basically the new creative mode.
  • Casual: Monsters only attack you if you provoke them. There are no attacks on your base. There are more resources than usual, and when you die, you don’t lose any items or skills.
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If you don’t like the presets and instead want to select all settings yourself, you can do that below. You can exactly specify how hard fights should be, how many items you lose upon death, how many resources there are, and how often your base is attacked.

Additionally, you can set that you do not want a map, no portals, free building, and so on. Everything can be customized to your wishes and should also be changeable later in your existing worlds when the update comes.

In the trailer, you can see Valheim’s new area:

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Survival hit with Vikings gets its first new area – Valheim shows Mistlands in new trailer

Players are excited and express further suggestions

Under the tweet, there are numerous responses to be found. Players have more suggestions, ask questions, complain about performance issues of the survival game, or simply look forward to the mods. Some of them say that they now want to return because they appreciate Valheim more again.

We summarize a few of the voices for you:

  • the_swizzler: “Looks like cool options. I like the game as it is, but playing this kind of game is often helped when they offer different options.”
  • Coni: “OMG this is so cool.”
  • Rufus West: “This is great for Xbox. Newer players find it easier to learn the game. I wanted a beginner mode at first to change the difficulty level.”
  • JZBeasty: “Seeing this makes me extremely happy. Not just the presets, but also the individual settings to really customize the experience.”
  • quietscribe: “I wish for an option to build skills faster. Learning the skill Spellcasting takes so long, and it would be great not to have to grind so much.”
  • MiniHerc: “Please tell me there’s an option that you don’t lose items/skills when you die. Then I could start playing the game again.”

When is the update coming? When the developers of Valheim will bring the modifications into the game is currently unclear. As soon as there is a date, we will of course inform you.

What do you think about the various modifications? Are you looking forward to being able to play Valheim in a different way? Are you then more in hard mode or casual? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!

You can find the most popular games for survival fans here:

The 25 best survival games 2023 for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Eurogamer

In 2 weeks a new MMORPG will launch on Steam, players are already excited: “It deserves more attention”

Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore is an upcoming MMORPG on Steam. It focuses on hardcore elements and gives players a lot of freedom.

On May 1, 2023, Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore is set to be playable on Steam. It is developed by Gellyberry Studios and published by Freedom Games.

An old-school hardcore MMORPG where you can lose everything

What kind of game is this? It is an old-school MMORPG that visually initially resembles Tibia, Ultima Online, or even Minecraft. You create a character and enter the world of Irumesa, which holds many secrets to discover.

The developers do not want to make it easy for players, instead offering them a challenge: Those who fall in battle lose their equipment. So it pays off to have friends around to quickly pick up your items should you die.

Teamwork with others is therefore very important in Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore. You choose a guild and compete against others in PvP. Alternatively, you can tackle PvE content together.

Here you can see the trailer of the MMORPG:

Start video
Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore MMORPG Trailer

These are the additional features:

  • A comprehensive skill system where every decision matters
  • All items can be crafted by you
  • Various biomes such as mountains, deserts, and snowy landscapes for you to explore
  • Endgame challenges such as raids and world bosses
  • 8 different dungeons that you can complete before the endgame
  • A story with over 100 quests

Additionally, the developers promise to continuously develop the MMORPG. They intend to provide it with updates and further expand existing systems.

Who is it worth for? Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore is aimed at MMORPG fans who are looking for a challenge and can live with having to take risks and possibly lose.

Moreover, you should not place much value on modern graphics, as this MMORPG is definitely not for you. However, if you want to reminisce about games like EverQuest, UO, and Tibia and indulge in nostalgia, you are in the right place.

“The game deserves more attention”

Under the trailer on YouTube, there are not many comments yet. However, those who left a comment seem to have a positive outlook.

We summarize a few of the voices here for you:

  • ThatSommeS: “I can’t wait, it looks wonderful.”
  • TeethGaming: “This is so well done. What a great announcement video. I am looking forward to the full game and wish you nothing but the best!”
  • TheOvenomojr: “The game deserves more attention.”
  • beefj-erky: “The day of reckoning has come. I’ll see you on the 1st.”

What do you think about the MMORPG? Feel free to let us know in the comments!

Final Fantasy XIV: A 9-year-old dungeon kills overconfident MMORPG players with overly strong equipment

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Role-playing in World of Warcraft: Which server should you start on?

You want to try role-playing in World of Warcraft? Then just choose the right realm so you can find other role-players.

If PvE no longer excites you, arena matches have lost their shine, and even collecting mounts and battle pets is no longer fun, it’s time for something new. Many just want to take a peek into role-playing. However, from the outside, the “RP community” can seem quite closed off, and getting started is not that easy. Therefore, we want to clarify the most important questions for getting started and especially: On which server or realm should you actually begin?

On which realm should you look for role-playing? There are a total of 15 realms marked as “RP”. For getting started, it is recommended to visit the realm “Die Aldor”. If you want to start role-playing, that is the best place to meet other players.

Why “Die Aldor”? The reason for this has less to do with personal preference and is rather historically grown. In the role-playing community of World of Warcraft, it was common back then to flock to a new RP realm when it opened. A new realm meant a new start and hopefully many new, interested role-players.

WoW Realm Choice Roleplay

“Die Aldor” is simply the last German RP realm that was opened – thus one of the “youngest realms” in the German-speaking area. Therefore, most role-players are gathered there and have also stayed here.

When “Die Aldor” was opened, there were plans by several RP guilds from different realms to switch together to “Die Aldor”. Even today, you can feel the effects of that, because in the German-speaking area, Aldor is significantly busier than other RP realms.

This does not mean that the total number of players on Aldor is particularly large – but of the players who are there, a very large part are role-players – significantly more than on other realms.

Additionally, there is the fact that “Die Aldor” is a unique case and has not been connected to a realm cluster. You will only meet players from other realms if they have been invited to the server via groups. Accordingly, the proportion of role-players is particularly high and the number of “non-role-players” correspondingly low.

Is there no role-playing on other RP realms? Yes, of course. However, the number of players who engage in role-playing is significantly lower. It is much less likely that you will “just stumble into” RP. Anyone intending to play on one of the other RP realms will likely need to find groups in advance to join.

On Aldor, it is easier, because there – at least in theory – anyone can stumble into RP in Stormwind or Valdrakken and try it out.

What else do you need? Apart from the correct choice of realm, you should also download at least one role-playing add-on. This is helpful because role-players can recognize each other. Furthermore, you can set a last name for your character, note their physical characteristics in the description, or even scan the map for other role-players to interact with.

We therefore recommend the add-on “Total RP 3”, which you can download on Curse.

How to install add-ons has already been explained in an article.

Where do you find role-playing? The easiest way is probably in the Alliance city of Stormwind. Here, traditionally, most role-players are engaged in “open” RP, and the city is well-suited for gathering initial, casual experiences and getting a feel for RP.

This way, you can easily make contact with players who can then refer you to other projects or small groups that play certain storylines in other locations.

Just dare to get into RP and give it a try – because only then will you find out if it is fun for you.

You can make WoW much more enjoyable if you activate a small option.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Legendary MMORPG developer plays over 350 hours of New World – This is his conclusion

Richard Bartle is one of the co-founders of MUDs (Multi User Dungeons), which are considered the precursors to the first MMORPGs. He also wrote the well-known book Designing Virtual Worlds. In recent months, he has spent over 350 hours in New World and summarized his experiences.

What does the developer think about the game? On Facebook, Bartle shared a long post summarizing his experiences with New World. Overall, these sound very positive, although he points out some criticisms.

  • He especially praises the world design, the freedoms given to players, the action combat system, and the gathering.
  • Criticism is directed at the empty servers, the often “terrible quests,” and limited weapon design.
  • Additionally, he discussed the UI, which he considers too focused on PC. However, he sees New World as an MMORPG that would be perfect for consoles.

His overall conclusion: “All in all, New World was much better than I was led to believe. I liked it more than Lost Ark, which I also really liked because it was something different.”

What has Bartle achieved? In his 350 hours of gameplay, he has raised his gear score to 619 out of a possible 625 points. He has brought his gathering skills to 200 (except for logging at 190), and the majority of crafting skills to 150+. In PvP, he experimented with a few things, but he was primarily active in PvE. There, he completed the main storyline and tried his hand at dungeons as a healer.

Start video
5 Tips if you want to start with New World in 2023

New World feels like a step back for PC players

What exactly does Bartle criticize? His biggest criticism relates to the interface and the overall structure of New World. Here, he posits that New World would be better suited for consoles than for PC:

Normally, interfaces don’t bother me too much, as I am more interested in the world and the gameplay. But when an interface has negative effects, it does bother me. New World is one of those games that was developed for consoles and feels like a step back for PC players (of which I am one). That alone is not a big problem, but one of the consequences is that you can use only a very limited number of available actions.

Basically, there are only three actions per weapon, and you can only equip two weapons at a time; if you want to use an action for the other weapon, you first have to switch to that weapon – there is no automatic switching because, due to console interface reasons, there are only three and not six slots.

The result is a rather exciting action combat that is interrupted by unnecessary flailing around.

Additionally, he emphasized multiple times that there were far too few players online on his server. This led to deserted events and problems with finding groups for dungeons and PvP.

The quests and the lore receive a mixed conclusion. Many quests were labeled “terrible” by the developer, while the lore and worldbuilding are overall very coherent.

What does the developer praise? The many freedoms. He found it great that players have earned their own chest runs and still do them regularly 1.5 years after release. In this, they run in a large group of players through elite areas to open chests and obtain loot and equipment.

He also highlighted that although he had to accept limitations due to fall damage, he never died. He had a negative experience with that in The Secret World.

He also praised the combat system as very action-packed.

What do you think about the conclusion of the developer legend? Is New World really better than its reputation? And what holds you back from returning to the MMORPG? Recently, the game received the first major update of the year:

New World brings the first major update of 2023 – Is the return worth it?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Facebook

As a 15-year-old, I commanded old sacks in an MMORPG and learned a lot about life

MMORPGs are known for creating special gaming moments. One such moment is remembered by MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch. As a student, he trained a group of players in PvP and learned a lot about leadership and respect.

Competitive games have always fascinated me, whether it was FIFA 99 in a one-on-one against my father or later titles like League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. But my best times were in the MMORPG Guild Wars 1, where I had the privilege of training a group of PvP players for over two years.

This group was very diverse, with players around my age, but also several individuals over 30, a father in his mid-40s, and an older gentleman over 50. And let’s be honest, for a 15-year-old, anyone over 30 seems ancient!

They all listened to my commands, which my mother still cannot comprehend to this day. She always shook her head when I told her that even a dad would take time for our training and that she should please prepare dinner earlier!

The team managed to transform from an uncoordinated bunch into a regular winner of the Hall of Heroes through regular training. And that, even though I myself was not the best PvP player and lacked many “skills” as a leader in the beginning.

Who is speaking here? Alex is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO and has spent over 10,000 hours playing Guild Wars 1. However, he has also logged four-digit hours in other games like Guild Wars 2 and New World.

Toxic leader was so exhausting that I wanted to build my own team

My entry into PvP began just 7 months before I founded my own team. At that time, I became part of a so-called R-Spike, which met twice a week. The focus of the team composition was on three rangers and one paragon who together attacked a target. The goal was to “spike” this opponent so quickly that the healers had no chance to save him. This was gradually done with the entire opposing group.

There was also the caller, who would count down: “Target log in, 3, 2, 1, attack.” I would say this combo thousands more times in the coming years.

The team I joined as the third ranger, however, quickly became frustrated and the caller was very toxic. There was way too much yelling, and games were given up far too quickly. That really bothered me.

Especially with our healers, I saw great potential and decided to build my own team with two of them – without really having an idea of how to train such a team and keep it motivated. Most of the members who joined were from my former guild.

You can get an idea of what an R-Spike roughly looks like in this 15-year-old video from YouTuber Jgregoire108:

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The start was rocky, as the group could hardly have been more different. We three had some prior experience, our new ritualist was actually a very successful PvP player, but we also had three complete PvP newcomers and a player who had only played Guild Wars 1 for a few weeks.

Still, we decided to train twice a week and, if necessary, venture out on the weekends with random groups to learn from it.

Our first rounds in the “Rise of Heroes” mode were a disaster, also because the gameplay is extremely demanding and completely unsuitable for us:

  • The first match is always played on the map Underworld. One team plays against another. The goal: Eliminate all enemy players.
  • As a winner, you advance to the next map; as a loser, you have to re-register and start again in the Underworld.
  • The second map still follows the same gameplay principle, but from then on it gets wilder. There are maps with priests who resurrect, maps with control points, or with relic runs. These are sometimes entirely different modes that present totally new requirements and tactics to a group.
  • The maps with relic run or King of the Hill were reached much less frequently, so we could train much less there, which is why we lost there much more often. A vicious cycle.

Frustration set in after a few months of intensive training. Would we ever get to see the big finale in the Rise of Heroes?

Fun evenings in the fight against frustration

I felt the mood shift, but definitely wanted to prevent the team from becoming as toxic as my old one. So, I resorted to “team-building measures”.

So, on one training evening, we didn’t even play in the Rise of Heroes but instead dueled in two four-player teams in the team arena. Another time, we played in the guild-vs-guild mode, which also completely disrupted our training routine, although at least here the entire group of 8 players faced another group of 8 players.

One day, we all swapped our roles and played a completely unfamiliar class. It didn’t lead to great success, but it had a huge learning effect.

On another training day, after two unsuccessful rounds, we simply played hide-and-seek in the guild hall with the interface turned off. It was probably one of the best evenings we ever had.

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The reward after over 9 months

With the weeks, the motivation returned and after almost 9 months of training, we achieved our first victory in the Hall of Heroes. One would reach it at that time after about 6 to 9 consecutive wins in the Rise of Heroes, depending on how busy an evening was.

The Hall of Heroes also has the peculiarity that three teams play against each other. I personally had little experience with this last map but had read a few guides and spoken with other callers. The most important rule was: Stay back so that two teams do not team up against you right at the beginning.

The round became legendary. In the relic run, the team that brought the most relics to the center after time runs out wins. We were behind by two points for a long time, so we allied with the team in second place against the leaders.

Three seconds before the end, both opposing teams had brought the same number of relics to the middle. We were one behind. However, the team that secures the point last wins in case of a tie – potentially us. In the last seconds, the two other teams played against us, but our runner narrowly triumphed and secured the victory for us.

Guild Wars Hall of Heroes
The Hall of Heroes, the target of our PvP dreams.

I will never forget that moment, the cheers in Teamspeak, the joy as a group, and our name in the all-chat. Because in Guild Wars 1, the winning team is named in the Hall of Heroes.

We earned the victory – and also the dozens of hall wins we gained afterward – mainly through diligence, friendship, and respect for one another. Everyone stood up for each other, no one was particularly loud or rude.

That had a strong impact on me as a 15-year-old. Even today, I remain calm in PvP in Guild Wars 2 or New World or in matches in TFT.

It’s no wonder I enjoy watching the German LoL streamer NoWay4u, who also has such a calm demeanor and explains a lot simultaneously. Toxic behavior has never improved a game.

What were special gaming moments for you that you still remember? And which ones taught you something?

Our former author Larissa Then also learned a lot from a leadership position. She took on the role of raid leader:

How I once was a raid leader in WoW and what I learned for life

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Twitch streamer MontanaBlack talks about new shooter XDefiant: “It feels like a new CoD”

MontanaBlack tested the new “Call of Duty” competitor XDefiant and subsequently shared his first impressions of the shooter.

Which game is it about?

  • XDefiant is a free-to-play arena shooter from Ubisoft, set to be released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. An official release date has not yet been announced.
  • In XDefiant, you play different factions from Ubisoft games, each bringing different abilities.
  • Combat takes place in various PvP modes such as Domination and Payload.
  • There is no skill-based matchmaking in casual playlists.

You can watch a trailer for it here:

Start video
XDefiant Game Overview Deep Dive Trailer

“Doesn’t excite me at all, way too sweaty”

What does he say about XDefiant? In his first rounds of XDefiant, MontanaBlack primarily fought with his controller, the sensitivity settings, and the time-to-kill (ttk) of the new shooter. He personally feels that it’s a bit too high and that he has to hit his opponent with too many bullets before they are defeated.

The streamer had praise for one of the maps he played. He found it excellent and even described it as a “feast for the eyes.”

Less complimentary words were found by the streamer for matchmaking or his opponents: “Even though there is no skill-based matchmaking, the lobbies are excessively sweaty.”

Even though he believes this is due to the closed beta and that the game should be judged fairly again when the open beta runs, he reiterates how little fun he had in the matches and compares XDefiant to Call of Duty in that regard:

“It’s way too sweaty for me, dude, no desire at all. Doesn’t excite me at all, way too sweaty. […] It feels like a new CoD, with skill-based matchmaking and a ton of people sweating for their mother’s life.”

You can see a compilation of MontanaBlack’s XDefiant test and his first thoughts on the game on YouTube:

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Who is it about? Marcel “MontanaBlack” Eris is one of the 5 largest streamers in Germany as of April 2023 and streams on Twitch with an average of 25,000 viewers.

In his streams, “Monte,” as fans call him, regularly showcases the “Just Chatting” category and reacts to various videos. He also opens a ton of cases in CS:GO and occasionally plays games like ALTF4 and Fortnite.

In his early years on Twitch, MontanaBlack also regularly showcased the football simulation FIFA and various installments of the “Call of Duty” series. Accordingly, the streamer also took a look at the new CoD competitor XDefiant, which is being developed by Ubisoft.

With the XDefiant beta, Ubisoft is bringing a competitor to CoD that you can currently test for free

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The shooter Escape from Tarkov changes a fundamental feature – Makes the game easier

Escape from Tarkov challenges its players with hardcore gameplay. One of these challenges has now been significantly eased by the developers, making the game easier.

What defines a hardcore shooter? As a hardcore shooter, Escape from Tarkov (EFT) focuses on a challenging and, to some extent, as realistic as possible gaming experience.

  • A single headshot can kill your character, and even a wound in the upper body has a greater effect than just losing some health points.
  • Your protection consists of bulletproof vests and ballistic helmets that your opponents counter with appropriate ammunition.
  • Hardcore shooters do without aids like a crosshair, a minimap, hit markers, or kill confirmations.

What has EFT changed? On April 16, EFT developer Battlestate Games announced on Twitter that the vertical recoil of all weapons in Escape from Tarkov will be reduced by 15%.

A reduction of 15% in recoil is a noticeable difference, making every fully automatic weapon in the game easier to control than before. This is especially noticeable with weapons like the M4.

The recoil has been a topic in the Escape from Tarkov community for quite some time. Already three months ago, there was a thread on Reddit with over 900 upvotes where players wished for a reduction in recoil (via Reddit).

Start video
Escape from Tarkov Gameplay – Battle for Concordia

What do players say about the change? The initial reactions to the reduction in recoil are very mixed. Some players are very pleased with the change and hope that it will allow them to play with other weapons besides just the strongest meta rifles.

Other players, on the other hand, believe that Battlestate Games missed the mark with the patch. The initial recoil of the weapons, meaning the first 1-3 bullets, as well as the weapon behavior during single-fire should also be adjusted.

  • DweebInFlames: ‘Good change. Hopefully, this means weapons like the FAL can finally be used outside of full meta builds (via Reddit).’
  • jssanderson747: ‘Definitely a necessary change (via Reddit).’
  • Lonely_Scylla: ‘Cool change, but I believe Battlestate Games is still missing the point here. If they want the game to feel better, they should try to make single shots more attractive. At the moment, it’s not worth it with so many weapons because it simply takes too long to reacquire the target (via Reddit).’
  • XF270HU: ‘A good thing that will make some weapons like the SA-58 usable again (via Reddit).’

If you are currently unhappy with Escape from Tarkov or its weapon recoil and want to play a game that is similar, we have a list of six alternatives for you.

Among the six games, you will find both hardcore and extraction shooters, depending on which aspect of EFT you particularly enjoy.

6 games on Steam that you should play if you like Escape from Tarkov

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

New survival game on Steam lets you fight against pirates and mutants with a floating fortress – “Rust meets Raft”

Sunkenland is an upcoming survival game on Steam. The gameplay trailer already shows a first glimpse of the new game, which resembles a mix of the two popular games “Raft” and “Rust”.

Sunkenland is a survival and exploration game set in a post-apocalyptic world. It is located in a near future where a large part of the Earth is covered by water.

As players, you will explore sunken cities, gather resources, and build a base. At the same time, you must also fight for your survival and defend yourself against hostile pirates and mutants.

The game is a single-player title but will also feature online co-op.

Here you can see a trailer for Sunkenland:

Start video
Sunkenland Gameplay Trailer – Upcoming Survival Game 2023

Survive in a water world full of dangers

What does the gameplay look like? In Sunkenland, you explore the post-apocalyptic environment, complete missions, and trade with allies.

You explore islands on foot, race across the water on jet skis, or dive down. In the depths, you will find the sunken remains of cities, such as skyscrapers or subway tunnels.

Using the resources you gather on your tours, you craft equipment and build your own base on water or land. However, you must protect it with defenses against nasty pirates and mutants.

You have access to melee weapons, firearms, and explosives to defend yourself in the style of a first-person shooter.

You will experience all of this not only solo but also with your friends in co-op mode.

When is the release of Sunkenland? On Steam, no fixed release date has been provided for the new game yet, but it is said to be “available soon”.

An early access launch is initially planned to interact with the community and incorporate player feedback and ideas into the game’s development. The early access is expected to begin this summer (via YouTube).

How does the community react to the trailer? Many reddit- and YouTube users are expressing very positive opinions under the gameplay trailer of Sunkenland, saying the game looks promising. Some players compare it to other game titles:

  • reddit user Sid51: ‘Looks great! It’s already on my wishlist!’
  • YouTube user SubtleMischief: ‘So Rust meets Raft. Basically a Rusty Raft.’
  • YouTube user Classic Red Eye: ‘I can see the inspiration from other games here and I’m looking forward to it. Rust and Atlas are among my favorite games and the combination of the two is great. I really like the modern pirate ship vs. ship warfare and the bases on the water.’

Here you can find a list of the 25 best survival games for 2023 for PlayStation, PC and Xbox.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

FIFA 23: Premier League TOTS Voting – How you can vote in the most important event of the year

In FIFA 23 the Team of the Season casts its big shadow ahead and you can now vote for the Premier League TOTS. How it works and which players are up for election, you can find out here.

Soon it will be time, finally the Team of the Season in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team starts. And after the voting for the Community TOTS has already taken place, now it is time for the Premier League TOTS voting.

You can determine the best Premier League players of the ongoing season and contribute to the voting so that they land in the right Team of the Season.

What is the Team of the Season at all? The Team of the Season is probably the biggest event in FUT and spans several weeks, during which each league receives its own TOTS, with incredibly strong special cards.

The special feature is that many of the TOTS cards are even affordable and players can significantly improve their teams.

When does the TOTS event start? EA has not yet announced an exact start date for the TOTS. However, since the Trophy Titans event is currently still ongoing, we expect the TOTS to start on Friday, April 21 at 7:00 PM.

FIFA 23 Premier League TOTS Voting – You can vote for the players

These are the candidates: There are no major surprises in the selection for the Premier League TOTS. For Haaland, Salah, Kane, Rashford, De Bruyne, Odegaard, Martinelli, or Casemiro can be voted for.

However, some professionals are also missed. For example, Granit Xhaka or Bruno Fernandes are missing.

How to participate in the voting: The voting for the Premier League TOTS can be found here (via EA). You still have time until Thursday, April 20 at 7:00 PM, then the voting is officially closed.

You can see all candidates here:

Goalkeepers:

  • Nick Pope – Newcastle United
  • Aaron Ramsdale – Arsenal
  • Alisson – Liverpool
  • Bernd Leno – Fulham
  • Kepa – Chelsea

Defenders:

  • Gabriel Magalhães – Arsenal
  • William Saliba – Arsenal
  • Kieran Trippier -Newcastle United
  • Sven Botman – Newcastle United
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal
  • Thiago Silva – Chelsea
  • Lisandro Martínez – Manchester United
  • Ben Mee – Brentford
  • Luke Shaw – Manchester United
  • Cristian Romero – Tottenham Hotspur
  • Rúben Dias – Manchester City

Midfielders:

  • Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal
  • Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
  • Casemiro -Manchester United
  • Rodri – Manchester City
  • Bruno Guimarães – Newcastle United
  • Alexis Mac Allister – Brighton & Hove Albion
  • João Palhinha – Fulham
  • James Maddison – CAM – Leicester City
  • Solly March – Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Kaoru Mitoma – Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Rodrigo Bentancur – Tottenham Hotspur
  • Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – Tottenham Hotspur

Forwards:

  • Erling Haaland – Manchester City
  • Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
  • Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
  • Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
  • Jack Grealish – Manchester City
  • Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
  • Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
  • Miguel Almirón – Newcastle United
  • Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
  • Kai Havertz – Chelsea
  • Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City
  • Darwin Núñez -Liverpool

What do you think of the selection? Do you miss important players? Feel free to tell us in the comments!

If you want to know which RTTF cards can still receive upgrades, then take a look here:

FIFA 23: RTTF Tracker – These players can receive upgrades

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Diablo 4 changes an important thing at release that disrupted many players in the beta

Diablo 4 offered many hours of gaming fun during its beta, allowing heroes to unleash their skills. However, the important aspect of the test was the feedback, which Blizzard is taking to heart. One important thing that the developers want to adjust right away, as it has annoyed many players.

What annoyed the players? Those who participated in the beta of Diablo 4 could test a large part of what players can expect on full release. The Character Creator and story impressed many players, but one thing immensely disrupted the immersive feeling and that is the sans-serif font.

A dark world filled with demons and monsters doomed to end, with lots of blood and terror, and then items appear that are labeled with a similar font to Arial? This not only seems inappropriate, but also hurts the eyes significantly. Many players have expressed their frustration about this (via reddit.com), but Blizzard is promising a change at release.

Start video
In Diablo 4 you can play with players from all over the world – All information about multiplayer

Blizzard is quick to make adjustments

What will change? Blizzard has taken the community’s feedback to heart and wants to change its font at launch. First, a sans-serif font was chosen. This will now be changed to a serif font at launch (via wowhead.com).

Diablo 3 Loot Festtagsgeschenk neu
Diablo 3 was also adjusted with the DLC “Reaper of Souls” – Here with serifs in the font

Diablo 3 experienced this at its release as well. Players complained that Blizzard had chosen a sans-serif font. This negatively affected the immersive feeling. Consequently, with the release of Reaper of Souls, the font was changed to one with serifs.

What are serifs? Fonts often have fewer or more embellishments. There is mainly a distinction between fonts with serifs and without serifs. Serifs are finishing strokes added at the ends of letters. This makes some fonts appear more classic.

Vergleich-Schriftart
Left Arial without serifs – Right Times New Roman with serifs

Diablo 4 takes place in a medieval setting with fantasy elements. A font without serifs or embellishments appears more modern and thus rather inappropriate. This abruptly pulls many players out of the game during their loot runs.

What do you think about the change? Do you like it or did you already find the font in the beta suitable for Diablo 4? Let us know in the comments!

Diablo 4 allows you to jump directly into the endgame with each new hero if you were diligent enough beforehand

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gamerant.com

Twitch bans one of its most important stars, German gambling streamer wants to lure him to the controversial competition

21-year-old Kai Cenat is one of the biggest streamers on Twitch, but for several weeks now, rumors have been circulating about a possible switch to the competing platform Kick. Now Twitch has banned its star, and a German streamer is immediately on the scene.

What kind of streamer is he? Kai Cenat has only been streaming since early 2021, but during this time, he has already risen to become one of the biggest streamers on Twitch. In September 2022, he overtook former Overwatch professional Félix “xQc” Lengyel in terms of paid subscriptions. Even back then, he felt not adequately supported.

With his Subathon in February 2023, Kai Cenat broke two records on Twitch: as the first streamer, he reached over 300,000 concurrent subscriptions and pushed previous record-holder Ludwig Ahgren off his throne.

Moreover, Kai Cenat is important for Twitch, as there are relatively few black content creators with his reach, and he represents an identification figure for young black viewers.

What is the problem with Twitch? Despite these undeniable successes, Kai Cenat apparently feels abandoned by Twitch. Even the well-known musician Drake advocated for an exclusive contract for the 21-year-old.

Instead, Twitch only gave him a pair of purple shoes. On top of that, a ban has now been imposed, which is now the fifth for Kai Cenat – and the last, according to a German streamer.

Start video
The 5 biggest Twitch bans that caused a lot of commotion

Twitch bans its star

Why was Kai Cenat banned? Currently, only speculation can be made about this. What is certain is that he was banned on April 17 for an unknown period, as the automated Twitter account StreamerBans reported.

Possible reasons include statements about white people that rapper Lil Yachty allegedly made in a stream of Kai Cenat. Alternatively, a clip from a recent stream is being discussed, in which the 21-year-old rides a dirt bike through his room and promptly crashes into his desk.

For Kai Cenat, it is the fifth ban, as the fourth one occurred just at the end of January this year, after he consumed too many edibles in a stream and allegedly lost consciousness. If Twitch follows the pattern, it could once again be a three-day suspension.

The platform, as usual, does not publicly justify its decision. The streamer himself merely posted “BANNED” in capital letters on his Twitter account. Some viewers suggest a switch to the new streaming platform Kick, and a German streamer also chimes in.

“It’s time for Kick”

Who is calling for the switch? Among the voices calling for Kai Cenat’s switch to Kick is also the German streamer Theo “Scurrows” Bottländer. He became famous on Twitch with role-playing in GTA V but mainly showed the gambling category Slots in 2022.

After the gambling guidelines from Twitch, valid since October 2022, had cost Scurrows and other casino streamers many viewers, he began streaming on Kick at the beginning of 2023 and became a fervent advocate of the platform.

Under Kai Cenat’s tweet, Scurrows wrote: “It’s time for Kick”:

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But Scurrows is by no means the only one thinking in this direction. The comments are full of suggestions to turn their backs on Twitch. That Tyler “Trainwreck” Niknam, a gambling streamer and figurehead of Kick, is also involved is less surprising (via Twitter).

However, a hint like that from the legendary Minecraft YouTuber Dream might have been less expected:

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How does Kai Cenat react? He has not commented further on the ban or a possible switch. However, rumors that he might be in talks with Kick have been circulating since he compared a pair of green sneakers, the color of the streaming platform, with the Twitch version (via Twitter).

Kick streamers are currently busy recruiting for their platform. Because Kick lures with a generous sub-split and a rather lenient interpretation of the rules, which, however, should be worked on. This is precisely what makes the platform attractive for streamers, who often operate at the edge of what is permitted or may have already received a permanent ban from Twitch.

YouTube bans one of the largest live streamers (18) – The dark side of power beckons: “Come to us!”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Since 2003, Harry Potter fans have been waiting for Quidditch – Now there is hope

A new game in the familiar wizarding universe has been announced. With Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, a multiplayer title centered around the wizard sport will be released.

Despite the controversies surrounding J.K. Rowling, Hogwarts Legacy was a huge success. The game ranked among the top 4 bestsellers on Steam in February 2023, despite numerous calls for boycotts.

However, a crucial element of the wizarding world was missing in the action role-playing game: the wizard sport Quidditch.

In 2003, Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup was released as the first game that focused entirely on the sport. Now, a new title has been announced that promises fast-paced matches on flying brooms.

Here you can see a trailer for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions:

Start video
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions

Warner Bros. Games announces fast-paced Quidditch matches against other players

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be a competitive multiplayer game focused on the quick sport of wizards.

You can play the game solo or online with others. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions promises a competitive multiplayer mode where players can face off in Quidditch and experience “other broomstick adventures” with friends (via quidditchchampions.wbgames.com).

The game is published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey Games label. The Unbroken Studios have been working on Quidditch Champions for several years as developers.

If you want to get an early look at the game, you can already sign up for the playtest. Go to the official website of the game and provide your date of birth and email address.

However, registering for the playtest does not guarantee participation, as access is limited. However, by signing up, you have the chance to participate in current or upcoming playtests.

For which platforms will Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions be released? There will definitely be a PC version. Additionally, the game is expected to be available on consoles as well. Which ones exactly is still unknown.

When is the release of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions? So far, there is no exact release date for the new Harry Potter game.

Here you can find an overview of new MMOs and multiplayer games in 2023: The big release list.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

LoL: German Twitch streamer NoWay4u wants to accomplish crazy challenge in 5 months, role model took 2 years

Frederik “NoWay4u” Hinteregger is the largest German Twitch streamer in League of Legends. He is currently on a special challenge that has now been extended. His goal: to reach the highest ranking in all 5 roles of the game in a relatively short time. Only a few legends can claim this title.

What kind of challenge is this? NoWay started his “Tyler1-Challenge” in February. The goal was to reach the Master rank in all 5 roles of the game – Toplaner, Midlaner, ADC, Support, and Jungler – by mid-April.

This is the third highest rank in LoL and is currently achieved only by the top 0.62% of players on the EUW server.

This challenge was named after the Twitch streamer Tyler1, who challenged himself even more. For he achieved Challenger, the highest rank, with 5 different accounts. However, he needed over 2 years and 6,000 ranked matches for that.

After NoWay reached his initial goal by April, he now wants to push further. His new goal is also Challenger, but not in two years, but by July 17.

Here you can watch a compilation of a game:

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5 brand new accounts to Challenger as a trained Midlaner

How has the challenge been so far? The German streamer started in mid-February with 5 brand new accounts provided by Riot Games for the event. These accounts were directly at level 30, but started in ranked matches with a matchmaking rating of Silver 1, as it is typical for new accounts.

With all five accounts, NoWay almost effortlessly reached the Master rank – with impressive numbers:

  • On his Jungler, he played 130 matches with a win rate of 62.3%
  • On his Toplaner, he played 156 matches with a win rate of 61.5%
  • On his Support, he played 133 matches with a win rate of 63.2%
  • On his AD Carry, he played 146 matches with a win rate of 63.7%

Somewhat apart is his Midlaner, as that is the actual main role of the streamer. There, he played 135 matches with an astonishing win rate of 68.1%. He has already reached the Grandmaster rank and is among the top 0.29% in Europe.

Interestingly, he plays a different role every day of the week, such as Support Sunday or Midlane Wednesday.

NoWay himself says that he is having a lot of fun with the challenge and that it has rekindled his passion for LoL. He needs such challenges and events to still enjoy the game he streams almost daily on his Twitch channel.

What happens next? Initially, the 5 accounts were supposed to be deleted at the end of the challenge in April. But the streamer has negotiated an extension with Riot Games.

He wants to reach his new Challenger goal by the soft reset in summer – likely July – when the rankings will be reset midway through the season this year.

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Why is the challenge so special? Most players in the Challenger area focus on one or two positions they are particularly strong in. From these positions, it is easier for them to control matches and win.

That a player plays variably in all positions is rather rare. One of the best-known and most flexible players is Swede Felix “MagiFelix” Boström, who became the first to achieve Challenger in all 5 positions simultaneously in 2020.

Then came the aforementioned Tyler1 in 2022.

Start video
How the Worst Troll from Twitch Became the Face of League of Legends

NoWay remains incredibly calm and impresses many

Who is he anyway? NoWay4u, one of the largest LoL streamers overall. In the last 30 days, he ranks 3rd in the ranking of LoL streamers with the most watched hours. Only Tyler1 and Brazilian Baiano could surpass that (via Sullygnome).

The German streamer impresses many mainly with his calm demeanor. He remains almost always positive, does not give up on matches, and does not insult other players. During his challenge, he received a brief chat ban, but only because he mistyped. He actually wanted to write “big,” but hit the “n” as the first letter.

Moreover, he explains an incredible amount and answers dozens of questions from his community, which he also keeps an eye on during ranked matches.

He is thus the exact opposite of Tyler1, who mainly draws attention with his toxic attitude, even though he is said to be very friendly in real life, as NoWay himself has reported.

Only one thing made NoWay4u really angry: German Twitch streamer complains about betting mafia in LoL: “I can’t do anything about it.” .

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Noway

3 tasks lost! Pokémon GO suddenly deletes progress on “A Wise Hero”

In Pokémon GO you can complete the special research “A Wise Hero.” However, some trainers have now lost their progress.

What kind of task is this? “A Wise Hero” is the name of research that you could have received since the start of the eponymous event on April 13, 2023.

The special research “A Wise Hero” consists of four steps, during which you can receive rewards such as stardust, candies, balls, and more. At the very end, there is a meeting with the special Blanche-Lapras.

Important: Special researches do not have a time limit once you have received them for the first time, unlike, for example, “Timed Research.” They are therefore not tied to the end of an event.

However, this event end suddenly surprised some trainers. Because they found out: Part of their progress has been lost.

Level 3 of “A Wise Hero” is suddenly back to zero – trainers have to start walking again

This is the problem: On social media like the subreddit “TheSilphRoad” for Pokémon GO, trainers are sharing that their progress at level 3 of the research was suddenly reset with the end of the event.

This consists of the tasks:

  • Land 3 great throws
  • Earn 5 candies by walking with your buddy
  • Develop 10 Pokémon

But apparently trainers received the message “Streak broken” at the end of the event, after which the progress was lost. Even in the editorial office, we could confirm the progress deletion.

User AuckZealand on reddit shared the following screenshot:

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As the user describes, he had already collected the reward for great throws and evolutions, so he only had the candies from walking left open.

But when the event ended, he suddenly was back to zero everywhere and has to start over. In terms of research completion, this is unfortunate, but the trainer at least had the advantage of being able to collect the rewards again.

This is how other trainers are reacting: Many trainers are joining the post and reporting that their progress has been deleted. There are also more posts on the topic in the Pokémon GO subreddit “pokemongo” itself (via reddit).

Especially trainers who already had progress but have not yet been able to collect rewards are now upset. They have to start all over again.

  • “About 20 minutes ago everything was fine, I just reopened the app because it was frozen and now my progress is reset. When I logged back in, I received the “Streak broken” message 3 times and then checked that it had been reset. I was also only about 1 km away from the last candy,” writes user DanRose001 (via reddit).
  • “Yep. As if the 5-candy task wasn’t annoying enough, for a bad reward” (via reddit).
  • “I am angry. What a waste of candies for the evolutions. I was at 9/10.” (via reddit).
  • “Damn, I just needed one more great throw” (via reddit).

In the comments, some write that they hope that developers Niantic will address the issue. So far, however, the support channel on Twitter has not published anything in that direction. Should that change, we will keep you updated here.

Recently, Pokémon GO in general caused dissatisfaction when changes to remote raid passes were implemented. In a survey, we want to hear your feelings about the current game. The survey on Pokémon GO and raid passes can be found here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

XDefiant: Get Beta Codes – How to Join the Closed Test of the New Shooter

XDefiant is the new arena shooter from Ubisoft, which is currently being extensively tested in its closed beta. We will now show you how to get a code for the beta for free and how you can redeem it afterward.

How long does the beta last? Ubisoft launched a closed beta for its new arena shooter “XDefiant”. This beta lasts until April 25 and can be tested on the platforms Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC.

However, since it is closed, not every player can participate. Therefore, we will show you two methods to securely obtain a code to test the beta for free.

Here we have an overview trailer of XDefiant for you:

Start video
XDefiant Game Overview Deep Dive Trailer

Twitch Drops: Get and redeem codes for the beta – Here’s how

Update on 04/22/2023: The Twitch drops for the beta key have ended, and there are only skins available through streaming. Currently, it is unknown when beta codes will be distributed again. However, you can try your luck at the official Ubisoft website and register for the beta.

Get a beta code with Twitch Drop: A reliable but time-limited source to obtain a beta code is Twitch. Here’s how to proceed:

  • Link your Ubisoft account with your Twitch account on the “Ubisoft Drops” page
  • Now go to Twitch and find a XDefiant stream with activated drops
    • You need to keep this stream running for 30 minutes
  • You will then receive the code in your Twitch inventory as a Twitch drop

How do I redeem the beta code? To redeem the code and participate in the beta, you need to proceed as follows:

  • Go to the redemption page for XDefiant
  • Log in with your Ubisoft account and select your platform
  • Now enter your code and submit it to Ubisoft
  • You will then receive a code by email for your selected platform

How long does the Twitch promotion last? The promotion with the Twitch drops lasts until April 18. You need to act quickly to test the shooter. After that period, you will no longer have a chance to participate in the beta.

Alienware: Get and redeem codes for the beta – Here’s how

Update: The giveaway at Alienware has ended.

Get a beta code with Alienware: Alienware is also participating and continuously giving away some codes for the beta of XDefiant for free on their site. Here’s how you can get one:

  • Go to the Alienware page and register or log in
  • Now click the “GET KEY” button
  • You have now obtained the code

How do I redeem the beta code? To redeem the code and participate in the beta, you need to proceed as follows:

  • Go to the redemption page for XDefiant
  • Log in with your Ubisoft account and select your platform
  • Now enter your code and submit it to Ubisoft
  • You will then receive a code by email for your selected platform

This was our guide to the codes and the beta. If you are still looking for the best multiplayer shooters, we have a suitable list for you:

The 14 best multiplayer shooters of 2023 for PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. ubisoft.com

Artist poses as “cheeky monkey” wins prestigious photography prize – Declines, because his image comes from an AI

An artist won the Sony World Photography Awards, but he refuses the prize. Because the image is not from him, but from an AI.

The German artist Boris Eldagsen participated and won last week at the “Sony World Photography Awards” with the image Pseudomnesia: The Electrician in the creative open category. The “Sony World Photography Awards” are among the most important prizes in photography.

However, the German artist declined the prize. He explains that the photo was generated by AI and was not taken by him at all. He says about the award ceremony (via pcgamer.com):

I applied as a cheeky monkey to find out if competitions are prepared for the participation of AI images. They are not.

(…)

AI images and photography should not compete for an award like this. They are different things. AI is not photography. Therefore, I will not accept the award.

What are the reactions? A spokesman for the Sony Photography Awards stated to the BBC that they excluded Eldagsen from the competition. Since he declined the award, they separated from him at his request.

Is this unusual? Such actions with AI are used as a gimmick, for example to show what the last selfie looks like that will ever be taken on Earth. The AI uses existing images to assemble a new image.

However, this approach is heavily debated: There are currently no clear rules regarding AI images or artworks. That is why there are often artists and people who want to point out the lack of certain regulations with actions like the competition.

AI is hotly contested among artists

The use of artificial intelligence in the artistic environment is highly controversial. After the AI Midjourney won an award at a competition, the first ones predicted the death of art. This also includes AI programs like ChatGPT from OpenAI, as some fear that AI could eventually take over their jobs.

Our editor-in-chief finds a lot of relaxation regarding artificial intelligence and its products:

The AI that artists fear makes me happy

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Redeem Genshin Impact Codes – On Mobile, PC, PS4 and PS5

You can redeem codes for Genshin Impact through various ways: You can secure free rewards on mobile, PC, PS4, or PS5. Here you will find guides for iOS, Apple, PC, and console. We also explain what to do if the redemption doesn’t work.

Here you will find a guide on how to redeem Genshin Impact promo codes (also: redeem codes) across the different platforms.

  • Mobile and PC players can redeem promo codes both in the game itself and through the redeem code website.
  • PS4 and PS5 players can redeem promo codes in the game itself.

[toc]

Start video
Genshin Impact: Version 3.6 „A Parade of Providence” Trailer

How to redeem Genshin Impact codes – This is how you can enter the code

How to redeem Genshin Impact codes – Via mobile and PC

If you want to redeem your promo codes via mobile or PC, you have two different options: through the official Genshin Impact website or directly in the game itself.

How do I redeem the code via the website? Through this link, you will reach the redeem code page of Genshin Impact. Log in with your game data and enter the promo code.

How do I redeem a code in the game? To secure rewards in Genshin Impact, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Go to settings
  • Step 2: Click on account
  • Step 3: Under the gift code, click on “Redeem Now”
  • Step 4: Enter the promo code in the field and then also click “Redeem”

Here you will find an overview of all valid promo codes in Genshin Impact that we update regularly:

More on the topic
Genshin Impact: All Codes You Can Redeem in December 2024
von Marie Friske

How to redeem Genshin Impact codes – Via PS4 and PS5

If you want to redeem the promo codes via PlayStation, you go into the game. Here you go just like the mobile and PC players:

How do I redeem a code in the game? 

  • Step 1: Go to settings
  • Step 2: Click on account
  • Step 3: Under the gift code, click on “Redeem Now”
  • Step 4: Enter the promo code in the field and then also click “Redeem”

Why can’t I redeem codes in Genshin Impact?

If you have problems exchanging a code in the game for rewards, it may be due to the following reasons:

  • You have already used the code.
  • The code is no longer valid.
  • There was a typo when entering it.

Here you will find a list of all Genshin Impact guides on MeinMMO: All tips and builds at a glance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Minecraft: Update 1.20 Trails and Tales brings huge mobs, cherry forests, and archaeology

Patch 1.20 of Minecraft is nearing completion. We reveal what’s in the next update – and which great features will soon be introduced.

Meanwhile, several months have passed since the last update for Minecraft was released. The Patch 1.19 named “The Wild” elicited mixed feelings. While many innovations were well-received, there was also criticism that the update did not live up to its grand name.

With the upcoming Update 1.20, Mojang took a different approach and revealed the name only when the number of features was established. Update 1.20 will be titled “Trails and Tales”, which translates to “Pfade und Geschichten” in German. This is because the patch primarily brings features related to world building while also making it easier for players to tell and document their own stories.

Of course, the “Trails and Tales” update is also packed with new features for explorers and collectors. The large cherry groves are particularly eye-catching and are likely to be highly sought after.

When will Patch 1.20 be released? There is no exact release date yet for Patch 1.20. However, since the major features are now fully known, only final adjustments should take place in the coming weeks and months. As soon as there is a reliable release date, we will update this information. So far, only the release in 2023 has been confirmed.

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New Biome: Cherry Grove

If you have a penchant for Asian aesthetics or simply think that Minecraft could use more pink, you will be pleased with the new biome full of cherry trees at their peak bloom. The relatively smaller trees with large, flat canopies can be easily recognized from a distance due to their color.

You can already recognize these trees from a large distance.

Cherry wood is a brand new type of wood with which you can create your structures. If you want to plant cherry trees near your home, you can find saplings and plant them at home. Pigs, sheep, and bees can be found in large numbers here. Generally, it is a relatively peaceful biome.

How frequently this type of forest occurs is still unclear – it is likely to be a rather rare sight.

With cherry wood, you will create soft, pale pink colors.

New Mob Type: Sniffer

The Sniffer (probably translating to “Schnüffler”) was chosen in 2022 as the mob that will be added to the game. To the surprise of many, the Sniffer is significantly larger than the player.

Sniffers are passive mobs – they never attack, even when provoked. In the wild, the animals “sniff” at regular intervals, thereby locating seed grains. Occasionally, they find seeds for the “Torchflower”, which, as a complete flower, is the Sniffer’s favorite food. The seeds can be planted and harvested after a while.

Minecraft Sniffer in Town
The “Sniffer” – it is huge, but gentle and, according to the developers, “ancient”.

Like most animals, you can breed the Sniffer by feeding two specimens, in this case with a “Torchflower”. This will result in a Sniffer baby, which takes a few days to grow up.

The Torchflower can be used to create orange dye, otherwise has no use aside from breeding Sniffers, and serves merely as new decoration.

Minecraft Sniffer Walking
A “Sniffer” in motion – leisurely.

If you kill a Sniffer, it can drop a moss block, which can otherwise only be found in special caves.

You won’t encounter Sniffers in the wild. You need to find an egg via archaeology in “suspicious sand” and then hatch it. As a small “Snifflet”, it takes a while to grow.

New Feature: Archaeology

Archaeology has long been announced as a feature for Minecraft, and with Patch 1.20, it is finally here. Here you can create a brush with 3 threads and 2 sticks. With the brush, you can search for “suspicious sand” – which is mainly found near desert pyramids and desert wells.

With the brush, you can work on the suspicious sand and uncover archaeological finds. These can be valuable materials like diamonds, emeralds, or even TNT, but also vessel shards with patterns – and even an intact Sniffer egg.

Brush and clay pots are part of the archaeology feature.

Four of these shards can then be transformed into decorative clay pots. Depending on which clay shards are used, there are different patterns from the Minecraft world – such as a jewel, the skull of a skeleton, or a cheering person.

The feature gives the impression that it could be easily expanded in the future with new “excavations” and treasures.

Cosmetic Armor Customizations

Are you tired of all players in Minecraft wearing the same armor? That is likely to change with the next patch. Because in various buildings and structures in the Minecraft world, you will soon find “smithing templates”. With these, you can modify existing equipment to create your own design. There are 11 different customizations, each with 10 different color options. This allows for 110 different options, so you can choose a special uniform for your group of players.

Minecraft Armor Trim
Colored armor like this provides more individuality.

Especially on PvP servers, this is likely to be well-received to visually distinguish your faction from the rest, but in general, a uniform or individual look in armor is a welcome change.

Netherite Tools Are Harder to Obtain

Netherite weapons and tools are the “be-all and end-all” in Minecraft – and currently too easy to obtain. Therefore, in the upcoming update, it will be more difficult to obtain the sought-after items. You will need, in addition to the Netherite ingot, a smithing template to carry out the corresponding upgrade. You will only find these templates in the ruins of bastions in the Nether – so you will need to search for a while to obtain the best equipment.

New Blocks and Objects

In addition to the new larger gameplay features, there are, of course, also a number of new blocks and objects that can be built to beautify the game world and create new looks. These new items include:

Bamboo Wood: 9 bamboo pieces can now be combined into a bamboo block. From this, you can create wooden planks and then all other types of wood products, such as stairs, slabs, fences, doors, and so on.

Chiseled Bookshelf: An expanded form of bookshelves where you can store books and enchanted books. You can now fill an entire library with your stories and enchantments without needing to set up chests.

Brush: The brush is needed for conducting archaeology in deserts. You can use it to search for gems and relics in suspicious sand.

Pink Flowers: These are small flowers that occur naturally only in the cherry blossom forest. You can collect them and place up to 4 on a dirt block (similar to sea cucumbers). With bone meal, you can create more flowers. From the flowers, you can directly obtain pink dye.

Hanging Signs: You will soon be able to make signs that not only stand on the ground or “stick” to walls but also hang down. This creates interesting new possibilities, such as creating street signs and building labels. Creative minds can surely build other structures from this.

Note that most major features already mean a variety of visual changes for Minecraft. The implementation of two new types of wood (cherry and bamboo) alone ensures that you have many more color options.

Are you looking forward to the new Minecraft update?

If you have a bit more processing power, you should try shaders in Minecraft.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Player wins 40 years of Xbox Game Pass – Immediately declines the prize

The Xbox Game Pass offers players the ability to play numerous games through a subscription. In some cases, the subscription service even includes new games right at their release. Using the Game Pass for 40 years for free actually sounds pretty good, but a gamer from the USA saw it differently.

What kind of prize is that? The Reddit user “Elvite” reports in a post on the social network that he won a lifetime membership for the Xbox Game Pass in a Microsoft Rewards sweepstakes and declined the prize (via reddit).

The Microsoft Rewards are a way to collect points by using Microsoft services like Edge or Bing and completing quizzes. The Microsoft Rewards points can be exchanged for in-game currencies.

However, Elvite’s lifetime prize is not really lifetime but limited to 40 years. Elvite is American and says that Microsoft must report the value of the prize to the US tax authorities. To do this, “lifetime” is supposed to be specified with a year designation, in this case 40 years.

“I wish the prize wasn’t lifetime”

Why did the player decline the prize? According to his own statement, Elvite declined the prize because in the USA the value of a sweepstakes prize must also be taxed.

In his post on Reddit, he says that by accepting the prize he would have an additional taxable amount of $7,300 for the year 2023. The sum represents the value of the prize that a 40-year “Xbox Game Pass” subscription would cost.

Of course, I declined the offer. […] If I live less than 10 years from now, I lose. I wish the prize wasn’t lifetime but something that would make the tax bill easier to digest, like 10 years of Game Pass Ultimate.

Elvite via Reddit

According to Elvite, there are $1,752 in taxes on the value of $7,300 that he would have to pay in 2023. Additionally, he cannot transfer his prize to another person or take cash instead of the subscription.

Moreover, Elvite calculated that the Game Pass subscription would only be worth it for him after 10 years since he could buy 10 years of Xbox Game Pass with the money he would have to pay in taxes upon accepting his prize.

With Microsoft Rewards, you can also secure a month of Xbox Game Pass outside of a sweepstakes and won’t have to pay taxes on it:

Xbox Game Pass “free”? Here’s how to extend your membership for free every month

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.