Steam: Counter-Strike 2 changes the most important feature of the cult shooter – Makes it easier to hit your opponents

A YouTuber has discovered a hidden change in Counter-Strike 2 that helps you hit your opponents.

Which function is it about? Every shooter on the market has one thing in common: the hitbox is the most important function of the game. Everything stands and falls with the hitbox – not just your opponents. Counter-Strike is no exception.

A hit zone that is problematic or does not work as intended significantly affects the fun of the game. For example, it creates frustration when a hitbox does not align with the character model and does not register a shot where it hit – like a headshot that supposedly missed or a missed shot from your opponent that was counted as a hit.

If a shooter has a hitbox that does everything right and satisfies players, it is rarely adjusted. This distinguishes hit zones from other gameplay elements such as weapons, gadgets, and maps, which occasionally receive balancing updates.

It is all the more unusual when the hitbox of a game is revised and changed. However, CS:GO players now have to brace themselves for this, as with CS2, Valve is making changes to the hit zone of the cult shooter for the first time since 2018.

An overview of the most important changes in CS2 can be seen in the video:

Start video
Counter-Strike 2 heralds a new era – The most important changes in the video

CS2 gives you a bigger head

How does Counter-Strike 2 change the hitbox? YouTuber “Ansimist” has found that the hitbox of CS2 has been slightly adjusted compared to CS:GO (via Twitter).

According to Ansimist, all hitboxes are now in a capsule shape, while hands and feet were previously really in the shape of a box. Furthermore, all character models are now supposed to have the same hitbox size. For this purpose, the size of the hit zone has been changed in some areas.

The head hitbox is now supposed to be between 3.94% and 19.73% larger for the various models, while the neck is between 13.52% and 28.55% smaller. The hitbox at the hands and ankles has also been reduced.

How does this affect the game? Especially the enlarged hitbox on the head can have a significant impact on the game because, in games like Counter-Strike, players primarily shoot for the head.

With headshots, you can eliminate your opponents the fastest, and due to the change, you find it easier to hit your opponents in CS2 when aiming at the head.

Currently, CS2 is only playable for selected testers, but when the coveted update is released for everyone in the summer, it will come with not only the adjusted hitbox but also further adjustments.

Some of these changes, such as the new smoke grenades and the revamped maps, Valve has announced grandly. However, some adjustments have not gone unnoticed by everyone.

MyMMO author Christos Tsogos therefore shows you 14 changes in CS2 that you surely haven’t noticed yet.

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

Seasons have kept Diablo 3 alive for over 10 years – fans discuss whether Diablo 4 needs them too

For Diablo 4, Seasons and how Blizzard has developed them in its new hack & slash are important. Some condemn the system, while others appreciate it. We show you whether Diablo 4 really needs Seasons.

What are Seasons in Diablo? Seasons were implemented in Diablo 3 and are considered endgame content. Each Season lasts 3 months and offers new mechanics or legendaries depending on the theme, enabling new builds. Rewards include cosmetic items like pets, portraits, and other things. To participate in Seasons, you must create a Season hero and level them up to their max level again (via diablo3.blizzard.com).

Many fans of Diablo celebrate the system behind Seasons, but there are also players who cannot stand it. There is currently a heated debate about whether Diablo 4 needs the same system or could live without it.

Start video
Diablo 4 features huge bosses like an MMO – And they drop really good loot

Players know: Without Seasons, Diablo would be at the end

Why are Seasons so cool? While some players do not understand the system behind Seasons, longtime Diablo 3 fans know what they are there for – they ensure that Diablo does not die out. Reddit user rustang2 aptly describes the intent behind the Seasons:

Don’t you realize, season haters, that many players destroy the content and then leave the game, Seasons bring them back and keep player numbers high. Without that, the support for the game would be much lower, and fewer contents would be released for everyone.

Basically, Seasons bring fresh air into the meta during the three months they appear. Every player starts from scratch and can then work their way up to the top of the leaderboard. Despite this, some fans cannot warm up to the mechanics behind it.

They prefer to continue playing with their first hero, with whom they started, and still try out new content, rather than having to create a new hero every few months. According to comments on Reddit, however, Diablo 4 needs Seasons to survive.

How will Seasons look in Diablo 4? Seasons should have the same duration and system as in Diablo 3. Every three months, a new theme or mechanic will be released to provide fresh air. In addition, to participate in the Season, you must create a Season hero.

This time, however, there are also Season Passes that players can purchase to unlock cosmetic items for their classes. However, how the Season Pass is tied to the actual Season and whether you must play a Season to make progress for it is not yet known.

What do you think of the Seasons in Diablo 4? Would you prefer them to be completely removed, and Blizzard brings more content through their Season Pass, or can you not imagine Diablo without Seasons at all? Let us know in the comments!

While players fear for build variety in Diablo 4, a competitor on Steam even brings skill trees for weapons

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

One of the best strategy games on Steam is currently 50 € cheaper – “Set an alarm, otherwise you will never go to bed”

Civilization VI is currently available on Steam at a 90% discount. This saves you more than €50 compared to the original price. The strategy game is rated very positively with 85% and causes sleepless nights for some players.

Civilization VI is the latest installment in the well-known city-building series and is one of the most played titles in the strategy genre on Steam (via SteamDB). The game also made it to MeinMMO’s list of the best strategy games for PC with multiplayer.

In Civilization VI, you found your own civilization and expand it continuously to eventually rise to a world empire. The game uses a turn-based system where you compete with your own people against other civilizations and take turns executing actions. You can play the game solo as well as in multiplayer.

Here you can see a trailer for Civilization VI:

Start video
CIVILIZATION VI – Launch Trailer

Game and bundles are currently on special offer

How much does Civilization VI cost on Steam? Currently, you can get the strategy game at a 90% discount. Instead of €59.99, you now pay only €5.99 (via Steam, as of April 5, 2023). The offer ends on April 17, 2023.

You can also save on bundles right now. The “Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Anthology” includes the base game Civilization VI as well as 18 DLCs. Instead of €209.85, you now pay €29.62 with an 86% discount.

The Platinum Edition is reduced by 91% and includes the base game and 8 DLCs. You pay €15 instead of €167.91.

How do players rate Civilization VI? The game is very positively rated on Steam. Of a total of 187,733 reviews, 85% are positive (as of April 5, 2023).

Players praise Civilization VI as a great turn-based strategy game, where “just one more turn” can quickly turn into several hours:

  • kretzsche: “Set an alarm, or you’ll never get to bed.”.
  • Bazzer: “Civilization VI is an excellent building game that offers a wealth of possibilities to lead a civilization from antiquity to modern times. The game is not just a pure strategy game but also requires the management of resources, economy, technology, and culture to foster the growth and development of your civilization […]”.
  • MisterThreemanTwitchTV: “Me 16:30: Just one last turn, then I’ll take a break. Me 03:00: Wtf?”

Even MeinMMO editor Schuhmann has already fallen for the strategy game: I am obsessed with the perfect start in Civilization 6 and have been loading the same save for 2 years

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

Free game from PS Plus for PS5 is being celebrated – ‘Co-op with 4 players is a huge fun’

PlayStation announced the free games for the PS Plus subscription in April on March 29, 2023. Among them was a title that some reddit users are particularly excited about.

PS Plus is a subscription system for PlayStation players that allows free access to certain games that change every month.

What games are available in April for PS Plus? These 3 game titles will be available to you from PlayStation this month. You can play them on both PS4 and PS5:

  • Meet Your Maker
  • Tails of Iron
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Here you can see the trailer for the 3rd game title:

Start video
Sackboy: A Big Adventure – Story Trailer

The reddit users rave

What do the reddit users say? Especially regarding Sackboy: A Big Adventure, the reddit users of a thread respond with great enthusiasm:

Many write that it is the perfect game if you have children. However, several adults also have fun with the game:

  • Gbrush3pwood: ‘Don’t miss Sackboy, especially if you have kids. Couch co-op with 4 players is a blast.’
  • Majestic_Salad_I1: ‘I am male, 42 years old, and Sackboy is one of the funniest and most unique games out there. It is incredibly well-designed, the graphics are amazing, the music is great, and I have no complaints about it. And as you said, you can play it with up to 4 players, so it’s great if you have kids or if your nephews come over.’
  • flowella: ‘The best soundtrack of all time in this game. Incredible.’

What type of game is Sackboy: A Big Adventure? In this 3D platformer, you play as a small, fuzzy hero embarking on a big adventure. You must master various colorful 3D levels and demonstrate your platforming skills.

How long are the PS Plus games available? PlayStation Plus subscribers can play the games since April 4, 2023. They are available in the PS Plus subscription until May 1, 2023.

If you’re also on Steam and don’t want to miss any special promotions, you can find an overview of all sale dates on Steam for 2023 here.

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

Blue Protocol: Largest MMORPG streamer from Twitch wants to participate in tests – Will be banned immediately

The upcoming MMORPG Blue Protocol from developer Bandai Namco recently invited some players for a test. Twitch streamer Asmongold also wanted to participate, but the developers banned him immediately.

What kind of tests are these? From March 31 to April 2, Blue Protocol conducted a network test. Participating were allowed to try out the MMORPG and play content up to level 20. This was something the well-known Twitch streamer Asmongold also wanted to do.

During a stream on his secondary account “Zackrawrr”, Asmongold, the most famous MMORPG streamer on Twitch, mentioned that he had tried to participate in the tests.

However, Bandai Namco had stated from the beginning that no one outside Japan would be allowed to participate.

Asmongold still made an attempt

During his stream, viewers informed him that Blue Protocol allegedly immediately bans testers from other countries. Asmongold can confirm this: “That’s something that happened to me too.”

Although the streamer lives in Texas, he made an attempt to try out the MMORPG. “The account I used was banned,” he told his viewers.

For Asmongold, this is not a big deal. He knew that the developers would ban everyone outside of Japan. He is among them. He is not angry about it, Asmongold says (via Youtube).

Bandai Namco would surely have gained a lot of attention through an exception for the largest MMORPG streamer on Twitch. Asmongold has 3.4 million followers on Twitch.

Here you can see the gameplay trailer of Blue Protocol:

Start video
Blue Protocol: Gameplay Trailer

Testers from Japan praise the MMORPG

Those living in Japan were allowed to try out Blue Protocol without being banned. The MMORPG mostly received praise from the Japanese testers. Compared to the last test, which took place in 2020, Blue Protocol is said to have developed significantly.

The combat system was particularly praised. Jumping and a dodge roll make it feel dynamic. Furthermore, the character’s abilities change by pressing additional keys. Thus, your character has more skills than testers initially assumed, as auto-attacks can be varied by pressing W-A-S-D.

Players viewed the strong grind of leveling the adventure rank and the side quests, which are said to feel very generic, as negative.

What do you think about Bandai Namco not wanting to make an exception for the largest MMORPG streamer? Do you think that’s right, or should they have let him participate in the tests?

To find out the current status of a global beta, you can find out here:

Blue Protocol Beta: When do the global tests start?

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

Destiny 2: New bug makes almost every boss fight a piece of cake for solo players

Destiny 2 has a new bug that equally amuses and confuses the community: bosses that suddenly kill themselves. The reason for this is an unusually toxic bug occurring in conjunction with the exotic weapon Osteo Striga.

What bug has been discovered? Normally, bosses in Destiny 2 present a challenge to players and require good strategy and coordination to be defeated. However, recently there has been a new trend in all activities: bosses now die on their own.

The culprit is a now-known toxic bug from Season 20, which occurs in combination with the exotic submachine gun Osteo Striga, the Strang subclass, and the perk “Vorpal Weapon”. It causes the toxic damage-over-time effect to persist nearly indefinitely.

Start video
Destiny 2 shows new insights into Strand in its trailer – The focus in Lightfall

Destiny 2 has never been this toxic

How does the bug occur? In his latest video, YouTuber and Destiny 2 player CheeseForever goes into detail about the effect and shows its deadly impact on various enemies in Destiny 2.

  • Equipped with the Osteo Striga, he triggers the perk “Toxic Overload” through precision skills, which releases a burst that also poisons nearby targets
  • He then uses his Warlock melee “Arcane Needle”
  • Now he just needs to switch to a weapon with the Vorpal perk and occasionally deal damage to maintain the poison ticks

The bug now ensures that the effects continue indefinitely, and the poison tick from the exotic Witch Queen weapon does almost 50% more damage than normal.

This allows players to easily kill the various Destiny bosses, including raid bosses, as seen in the video:

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Poison, chill, kill – The new bug is quite mean to all foes

The bug seems to have existed for a while: After the bug became known, some players noted that they had already wondered why some activities in combination with the Osteo Striga were so easy to play since Lightfall. They didn’t want to believe it was a bug in the game and wished it had never come to light.

Basically, you only need to trigger the issue once and you can then cozy up in a corner while the bug does the rest. Specifically, the Warlock’s melee spawns infinite needle projectiles, which in turn infect nearby enemies.

However, the Warlock exotic “Necrotic Grip” works correctly and cannot be combined with the bug to cause even higher damage.

Usable for all classes: However, the bug is not limited to the Warlock. The other classes can also take advantage of it if they use the Grasp melee attack combo of Strang. This should make it clear that it is an extreme gameplay error if players in Destiny 2 are easily completing all activities solo.

Has Bungie commented on this yet? So far, there has been no response from Bungie. It remains to be seen if and how Bungie will respond to this bug. However, there is no doubt that it will happen, and this error will be fixed in the near future. We will update the article with more information as soon as it becomes available.

How about you? Have you noticed and secretly taken advantage of the bug? Or did you not notice it at all? Feel free to leave us a comment, as we are curious about your unique perspective on this toxic error.

Those interested in the current player numbers in Destiny 2 should definitely check out our latest article:

Destiny 2: Lightfall disappoints fans and yet thousands more play than before Witch Queen

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One of the most popular CoD maps has made it into Fortnite, but it has now been banned

With Creative 2.0 in Fortnite, the creativity of players knows no bounds anymore. Or does it? A fan created many CoD maps for multiplayer and zombie modes, but they have now been taken offline for good reason.

What is Creative 2.0? Epic Games released a new feature for Fortnite on March 23, 2023, which many players had been waiting for. The Unreal Editor for Fortnite, or UEFN, is a system that players can use to create better and more diverse maps in Creative mode.

This allows maps to be created that resemble parts of GTA 5 or even areas from CoD. As cool as that sounds, it’s not that easy because Epic Games has set limitations for the players, showing them what they are allowed to create and what not.

Many creators, however, disregard Epic Games’ warnings and must now deal with the consequences. Just like the creator Mist Jawa, who had to delete all his CoD maps.

Start video
Unreal Editor for Fortnite Release Trailer

Player Copies Most Famous Map from CoD – Now Faces Trouble

What has the player created? Mist Jawa is a content creator who created the famous CoD map “Rust” in Fortnite since the release of Creative 2.0. Additionally, there were also some zombie maps for survivalists. These could then be visited and played for free as soon as you had the map code.

The problem, however, is that Epic Games views such maps as violations of copyright regulations (via youtube.com). Now, Jawa had to delete all his CoD maps, along with all videos on his social accounts (via twitter.com).

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Why did he have to delete the maps? Creative 2.0 offers crazy possibilities to implement things from other games into Fortnite. As cool as that may sound, it unfortunately violates copyright regulations that Epic Games has established.

Basically, these are blatant copies of content that belong to Activision. When creators copy CoD maps 1:1 and even name them the same, they will be removed by Epic Games. Additionally, there are penalties such as a permanent ban from Fortnite, even for maps that have not been commercialized yet.

It’s a delicate topic, and even though the idea is cool to walk around with Fortnite skins in GTA 5, you should not risk a ban.

What do you think about Creative 2.0? Do you think it’s a big flop or a cool feature? Let us know in the comments!

Fortnite finally shows what Epic Games has been keeping from you for years: the official player numbers

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

Finally, the anti-cheat of Call of Duty recognizes the biggest plague of cheaters – A good day for all online shooters

Call of Duty has been working on its anti-cheat system RICOCHET for years and has now celebrated a major milestone. Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 now detect unauthorized third-party hardware. MeinMMO editor Maik Schneider believes this is good for all online shooters.

With CoD MW 2019 and Call of Duty: Warzone 2020, the rise of cheaters in the largest shooter franchise began. Cheaters had long been a problem in CoD. Even on consoles, lobbies were filled with hacked accounts that boasted about their undeserved max level.

But with the free-to-play Warzone, the cheaters stepped up their game. This is because the anti-cheat systems of Call of Duty were not prepared for how professionally the provider landscape had become by now.

Warzone was unplayable in some parts of the world for a time. In many lobbies – especially at higher gameplay levels – at least one cheater was around. It was a tough situation for all fair players.

Start video
CoD MW2 & Warzone 2: Mid-Season 2 – Trailer

At the end of 2021, RICOCHET came and the tide slowly turned

The reports of how cheaters ruin matches for players decreased. In October 2022 the security team of CoD showed its progress during the beta of MW2:

  • At that time, 72% of cheaters were banned before they could play
  • Active cheaters were detected on average after 5 matches

The problem with these numbers: they were almost exclusively software cheaters. People with wall hacks, aimbots, or items that are not actually in the game.

However, hardware cheaters had become the big problem.

Such cheaters use specialized devices to gain an advantage. For example, one can manipulate the output of a controller so that the device compensates for all the recoil.

I have always considered this type of cheating to be a much bigger plague than software cheaters. This also led to distrust among players and creators.

Who is really good? Who uses such devices? Who can you still trust?

This led to real witch hunts. The US streamer Nadia has been suspected and attacked since her early successes. Others felt forced to set up 5 cameras to prove their innocence.

It cannot yet be said that all of this is over at once. But the announcement that RICOCHET will detect hardware cheaters feels like a liberation. For a long time, there were doubts about whether such a thing is even possible.

Now the world’s largest shooter franchise has set a new standard in combating cheaters. Others will have to follow suit. Already, players of Apex Legends are demanding on Reddit that they also definitely need this (via reddit.com).

A truly great day for all online shooters.

How is this going now? Not everything is sunshine yet. They have now “laid the groundwork for detection” and are continuing to carry out updates to fight against hardware cheaters.

If you would like to inform yourself more deeply, then take a look at the English blog of the CoD security team (via callofduty.com).

If such devices are detected, affected players will first receive a warning in the main menu. If they continue to play, it can lead to an account ban that is valid across all CoD titles.

It remains to be seen how effective the measures actually are. But no one can spoil my good mood today.

What are your thoughts on the announcement? Leave a comment on the subject. If you would like to read more about CoD, then check here: CoD MW2 & Warzone 2: A change allows you to improve weapons without disadvantages – with a small trick

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

Energy drink has been selling for years as a friend of gaming – now bullying small indie developers

Monster Energy wants to prohibit a developer with a small horror game on Steam from using the word “Monster” in their games. However, they seem to have taken on the wrong person. Because that person is not willing to accept this.

What kind of drink is it? Monster Energy is a brand of energy drinks that targets gamers. After all, they are known to need a lot of energy to game through the night. However, the brand, which now belongs to Coca-Cola, also has a reputation for being quite litigious.

So they apparently have it in their heads that they hold the exclusive rights to the word “Monster.” Ubisoft seems to have already felt this with their action RPG “Gods and Monsters.” However, Ubisoft officially states that they renamed the game to “Immortals: Fenyx Rising” of their own accord (via eurogamer).

Now, however, it seems that Monster Energy has taken on the wrong person, as an indie developer does not intend to simply give in.

The people behind Monster Hunter seem to have been spared so far.

Start video
Monster Hunter World Trailer

“They must own the colors green and white”

Who has Monster Energy targeted? Coca-Cola and Monster Energy have set their sights on the indie studio Glowstick Entertainment. Because their horror multiplayer Dark Deception: Mortals and Monsters uses, you guessed it, the word “Monster.”

Moreover, they are apparently bothered by the design of the logo: it gives the impression that it is a product of the Monster Energy brand.

How does Monster Energy proceed? As reported by PC Gamer, Monster has already offered the developer a settlement. This would allow the studio to use the name, but only under a series of conditions:

  • The word “Monster” or variations like “monstrous” and “monstrosity” may never be used in a game title again.
  • Glowstick Entertainment may never again use a green-and-white logo on a black background.

The latter is commented on by the developer with a sarcastic: “They must own the colors green and white.”

Developer wants to show the “true face” of Monster Energy

How is the developer fighting back: Vincent Livings, founder and CEO of Glowstick Entertainment, reported on Twitter about the legal threats from the energy drink. He refers to Monster Energy as a “trademark troll.” This usually refers to individuals who register a trademark solely to threaten and sue others for use.

It is well known that Monster Energy is a notorious trademark troll. Unfortunately, they are at it again. For a company that likes to market its drinks to gamers, they also like to bully game studios with lengthy and expensive litigation, driving them into bankruptcy.

Livings also mentions that Monster Energy’s lawyers are currently after the studio because Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals is “confusingly similar” to the energy drink.

But Livings does not intend to give in. Instead, he plans to fight Monster Energy in court. Additionally, he wants to publish everything he has received from the brand, so that other game developers can gain insight into their methods.

The proposed settlement has already been made public by Livings, who said:

Dishonest companies like Monster Energy rely on being able to carry out their harassment in secret while presenting a clean image to their base (athletes and gamers). Publicly revealing their true face is the only way to stop them.

How does Livings plan to cover the costs? The developer has come up with a particularly nice plan: In a livestream, he wants to play games that all have the word “Monster” in the title to raise money for the legal dispute.

We have requested a statement from Monster Energy regarding the case and will add it here as soon as we receive it.

Whether it will ever come to that and the matter will be taken to court is still uncertain. By the way, Dark Deception: Mortals and Monsters is available for €3.99 on Steam.

The indie favorite Dark & Darker is also currently in a legal dispute with a larger corporation, but in this case, the matter is unlikely to be resolved with an apology on social media. A fundraising campaign should help cover the costs:

Developer of Dark and Darker starts unauthorized fundraising campaign and fails – “Their goal is to bleed us dry”

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

New update should make New World much better, accidentally shreds players’ entire equipment

In New World on April 4, the latest patch was released. This brought new story content, a new dungeon, and the first season pass. However, there is also a new critical bug that simply deleted the entire equipment of some players.

What happened there? Shortly after the release of the new update, a thread was published in the forum where players shared screenshots of their characters (via New World). In these pictures, the characters are naked, lacking armor, weapons, bags, potions, and buff food. Only the gathering tools and the general inventory remained intact.

The exact cause of the bug is still unclear. However, since the equipment slots affected are related to the new storage system of the update, the bug was likely triggered by this. It mainly affects players who had logged out while they were dead.

Interestingly, the update was already postponed from March 28 to April 4 due to a critical bug.

Is there already a solution – Update 11:50 AM? Sort of. The developers announced at 10:30 AM that there will be maintenance today at 2:00 PM which will partially fix the bug (via New World Forum). This means that players who died before the update and have not yet logged in will no longer lose their equipment from then on.

However, players who lost their items will still have to wait. A second patch is supposed to come eventually to restore the items. As compensation, the affected players will receive 50,000 luck tokens, which is about 42 euros in real money. This is enough for about two complete season passes.

Here you can find information about the new patch:

Start video
New World – Video for Season 1

New World is notorious for bizarre bugs

Is this the first major bug that New World has experienced? No, quite the contrary. It has become a meme on the internet that new updates always come with a larger bug. Here is an overview of the biggest problems:

In total, there have only been a handful of major updates that went completely smoothly.

How is the future looking for New World? Amazon is currently planning to release a major update every quarter. Additionally, the first expansion is planned for the fall, which fans are eagerly looking forward to. You can find all the details here:

MMORPG New World will bring new seasons, an expansion, and mounts in 2023 – Sounds absolutely great

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Sony is allegedly bringing a handheld for the PlayStation, supposed to appear before PS5 Pro

Supposedly, Sony is developing a handheld for the PlayStation. At least, this is what a well-known insider claims.

Under the codename Q Lite, a gaming handheld is said to be in development at Sony. This is at least reported by Tom Henderson, owner of Insider Gaming, who is known for often reliable insider information. The model is expected to feature the known attributes of the PS5, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

Insider Gaming assumes that it is meant to be a proper handheld device, similar to what we know from Valve or Logitech. Beyond that, little is known: it is unclear how the device will look, what the model will cost, or when it will be released.

Here too, the source only speculates that “the Q Lite is in the QA phase and is to be released before the PlayStation 5 Pro and after the Detachable Disc Drive PS5.”

Reserved reactions to a potential handheld for the PS5

The reactions are reserved and partly very negative. LCD display, no “real” gaming, but only “Remote Play” and a mandatory, constant online connection are considered outdated by many.

The criticism is particularly great because Sony had already offered gaming handhelds on the market with the PS Vita or the PSP that provided “real” gaming compared to just “Remote Play.”

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Some also explain: Why should I buy such an (presumably) overpriced device when I could use my phone for “Remote Play,” where I have a better display and better battery life?

A similar streaming device was also introduced by Logitech a few months ago. Here too, gaming works either remotely or via the cloud. The device is not yet available in Germany. And the company Razer has now also introduced a gaming handheld:

Supposedly, Sony plans many new products for the PlayStation in the future

There has been speculation for a while that Sony is planning new products for the PlayStation 5. These include:

  • PlayStation 5 with detachable drive
  • the Project Nomad, which is supposed to be about wireless headphones
  • the Project Voyager, which is supposed to be a wireless headset

At least the wireless headphones sound promising. Our editor Benedikt Schlotmann might finally have a big wish fulfilled by Sony.

Sony is supposedly bringing new headphones for the PS5 and could fulfill a big wish for me

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Smoking rap icon no longer wants to be on the board of an e-sports clan whose stock is plummeting

Rapper and Twitch streamer Snoop Dogg (50) was on the board of directors of the e-sports company FaZe Clan for a year. However, he has now stepped down.

The e-sports organization FaZe Clan is more successful on social media than any other team in this field. However, the clan has established a controversial reputation in the past with dubious stories. Nevertheless, last year they had big plans to go public and break into new dimensions. For this, they brought in a well-known figure:

In March 2022, rapper and Twitch streamer Snoop Dogg became part of FaZe Clan. He was listed as a content creator and board member.

Here you can read everything about Snoop Dogg’s entry and FaZe’s plans:

More on the topic
Rapper and Twitch streamer joins controversial e-sports clan – brings really cool gift with him
von Schuhmann

After about a year, Snoop Dogg leaves FaZe Clan again

FaZe Clan recently released financial overviews and provided insights into the current status of the e-sports organization.

In a SEC filing, Snoop Dogg’s exit is announced: “On March 29, 2023, Calvin ‘Snoop Dogg’ Broadus, Jr. informed FaZe Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) that he is resigning from the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company, effective immediately.”

It is also emphasized: “Mr. Broadus’ resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.”

What are the reasons for Snoop Dogg’s resignation? No specific reasons are given for why Snoop Dogg is stepping away from FaZe Clan.

However, it is speculated whether the rapper’s resignation is related to the Company’s current financial situation. Because things are not going well for the e-sports company at the moment.

The IPO was a huge flop for the e-sports organization and the financial reports also show that 2022 was not a good year for FaZe Clan: The company incurred losses of approximately $53.2 million, and the value of their stock has fallen rapidly:

LoL: A pro (28) makes allegations against manager – Is said to have lied to other teams about him

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

WoW Guide: March of the Tadpoles – The Murloc Event is only today

In World of Warcraft the “great” Murloc holiday takes place. We will tell you what you need to do during the March of the Tadpoles.

In World of Warcraft there are many holidays, and the smaller ones are often unknown because they are only active for a single day. One of these holidays is the “March of the Tadpoles”. Here you can fulfill great wishes for a baby Murloc and will then be daily rewarded with “rewards”.

What kind of event is this? The March of the Tadpoles takes place on April 5th – and only on this day. When the event is active, the little baby Murlocs create chaos and take over their parents’ village. This is not only quite chaotic but also very dangerous for the little ones. Therefore, it takes “great heroes” to help the Murloc tadpoles.

What do you have to do during the event? Travel to the Borean Tundra on the continent of Northrend to the coordinates 43 / 13. There you will find a village of neutral Murlocs and should immediately see the chaos – baby Murlocs are running around everywhere, causing mayhem.

WoW King Mrgl mrgl

Talk to King Mrgl-Mrgl, who will then assign you the task of watching over one of the tadpoles. You can choose from 30 different baby Murlocs, but your choice has no lasting effects. Just pick the Murloc with the cutest name or the prettiest appearance, as he or she will accompany you for the rest of the quest series.

WoW Baby Murlocs
The little baby Murlocs are causing chaos. You must protect them from themselves.

The quest line is quite short afterward. First, you need to collect 10 shells, which you can find underwater right in front of the village. Then a large orca needs to be defeated, which the Murlocs are rightly afraid of. The orca scales with your level; at level 70, it has just over a million HP but is not particularly strong.

What rewards are there? Those expecting a really big or permanent reward may be disappointed by the event. However, if you participate in the event, you will receive a daily quest from your chosen baby Murloc every day. In this, the little tadpole rewards you with “great treasures” they have found – out of gratitude for your help.

The treasures are technically just “gray junk” that you can sell to the vendor for a little money. But that would be pretty heartless, considering how hard the little Murloc worked to find a piece of driftwood that looks like you…

However, in April 2023, there are some travel points that will grant vendor currencies when you help a little Murloc. So it’s worth a visit if you still lack rewards from the trading post!

If you want to do something “good”, check out the baby Murlocs in the Borean Tundra. It’s a nice little event that makes World of Warcraft a bit more colorful and gurgling.

You can see all other events in World of Warcraft in our large event calendar.

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

MMORPG ESO finally solves the biggest problem in Europe that you have been complaining about for years

The Elder Scrolls Online has finally installed new server hardware for Europe and PC. This aims to solve one of the biggest problems of the MMORPG: weak performance. The first impressions are positive, but that doesn’t say much yet.

What is new? On April 4th, there was a long server maintenance in Europe. Players could not log in from 2:00 AM until around 8:00 PM. The reason was the migration of ESO to new server hardware.

This hardware is important to get the performance issues under control. These have been discussed for years:

However, since yesterday, the new servers are online in Europe. North America received the upgrade almost a year ago, in April 2022.

ESO will receive the new expansion Necrom in the summer. In line with this, there is already a cinematic trailer:

Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom – Cinematic

First players are optimistic, but the big prime time is yet to come

What is the first impression of the new servers? In the ESO forum, there are first statements about the performance from last night, and they are mostly positive:

  • The user Zeraw86 writes: “I have to say it runs great in Cyrodiil on Graue Schar (PC/EU), once in a while there is a stutter, but it is nothing compared to before.”
  • Even xMauiWaui is satisfied: “At least I haven’t had such good performance since 2014 as last night. Even though it wasn’t perfect.”

However, some players complain that the freeing feels a bit strange, which has also been criticized for a year in America. Additionally, some players apparently experienced ping issues, which were resolved during the evening (via ESO Forum).

However, for proper feedback, it seems generally a bit too early, some players point out. The servers only came back online after 8 PM and were correspondingly less populated – also because some had already given up hope of being able to play that day. The maintenance was originally supposed to end at 4 PM but was then extended by 4 hours.

The real stress test will probably take place only on the weekend when many want to log in simultaneously in the evening and explore Cyrodiil together.

Are you looking forward to the new servers in Europe? And how much have the performance issues annoyed you? Feel free to write it in the comments.

Lastly, ESO received two new dungeons in March. One of them has a really interesting mechanic:

A new ESO dungeon from this year has a mechanic that has never existed before

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

Switch owners have been struggling with annoying errors for years – Now Nintendo promises free repairs

Joy-Con drift is one of the most annoying problems when you want to play on the Nintendo Switch. Now Nintendo has offered free repairs. This is due to a years-long complaint.

Most users of a Switch are likely familiar with the problem: you play with your controller and feel like you’re always somehow moving to the left, even though you actually just want to walk straight ahead. This is the dreaded Joy-Con drift, which renders the controller unusable in the long run.

Nintendo has now agreed to offer consumers in the European Union lifetime free repairs for Nintendo Switch controllers that experience the dreaded “Joy-Con drift”.

More on the topic
Joy-Con or Pro Controller: Which one should I play with on my Nintendo Switch?
von Benedikt Schlotmann

European organization collected thousands of complaints against Nintendo

What’s behind this change? The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) had been collecting complaints against Nintendo and the broken controllers for years. According to its own statement, “almost 25,000 complaints” have been received. All come from individuals complaining about broken controllers.

In its formal complaint, the BEUC describes the Joy-Con hardware as “prematurely obsolete”. It is “high time that companies stop bringing products to market that break too soon.”

Nintendo now stated that it would repair models for free if such problems arise (via arstechnica.com):

Nintendo is very proud of developing high-quality and durable products and is continuously working on their improvement. Therefore, Nintendo offers consumers who purchased the product in the [European Economic Area], in Great Britain, and in Switzerland that, until further notice, repairs for reaction syndrome associated with the joysticks will be carried out free of charge by official Nintendo repair centers.

How do I report a repair? If you have a broken controller or damaged hardware, you can directly contact Nintendo’s customer support:

  • Here you then select your product from the corresponding category. If it’s stick drift, then select the tab “Joy-Con Controller”.
  • In the next step, select “Other Issues” and choose “No, I would like to apply for a repair” here.
  • If you are sure that it must be stick drift, you can also go directly through the Nintendo Consumer Repair Portal.

Another option is to take the problem of drifting sticks into your own hands and fix the fun. For a simple trick, you only need a screwdriver, a bit of finesse, and a piece of paper:

You move on the Nintendo Switch without pressing anything? Here’s a solution

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

2,800 people told us whether Diablo 4 is worth a pre-order

After the two beta weekends, we wanted to know from you whether you have pre-ordered Diablo 4, will buy it later, or are completely opting out. Here’s what you revealed to us.

This survey is about: In March, two weekends hosted a closed and open beta, where players could get their own impression of the action RPG. Now it’s time for the developers and the community to sprint towards the release on June 6.

On this occasion, we asked you whether you will even buy Diablo 4 or if you have already done so. 2,815 of you provided us with your answer in a survey.

Here are the results:

  • “Yes, I have already pre-ordered” – 37.09% (1,044 votes)
  • “I will buy it, but will not pre-order” – 13.96% (393 votes)
  • “No, I will not buy it” – 13.89% (391 votes)
  • “I will only buy it during a sale” – 13.82% (389 votes)
  • “I don’t know yet” – 10.8% (304 votes)
  • “Yes, I will pre-order it soon” – 10.44% (294 votes)

With 47.58%, almost half of you will pre-order Diablo 4 or have already done so. This part of the community can hardly wait to play the game.

Another 25.78% will buy the game but not pre-order it. They won’t be able to start earlier because Early Access is a pre-order bonus, but they also avoid the teething problems like bugs and server issues. 13.82% also do not want to pay full price for Diablo 4 and will acquire it only during a sale.

About 10.44% of the community are still unsure whether they will buy Diablo 4, while 13.89% have decided against it. This part of our readers has no interest in the game, even if it should be on sale.

Start video
Diablo 4: The German Trailer for the Open Beta

Buy, not buy or even farm it?

This is what you said in your comments: In the numerous comments under our surveys about Diablo 4, you shared your buying plans with us. While some pre-ordered long ago and were able to participate in the pre-order beta, others want to wait.

Yes, I have already pre-ordered the PC, XSX, and PS5 versions. This way, I was also able to extensively test cross-play and cross-save/progression during the last two weekends. It worked wonderfully. […]

In terms of control, I must say that I preferred mouse + keyboard much more than the controller control, which I found very imprecise. Especially area-specific dots and attacks can only be vaguely placed in one direction with a controller and not as accurately as on PC.

Mihari

One of the main reasons against pre-ordering mentioned was the price of the game at 70 € in connection with the cash shop and the season model. For some of you, that was just too much money to invest or even need to have fun in Diablo 4.

Moreover, there are still major concerns regarding the contents of the cash shop. Although Blizzard has repeatedly assured in the past that it will only include cosmetic items, fans remain skeptical.

I will only buy it during a sale with a significantly reduced price at most. 70 € is way too expensive for this game, in my opinion. Then there is also the item shop and the battle pass. […]

Lasazarr

However, there is another way to pre-order Diablo 4. You don’t have to pay a cent for the game but need an account with WoW and the Dragonflight addon. By selling gold, you can save up credit in Battle.net.

Our reader “Voice from the Off” (and probably some other readers) has used exactly this “trick”.

I said in a previous article that I find the price completely outrageous (still do). Now, it is quite easy to make millions of gold at the beginning of Dragonflight, and thus I was able to get Diablo 4 by exchanging WoW tokens for Battle.net credit, which I did some time ago. I tested both beta weekends and am now looking forward to the release.

Voice from the Off

Did you expect the results or were you surprised? Only a few months remain until the release of Diablo 4. Have you pre-ordered the game yourself or will you follow the example of the skeptical users and wait?

Let us know in the comments.

Experts have discovered over 50 powerful items in Diablo 4 that you are actually supposed to find only late

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

WoW sells transmog set for 20 euros – Many laugh about it

A new transmog set for World of Warcraft divides the community. Some find it great, while others consider it “overpriced rubbish”.

Most players have become accustomed to Blizzard selling some in-game content in World of Warcraft for an additional price in the shop. However, there is always a small outcry when something unexpected is offered again in the in-game shop. This time it is also the case with the “Regalia of the Waveborn Diplomat”.

What kind of set is this? The set “Regalia of the Waveborn Diplomat” has quite vibrant colors and a unique feathered hat. It also includes rather elaborate shoulders and plenty of decorations in the form of scrolls and books.

WoW Transmog Set Diplomat 1
The set of the Waveborn Diplomat – it is being controversially discussed.

Many are disappointed: Many seem to be disappointed by the release of this set. While there are the usual comments that a single set is never worth 20 €, this time there are also voices gaining volume saying that the set should have had a different place. Many could imagine that the transmog set was actually intended as a reward for the monthly completion of the trading post in April.

For the month of April, there is a set of swords – they also look good, but cannot be used by all classes since not all can wield swords. Therefore, many already found the decision questionable on April 1st to bring such swords as the final reward of the month.

Set fuels new theories: Some fans believe they already see a first “teaser” for the expansion after Dragonflight in the new set. Even if some of the speculations are apparently not taken seriously, there have been several times in the past where items from the shop are a first, small indicator of what the next expansion could bring.

That an addon has to do with seafaring is also quite possible. After all, there are increasing hints that the journey soon feels over the sea west of Kalimdor, into the forgotten realm of Avaloren. It will probably take a while until there are concrete details on that.

How do you like the new transmog – and the price for it?

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

Developer wanted to create the most social MMORPG in the world – Now replacing employees with AI

The MMORPG Galaxies of Eden wanted to fully focus on social interactions. Even classes that do not have to fight were promised, and those who wanted could have just built a city. Now the developers are shifting their focus and want to improve the game with artificial intelligence.

What is Galaxies of Eden? It is difficult to answer what the game currently is. Until recently, specifically at the end of 2021, the vision was clear. They wanted to be the most social MMORPG on the market, the developers promised.

For this, they relied on two different game modes:

  • An action mode, in which the whole game was supposed to play similarly to its third-person shooter
  • A social mode, which was supposed to focus on trading, housing, and building entire cities

There was to be no loot in the form of equipment in Galaxies of Eden. Instead, players could only scavenge crafting materials with which they could then create new items or have them created. Players who wanted to focus entirely on crafting should be able to do that too.

The cities in the game were supposed to be built and operated almost entirely by players. There would be NPCs, but overall they were supposed to be quite few in comparison to the entire game world. Originally, Galaxies of Eden was supposed to start an alpha in the second quarter of 2022, but that did not happen.

Here you see a first gameplay insight:

Start video
Galaxies of Eden – Pre-Alpha Trailer

The focus of the game is supposed to change – AI writes better than real humans anyway

What is changing now? On Twitter, the development team has announced that the focus of Galaxies of Eden is supposed to change. Instead of focusing entirely on social features, artificial intelligence is now to be at the center of the MMORPG.

In the future, it will be responsible for “endlessly continuing the adventure” and continuously expanding the virtual universe with new content. In Discord, one of the developers even gets more specific: The new main feature of Galaxies of Eden will be quests that are completely generated by AI.

Why is this happening? As a reason for this drastic change in direction, developer Alkan explains mainly money problems. He justifies the new path as follows:

“No, this is not an April Fool’s joke, and to keep it short, developing a social MMORPG is not possible for us. One of our biggest problems we struggled with was funding. Due to a lack of funding, we were unable to hire people to develop content. Artificial intelligence has solved this problem for us. Currently, [the AI] can write stories and quests much better than the average employee.” (via massivelyop)

Fans are not thrilled – They think the course change is just an April Fool’s joke

How are fans reacting? Everything but positively. Galaxies of Eden was already a relatively unknown title, but now it seems to even frighten its previously loyal fans. The original post on Twitter currently has only a single comment, a picture of the game’s AI with the caption: “Don’t believe its lies.”

Many fans in Discord still consider the whole AI story to be an April Fool’s joke. Several users even repeatedly ask if this is really 100% sure not a silly joke. When the developers deny this multiple times, some quickly turn away.

One simply writes: “This is a shame, I was looking forward to a social MMO. Goodbye” and then leaves the game’s server. Another fan can only agree: “I think you will lose your entire player base with this.”

Currently, we could not find any positive opinions regarding this change during our research. One user merely comments on the studio’s open communication as good.

What do you think about it? Would you play an AI game? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.

New MMO from former EVE developers forces fans to play together, whether they want to or not

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

Gamer buys Nvidia graphics card, but it is way too big – His “solution” is really terrible

A gamer has bought a new graphics card. In order for it to fit in his system, he resorted to drastic methods. But this also shows a general problem: graphics cards are getting larger.

A user has bought a new graphics card. But the part doesn’t fit in his case. Instead of buying a new case with more space, he simply saws a hole in the right outer wall (via reddit.com).

The final result looks truly terrible and is sure to scare friends of “clean” systems and good airflow. The reactions under the pictures are very different: Some simply shake their heads in disbelief, while others say they have had similar ideas when the new graphics card didn’t fit.

One has to imagine that gamers have such battered computers under their desks.

Even if we cannot say for sure whether the user actually modified his computer as shown in the picture, the post nonetheless highlights a problem that many gamers are likely familiar with by now.

Graphics cards are getting larger

Most users actually agree on one fact: modern graphics cards are getting larger and bulkier and require a lot of space. Anyone who has bought a new graphics card from AMD or Nvidia in recent months will surely have noticed the general growth of these pixel accelerators.

In addition to the large circuit board, many manufacturers also introduce bulky cooling systems to keep the powerful chips cool.

Under the post, several users also share pictures of their gaming systems. And here it becomes almost everywhere apparent: the space between the graphics card and the case is extremely limited. Often, there are only a few millimeters between the case and the GPU. Some also say their graphics card feels as large as the entire PC:

  • “My GPU almost touches my front-mounted cooler… They are maybe 3 mm apart.”
  • “My [GPU] just barely fits.”

Nvidia recently introduced a small graphics card, but it is unsuitable for gamers. Until there are small and slim graphics cards available for gamers again, it may still take a while. Because at AMD and Nvidia, there is currently a tendency that graphics cards need to get larger and, above all, faster.

You can check out a particularly cool case in the following video:

Start video
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”

Buying a case should be well thought out

If you are putting together a system, think about whether you will want to upgrade later on right from the start. Especially when you later decide on a significantly more powerful graphics card or want to install water cooling, you will need sufficient space.

And here often applies the saying: when you buy cheaply, you buy twice. Because in the most frustrating case, your hardware won’t fit, and you will have to buy a new or different case.

A good case with plenty of space and options will accompany you in everyday life under all the installed components for the longest time, and for many years. While the interior often changes, the “case” usually remains. One more reason to take your time when choosing this component:

That’s why you shouldn’t overlook the case when building a PC

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

Pokémon GO: Players and creators unite in an open letter against controversial raid changes

There is a new development regarding Pokémon GO about the Remote Raid Pass. Many players view the announced changes critically and are calling on developer Niantic in an open letter to reconsider the adjustments.

Pokémon GO introduced so-called Remote Raids during the Corona pandemic, allowing players to participate in raids from their couch. There were several measures back then to respond to the pandemic situation.

These measures are largely also comfort features. Now, Pokémon GO is scaling back these features, which is not the first time it has met with significant resistance in the community.

Now the Remote Raids are set to change and there will also be a price increase. Here you can find more information about the new Remote Raids, which are supposed to take effect from April 6.

There is even already a petition with several 10,000 signatures that aims to oppose the adjustments.

The next escalation is an open letter that has been shared, among other places, on Reddit to gain more attention from the developers (via reddit.com).

This particularly concerns the limitation of 5 usable Remote Raid Passes in one day:

We disagree with your decision and the majority of us wants you to know that the “limitation of Remote Raids to 5 runs per day” will harm some players:

  • Rural trainers who lack adequate support from the local community
  • Trainers with disabilities who cannot physically go outside to play
  • Trainers who suffer from severe social anxiety and have mental difficulties going outside to participate in raids
  • Trainers who work night shifts and cannot participate during the day
  • Single parents who manage children, a household, and a career with minimal time

And most importantly, the Remote Raid changes will restrict our global interaction with our trainers with whom we have built close relationships over the past 3 years.

From the open letter via Reddit

Players see the Remote Raid Passes as more than just a comfort feature. It has become an important feature that enabled new ways of playing. It is argued that if developer Niantic really wanted players to go outside more, there would be other tools – including bonuses for regular raids without a remote pass.

The thread on Reddit also counts many content creators who support the open letter. Alone on Reddit, 1,600 users gave the thread a thumbs up within 4 hours – with a rising trend.

Unlike previous actions, however, the open letter does not call for a boycott. They want to be heard and hope for a response and changes.

What do you think of the letter and the topic of Remote Raid changes? Leave a comment on the topic.

If you also want to inform yourself about the current field research, check here: Pokémon GO: Field Research in April 2023 – All Shinys at a glance

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