A truck driver wanted to smuggle goods worth nearly 4 million euros to China. However, he was caught. The method may be unremarkable, but so is what the police managed to seize.
The Chinese police have arrested a 61-year-old truck driver who wanted to bring 30 wooden crates with display units across the border. However, the police scanners found that the crates instead contained hardware worth 3.8 million euros.
With the found hardware, one could equip an entire small town.
Due to the large quantity, the truck driver could not use any trick to hide the hardware directly on his body. When the police opened the crates, they found over 500,000 electronic devices, including processors, storage drives, laptops, and numerous phones. The authorities had posted a picture showing all the seized hardware.
While the government authorities threaten smugglers with severe fines and prison sentences, this does not deter most from engaging in the apparently lucrative business of smuggling. According to PCGamer.com, such individuals face a ‘maximum penalty of 2 million dollars and a prison term of seven years,’ as stated by the customs authority in Hong Kong.
Colleagues from Techspot also report that smuggling has significantly increased in recent years. This is because hardware is much more expensive in China than in other countries. The incidents primarily occur at the checkpoints on the border between Hong Kong and Macau, as there are economic differences between these two regions and the mainland.
Today, on April 4th, the patch “Comradeship and Fire” is released in New World. This not only brings the seasons, but also a lot of new content and some important balance adjustments. Those considering a return to the MMORPG will find some good incentives now.
To fill the pass, you can complete various tasks, including special seasonal challenges, but also faction missions, city quests, dungeons, PvP, and a stamp card that contains various daily tasks.
Also included in the patch are:
New story quests around a group of mercenaries called “Silver Ravens”.
The new expedition Empyreum Forge for level 60 players.
The new mechanic “Equipment Set Storage”, which allows you to switch between equipment sets with just one click.
A new heart jewel ability. The “Firestorm” creates a tornado that deals damage to multiple targets in its path.
The overhaul of the main story for the regions Webermoor and Lichtholz. This will be provided with new content and surprises, get more dialogues and overall be made clearer.
Important balance changes to ranged weapons. These should finally become useful in PvE, for example through an increased damage boost.
When will the update be released? The new patch will be deployed on April 4th at 2:00 PM. The server downtime is expected to be about two hours. By 4:00 PM, the maintenance should therefore be over.
Until then, you can watch this developer video about the new update (in English):
Start video
New World – Video for Season 1
The new update brings much old content back to life
What makes the update so interesting? With the new seasons, many old contents are “revived”. For the pass, one has to complete tasks that have played a lesser role for veterans, such as faction missions or city quests. The daily tasks on the stamp card also include tasks in the old areas.
The overhauls in the regions Webermoor and Lichtholz are also interesting. These adjustments had already been made for the story from level 1 to 25. In the Fresh Start, we tried them out and were positively surprised. The cutscenes, the weaving in of the villainess Isabell, the overhaul of the quest for faction joining with their own camps and the adjustments of the paths are very successful.
New World felt much more like a story MMORPG after the adjustments. It is even worth starting over completely with a new character, as the leveling process overall goes much faster now.
The ban power (special scaling against enemy types) has been increased for ranged weapons (10% more than for melee weapons).
Light attacks with magic weapons no longer consume any mana.
The fire staff has been completely reworked.
For the mutators, special effects that reduced elemental damage have been removed.
Some abilities of magic and ranged weapons can now provoke, which should offer tanks more options in weapon choice.
Balance in PvP has also been adjusted. Especially the damage from skills that also include crowd control has been massively reduced. This should make PvP content like the outpost rush enjoyable again.
What does the equipment storage bring? A major innovation in the update is also the equipment storage. Anyone who is very active in the mutations will have several armor sets on their character. These can now be packed into a special storage and switched with one click.
However, at the start, there are only two storage slots available for free. Another 8 storage slots can be purchased for real money.
This change finally makes the inventory neater.
What do you think about the first major patch of the new year? Does the update make New World more interesting for you or have you moved on?
By the way, two more major updates and the first expansion are planned for 2023 in the fall. You can find more about this in this overview:
Riot Games has announced the next patch for League of Legends. The upcoming adjustments mainly affect Zeri, the Spark of Zhaun. The champion is currently considered a destroyer of tanks, and the developers are now focusing on that.
What are the biggest changes? The planned adjustments mainly concern the mid and bot lane. Three champions are particularly in focus. In the mid lane, it’s Azir, and in the bot lane, it’s Zeri and Annie.
Azir has already received changes in the last patch, which are now to be rounded off by strengthening his abilities. With his passive ability, Azir can build towers. These will last longer and have a higher range. Additionally, the W ability will be improved and offer more opportunities to play around.
Zeri, on the other hand, is getting even more nerfs. After changes to her favorite item, the Bloodthirster, and her shield being reduced, now it’s the champion’s turn. The champion will receive 5 less health per level than before. The developers have also adjusted her passive ability to steal shields from opponents. This will now be only 50% instead of the previous 60%.
Start video
7 Facts about LoL that only true veterans know
Tanks are being released again
Why is Zeri considered a nightmare for tanks? The champion is the newest ADC on the bot lane. She brings entirely new mechanics and can become a significant problem with her abilities, especially in the later stages of the game.
With her passive ability, Zeri can absorb the shields of her enemies. When she does this, she receives a portion of the shield and gains additional movement speed.
However, her main damage comes from her Q ability. With this, she fires a volley of 7 projectiles at the first enemy in front of her. This ability counts as an auto attack and interacts with the items in the game.
This leads to Zeri being able to quickly defeat enemies with high health bars, as some items help deal more damage with auto attacks when the enemy has more health.
Especially, the champion is feared for her mobility in the game, as many tanks have few options to bridge the gap to their opponents. Zeri therefore has many opportunities to deal massive damage from a distance.
What could change in the game? The adjustments in patch 13.7 will change the relevance of the champions. Zeri or Annie could become a less attractive pick and thereby make room for new champions.
Especially this offers support and tank champions new opportunities. Characters like Tahm Kench or Sion rely heavily on their shields and could therefore gain more playtime. Thus, there could be a shift in prioritization in champion selection in both positions.
What do you think about the changes to the champions? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO today, on April 4th, the Spotlight Hour with Owei starts. We show you everything about the bonus, shinies, and the times of the event.
What kind of event is this? Every Tuesday, a Spotlight Hour takes place in Pokémon GO. This means that for 60 minutes, a Pokémon selected by Niantic is in focus and is found almost everywhere in the wild. This is accompanied by a bonus that gives you more XP, Stardust, or Candy. Pokémon and bonuses change week by week.
Today you will find the Pokémon Owei during the Spotlight Hour and you will receive additional candy.
Spotlight Hour on April 4th – Start, Bonuses, Shiny
When does it start? As you know from past events, the start is at 6:00 PM and the end is at 7:00 PM.
What bonuses are there? During the event, you will encounter Owei in many places in the wild. If you want even more encounters with the Pokémon, you can use incense.
Additionally, you will receive double the amount of candy for catching Pokémon.
Today’s event is the first Spotlight Hour in April 2023. This month, three more events of this kind will start. In the overview, you can see what else to expect:
Can you catch Shiny Owei? Yes, the shiny form of Owei has been active in Pokémon GO for a long time and can be caught by you. However, the chances are not increased today. You need a lot of luck.
Is the Spotlight Hour worth it today? Owei is not particularly strong as an attacker. Kokowei is much better, but has stronger alternatives in PvP and as a raid attacker. For beginners, at least Kokowei is something that can be seen in raids.
Keep in mind that the candy bonus applies to all caught Pokémon and not just Owei. If you complete raids, you will also receive double candy for catching there.
In Fortnite, you can use Creative 2.0 map codes to visit maps created by the community. We show you the 5 best codes for Creative 2.0 and explain what you can do there.
What are these map codes? Epic Games released the Unreal Editor for Fortnite, abbreviated UEFN, on March 23, 2023. This can realize large projects with skilled hands. While some players struggled to create maps in Creative mode, Creative 2.0 now provides relief.
Fans can easily port old chapter maps or parts of other games like GTA 5 into Fortnite and then offer them for gaming. Our MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos therefore shows you 5 of the best Creative 2.0 maps with codes and explains what they are for.
Here we have the trailer for the Unreal Editor for Fortnite again:
Start video
Unreal Editor for Fortnite Release Trailer
Fortnite: The 5 best map codes in Creative 2.0 – Overview
These listed map codes refer to Creative 2.0 maps. These maps differ from the known Creative modes that players can create. They are larger, more detailed, and more realistic. The following are, in my opinion, the best Creative 2.0 maps so far:
Deserted: Domination – Code: 8035-1519-2959
Atlas OG Battle Royale – Code: 2179-7822-3395
The Space Inside – Code: 9836-7381-5978
Pirate Adventure – Code: 2810-0903-5967
Color Switch – Code: 1415-7321-0392
How can I enter the codes? To enter the codes, you need to access your mode selection in Fortnite. Now switch through your tabs until you reach the “Island Code” tab. There you can enter the 12-digit code and get started immediately.
Fortnite: The 5 best map codes in Creative 2.0 – What they can do
Now I will show you the maps in detail and explain what they are for and what they offer.
Deserted: Domination – Code: 8035-1519-2959
The map with all zonesThe 7 classesMap and all 7 classes
What can the map do? In this map, 16 players compete in 2 teams against each other. At the oil refinery, you must capture 3 zones and hold and defend them, just like in the Call of Duty mode “Domination.” You also have a class selection of 7 classes, which provide you with various weapons as well as grenades or mines. The team that reaches 150 points first wins. 5 rounds are fought.
Atlas OG Battle Royale – Code: 2179-7822-3395
Dusty Depot is back!
What can the map do? In this map, 80 players compete against each other. You land on the old Chapter 1 map and can also find old loot and equipment there to fight with. You cannot sprint, only build and enjoy the old graphics, as these have been taken over 1 to 1 from the OG map. There are even familiar places like Loot Lake, Dusty Depot, or Tilted Towers waiting to be conquered.
The Space Inside – Code: 9836-7381-5978
Traps, puzzles, and more!
What can the map do? In The Space Inside, you land in a locked storage room and need to find a way outside. From mines to space stations, you delve deeper into this mystery mode. Although the adventure would be more fun with a team, you can only tackle the mode solo.
Pirate Adventure – Code: 2810-0903-5967
A large world that you can build on
What can the map do? In Pirate Adventure, you and 3 other pirates are stranded on an island with no memory of what happened. You explore the mysterious island and discover it hides many secrets. You then decide to stay and gradually build up the island.
You create workbenches to build houses and other useful buildings. However, you will need resources that you can find on the island.
Color Switch – Code: 1415-7321-0392
Color Switch – A fun pastime
What can the map do? In Color Switch, 12 players compete against each other. The angry Peely gives you colors to find, and you must then look for fields with the specified color. If you are too slow or on the wrong tile, it will lose its ground, and you will be disqualified. The last one standing wins. Meanwhile, losers can play mini-games to pass the time until the new round begins.
These were the best maps for Creative 2.0 that you can play again and again. Keep in mind that the editor for Fortnite has not been active for long. Therefore, more and especially better maps will be created over time. We will add them here and, if appropriate, also eliminate old maps and replace them with new ones.
What do you think of UE5 and the editor in Fortnite? Do you find the current maps cool or are they boring to you? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
Currently running in FIFA 23 is the FUT Birthday event, and there are tokens to collect again. We show you where the tokens are hiding and what is already available.
What is FUT Birthday? FUT Birthday is the regular birthday event from Ultimate Team, currently taking place in FIFA 23. It started on March 24, 2023, and brought cards with various stat, foot, and skill upgrades, as well as new Icon cards. You can find an overview of FUT Birthday here.
Just like the last events, the “FUT Birthday” also brings a swapping component with it. In the “FUT Birthday Swap”, you can collect tokens, which you can exchange for rewards. We’ll show you everything about it here.
FUT Birthday Token – Where are they hiding in Ultimate Team?
Where can I find the tokens? The tokens are hiding behind different elements of Ultimate Team. You can find them in:
In special SBCs
Behind tasks
As Squad Battles rewards
In packs from the FUT store
and in FUT Moments
What do the tokens bring? Collected tokens are meant to be exchanged for rewards in special SBCs (Squad Building Challenges). We will show you the complete rewards overview further down.
FIFA 23: The FUT Birthday Token Tracker – All SBCs and objectives at a glance
Where are the swap tokens? To let you know where to get the tokens, we will list the current locations of the FUT Birthday swaps here. The tokens are sorted by the order of their appearance. You will find the oldest token at the top and the newest token at the bottom.
Note that some tokens are only available for a limited time – so you should grab them before they expire.
Ementa – FGS Challenge 10 SBC – expired
Oduah – FUT Pack (90k) – expired
Magnusson – Login gift – expires on 07.04.2023
Hofman – Task player (First Owner Fiesta) – expired
Gibbs – Task player (Silver Stars) – expires on 29.03.2023
Marc Aguado – Denmark v Finland SBC – expires on 30.03.2023
Waleed – FUT 15 SBC – expires on 31.03.2023
Jurcec – Task player (daily login SBC) – expires on 07.04.2023
Ibrahim – Task player (FUT Birthday tasks) – expires on 31.03.2023
McGlynn – Task player (daily login SBC) – expires on 07.04.2023
Silvera – Task player (FUT Birthday tasks) – expires on 07.04.2023
Isac – Task player (daily login SBC) – expires on 07.04.2023
Günther – FUT Pack (85k) – expires on 31.03.2023
Priso – FUT 16 SBC – expires on 01.04.2023
Ewolo – FUT 17 SBC – expires on 02.04.2023
Gallacher – FUT 18 SBC – expires on 03.04.2023
Bentil – Task player (First Owner Fiesta) – expires on 04.04.2023
Mazagg – PSG v Olympique Lyonnais SBC – expires on 06.04.2023
Al Rashidi – Napoli FC v Milan SBC – expires on 06.04.2023
Hajziri – Task player (8 goals with Bundesliga player in Squad Battles or Rivals)- expires on 14.04.2023
Mouanga – FUT Birthday Cup (Win 2 games) – Expires on 07.04.2023
Smith – FUT Pack (85k) – expires on 07.04.2023
Lee Tae Suk – FUT Birthday Cup (Complete 4 games) – Expires on 07.04.2023
Opsahl – FUT Birthday Cup (Complete 8 games) – Expires on 07.04.2023
Ngoy – FUT 19 SBC – expires on 07.04.2023
Diaby – Play a draft match – 21.04.2023
Nwadike – FUT 20 SBC – expires on 08.04.2023
Sabetkar – FUT 21 SBC – expires on 09.04.2023
Ogie – FUT 22 SBC – expires on 10.04.2023
How many tokens will there be? In total, according to EA, there will be 30 tokens available for you to collect. The tokens have been in the game since March 22 and will appear in the game over the next few weeks.
What prizes are there? The rewards for the event are as follows. However, note that you cannot use the tokens for all rewards. So, you have to pay attention to which rewards you get.
For 1 token – 81+-11x-Rare Player Pack
For 2 tokens – WC Icon Crespo (89)
For 3 tokens – FUT Birthday Team 1 Player Pack
For 5 tokens – 82+-20x-Rare Player Pack
For 10 tokens – 85+-10x-Rare Player Pack
For 15 tokens – 87+ RTTF, FF Hero, FF, FUT Birthday Team 1 Player Choice (Choice of 5)
For 17 tokens – Icon Ferdinand (90)
For 20 tokens – Two 84+-20x-Rare Player Pack
For 20 tokens – FUT Birthday Icon Alan Shearer (92)
For 27 tokens – 90+-Prime Icon Player Choice (Choice of 4)
Are you already collecting tokens diligently for FUT Birthday? And what rewards do you have your eye on? Feel free to let us know in the comments!
If you want to know which RTTF cards are getting stronger, we have another tracker for you:
The “Warcraft Amusement Park” in China is quite bold. At first glance, you can see what has been stolen – it only works there.
The idea is actually obvious. A large amusement park centered around the various Blizzard universes. An area for World of Warcraft, an area for StarCraft, and Overwatch, plus the hell from Diablo and a Hearthstone tavern.
What the developers in Overwatch created with the map “Blizzard World” also exists in reality – albeit not officially. Because the “Joyland” amusement park in China does not take licensing rights very seriously.
What kind of park is this? The “World Joyland” is a huge amusement park in China that spans numerous different areas, all related to various aspects of the fantasy genre. According to reports from Jessica Colwell from Shanghaiist, the park is even so large that it’s hard to see or experience everything in one day.
But Blizzard fans will likely notice two areas right away, as “Joyland” features both a Warcraft and a StarCraft area. Parts of it can be seen in this (somewhat older) video about the park:
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In fact, everything here screams “copyright infringement” so loudly that such a park would hardly be conceivable in the rest of the world. There are huge statues of the Lich King, while obvious Draenei, Blood Elves, and banners of Stormwind can be seen as far as the eye can see.
In the distance, buildings of the city of Silvermoon can be recognized, and the overall aesthetic makes it clear: A WoW fan should be able to recognize many details here.
The park is deteriorating, nerds are getting unhappy
However, Blizzard fans are unlikely to be very happy here, Colwell suggests, warning in several respects about the large park:
Joyland does not really manage to evoke the player experience – there are no activities that resemble actual gameplay and there was a shocking absence of nerds.
Even in the obviously fantasy elements borrowed from Warcraft, there are creatures that don’t have much to do with Warcraft – such as mermaids or fairies:
The most impressive part of the Warcraft park are the huge statues that move through the park and scream “copyright infringement”. However, there is no separation between Horde and Alliance, and Tauren, Night Elves, and Humans are apparently wildly mixed. They also threw in a few dragons and mermaids into the mix.
For visitors without Chinese language skills, the park can also be quite confusing, as it seems to be not designed for foreign visitors:
Map overviews for the park are available at the entrance, but they are, aside from the area names, completely in Chinese.
Lastly, Colwell also has significant concerns about the quality and maintenance of the park, as it is likely not very well cared for. Just a little over two months after the park opened, she already wrote:
One of the worst aspects is the general decay of the park we observed, alarming in a park that had only been opened for two months. Cracks in the paint and rust on the handrails made the “goodbye!” of the park staff when they started a ride even more eerie.
Is the park allowed to do this? If it were up to Blizzard, probably not. However, China does not take licensing rights and the degree of “inspiration” one allows very seriously. But at least the park has forgone official Blizzard designations.
Thus, the area obviously inspired by Warcraft is called “Terrain of Magic”.
The StarCraft area, on the other hand, is called “Universe of Starship”.
Whether Blizzard will ever fulfill the fans’ wish for an official theme park is questionable. They would have enough material for it – and at least on the first consideration, there would likely be enough Blizzard fans willing to bring friends, family, and children there.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, the event “Jump into Spring” also starts a collector’s challenge. You need to catch certain Pokémon. We will show you where to find them and what rewards there are.
What kind of challenge is this? Over the next few days, the event “Jump into Spring” will take place in Pokémon GO and brings some bonuses and content related to Easter. Among other things, you can expect new and costumed Pokémon.
The collector’s challenge requires you to catch certain species. If you successfully complete this, you will receive selected rewards. In the overview, we show you the tasks and rewards.
Collector’s Challenge
Which Pokémon should you catch?
Flurmel
Scoppel
Haspiror with flower crown
Marill
Evoli with cherry blossoms
Pikachu with cherry blossoms
Wommel
Bandelby (evolve)
Grebbit (evolve)
Schlapor (evolve)
What rewards are there? Once you have caught all the Pokémon, you will receive 10,000 experience points, 5,000 stardust, and a lucky egg at the end of the research.
Where can you catch the Pokémon for the collector’s challenge?
What you need to know: If you have trouble finding or getting certain Pokémon, just check our table:
Pokémon
Location
Flurmel
Wilderness
Scoppel
Wilderness
Haspiror with flower crown
Wilderness
Marill
Wilderness
Evoli with cherry blossoms
Wilderness, level-1 raids, 2-km eggs, field research
With our overview, it should be no problem for you to catch the needed monsters. Remember that you have until the end of the event to complete the challenge. You can finish the task until April 10 at 8:00 PM.
The best games on Steam are collected here in a list. We have selected 7 different PC games based on the best player ratings and listed them for you here. The list of the best games on Steam is current as of April 2023.
What kind of games are these? On steamdb.info there is an algorithm that calculates the ranking for the “Top Rated Games on Steam” (i.e., the best-rated games on Steam). Positive and negative reviews as well as the number of ratings for a game are included.
Here on SteamDB you will find a detailed explanation of how the algorithm works.
We have oriented ourselves on this ranking to introduce you to the best games on Steam here. For each game, there is a game description and a trailer. In addition, we provide a pros and cons comparison and indicate who might find the game interesting.
Terraria is an open-world game in pixel graphics that gives you a lot of freedom. There is no fixed story to follow or any predetermined goals; instead, you can decide what you want to do.
This way, you can create an individual character and explore the 2D game world with him. Gather resources, fight against monsters and build your home. In addition, you can find useful treasures or craft suitable equipment yourself.
High customization options for characters and equipment
Playable on weak PCs
Contra
Completed game with no major updates expected
Pixel graphics are not to everyone’s taste
Who is Terraria worth it for? For players who want as much freedom in gameplay as possible, Terraria offers a large game world full of possibilities. Especially if you like Minecraft, it could be the right game for you.
6. Portal
Developer: Valve | Genre: Adventure, Puzzle Game |Release Date: October 10, 2007 | Steam Page: Portal
You find yourself as a test subject in the facilities of Aperture Science Laboratories. As the main character Chell, you solve tricky puzzles and must “think in portals”. Equipped with your portal gun, you place two openings in the room and create paths to overcome different obstacles.
In Pokémon GO the event “Jump into Spring” starts, which is active over Easter 2023. It brings new Pokémon and some bonuses that we show you here in the overview with start and shinies.
What kind of event is this? Every year at Easter time, there is an event in Pokémon GO that rewards you appropriately with egg bonuses and special Pokémon.
In our overview, we summarize the “Jump into Spring” event with all the content for you.
“Jump into Spring”: Start, Bonuses, Pokémon, Shinies, Raids
When is the start and end? The event starts today, Tuesday, April 4th, at 10:00 AM local time. It will then be active until Monday, April 10th, at 8:00 PM local time.
What bonuses are there?
When hatching eggs, you will receive double the amount of candies
If you activate lucky eggs during the event, they will last for one hour
Eggs placed in incubators during the event will hatch twice as fast
Which new Pokémon are coming? For the first time, you will encounter the humming fly Pokémon “Wommel” and its evolution “Bandelby” in Pokémon GO. The evolution costs 50 candies.
Pokémon in costumes: During the event, you can catch Pokémon adorned with cherry blossoms. These include Pichu*, Pikachu*, Raichu*, Evoli*, Aquana, Blitza, Flamara, Psiana, Nachtara, Folipurba, Glaziola, and Feelinara (Pokémon marked with a star can be caught as shiny).
Pokémon in the wild: Pikachu with cherry blossoms*, Pummeluff*, Evoli with cherry blossoms*, Marill*, Flurmel*, Haspiror with flower crown*, Scoppel*, and Wommel will appear more frequently in the wild during the event. With a bit of luck, you may encounter Chaneira with a flower crown* and Togetic with a flower crown*.
Pokémon in raids:
Raid Level
Boss
1
Pikachu with cherry blossoms* Pummeluff* Evolit with cherry blossoms* Wommel
3
Kokowei Alola-Kokowei* Chaneira with flower crown* Togetic with flower crown*
Eggs (2 km): From the 2 km eggs that you receive and hatch during the event, the following Pokémon can hatch: Evoli with cherry blossoms*, Pichu with cherry blossoms*, Togepi with a flower crown*, Azurill*, Wonneira with a flower crown*, Owei*, Riolu*, and Wommel.
Collection challenge and research: As rewards from new field research that you receive during the event, you get encounters with Pikachu with cherry blossoms*, Chaneira with a flower crown*, Evoli with cherry blossoms*, and Togetic with a flower crown*. For the collection challenge “Jump into Spring”, you will receive XP, Stardust, and a lucky egg.
Contents in the shop: During and after the event, you will find the new Wonneira hoodies for your avatar:
How do you like the spring event in Pokémon GO? Will you use the contents and fill your egg supplies, or do you already have other plans for Easter and hardly have time to play?
Let us know your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange views with other trainers about it.
Blue Protocol held a network test in Japan from March 31 to April 2. There, some players could try out the content up to level 20. We at MeinMMO were unable to participate in the test, but we summarize what the testers have to say about the MMORPG.
How is Blue Protocol received? The MMORPG is said to have developed significantly compared to the last test in 2020 and gained more depth. Especially the combat system is said to feel very dynamic – also thanks to jumping, dodging, and various auto-attacks.
Some side aspects, such as strong boss fights, hidden treasure chests in the game world, or the photo mode, are also mentioned as positive examples.
However, there are also three points that are viewed critically:
The high grind
Leveling the Adventure Rank
The very generic side quests
You can check out the first gameplay here:
Start video
Blue Protocol: Gameplay Trailer
Blue Protocol has more abilities than you might think
How does character creation work? At the beginning, you choose one of the five classes and can then create a character, having access to various customization options.
The editor is not as detailed as Black Desert, but offers some options to distinguish yourself from other players.
However, with your character, you are not bound to one class. After just a few levels, an NPC is said to offer you the opportunity to learn another class. However, that starts again at level 1. In the future, you will only need the appropriate weapon and can switch between all 5 classes as often as you like in any city.
The character editor in Blue Protocol.
How exactly does combat work? In Blue Protocol, each class has access to:
Attacks with the left and right mouse buttons
4 abilities
2 pet abilities
That may sound like little, but there are many customization options for these abilities.
The attack with the left mouse button changes when you select a directional key. For example, if you attack with W + mouse button, the Twinblade class ignites enemies, while side-attacking (with A or D) + mouse button performs an AoE attack. This gives you a total of 3 types of auto-attacks.
Additionally, it is possible to use attacks and abilities from a jump. Although this has no additional effect, testers say it feels good. Sprinting and dodging are also important to avoid enemy attacks.
In addition to the main abilities, there are also two slots for pets that you can equip. You obtain these pets in-game through various tasks. They can heal, deal damage, or provide useful buffs.
In combat, you can decide whether to stay in an action view and aim with your attacks or whether to “lock on” to a target. This is done with the middle mouse button. Then all abilities fly directly to the enemy.
Those who forego the “lock on” may have advantages. As an archer, for instance, you deal more damage when hitting the enemy’s head.
Additionally, there are so-called attack chains. If you hit a target multiple times in a row, you increase your damage. After 50 hits, you deal 1% more damage, after another 100 hits 2%, and so on.
How action-packed the fights are and what the opponents can do is shown in this video by YouTuber Steparu, who runs the first group dungeon:
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What do we know about group play? Blue Protocol places a strong emphasis on dungeons and raids that can be completed in small and large groups. You can either venture out with a fixed group or use a dungeon finder.
Guilds – called teams in Blue Protocol – have a limit on the number of members. However, this can be increased by leveling your guild.
There will initially be no PvP in Blue Protocol.
Criticism for high grind and boring side quests
What do testers criticize? A major criticism that keeps coming up is the grind. This applies to several content types. For instance, leveling the Adventure Ranks is said to be somewhat annoying.
The Adventure Rank is somewhat like your account level and runs parallel to class levels. You increase this through special tasks, which are said to be very generic. For example, you must defeat a certain number of enemies, gather herbs, and catch fish. All of this must be done because only with a higher Adventure Rank do new content such as quests and dungeons unlock.
However, some players are said to have already farmed for hours for upgrades because monsters rarely dropped the right materials. The drop and XP rates were increased specifically for this test, so some are concerned that the grind in the final version could be too extreme.
A third criticism is directed at the side quests. The tasks beyond the main story are said to be very generic. Kill X, collect Y, and run to Z – the typical MMORPG fare. Here, some hope that there will be more inspiration from Genshin Impact in the future, where the side quests also included one or two puzzles.
What do testers say about the story? Quite little. You yourself are somewhat of the Chosen One, who has lost their memory. Over time, you regain pieces of memory and fight against a powerful villain, the Dragon King. A relatively typical scenario for an Asian RPG.
Some also view the lack of voice acting for quests in the game as a critical point. However, some hope that this will be addressed further, as it was only a test.
However, many testers admit that they understand little or no Japanese and therefore couldn’t really follow the story. Many also focused on other things due to the short period of time.
You can check out the conclusion video from MMOByte here:
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What about the shop and Pay2Win? Blue Protocol will be Free2Play and has a Gacha system that mainly pertains to cosmetic content such as mounts, skins, and emotes. Additionally, there are orbs that provide advantages, such as when leveling the Adventure Rank. Some see this as a strong Pay2ProgressFaster.
Slightly more criticism is directed at the dungeon tickets. You receive 3 for free each day, but can buy more. While these tickets are not needed for entry, they are required for the big loot at the end. So, to grind faster, you need to buy these tickets for real money.
There is also a Battle Pass (both free and paid) as well as a Seasonal Shop, where offers regularly rotate, likely playing into the common “Fear of Missing Out,” or the fear of missing a good deal.
What do you think about what has been shown of Blue Protocol so far? Are you looking forward to the MMORPG? And which questions remain open for you? Feel free to write it in the comments.
We have summarized all the information around the MMORPG again here:
The next patch of World of Warcraft is coming much earlier than expected. Already at the beginning of May, it will be heading to Aberrus, in the new raid.
The current patch 10.0.7 has only been live for a few weeks, but this year, Blizzard apparently knows no respite for the fans of World of Warcraft. The first “big” update of the expansion is coming and has already received a release date. With the early release of patch 10.1 Glut of Neltharion, WoW is likely surpassing its own schedule and not allowing the risk of content drought to arise.
When is patch 10.1 released? The official release date of patch 10.1 is May 3, 2023 – exactly one month from now. As usual, the patch will go live on the US realms a few hours earlier on May 2, due to the time difference and different maintenance work.
What’s included in the patch? With the patch, players will descend into the Zaralek Caverns. This is a new area located directly beneath the Dragon Isles and is accessible from several entry points. Here, the Incarnates plan their next steps, and above all, the fiery Fyrrak seeks new strength and allies to constrain the aspects and the heroes of Azeroth.
The second “big piece” is the new raid: Aberrus, the Shadow Crucible. In this raid, the secrets of Neltharion and the origins of the Dracthyr await to be explored. This of course comes with some challenging bosses and also some special loot that makes your fellow players weaker.
When does the raid start? Players will not have to wait long for the raid either, as Aberrus, the Shadow Crucible, will start just a week later, on May 10, 2023. Accordingly, the “World First” race will also begin then, as the mythic difficulty will open simultaneously with the normal and heroic!
What do you think of this early release date? Just right to avoid boredom? Or is it perhaps a bit too fast?
Team Solo Mid is the most successful and powerful US team in League of Legends. TSM has won 7 out of 20 championship titles in the LCS. For 8 years, the organization relied on superstar Bjergsen. But in 2023, the team appears to be facing extinction. Due to the bankruptcy of a crypto bank, the organization is reportedly planning to sell its professional slot in the LCS. This was reported by an insider report. Fans are horrified, and the CEO remains silent.
This was the news:
On March 31, “Sports Business Journal” reported that TSM plans to sell its professional spot in the LOL league LCS.
What does it mean to sell one’s “spot”? The professional league LCS is a franchise league: One cannot be promoted or relegated. Teams must buy a place in the league from another team if they want to enter the league. Such spots are traded for double-digit millions.
What does TSM say about this? They do not comment directly on the story. However, TSM’s CEO, Reginald, indirectly responded on Twitter a day later.
Reginald said: TSM is committed to esports.
He said they plan to enter CS:GO – that would be a bigger investment than “all the games” they have left: They will always look at the situation in esports and decide where to invest best.
The “games they have left” could indeed refer to a withdrawal from LoL – but also to the fact that TSM withdrew from the esports scene of Rainbow Six Siege in February 2023 (via dexerto).
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To recruit Bjergsen again and put together an expensive team – the best North America has to offer – that is probably what he means by “doubling the investment”.
However, Bjergsen declined and TSM opted for an affordable roster with talents from China.
Bjergsen and Doublelift were for a long time the faces and guarantees of success for TSM.
Fans mourn the great times with Bjergsen
How is this being discussed? This is a huge story for League of Legends because TSM was still the giant in US LoL just a few years ago and, with the gigantic crypto deal, should have been the dominant force in North America for years.
On reddit, people are writing:
“The name was shouted by the audience worldwide and now they find themselves like this – what a downfall!”
“I wonder how the whole history would have changed if TSM had not gotten Bjergsen in 2014. It always felt like TSM was heavily dependent on players coming to them just to play with Bjergsen.”
“TSM was the most popular organization in the world before Bjergsen and their players averaged 300,000 viewers.”
The “TSM” chants have been a well-known phenomenon in League of Legends for ages:
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What is up with Bjergsen? The Dane Bjergsen came to TSM in 2013 and stayed in the organization until 2021: He became a superstar in LoL.
However, in 2021, Bjergsen left the team. At that time, there were conflicts involving Reginald, who was portrayed as a tyrant.
Without Bjergsen, TSM relied on a young team with a strong Chinese influence, but had some problems here. A coach is said to have embezzled €200,000 while trying to recruit Chinese players for TSM.
Without Bjergsen, TSM had no major success in the last two years.
Is TSM really selling its LoL spot? Officially not, but there are many indications. Just before the report, the head coach of the LoL professionals stated that the LoL team had to operate on a very low budget. Additionally, many key employees were laid off, and Reginald mentioned that they had “hired too many new people too quickly.”
The loss of the deal with the crypto exchange was apparently a severe blow.
The statements from Reginald do not sound like a denial. For the US scene in LoL, a withdrawal from TSM would certainly be a great loss. For many years, TSM was the team to beat if you wanted to become champions in the LCS – or you had to switch there.
The crisis at TSM began in November 2021 when negative reports regarding Reginald increased:
The popular horror title Resident Evil 4 received a remake after 18 years. However, some fans disagree that developer Capcom replaced a voice actress. The new cast faced massive backlash and was forced to withdraw.
Why are the fans outraged? On March 23, 2023, Resident Evil 4 (RE4) received a remake after 18 years – something many fans of the series had been waiting for for years. However, developer Capcom replaced the English voice actress for Ada Wong.
The charismatic secret agent is voiced by Lily Gao in the RE4 remake. In the original version from 2005, Jolene Anderson voiced the character.
Apparently, parts of the community are not satisfied with the new casting – Lily Gao is facing hate because players dislike the voice of the voice actress and the way she portrayed Ada Wong.
Start video
Do you recognize these German Twitch streamers by their dubbing voices in video games?
Voice actress withdraws: Some players were apparently so dissatisfied with Lily Gao’s work that it was not enough for them to post their frustration in forums. They sought out her social media channels.
On Instagram and Twitter, players reportedly left her hate messages according to the online magazine PC Gamer.
Lily Gao responded to the harassment and withdrew from her social media channels. As a first step, she disabled the option to comment on her posts.
Shortly thereafter, she hid or even deleted a large part of her posts from other users.
From Marios Gavrilis, one of the most well-known German voice actors, we received some insights into the work of a voice actor in an interview.
Marios is known for roles like Sam Porter Bridges in Death Stranding or Alexios from Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. In his assessment, there is no difference between voice acting for series or games. Both need to be felt and performed equally.
Where is the Switch version of Genshin Impact? This is what is currently known about the release.
Update from April 3, 2023: There are no new updates or official information regarding the release date of Genshin Impact for Nintendo Switch. HoYoverse seems to continue working on the new game version.
Update from May 6, 2022: miHoYo has announced that they are still actively working on a Switch version: “The Switch version is still in development and we will release more information on it when we are further along (via gonintendo.com).”
On September 28, 2020, Genshin Impact was released on PS4, PC, Android, and iOS. Meanwhile, the update 3.6 for the co-op RPG with gacha system has also been introduced.
You can watch the trailer here:
Start video
Genshin Impact: Version 3.6 „A Parade of Providence” Trailer
What we know about Genshin Impact for Switch
Is there a release date for Genshin Impact for Switch? No. Unfortunately, HoYoverse has remained tight-lipped about this so far.
Is the version still in development? Officially yes. The last previous statement about this can be found on the page jpgames.de. In response to their inquiry, miHoYo revealed that the Switch version is still in development, and more information will follow as soon as it is further along. The article was published on May 6, 2022.
Also, in response to gonintendo.com, the Genshin Impact team confirmed on May 5, 2022, that they are still working on the Nintendo Switch version.
Will there be a beta? An interview with developer Sam Lai indicates that beta tests are apparently planned. When exactly is not known.
Do you have to buy Genshin Impact on Switch? Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game. Therefore, it can be assumed that it will also be free on the Switch.
MeinMMO will of course keep you updated in case there are news about Genshin Impact for Nintendo Switch. If you can’t wait and want to start on another platform, we have some useful guides for you.
Will the Genshin Impact Switch release take place in 2023? Currently, unfortunately, there is not much information about the Switch version of Genshin Impact. Many are wondering if the Switch release could take place in 2023. However, there are currently no concrete hints to support this.
Are you already playing Genshin Impact or are you waiting for the Switch release? Let us know in the comments.
In February 2023, a video went viral: The Polish streamer Sidneuke ran over a dog while streaming, driving, and looking at her phone. A clip of the incident went viral on Twitter. The clip shocked and outraged people worldwide. For the streamer, the act had drastic consequences: Twitch banned her permanently. But now she has switched to Kick.com. The platform is becoming a safe haven for those who have fallen from grace on Twitch.
Warning: The clip is uncomfortable not only for animal lovers and can trigger a feeling of unease. Therefore, we do not embed it directly but only link to it. Nevertheless, this is a distressing topic.
This was the incident that shocked so many:
The Polish streamer is sitting in the car, filming herself with her phone, and complaining that so many dogs are running free (via twitter).
The streamer looks at her phone when she suddenly gets startled because the car jolts. She then says, “I ran over a dog!”
In the aftermath of the clip, she gets upset about how many people let their dogs run around freely. They should be leashed. She does not further address her behavior of staring at her phone while driving.
Moments before the accident, the streamer has eyes only for her phone, not the road.
This was the reaction: The situation outraged people worldwide in February 2023, especially on Twitter. The behavior of the streamer was seen as irresponsible.
According to reports, a Polish animal protection authority opened an investigation against her and wanted to transfer the case to the prosecutor’s office.
The streaming platform Twitch, where this took place, has issued a permanent ban against her. Twitch often responds to public outrage with permanent bans, especially on Twitter.
This is what the streamer said about it: The streamer later stated on Twitter that the dog is fine. She is in contact with the owner. She has learned her lesson and will not look at her phone while driving anymore.
However, according to the streamer, the criticism of her is hypocritical. She said (via twitter):
Top influencers, who have never used a phone while driving, put pressure on me and spread misinformation. I made a mistake, but I got out and took care of it! I didn’t leave the dog to die!
What happened next? According to a report by the Spanish site 3D Juegos, the streamer initially accepted the consequences of her actions and apologized on Twitter.
However, she is now simply bypassing the ban by continuing to stream on Kick, Twitch’s competitor. She has already been active there for 18 days and has 142 followers.
Start video
DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day
Kick becomes a refuge for banned Twitch streamers and gambling
What’s behind this: Kick seems to be establishing itself as a platform for “controversial streamers” who have problems on Twitch and can no longer show their content there:
Many gambling streamers have retreated to Kick after Twitch banned the crypto casino “Stake”, with which some casino streamers made lucrative deals
controversial streamers like “Adin Ross” have also switched to Kick
If banned streamers like Sidneuke switch there now, Kick could develop into a kind of “penal colony” for those who have fallen from grace on Amazon’s streaming service.
What is the problem? One problem is that behavior clearly deemed immoral remains without severe consequences when the streamers in question can simply start anew elsewhere. This could shift the boundaries of what is accepted and what is not.
A clear advantage is that Twitch loses its monopoly position with strong competition and must become more transparent. Some decisions are hard to understand. To this day, no one knows why the streamer DrDisrespect was banned.
However, the fact that the competitor is obviously a rival funded by a casino and seemingly imposes much lower moral standards than the American market leader is not exactly a reassuring development.
The main argument for Kick also seems to be quite simple: money:
Bellatores is a new MMORPG set to be released exclusively for PC and on Steam. Although the developer is based in Korea, it aims to appeal primarily to Western players. New details, an English website, and new screenshots have now been shared.
What kind of game is this?Bellatores was originally announced as Project N1 in 2020. It is set to be a fantasy MMORPG with a focus on a medieval world. This world is promised to be particularly realistic, with a mix of PvE, PvP, and survival:
You create a character from various races. The characters are all designed in a more Western style and there will be no sexualization or gender locks.
However, the game does not have fixed classes or levels. Your equipment determines your play style, and it will also be possible for mages to wear plate armor. You will level up your skills directly and not your character.
The combat system relies on tab-targeting and collisions. You will be able to block other attackers in their path with a formation of players. Additionally, you should be able to hide behind objects to evade attacks.
Within the story, you will be able to make decisions that will affect the gameplay. Everything revolves around the fact that the mad King Heinrich has died and now 5 other families are vying for the throne.
You join one of the 5 factions and will constantly engage in active PvP against the other 4 in the open world. There will also be huge realm-vs-realm battles.
Dungeons and raids are only available in the open world, so other factions can attack you during these boss fights.
The MMORPG is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, and the developers themselves take pride in their strong graphics. Currently, there is no gameplay of Bellatores yet, but some screenshots have been published, which we have included here for you:
Bellatores receives significant financial support also from Epic Games
Where does the high budget come from? Bellatores has received financial boosts totaling over 44 million euros through various means. This includes funding from investors amounting to approximately 22.3 million euros in 2022 (via GameAbout) and funding from Epic Games (Fortnite) of about 5 to 15 million euros (via mk.co.kr). To the 44 million euros, equity comes from revenues of various mobile MMORPGs.
The investments are large sums that many Western studios attempting new MMORPGs can only dream of:
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, on the other hand, seems to be constantly at its limit. After an initial kickstarter campaign barely reached 700,000 euros from backers, it is said that later there was a seven-figure sum from a private investor. Additionally, packages on the website, according to the developers, were purchased by over 8,000 people by 2021 (via Pantheon).
Throne and Liberty, the new MMORPG from NCSoft, is said to have already consumed over 75 million euros in development.
When will the game be released? Bellatores is set to be released in the second half of 2024. Whether the release will happen globally right away or first in its home country of Korea has not been confirmed by the developers.
Anyone looking for more new MMORPGs will find them in this list:
With the Endwalker addon in Final Fantasy XIV, the great storyline around Hydaelyn and Zodiark has concluded, but the game is far from over. What does the near and distant future hold for the MMORPG?
Here’s what the director says: Many months before the release of Endwalker, the director of FFXIV, Naoki Yoshida, emphasized that his game does not end there. The support for the MMORPG would continue for years afterwards, Yoshida stated.
Concrete plans exist for at least another 5 years (via Kotaku) and the next addon is already in the works, as the director explained in an interview on Radio Mogstation. However, the details are still shrouded in silence.
The first information about it is expected to be revealed at the Fan Festival in Las Vegas on July 28 and 29, and the subsequent Fan Fests.
The long-term plans for FFXIV are primarily rooted in the financial success of the MMORPG. Looking at Square Enix’s financial reports to investors, there is a recorded increase of 3% in profit in the MMO segment compared to the previous year. Other areas in Digital Entertainment have shrunk significantly.
While other areas in Digital Entertainment suffered losses, the MMO segment grew
In a producer stream, Yoshida noted that the usual patch cycle of FFXIV will change. Previously, the transition for the upcoming addon started with patch x.4. This will not be the case in the subsequent patches of Endwalker.
Caution: Heavy spoilers about the Endwalker addon and its subsequent patches follow.
Start video
Announcement Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023-2024
Into the Void
This is the status of the story: In the ongoing story of FFXIV, a quieter phase has begun after Endwalker. The end of the world has been averted, and the Warriors of Light suddenly have a lot of free time, which they spend seeking new adventures.
These adventures take them back to the beginnings of FFXIV, the Crystal Tower raid. The world of darkness, also known as the Void, which is briefly visited during the raid, is the next travel destination.
In search of Azdaja, the sister of the great dragon Vrtra, the Warrior of Light and his allies have found a way to traverse the Void. There they meet Zero, part Voidsent, part human, who tells more about the history and the rules of their world.
The new antagonist of the story is initially a Voidsent named Golbez, whom some Final Fantasy fans may recognize from FFIV. He commands a massive army led by his generals and holds Vrtra’s sister captive.
Fun Fact: After completing the story quests of 6.2, visiting Cyella and Unukalhai in the Crystarium allows for a conversation about the journey to the 13th shard. They both originally hail from there and now have new dialogue options. However, this is only possible if you have completed their respective quest lines beforehand.
What’s next? In the upcoming patches, fans can expect further confrontations with Golbez and his henchmen. The few fragments and clues from the cutscenes of patch 6.2 have sparked many speculations among players, primarily centered around Golbez and who he really is. These include:
He is one of the Warriors of Light from the 13th shard.
To become so powerful, he consumed a portion of Zodiac’s ether.
Some even suspect that Golbez is one of Azem’s shards.
Golbez in front of a figure dressed like one of the Ancients.
In any case, it can be assumed that the further story will initially revolve around the 13th shard world. The remaining loose ends of the Endwalker story will be concluded in the side content of the raids. Pandemonium showcases players’ shared adventures with Elidibus, and in the 24-man raids, they will learn who the 12 gods worshipped in Eorzea are.
The release date of patch 6.4 is set for the end of May, with the patch again being divided into several parts. Updates 6.41 and 6.45 will be released a few weeks to months later.
What are your theories regarding Golbez and his identity? What speculations do you have about the upcoming story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The developers of the upcoming MMORPG Ashes of Creation recently held their monthly livestream. In it, they provided fans with new details about the storyline and the next alpha.
Originally, the release of Ashes of Creation was scheduled for 2019, but the MMORPG has been postponed several times. Currently, fans are waiting for Alpha 2, which is supposed to be followed by Beta one day. Every month, the developers at Intrepid Studios discuss in a stream how their work is progressing.
At the beginning of the livestream, someone immediately asked about the second alpha and whether it was “months or years away.” Intrepid Studios replied: “Alpha 2 is not years away, but it is also not just around the corner” (via Youtube).
The developers promised their community not to give more data until they feel completely sure. This is probably due to the repeatedly postponed tests and release dates in the past.
Here you can see the trailer for the first alpha of Ashes of Creation:
Start video
Ashes of Creation Trailer for the first Alpha
The story continues based on what the players do
In addition to upcoming tests, the developers are discussing the storyline. It is not linear; players cannot even accept their quests themselves.
Instead, the MMORPG injects appropriate content based on what the players are doing and how far the nodes have progressed. When a node, for example, reaches a certain level, the story continues.
What are nodes? Nodes are locations in the open world that can be captured, expanded, and defended by players. Each node has a zone that it influences. Everything that happens within this zone affects the node. Completing tasks or collecting materials gives the node experience.
The story then proceeds not only through emerging quests and dialogues but also through changes in the environment, as the developers explain.
Although Alpha 2 still seems far away, the community appears enthusiastic in the comments. “I’m so glad about these streams! Ashes of Creation is one of the few games where I follow the development so closely. Keep up the good work,” writes one of the fans.
“The passion that every team member has for Ashes of Creation comes through when you just listen – I love that. I can’t wait for Alpha 2,” says another user in the comments.
What do you think about the new info on the MMORPG? Are you also looking forward to upcoming tests? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
The MMORPG RuneScape is now considered one of the classics among MMORPGs. It was originally released in 2001 and is still very popular today, 22 years later.
RuneScape is one of the oldest MMORPGs still online. The developer is the British company Jagex. Many associate strong nostalgia with the game, others have never stopped playing.
There are 2 versions of the MMORPG:
RuneScape 3: This is the regular game version that receives regular updates.
Old School RuneScape: This version is reminiscent of the early days of the 22-year-old game. It features very outdated graphics and clunky mechanics.
Old School RuneScape has higher player numbers today
Player count records began 10 years ago, which can be viewed on MisplacedItems. The graph shows the numbers for the current version of RuneScape, for Old School RuneScape, as well as the total number.
Today, significantly more people are playing the Classic version, which started in 2013 at the player’s request.
Since the beginning of 2016, more people seem to be interested in it, previously the traditional game version was higher.
Also noteworthy is that the numbers are overall higher in 2023 than they were 10 years ago.
The MMORPG currently has about 115,000 players, 90,000 of whom are active in the Old School version.
Old School RuneScape has become increasingly popular over the years.
Originally, RuneScape was played in the browser
What kind of game is this anyway? RuneScape is set in a fantasy world called Gielinor. You experience adventures and uncover ancient legends and tales as gods plot dark plans.
In RuneScape, you can traverse dungeons, face bosses, and collect treasures. PvP is also possible. Alternatively, you can craft or build your own farm.
The MMORPG gives you a lot of freedom. Your character is not bound to a class, but you decide which skills you level up.
It offers a classic MMORPG experience without leaning towards modern representatives of the genre. There are no solo contents or particularly captivating stories. Exploration and group content are clearly in the foreground.
In the video, you can see the trailer for Old School RuneScape:
Start video
Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam Release
Originally, RuneScape started in 2001 as a free browser game. Back then, it was only in English, with the German version following in 2007.
Over the years, it received regular updates and even launched on Steam in 2020. Both Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3 are available there.
People report that the MMORPG doesn’t let them go. “This game ruined my life”, reads a comment next to a positive review on Steam. Another user writes: “I played the game as a child. I played the game as a teenager. Now I play the game as an adult.”
Especially Old School RuneScape retains its players due to the familiarity, as Senior Product Manager Mathew Kemp explains in an interview. It is kept simple, the mechanics are by no means simplified, and much of the content takes a long time. But because of the nostalgia that players feel with no other MMORPG, they stay.
However, there are not only veterans in RuneScape. According to Mathew Kemp, young players also find their way into the game.
We summarize some of the voices from the Steam reviews of both game versions for you:
kosmos after 2,700 hours: “You never really leave RuneScape. You just take different lengths of breaks.”
General Sith after 2,100 hours: “If you get addicted to games quickly: Run away… or not. I started playing in 2005 and ‘stopped’ in 2012. I returned in 2014, ‘stopped’ again in 2015, and started again in 2016. You can’t escape; you just take breaks.”
Nazeracoo after 1,100 hours: “I’ve been playing the game since I was 11 and have never stopped.”
Blissfull Ignorance after 1,000 hours: “I lost my wife because of the game.”
Even in 2022, there are MMORPG fans who have not yet tried RuneScape. It seems to never be too late to start in the MMORPG.
In both game versions, you’ll encounter fellow players, so you are certainly not in a “dead” MMORPG. According to the Steam reviews, they will likely remain or at least return after a break.
For veterans, nostalgia is at the forefront, but new players who do not value great graphics can also find enjoyment in RuneScape.
Players agree that RuneScape, both the old and the more modern version, offers a tremendous amount of content. Even 22 years after release, there is always something new being added.
How much does RuneScape cost? The base game is free, but it offers a premium membership that costs you €10.99 per month. This then gives you more quests, 11 additional classes, and the ability to own your own house.
What do you think about RuneScape? Which version do you play? Are you also among the players who have never let go of the MMORPG? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
