Ubisoft messed up The Division 2 – Now they are paying a high price for it

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 5 minutes

In March 2019, the MMO shooter The Division 2 launched with an outstandingly strong start. The title received 84% on Metacritic, and players were excited about the story and atmosphere of the loot shooter. In 2023, Ubisoft is in a crisis, and the game series The Division seems nearly dead after 3 years. “How could it go so wrong?” asks our author Schuhmann.

How well was The Division 2 received back then? The release of The Division 2 in March 2019 appeared to be a huge success for Ubisoft: the game was positively reviewed by the press at launch – fans also took a great liking to the game:

  • On Metacritic, the PC version received 84% – The Division 1 only stood at 79% at its release
  • The usually critical users of MeinMMO were impressed right from the release and rated Division 2 around 79%

It was particularly praised that there was so much content in the game at launch – the atmosphere was highlighted as particularly strong, especially the attention to detail of the open world received much acclaim.

Whereas the release of The Division in 2016 was plagued by bugs, glitches, and exploits, this time everything went smoothly for the most part.

The sales figures were not as outstandingly strong as in part 1

Did the game sell well? Not really:

The Division Heartland is currently the hope of the game series:

Start video
The Division: Heartland shows more gameplay – This is the new free shooter in the Division universe

Development of The Division 2 was stopped very early

How is The Division 2 doing today? The Division 2 practically ran out in 2020 – Ubisoft halted work on The Division 2 after completing the expansion “Warlords of New York”; in February 2021 it was then announced – also surprising for the team – that they would indeed continue working on The Division 2.

But since 2020, there has been hardly anything happening in the franchise – the game has lost significant relevance.

The Division 2 only regained some relevance with the 2020 expansion, but since around October 2020, The Division 2 has barely mattered to most players, if one uses interest in the game measured by Google Trends as a benchmark:

the division 2 google interest trends 2023

Ubisoft blames 2023 “everlasting live games” for the crisis

How is Ubisoft doing today? Meanwhile, a crisis has broken out at Ubisoft. In a financial update on January 11, 2023, CEO Yves Guillemot said they were “disappointed with current performance.” There were poor sales figures, and some new projects were canceled (via inverse):

  • After a sexism scandal in 2020, it seems there are issues at Ubisoft – following the scandal, the chief strategist and creator of the Ubisoft formula was dismissed
  • The well-known Ubisoft formula “Open world with numerous collectibles, quests and mini-bosses that are gradually unlocked” seems to have finally worn out
  • As a reason for the lack of success in recent years, Ubisoft states that the gaming industry has focused on “mega-brands and everlasting live games”

According to Ubisoft’s logic, they lack a hit just as The Division should have been.

The Division 2 was considered a flop and the end of an era in 2019

Why was The Division 2 later discontinued? Although The Division 2 appeared to be a hit at launch, it was considered a financial flop in Ubisoft’s eyes and triggered a crisis in 2019.

The Division was thrown in the same pot as the even worse failed “Ghost Recon Breakpoint”. Both games had 3 similar problems, as the company analyzed:

  • They were sequels to live service titles that had been improved over years
  • Both games had new gameplay elements, but they were not well received
  • Both titles were also “too close” to their respective predecessors

This analysis of the failure of The Division 2 in October 2019 apparently led to the cessation of development on the title with the expansion “Warlords of New York,” which was then released in 2020.

The expansion received a perfunctory content supply, but it was clear: The Division 2 was no longer actively developed, but only prepared content that the company had on hand was released. Otherwise, the shooter was already in “maintenance mode” very early on.

Ubisoft apparently regretted this decision to stop development just a few months later, after the expansion sold well thanks to a trick with PS Plus – and they realized how urgently Ubisoft needed such a “live service title”.

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The major flaw of The Division 2: prioritized campaign over replayability

What was the problem with The Division 2? The shooter “The Division 2” had the problem of not being designed as a live service game at all. The development of The Division 2 began in 2016 when it was still uncertain how the market would shift.

The Division 2 placed much greater emphasis on the story campaign than The Division 1 had:

  • While The Division 1 received new game modes with DLCs that provided high replayability
  • The Division 2 actually only received self-contained expansions to the campaigns with its DLCs that did not offer significant replayability – it was merely a continuation of the very good campaign

As an example of how The Division 2 was not designed as an “everlasting live service game,” the puzzle missions in the DLCs can serve, the expeditions from the DLCs. They were supposed to be the highlight of the DLCs, but disappointed experienced players as they brought little variety.

Additionally, further problems arose in the endgame aspect of The Division 2: for instance, a flawed item system that constantly buried players with unnecessary drops and later had to be rescued with great effort.

The fact that by 2020 the “pandemic atmosphere” that characterized The Division 2 could also be experienced in a diluted form in everyday life was an additional problem.

More on the topic
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von Schuhmann

Ubisoft will be kicking themselves in 2023 for messing it up

Why is this so tragic? Ubisoft actually had exactly such a “mega-brand as an everlasting live service” game with The Division 1: exactly the type of game that is painfully missed in 2023 and that they look at enviously in other companies.

Moreover, they had an ideal foundation for such a game in 2018:

  • The Division 1 found a dedicated, small fan base after years where other studios, like Massive, did great work, had strong development, and functioning PvP
  • But The Division 2 moved away from being a “live service” game and focused mainly on a strong campaign. When players finished the campaign, The Division 2 revealed significant weaknesses: PvP was never particularly popular in The Division 2. The further development of the game can only be described as disappointing.

Whether they can recover from this misstep and the second mistake of ending development so early seems questionable now.

Due to the poor further development of The Division 2 and the fact that “pandemic” seems no longer an exciting topic in 2023 as it seemed in 2016, Ubisoft’s dream of “The Division” as a “mega-brand” seems to have faded, even though things looked so good just a few years ago:

The Division: There is bad news about the planned Netflix film with Jake Gyllenhaal

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

Dead by Daylight makes the terror radius visible – A nerf for all killers?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

The developers of Dead by Daylight are changing the terror radius. Actually a good thing for people with hearing problems – but probably a buff for all survivors.

In recent years, the developers of Dead by Daylight have taken more time to make meaningful improvements that benefit all players. They have also considered players with disabilities – such as hearing or vision impairment – so there have been more and more adjustments. In the future, however, a core mechanic of the game will be significantly easier to recognize: the terror radius. This could also be an advantage for all hearing players.

What are the developers planning? The terror radius is an important game element of Dead by Daylight and poses significant problems for players with hearing impairments. They can only rely on visual signals to find out how close the killer is.

Therefore, the developers want to implement an option to make the terror radius visually noticeable. What exactly this will look like is still unclear, but the most likely option seems to be an icon or a similar effect on the screen that becomes more intense the more one is affected by the terror radius.

Such an option will probably also be used by many players without hearing impairments to more accurately determine whether they are already within the terror radius.

What is the terror radius?
The terror radius, sometimes also called “heartbeat”, is an acoustic signal that survivors can hear. Not only can you hear the heartbeat, but also a specific piece of music from each killer. The closer the killer is to the survivor, the louder the heartbeat and the more intense the music becomes. This serves as an indicator of how close the killer is, even if you can’t see him.

Dead by Daylight is becoming more inclusive: In recent years, the developers have increasingly emphasized that Dead by Daylight should become more inclusive so that people with various impairments can enjoy the game. They have been working on various options concerning color blindness for a long time. The fact that the terror radius will also receive a visual representation in the future is just the next step to provide more enjoyment to hearing-impaired individuals in the eerie realms of the Entity.

Dead by Daylight Ghost Face Legion title title 1280x720
Terror radius – soon also visible for all survivors.

No more duplicate maps and better bots

However, the developers have many more plans that they want to introduce in the coming months. Some of the most interesting changes are:

Bots with more perks: Bots have been very well received; apparently, an average of 70,000 matches with bots are played every day. To make bots more usable and a more meaningful practice tool, they will soon receive customizable perk builds. Although bots will never be able to use all perks effectively, a bit more variety should ensure more realistic behavior and provide more training opportunities for aspiring killers.

Protection against duplicate maps: Getting into the same map consecutively is very annoying since Dead by Daylight actually offers a lot of variety. In the future, it will be impossible to see the same map twice in a row. Even in the subsequent matches, it will be less likely that you will revisit the same map. However, this can be manipulated with offerings so that you – at least in theory – can come to the same map every second time if you really want to.

More about Dead by Daylight can be found here:

Faster distribution of blood points: You can never have enough blood points – or can you? When strong bonuses are active, you can easily reach the limit of 2,000,000 blood points. Since the waiting time for survivors is often very short, you have little time to spend them. Here, the developers want to improve things, particularly increasing the speed at which you can spend blood points. The entire process should be accelerated so that you can unlock what you want faster.

What do you think of the changes? A good thing if there are such options? Or is it a thin line between aids for players with limitations and overly strong buffs for survivors?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. forums.bhvr.com/dead-by-daylight/

ESO: Elsweyr Event – How to Get the Rewards for the Season of Dragons

MiezeMelli MiezeMelli Reading time 4 minutes

In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online there are some in-game events. From January 26, 2023, to February 7, 2023, you can expect the Elsweyr event, the celebrations for the Season of the Dragon. MeinMMO reveals all the details about the event and how you can effectively earn rewards.

When are the celebrations for the Season of the Dragon? The event is currently taking place. It runs until February 7, 2023, at 4:00 PM CET.

What kind of event is this? This is an event for the Elsweyr chapter. Therefore, everything revolves around the areas of northern and southern Elsweyr. A special feature of these areas is the dragons that await you as powerful foes.

How to participate in the Elsweyr event

First of all, you need access to these DLCs: Elsweyr, Dragonhold, Wrathstone and Scalebreaker. They are included in the “ESO+” membership, which you can currently test for free. Until January 31, you can take advantage of the free ESO+ trial.

In the Crown Store, you will find the free starting quest “The Scourge of the Dragons.” Alternatively, you can get the quest by speaking to the NPC Samara near the event tent.

In this event, you can receive glorious and normal crates from Elsweyr. They contain several rewards for you. Here’s how to get your loot:

  • Complete the introductory quest “The Scourge of the Dragons” (once)
  • Complete daily and weekly quests
  • Dragons in the open world of northern and southern Elsweyr
  • Bosses in the dungeons:
    • Frostvault, Depths of Malatar (DLC Wrathstone)
    • Moongrave Temple City, Lair of Maarselok (DLC Scalebreaker)
  • Bosses in Sunspire (Raid)
  • Treasure chests, valuable crates & environmental containers (e.g. barrels or crates)
  • Collecting Psijik portals
  • Stealing loot
  • Collecting resources

These rewards are available at the Elsweyr event

Look forward to these rewards in the crates from Elsweyr:

  • green or blue sellable treasure from Elsweyr
  • green, blue or purple set item from the open world of Elsweyr
  • style materials from Elsweyr
  • treasure maps or discovery reports from Elsweyr
  • crafting style pages from Elsweyr

Special rewards of the Elsweyr event at a glance

ESO - Light Green Lily Petals Fragment
The light green lily petals are the first fragment for the new companion.
RewardsSource
Event tickets (1x)1. Daily quest
northern & southern Elsweyr
Sellable treasure from Elsweyr
(in green, blue or purple quality)		Glorious crate from Elsweyr
Normal crate from Elsweyr (chance)
Set item from the open world of Elsweyr
(in blue or purple quality)		Glorious crate from Elsweyr
Crafting style pages from Elsweyr:
Anequina
Pelletine
Dragonborn
Shields of Senchal
New Moon		Glorious crate from Elsweyr (chance)
Normal crate from Elsweyr (chance)
Costume style pages:
Armor of the Claw Dance Acolyte NEW		Glorious crate from Elsweyr (chance)
Normal crate from Elsweyr (chance)
Event ticket merchant (Impresaria)
Blossom of the Devoted Dancer (companion):
Light green lily petals (5 tickets)
Enchanted silver flute (5 tickets)
Mystical sheet music (5 tickets)		Event ticket merchant (Impresaria)
1st Fragment: Muse of Devotion (personality)
Flask with silver mist		Event ticket merchant (Impresaria)
Feathers (growing Indrik)Nenulaure (Indrik merchant)
Indrik berries:
Berries for the Dawnwood Indrik
Berries for the Spectral Indrik		Nenulaure (Indrik merchant)
Spring Indrik (companion)Nenulaure (Indrik merchant)
Haunting Indrik (companion)Nenulaure (Indrik merchant)

Additionally, both glorious and normal crates from Elsweyr can include the following items:

  • Style materials from Elsweyr
  • transmutation crystals
  • dragon blood, dragon slime, and dragon gall (alchemy)
  • dragon treasures
  • furnishing plans
  • treasure maps or discovery reports from Elsweyr

How to get as many rewards as possible before the event ends

The dragon hunt is particularly worthwhile since you not only get crates from the dragons in the open world of Elsweyr. Additionally, this area also offers valuable reagents for alchemy crafting.

To obtain the event ticket, you must complete a daily area quest in Elsweyr. Remember that you cannot carry more than 12 tickets at the same time.

Complete daily quests in Elsweyr with multiple characters

In the city of Krempen in northern Elsweyr, you can receive 3 daily quests. Head south from the wayshrine and speak with NPCs Ri’hirr, Nisuzi, and the Warmaster Tanerline.

In the city of Senchal in southern Elsweyr, you can take on two more quests. In the marketplace, south of the wayshrine, you will find the quest givers Guybert Flaubert and Bruccius Baenius.

You can accept the daily quests with each of your characters.

If you’re interested in more about ESO, you might also find this interesting:

Complete the quests in Elsweyr with your friends

Doing quests together with friends is not only more fun, but you can also trade items. This way, you can support each other in collecting all the rewards. Additionally, you can share daily quests with your group.

Trade items in your community or guild

You will surely receive some items multiple times. But that’s okay because many of the rewards are tradable. This way, you can trade your rewards with other players.

Look for items in guild stores

If you are missing any rewards, you can also browse through the guild stores.

The contents for this year have just been announced. Have you checked out the big announcement or are you still in the dark about what to expect? We have summarized for you what the upcoming chapter Necrom and the contents of 2023 have in store for you.

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

Better than the game: The Last of Us – Episode 3 – It’s about love, not labels

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time 5 minutes

The series of The Last of Us is better than the source material in the third episode. The story of Bill and Frank is poetry that breaks your hearts with painful beauty.

Warning! The text contains spoilers for episode 3 and the game.

I have never agreed to an interview faster than when I received the offer to speak with Peter Hoar. He is the director of the third episode of The Last of Us. For me, this episode is one of the best I have ever seen in a series.

This episode tells its own story and distances itself from its source, furthering it. It is dedicated to Bill and Frank, two characters in the game who play a relatively small role there. Here, the series even takes the step of largely ignoring the main characters to tell us something that the game could not. The episode confirms something that fans of the games have speculated about for over 10 years.

Bill loves Frank.

The new “The Last of Us” series exceeds my hopes: Spoiler-free conclusion after all 9 episodes

Love created from nothing

We only know Frank as a corpse hanging from the ceiling in the game. Ellie finds a farewell letter in which Frank hurls insults at Bill.

In the game, we need Bill to get to a running car. Bill is a bitter, cynical man who would be labeled a “Prepper.” These are people who intentionally prepare for a catastrophe and make it their life’s work. Bill is a tinkerer and has developed elaborate systems to keep strangers and infected people at bay. Joel is one of the few exceptions of people he trusts. At least a little.

As a player, I only find out that Bill is gay after I say goodbye to him and continue my journey with his car.

What I loved about my episode from the moment I read the script: I knew Bill. I knew who he is and what role he plays in the game. But his story is only understood in retrospective. You only understand it when Joel and Ellie drive away and Ellie finds the stack of [gay] porn under the seat. Our story elaborates on just that.

Peter Hoar

That Frank and Bill were in a relationship is strongly hinted at in the game. The question for all these years was:

Was Frank’s hatred for Bill really so great that it led to the horrible letter, or did he try to protect Bill’s feelings and thus formulated the letter so harshly?

The series finds an answer that makes the story of the two so much better than in the game. Bill and Frank feel a deep love for each other that almost makes one forget that humanity is disintegrating around them. Everything feels so real around the two of them. Anyone who lives or has lived in a relationship can relate to the small moments of the two characters: the first sex, their arguments, how love slowly finds its way into Bill’s heart.

I believe Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank everything. Every loving glance, the exasperated eye roll, the fear of losing his love.

To achieve this level of authenticity, the right actors are needed. Nick Offerman is perfect for the role of Bill in many ways. Peter Hoar names him as one of the decisive factors why Bill and Frank’s relationship feels so real to us.

I don’t know if Nick ever played a romantic character. He was a bit nervous to take this step. So there were times when Murray [the actor for Frank] really had to show Nick how to approach such a role. Lying in bed right next to Murray Bartlett, which is a great opportunity by the way, Nick naturally said beforehand: I have never done anything like this before.

Some of that genuine nervousness made it authentically into the series. And Murray was so gentle and kind in that. We also created the right atmosphere for the two. We had the set, this huge city built just for us. A lot of what we shot was just two people. Two people in a tiny space talking to each other.

Peter Hoar

Nick Offerman is mainly known for his role as Ron Swanson in “Parks & Recreation – The Parks Department.” There he plays a very masculine man who loves wood and meat and avoids close contact with other people like the plague.

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Bill would not identify as gay

For several years now, there has been a discussion about whether gay roles should not only be played by gay actors. Offerman himself is heterosexual and married to actress Megan Mullally.

We thought long and hard about how Bill would identify. I believe Bill would not identify as gay. He is in a world where he has not allowed all these things. If you want to label him, Bill might as well have been asexual his entire life until that moment.

He feels love and it feels right. It just happens to him with Frank. It is a beautiful story about finding the true love of your life, regardless of who they are and where they come from. With this perspective, Nick is perfect.

Peter Hoar

That’s what makes the episode so strong. In the end, it doesn’t matter who eats strawberries together for the first time in 20 years in the sunset. Does it matter who cares for the love of their life in old age and illness? It is not important who decides to greet death as a friend and leave with that love.

In the end, what matters is that two people loved each other in a devastated world. This is how the episode captures the core essence of The Last of Us. It has always been about love and how it thrives in the apocalypse.

The thing with the window at the end…

When the camera glides through Frank and Bill’s bedroom at the end and holds on the window, melancholy grips me so tightly. I instantly think I recognize the window from the game’s title screen, and if you have the same feeling, you are absolutely right.

There was a point where Craig [the co-writer] wanted every episode to have the motif [of the window]. He imagined something like clicking on the window on HBO Max like in the game, and then the episode starts.

But we thought that our story is so different that it would have felt strange to start with the window. We then suggested doing it the way we did, and he loved it. It is so beautiful to bring the story back to Bill and Frank with the picture on the wall and the flowers that Frank would have placed there.

Peter Hoar
The image shows a screenshot from the title screen of The Last of Us. A window is visible.
The window on the title screen of The Last of Us has its own magic.

I don’t know how you feel. But I’ve decided that this is now the canon. The next time I play the first part of the game again and the familiar window greets me, I will think of Bill and Frank.

And I will think of love in a shattered world.

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The interview was conducted via Zoom in the form of a roundtable with several journalists from around the world. The quotes from Peter Hoar were partially shortened for better understanding.

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

Audio expert criticizes gaming headphones on YouTube – “I have heard many, all are terrible”

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

A well-known audio expert states in a video that there are no gaming headphones. Gamers should buy something they like, as they can use any type of headphone while gaming. Furthermore, he expresses his dissatisfaction with tested products from Corsair, Logitech, and Razer.

Who is it about? Crinacle is an audio expert who mainly discusses headphones and IEMs on his YouTube channel of the same name. He also runs his own website, where he maintains detailed lists of reviews of various headphones.

In total, the YouTuber has tested several hundred headphones and describes himself as “audiophile.” Therefore, he places great value on the sound quality of tones and engages intensively with the sound of headphones.

He is also highly regarded among other audio experts and technology YouTubers and has appeared on the “BadSeed Tech” channel (via YouTube).

What is this video about? In a video that Crinacle uploaded to YouTube in September 2021 and recently re-released on his new channel, the audio expert talks about gaming headphones.

He addresses the key aspects of gaming headphones and his experiences.

If you want to see the video by the audio expert, we embed it here:

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“There is no such thing as gaming headphones”

What does the audio expert say in the video? The video is titled “The Best Gaming Headphones Don’t Matter,” and this approach is pursued in the following almost 19 minutes.

Right at the beginning of the video, Crinacle asserts that there are no gaming headphones and that gamers can use any headphones for gaming.

There is no such thing as a gaming headphone. […] You can use any headphone for playing.

He then talks about the characteristic criteria that a headphone should have to be suitable for gaming and why the so-called “gaming headphones” are actually poor. He then mentions three aspects that gamers want in a gaming headphone:

  • a competitive advantage in gaming
  • an immersive experience
  • a microphone
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I tested 5 in-ear headphones blindly and was surprised by the winner
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What is the problem with gaming headphones? According to Crinacle, the problem with gaming headphones is that the competitive advantage and immersive experience exclude each other, as a headphone with increased bass negatively affects the clear reproduction of gunshots and footsteps.

Generally, you want a headphone that sounds neutral to bright, has a wide soundstage, and offers precise imaging to be competitive. […]

And when it comes to immersiveness, anything is possible. It’s not like you need a special headphone to enjoy a movie or a video game or whatever. Some of you might feel like you want to be in a Michael Bay movie. […] Then you need a headphone with bass enhancement.

If you buy a headphone with bass enhancement, it’s not necessarily a competitive advantage. Because for a headphone to be competitive, it needs to reproduce shots and footsteps much more clearly, which is in direct contrast to an immersive-sounding headphone.

In a text on crinacle.com, he goes into more detail on this topic.

Gamers not only value the right sound but also the right controller. In the video, you can see the unboxing and first impressions of MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann regarding the new DualSense Edge of the PS5.

Start video
<strong>DualSense Edge for the PS5 in Unboxing – Our first impressions of the pro controller in the video</strong>

Buy headphones and microphone separately

What about a microphone? Although Crinacle makes it clear in his video that he mainly deals with headphones and that one should consult other experts for microphones, he still hints in a direction: one should buy the microphone and headphones separately.

According to Crinacle, better quality can be achieved if you buy headphones that you like and also acquire an external microphone: “You can buy the best microphone and you can buy the best headphone. If you buy a gaming headphone, you get poor versions of both.”

One type of microphone that Crinacle mentions are clip-on/lavalier microphones. He says they cost around 10 to 20 euros and can be attached to clothing or headphones without a microphone.

More on the topic
Headphones and microphone: The better alternative to headsets?
von MeinMMO

“I’ve heard many, all are terrible.”

How does the expert rate his experiences with gaming headphones: During the video, Crinacle also discusses his experiences with gaming headphones. He states that while they are somewhat limited, he has heard many products from Corsair, Logitech, and Razer, all of which were not good. His opinion on four headsets from Razer is shown in a separate video (via YouTube)

My experience with gaming headsets is limited, but I’ve heard a lot. I’ve heard stuff from Corsair, I’ve heard a lot of stuff from Logitech, I’ve heard some stuff from Razer. All are terrible.

He then lists a few gaming headphones that were “okay.” He names the popular HyperX Cloud 2 among gamers, the Cooler Master 751, and the Astro A40.

However, he concludes the video by recommending a handful of headphones that he believes are suitable for gaming. Among them are especially the inexpensive yet oddly looking KOSS KSC75.

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On his website, you can sort the IEMs and in-ear headphones based on the price-performance ratio. Very high on the list, you will see the “Moondrop Aria,” which shooter expert Marko Jevtic is enthusiastic about.

What does this mean for gaming headphones now? Ultimately, Crinacle says that nobody has to listen to him. After all, he is just “a guy on the internet.” Furthermore, he emphasizes that it is up to everyone what they buy and what hardware they use. He himself can understand that it is easier to buy a gaming headphone with a microphone than to acquire both separately.

In general, it would probably be sensible if it were clear when purchasing a headphone whether it is supposed to offer immersiveness or allow me to hear footsteps in shooters. A “bass-boosted” headphone that advertises with scenes from a shooter and the acoustic locating of enemies just creates a false impression.

The best gaming headsets you can currently buy

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Crinacle via YouTube
  2. crinacle.com

New MMORPG convinces with beautiful trailer and big promises – But that makes one skeptical

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 3 minutes

The Quinfall is a new MMORPG that presented itself in a beautiful video on January 29th. It promises shipping, breeding your own mounts, housing, and many freedoms. The trailer looks strong, but much sounds too ambitious for an indie studio.

What kind of game is this? The Quinfall sounds like an MMORPG that many players would really want:

  • The combat system relies on you truly targeting enemies and dodging attacks in time. The attacks and skills already feel very powerful in the alpha.
  • It features a dynamic weather and seasons system that should affect flora and fauna. Similar to Throne and Liberty, there will be areas on the maps that can only be accessed in the right weather.
  • Players should be able to become owners of taverns and shops and hire other players for work there or on their own farms.
  • A card game is showcased to pass the time in taverns.
  • There will be elements for breeding usable and mountable animals.
  • In housing, you should build freely and place over 100 different decorations.
  • You should be able to build your own ships and explore the sea with them. Pirates, other players, as well as huge sea monsters like a Kraken await you there.
  • For PvE fans, there will be dungeons and huge boss fights with at least 50 players.
  • There are fortresses in the game that can be fought over, which likely make up the PvP component.
  • The game world is set in the medieval period, but there are also airships and a railway to travel faster.

The first alpha trailer already shows many of these elements and looks really good. According to the developers, only real in-game scenes were used, although sometimes the camera position was adjusted.

Here you can watch the video:

Start video
The Quinfall – Alpha-Trailer

The Quinfall comes almost out of nowhere

What raises eyebrows? So far, not much has been heard about the MMORPG. In March 2022, the website was launched, but until January 28th, it contained no real information. There was only a “Coming Soon” message and a short trailer to see. Occasionally, images of landscapes were also shared on social media.

The company behind The Quinfall is called Vawraek Technology and was founded in 2021. According to LinkedIn, there are currently 5 employees working at the Turkish studio.

However, a lot seems to have happened in the almost two years since the founding, at least if you believe the latest trailer. Many of the presented contents already appear quite finished, and a beta is promised to start “soon.” The graphics also look damned good for such a small studio.

However, looking at the recent past raises skepticism:

This raises skepticism, especially when the developers themselves say they want to create a “metaworld on an unprecedented scale.”

However, it is positive that they have not started a crowdfunding campaign so far and are likely to invite to the beta via email without charging for access. They seem to be able to initially finance themselves.

More about MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

What do we know about the monetization of The Quinfall? Nothing yet. However, most MMORPGs from Turkey have so far relied on a free-to-play model with a shop.

In general, some information is still missing, such as on PvP in the open world or possible classes or weapons in the game.

When will we learn more? You can already register for a closed beta on the official website (via Quinfall). However, it is not known when it will start.

What do you think of The Quinfall? Does the concept and the trailer appeal to you? And do you believe that an indie MMORPG can really implement all these elements?

However, anyone who does not want to wait for the release of The Quinfall can look forward to at least 7 new MMORPGs in 2023:

7 new MMORPGs that are definitely supposed to be released in 2023

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

Valorant: 14-year-old student is the youngest player to ever reach Rank 1 Radiant

Marius Mach Marius Mach Reading time 2 minutes

14-year-old DarXcioo has set a record in Valorant. He is the youngest player to reach rank 1 Radiant in the popular shooter by Riot Games.

DarXcioo achieved the world’s highest rank in Valorant on January 26, 2023. Even taking his young age into account, this is an incredible achievement! The shooter from Riot Games is considered a very competitive game, and the competition is extremely high.

DarXcioo has only been playing Valorant at the highest level for about 3 years. He first broke into the top ranks and achieved a placement with the rank Radiant. The achievement becomes even more remarkable when considering that the young talent is still attending school.

The young age is not always without problems: Just recently, an 11-year-old boy from Brazil was banned on Twitch for streaming Valorant.

Who is DarXcioo? Aside from having a great affinity for Valorant and wanting to become a pro later, not much is known about DarXcioo. However, his social media profiles suggest that he comes from France, or at least speaks French.

If you want to watch DarXcioo shake up the ranked scene in Valorant, you can do so on Twitch. On his Twitch channel, DarXcioo regularly streams gameplay of Valorant. His channel now has nearly 25,000 followers. However, don’t expect him to stream around the clock; after all, he still has to do his homework.

In addition to Twitch, he is also active on Twitter and YouTube. However, on his YouTube channel, there are only 2 videos with just over 3000 views each, and he has a total of only 453 subscribers on the platform. Once word spreads that he is the number 1 in the world in Valorant, many more followers are likely to join.

In a few years, we will surely be able to admire DarXcioo’s skills at a tournament as well. Watch the trailer for the biggest tournament in Valorant here:

Start video
Valorant celebrates with anthem the most important tournament of the shooter – fans praise the crazy music video

Young talent dreams of becoming a pro and also wants to be successful on Twitch

Which agents does DarXcioo like to play the most? In the current season, DarXcioo prefers to play agents Raze, Jett, and Killjoy. With each of these agents, he has nearly 18 hours of playtime with a win rate of 53.1% as Raze, 48.5% as Killjoy, and an impressive 61.8% as Jett.

His other statistics are also impressive! With the assault rifle Vandal, DarXcioo is particularly accurate, having already achieved over 2,200 kills with this weapon!

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E-sports journalist Jake Lucky is impressed by DarXcioo’s performance

What is next for DarXcioo’s career? Currently, he is not contracted with any professional team or e-sports organization. However, due to his remarkable performances, he has likely caught the attention of talent scouts. Perhaps even Disguised Toast, the Twitch streamer has indeed founded his own professional team.

If he is able to maintain his high level, nothing should stand in the way of a great career in the professional scene of Valorant. He is also likely to take off on Twitch; after all, at just 14 years old, he has already laid the groundwork for that.

We are certainly excited to see how this extraordinary talent’s career unfolds and are sure that we will see him back on the big stage in a few years.

Valorant: Clever players are using a tool from the 19th century for an unfair advantage in the shooter

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

WoW: Patch 10.0.7 may be a small patch, but the Retribution Paladin is getting a rework

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Paladins in World of Warcraft are being significantly reworked. The next patch aims to help Retribution Paladins finally become really good.

With World of Warcraft Dragonflight, there were massive revisions of almost all existing classes. Although Blizzard has tried to maintain the popular playstyle for many classes, quite a bit has changed. This is mainly due to the “new, old” talent system, which is intended to provide more flexibility and options for change. However, not all classes have made this adjustment unscathed and are providing as much joy as before.

This led to some classes and specializations receiving massive buffs of up to 30% or even 40% in the first weeks. Other specializations simply do not feel rounded – like Retribution Paladins. That is exactly what is supposed to change soon.

What does Blizzard have planned for the Retribution Paladin in Patch 10.0.7?

The developers have identified several “pain points” with the Retribution Paladin, which will be addressed with a rework. The most important aspects of the renewal were presented in the official WoW forum:

Too many buttons: Paladins have quite a few abilities, and some of them feel unnecessary or simply too weak. The number of abilities is to be reduced, focusing instead on fewer, but clearly more enjoyable abilities.

Too many stackable modifiers: For Paladins to act efficiently, they currently require many stackable effects. This makes it confusing and often unintuitive as to when the right time is to use an ability. Additionally, it leads to core mechanics feeling poor and providing little benefit.

Here is where the biggest changes will likely occur. Core abilities should always feel “good” and fewer stackable effects will create a bit more order. Burst damage should be able to be used more strategically.

Retribution Paladins are getting a rework – it was about time.

Too little survivability: Retribution Paladins are plate wearers who can also heal – and yet have one of the highest death rates in almost all types of content. This feels wrong and needs a revision. A series of passive bonuses and improvements to active abilities should achieve the desired results.

Too little movement: Paladins are one of the least mobile classes in the game, and there should be some improvement in this area. However, the developers emphasize that Paladins will not receive the mobility abilities of a rogue – there will only be small improvements in this area.

More about World of Warcraft can be found here on MeinMMO:

Improving utility: Currently, Retribution Paladins have to decide whether to improve their own performance or bring bonuses to the group. This leads to decisions that often feel wrong. Therefore, Blizzard wants to ensure that it is easier to choose a healthy mix of personal improvements and useful abilities for the group.

There is not yet a precise date for Patch 10.0.7, but it is expected to release at the end of March or early April.

Do you think the Retribution Paladin needs a rework? Or do you like the current design of this Paladin specialization?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. us.forums.blizzard.com/en/

Which loot system was the best in World of Warcraft?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

The loot distribution in World of Warcraft constantly causes discussion. But which loot distribution is the best? We want to find out.

In World of Warcraft, even after almost 20 years, everything revolves around one thing: loot, loot, and more loot. After all, good equipment makes the character better and ensures that tougher challenges can be mastered, one can show off a bit with their performance in the damage meter – or as a tank, one can completely forgo a healer.

However, how loot is assigned by the game has changed significantly over the years. Especially with the launch of Dragonflight, Blizzard has gone a bit “Back to the Roots” and brought back group looting – much to the joy or dismay of some players. But which loot system is actually the best? Is it now better than before, or should Blizzard return to “Personal Loot”? We want to know from you in this survey.

More about World of Warcraft can be found here:

What loot systems are there in World of Warcraft?

In World of Warcraft, there are currently primarily two methods of distributing loot: the so-called “group looting” and “Personal Loot”. We will briefly introduce both variants:

The “Personal Loot” is active in most areas of World of Warcraft. In the open world or in dungeons, this option exists. This means that the game internally decides which character receives loot, and only that character can loot it and receives it directly in their inventory. Those who wish – and meet certain requirements – can subsequently pass their loot on to other players, but the final decision always lies with the person who received the loot item first.

Some people just have more luck – in both systems.

In contrast, there is “group looting”, which is currently used in raids. Here, all participating characters are shown the entire loot from the boss. Everyone can then choose how much they want the item.

  • Need: The item is needed and improves the character. This option is only available to characters who can also (meaningfully) use the item.
  • Greed: The item is not needed for improvement but for other reasons – such as for direct sale or as transmog.

After all players have made their choices, everyone with “Need” rolls for the item, and the character with the highest roll receives the item. If no one rolls Need, the items are instead rolled among the players with “Greed”.

Here too, it is possible to pass the item on to other characters afterwards.

Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. While World of Warcraft initially relied heavily on group looting, “Personal Loot” has been increasingly employed in recent expansions. Only now, with Dragonflight, have the developers brought back group looting.

But now let’s hear from you! Which loot system do you think is the best in World of Warcraft, and which should Blizzard carry into the future? Participate in the survey and let us know how you prefer to receive loot.

If you want, feel free to leave a comment explaining which of the two loot systems you like best and why – or whether there should be a completely different one.

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

Pokémon GO: All Spotlight Hours in January 2023 and their Bonuses

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 4 minutes

All spotlight hours in January 2023 at Pokémon GO in overview. We show you all Pokémon, bonuses, and times and explain which Shinies you can find and whether the events are worth it..

What kind of events are these? Every Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time, a spotlight hour takes place in Pokémon GO. During this time, a Pokémon is in focus, appearing almost everywhere in the wild. At the beginning of each month, the developers announce which Pokémon and bonuses will be the focus of the events in the coming weeks.

The bonuses include more Stardust, more XP, or more Candy. Here we show you all Pokémon and bonuses for the spotlight hours in January 2023.

All dates for the spotlight hours in January 2023

These are the dates: In January, you can expect five spotlight hours. During these, the following Pokémon and bonuses will be in focus:

DatePokémon & Bonuses
January 3rdAlola Sandshrew* and double evolution XP
Our guide for the spotlight hour with Alola Sandshrew
January 10thSwablu* and double catch Stardust
Our guide for the spotlight hour with Swablu
January 17thBudew* and double catch XP
Our guide for the spotlight hour with Budew
January 24thZapplardin and double catch Candy
Our guide for the spotlight hour with Zapplardin
January 31stElekid* and double transfer Candy
Our guide for the spotlight hour with Elekid
Pokémon marked with an asterisk (*) can be caught as Shiny

Spotlight hour on January 3rd

Which Pokémon? The first spotlight hour in January 2023 brings you Alola Sandshrew. You can evolve it into Alola Sandslash. Both Pokémon are of the Ice and Steel types.

Pokémon-GO-Rampenlicht-Stunde-Alola-Sandan-Titel

What bonuses do you get? For evolving Pokémon, you receive double the amount of experience points.

Who is it worth it for? You can ignore Alola Sandshrew as an attacker. Alola Sandslash, on the other hand, plays in the mid-level of PvP in both the Great League and Ultra League. However, there are stronger alternatives. Additionally, Alola Sandshrew has appeared quite frequently as event content.

Nonetheless, evolving Pokémon during this period is worthwhile to earn a lot of XP.

Can you catch Shiny Alola Sandshrew? Yes, the shiny form of Alola Sandshrew is already active in Pokémon GO and you can catch it.

Spotlight hour on January 10th

Which Pokémon? In the second spotlight hour of January 2023, you will encounter Swablu. This Pokémon comes from the 6th generation and is of the Fairy type. Its evolution is Altaria.

Pokémon-GO-Rampenlicht-Stunde-Flauschling-Titel

What bonuses do you get? For catching Pokémon, you receive double the amount of Stardust.

Who is it worth it for? Swablu is not particularly interesting as an attacker. Altaria, however, does play moderately well in the Great League and Ultra League PvP.

However, the Stardust bonus is exciting. Even though Swablu is not that easy to catch, you should take advantage of the event to fill up your Stardust resources.

Can you catch Shiny Swablu? Yes, the shiny version of Swablu is active in Pokémon GO.

Spotlight hour on January 17th

Which Pokémon? The third spotlight hour in January 2023 features Budew. It comes from the 3rd generation and is of the Grass type. Its evolutions are Roselia and Roserade.

Pokémon-GO-Rampenlicht-Stunde-Samurzel-Titel

What bonuses do you get? For catching Pokémon, you receive double the amount of experience points.

Who is it worth it for? Although Budew and Roselia are not particularly strong attackers, Roserade can be very useful in different situations. In PvE during raids, it is a cost-effective alternative to many powerhouses, especially for new players. In PvP, it ranks quite highly in the Great League and Ultra League. So, if you’re looking for a strong attacker of the Grass and Dark types, you should take advantage of this event.

Can you catch Shiny Budew? Yes, the shiny version of Budew is already unlocked in Pokémon GO, and you can catch it.

Spotlight hour on January 24th

Which Pokémon? In the fourth spotlight hour in January 2023, you will encounter the Pokémon Zapplardin. It comes from the 5th generation and is of the Electric type. Its evolutions are Zapplalek and Zapplarang.

Pokémon-GO-Rampenlicht-Stunde-Zapplardin-Titel

What bonuses do you get? For catching Pokémon, you receive double the amount of Candy.

Who is it worth it for? Zapplardin and Zapplalek are not particularly good as attackers. Zapplarang does play decently in PvP in the Great League and Ultra League.

You can also utilize the Candy bonus when catching raid bosses.

Can you catch Shiny Zapplardin? So far, it is not possible. In an early graphic of the events in January, Niantic mentioned that one could catch Zapplardin as Shiny, but later corrected the graphic and removed the Shiny indication. It’s quite possible that the Shiny will be released during the month.

More about Pokémon GO

Spotlight hour on January 31st

Which Pokémon? The fifth and final spotlight hour in January 2023 brings you Elekide. It is of the Electric type and comes from the 5th generation. Its evolution is Zebritz.

Pokémon-GO-Rampenlicht-Stunde-Elezeba-Titel

What bonuses do you get? For transferring Pokémon, you receive double the amount of Candy.

Who is it worth it for? Neither Elekid nor Zebritz are particularly noteworthy as attackers. The spotlight hour is worth it if you use this time to clean up your collection and transfer Pokémon you don’t need. This way, you can secure more Candy for yourself.

Can you catch Shiny Elekid? Yes, you can catch shiny Elekid in Pokémon GO.

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

WoW Trading Post – When does the feature come and what does it bring?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

In World of Warcraft, the Trading Post opens. We reveal to you what is available there, where to find it and how to use the feature.

Patch 10.0.5 is on the horizon, and one of the biggest features is the Trading Post. But what is it all about? Do you have to participate? What is the Trading Post all about and how does the vendor currency work? We will inform you about the new feature and explain everything you need to know about it.

When does the Trading Post start? The Trading Post is a new feature from Patch 10.0.5 and was released on January 25, 2023, but will only open its doors on February 1. The Trading Post likely starts on February 1 at 05:00 AM, as that is when the daily reset is performed. However, be aware that maintenance is scheduled until 07:00 AM.

It provides access to a variety of different cosmetic rewards – including mounts, transmog sets, and toys. Payment is made with a new currency, the so-called “vendor currency”.

Where can you find the Trading Post? Depending on whether you play as a member of the Horde or Alliance, you will find your Trading Post in a different location.

  • Heroes of the Alliance travel to the human capital Stormwind. Near the Mage Quarter, close to the entrance to the dungeon, you will find the Trading Post T&W (Tawny and Wild).
  • Champions of the Horde travel to Orgrimmar and find the Trading Post Zen’shiri located right next to Grommash Hold.
WoW Traders Post Stormwind
The Trading Post – check back at least once a month!

How do you get vendor currency? Vendor currency can be obtained in two different ways. One is passive, the other is active.

  • Each month, you can open the “Collector’s Chest” at the Trading Post and receive 500 vendor currency. This requires an active subscription.
  • Each month, there are a variety of tasks you can complete to collect up to 500 additional vendor currency. The tasks come from all possible areas of the game, and you only need to complete a fraction of them to receive the maximum vendor currency.

Overall, you can receive a total of 1,000 vendor currency with your account each month.

Additionally, there is a one-time bonus of 500 vendor currency for owning the expansion “Dragonflight”. It does not matter whether you already own Dragonflight or purchase it after the launch of Patch 10.0.5; the bonus is also retroactive.

WoW Traders Post Missions
Various tasks await month after month.

What rewards are available? The Trading Posts offer a very wide range of rewards. These include:

  • Complete transmog sets
  • Transmog individual pieces (weapons, chest, etc.)
  • Mounts
  • Pets
  • Toys

Interestingly, there are also items that were previously only available for real money in the World of Warcraft shop. Some rewards that are no longer obtainable – such as those from the long-defunct trading card game – can also be found at the Trading Post.

Blizzard is also using the feature to make old rewards accessible again, thereby giving a broader range of players the opportunity to enjoy them.

More about World of Warcraft can be found here at MeinMMO:

The offerings at the Trading Post change monthly. Items that were available in February will not be available in March. However, all items are expected to return in the future. If you were unable to purchase something in the first month, there will be future opportunities to do so.

For this reason, it may also be wise to always keep a small reserve of vendor currency to secure at least one desired item in the coming month, rather than having to wait a long time in the future.

What do you think of the Trading Post? Is it an interesting, exciting feature? Or do you find the limitation of vendor currency rather annoying?

There will also be fishing missions – we have presented the fishing here in more detail.

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

Two MMORPGs Bring Hope for 2023, One However Causes Concerns

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 3 minutes

This week, The Elder Scrolls Online presented its new expansion and Throne and Liberty announced a new test. Additionally, there were discussions about the dismissal of a WoW employee, two new MMORPGs announced on Steam, and a player who cheated a lot of money in RuneScape. We have summarized all the news of the week.

The highlights of the week:

The controversy of the week: Brian Birmingham, the tech lead of World of Warcraft Classic, was dismissed because he did not want to rate his employees poorly for a quota. He is receiving a lot of support, and Activision Blizzard is facing criticism again.

The discussion of the week: We asked AI: What is the best MMO to play right now? The usual suspects came out. However, this post sparked discussions around the term MMO and generally on the topic of AI.

This week in the podcast: In the MMO News podcast, Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner will again talk about the most important news surrounding MMORPGs. Topics included the postponement of Blue Protocol, the discontinuation of WoW in China, and the roadmaps of MMORPGs for 2023.

You can listen to the episode on Spotify here:

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Link to the Spotify content

Cartels in WoW and two new MMORPGs on Steam

What happened with the major MMORPGs:

Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom – Cinematic

What happened with the minor MMORPGs:

What happened with the MMORPGs in development:

These are the MMORPG news of the week at a glance. What was your personal highlight? Did you experience anything interesting this week that you would like to share? Or did we possibly forget something important? Feel free to write it in the comments here at MeinMMO.

You can find the best MMOs and MMORPGs of 2023 in this list: The 15 currently best MMOs and MMORPGs of 2023.

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

Netflix removes one of the worst video game adaptations from its catalog in some countries

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Netflix removes the adaptation of Red Faction. However, no one is likely to really miss it, as the reviews were very negative at the time.

Movies or series based on games are often controversial, as many fail to do justice to their “source material”. Other adaptations of games, however, are well-received. For example, the “Last of Us” series exceeds the expectations of many fans.

Now, with Red Faction: Origin, a video game adaptation from Netflix is disappearing, which many “fans” are likely not to miss. On February 15, 2023, Red Faction: Origins leaves Netflix. By the way, this doesn’t apply to Germany, as you can no longer access Red Faction: Origins through Netflix here (via jeuxvideo.com).

The film about Red Faction offers good technology but is poorly rated otherwise

Red Faction is a first-person shooter series that first appeared in 2001. You take on the role of a resistance group fighting against their oppressors on Mars and later also on Earth.

After the fourth game, Red Faction: Armageddon, the series was ultimately discontinued by THQ due to poor sales figures, and since then it has been quiet regarding the series. The film was released shortly after the fourth game and tells the background story of the game.

How is the film rated? Red Faction: Origins receives overall poor reviews:

  • On IMDb, the ratings are about 5.1 out of 10 stars from over 3,000 reviews (via imdb.com).
  • On RottenTomatoes, the ratings are even worse with an Audience Score of 24 % (via rottentomatoes.com).

The effects are quite fitting for a science fiction film. Otherwise, the story is nothing special: A family is divided, and the hero must bring his family back together. This has also been seen in dozens of other films before.

The casting of the actors is also okay, but the whole film feels exaggerated. Some explain the weak film also because the budget was very low.

Other video game adaptations also tend to cause more annoyance than enthusiasm among fans. For instance, the film adaptation of Monster Hunter: World not only received poor reviews but also the video game received bad reviews:

Review bombing on Steam against Monster Hunter: World – The film is to blame

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

Final Fantasy XIV: 5 serious beginner mistakes you should avoid

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 6 minutes

As a newcomer in MMORPGs like Final Fantasy XIV, one often makes mistakes that can be avoided. Here are 5 mistakes that can be easily avoided when learning a new game.

Starting a new MMORPG can be very overwhelming, especially when the game has been on the market for many years. It can and will happen that as a beginner, you make some severe mistakes and have trouble playing.

FFXIV is no exception, although the game tries to make the fresh start as easy as possible. Generally, mistakes are not a big deal; after all, you are supposed to learn from them.

However, there are mistakes that you and the teammates you are playing with would gladly avoid. Here are 5 of them.

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV Trailer for Update 6.3

No Job Crystal

Job crystals are small colorful stones that are extremely important. You start FFXIV by choosing a class. At level 30, this class is upgraded to a job after completing a series of quests. This gives you access to new abilities and resources.

This happens by going into your character menu and equipping the corresponding job crystal. For advanced jobs like Dark Knight, Dancer, or Red Mage, this happens automatically when you equip their weapon. But for starter classes, it does not. It has to be done manually.

ffxiv job crystal
Starting at level 30, everyone should wear a job crystal.

You can’t stress it enough: Do your class and job quests, and make sure to equip your job crystal starting at level 30. Stick that thing to you, staple it to your gear, inject it under your skin, as long as it always remains equipped. Job crystals are your friends.

Without them, you lose access to more than half of your abilities at higher levels, making your life and the life of your group unnecessarily difficult. You also don’t have to equip the crystals every time you change classes or jobs. They count as equipment and can also be saved with armor sets.

More on the topic
Final Fantasy XIV Class Guide: Which Job Suits You?
von Irina Moritz

Not Reading Skill Descriptions

Sounds strange, but it’s true. When you choose a class or job, you should also know what you can and cannot do with it. The combat system of FFXIV uses the so-called global cooldown, a short cooldown that shares among some abilities. When one skill is used, others cannot be used temporarily.

This leads to most jobs in FFXIV using their skills in a certain order during combat to deal damage, for example. You learn how this order looks from the skill descriptions.

ffxiv skill overview
In the command menu, you will receive an overview of all your abilities.
  • Some abilities form longer combo chains and must be used in sequence without interruption.
  • Other skills give you a damage boost and should be used alongside your strongest attacks.
  • Others set off chain reactions through “procs” and allow the use of abilities that were previously grayed out.

Aside from the fact that it’s quite useful for a healer to know which buttons to press so that the group doesn’t collectively bite the dust.

In areas like Summerford Farms or Deep Woods, there are special training dummies where you can try out your skills and combos, so go for it!

Not Equipping New Gear

The hunt for ever better gear is part of MMORPGs, and FFXIV is no exception. You start, as usual, with shabby beginner gear, which is quickly replaced during leveling by dungeon drops, crafted gear, or equipment from NPCs and quests.

You just have to remember to equip it. During leveling, you will sometimes be flooded with gear, which can make it difficult for new players to keep track. But don’t despair; FFXIV has a solution for that.

In your character window, right above the weapon slot is the small but fine button [Recommended Gear]. This button opens a new window, showing your current equipment and gives you the option to swap it for the best possible equipment from your inventory.

ffxiv optimizing gear 1
If you have gear that is better than your current one, it will be suggested in the window.

The system checks whether you can even equip the items and looks at their item level and stats. Then the best gear is compiled and presented to you as a suggestion.

Mandatory contents such as dungeons and trials have a minimum item level that you must meet if you wish to enter the content. Otherwise, you will have to stay outside. So do yourself a favor and keep your gear as up to date as possible.

Not Using Area Attacks

In the dungeons of FFXIV, there are plenty of demons, undead, bandits, monsters, and other enemies wanting to claw at you. During a dungeon run, tanks often pull them together in large groups so the party can send them off to the afterlife together.

In such a case, as DDs, healers, and tanks, you must always use your available area attacks to knock down the enemies as efficiently as possible. Yes, the skill description indicates a higher number for single-target attacks. Abilities targeting single enemies typically have a higher attack value.

ffxiv area attacks dark knight
Area damage is the best way for tanks to keep aggro from large groups of enemies.

However, it is more efficient to deal area damage when there are 3 or more enemies, as it spreads out among all and thus multiplies. For tanks, area attacks play an even more important role. They are tremendously helpful in keeping the hate of the enemies on them.

Once the tank stance is activated, all attacks against enemies generate increased hate. Therefore, when facing larger groups of enemies, a tank should always use area attacks to build hate evenly across all enemies.

You won’t have to worry then about an enemy suddenly turning around and slapping the healer or punching a DD in the face. So remember: Area attacks are love. When there are 3 or more enemies.

More about FFXIV on MeinMMO can be found here:

No Communication

Since FFXIV is an MMORPG where other people are also around, it will happen that you must play with them. This usually occurs in instances such as dungeons or trials, where you are together with up to 8 people at the same time.

It can be quite useful to communicate ahead of time that you are a new player and that the veterans should take that into consideration. Talk to people. New players in FFXIV are marked with a little sprout to signal that they are not very experienced yet, but this cannot replace real communication.

ffxiv new treasure map dungeon
Even though many contents in FFXIV can also be completed solo, sooner or later you will have to play with other people.

If you, as a healer, cannot keep up with healing, ask the tank to slow down the pull pace. Or if you are standing in front of a boss and would like to know the fight mechanics, ask the group what to pay attention to.

Experience shows that most people will react normally to you and answer your questions. However, they cannot know if two enemy groups might be too much if you do not say so.

If people continue to behave rudely despite asking and pleading, you can always leave the content and block or report the people. There are black sheep everywhere; just don’t let yourself be discouraged by them, as communication is important and can save you a lot of frustration.

What mistakes do you know that newcomers in FFXIV should rather avoid? Let us know in the comments.

More info for newcomers can be found in our extensive guide:

Final Fantasy XIV: Newcomer Guide for a Smooth Start into the MMORPG

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

Destiny 2 creates an unprecedented Exo weapon, but is it worth it?

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 4 minutes

In Destiny 2, since Season 19, there is a special Exo to earn that not only combines two weapons into one but also seems to be very versatile. We show you how good the pulse rifle Revision Zero really is and whether the grind for it is worth it.

What kind of weapon is this? It is a powerful pulse rifle from the Häkke manufacturing combined with the carbon design of an Ikelos weapon. Both components create the pulse rifle “Revision Zero”, which can be earned during the season quest “More than a Weapon.”

The rifle receives a separate quest, after which it can be forged in the Enclave on Mars itself. However, the special feature of this rifle is the catalyst advantages, as there are four of them.

For this reason, with some time and patience, you can forge a weapon according to your ideas that can prove useful in both PvE and PvP. Our Destiny 2 author Christos Tsogos has taken a closer look at the weapon and shows you whether the grind for this exceptional talent is worth it.

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Destiny 2 Lightfall: The new trailer “Neomuna”

Revision Zero – A useful tool, but not a monster

What can the weapon do? The pulse rifle naturally possesses shield-piercing rounds that help you break the shields of barrier champions.

Additionally, you can charge your target acquisition bar with successful precision hits. This new bar allows you to switch to a secondary fire mode depending on the charge. This fire mode resembles that of a sniper with a very solid scope.

If that still doesn’t impress you, you can adjust the salvos on the weapon itself during its inspection. The selections available are:

  • Light Häkke Salvo
    • Fires a stable salvo of four light shots
  • Heavy Häkke Salvo
    • Fires a less stable salvo of two shots, with high damage and great range
revisionnull-destiny2-season19-exomission
A cool rifle with many uses

Depending on the salvo type, you get more or less range or stability. If that is still not enough, you can further refine your pulse rifle with one of the four available catalyst advantages.

The following are available for selection:

  • Feast Rework
  • Pressure Rework
  • Outlaw Rework
  • Quad Rework

All of this together makes the rifle a versatile weapon in Destiny 2. One might even say it is so far the most versatile piece in the entire loot shooter. But enough with the packaging, how does it perform in practice?

How good is the weapon in PvE

destiny2-champions-bsp
How good is the weapon against champions?

Can the weapon convince in PvE? Well, that depends on where you want to use it. I had the rifle with me in almost every PvE activity and must say that the pulse rifle couldn’t blow me away. Some things hold Revision Zero back from shining, including:

  • Disappointing damage against barrier shields
  • Too slow charging of the target acquisition data
  • Hardly any harmonious perk combos in PvE

I felt that the weapon is actually strong, especially noticeable from the secondary sniper mode, which distributes good damage, but I feel Bungie is intentionally holding the rifle back. In normal strikes, dungeons, Gambit, and some raid passages, I can highly recommend the rifle, but in Grandmaster activities, I would prefer the bow “Wishender”.

Now let’s get to PvP.

How good is the weapon in PvP

destiny-2-hüter-kampf-pvp 2
In PvP, things look different for the weapon

How good is the weapon in PvP? I must say that Revision Zero deserves a place in PvP, but only under certain conditions. The rifle can bring foes to their knees in just two salvos when you have the light Häkke salvo equipped.

Better to stay away from the heavy salvo, as it allows for few mistakes and you often misplace shots in the heat of battle, thus losing gunfights. Moreover, the pulse rifle is a laser and can keep up well even at very long ranges. For perks, we would recommend the following:

  • Arrowhead Brake
  • High Caliber Rounds
  • Perpetual Motion
  • Half-Shaft
  • Pressure or Outlaw Rework

Find more about Destiny 2 here:

Conclusion on Revision Zero: The pulse rifle is not bad, but also not so good that you should immediately replace it with other top performers. The new feature that allows you to switch the weapon type at the push of a button provides cool moments where it’s fun to use Revision Zero.

However, if you want to play in serious activities, then only in PvP and only on selected maps with open spaces. Grandmaster raids or strikes should preferably be approached with more effective toys.

That was our conclusion on Revision Zero. What do you think of Bungie’s experiment? Would you like more of these craftable Exo weapons? Do you think the rifle is good and do you also use it in Grandmaster activities? Feel free to leave us a comment!

Guardians find Destiny 2 too easy – Bungie wants to challenge them again with Lightfall

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

New MMORPG on Steam launches with 87% positive reviews – Offers dungeons, seafaring and crafting

Anny Anny Reading time 2 minutes

The Adventurer’s Domain Online, or TADO, is a new MMORPG on Steam. It is developed by the indie studio Unbalanced Equations.

On January 26, 2023, TADO launched in Early Access on Steam. Almost all reviews there are positive – a total of 87%. Many players emphasize the visual similarity to RuneScape, at least to its version at the release in 2001.

An adventure with many stress-free contents

What kind of game is it? TADO is an indie MMORPG with a third-person perspective. It aims to mix classic aspects of an MMO with those of an action-combat RPG. The developers emphasize that it is not intended to be a high-quality MMORPG, but rather aims at players who want to have a relaxing time.

The game features a classless system, in which you can spend your experience points as you like. You can either level up your character or use the points for your skills. For example, you can specialize in the great sword simultaneously with occultism and become a mix of warrior and mage.

TADO offers various PvE content such as dungeons for single players or groups, but PvP is also possible. However, this is optional and should only take place during certain events.

What other content does it offer?

  • Exploration on land or by ship
  • A story with numerous quests and side quests
  • Fishing, which you can also do from a boat
  • A fleet system where you transport and sell goods with your boat to collect coins
  • Gathering and crafting

In the video, you can see the official trailer for the MMORPG:

Start video
The Adventurer’s Domain Online MMORPG Trailer

Who is it worth it for? Those who value demanding, highly detailed graphics are absolutely wrong here. The MMORPG targets players who want to enjoy a relaxed adventure while feeling a nostalgic vibe.

If you are looking for alternatives to the big MMORPGs like Lost Ark, New World, and WoW or just want to try something new, you can give TADO a chance.

On Steam, the MMORPG costs just under 15 €.

More about MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

What do you think about The Adventurer’s Domain Online? Do you want to buy the MMORPG directly and give it a try or do you prefer to wait until it leaves Early Access one day? Which indie MMORPGs have you played so far and which are your favorites? Feel free to write it in the comments here on MeinMMO!

Currently, the most played MMORPGs on Steam are:

The 10 MMORPGs with the most players on Steam in January 2023

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

Call of Duty: Warzone 2 could soon bring back popular maps, but that’s not enough for the players

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Activision has asked the community with its survey which next big map they would like to see from the past for Call of Duty: Warzone 2, but the fans have a different wish.

What was asked? According to CharlieIntel (via twitter.com), Activision sent a survey to many fans of CoD: Warzone 2. The developers asked the players which big map they would like to see in the game if a map change were to occur. The following options were available:

  • A completely new map
  • Return of Verdansk ’84 (2021)
  • Return of Caldera (2021)
  • Return of the original Verdansk map (2020)
  • Return of Blackout – map from Black Ops 4 (2019)

Players could then select up to three answers and specify their favorites. While the result of this survey is not displayed, fans on Twitter agree on what they really want, and that is not just one map.

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CoD Warzone 2 – 3 Tips on how to quickly level up your weapons

Multiple maps for Warzone 2 just like in Apex Legends

What do the players want? In the comments on Twitter, it becomes clear that Caldera is one of the least popular maps. Verdansk and Blackout are then among the more popular options. In the end, however, many fans only want one thing, and that is the rotation of a collection of maps.

Basically the same system as in Apex Legends, where players can fight on different terrain every 60 – 90 minutes. Players comment with the following statements:

  • @LoochyTV – “ROTATING MAPS LIKE APEX PLEASE MAN…”
  • @Shupp610 – “Rotation or just several options per week!”
  • @devilslayerr_ – “When you release a new map, please implement a map rotation. Don’t get rid of Al Mazrah. It (the map) is solid. […]”
  • @djacksonweather – “Why not implement a rotation? […]”

When will a new big map come? No one knows yet. Season 2 is coming soon for Warzone 2. On February 15, it’s time, but before a new battle pass encourages players to continue their grind, they will be gifted a small battle royale map.

Players have been wishing for this for quite some time and will soon be made accessible during the 2nd season. So until Activision evaluates the survey and analyzes the voices of the community, it remains to be seen how the developers will decide regarding a larger map.

Find more about Call of Duty: Warzone 2 here:

Is a map rotation likely? Those who play Warzone 2 know, in what a desolate state it is, but the team is trying to mitigate the flood of bugs with continuous updates. However, many glitches are still present in the game and continue to proliferate.

It is therefore unlikely that Activision will implement such a feature in the near future. Nevertheless, it is not impossible, because as we can see in the revival mode, the team likes to fulfill the players’ wishes to keep them entertained. It could just be a matter of time before Activision decides on such a feature.

CoD Warzone 2 changes backpacks and armor plates in Season 2 – this shows the dilemma the developers are in

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

Space game with coop delights players with cute design – „Absolute recommendation from the bottom of my heart“

Marie Friske Marie Friske Reading time 4 minutes

In “Astroneer“, you build a base on a foreign planet and explore space. The game excites players on Steam and has 91% positive ratings. This weekend, the game is half price and costs €14.

Astroneer is a base-building game with exploration elements in space. You are in the 25th century and are sent on an intergalactic discovery tour.

You embark on a mission to expand the boundaries of known space. Build a base on a foreign planet and craft helpful gadgets and devices to survive in dangerous areas.

The game is playable on the Steam Deck but requires some extra effort in interaction or configuration.

Here you can see a trailer for Astroneer:

Start video
Astroneer – Release Trailer

Build your base and explore the planet with friends

What is the gameplay like in Astroneer? At the beginning, you are transported to a planet in a space capsule and initially face an untouched landscape.

Gradually, you build your base by collecting resources and using terraforming to shape the planet as you need it.

But always keep an eye on your oxygen level, or you may quickly perish in the foreign atmosphere. You can also set up a line to your base that supplies you with air permanently, allowing you to explore further places.

Here are some screenshots from the game

The solar system in Astroneer consists of 7 planets that you can explore. Race through the area with vehicles or explore cave systems and dig your way to the planet’s core. You will encounter mysterious phenomena on your journey, the secrets of which you can uncover.

You can play the game both solo and in co-op with friends, causing mayhem on the foreign planets together.

Send us your game recommendations

Do you have an absolute favorite game on Steam or know true hidden gems that deserve more attention?

Then leave us a comment about it or send us your game recommendations to the email address [email protected] with the subject “Game Recommendation”. Maybe your game will be the next one featured on MeinMMO.

Write to us in 3-4 sentences about what you like about the game, and we will include your comment in our recommendation article.

How do players rate Astroneer? The base-building game scores very well on Steam. Of the total of 87,829 reviews, 91% are positive (as of January 27, 2023, via Steam).

Especially the cute graphic style is celebrated by players even in the early access version, but the gameplay is also convincing. Many describe it as a nice, relaxing game that is even more fun in co-op:

  • TeeSaufen: “Absolute recommendation from the bottom of my heart. Just adorable, with a lot of love for details. I am now on my 12th save and keep starting anew. Total addiction factor, and I am still searching to find out how many glowing marbles the game has. So far, I’ve reached 32 in one save. Who can find more?”
  • -JCBRKER-: “We have been playing Astroneer for a week, and I can say that it is totally worth the money! The graphics are beautiful, the graphic style is totally cute and incredibly detailed […] You can sense the love for the game and the effort the developers put in through the dozens of details while playing”.
  • Siscoprofit: “Fun game focusing on exploration and base-building. Really great to play with friends in co-op”.

More about Steam can be found here:

How much does Astroneer cost? You currently get the game with a 50% discount. Instead of €27.99, Astroneer costs €13.99. The special offer ends on January 30, 2023.

A bundle of the game and soundtrack is currently priced at €15.86 instead of €32.98, reflecting a 52% discount (as of January 27, 2023).

If you are always looking for good games, you can find the 15 best MMOs and MMORPGs 2023 here.

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

LoL: Nerf against Yuumi should be terrifying – “I want professionals to stop playing her”

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In League of Legends the magic cat Yuumi is heavily nerfed with patch 13.1b. The responsible LoL developer explains: The nerfs should look “fucking huge” to make it clear to every pro: Don’t play Yuumi anymore. At the same time, the nerfs are supposed to look worse on paper than they actually are.

Who is speaking? David “Phreak” Turley” (35) started his career as a caster for League of Legends in 2009. Since 2022, he has been a member of the design team as “Riot Phreak”.

Before his career at Riot, he was a professional “Warcraft 3” player.

Which nerf is he talking about? With the update 13.1B, the champ Yuumi is heavily nerfed. There are a total of 8 nerfs affecting her base stats, her passive ability, and the skills W and E:

  • The nerfs have been considered one of the “heaviest nerfs in LoL history”.
  • A user on reddit said they are taking Yuumi out of the game without removing her from the game. A reference to the desire of several pro players for Riot to just “delete Yuumi”.
  • In the 2022 season, the support Yuumi was seen as a hated but extremely effective pick: Anyone playing her in the bot lane could win championships . The champion was originally intended as a “noob-friendly entry champion”.
Start video
A spectacular video about League of Legends has now 138 million views – Shows how huge LoL is

Nerfs should look “fucking huge” to deter pros

What’s behind the nerfs? Phreak explains in a video:

  • The goal of the nerf was to completely take Yuumi out of the pros’ game – that was supposed to improve things.
  • The nerf was supposed to look discouraging and specifically prevent pros from ever touching Yuumi again.
  • For “normal players” the nerf shouldn’t be so bad.
More on the topic
LoL: 2 bosses sit sadly in front of the camera for 8 minutes, eventually announcing a new, crazy mode
von Schuhmann

Phreak says: “The nerf isn’t as bad as it looks on paper.” It should only “look damn huge” so that the pros stop playing Yuumi and the normal players stop banning Yuumi in solo queue: Actually, the nerf isn’t that bad.

Yuumi’s base stats were so strong that she could even compete against the best ADCs like Caitlyn. The pros exploited the base stats to win their lanes. Normal support players didn’t benefit as much from the base stats.

For him, Yuumi was intended as a “noob-friendly” champion who is overall weaker.

With the nerf, he believes he can now achieve the set goals:

“I’m pretty sure Yuumi will now disappear from the pros’ game. The nerfs in the laning phase are too strong for her to still be playable in pro play. I really hope pros now say: ‘Well, good, we’re not playing her anymore, she’s gone’ and that the pro games will get better now.”

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Will it stay like this? For a while, it will likely stay this way. Riot accepts that the champion will now also have a hard time in normal play.

In the long term, a major rework for the cat has been announced. However, there is no schedule yet for when we will see the new Yuumi.

The cat Yuumi has a special role in League of Legends due to her unique mechanic of merging with a player and becoming untargetable, which has always been extremely controversial:

LoL reworks the most disliked champion – But completely wrong, players say

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

Twitch streamer raises $11,000 for a good cause, has to stare at a boring wall for 10 hours: “Mentally destructive stream”

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Matthew ‘Mizkif’ Rinaudo is one of the currently most controversial streamers on Twitch. He has now launched a unique challenge: staring at a white wall for hours. He has collected money for an organization that cares for mentally ill people.

Mizkif has come up with a new challenge for a good cause and stared at a white wall for 10 hours. For this, he turned his back on his setting and the viewers and started a timer for 10 hours. You can watch the stream directly on Twitch.

By the way, he is not the only streamer who comes up with crazy ideas for his stream:

More on the topic
Twitch streamer has been on air for 62 days – Crazy Fortnite challenge keeps him streaming
von Maik Schneider

Twitch streamer wants to stare at a wall to test his own mind

He himself explains before his stream that this action would be quite exhausting: ‘It is a very mentally destructive stream. It is very exhausting. The reason why I like to do this stream is that it tests my mind.’

Mizkif also had to realize that staring at a white wall is not necessarily one of the creative highlights of his career. He noted:

It will be ridiculous, I tell you, you do not want to be here unless you are an absolute idiot. Which I would probably assume for nearly every stream I participate in. It is really dumb.

How much and for whom did he raise? Mizkif ended the stream on January 27, 2023. He raised a total of 11,000 USD with his stream. The money goes to Rise Above The Disorder (RAD). This is a nonprofit organization that covers the costs of mental health care for people around the world.

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Twitch: Who were actually the first successful streamers?

Mizkif’s career abruptly stopped when he was involved in a major scandal

Mizkif is one of the most controversial streamers on Twitch. He is among the big cynics who rarely hold back. He once explained that he only streams with attractive women to increase his views.

Eventually, he was accused during a stream of being involved in sexual assault. The discussion about this accusation quickly affected not only Mizkif’s community but also those of Twitch and Twitter.

Also, because he did not take the whole thing seriously at first and many colleagues and friends supported him.

After the scandal, he was not banned, but he disappeared from the surface for weeks. His colleagues probably advised him to let the matter settle.

Meanwhile, Mizkif is back on the air, but he perfectly apologized for his behavior:

The professional cynic of Twitch apologizes remorsefully and perfectly staged – So they do not chase him off the property

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