In Destiny 2 there are sometimes truly special heroes that you never forget. One of them was the German Destiny 2 player and community hero “Seraphim Crypto”. When he passed away, he left a big gap – not just in the German community. Now Bungie makes him immortal in the game and grants him his unique emblem, which he would have been proud of.
Who was Seraphim Crypto? In yesterday’s “This Week at Bungie” blog, Destiny 2 released a unique emblem in mourning for the death of Seraphim Crypto.
Many players might recognize the name of the guardian honored with this emblem, “Seraphim Crypto”. He was not only a Destiny player from the very beginning, but he has always been passionately active in the Destiny 2 community.
With his unique commitment and a lot of patience, he supported other guardians for years through the Bungie forum with their questions or when they had problems in the game. And when you asked him why he did it, his answer was: “I am a person who loves helping others for many reasons, the simplest is that it makes me happy.”
So he started helping people every day by diving into Bungie’s #Help forum and answering players’ questions. He decided, as he himself says, to give back to the community the love that it had given him. Be it through good fights in the game or the community.
And his help was popular, not just with the German Destiny 2 community. Something that Bungie also noticed. So they officially appointed Seraphim Crypto as the “Community Ninja” in 2015 and even as the “Community Mentor” in 2017. Later he received a special honor of an invitation to Seattle to participate exclusively in a community event.
What are Ninjas and Mentors exactly? At Bungie, there are several roles for community volunteers who are active for Bungie.net and partner platforms. Mentors and Ninjas do not work officially for Bungie. Most of them come from the community and are therefore volunteer points of contact for all players seeking help in the forum.
Mentors also have additional supportive powers as they write help articles for Bungie and refer to authorized troubleshooting methods. They also collaborate with Bungie’s player support and web teams.
On February 1, 2022, Drew Tucker, the head of player support and community moderation at Bungie, delivered the sad news of the death of the beloved German Destiny mentor.
There he informed the guardians that Seraphim Crypto had passed away after being in a medically induced coma in the months prior due to a brain aneurysm.
Seraphim Crypto was more than that: Since many knew him and had fond, helpful memories of him, this was a great loss. But after his death, it also showed that he was much more than just a point of contact for Destiny players. He also had an open ear for guardians with personal problems.
For example, after his death, the player Lotr/ Hadunte shared his personal experience with the community mentor on Bungie.net and dedicated the following “sayonara” video to him.
https://youtu.be/6BOK-UrzPo0
This is how a guardian thanks Seraphim Crypto.
In March 2022, he wrote in the official Bungie forum:
It sounds crazy, but Crypto helped me get through the worst phase of my life, namely video game addiction. […] His words were strong enough to change me. Now I am no longer addicted to video games. Currently, I am participating in athletics training, and I am now good at basketball and tennis. This is the least I can do for him.
He is also among the guardians who were happy about the announcement of the new free emblem, in honor of Seraphim Crypto,
Free emblem honors the commitment of a unique light
Even 9 months after his death, he is missed. For all who knew and appreciated him or do not yet know him, Bungie has therefore designed a special emblem. It is meant to honor Seraphim Crypto in his favorite game and to remember him.
The emblem named “Seraphim’s Gauntlets” is free for all players and includes very personal elements.
This is what the new emblem looks like, which you can redeem for free on bungie.net.
“This emblem represents [Crypto’s] love for Destiny, Titan gauntlets, and the number 37. Although there are only 36 points, one remains unlit in the middle to represent the loss we feel for him. I hope that everyone who wears this emblem feels the same connection as we do for Seraphim Crypto and the love for our community,” Bungie writes in yesterday’s TWaB blog.
This is currently being discussed in the Destiny 2 community:
The emblem “Seraphim’s Gauntlets” is free for all players and can be redeemed using the code XVX-DKJ-CVM on the Bungie website.
Copy the code from our article and visit the website of Bungie.net. There you must log in with your account details. Once you have done this, the form field will appear where you can enter the code XVX-DKJ-CVM. After that, you just need to start Destiny 2, and you can equip the emblem in the game.
Did you know the story behind the new free emblem or Seraphim Crypto? Perhaps because he has helped you before? If so, please feel free to share your thoughts or personal experiences about him with us in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The American Zepla is one of the biggest streamers of the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. Her account was apparently mistakenly suspended by Twitch – a mistake that almost cost her her followers.
This is Zepla: Zepla has dedicated herself to the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV and shows it almost exclusively on her Twitch channel. She is considered a friendly and helpful streamer who likes to give her viewers tips on the game.
In this way, she has built a community of 243,000 followers on Twitch, with around 2,000 people watching her on average (via sullygnome).
Zepla is passionately playing Final Fantasy XIV and also likes to wear bunny ears in her streams, which are a reference to her character, a Viera bunny girl. You can see what else you need to know about the MMORPG in the video.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV – in 2 minutes
Zepla loses thousands of followers due to ban
This ban is about: On September 15, the suspension of Twitch partner Zepla was announced via the Twitter account StreamerBans. After exactly 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 36 seconds, the account was unlocked, but the damage had already been done.
These were the consequences of the ban: Zepla initially started her next stream unaware of anything. But her viewers pointed out to her that they had to follow her again. Zepla then realized that Twitch had deleted more than 150,000 of her followers.
This was Zepla’s reaction: The streamer shared her unblocking on Twitter and announced the deletion of her followers. She called it “devastating” and demanded answers from Twitch. Especially incomprehensible for the streamer: She hadn’t streamed at all in the days leading up to the ban.
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This is behind the ban: Shortly after the announcement of her suspension and unblocking, Zepla shared a message from Twitch stating that the reason for the ban was impersonation. Such a suspension can be received if one pretends to be another streamer or a Twitch employee.
Due to the alleged severity of the offense, the duration of the ban was described as indefinite. It apparently turned out to be a misunderstanding, as Zepla had indeed struggled with impersonators for years who tried to deceive her viewers with phishing links.
Zepla had already addressed this issue in a YouTube video in 2019. Now it seems that Twitch accidentally suspended Zepla’s real account while trying to combat the impersonators. She cannot afford this nonsense at the moment, according to Zepla (via Twitter).
This is the current status: However, many users assured that the followers in such cases can usually be restored.
Actually, the follower count on Zepla’s Twitch channel is now stated to be 245,000, with her channel showing an increase of 170,000 followers in the last 3 days (via sullygnome). However, it remains unclear whether all subscriptions have also been restored.
At least it seems that Zepla has not lost her sense of humor: The streamer joked that she was probably banned because she simply looked too much like herself. Maybe she is also an impersonator of herself, as she constantly changes (via Twitter).
The streaming platform Twitch has recently faced criticism for its ban policy. Because streamers are not always able to understand the reasons for their suspensions.
Especially for some smaller full-time streamers, this can be existentially threatening, as they depend on the income. The VTuber Shylily also spoke about this issue after her ban.
In Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 the official release is approaching and yesterday’s CoD Next Stream generated even more excitement than initially expected. It was announced there that a new raid mode will soon captivate many PvE players. Just like in Destiny 2.
At one point in the interview, a new PvE mode named “Raid” was mentioned. Anyone who comes from the loot shooter faction and enjoys taking down monsters with their Guardian colleagues in Destiny 2 knows the term.
Here is the multiplayer trailer for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0:
Start video
CoD Modern Warfare 2: Trailer shows multiplayer and Warzone 2.0 – New third-person perspective is included
Raids just like in Destiny 2 but with three players
What are Raids in Destiny 2? In Destiny 2, raids are a 6-player activity without integrated player matching. Guardians must gather their own teammates. Once the team is set, the players embark on a “big mission”. The task of the Guardians is to defeat the final boss to eliminate the threat against humanity.
In Destiny 2 you must face many bosses
The path to the final boss is, however, fraught with challenges. There are many jumping passages, puzzles, and even mini-bosses that are meant to hinder you. While MW2 is not an MMO, the shooter could still adopt some mechanics from the sci-fi developer “Bungie” into its universe.
What could the raids in MW2 look like? In CoD Next, some hints about the raid mode in MW2 were already revealed. These include:
The mode will be designed for 3 players
There will be puzzles and challenging fights
A raid will last several hours
And strategy is also important to progress in a raid of MW2
This seems to be a slimmed-down version of the known raids from Destiny 2. What could be particularly interesting for players is an option for integrated player matching.
CoD has its own player matching system. Therefore, there is a possibility that the developers could implement this for their raid mode as well. Something that Bungie is planning, but has not yet introduced in Destiny 2. Guardians of the space shooter must look for players themselves to start the multiplayer activity.
It is quite possible that mercenaries will not have to deal with finding suitable fighters on their own. However, there is still some time until the release of the raid mode of MW2, as players will only truly enjoy the shooter and its content starting from November 16.
What do you think about the raid idea for MW2? Would you try it out or even celebrate it? Let us know in the comments what you think!
Would you rather know what CoD: Warzone Mobile looks like? Continue here:
The FIFA 22 Web App will be deactivated today, as the version for FIFA 23 approaches. All the information will be shown here.
When will the FIFA 22 Web App be deactivated? It has been announced at EA Help that the FIFA 22 Web App will be deactivated today, on September 16, 2022. An official time has not yet been announced – currently the login is still available.
As soon as there is more information, we will update the article.
Which app is this about? This is only about the FIFA 22 Web App, the browser version that can also be used on a PC, for example. The Companion App for FIFA 22, on the other hand, seems to be unaffected.
What about the FIFA 22 Companion App? The Companion App is the application for iOS and Android that can be downloaded directly to the smartphone. No deactivation has been announced for today at this point.
However, it is known that the FIFA 22 Companion App will be updated to the FIFA 23 version on September 22. After that, it will no longer be possible to access your FUT22 team through the app.
What’s next for the FIFA Web App?
This applies to FIFA 22: If you want to manage your FIFA 22 Ultimate Team via the app after the Web App is deactivated, you will need to revert to the Companion App. However, this will only be possible via smartphone or tablet.
Apart from the apps, you can continue playing your Ultimate Team in the game itself – even after FIFA 23 has been released.
For the Web App, you will not need to download anything, but only call up the website for login again. But: Only players with a FUT account can use early access to the app before the release of FIFA 23. New players can only log in after the game’s release.
The Companion App, on the other hand, will only be updated on September 22. You can either redownload it or simply update to FIFA 23.
Did you still use the FIFA 22 Web App, or are you already done with your “old” Ultimate Team? Or do you generally prefer to continue playing FIFA 22 instead of moving on to FIFA 23? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Nicholas “Nickmercs” Kolcheff (31) is the first major winner of the new games of Call of Duty. The American won the first match in Call of Duty: Warzone 2 on September 15th and he was by far the most watched streamer on Twitch on the evening of the “CoD: Next” event. He beat the official Call of Duty channel, the Frenchman Gotaga, and Ninja. His advantage: The competition in CoD has now moved away from Twitch.
Who won the evening for Call of Duty on Twitch? On the evening of September 15th, the event “Call of Duty” Next took place – Activision Blizzard invited over 200 live streamers to showcase their new offerings of Call of Duty. The Twitch streamers were live for 5 hours.
In the end, the winner was Nickmercs, he had an average of 71,011 viewers, 101,584 at peak.
Thus, Nickmercs had more viewers than the official Call of Duty Twitch channel, more than the French star Gotaga, and more than Ninja, who only placed 6th.
In Germany, the Twitch streamer “STYLERZ” was leading. He has showcased Call of Duty: Warzone all year. Internationally, he ranked 16th.
The new Call of Duty:
Start video
CoD Modern Warfare 2: Trailer shows multiplayer and Warzone 2.0 – New third-person perspective is included
Streamer was huge in CoD Warzone 2021 – but left angrily
Why is he the prodigal son? From Activision Blizzard’s perspective, it is important to rekindle Nickmercs’s passion for Call of Duty:
Nickmercs was by far the biggest streamer for Call of Duty: Warzone in 2021
However, in 2022, he left and mostly showcased the competition, Apex Legends.
It is therefore strategically valuable to bring him back to CoD Warzone and excite him now.
Activision Blizzard invited few “generally big streamers” from the USA besides Ninja: shroud is probably too closely associated with Valorant – xQc probably wasn’t invited due to his gambling connection. Tfue is currently caught up in Fortnite fever.
Thus, mostly Call-of-Duty streamers were present.
The two could have posed a challenge to Nickmercs – but both are no longer on Twitch.
Nickmercs: Strong partners and cautious gameplay led to 1st victory
How did the 1st match go for him? At the CoD Next event, the first “real match” of Warzone 2.0 was played.
Nickmercs competed alongside 2 teammates:
the Twitch streamer iSmixie, who primarily showcases CoD Warzone.
FaZe Scope, a player for the esports clan FaZe.
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So he had quite a firepower on his side. Nickmercs played for victory from the start, took few risks; they stayed together as a team.
After initial technical difficulties where the in-game communication wasn’t working, Nickmercs gradually got into gear. He barricaded himself with his team on the rooftops of high buildings, frequently changed position, and played rather defensively.
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Ultimately, Nickmercs and his team played the map, took few risks, stayed together as a team and were able to eliminate the scattered opponents in the shrinking last circle.
By the end of the match, Nickmercs had 5 kills, a classic tactical victory.
One of the biggest advantages of World of Warcraft: Dragonflight? You no longer have to play Shadowlands – not even for leveling.
It’s not exactly glorious that one of the biggest selling points of the next WoW expansion “Dragonflight” is the fact that it is “at least not Shadowlands anymore.” But that’s how it has come to be. Many simply no longer want to deal with the Shadowlands and are yearning for something familiar, and the Dragon Isles should provide relief.
But a nice little thing that also comes with Dragonflight: You no longer have to play Shadowlands – not even during the leveling phase.
Thanks to “Chromie Time,” players can simply skip “Shadowlands.”
What will change? The “Chromie Time” will also be extended to the level range that is actually reserved for Shadowlands. That means you can now level from level 10 to 60 in any expansion you like.
Currently, at level 48, you are prompted to quest in Shadowlands – and from level 50 onward, it’s even indirectly mandatory, as quests in the rest of the world essentially no longer grant experience points.
With Dragonflight, this necessity disappears, as Chromie Time goes up to level 60. So, if you want, you can spend the range from level 50 to 60 in places like Outland, Northrend, or the Garrison on Draenor.
If you never want to see the areas of Shadowlands again, you won’t have to with the launch of Dragonflight.
The cinematic for the next WoW expansion “Dragonflight”:
Start video
WoW: Here is the spectacular cinematic for the new expansion Dragonflight
What else is changing? In addition to this adjustment, leveling from level 10 to 60 will also be significantly faster. If the current values in the Dragonflight beta are not changed, leveling will take about 60% less time than before. This is primarily due to the drastic reduction in required experience in the range of level 50 to 60.
This is the normal step that typically happens at the beginning of every new expansion in World of Warcraft. Currently, leveling between levels 50 and 60 takes almost as long as leveling from 10 to 50 – after all, players should level “slow enough” to fully experience the areas of the current expansion.
With Dragonflight, you are likely to spend about the same amount of time leveling from level 10 to 70 as you currently do in Shadowlands from level 10 to 60.
Will there be another “squish”? With the launch of a new expansion, there’s always the question of whether WoW will conduct another “squish” – meaning a reduction of all character values to bring the numbers back to a smaller scale. That will not be the case. However, Blizzard wants to adjust the item level curve from level 10 to 60 before the release of Dragonflight.
Your characters will remain as strong as ever at level 60, but the item level will be significantly increased on the way from level 1 to 60, so that you won’t have huge item level jumps as you transition into the level 50+ range. This is aimed at ensuring a smoother item level increase during the leveling experience.
Will you still visit the Shadowlands while leveling with Twinks? Or will you always avoid this expansion in the future?
In Pokémon GO the major Steel Event “Test Your Nerves” starts today, September 16, 2022, bringing you a limited-time research and new quests. We at MeinMMO have looked into the tasks and rewards that are behind it.
What kind of research is this? With the start of the Steel Event “Test Your Nerves”, Niantic is unlocking a new limited-time research for you in Pokémon GO. You can find it in your “Today” view in the game and can solve it throughout the event.
Additionally, there are new event quests at the PokéStops that will reward you with thematically appropriate rewards for the event.
When does the Steel Event run? The Steel Event “Test Your Nerves” runs from September 16, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time until September 21, 2022, at 8:00 PM local time.
Limited-Time Research for “Test Your Nerves”
As you may have known from other events in the past, Niantic will again offer you a so-called limited-time research as part of the Steel Event. This is only active during the event period and can therefore only be solved in that time. So, you should definitely remember to claim your rewards in time, so they don’t expire.
Thematically, the limited-time research will primarily focus on catching Steel Pokémon, but special throwing skills are also required. Overall, you can expect 2 task panels each with 6 different quests. We have summarized all the contents of the limited-time research for you with the help of LeekDuck’s overview below.
Limited-Time Research “Test Your Nerves” 1/2
Tasks
Rewards
Catch 25 Steel-type Pokémon
25 Poké Balls
Walk 2 km
Encounter with Onix
Make 15 good throws
20 Great Balls
Make 10 excellent throws
10 Ultra Balls
Make 5 curveball throws
10 Razz Berries
Use 10 Berries when catching Pokémon
25 Mega Energy for Aggron
Stage Reward: If you have completed all tasks of this panel and collected the rewards, you will also receive a Magnetic Lure Module, 2,500 XP, and an encounter with Togedemaru.
Limited-Time Research “Test Your Nerves” 2/2
Tasks
Rewards
Catch 25 Steel-type Pokémon
25 Poké Balls
Make 15 curveball throws
3 Golden Razz Berries
Evolve 3 Steel-type Pokémon
20 Great Balls
Make 5 fabulous throws
Encounter with Beldum
Catch 5 different types of Steel Pokémon
Encounter with Alolan Sandshrew
Take 5 snapshots of different Steel Pokémon in the wild
1,000 Stardust
Stage Reward: If you have completed all tasks of this panel and collected the rewards, you will also receive 50 Mega Energy for Aggron, 50 candies for Beldum, and an encounter with Beldum.
These are the new quests for the Steel Event
In addition to the limited-time research, you will also receive a total of 5 different new field research tasks at the PokéStops during the Steel Event. To secure them, you only need to spin the Photo Disc. Just like in the September field research, the tasks will then be displayed in the “Field” view of the game, which you can access by clicking on the binoculars.
Unlike the limited-time research, you have unlimited time to complete these tasks. You can secure them during the event and take your time to complete them even after the event ends. However, keep in mind that you cannot hold more than 4 unresolved quests at the same time.
Similar to the tasks related to the limited-time research, you will also be catching and evolving Pokémon and doing power-ups for the field research. The following contents await you (via leekduck.com).
Tasks
Rewards
Catch 5 Pokémon
Encounter with Magnemite* or Magneton* or Honedge*
Catch 10 Pokémon
Encounter with Rotom or Shinx*
Catch 15 Pokémon
Encounter with Metang*
Make 5 power-ups on Pokémon
Encounter with Togedemaru
Evolve 2 Steel-type Pokémon
50 Mega Energy for Steelix or Scizor
Which quests are the most worthwhile?
In the rewards of the new research tasks, you can find one or another interesting Pokémon, so you should secure these tasks. We have summarized which ones are particularly worthwhile.
Catch 15 Pokémon: With this quest, you can secure the Steel Pokémon Beldum. It can be evolved into Metang and then into Metagross, which is one of the best Steel attackers in Pokémon GO. And as one of the best Psychic attackers, Metagross can also hold its own in raids.
On the other hand, if you are still looking for a candidate for the Master League in PvP battles, Metagross is also an option. According to the ranking by PvPoke, it secures the 31st place there with Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, and Earthquake (via pvpoke.com).
The task is also quick and easy to solve. Additionally, there is only one reward behind this quest, so you are guaranteed an encounter with Beldum. With a little luck, you might even encounter a shiny version.
Metagross normal (left) and shiny (right)
Catch 10 Pokémon: Another strong Pokémon can be secured through this task by catching 10 Pokémon. Rotom can be evolved into the Ground and Steel Pokémon Stoutland, which is one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO. In the GO Battle League, it performs decently and is only an option in the Master League.
This task is generally quite quick to solve, but you are not guaranteed to get Rotom in the reward. After completing the task, you might also encounter a Shinx.
This Pokémon is not particularly strong, and its evolution Frostlass can only rely on average stats. For this reason, it is rather uninteresting for raids and in the PvP League. Thus, you need a bit of luck to encounter Rotom.
Stoutland
Evolve 2 Steel Pokémon: In this quest, you can secure Mega Energy for Mega Steelix or Mega Scizor. This is especially interesting for trainers who regularly rely on their Mega Evolutions. You thus have the chance to quickly obtain additional energy.
Make 5 power-ups on Pokémon: With this quest, you will encounter the Electric and Steel-type Pokémon Togedemaru. This monster from the 7th generation of games comes newly into play at the Steel Event and can also be found outdoors and in raids outside of the research.
However, its stats are rather average. It can’t compete with other attackers of the Electric and Steel types. Thus, it is rather uninteresting for raids. Even in the GO Battle League, it can only reach 57th place in the Super League (via pvpoke.com). Since it is new to the game, it could still be interesting for some trainers.
Catch 5 Pokémon: Behind this task, you can find the Pokémon Magnemite, Magneton, and Honedge. Among these, Magnemite is particularly interesting because it can evolve into Magnezone, which is one of the best Steel attackers in the game.
However, since you cannot guarantee getting this monster through the quest, you should rather rely on Beldum. Metagross is indeed a step better than Magnezone.
For the GO Battle League, Kastadur from this task would also be a good option. Its evolution Tentantel ranks 37th in the Great League with a moveset of Bullet Seed, Leaf Tornado, and Light Cannon.
What do you think of the quests and the limited-time research for the Steel Event? Which monster do you definitely want to secure? Let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
Are you a true WoW veteran? Or did you only get into Azeroth late? We want to know exactly in our survey.
World of Warcraft is one of the longest-running MMORPGs. If you played at launch nearly 20 years ago, it is quite likely that you encounter players in Azeroth today who weren’t even born back then.
Anyone comparing the oldest version of World of Warcraft with the current one will notice many differences. Whether it’s the combat system, ability rotations, or numerous new systems like achievements, pet battles, mount collections, or transmogrification – throughout its lifespan, WoW has undergone numerous changes.
In doing so, Blizzard has tried to make the game more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. Sometimes it worked – and sometimes it didn’t. World of Warcraft reached its peak in subscribers during the time of Wrath of the Lich King. But what are now veterans with 14 years of experience were back then called “Wrath babies” – newcomers who first started playing with WotLK and were true “noobs”.
Right now, many “newcomers” from back then are returning with WotLK Classic:
Start video
Whoever starts WoW Classic now will be greeted with one of the best cinematics of all time
For many players, it is also a special feature to be able to say: “Well, I have been playing since Vanilla!” or “I’ve been in the game for over 15 years!”. Often, simply stating this in a discussion is seemingly enough to win the argument.
But are they really all long-term veterans? When did most of our readers on MeinMMO start? We want to find out with a survey.
We want to know from you: When did you start with World of Warcraft?
If you want to elaborate on your answer a bit, please use our comment function and explain since when you have been playing World of Warcraft – and when you took breaks or returned.
At the big event stream CoD Next, the new battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was presented. Over 200 streamers were there and could collect their first kills in the game. While many participants of the event show enthusiasm for the new Warzone, the viewers remain rather divided.
What is there to know about the new Warzone? Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 will be released on November 16, 2022, together with the first live season of Modern Warfare 2. The first map is called Al Mazrah:
Compared to the first Warzone, much is changing, and the gameplay will be significantly different. Here are some of the main changes:
No more loadout drops
You buy weapons at the buy stations or find them on the map. With cash, you can upgrade the weapons, equip them with attachments, or purchase your custom-built weapons from the gunsmith.
No perks at the start
There are no passive abilities via perks from the buy station or as loot at release.
New co-op gulag
You fight in the gulag 2vs2 for your life. Additionally, there is a “warden” mechanic, an AI-controlled presence, which has not yet been detailed.
Revised playfield circle mechanic
At a certain point in the match, the playfield divides into several circles. In the end, the circles come back together to the final battlefield.
Proximity chat
If you use the in-game chat, you can now hear enemies who are nearby and also using chat.
MW2 movement
Revised gameplay of the new CoD: Slide-cancel is no longer in the game, diving is possible, and you can hang on edges.
More NPCs
The map is full of NPC enemies, especially in locations marked as “stronghold.” There is significantly more loot here. Additionally, an NPC faction roams the map, providing a new source of danger.
Water and vehicles
Like in CoD MW2, water is a core feature. Swimming, underwater battles, boating – all part of Warzone 2.0. The vehicle mechanics have also been revised and offer more depth, both on land and in water.
We are embedding the trailer showcasing the multiplayer of MW2 and Warzone 2.0 here:
Start video
CoD Modern Warfare 2: Trailer shows multiplayer and Warzone 2.0 – New third-person perspective is included
First gameplay at CoD Next excites streamers
Call of Duty invited over 200 streamers to CoD Next, who were able to play their first rounds in Warzone 2.0 on-site. The atmosphere at the event was exceptionally lively, and many streamers expressed excitement about their first rounds.
Kills were cheered loudly, and hardly anyone had any complaints about the extensive changes. As an example, we are embedding a video from the German content creator and Warzone streamer “AimBrot.” The video shows his very first round of Warzone 2.0:
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For the streamer, the new battle royale feels smoother, less “clunky” than its predecessor, thus more modern and technically refined.
Moreover, he praised the improved technology due to a more stable framerate. At the end of the video, he also discusses the map and feels that Al Mazrah is “so much better and prettier than Caldera.”.
However, AimBrot also has criticism and wishes for the return of the loadout crates. For him, that was a fundamental gameplay element of Warzone and something that made the game what it was.
Looking at some of the content creators who were on-site, however, the majority are excited to get their hands on Warzone 2.0 at release.
A somewhat different picture emerges on Reddit and Twitter, among players who have not yet had a chance to play themselves. Many are skeptical due to the extensive changes compared to its predecessor. Additionally, not everyone is fond of the map.
While the most popular thread on the Warzone subreddit is the introduction of the map (2,300 upvotes / September 16, 07:00 AM), there is a lot of criticism regarding the structure (via reddit.com).
The most popular comment in the thread comes from user “alex1596”: “Oh God no, not another gigantic hill in the middle.” This refers to the location “Peak” from Caldera – a huge volcano in the center of the map with significant influence on the dynamics of a match.
The missing loadout drops are also hotly debated. The Reddit thread on this topic has garnered 1,200 upvotes and collected over 500 comments in just a few hours (via reddit.com). The most popular comment here: “They will bring them back when people don’t feel it” from No_Bar6825.
Opinions are also divided under a tweet from Warzone expert “JGOD”. JGOD asks: “What do you think about Warzone 2.0?”.
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He himself is still unsure, and the commentators are also divided. Some are convinced at first sight, while others are disturbed by the drastic changes from the predecessor.
Many want to hold off on making a definitive judgment until they’ve played a round themselves.
Warzone 2.0 will be released on November 16 as a free-to-play shooter and is completely based on the technology of Modern Warfare 2. The CoD from 2022 will be released on October 28.
In FIFA 23, the Ultimate Team mode will receive an overhaul of the chemistry system. We will show you what this looks like.
This is chemistry: The “chemistry” is the fundamental system in Ultimate Team that dictates how you should build your teams. Previously, players standing next to each other built “links” among themselves, which became stronger the more of these three factors they shared:
Nationality
League
Club
A chemistry link could range from 0 to 10. The stronger the link, the bigger the boost players received on their stats. Conversely, if there was no link at all, penalties would apply, and your stats would worsen.
What changes in FIFA 23: It was already known, that the chemistry will be fundamentally changed in FIFA 23. Among other things, the “penalties” will be completely removed. Your players can no longer receive negative effects from weak chemistry, but can only be improved by good chemistry.
The biggest point, however, is that the direct links among players will be removed. Instead, players can now build chemistry across the entire pitch, rather than just among adjacent players. A left-back can thus influence the chemistry of a forward – something that was not possible before.
Furthermore, the scale from 0 to 10 has been removed. Instead, there are now up to 3 points per player that anyone can achieve.
This creates new possibilities in team-building. In a new blog post (via EA), the developers have now addressed how exactly this will work – and point out that further adjustments have been made, which will take effect at the release of FIFA 23.
This is how chemistry works in FIFA 23
The main changes from FIFA 22: In addition to the changes mentioned above, there are a few more points.
Players now have a primary and secondary position. These can be swapped among each other. What is no longer possible is to move the player around the pitch using position modifiers.
There is no more loyalty system. Previously, players from packs or objectives received an extra chemistry point compared to players who were bought on the transfer market. They had to play 10 matches first to receive the loyalty bonus.
There is no overall chemistry for the team anymore.
How do players get chemistry points? To earn chemistry points, you still need to field some players with similar conditions.
The table shows how many players you need to get 1, 2, or 3 points:
1 Chemistry Point
2 Points
3 Points
Club
2 Players
4 Players
7 Players
Nationality
2 Players
5 Players
8 Players
League
3 Players
5 Players
8 Players
Here EA adjusted the numbers again – initially, the first chemistry point was to be achieved only by three players. Now it will be slightly easier to earn chemistry points.
However, you still need at least two players for one point. Helpful are players who share multiple factors.
This example from EA illustrates this:
Forward Mbappé and Kimpembe as players of the same club and nationality influence each other – even though they are completely apart as a forward and center-back.
Overall, it will likely take some adjustment to build teams according to this principle. At the same time, there is also a certain freedom, as you are no longer restricted to contiguous positions.
This means that hybrid teams from different leagues are likely to be somewhat easier to assemble than before.
What else does chemistry bring? A few final points:
There are again Chemistry Styles. These give your players boosts to certain stats – depending on how strong their chemistry is.
After the start of a match, you can rearrange your teams however you like without losing chemistry. That was the case before and remains so.
With good chemistry, you can continue to improve your players’ stats – only the construction itself works a little differently. Speaking of stats: Due to a leak, some first ratings for FIFA 23 are now known.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
From September 16, 2022, the Steel Event “Test Your Nerves” will run in Pokémon GO. We from MeinMMO have taken a look at which spawns, shinies, and bonuses the event will bring you and which new monsters will celebrate their debut in the game.
What kind of event is this? In the coming days, everything in Pokémon GO will revolve around Steel Pokémon. On September 16, 2022, a special Steel Event named “Test Your Nerves” will start.
In addition to numerous spawns, shinies, and bonuses, you can also look forward to new Pokémon. The two new Ultra Beasts, Kaguron and Katagami, have already made their debut as raid bosses in recent days. Additionally, Togedemaru and Mega-Stolloss will follow with the start of the event. We have summarized all the content of the event for you below.
When does the “Test Your Nerves” event start? The Steel Event starts on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time. It will run for about a week, ending on September 21, 2022, at 8:00 PM local time.
All spawns and shinies for the Steel Event
In line with the start of the new event, the various spawns in Pokémon GO will also be adjusted, so you will encounter Steel Pokémon thematically.
You will also have the chance to encounter a shiny specimen or two. All monsters that are available as shiny have been marked with a (*) below.
Pokémon in the wild
In the wild, during the event, you can encounter the new Pokémon Togedemaru for the first time. You can also expect the following monsters:
Magnetilo*
Tannza*
Nasgnet*
Stollunior*
Tanhel*
Bronzel*
Rotomurf
Kastadur*
Togedemaru
You can encounter the following specimens, which are a bit rarer:
Pliprin
Galar-Flunschlik*
The raid bosses for the Steel Event
After there was a first major raid boss change on September 13, and since then, you can encounter the new Ultra Beasts Kaguron and Katagami, Mega-Stolloss will finally make its debut in the game. You can challenge the following monsters in raids in the coming days:
By clicking on the links in the previous table, you will directly reach the respective counter guides.
Event Pokémon from 7 km eggs
In addition to the thematic spawns in the wild and in the raids, the contents of the 7 km eggs that you receive from your friends’ gifts have also been changed for the event. The following monsters can hatch from these:
Alola-Sandan*
Alola-Digda*
Galar-Mauzi*
Riolu*
Galar-Flunschlik*
Especially the fighting Pokémon Riolu will be of interest to many players. The monster from Generation 4 is usually only found in 10 km eggs and is therefore correspondingly harder to obtain.
As mentioned, you can encounter the two new Pokémon Togedemaru and Mega-Stolloss in the coming days. Both will be found in raids. The Electric- and Steel-type Pokémon Togedemaru from Generation 7 will also spawn in the wild and hide in the rewards of research tasks.
Additionally, the two Ultra Beasts, Kaguron and Katagami, were released on September 13. There, they defend the Level 5 raids regionally. Thus, you can only find the Flying- and Steel-type Pokémon Kaguron in the Southern Hemisphere and Katagami, a Pokémon of the Grass and Steel type, in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mega-Stolloss, Togedemaru, Kaguron, and Katagami
These are the bonuses for the Steel Event
The Steel Event also provides you with some bonuses besides the numerous spawns and new Pokémon. During the event, especially good, great, and excellent throws are worthwhile. Below we show you which bonuses you can look forward to:
increased chance of XL candies when catching with good, great, or excellent throws
additional candies when you catch Pokémon with good, great, or excellent throws
Timed Research
Reward:Mega Energy for Stolloss, encounter with Togedemaru, and encounter with Stollunior
Event Research
Reward:Encounters with Magnetilo*, Tannza*, Nasgnet*, Rotomurf, Kastadur*, Togedemaru, Tanhel* as well as Mega Energy for Stolloss and Scherox
What is your opinion on the new Pokémon that you can get in the Steel Event? Have you been eagerly waiting for Mega-Stolloss? And what spawns and bonuses were you hoping for at this event? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange thoughts with other trainers.
Call of Duty Next starts this evening for CoD Warzone, Modern Warfare 2 and more. We are therefore listing all important information and times so that you don’t miss the event. Additionally, we will also be there this evening and will provide live updates – feel free to check back often.
CoD Next – What is it? Call of Duty Next is a showcase event for the upcoming CoD titles. The ongoing future of the shooter series will be revealed, along with further information regarding CoD: Modern Warfare 2, a new installment to Warzone and the mobile version of Warzone.
This event will be streamed live on many social platforms to ensure everyone has the chance to participate. If you miss the event or cannot access the stream, we will be live updating for you.
Read here the course of the live ticker from MeinMMO for CoD Next:
20:10 Uhr: The most significant information from the stream has been announced, and now the round of 200 streamers is allowed to take the controllers and play MW2. Here are the important links if you want to watch:
20:00 Uhr: Every progress for the Battle Pass that you earn on mobile, MW2 or Warzone 2.0 will be saved to your account. Nothing is lost or wasted. Everyone shares their progress.
19:59 Uhr: No bots will be placed in matches. You will be thrown onto the map with 120 players who are real players. All of this is on Warzone Mobile.
19:57 Uhr: CoD Warzone for mobile is returning, and it comes with the map Verdansk. The game is intended to feel the same, but with simpler graphics. Even the Gulag is back.
19:54 Uhr: The release of Warzone 2.0 is also confirmed and will be released on November 16, 2022, for all players.
19:52 Uhr: The new DMZ mode for Warzone 2.0 has also been discussed. It is an extraction mode, similar to the shooter Escape from Tarkov.
19:50 Uhr: Fortresses will also be implemented in Warzone 2.0, where AIs will have a lot of loot that you can challenge. This way, you can gain an advantage over other players.
19:47 Uhr: The storm will also change in Warzone 2.0, as it can split into three smaller storms and then reunite.
19:46 Uhr: There will also be a proximity chat that lets you hear when enemies are nearby. However, you can also communicate with players who are only close to you. Other players who are far away cannot hear you.
19:42 Uhr: Many vehicles will assist you on your journeys in Al Mazrah. Helicopters, boats, cars, and much more. But be careful, you need to pay attention to your fuel gauge.
19:39 Uhr: Al Mazrah is the new map for Warzone 2, and it is a desert-like and arid environment with many POIs. It is currently the largest map that has ever existed.
This is what the new Warzone 2.0 map looks like
19:37 Uhr: MW2 and Warzone 2 were both developed simultaneously, so they both share the same mechanics.
19:33 Uhr: If you are playing on PlayStation, you will also get access to a special operator. This is only available to PlayStation players.
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19:30 Uhr: There is even talk of a third-person perspective in all known PvP modes.
19:28 Uhr: Another new mode “Rescue” is also introduced. In this, you have to rescue hostages and try to bring them to safety.
19:27 Uhr: A new mode called “Invasion” is now coming. 20vs20 players compete on a map and try to capture bases.
19:24 Uhr: Now maps are being closely examined. Sarrif Bay is one of them, featuring its promenade and boats. Additionally, there is a smaller map for 6vs6 matches. Mercado Las Almas is the map and is located in an older town with many houses.
19:15 Uhr: Activision has also tailored the multiplayer of MW2 to your playstyles. There are types of players such as rushers, sentinels, and stalkers. There are also cool gadgets for these types of players. You can find out more about this here.
19:12 Uhr: Other developers have now gathered and are talking about Modern Warfare 2 and that the development took 3 years. While the developers are speaking, the streamers are getting ready to play:
18:33 Uhr: In the meantime, live participants of the stream are being asked what they are looking forward to in the event.
18:30 Uhr: The event has already started, and Activision welcomes the viewers with dramatic music and makes you wait another 30 minutes until 7:00 PM.
18:15 Uhr: There are still 15 minutes until the start of the stream. We from MeinMMO have also gathered and are eagerly awaiting what Activision has prepared for today.
All important information about the livestream for Call of Duty Next
When does the event start? The event takes place today on September 15 at 6:30 PM German time.
Where can I watch? Activision will stream the event live on their YouTube channel as well as on Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook. Here are all the important links through which you can watch:
Various content creators will also be there, as they will be testing the multiplayer mode of MW2 live for you. So, during the “CoD Next” stream, you can also switch to your favorite streamer if you’re just interested in the gameplay.
More about CoD: Modern Warfare 2 can be found here:
What content will be shown? Activision has planned a lot for its stream. This includes the following things from their announcement blog post:
What the immediate future of Call of Duty will look like, including many more details on Modern Warfare II, information on the next Call of Duty: Warzone, and more about the mobile version of Call of Duty: Warzone (also known as “Project Aurora”).
A complete multiplayer reveal of Modern Warfare II.
A variety of your favorite streamers at the event playing the games in real-time.
[[CENSORED]] Information and surprises!
What is particularly interesting is the censored part of the announcement. The development team has some things up their sleeve that they will only reveal during the stream.
But enough of the announcement, are you ready for the stream and looking forward to the multiplayer reveal of MW2? Will you be there and watching? Let us know in the comments!
Everything you need to know about the upcoming beta of Modern Warfare 2 can be found here:
FIFA 23: These are the 25 highest ratings from the Bundesliga
These are the top ratings for FIFA 23: In the Bundesliga, Manuel Neuer received the highest rating after Robert Lewandowski moved to Spain. He has a total value of 90.
Second place is also occupied by FC Bayern: New signing Sadio Mané, last season at Liverpool, receives the silver medal with a rating of 89. The same rating has Joshua Kimmich, also from Bayern, ranking third.
Now Erling Haaland could have come with his rating of 88, but the Norwegian went to the Premier League. Instead, the next positions are also taken by Bayern. Only Christopher Nkunku and Kevin Trapp break the streak with their ratings of 86.
The top 25 ratings of the Bundesliga:
Manuel Neuer, FC Bayern Munich (90)
Sadio Mané, FC Bayern Munich (89)
Joshua Kimmich, FC Bayern Munich, 89
Thomas Müller, FC Bayern Munich, 87
Leon Goretzka, FC Bayern Munich, 87
Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig, 86
Kevin Trapp, Eintracht Frankfurt, 86
Kingsley Coman, FC Bayern Munich, 86
Yann Sommer, Borussia M’gladbach, 85
Patrik Schick, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 85
Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund, 85
Niklas Süle, Borussia Dortmund, 85
Serge Gnabry, FC Bayern Munich, 85
Matthijs de Ligt, FC Bayern Munich, 85
Péter Gulácsi, RB Leipzig, 85
Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund, 84
Lucas Hernández, FC Bayern Munich, 84
Alphonso Davies, FC Bayern Munich, 84
Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund, 84
Koen Casteels, VfL Wolfsburg, 84
Leroy Sané, FC Bayern Munich, 84
Moussa Diaby, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 84
Konrad Laimer, RB Leipzig, 83
Sébastien Haller, Borussia Dortmund, 82
Timo Werner, RB Leipzig, 82
Start video
FIFA 23: Gameplay trailer shows new features – What makes it different from FIFA 22?
Thus, the top 25 in the Bundesliga this time are from seven clubs.
Leipzig has 4 players in the top 25
Frankfurt one
Dortmund 5 players
Gladbach one player
Leverkusen has 2 players
Bayern has 11 players, almost half of the top 25
Wolfsburg has one player as well
There is not much time left until the release date of FIFA 23, and by then all the remaining ratings should also be announced. What do you think of the ratings? Let us know in the comments!
For a few days, there are new Ultra Beasts Kaguron and Katagami in Pokémon GO, which can be found in various regions in raids. For a brief moment, it seemed as if they would swap hemispheres at least temporarily – but that was a mistake.
Update, September 15, 2022, 19:45: Niantic’s blog post about the current Season of Light briefly announced that the two monsters would swap hemispheres during the raid hour on September 21, 2022. Then Katagami would have appeared in the south and Kaguron in the north.
However, that was a mistake, as both monsters are now being announced back in their regular habitats. The blog currently states: “September 21. Start: 6 PM (local time). End: 7 PM (local time). Kaguron appears in level 5 raid battles in the southern hemisphere. Katagami appears in level 5 raid battles in the northern hemisphere” (via pokemongolive).
Niantic Support also officially responded via Twitter:
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Trainers, we would like to confirm that Katagami will appear in the northern hemisphere and Kaguron in the southern hemisphere during the raid hour. Please note that they will not swap hemispheres as previously stated. We apologize for the confusion.
What are Ultra Beasts? Ultra Beasts are mysterious Pokémon that come into the world of Pokémon GO via Ultra Wormholes from other dimensions. During the GO Fest 2022, you could secure Anego, Schabelle, Masskito, and Voltriant this way.
Is it worth using remote raid passes at all? Kaguron is a flying and steel Pokémon from the 7th game generation, which can only show average values. Furthermore, its move set is not the best either. It can rely on Iron Head and Ram Bomb for two fast steel charge attacks but has no same-type instant attack.
Similarly, its flying type is the same. It can use Air Slash as the instant attack but has no flying charge attack. Thus, it is rather uninteresting for the GO battle league and in raids. Here you should rather rely on one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
If you want to secure Kaguron mainly for the Pokédex, you can wait for the raid hour next Wednesday and save your remote raid passes for other monsters.
A selection of the best attackers in Pokémon GO can be seen in the following video:
Start video
Pokémon GO: The strongest attackers of all types in the video
Are there other dates when Kaguron will be available? No, looking at the Pokémon GO blog makes it clear that for now, no switch of the two is planned.
Kaguron remains to be found in the southern hemisphere and Katagami in the northern hemisphere. There, you can challenge it in level 5 raids until September 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time.
Whether the two Ultra Beasts will return to the raids at a later date and then change their regions for a longer time remains to be seen. If there are any new updates, you will find out here at MeinMMO.
How do you like the outlook for the upcoming raid hour? Have you secured Kaguron with the help of remote raid passes? Let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
Destiny 2 is restructuring its update times. Therefore, players can expect another downtime and background maintenance today, Thursday. We will accompany the server downtimeand let you know when and how long you can’t log in.
What you need to know today: After Bungie has already maintained Destiny 2 in the background over the past days, there will be another short downtime of the servers today.
For this update, the servers will go offline briefly. Also, some things in the game may change. That’s why we will guide you through Hotfix 6.2.0.4 and update this article with fresh information. So stay tuned for fresh updates.
Update history: 7:15 PM: The update has arrived a few minutes late. The download on PC is 183.8 MB. Once you have downloaded it, you should be able to log in again. However, keep in mind: There may still be queues. You can find the patch notes for Hotfix 6.2.0.4 further down in the article. 7:00 PM: Bungie has already exceeded the planned downtime by a few minutes. 6:30 PM: The servers from Bungie have just gone offline. Now it’s time to wait until 7 PM for Hotfix 6.2.0.4. Stay tuned for updates. 5:30 PM: Bungie has announced that maintenance will start in an hour. You will be removed from all activities at 6:30 PM. 10:30 AM: As soon as there are new updates from Bungie, we will keep you updated with current information in this infobox.
During the downtime, players will not be able to dance on the moon for a short time.
Maintenance on September 15 – All Times and Server Downtime
As part of the update, Bungie will implement some fixes and remove faulty content from the game. However, players will also have to tolerate a short downtime and longer background maintenance. This will only be completed by Saturday, September 17.
These times are important today:
At 6:00 PM German time, maintenance work in the background will begin on all platforms.
From 6:30 PM the servers will go offline and you will be automatically kicked from all activities.
Around 7:00 PM the servers should go back online and Update 6.2.0.4 will be rolled out for all platforms. You can then log in again to play.
Also good to know: Background maintenance will continue after the server downtime. According to Bungie until Saturday, September 17 at 9:00 PM.
It is important: Even if you have downloaded the update and are back in the game, there may still be connection issues until the maintenance work is over. You might also have to deal with queues when logging in. Additionally, keep in mind that third-party applications and the official companion app may not be accessible correctly.
What Changes with Update 6.2.0.4 in Season 18
What the update bringstoday: Bungie has not yet published any information about the latest bug fixes. However, there are a few things still open that Bungie might address.
Players with crossplay disabled cannot participate in Trials of Osiris.
Bungie is also investigating reports of performance-related issues on PCs. For example, there may be problems when players use Destiny with an integrated graphics card, especially if the integrated graphics card does not meet the minimum PC specifications.
If an old seal and a title were earned for a character that is deleted, the seal may not be able to be re-equipped.
Player name changes are still not customizable via bungie.net. Players are still waiting for the option to adjust their usernames multiple times instead of just once.
If you encounter problems in the game yourself, it is recommended to report them directly via the official Bungie Help Forum to make the developers aware of them.
Which buttons will Destiny 2 press today during the server downtime?
Patch Notes for Hotfix 6.2.0.4 in Destiny 2
What is in the patch notes? Bungie releases the comprehensive list of all changes to Hotfix 6.2.0.4 in the form of patch notes.
Have you maybe noticed other bugs while gaming that Bungie should address? And do you think that Bungie will bring more nerfs? Then feel free to leave us a comment.
In this context, there are even nerfs that most players don’t find so bad but absolutely justified. Like this one:
The news that new heroes in Overwatch 2 will be obtainable via a Battle Pass sparked considerable discussion. Blizzard now explains the decision in more detail and introduces the system more closely.
Importantly, there will be a “free” Battle Pass as well as a premium version for about $10. However, both “tracks” provide access to the new heroes: With the premium pass, new heroes are available immediately, while the free pass requires reaching level 55 first.
Blizzard has now published a blog post that explains in detail how the whole thing is supposed to work. Additionally, some members of the team behind Overwatch 2 have expressed their opinions on the new system.
Why the Battle Pass system fits Overwatch 2 according to Blizzard
The heroes in Overwatch operate somewhat on a “rock-paper-scissors” principle, where certain heroes are essentially direct counters to others. If you find yourself at a disadvantage, switching heroes is advisable in Overwatch. This brought a strategic component as well.
One of the criticisms of the Battle Pass system is that some players can access new heroes faster than others – either through intensive play or by spending money. This would provide an advantage in a rock-paper-scissors system if you have access to more heroes than your opponents.
This is what Blizzard says: In Overwatch 2, this system will be somewhat relaxed: “Even though each of the Overwatch 2 heroes has their own strengths and weaknesses, and some heroes are more effective against others, we believe that our game plays better and is more fun when there are fewer hard counters and a broader selection of effective heroes,” explains Blizzard in a blog post: “Another advantage is that your personal favorite heroes are playable more often. This philosophy will also guide us in the future” (via playoverwatch.com).
Aaron Keller also emphasized this point in a group interview with PC Gamer. Additionally, players will tend to play certain heroes more often after a certain acclimatization: “As players reach higher and higher skill levels, the group of heroes they play becomes smaller because it takes a long time to become good with a hero to play at this level.” For these players, it is also not a problem if certain heroes are not immediately available.
At level 55, new and free players get Kiriko
Over time, players will unlock the new heroes through the free pass as long as they play enough. Jon Spector also explains in the interview that regular players could obtain the heroes well before the end of a season. He also states: “We want players to regularly play the game during the season to achieve this” (via PC Gamer).
A season is expected to last around 9 weeks. The first two seasons will bring a new hero each. After that, the seasons will alternately bring a new hero or a new map.
Additionally, heroes can also be unlocked after their Battle Pass expires – either through special “hero challenges” or in the in-game shop.
Ultimately, Overwatch General Manager Walter Kong explained the reason for the Battle Pass: “Heroes are the most engaging content we have in the game. And when we designed this model, it seemed to fit very well to integrate these heroes into our new engagement system” (via PC Gamer).
Start video
Overwatch 2 Season 1 Trailer
Can you test new heroes? As Blizzard explains in the FAQ about the new heroes, new heroes can also be tested when they are not yet unlocked. This can be done for instance:
In the practice area
in custom games
in No Limits
Mystery Heroes
Mystery Deathmatch
Additionally, other game modes and events where testing is possible will be added, but no detailed information is available yet.
How does the Battle Pass of Overwatch 2 work exactly?
This is included in the Battle Pass: In the blog post, Blizzard goes into more detail about the Battle Pass and the seasons. The most important points include the following information:
There is a free and a premium pass
The new heroes will be unlocked at level 55 of the free pass
The premium pass gives immediate access to new heroes
In the “Ranked Competitive” modes, new heroes will only be selectable a few weeks after the season starts – allowing free players to catch up. Kiriko is expected to be available after two weeks.
Players of Overwatch 1 will receive the new heroine Kiriko immediately upon logging in during seasons 1 or 2.
Furthermore, there will be direct access to the new heroes Sojourn and Junker Queen in season 1 – without Battle Pass.
New maps are not included in the Battle Pass – all players receive them upon release.
Loot boxes are no longer available.
All information about season 1 at a glance
Additionally, Blizzard has already provided insight into what the Battle Pass variants will contain.
The free pass in season 1 includes:
Hero Kiriko (immediate unlocking for returning Overwatch players; level 55 on free pass)
2 epic skins
1 weapon charm
2 souvenirs
1 highlight intro
14 additional items (emotes, victory poses, name cards, sprays, player icons, etc.)
Prestige titles (8 obtainable titles that are only available after completing the entire pass)
The premium Battle Pass additionally includes:
Immediate access to Kiriko
20 % XP Battle Pass boost
1 Mythic skin
In season 1, Genji receives the Mythic skin
5 legendary skins and 1 epic skin
3 Play of the Game intros
4 weapon charms
3 emotes
3 souvenirs
6 poses
6 name cards
30+ additional cosmetic rewards
What do you think of the new system in Overwatch 2? Do you like the Battle Pass, or do you find it unsuited for Overwatch? Let us know in the comments!
There’s been a heated fundamental discussion in the Destiny 2 community for a few days now. It was triggered by a pro gamer when he expressed his opinion on the current sandbox and advocated for a nerf of the Divinity. However, his opinion was not positively received by everyone. MeinMMO tells you why elite gamers and casual players do not understand each other.
What does the player base look like in Destiny 2? As in any game, there are also different player groups in Destiny 2. But especially the gap between demanding elite gamers and casual players is particularly large.
The typical casual player enjoys playing Destiny 2 but doesn’t have much time for the game. He knows what to do, but usually has his preferred favorite weapons and only a few armor builds at hand. A Grandmaster raid or challenging missions are not his preferred content and are rather the exception.
In contrast, there are the elite gamers in Destiny 2. They usually play the game very professionally, stream it, and are very knowledgeable about buffs, debuffs, and game mechanics. They also possess every weapon in “perfect,” whether obtained from raids, crafted, or in the master variant. Additionally, they have a variety of builds at hand, which they adjust depending on the activity.
The Guardians in Destiny 2 are separated by an invisible gap.
For years, both fronts have hardened, as the views of the two groups on how Destiny 2 works or should work differ greatly.
The intensity of the recent debate about the Divinity, the exotic from the raid “Garden of Salvation,” was evident. Here, the elite gamer “Saltagreppo” shared his opinion on the weapon and its strong effects on the game.
If you missed the article and the discussion, you can check it out here:
Now, it should be noted that the Divinity in Destiny 2 is a special and helpful support weapon. Many Guardians use this trace rifle to get through endgame content like a raid more easily. There are also many Destiny 2 players who often help other Guardians with the weapon. Because it is completely sufficient if one in the team uses it.
The Divinity makes accuracy less important and allows players to deal more critical damage. Additionally, the laser beam weakens enemies and ensures that everyone in the team can deal 30% more damage.
Sure, not many Guardians possess it. According to Warmind, it’s just about ~5% of players.
But when someone has it, and in gameplay it becomes evident that too little damage is being dealt to a boss, the weapon is always a good option. Casual players are often grateful when someone in the team can provide that support.
The suggestion for a nerf from elite player Saltagreppo felt to many like he wanted to take something really good away from them in the game.
Because it’s becoming too easy for a “pro” player, a weapon should be nerfed for everyone. […] If it’s too uncompetitive for him with [Divinity], he should just leave it out. What does it matter to him if others want to make it easier? Where is the harm in how others play their personal raid or dungeon?
commented the player Missed Opportunity
Zero Tonin explains it like this:
You are forced to play Divinity when it comes to competition like [for example] Day 1 raids. That removes some skill. The best race car driver in the world doesn’t disable any part of his car just because the races are too easy for him.
Not all players are against change: Nerfs are usually something that takes away something good or fun for players in Destiny 2. However, the statements of the elite players that the “casuals” just want to keep everything that makes the game easier is also not true.
Saltagreppo claimed the victory in the Worlds-First Raid for the third time in 2022 .
This was shown by yesterday’s nerf of the Lorelei Helm. Of course, it was fun to utilize the easy mode thanks to the overpowered Solar exotic “Lorelei Splendor Helmet.” But when the nerf came, there were hardly any complaints about it. Rather, players were aware that Bungie adjusted something that was simply too strong and that the nerf was long overdue.
I’m glad it was nerfed. I’m also a Titan main, and it doesn’t bother me. The only thing that bothered me was that suddenly out of 6 people in the raid, 5 were Titans, of which 4 were always playing Lorelei to activate easy mode. Just the occurrence of something like that is more than justified for a nerf.
RMxDubhead finds on MeinMMO
So it’s not true that casual or occasional players always want the game as easy as possible. They also recognize when something is too strong or too powerful in the game.
The difference is simply that casual players do not have a large voice in the community, as they are also less active in it. While elite gamers and content creators express their thoughts publicly to Bungie and a large mass of players at any time. This often leads to the conclusion that their opinion carries more weight than that of regular players.
That this is not the case has also been emphasized by a Bungie employee.
What Bungie says about the current discussion
Has Bungie commented on the discussion? Indirectly yes. Bungie’s social media manager, Griffin Bennett, believes that no player in Destiny 2 should be publicly insulted for their opinion.
He tweeted on September 10 on his account: “I am really disappointed by many of the reactions to [Saltagreppo’s] post. He shared a well-thought-out opinion but was met with incredibly rude and occasionally toxic responses. Destiny thrives when players can share their respectful thoughts without fear of attacks.”
Furthermore, it can be assumed that Bungie does not change a nerf based solely on the opinion of a content creator. The developer had already announced before to review the Divinity and will gather its own data on the weapon’s usage and effectiveness in the game.
We assume that Bungie has an overview of the situation and knows how valuable the Divinity is for some players in Destiny 2. Elite gamers know exactly how to maximally harness their abilities, buffs, debuffs, and headshots. For all other players, even boss phases are not always doable on the first try, even with the Divinity.
The problem is therefore less about the nerf of a weapon and more about the difference in the abilities of these two player groups. There are therefore many themes that ensure that this is definitely a complicated matter.
Despite the hail of criticism from the community, Saltagreppo remained factual and is still willing to discuss the Divinity. The pro player just wanted to provide food for thought:
I provided feedback and enjoy discussing with people about the sandbox; many have very cool ideas. The [negative comments and insults] are unfortunately part of the process, but I still talk with them to better explain my perspective; maybe they will change their opinion.
Saltagreppo posted his statement about the hate via Twitter
Thus, he is doing something that other content creators and elite players, like the Destiny veteran Datto, have so far shied away from. They knew that it could be a tough discussion for them if they publicly called for nerfs. Only when the discussion became a huge topic did Ehroar, Aztecross, and Datto also jump on the bandwagon.
Do you believe it is possible for the day to come when content creators and players talk together about constructive solutions for Destiny 2? Or do you think that’s completely impossible? Feel free to leave us your opinion in the comments.
For all PvP players, a note: Bungie has already activated the announced quit protection. So be careful in the future if you plan to leave a match early:
And King86Gamer captures the feelings of most casual players even more accurately.
[…] Sorry if I have to say this, but not every Guardian runs a Day-One raid in 5-6 hours. Many Guardians take much longer and depend on various helps when it comes to damage. All these statements just ruin the game.
expresses King86Gamer on MeinMMO
A nerf forces everyone to adapt: These reactions were understandable. Especially since Saltagreppo, as the voice of the elite players, also mentioned the lack of options in Day-One raids for the top teams.
Due to the capabilities of the Divinity, it would ultimately push other exotics out of the meta, affecting the weapon balance. One would have no other choice but to use it.
Zero Tonin explains it like this:
You are forced to play Divinity when it comes to competition like [for example] Day 1 raids. That removes some skill. The best race car driver in the world doesn’t disable any part of his car just because the races are too easy for him.
Not all players are against change: Nerfs are usually something that takes away something good or fun for players in Destiny 2. However, the statements of the elite players that the “casuals” just want to keep everything that makes the game easier is also not true.
Saltagreppo claimed the victory in the Worlds-First Raid for the third time in 2022 .
This was shown by yesterday’s nerf of the Lorelei Helm. Of course, it was fun to utilize the easy mode thanks to the overpowered Solar exotic “Lorelei Splendor Helmet.” But when the nerf came, there were hardly any complaints about it. Rather, players were aware that Bungie adjusted something that was simply too strong and that the nerf was long overdue.
I’m glad it was nerfed. I’m also a Titan main, and it doesn’t bother me. The only thing that bothered me was that suddenly out of 6 people in the raid, 5 were Titans, of which 4 were always playing Lorelei to activate easy mode. Just the occurrence of something like that is more than justified for a nerf.
RMxDubhead finds on MeinMMO
So it’s not true that casual or occasional players always want the game as easy as possible. They also recognize when something is too strong or too powerful in the game.
The difference is simply that casual players do not have a large voice in the community, as they are also less active in it. While elite gamers and content creators express their thoughts publicly to Bungie and a large mass of players at any time. This often leads to the conclusion that their opinion carries more weight than that of regular players.
That this is not the case has also been emphasized by a Bungie employee.
What Bungie says about the current discussion
Has Bungie commented on the discussion? Indirectly yes. Bungie’s social media manager, Griffin Bennett, believes that no player in Destiny 2 should be publicly insulted for their opinion.
He tweeted on September 10 on his account: “I am really disappointed by many of the reactions to [Saltagreppo’s] post. He shared a well-thought-out opinion but was met with incredibly rude and occasionally toxic responses. Destiny thrives when players can share their respectful thoughts without fear of attacks.”
Furthermore, it can be assumed that Bungie does not change a nerf based solely on the opinion of a content creator. The developer had already announced before to review the Divinity and will gather its own data on the weapon’s usage and effectiveness in the game.
We assume that Bungie has an overview of the situation and knows how valuable the Divinity is for some players in Destiny 2. Elite gamers know exactly how to maximally harness their abilities, buffs, debuffs, and headshots. For all other players, even boss phases are not always doable on the first try, even with the Divinity.
The problem is therefore less about the nerf of a weapon and more about the difference in the abilities of these two player groups. There are therefore many themes that ensure that this is definitely a complicated matter.
Despite the hail of criticism from the community, Saltagreppo remained factual and is still willing to discuss the Divinity. The pro player just wanted to provide food for thought:
I provided feedback and enjoy discussing with people about the sandbox; many have very cool ideas. The [negative comments and insults] are unfortunately part of the process, but I still talk with them to better explain my perspective; maybe they will change their opinion.
Saltagreppo posted his statement about the hate via Twitter
Thus, he is doing something that other content creators and elite players, like the Destiny veteran Datto, have so far shied away from. They knew that it could be a tough discussion for them if they publicly called for nerfs. Only when the discussion became a huge topic did Ehroar, Aztecross, and Datto also jump on the bandwagon.
Do you believe it is possible for the day to come when content creators and players talk together about constructive solutions for Destiny 2? Or do you think that’s completely impossible? Feel free to leave us your opinion in the comments.
For all PvP players, a note: Bungie has already activated the announced quit protection. So be careful in the future if you plan to leave a match early:
The streamer Guy “DrDisrespect” Beahm previously worked on Call of Duty and feels a strong connection to the military shooter. But his partnership with Activision Blizzard is over. He would have liked to participate in events for CoD Modern Warfare 2 or CoD Warzone 2. The streamer explains why it’s over. At Activision Blizzard, the same type of people now have the say as at Twitch. They are “all the same” – they only want yes-sayers.
Where does the new info come from? DrDisrespect was teamed up with Jack “CouRageJD” in Apex Legends on September 14 and chatted in a YouTube stream about Activision Blizzard.
DrDisrespect says “too much garbage” about Call of Duty
Why is the partnership over? DrDisrespect refers to himself in the third person as “Doc” or “Two-Time” when he talks. This refers to the fact that his character won a video game championship twice in 1993 and 1994. This character, nostalgic for the glory days, is his trademark:
I found out why the Two-Time was not invited to the “Call of Duty: Next” event. Intel or Activision no longer want to work with the Doc. I mean… we’re talking about a bunch of con artists here, right? […] They told me: It’s because the Doc talks too much garbage about Call of Duty.
DrDisrespect emphasizes: He loves Call of Duty – it’s in his DNA
How does DrDisrespect see this? For him, this seems to be an unfair assessment of his character. Because from his perspective, he criticizes Call of Duty passionately and often, but only when it’s warranted. He loves the game; it’s his favorite game when it comes to gameplay:
How many times have I complimented the game? How long have I worked with the series? For years and years. I mean: Everyone knows that CoD spelled backwards is Doc and Doc spelled backwards is CoD, right? It’s in my DNA.
The Doctor further explains that he canceled a PR meeting with Activision Blizzard because he doesn’t want to spend his time with “fake people”.
Time and again, he talks about how the gaming industry is full of con artists and hypocrites. He denounces this.
To this day, many wonder why DrDisrespect’s career on Twitch ended so abruptly with a ban:
Start video
DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day
Activision Blizzard only wants people who sell their souls
What does he see as the reason for this? DrDisrespect believes that there are now “new people” working in the marketing team of Call of Duty who only want to work with yes-sayers. It’s the “same kind of people who have the say at Twitch.”
He repeatedly speaks of “sell-outs.” He emphasizes that he will never be someone who sells their opinion for money:
You are not someone who sells out – that’s true. That’s true. They are only looking for people who sell out. That is for sure. I worked [with them] because I love the game passionately and I don’t change anything. I don’t change how I feel. Should I completely sell my soul? Hell no, man.
What’s next for him? The streamer reacts defiantly. He also doesn’t need them at Activision Blizzard. He himself is going to lead a studio that is going to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars and will develop super games.
They just need to give him some time; he is just getting started. DrDisrespect will likely continue to play Call of Duty and share his opinion about the game.
What’s behind this? One must always be clear that DrDisrespect is a character who stages himself.
An important part of his persona is to act as a kind of “rebel against the establishment”, as someone who “speaks to the soul of the people” and opposes new-fashioned trends and too much commercialization:
In 2019, he was furious about the rather progressive side Kotaku.
For years, DrDisrespect has closely worked with the “industry”, signed a major exclusive deal with Twitch, and is currently promoting NBA 2k23. So this “I am an outlaw” thing isn’t very coherent.
DrDisrespect apparently wants to criticize Activision Blizzard harshly, call them slimy guys and publicly attack them, but still wants to remain a partner:
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
InCS:GO there is obviously no Pay2Win. Everyone uses the same weapons on the same maps. Thus, there are no purchasable gameplay advantages that give you, for example, better aim. However, a YouTuber has now discovered through his tests that there might be some Pay2Win in the Steam shooter that no one had known about so far.
Pay2Win in CS:GO – Where? Those who know Counter Strike: Global Offensive know that Pay2Win is almost impossible. There are no boosters or power-ups that can be purchased with real money to gain advantages in matches.
Only skins for weapons and operators can be bought, which provide a cosmetic advantage over other players. That would be all, but a YouTuber has especially looked at the skins of the agents and found that something is not right. Some agents take more bullets than others.
Discrepancies in the hitboxes have been found
What are hitboxes? In shooters, there are invisible boxes or oval nets that envelop every body part of your character. Developers use them so that shots, stabs, or other violent actions can be registered on your character.
Without such boxes, your agent in CS:GO could even run around happily amidst gunfire since he would not notice the shots. The problem with such hitboxes, however, is that they are prone to errors. Deviations in the size of the hitboxes cause you to either be hit by bullets more easily or more difficultly.
Exactly this was tested by the YouTuber Ansimist with the various skins available for your operators. Here is his video again:
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What was found? For all players who do not understand Russian, the YouTuber tested all known skins of the agents in his test. The hitboxes were examined to see if there are discrepancies.
In his tests, he found that there are indeed agents that possess a significantly smaller hitbox than others. There are even claims of a 16.75 percent smaller hitbox. This is a significant difference that can determine life and death in matches.
Ansimist himself said: “I’ve always believed that CS:GO uses the same hitbox sizes for all character models, but it turns out that some balance issues exist. I think that this difference in size is unacceptable for a competitive FPS like CS:GO. This problem has existed for seven years, since the Reanimated hitbox update in 2015.”
The YouTuber points out that this problem has existed for so long and no one noticed it. This cannot be left unresolved in such an important competitive game. Players could leverage this insight to gain an advantage and thus have higher chances of winning tournaments.
What do you think about the fact that CS:GO does possess some Pay2Win, and that one could survive some gunfights better because of it? Let us know in the comments!
You can also find more drama in CS:GO in this post:
