Dog Emote in Destiny 2 tells the story of Cristian – The bravest boy in the community

For a long time, players in Destiny 2 have loved the emote “Faithful Companion”. It was already known to be special, but now the background of this story has become even more emotional. It tells of Cristian, probably the bravest boy in the Destiny community, his dog buddy Artemis, and how their friendship will now be immortal thanks to Bungie.

The story of Cristian is tragic and emotional at the same time, and from now on, with the help of the Bungie Foundation and the Make-A-Wish organization, it will be immortalized in Destiny 2.

What story is it? Cris was born with a rare genetic disorder. He had his first operation when he was 17 days old, and from then on he spent a large part of his childhood in and out of the hospital.

Even after a kidney transplant, Cristian’s path to recovery is still very long and arduous. He himself says that he often “reached a point where I believed no one could reach me anymore.”

No one, except for his dog Artemis.

Cristian and his dog Artemis

A friend in dark times: Artemis, Cristian’s dog, was there in the darkest hours of his illness, when he himself no longer believed in hope, cheering him up every day with a smile and a wagging tail. This may not be a particular challenge for a dog, but “dogs are more than what they seem,” Cris explains.

That’s why Cristian’s greatest wish was that his dog Artemis, he, and what their friendship stands for, would never be forgotten.

“[Artemis] made me feel that the world wasn’t that bad. He is more than a dog, he is my best friend, he is my buddy.”

Cris explains in a Bungie video

Bungie honors true friendship with a monument in Destiny 2

Destiny 2 has long been a game that stands for unity and friendship. Players team up with friends, perhaps even make new ones, and play a bit. Cristian’s experience was no different, as he recounts in Bungie’s YouTube video.

That’s why it was wonderful that the developer of Destiny 2 has now fulfilled his special request.

Destiny is not just a game for me; it has taught me a lot. […] I remember [raids, dungeons, and trials], all these things, and that’s because of the people I’ve met along the way, and I feel that no other game except Destiny has been able to do that. […]

Cris talks about his experiences in Destiny 2 via YouTube
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In this Bungie video on YouTube, you can learn more about Cris and his story.

What has Bungie integrated into the game for Cris? Bungie initially designed the emote “Faithful Companion” for Cristian’s dog Artemis, making him immortal in Destiny 2.

But Cristian himself is also immortalized in the space shooter. Bungie has integrated him into the Sparrow lore “Mind-Chart”.

The story of the two now serves as a representative for the tale of a special Guardian, which is about “resilience, recovery, and triumph that was only made possible by the Destiny community and his dog Artemis”.

“Whatever it is, we will handle it together,” said Prime-40. “Same as always.” Artemis huffed contentedly, lay down, and crossed his front paws protectively over Prime-40’s boots. The two gazed out over the plain, waiting together for what would come next.

Excerpt from the Destiny 2 lore “Mind Chart”
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Make-A-Wish fulfills such special wishes: This action was made possible through the collaboration of the Bungie Foundation with Make-A-Wish. For over 20 years, the game developer has been working together to bring joy to children.

To date, Bungie has already fulfilled over 350 children’s wishes, including Cris’s.

Bungie surprises Cris with the fulfillment of his heart’s desire in Destiny 2.

However, Cris’s wish is somehow a bit special, as it not only highlights his story but also makes a loyal soul immortal forever. Who wouldn’t wish that for their beloved furry friend?

  • Every player in Destiny 2 can now purchase Cris’s dog “Artemis” as the emote “Faithful Companion” to donate for a good cause, and then pet him in-game again and again.
  • Bungie has also dedicated its own lore to Cris (aka Prime-40) and Artemis, which tells about the special friendship between the two.
  • Additionally, there is a cute plush toy of Artemis that Bungie sells in its store.
  • As a bonus, every purchase of this or any other item from the Bungie Foundation in the Bungie Store includes the new “Side by Side” emblem.

Where can one get the items and articles? You can purchase Artemis’s emote in the game at Tess-Eververse in the shop for 1,000 Silver. Silver is the real money currency of Destiny 2, with 1,000 Silver costing about €9.99. However, you need to be quick; the emote is only available until the end of Season 17.

The Artemis plush toy “Artemis Plush from Prime-40” is only available through the Bungie Store, currently priced at €34.00.

Every purchase is for a good cause: Players who buy the emote or the Artemis plush at Bungie actively help fulfill more wishes for children like Cristian. Bungie will direct 100% of the proceeds from these sales directly to the Bungie Foundation.

What do you think of Cris’s wish and especially how do you like Artemis in Destiny 2? Have you perhaps already purchased the emote and petted Artemis? Would you, like Cris, have come up with the idea of using your wish to immortalize your loyal friend in a video game? Feel free to leave us your thoughts in the comments.

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

Twitch star xQc gambles almost 170,000 € in 2 minutes – Worried fans recommend: “Get help”

He was once known for GTA 5 and as an Overwatch pro, today Twitch star Félix “xQc” Lengyel mainly makes headlines with casino streams. Now the 26-year-old Canadian has gone viral again because he lost $164,320 in just a few moments during a live stream. MeinMMO reveals why he didn’t blink and what the fans have to say.

Here is the situation:

Losing $170,000 in 140 Seconds without Blinking

Is it addiction? “Bad luck in gambling, good luck in love”. If one were to believe the saying, Félix “xQc” Lengyel must be doing really well privately. The former Overwatch pro has come under criticism for his gambling streams for some time now. He plays in online casinos and promotes them in the process. Many find these practices questionable, especially considering his younger fans. So far, the streamer has vehemently defended himself. After all, it’s not his job to raise children.

Now he has gone viral again. Content creator Jake Lucky posted a clip on Twitter showing xQc losing a whopping $164,320 in just 140 seconds. He says that life doesn’t feel real anymore after seeing that.

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xQc loses $170,000 in 140 seconds and doesn’t even blink

Not for the first time does xQc suffer high losses in gambling. What shocks viewers and commentators here, however, is the sheer speed at which his account balance is being depleted – and the lack of reaction from the streamer. Aside from an occasional “What the fuck”, it seems to leave him quite cold. Of course, it is said in the comments that it isn’t even his own money. He is just getting it from the casino for promotional purposes.

Others also show concern.

This is what addiction looks like. Get help, X

Twitter user @im_ghast (via Twitter)

In fact, xQc has already said that he becomes easily addicted to things and that is why he temporarily stopped gambling. However, when others bring up a possible gambling addiction, he reacts rather defensively. To his concerned father, he appeared calm in May: “I lost some money yesterday, so what?”

But not everyone has sympathy. Besides the usual criticism that xQc may entice his viewers to gamble, there is also discontent from people whose entire lives could change due to $170,000. “Man, I just need $2,500 to repair my roof” or “The whole [money] down the drain” can be read in the comments. (via Twitter)

Whether the money is his own or has been provided by the casino: it seems xQc has completely lost touch with the amounts he is gambling away. He repeatedly presses the button to set the slots rolling again and seems neither to register the losses nor the small wins in between.

This could soon make him the “face of Twitch” the “face of gambling addiction”. After all, the title “Streamer of the Year” will likely go to someone else.

That there are other ways was demonstrated in May 2022 by popular German streamer Simon “Unge” Wiefels from “ungespielt”. He turned down a deal worth 5 million euros and sharply criticized the casino streams.

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

After the summer update of GTA Online, I finally never have stress with annoying griefers

It is official: GTA Online is getting a summer update. Developer Rockstar Games has now revealed the first details about the summer content, and MeinMMO author Maik Schneider cannot stop grinning, especially because of a small change. All new information can be found here on MeinMMO.

As in previous years, GTA Online will also get a summer update in 2022 with new content and some improvements. However, before we get to the new content, I want to highlight one change in particular:

  • Sales missions can be started in sessions that are only for invited players after the summer update

Whether we are selling our stolen cars, delivering cocaine to Blaine County, or distributing fake documents – we no longer have to deal with griefers who turn our valuable cargo to ash with two rockets.

While there has always been some way to cheat a little and carry out deliveries without foreign players, after the summer update, we can “legally” bring our illegal goods to their destination without interruption.

Finally, no more stress with annoying griefers during deliveries – unless I feel like engaging in the nerve war in open lobbies.

However, keep in mind that there are extra GTA$ if you complete deliveries on a server with foreign players. How to make money quickly is shown here:

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GTA Online Summer Update: Missions, Money, and Oppressor Nerf

When is the summer update coming? There is no exact date yet. The latest community update mentions “in a few weeks.” Based on experiences from previous years, we expect the following release dates:

  • July 19 or 20
  • July 26 or 27
  • August 2 or 3

What content does the summer update offer? Currently, Rockstar is still holding back on details regarding content. However, a few tidbits of information have already been served:

  • The aforementioned sales in sessions only with invitations
  • Further changes to the MkII Oppressor and countermeasures
  • “Criminal Enterprises” will be further deepened
  • New contact missions as an IAA agent
  • General increase in GTA$ payouts for all activities
  • Bodyguards, employees, and MC members will also receive higher “salaries”
  • Seasonal events, bonuses, gifts, and more surprises

If you want to view the English blog about the summer update yourself, you can find it at the developer Rockstar Games (via rockstargames.com).

Currently, the information about the summer update is still sparse, but it could already be an absolute top update. I no longer expected that we would actually get servers where we can carry out deliveries alone.

Leave us a comment and tell me what you think of the changes – game changer or just a gimmick?

What other content we suspect for the summer update can be found in our service special on the summer update: GTA Online: Summer Update 2022 – All info and possible release period

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

Season 2 of Diablo Immortal starts meager – But a new class is probably on the way

In Diablo Immortal, rumors have circulated that a new class may still be coming. The Blood Knight has been found in the data, but what speaks for a release in Season 2? We will show you.

What is going on in Diablo right now? Season 2 has been released in Diablo Immortal, and with it, very little to no new content. The Battle Pass has the same rewards, except for a few exceptions, and otherwise, players are engaged in the same activities as before the release.

A gloomy mood is spreading in the community, but perhaps Blizzard has something planned to keep you engaged. We already reported in January about a leak in which skills of a Vampire Knight class were found.

With Season 2, it now seems more likely that the release could happen soon. We will show you what speaks for the release of the new class.

The Blood Knight could surprise you in Season 2

What speaks for a release in Season 2? Season 2 revolves around the Blood Oath. This cult is known for blood rituals in connection with bloody roses. Accordingly, Blizzard has also designed the cosmetic items in the Battle Pass.

diablo immortal battle pass season 2 cosmetics
With these cosmetic items, you will be on a bloody adventure

If the seventh class is released soon, thematically it would fit with the cosmetic items. But that’s not all. A new event called “Hungry Moon” will await you from July 15 to 18.

In this event, the moon hungers for blood, and it is up to you to satisfy the moon’s hunger. In this event, you must offer sacrifices to ultimately be rewarded with loot. Again, everything revolves around blood.

YouTuber DM: Diablo Immortal theorizes that Diablo may struggle to continuously provide new content in the form of new story elements. Therefore, it is possible that Blizzard will continuously bring new classes to keep players engaged for a longer time. This way, you get variety and fresh wind.

With the upcoming “Class Change” feature, players will be able to switch between classes more easily without having to create a new hero. This way, you can quickly and easily try and play new things. Blizzard has confirmed this feature and scheduled it for a later date in July.

With these points, a release of a new class is quite likely. If the new class is released soon, you can switch to the new class with the “Class Change” feature. All details about the feature are not yet known. However, you might need to farm your gear again.

Nonetheless, we are only referring to theories and leaks. So don’t take it at face value, as Blizzard can change their plans at any time.

What do you think about the release of a new class? Would you play it? And do you find the class change feature appropriate as it is? Or would you prefer to experience each class through the story missions again? Let us know in the comments!

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

WoW changes after 18 years, how vials and potions work

Potions and flasks in World of Warcraft will soon work quite differently. We reveal what changes are coming.

Although World of Warcraft has undergone numerous changes in its nearly 18 years, there are a few constants that have lasted almost two decades. Flasks and potions were such an example, functioning fundamentally the same throughout. However, with WoW: Dragonflight, this will change. Flasks will be replaced by “Vials”, their duration halved, and the number of effects drastically increased.

We will tell you what this means.

What has been said? In a rather lengthy blog post, Blizzard discussed changes to professions in Dragonflight. Changes to Alchemy were also highlighted, particularly affecting flasks and potions. Their functionality is significantly altered and works quite differently than in the last expansions.

The most important point is: There will be no flasks in Dragonflight; they will now be called “Vials” and have a different functionality.

What is special about Vials? Vials have some similarities with the previous flasks, but also a number of differences. The key points are:

  • Vials last only 30 minutes but still function beyond death. However, crafting a vial requires only about half the resources.
  • There are numerous different vials, not just those that increase stamina or primary attributes. Some grant certain effects only when specific conditions are met.
  • Only one vial can be active at a time. Drinking a second vial will negate the effect of the first.
WoW Dragonflight Phials

What can the new Vials do? Vials come with numerous different effects. Included is the classic “Increase Value X”, but also a lot of bonus effects. Please note that the items presented are only a few of the available vials, and the exact values have not yet been balanced:

  • Phial of Tepid Versatility: Increases your versatility by 72. Lasts for 30 minutes.
  • Phial of Static Empowerment: As long as you remain still, your intellect increases by up to 240 over 5 seconds. Movement depletes the effect and increases your movement speed by up to 500 for 5 seconds. Lasts for 30 minutes.
  • Phial of Charged Isolation: Your intellect is increased by 225 as long as you are at least 10 meters away from allies. Lasts for 30 minutes.

The times when flasks only had a single, simple effect seem to be over.

WoW Dragonflight Potion Crafting
The new crafting interface offers more options.

What does this mean for players? Primarily, this means more flexibility and options for players. With the numerous effects and the shorter duration of the vials, it is possible to change the effect more frequently during raids and adapt to each boss. For example, if a fight requires frequent movement, one takes a vial that is better suited compared to a fight where one can remain stationary for almost the entire duration.

At the same time, the reduced duration of the vials will likely lead to these buff effects being consumed more frequently in general. Currently, many players are still hesitant to use such flasks. If one is only looking to complete a single dungeon that takes nearly 30 minutes, but a flask lasts for an hour, then almost half of the duration “expires” unused. With the vials, one can manage the time units much better and therefore use them in shorter gaming sessions.

But don’t worry: If you are sure that you will only use one effect of the vials in the next hour, you can simply drink multiple of these vials in succession. The durations will then add up.

Finally, Alchemists will again be able to increase the duration of the vials for themselves. It is therefore worth crafting these buff potions yourself.

Are Cauldrons back? Cauldrons were always a cost-effective option for raids and guilds to supply all players with flasks. Whether they will return in Dragonflight can be easily answered: Yes and No. Since there are numerous different vials, there will be no cauldrons that dispense vials. Everyone will have to equip themselves with vials or beg their trusted alchemist instead of hoping for a cauldron.

Instead, there will be cauldrons for the most powerful battle potions that grant temporary buffs. These will likely be significantly more uniform (for instance, a clear increase of a primary or secondary attribute) and therefore beneficial for all classes and specializations.

We will surely learn more about the potions and vials as soon as the beta of Dragonflight starts and becomes accessible – hopefully within the next few weeks.

Are you looking forward to the revisions of the professions and the new vials and potions? Or do you think Blizzard shouldn’t overdo the changes?

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

Elden Ring: Community legend defeats the hardest boss 2,000 times – Now the publisher gifts him a sword

FromSoftware’s successful title Elden Ring is characterized among other things by the difficult boss fights. Especially the warrior Malenia presents an unpleasant opponent for many players. But LetMeSoloHer became a legend by taking on the fight for unknown players, winning, and doing them a great favor. This noble behavior is now even recognized by the publisher Bandai Namco.

Update July 8, 2022
We have revised the article on July 8, 2022, as a few hours after the publication of the post, a Twitter post by Klein Tsuboi appeared, showing the contents of the gift package with photos. We have embedded the tweet for you further down in the article.

Why is the publisher gifting him? Malenia is one of the toughest bosses of the action RPG Elden Ring. Numerous players have problems with the warrior. However, the player Klein Tsuboi alias LetMeSoloHer has made it his mission to defeat Malenia solo and help players who are struggling with the boss. He does so impressively, without armor and only with a pot on his head.

Klein Tsuboi has won the fight against Malenia over 2,000 times and helped just as many desperate players. The publisher of Elden Ring thanks him with a gift.

You can watch the story of LetMeSoloHer and how he became a legend on MeinMMO in the video:

Start video
A half-naked player in Elden Ring became a community legend – This is his story

What is the deal with the gift? Klein Tsuboi created a post on reddit addressing the question of whether he was retired as LetMeSoloHer. No, he is not. He continues to speak of a gift package that he supposedly received from Bandai Namco, the publisher of the action RPG.

As gleaned from a Twitter chat between Klein Tsuboi and the official “Elden Ring” Twitter account, there were apparently issues with French customs, which is why the package arrived later than expected at the community legend in the USA.

In the comments on reddit.com, user u/Oloziz asked whether Tsuboi would show what was included in the package. He confirmed this and added that he has been wondering for a long time what it would contain and that he would take numerous pictures when the gift arrives.

Tsuboi fulfilled this promise when the package finally arrived and shared a whole series of photos of the impressive gift on Twitter, which even included a sword.

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Has a stranger ever helped you in Elden Ring or other challenging titles, paving the way past a difficult boss or similar? Are you also curious about what is included in the gift from Bandai Namco for LetMeSoloHer?

While Klein Tsuboi became a legend within the community by helping other players in the fight against Malenia, MeinMMO author Marko Jevtic chose the path of the villain and took advantage of the PvP invasions of the action RPG.

Play honorably in the PvP of Elden Ring – then I can better slaughter you

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

Twitch already has hardly any successful female gaming streamers – Now YouTube is stealing one of the best from them

The Twitch streamer Lily “LilyPichu” Ki (30) is switching from Twitch to competitor YouTube Gaming after 10 years on the platform. This means Twitch is losing one of its few established gaming female streamers: The American had one of the 100 channels with the most followers on the platform and was one of the few successful women entertaining viewers with gaming.

This is LilyPichu on Twitch:

  • The 30-year-old American has roots in South Korea. With 2.5 million followers, she owns one of the top 100 channels on Twitch. She is one of the few successful women on Twitch who show a lot of gaming. Other women are successful on Twitch with chatting formats, as a cosplayer, or DJ.
  • The streamer LilyPichu was the “most-watched streamer on Twitch” in 2020, especially with content related to League of Legends, Minecraft, and Valorant – in addition, she makes music on the keyboard and collaborates with members of her group “OfflineTV” such as Pokimane and Disguised Toast. She also voices the character “Sayu” in Genshin Impact.
  • LilyPichu has been on Twitch since 2012 – now her time is ending: She is switching to YouTube Gaming.

The subscription “Amazon Prime” is behind the financial success of many Twitch streamers:

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Prime Gaming, the secret behind Twitch’s success

LilyPichu no longer on Twitch from July 8 – Exclusively on YouTube

This is how she announces her switch: LilyPichu released a video in which she apparently cannot decide between two options:

  • The purple button stands for Twitch, her main platform
  • The red button stands for YouTube Gaming, the competing offer

In the video, ultimately her dogs, Temmie and DaViinky, decide for her and eat from the red food bowl, thus choosing YouTube. From July 8, she will switch there and stream exclusively for YouTube Gaming.

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To earn good money on YouTube, you have to be nice (and have a big channel)

This is what it’s about: One can assume that LilyPichu is sweetly wrapping up that she, like many others, has followed the call of money. It is known from other switches that YouTube simply lures with much more money than Twitch is willing to pay.

YouTube continues its strategy with the engagement of LilyPichu, especially to engage “advertiser-friendly streamers” who are already big on YouTube.

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LilyPichu has, like many Twitch streamers, built a second pillar on YouTube and has 3 million subscribers there; she will now also fuel the channel with live streaming and no longer just with “video on demand”.

For years, Twitch was considered “unparalleled” when it comes to live streaming – but YouTube has been catching up for years by consistently poaching established streamers from Twitch:

  • YouTube seems to be exclusively bringing in “nice, friendly streamers”, preferably women or people with a comedic touch.
  • The typical flaming hardcore gamers like Tyler1, Tfue, or xQc are left quiet on Twitch.
  • While they do have “DrDisrespect”, which is also a core gamer on the team – YouTube got him for “free” after his Twitch ban.
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Twitch is likely hurting that after Valkyrae, they are now losing the next big gaming streamer. Twitch still had many successful female gaming streamers in their lineup, and now they are losing one of the few who had built a name for herself in 10 years and who had fought her way into the top 100 largest channels.

YouTube started its poaching spree in January 2020: Back then, they recruited Valkyrae, an up-and-coming streamer on Twitch. Shortly thereafter, she became a star on YouTube:

YouTube steals a 28-year-old from Twitch and makes her the “largest streamer in the world”

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

MMORPGs focus on interaction between players, but you mostly play alone

In a survey, we wanted to know from you at MeinMMO whether you prefer to play in groups or alone in MMORPGs. The result clearly shows: Almost 80% of you usually or always play alone.

How did the survey turn out? In our survey on July 2, 2022, 1,154 people participated:

  • 742 participants (64.30%) reported that they usually play alone
  • 191 participants (16.55%) said they exclusively play alone
  • 188 participants (16.30%) mostly play with others
  • Only 33 participants (2.85%) indicated that they exclusively play with others

This confirms that a large part of our readers spends their time alone in MMORPGs. This aligns with current trends, as more and more games even focus on offering a large portion of content for solo players:

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Which MMORPGs are also fun to play alone? The 7 best online role-playing games for solo players 2025
von Jürgen Horn

You want to share the world with others and achieve something meaningful

What do our readers say on the subject? The general sentiment is that coordinating with others is difficult these days – which is not only due to others, but sometimes also to oneself. Zapfhähnchen writes, for example:

In the past, back in school days, I was an absolutely loyal guild player. Playing an MMORPG solo was actually unthinkable. Nowadays, however, things have turned around 180° for me: Playing in a guild has become impossible. The reason for this is the time commitment: I can no longer come online three times during the week and all weekend evenings like I used to, just to quickly defeat the boss or whatever.

Therefore, many of you quest and level alone. This can also have its advantages. Zapfhähnchen further states in his comment that this way he finally gets to read quest texts. AlexMK, on the other hand, watches YouTube videos or listens to podcasts while playing solo.

Nevertheless, many also enjoy interacting with other players, especially in dungeons, raids or against world bosses. Jahjah comments:

That’s what I love about ESO. You can play it solo, but you are never alone, you help each other, but you aren’t tied down. In High Isle during events, there are always random players. You join in, complete the event together, and then go your separate ways. Or you do your dungeons and always meet other players in them and can fight together until you’re done.

If you want to reminisce about the good old days, you can find here old school MMORPGs that are still played:

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5 old MMORPGs that are still actively played

But it’s not just our readers who feel this way. I have also explained in a column why I simply can no longer play single-player games:

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After 16 years with MMOs, I just can’t play single-player games anymore
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What do group players say? Our reader ParaDox cannot imagine playing an MMORPG alone:

I can’t imagine playing an MMORPG for a longer time without a fixed group. For me, the motivation would be gone after a maximum of 90 days.

Ooupz puts it simply: “Content intended for groups is mastered in groups. Everything that can be done alone will be done alone.”

Are you surprised by the result of our survey or did you expect that most players prefer to go solo? Feel free to share that and your own attitude on the topic of solo vs. group in the comments.

Wouldn’t single-player games be more suitable? This question is raised by our reader Ooupz. But our readers do not see it that way:

  • Damian, for instance, is bothered that no single-player game is developed as regularly as an MMORPG. Trading in auction houses or joint events wouldn’t happen in a single-player game.
  • Marcel, on the other hand, is fascinated just to watch other players succeed in their activities while he himself plays Final Fantasy XIV.

But it’s not just our readers who feel this way. I have also explained in a column why I simply can no longer play single-player games:

More on the topic
After 16 years with MMOs, I just can’t play single-player games anymore
von Alexander Leitsch

What do group players say? Our reader ParaDox cannot imagine playing an MMORPG alone:

I can’t imagine playing an MMORPG for a longer time without a fixed group. For me, the motivation would be gone after a maximum of 90 days.

Ooupz puts it simply: “Content intended for groups is mastered in groups. Everything that can be done alone will be done alone.”

Are you surprised by the result of our survey or did you expect that most players prefer to go solo? Feel free to share that and your own attitude on the topic of solo vs. group in the comments.

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

Hearthstone gives players card packs worth up to 180 €

Players claim that Blizzard is giving them 150 card packs in Hearthstone – why are the developers feeling generous?

In the Hearthstone subreddit, several posts have accumulated in recent days, leading to a lot of skepticism and disbelief. Some former players claimed that they suddenly had a gift from Blizzard for Hearthstone in Battle.net. They were said to have received a whopping 150 card packs as a “casual” gift. Others were only gifted 20 card packs.

But how true is that?

Well – quite a bit. Because it is true. More and more players are reporting that they have received numerous packs for free.

Which players are affected? In a conversation with PCGamer, Blizzard explained that this is a test limited to certain regions. It states:

We conduct many different limited and targeted tests to find out what drives the interest of new, former, or current players, which is standard practice in this industry. This was a region-specific test for Hearthstone in the United Kingdom and France, for a subgroup of relevant players who were previously sorted into random groups and then received an appropriate offer of between 20 and 150 packs.

How many packs were offered to each participant was supposed to be completely random – after all, players were placed in different, random groups.

However, since the test was apparently limited to France and the United Kingdom, no one in Germany should currently hope for such a gift.

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How much is that worth? Some must have rubbed their eyes in disbelief when they logged into Battle.net. Because 150 card packs correspond to a value of 150 Euros, assuming the cheapest pre-order offer. If you consider the “current” price, without pre-order discounts, the value even rises to about 180 Euros – quite a significant amount.

Blizzard is currently giving away a lot: Apparently, Blizzard is feeling generous right now and is trying to bring many former players back into the Battle.net cosmos. Just a few days ago, we reported that former players of World of Warcraft suddenly had the Epic Edition of WoW: Shadowlands in their account as a gift – this is the most expensive version of the current MMORPG expansion.

What do you think about this? A good thing to win back former players? Or unfair to the loyal existing customers who do not receive such gifts?

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

Pokémon GO: 5 monsters you must evolve for the battle weekend

On July 9th and 10th, Pokémon GO will host the Battle Weekend. During this event, you can benefit from event attacks with certain Pokémon. We from MeinMMO have looked into which Pokémon you should definitely evolve.

What kind of event is this? Currently, the anniversary event is taking place in Pokémon GO for the 6th birthday of the game. This includes a mini-event in the form of a Battle Weekend. During this event, you can encounter Team GO Rocket and benefit from some bonuses.

One of these bonuses is special event attacks that the starter Pokémon from the first 5 game generations can learn when evolving this weekend. Below, we have created an overview of which Pokémon you should definitely evolve and, above all, why it is worth it.

When does the mini-event run? The Battle Weekend begins on July 9, 2022, at 00:00 local time and runs until July 10, 2022, at 23:59. During this time, you have the opportunity to secure the event attacks.

These are the 5 Pokémon you should evolve

What kind of attacks are these? The special event attacks are attacks that these Pokémon were able to learn in the past, for example, during Community Day.

Outside of such events, a switch to these attacks is only possible by using a Charged TM or Elite Charged TM. The following attacks can be learned:

Event AttackEvolution
Flora Statue
(Charged Attack)
Bulbasaur to Venusaur
Chikorita to Bayleef
Treecko to Sceptile
Turtwig to Torterra
Snivy to Servine
Fire Spin
(Charged Attack)
Charmander to Charizard
Cyndaquil to Typhlosion
Torchic to Blaziken
Chimchar to Infernape
Pignite to Emboar
Water Gun
(Charged Attack)
Squirtle to Blastoise
Totodile to Feraligatr
Mudkip to Swampert
Piplup to Empoleon
Oshawott to Samurott
Ember
(Fast Attack)
Charmander to Charizard

What does the overview include? Not all of the above-mentioned Pokémon are used in raids or the GO Battle League. For this reason, we have listed 5 Pokémon below whose evolution is particularly worthwhile for you. We explain which areas each Pokémon is best suited for.

Mudkip to Swampert

Swampert

Event Attack: Water Gun

What kind of Pokémon is Mudkip? Mudkip is a Water-type starter Pokémon from the 3rd generation. It evolves into Swampert through Marshstomp.

Why is the evolution worthwhile? Swampert is a true all-rounder and should definitely not be missing in your Poké bag. The Pokémon can score especially in stamina. But its attack and defense stats are also impressive.

Since Swampert is not solely a Water-type Pokémon, but also has the Ground type, it is not as susceptible to Electric, Rock, and Poison-type attacks compared to other Water starter Pokémon. Especially against Electric attackers, it is significantly more resilient.

With a moveset of Water Gun and Water Gun, it ranks among the best Water attackers in the game. The event attack charges relatively fast and deals significant damage.

However, Swampert is also more than suitable for the GO Battle League, which is why you should secure several specimens. The Pokémon is indeed among the top in all three leagues.

According to the ranking from PvPoke, it ranks 15th in the Great League, 4th in the Ultra League, and 29th in the Master League. In PvP battles, it is best to use a moveset of Mud Shot, Water Gun, and Earthquake.

Bulbasaur to Venusaur

Venusaur

Event Attack: Flora Statue

What kind of Pokémon is Bulbasaur? Bulbasaur is the Grass and Poison-type starter Pokémon from the 1st generation. You can evolve it into Venusaur through Ivysaur. Furthermore, Venusaur has a temporary Mega Evolution that you can trigger using the corresponding Mega Energy.

Why is the evolution worthwhile? Those who enjoy and frequently participate in raids should definitely have a Venusaur. With its good stats in attack, stamina, and defense, along with a moveset of Vine Whip and Flora Statue, the Pokémon ranks among the top 10 Grass attackers in Pokémon GO.

Since it additionally has a Mega Evolution, if possible, especially in battle, you should utilize it. This not only boosts your own attacks but also the attacks of your teammates.

In contrast to Petal Blizzard and Solar Beam, the two charged attacks that Venusaur can also learn, Flora Statue charges significantly faster and deals increased damage. Additionally, it benefits from its Poison type. This makes Venusaur less susceptible to Fighting and Fairy-type attacks.

However, Venusaur is not only impressive in raids. It also performs well in the Great and Ultra Leagues. Meanwhile, its low CP causes issues in the Master League. It’s possible that at some point it could even encounter its Mega Evolution if it should become available for the GO Battle League.

Charmander to Charizard

Pokémon GO Charizard
Charizard

Event Attack: Ember and Fire Spin

What kind of Pokémon is Charmander? Another starter Pokémon from the 1st generation is Charmander. This Fire-type Pokémon evolves into Charizard through Charmeleon. Furthermore, you can evolve Charizard into one of two different Mega Pokémon using Mega Energy.

Why is the evolution worthwhile? Unlike all other starter Pokémon, Charizard can learn two event attacks during the Battle Weekend: Ember (Fast Attack) and Fire Spin (Charged Attack).

This Fire and Flying-type Pokémon has average stats in attack, stamina, and defense. Nonetheless, it can benefit from a fast and powerful moveset, making it one of the best Fire attackers in Pokémon GO.

With its two Mega Evolutions, Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y, it can perform even better with the same moveset and additionally boosts all other fire attacks in battle.

In the GO Battle League, you can particularly utilize Charizard in the Ultra League. According to PvPoke, it ranks 35th. Unlike in raids, the event fast attack Ember is also utilized here.

This attack is of the Dragon type, incredibly fast, and it deals solid damage as well. Therefore, in the GO Battle League, it is best to use a moveset of Ember, Fire Spin, and Dragon Claw.

Chikorita to Bayleef

Meganie

Event Attack: Flora Statue

What kind of Pokémon is Chikorita? Chikorita is a Grass-type starter Pokémon from the 2nd generation that evolves into Bayleef via Bayleef.

Why is the evolution worthwhile? The Grass Pokémon Bayleef may not score highly in attack, but it impresses in stamina and defense. For this reason, it is one of the best candidates for the GO Battle League.

With a moveset of Vine Whip, Flora Statue, and Earthquake, it can particularly rank 44th in the Great League and 14th in the Ultra League. It’s advisable to also consider the Shadow variants of Bayleef, which even ranks 8th there.

Just like Venusaur, it has a fast and powerful charged attack with the event attack that you should secure for the Battle Weekend.

Squirtle to Blastoise

Pokémon GO Blastoise
Blastoise

Event Attack: Water Gun

What kind of Pokémon is Squirtle? The Water-type starter Pokémon from the first generation is Squirtle. The little turtle evolves into Blastoise through Wartortle, which, just like Bulbasaur and Charizard, has a Mega Evolution.

Why is the evolution worthwhile? Examining the stats of Blastoise, one finds they are only average. It can score a bit more in defense and stamina than in attack. Therefore, the turtle doesn’t make it into the top 10 best Water attackers in the game.

Only in its Mega Evolution does it find use in raids with a moveset of Water Gun and Water Gun. It can benefit from a fast attack combination of Water Gun and Water Gun, dealing significant damage to opponents.

In the GO Battle League, it could also be interesting for you in the Ultra League. Even if it’s not as strong as Swampert, it ranks 34th there as a Water attacker and is a good alternative. Use a moveset of Water Gun, Water Gun, and Ice Beam.

Are there other strong starter Pokémon?

Yes, besides the 5 mentioned Pokémon, there are other starters worth considering. If you want a strong candidate for raids, you can also rely on these evolutions, as they are all among the best attackers in Pokémon GO:

  • Sceptile
  • Torterra
  • Emboar
  • Feraligatr
  • Samurott

In the PvP League, the following evolutions are also suitable:

  • Serperior
  • Samurott
  • Empoleon

Do Shadow Pokémon also get these event attacks?

You can also benefit from event attacks with your Shadow Pokémon if you evolve them. During the Battle Weekend, you also have the chance to make your Shadows forget the Charged Attack Frustration.

How does that work? What you need to pay attention to in order to secure the event attacks for your Shadow Pokémon is explained by user _The-Space_Monkey_ in his reddit post. Thus, if you want to develop a Shadow Mudkip into Shadow Swampert, you first have to use a Charged TM on it. If the Charged Attack Frustration has changed to any other attack, you can then evolve the Pokémon and finally get a Shadow Swampert with the event attack Water Gun.

Is it worth it? Shadow Pokémon benefit from a 20% higher attack than their normal forms. For this reason, they are particularly suitable for raids. Since they become weaker in defense, they do not last as long in battle. However, you can also find some strong Shadow Pokémon in the GO Battle League.

Are you already looking forward to the Battle Weekend? Which Pokémon will you evolve to secure the event attack? And which Shadows do you want to forget Frustration? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments here on MeinMMO and exchange ideas with other trainers.

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

Diablo Immortal: How to find the best farming spots for Legendarys, Monster Essences and XP

In Diablo Immortal, looting and leveling really starts when you reach level 60. However, it is difficult to find the best farming spots without help. Therefore, we show you two locations where you can easily and quickly farm XP, legendary items, and monster essences.

Why do I need to farm after level 60? Once you reach level 60, the true experience of Diablo begins. You now have access to various difficulty levels that will make your life harder.

Additionally, this grants you better loot, which benefits you. This makes your hero stronger and allows you to participate in more challenging but rewarding activities to acquire more loot. If you still don’t know how to change your difficulty level, we have the right guide for you:

Your Paragon is important for farming: To efficiently and noticeably obtain more legendary loot, you need to have selected the “Treasure Hunter” skill tree for your Paragon.

This provides you with very useful bonuses for farming and looting monsters in open areas. However, you first need to be Paragon level 50 to select the skill tree.

You need to be Paragon level 50 for Treasure Hunter

A high value of your “Magic Find” attribute can also help you receive more legendary loot. However, you need to have legendary gems of level 5 socketed in your gear. The more stars your gems have at level 5, the higher your Magic Find value.

The Realm of Damnation should be used for farming

Which other places work well for farming? With an update, the known farming spots “Cemetery of Zakarum” and “Zoltun Kull’s Archive” were nerfed in Diablo Immortal. You now receive less legendary items from these locations.

However, there is still one place you can use, which is the Realm of Damnation in the “Abyss of Torment” area.

In this area, you will move around the rock formations and constantly defeat the enemies that come at you in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

By continuously killing the enemies, you can collect monster essences, grab legendary loot, and achieve kill streaks that will even grant you an XP bonus.

Are there other possibilities? You can also farm XP and legendary loot in Elder Rifts. However, this is more time-consuming and less profitable. The old farming spots, like the Cemetery of Zakarum, are still profitable for XP and monster essences, but they are not worth it for farming legendary items.

Those were all the important informations regarding farming legendary items, XP, or monster essences. If you have any further comments or even better farming spots, please let us know in the comments!

How to quickly reach level 60, you can find out here: Quick leveling in Diablo Immortal – Guide to Max Level 60

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

AI conquers Twitter in a storm – also creates works of art from words for you

The technology is constantly evolving, along with the creative abilities of artificial intelligence. Now there are even AIs that can create really cool or funny images from written texts, winning Twitter over.

Which AI are we talking about? There are several AIs capable of creating images from written texts. Two of the most well-known are Dall-E from openai.com and Midjourney (via midjourney.com). The third AI in the group is Craiyon, for which a dedicated Twitter account has been created.

Each of these three AIs is capable of creating an image from a written text. Some of these images look really good, while others are just incredibly funny. Like this very special Pikachu:

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AI Artist as a Discord Bot

How can you let the AI draw for you? For both Dall-E and Midjourney, you need to request access to the beta test on the companies’ websites. This access is granted in waves, so it may take some time before you find out whether you can test the AI.

If you receive access – which will be communicated to you by email – creating images using AI is very easy. You enter a few words into the text field, wait a couple of minutes while the AI creates your image, and you have your own artwork. Midjourney even offers a Discord bot that you can integrate into your Discord server.

If you don’t get access to Dall-E or Midjourney, Craiyon is still freely available at craiyon.com. Craiyon was previously known as Dall-E mini but changed its name at OpenAI’s request to avoid confusion with Dall-E.

More on the topic
Microsoft is working on new AI that makes raid bosses unbeatable in MMOs
von Alexander Leitsch

From Demogorgons to Mushroom Cities in Snow Globes

How does social media react? The internet is thrilled by the works of the AIs. On Twitter, there is even a special account called Weird Dall-E Mini Generations (@weirddalle via Twitter) with over a million followers, posting the crazy creations of Dall-E mini or Craiyon.

The various images and collections from Weird Dall-E Mini Generations regularly receive thousands of “likes” and retweets.

The pinned tweet from the account, for example, shows the Demogorgon known from the hit series Stranger Things holding a basketball and received over 160,000 likes and was shared over 13,000 times.

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Craiyon’s images of a Demogorgon holding a basketball

But not only Craiyon creates fascinating images that are shared on social media. Twitter user @fabianstelzer showed, for example, an impressive comparison between Dall-E and Midjourney.

He fed both AIs with the words “A mushroom city in a snow globe sphere, stunning detail, hyperreal rendering” and shared the different images.

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The mushroom city in a snow globe: Dall-E on the left, Midjourney on the right

AI Creates Images from Memory

How does the AI work? On the website of the company Weights & Biases (via wandb.ai), Boris Dayma and Pedro Cuenca explain how the Craiyon AI works. According to craiyon.com, Boris Dayma trained the AI. Pedro Cuenca worked on the backend. Regarding the operation of Craiyon, they say:

  • The AI would be trained by looking at millions of images from the internet with their corresponding captions.
  • The AI learns over time how to draw an image based on a text prompt. In doing so, the AI learns some concepts from memory because it may have seen similar images.
  • The AI can also learn to create unique images that do not yet exist. As an example, they mention an image from the text “the Eiffel Tower lands on the moon.” For this, the AI combines multiple concepts. To achieve this, it must combine multiple models. According to them, these models include:
    • an image encoder that transforms raw images into a sequence of numbers, along with its corresponding decoder
    • a model that converts a text input into a coded image
    • a model that assesses the quality of the generated images for better filtering
More on the topic
AI can play Minecraft like a human – Just had to watch 70,000 hours on YouTube
von Benedikt Schlotmann

What is all this good for? The question that naturally remains is: what is all this good for? Besides creating funny or interesting images, there must be a practical use.

How the AI will work in the distant future and what humans will use it for is of course still pure speculation, but functions like drawing composite sketches are certainly conceivable.

What do you think about the AI that can draw a picture for you? Do you find it an interesting and potentially useful technology, or do you think it’s just an unnecessary gimmick? Feel free to let us know in the comments!

In another project, researchers wanted to prove what an evil AI could do. You can see the results of the investigation with us on MeinMMO.

Researchers want to prove what an evil AI can do – it designs 40,000 chemical weapons in 6 hours

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

Pokémon GO: Tomorrow starts the Battle Weekend with Team GO Rocket – All bonuses & new Crypto

In Pokémon GO findet am 09. und 10. Juli 2022 ein besonderes Kampf-Wochenende statt. Bei diesem könnt ihr euch auf zahlreiche Begegnungen mit Team GO Rocket, neue Crypto-Pokémon aber auch coole Boni in der GO Kampfliga freuen. Wir von MeinMMO haben euch alle Inhalte des Mini-Events zusammengefasst.

What is this event? Currently, Pokémon GO is celebrating its 6th anniversary and is throwing a anniversary event. Part of this event is the so-called battle weekend.

This mainly revolves around Team GO Rocket and the GO Battle League. But you can also benefit from one or the other bonus during raids. Below, we have summarized all the features of the battle weekend for you.

When does the battle weekend take place? The battle weekend starts on July 9, 2022, at 00:00 local time and runs until July 10, 2022, at 23:59. You have two full days to take advantage of the event content.

All bonuses for the battle weekend around Team GO Rocket

The highlight of the event will be the return of the Rocket leader Giovanni. Many players have been waiting for him for quite some time. By reaching the Hyper Bonus during the GO Fest in Berlin, you were able to earn additional bonuses or improve the planned ones.

Look forward to the following Rocket bonuses during the battle weekend:

  • Special Research on Giovanni
  • Rocket Balloons every 2 hours
  • 2 mysterious components when you defeat Rocket Grunts
  • double Stardust when you defeat Rocket Grunts
  • Unlearn Frustration with a Charged TM
  • New Crypto-Pokémon

Especially the chance to unlearn the move Frustration from your Crypto-Pokémon will be very interesting for many players. You only get this opportunity a few times a year, so you should take advantage of it. Which Pokémon are particularly suitable for unlearning Frustration and how you can do that is explained in our related article:

More on the topic
Pokémon GO: Forgetting Frustration – 18 Monsters Worth It
von Franzi Korittke

All new Crypto-Pokémon

Just in time for the start of the battle weekend, a few of the Crypto-Pokémon used by the Grunts as well as the Rocket bosses Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff will change. And Giovanni has added Crypto-Latios as a legendary reinforcement to his team.

The following new Crypto-Pokémon can be encountered starting from the battle weekend:

  • Crypto-Latios (on Giovanni’s team)
  • Crypto-Kleinstein
  • Crypto-Sheinux
  • Crypto-Felilou

If Niantic announces any further Crypto-Pokémon, we will add them to the article accordingly.

All bonuses for the battle weekend in the GO Battle League

If you prefer to be in the GO Battle League, you can also look forward to a bonus or two during the weekend. The following features await you:

  • 20 battle sets (100 battles) per day
  • 5x Stardust when you win battles
  • From rank 16, you will have the chance to encounter legendary Pokémon

In which leagues can you play? During the battle weekend, you can compete against other trainers in the GO Battle League in the following leagues:

  • Great League
  • Ultra League
  • Master League

What you need to know: When selecting your teams, note that the Pokémon have a maximum CP limit depending on the league. In the Great League, only Pokémon up to 1,500 CP are allowed, and in the Ultra League up to 2,500 CP. In the Master League, there are no upper limits.

Additional bonuses for the battle weekend

In addition to the bonuses around Team GO Rocket and in the GO Battle League, the battle weekend has more features for you:

  • a limited research
  • an additional free raid pass per day
  • double XP when you win a raid
  • Event moves when evolving certain monsters

Which monsters will receive an event move when evolving? When you evolve the starter Pokémon from the first 5 game generations, they will receive an event move. They have previously been able to learn this at other events, such as the Community Day.

Event moveEvolutions
Flora Statue
(Charged move)
Bulbasaur to Venusaur
Cyndaquil to Typhlosion
Treecko to Sceptile
Turtwig to Torterra
Snivy to Serperior
Lohekanonade
(Charged move)
Charmander to Charizard
Totodile to Feraligatr
Torchic to Blaziken
Monferno to Infernape
Pignite to Emboar
Aquatic Cannon
(Charged move)
Squirtle to Blastoise
Totodile to Croconaw
Mudkip to Swampert
Piplup to Empoleon
Oshawott to Samurott
Fire Breath
(Fast move)
Charmander to Charizard

Here you can read which evolutions are most worth it for the battle weekend.

How do you like the bonuses for the battle weekend? Which ones will you use? Or do you find the content rather uninteresting and prefer to skip the mini-event? Share your opinion on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.

In the coming weeks, there will be a lot happening in Pokémon GO. We will show you all events in July and which ones are particularly worthwhile.

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

Pokémon GO: Is it worth getting Crypto-Latios, which you can now get from Giovanni?

In Pokémon GO the battle weekend is now running, and Giovanni has added Crypto-Latios to his team. We at MeinMMO have looked into what kind of Pokémon this is and whether it is worth it at all.

What kind of Pokémon is it? Currently in Pokémon GO, the battle weekend is happening, where you can encounter Team GO Rocket more frequently. With a new special research, you will also gain access to a Super Rocket Radar, which allows you to meet the leader Giovanni.

For the battle, the members of Team GO Rocket have also acquired one or two new Crypto Pokémon. At the forefront is Giovanni, who now has a legendary Crypto-Latios on his team. But what kind of Pokémon is this and is it worth your time?

We have summarized all the important information about Latios for you.

What is Latios as a Pokémon?

Latios is a legendary Pokémon from Generation 3 and is the counterpart to the Pokémon Latias. It belongs to the Dragon and Psychic types and has no pre-evolutions or evolutions. The legendary creature can only benefit from a temporary Mega Evolution.

So far, you could occasionally find Latios in level 5 raids or more recently after the respective Mega raid. Now it will also be available for the first time in its Crypto variant in the game.

Is there Shiny Latios? Yes, the legendary Pokémon also has a shiny form. You can recognize it by its green body. According to current information, however, the Crypto variant is not catchable as a Shiny for the time being.

Pokemon-Go-Latios
Normal Latios (left) and Shiny Latios (right)

How strong is Latios? Latios stands out primarily for its high attack value, but its stamina and defense are also solid. Its charge attack, Psyshock, is very strong and deals significant damage to the opponent, which is why it is one of the best Psychic attackers.

With its moveset of Fire Spin and Dragon Claw, it also qualifies among the top 10 Dragon attackers. And even in the Master League, the legendary Pokémon makes an impressive appearance.

Is Crypto-Latios worth it?

Latios is already one of the best attackers in its normal form in Pokémon GO and is thus well-suited for use in raids. With the Crypto form, its attack value increases by another 20%. For this reason, you should not overlook Crypto-Latios, especially as a Psychic attacker for PvE battles.

In PvP battles, however, it is only useful in the Master League. There, it ranks 23rd in the PvPoke ranking with a moveset of Fire Spin, Dragon Claw, and Flash Cannon. However, if you are still looking for a strong Pokémon for the Super or Ultra League, Latios is not the right choice and you should look for a better alternative.

Should you catch Crypto-Latios? If you want to secure a strong attacker for raid battles, you should definitely get Crypto-Latios on your team. Even though it does not surpass its competitor Mewtwo, it is still a good alternative.

In the GO Battle League, Crypto-Latios is only usable in the Master League. And even here, there are a few dragons that are even better, such as Zekrom or Reshiram. In the Super and Ultra Leagues, it plays no role at all.

Additionally, you must consider that Crypto-Latios is not currently available as a Shiny, making it slightly less interesting. Furthermore, you only receive one Super Rocket Radar, giving you only a limited chance at Crypto-Latios.

So if you do not need Crypto-Latios for raids and have no use for the legendary Pokémon, you might want to think about whether you prefer to save your Super Rocket Radar for another monster.

How to get Crypto-Latios?

To secure a Crypto-Latios, you first need a Super Rocket Radar. If you do not have one from previous research, you can secure one through the new special research for the battle weekend.

Once you have obtained a Super Rocket Radar, you can start searching for Giovanni. Activate the radar and click the icon on the right side of the screen. A map will then be displayed showing possible locations of Giovanni. But be careful, it could also be a grunt trying to deceive you.

When you eventually find Giovanni, you only need to battle and defeat him. As a reward, you will have an encounter with Crypto-Latios. Now you just have to catch it.

What do you think of Giovanni’s new legendary Pokémon? Have you already secured one? Or is Crypto-Latios completely uninteresting to you? Feel free to share your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments.

In the coming weeks, quite a bit is happening in Pokémon GO. We have summarized all events in July and show which ones are particularly worth it.

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

When buying a graphics card, what is most important to you?

Many gamers buy a graphics card from AMD or Nvidia for their PC. But what is most important to you when you want to buy a new graphics card?

For a long time, gamers had little chance to buy a graphics card. But now things are looking much better again, and GPUs are cheaper than they have been in a long time.

Many users are now considering finally upgrading their PC after a long wait. But what is important to you when you want to buy a graphics card?

Design, cooling, or performance – what is important to you in a graphics card?

Our readers have already told us how much money they are willing to spend on graphics cards. But before you spend your money on new hardware, you need to think about what you absolutely want among the many graphics cards available. Because there are often dozens of ways to invest your money in new hardware:

  • There are various manufacturers that produce graphics cards with a graphics chip from AMD or Nvidia.
  • Many graphics cards differ significantly in design from one another.
  • Some graphics cards focus entirely on performance, while others emphasize low noise in their GPU.
  • Depending on the price category, graphics cards also offer features like ray tracing or DLSS.

Since there are so many options, we want to know what you pay the most attention to when buying a graphics card.

Your opinion is requested

How can I vote? You can make your choice as always in the poll tool in this article. You can also discuss with other readers under our article. You can select up to three points simultaneously. Thank you for voting!

What is most important to you? How did you decide on your last graphics card purchase or how will you decide in the future? Tell us in the comments what interests you the most.

Before you buy a new graphics card, you should at least keep in mind that the next generation of graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia is already on the way:

You should definitely know this about the next generation of graphics cards before you buy a new one now

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

Diablo Immortal disappoints fans with the 1st major update: “This is exactly like before”

After the release of the 1st content update, fans of Diablo Immortal are disappointed and disillusioned. The patch allegedly did not bring enough new features. And what is available is partly just copied, say the players.

The important points at a glance:

What’s in the new update? Overall, there were 3 new contents in the update from July 7. Two of them are actually gameplay relevant. Vitaath is a new raid boss that was released on July 2 and is far too hard for most players.

Secondly, on July 15, a weekend event will start with some rewards, which will run until July 18. The third and actually biggest change is the new Battle Pass for Season 2. Players can grind 40 levels again for various rewards, including:

  • legendary and normal gems
  • cosmetics
  • crafting materials

However, it is precisely this Battle Pass that is causing a ton of threads to appear on reddit, complaining exactly about this new content.

The update revamped 2 of the weakest classes in the tier list of Diablo Immortal, monks and sorcerers. Check out gameplay for all 6 classes here:

Start video
Diablo Immortal: All 6 Classes in Brief Overview with Gameplay

Fans are disappointed: “Literally a copy”

What’s the problem? Since Vitaath is too hard and the event hasn’t started yet, the Battle Pass is currently the only engagement with long-term incentive for many players. Here, fans feel that there is simply too little love put into it.

The levels and rewards are nearly identical to what was already seen in Season 1. On reddit, people complain that the Battle Pass is “exactly the same” as the previous one and a “disappointment“, nothing more than a copy of the first.

While there are new cosmetics, there are only a few and only if you pay. Some players report that they uninstalled Diablo Immortal after seeing the Battle Pass. Many are particularly annoyed by the statement of the Blizzard CEO regarding monetization:

More on the topic
Blizzard CEO explains why monetization in Diablo Immortal is actually great
von Lydia

The Battle Pass was supposed to be the biggest motivation for playing Diablo Immortal, alongside the grind for loot and leveling. In the interview with game director Wyatt Cheng, he explained to MeinMMO how important he finds Battle Passes when they are well done. That is exactly what players are currently missing.

Positive reactions are hardly seen. The bug fixes are well received, but according to many players, the update simply lacks substance. The mood may change after the event weekend from July 15 to 18.

Some fans also complain that critical points are not addressed. Legendary gems are still important but a pay2win factor. In the video, you can find out what this feature is about:

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Diablo Immortal: What are legendary gems? Facts and locations in 3 minutes

What’s next? Blizzard has already promised further updates in July that will bring even more content. By the end of the month, the class change feature is supposed to be released. This was a big news upon announcement, as it allows you not to need secondary characters.

Cheng also mentioned in the video that more story and new classes will be part of the free updates for Diablo Immortal. However, we do not yet know exactly when these will arrive.

The current development is fracturing the player base of Diablo Immortal. Many are disappointed with the game, as it actually has great potential – as even MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus finds:

I want Diablo 4 to be like Diablo Immortal

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

The best Assassin’s Creed finally gets the multiplayer it deserves – Skull & Bones lures with big loot

Skull & Bones finally shows gameplay and brings exactly the multiplayer aspect we always wanted in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. However, the game is now several years late and comes quite different than it was announced.

What is Skull & Bones anyway? It was not so easy to answer for a long time and to be honest, it still isn’t.

The first trailer for the pirate adventure appeared at E3 in 2017. The first gameplay was already shown in 2018 and a release was promised for 2019. But then it suddenly went quiet about the game. So quiet that many thought Skull & Bones had maneuvered itself into Davy Jones’s locker.

But now there is fresh, new gameplay, a release on November 8, 2022, and insights into what has changed in the last four years. And quite a lot has changed. Because what in 2018 looked like having taken the ship battles from Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag and packed them into a standalone game with a pinch of Hunt: Showdown has suddenly taken a different direction.

What are the features? Because the multiplayer with its intrigues, the struggle for the fat loot, and boarding enemy ships are no longer that prevalent. Instead, Skull & Bones relies on the following features:

  • The ship combat as the main aspect of the game – you rarely leave your ship
  • A campaign in a sandbox open world, where you start with a small ship and gradually upgrade it to a formidable warship
  • You follow the same pattern of accepting quests, completing missions, upgrading, and taking on more difficult quests
  • The entire game is playable solo and offers co-op options to sail together on the hunt
  • The PvP component that was emphasized in 2018 is now only optional
  • The new focus is on constantly collecting more loot and thereby improving to unlock new things for your ship

Colleague Dimitry Halley presents the game in detail again at GameStar and expresses his concerns.

The new gameplay is in our video:

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Skull & Bones shows 7 minutes of gameplay – Looting and leveling on the high seas

Different than before, but still exciting

What happened to PvP? If you look at the gameplay from 2018, Skull & Bones still seems like a completely different game. In the old video, you could randomly ally with other players and they could betray you to ultimately get away with the loot from the battle.

This seemed to be the core aspect of the game, but this changed over the last four years. Now PvP is only optional and you don’t really have to flee anymore. Instead, you simply share your open world with enemy ships. What has remained is the hunt for valuable loot that you can still lose.

The optional PvP could be a highlight: Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much to see of it yet. It is also unclear whether it can be motivating in the long term and whether the game mechanics will mesh well or end up in some form of spawn camping.

But the PvP has great potential, especially since the game is coming four years late and just in time.

To catch the big hype from Black Flag, Skull & Bones is a bit late, but currently, the so-called EFT-likes are experiencing a surge that hasn’t been seen before. The games are named after the shooter Escape from Tarkov, but titles like Hunt: Showdown are also good examples.

You can see the gameplay from 2018 here:

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PvP matches, where you can lose everything and fight fiercely for loot that only one can have.

Even in the battle royale genre, you go home empty-handed if you don’t survive a round. Still, games like PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex are still very popular.

The fact that many fans of such genres are out there is a big bonus for Skull & Bones. Because while it was still questioned at the original announcement in 2017 whether a Black Flag where you can also lose your valuable loot can be fun, we now know better.

EFT, Hunt, and co. clearly show that with the right twists, a concept can work and keep players engaged where you lose everything. And Skull & Bones is still not as merciless as the mentioned examples.

skull and bones ship combat
The PvP theme is a bit smaller than expected.

You only lose your loot: Which is already annoying enough, admittedly. But your ship remains intact and you do not have to start all over again with the hard-earned progress when an enemy ship gives you broadside.

Instead, you just had a mission wasted. Which is initially unfortunate, but definitely manageable. Unfortunately, we still do not know exactly how the mechanics of Skull & Bones work here, but with the right twist, it has great potential to impress long-term and hold fans as long as current EFT games can.

If Skull & Bones wants to work, it needs good PvP

Key point game depth: The question remains how much space the optional PvP will take up in the pirate adventure. Because as nice as open-world, co-op sailing, and a bit of looting and leveling are – to engage long-term, a lot is needed. A fully developed PvP mode could help with that.

And the premise for that is given. There are many different weapons in the game. Special abilities and various tactics are also possible. Currently, we cannot say if that is enough for the PvP to become the highlight it should be. It would be desirable after all the waiting.

Ubisoft has proven multiple times that it can offer this depth. Looking towards shooters, Rainbow Six: Siege shines with tactical diversity and practically endless ways to play a match. The Division with its “Dark Zone” is also a good example of a strong PvP mode, as long as the balancing works.

That the ship combat itself is fun has already been proven by them 9 years ago with Black Flag itself.

If Ubisoft manages to bring both together – loot mechanics and strong PvP – Skull & Bones can become a real pirate affair. A feast not only for PvP fans but also for the setting itself. But we can only find out in November.

What do you think about the new gameplay? Do you like the game better as it is now? Or do you look back at 2018 with a sad eye? Did you even have Skull & Bones on your radar? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.

Ubisoft has developed a technology to create even larger games than Far Cry 6 – Who needs that?

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Twenty years ago, Halo thrilled with a level that you could never play – That is supposed to change now

343 Industries, the developers of Halo Infinite, want to make unfinished levels from the Halo history playable for the first time. They are getting help from modders. This includes a level from Halo 2, which was shown in the trailer 20 years ago but never appeared in the game itself.

Since Bungie is no longer working on the Halo franchise and is instead responsible for Destiny, 343 Industries is the developer behind Microsoft’s shooter titan.

And although Halo Infinite has been struggling with a content drought since release, the developers managed to score points with fans. They want to revive the iconic “Halo 2” demo from E3 2003 as part of a larger modding project – as well as other cut content that players were never allowed to play.

This trailer shows you how Halo Infinite has been trying to tackle the content drought so far:

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Halo Infinite finally launches Season 2 – Shows the new maps and badass armors in the trailer

Developers and modders make unfinished content playable

This is what the developers have in mind: In a long blog post, 343 Industries introduced their so-called “Digsite” project. Here’s what it’s about:

  • The developers are gathering content from the Halo history that was never officially playable and was never completed.
  • They also want to repair unfinished assets so they can make these findings playable in the Halo: Master Chief Collection.
  • Together with well-known modders from the scene, 343 Industries has split “Digsite” into two teams: Digsite Alpha restores content from before the release of Halo: Combat Evolved, while Digsite Delta is responsible for development leftovers from Halo 2.

For the first Halo, Combat Evolved, they want to restore a version of the game that was originally a real-time strategy game, among other things.

However, the “Digsite” project for Halo 2 is getting a lot of attention in the community. When the first gameplay trailer for the game was shown at E3 2003, it became legendary and created immense hype around Halo 2.

It showcases diverse battles in a sci-fi city called “Earth City,” which left fans salivating back then. Earth City served as the basis for levels 2 and 3 in the game but was never playable in this form. 343 Industries aims to change that now, after almost 20 years.

You can watch this ancient trailer here:

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“Fan service can be good and this is an example of that.”

What do the fans say? The otherwise critical Halo fans are thrilled after these announcements. On reddit, users are writing:

  • “Fan service can be good and this is an example of that.” – john7071
  • “This is pretty much everything I’ve ever wanted.” – Metatermin8r
  • “Are you telling me that after 20 years I can finally experience Earth City for myself? I destroyed a DVD player back then while watching the demo over and over again.” – TemptedTemplar
  • “I’m so excited. I can’t believe this is actually happening.” – dj88masterchief

What do you think about these announcements? Do you remember the trailer from E3 2003? Or would you prefer more content for the latest Halo rather than repaired content from the oldest games in the franchise? Let us know in the comments.

By the way: After several years of drought, E3 is finally set to take place in person again in 2023.

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

E3 2023: One of the most important gaming fairs in the world is again a real event next year

After several years of stagnation, a real E3 is finally taking place in 2023. The event is set to offer digital content but will also take place physically. Media as well as visitors are welcome, it says.

Key points at a glance

  • The Electronic Entertainment Expo, short E3, was held digitally only in recent years and did not take place at all in 2022.
  • The US company ReedPop has now announced that it will host the E3 next year (via GamesIndustry.biz). ReedPop is also behind events such as PAX.
  • So, 2023 will see one of the largest gaming fairs in the world again. A physical event is even planned for the second week of June.

This is what the organizers say: ReedPop is working with The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to host E3 2023. Exhibitors and a schedule are still pending but are expected to be shared in the coming months.

The goal is to provide both digital showcases and opportunities for visitors who are present in person. Presumably, there will be the chance to try out some of the games showcased directly.

In recent years, E3 has only been available in a reduced form or was completely replaced by individual events from other exhibitors and organizers.

The Summer Game Fest was one of the substitute events for E3. The preview promised some new titles, the 5 hottest trailers from the Summer Game Fest can be found in the article:

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Summer Game Fest showcases great games from the live event in the trailer – everything from Gotham Knights to LoL is included

Real E3 2023 instead of substitute events

In 2022, E3 was completely canceled and replaced by other events in the meantime. The two main shows were the Summer Game Fest, hosted by Geoff Keighley, and the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase.

There were also some smaller events from indie developers, which, however, did not gain as much traction – even though one was even moderated by the English speakers of Geralt and Yennefer (The Witcher).

In the showcases, there were some hidden gems, such as the presentation of a new Lord of the Rings game and even major highlights like the surprise announcement of the Diablo 4 release.

Besides Nightingale, the new survival game from Lord of the Rings was the big highlight of the shows:

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Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

In general, however, all shows were seen as rather disappointing. Partly because the event feeling was missing – but also because the games simply could not convince. Even the few games that were really worth it received little attention.

The “trailer storms” of recent years have drained more than hyped in many places and were even really bleak this year, says MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski:

The Summer Game Fest 2022 was the purest horror event – What this means for the gaming year

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Source(s):
  1. GamesIndustry

Streamer loses partnership on Twitch, says: “Nothing better could have happened to me”

The streamer and YouTuber Niall “Pyrocynical” Comas has lost his partnership on Twitch. Now he claims on Twitter that nothing better could have happened to him.

The British streamer and YouTuber Niall Comas, better known by his pseudonym Pyrocynical, has been trying for months to secure a partnership with Twitch. Although he is a big name on YouTube with over 4.7 million subscribers, this process has dragged on for a long time.

Then at the beginning of 2022, he finally became a partner on the streaming platform, only to lose his status on Twitch again on May 24. He had to switch to YouTube streaming and now claims that nothing better could have happened to him.

Pyrocynical is not the first prominent streamer to have difficulties with Twitch. This video summarizes the most spectacular Twitch controversies of recent years:

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

Twitch gives streamer a “soft boot”

What exactly happened to him? The streamer was not banned; his channel is still online and has 269,000 followers. However, he lost the partnership with Twitch, so his “Subscriber” button is gone. He no longer earns a cent on the streaming platform. He calls it a “soft boot.”

On Twitter, he says that this boot is the best thing that could have happened to him. He claims that his viewership has quadrupled, as have his earnings. He calls it “the fattest W imaginable”:

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The reason for this is known: YouTube is said to pay about twice as much as Twitch, and streamers receive 70% of the money from each subscription. On Twitch, it’s usually only 50%. For this reason, YouTube Gaming is more profitable for streamers like Ludwig:

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Twitch loses its ‘golden boy’ to YouTube because he feels no love (and due to money)
von Schuhmann

Twitch accuses streamer of “unfair behavior” when securing the partnership

What led to the Twitch boot? In a YouTube video from May 30, he describes from his perspective what led to the boot from the Twitch partnership and how he assesses it. The video has already garnered over 1 million views:

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In the email from Twitch that Pyrocynical received and reads in the video, the reason mentioned is “unfair behavior” when applying for the partnership.

Specifically, he reportedly requested a partnership from Twitch North America after having been denied this partnership by Twitch EMEA (Europe-Middle East-Africa). That was not acceptable, which is why the partnership was revoked.

Pyrocynical is not the first Twitch streamer to be forced to switch to YouTube. Dr Disrespect also appreciates the money rain on YouTube but particularly misses one thing about Twitch:

Dr Disrespect complains that he had it much easier on Twitch – still ends up better off on YouTube

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