Pokémon GO: Anniversary event starts today – All Shinys and content of the Hyperbonus

Franzi Korittke Franzi Korittke Reading time 5 minutes

On July 6th, 2022, Pokémon GO celebrates its anniversary and throws a celebration event for you. We at MeinMMO have taken a look at which spawns and shinies you can look forward to and which content you have earned during the Hyperbonus.

What kind of event is it? Pokémon GO celebrates its 6th birthday on July 6th, and that needs to be celebrated in the game, of course. That’s why there will be a week-long anniversary event in Pokémon GO.

There will be numerous spawns, shinies, and bonuses. In addition, you have earned further special features for the anniversary event during the GO Fest in Berlin as part of the Hyperbonus. Here are the highlights for the anniversary event:

  • new costumed Pokémon
  • Grillmak celebrates its shiny debut
  • Icognito E appears in raids
  • Battle Weekend

When does the anniversary event take place? The anniversary event runs from July 6th, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time until July 12th, 2022, at 8:00 PM local time.

All spawns and shinies for the anniversary event

During the anniversary event, you can encounter numerous Pokémon that can be found in the wild and in raids. Of course, costumed monsters should not be missing on such an occasion, which is why you can catch Pikachu in a cake costume as well as Glumanda, Glutexo, and Glurak wearing party hats.

Additionally, thanks to the earned Hyperbonus, the shiny form of Grillmak will celebrate its worldwide debut in the game. You can also encounter Icognito E in raids. We have summarized where you can find which Pokémon below.

All monsters that you can also encounter in their shiny forms are marked with an (*).

Pokémon in the wild

In the wild, you can encounter the following Pokémon during the anniversary event:

  • Bisasam*
  • Glumanda with Party Hat*
  • Schiggy*
  • Pikachu with Cake Costume*
  • Machollo*
  • Ledyba*
  • Trasla*
  • Haspiror*
  • Grillmak*
  • Toxiped
  • Igamaro
  • Fynx
  • Froxy
  • Scoppel*
  • Leufeo*
  • Peppeck

Somewhat rarer to find are:

  • Knarksel
  • Scampisto
  • Egunana

Pokémon from raids

In raids, you can also encounter other raid bosses during the anniversary event. Keep an eye out for the following:

RaidsPokémon
Level-1-RaidsPikachu with Cake Costume*
Dratini*
Icognito E*
Grillmak*
Level-3-RaidsBisaflor*
Glurak with Party Hat*
Turtok*
Despotar
Metagross
Level-5-RaidsZapdos*
Mega-RaidsMega-Glurak X (until July 7th)
Mega-Glurak Y (from July 7th)

These are the new costumes and shinies for the anniversary event

Costumed Pokémon: During the anniversary event, you can encounter 3 monsters with new costumes. Pikachu will wear a cake costume for the first time, and Glutexo and Glurak will wear party hats. While you can find Glurak in costumed form in Level-3 raids, you will need to evolve Glumanda with a Party Hat to secure a costumed Glutexo.

Pokémon-GO-Costumes-Anniversary
New costumes

Grillmak: There will also be a new shiny available for the anniversary event. Grillmak was already available in its shiny form for ticket holders during the GO Fest in Berlin, but now it will be accessible to all players. You can recognize it by its orange body.

Pokémon-GO-Grillmak-Grillchita-Shiny
Grillmak and Grillchita normal (left) and as shiny (right)

Icognito: Not new, but incredibly rare is Icognito. This Pokémon only spawns occasionally in the wild or during specific events. By earning the Hyperbonus, you can now find Icognito E in raids.

If you still lack this form of the rare Pokémon, you now have the chance to secure a specimen. With some luck, you might even encounter a shiny.

All bonuses for the anniversary event

Of course, you can also look forward to several bonuses during the anniversary event. You have partially improved these by achieving the Hyperbonus and even earned more bonuses, especially for the Battle Weekend. Here are the bonuses you can look forward to:

  • Event field research
    • Encounters with Bisasam*, Glumanda*, Schiggy*, Endivie*, Feurigel*, Karnimani*, Geckarbor*, Flemmli*, Hydropi*, Chelast*, Panflam*, Plinfa*, Serpifeu*, Floink*, Ottaro*, Igamaro, Fynx, Froxy, Bauz, Flamiau, Robball
    • All new quests at a glance
  • Timed research
  • Battle Weekend with Team Rocket and in the GO Battle League
  • New stickers from gifts, PokéStops, and in the shop
  • New avatar items in the shop
Pokémon-GO-Sticker-Anniversary
New event stickers

Battle Weekend with Giovanni and new Shadow Pokémon

What is this weekend about? Part of the anniversary event is also a mini-event in the form of a Battle Weekend. This will take place both in the GO Battle League and around Team GO Rocket.

When does the Battle Weekend take place? The Battle Weekend runs from July 9th, 2022, at 12:00 AM local time until July 10th, 2022, at 11:59 PM local time.

Are there special bonuses? Yes, during the GO Battle Weekend, various bonuses will be expected regarding Rocket battles and the GO Battle League but also for raids:

  • Special research on Giovanni
    • Reward: a Super Rocket Radar
  • Rocket Balloons spawn every 2 hours
  • When you defeat Rocket Grunts, you will receive 2 mysterious components
  • When you defeat Rocket Grunts, you will receive double Stardust
  • Shadow Pokémon forget Frustration with Charged TM
  • New Shadow Pokémon
  • 20 Battle Sets per day in the GO Battle League
  • 5x Stardust when you win battles in the GO Battle League
  • From Rank 16, you have the chance to encounter legendary Pokémon in the GO Battle League
  • One additional free raid pass per day
  • Double XP when you win a raid
  • Event attacks when evolving Pokémon

More about Pokémon GO:

These are the new Shadow Pokémon: In addition to the numerous bonuses, you can also look forward to new Shadow Pokémon during the Battle Weekend. You can encounter the following monsters:

  • Crypto-Latios
  • Crypto-Kleinstein
  • Crypto-Sheinux
  • Crypto-Felilou
Pokémon-GO-Crypto-Latios-Giovanni
Giovanni with Crypto-Latios

Which Pokémon can learn event attacks? We have created an overview for you below, indicating which monsters will receive a special event attack when evolving during the Battle Weekend and what the respective attack will be:

Event AttackEvolution
Flora Statue
(Charged Attack)		Bisasam to Bisaflor
Endivie to Meganie
Geckarbor to Gewaldro
Chelast to Chelterrar
Serpifeu to Serpiroyal
Lohekanonade
(Charged Attack)		Glumanda to Glurak
Feurigel to Tornupto
Flemmli to Lohgock
Panflam to Panferno
Floink to Flambirex
Aquahaubitze
(Charged Attack)		Schiggy to Turtok
Karnimani to Impergator
Hydropi to Sumpex
Plinfa to Impoleon
Ottaro to Admurai
Fire Breath
(Fast Attack)		Glumanda to Glurak

Which bonus for the anniversary event do you like the most? And which monster do you definitely want to secure? Please write your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.

Niantic is planning a new app that lets you chat 6 years after the release of Pokémon GO. We took a look at what Campfire is about and spoke with Philip Marz from Niantic about when it might be available for everyone.

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

Lost Ark changes weekly reset today and rewards you – Brings 1.5 hours server down

Mark Sellner Mark Sellner Reading time 2 minutes

Lost Ark brings a change for all upcoming weekly updates in the weekly update, today on July 6th. Otherwise, there is little in the update. We at MeinMMO summarize.

What is happening this week in Lost Ark? After last week’s big June update, the first July patch remains quite calm as expected. While players are busy with the new Legion Raid Vykas and the new events, Amazon is focusing more on background changes in the MMORPG.

The biggest change was already announced with the June update and has now been implemented. This involves moving the weekly reset day from Thursday to Wednesday. There are several reasons for this.

On one hand, players are pleased because Wednesday has long been considered a dead day in the MMORPG. There was little to do, and many events simply took place on other days. On the other hand, the developers want to bring the updates one day earlier to have more time to address any issues before the weekend.

A gift awaits you this week on top of that. Lost Ark is giving you Bloodstones to compensate for possibly missed weekly guild missions. However, you will only receive the red stones if you were actually affected by the bug that prevented these missions last week.

You can also fight against the new demon Vykas again after the patch:

Start video
The legions raids are the most difficult fights in Lost Ark – See the frightening attacks of the demon Vykas

How long will the server status be offline? The servers will go offline at 9:00 AM German time as usual today. But there is now a change here as well. They are supposed to stay offline for only 1.5 hours instead of the usual 4 hours. Whether this will remain the case longer is currently unclear.

If everything goes according to plan, you can already start hunting for good loot in Arkesia again at 10:30 AM. We will keep you updated in this article.

Update on July 6th – All Patch Notes

These are the full notes for the update:

The weekly updates and resets will now take place on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. This gives our teams at Amazon Games and Smilegate RPG a little more time before the weekend in case issues arise in an update.

Additionally, we will provide compensation in the form of Bloodstones for weekly guild requests. So if you were affected by this bug last week, you should receive your compensation as soon as the servers are back up.

And lastly: The welcome challenge ends on July 20th. So make sure to complete the challenges by then and collect your rewards!

More about Lost Ark on MeinMMO:

What do you think of today’s update? Do you find it reasonable that it has been moved to Wednesdays? Or have you gotten so accustomed to Thursdays that it is now hard to change? Do you think the short downtime will remain? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO, we look forward to it!

Or are you among the fans who complain because the most important thing about the summer event in Lost Ark is missing? The sexy swimwear!

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

Ambitious survival game on Steam fully relies on PvP and fails – even the creator finds it bad

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Last Oasis has some really good ideas and a unique setting. However, it has never managed to retain players in the long term. Now the creator speaks out and says: Even he is no longer having fun with it. And he wants to change that.

What kind of game is that? Last Oasis was released in April 2020 in Early Access on Steam with a unique approach. The Earth has stopped spinning and is relentlessly burned by the sun.

As survivors, you are constantly fleeing from the sun, fighting your way through the hot deserts and seeking shelter in oases. You build strange runners out of wood in a mix of Wild Wild West and Conan Exiles, where even entire cities fit.

However, as water is a scarce resource, everyone fights for the rare resource. Accordingly, Last Oasis launched with a strong focus on PvP. MeinMMO editor and survival expert Benedict Grothaus thought the PvP in Last Oasis was a bad idea back then. And he apparently was right.

In the embedded video, you can see the trailer for Season 4 of Last Oasis:

Start video
Der Trailer zur Season 4 von Last Oasis

Why did it fail? The constant struggle for survival apparently did not appeal to many players. Last Oasis started with over 33,000 players on Steam (via steamcharts.com). Just a few weeks after release, it lost 99% of its players.

The biggest problem was nasty PvP players who repeatedly beat up newcomers. More experienced players and large clans have the advantage of experience on their side and those just starting out quickly become their victims.

In 2021, there should finally be a refocusing on PvE. However, this has not brought much yet. After a brief increase in player numbers, Last Oasis is currently hovering around 300 players on average.

More on the topic at MeinMMO:

“Last Oasis sucks”

This is what the creator says: In a new post on Steam, the creator of Last Oasis, the Austrian Florian “chadz” Hofreither, talks about the game. It says:

Last Oasis is totally bad. And I should know, I made it. And more than that, I played it – a lot.
When I say it’s bad, I mean that I don’t have very much fun playing it. Not as much as in other survival games that I like. And I’m not alone in this opinion.

Despite several attempts and seasons that have changed a lot, the fundamental problem has not been resolved, namely that he does not like the game. Already in 2020, Hofreither spoke with MeinMMO in an exclusive interview about the future of Last Oasis.

However, he did not yet know how to satisfy the players, especially since he himself did not know why he was not having fun. However, he now has a solution, as stated in the post.

PvP is not always bad. Rust frustrates even veterans, but is still one of the most successful survival games today:

Start video
Everything you need to know about the survival MMO Rust – in 2 minutes

What’s next? With Season 5, Last Oasis is set to receive another overhaul and focus fully on PvE. Where PvP was always part of the game before, it will only function with explicit permission, likely similar to Valheim.

Instead, the world should become more dangerous, the PvE “brutal.” Everything should try to kill you, and you should constantly have to fight to survive at all. The “hand-holding” should also disappear, making the entry apparently harder.

Since the focus on PvE, the reviews have markedly improved, and the game currently stands at 80% positive ratings lately (via Steam). While there are critics who miss PvP as a unique aspect of the game, the path seems to be the right one.

The beta of Season 5 is now playable, at least until July 7th. Apparently, Last Oasis has taken cues from competitors like Conan Exiles or Valheim. Probably a good decision, considering which games are generally successful on Steam:

5 games that have surprisingly exploded on Steam

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

The Division 2 is still alive: Roadmap shows 2 big updates in 2022 and promises support for next year

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 3 minutes

Good news for all fans of The Division 2. In a community update, the developers announced two major Title Updates for 2022. Additionally, a “Year 5” is officially planned. We will show you the content of the roadmap and why not everything is going according to plan on MeinMMO.

The loot shooter The Division 2 had been off the radar for a long time. In 2020, the big expansion “Warlords of New York” was released, but support was supposed to end abruptly and unexpectedly.

It was only when it became clear that the fan base was larger than expected that development was ramped up again on a small scale. This then led to Season 9 with Title Update 15, which apparently was successful enough to keep Division 2 running on “low flame”.

A new community update now shows a roadmap for the planned updates in 2022 – two more are set to come. Additionally, the developers confirm content for “Year 5”. This makes it clear that Division 2 will continue after March 2023.

You can find what else the community update reveals below. We are embedding the 2022 roadmap here:

division 2 roadmap 2022

Division 2: 2 Title Updates Coming in 2022

What does the roadmap reveal? You will get an overview of the approximate release dates of the two planned Seasons 10 and 11 and the content included:

  • Season 10
    • Starts at the end of August
    • New Manhunt
    • New gear and weapons
    • Legendary difficulty for “Tidal Basin” and “Manning National Zoo”
    • Season 10 test server launches in August
  • Season 11
    • Starts in early December
    • New Manhunt
    • New game mode
    • New gear and weapons

Additionally, minor adjustments are planned, such as “Quality of Life” changes that are intended to enhance the gaming experience.

The community update also mentions the new mode “Countdown”. The developers are pleased with a lot of positive feedback and want to implement a game wish: more settings for the difficulty level of the new mode.

More on the topic
„Still one of the best games for me“ – Why shooter fans should catch up on The Division 2
von Maik Schneider

However, there is also a minor setback to report. With the announcement of Season 9, the developers promised extensive revisions to the specializations, which is a kind of class system in Division 2.

For these important revisions, there is still no date. The developers state that they only want to release a date once they are satisfied with the adjustments.

Almost in passing, there is also excellent news for all fans of the loot shooter: The Division 2 will receive a “Year 5”. It is likely that Season 12 will continue in March 2023. However, there are currently no more details available.

More about loot shooters on MeinMMO:

Aside from the main title of Division, the roadmap also shows information about some spin-offs that are in development. There was a limited test of the free-to-play title The Division: Heartland, and in early July, a mobile game for Division is also expected to be announced.

However, the community update does not provide more details. If you want to see something about Division: Heartland now, then check it out here: Finally, new info on the free-to-play shooter from The Division – Heartland is said to offer 4 modes

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

Destiny 2: Weekly Reset on 07/05 – The search for Calus continues

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 4 minutes

All nightmares have been defeated in Destiny 2 and our beloved NPCs can now embark on an important mission in peace; Where is Calus? Whether this question will finally be answered and what the Guardians can expect this week can be found here on MeinMMO.

This week: Caiatl has finally defeated her nightmare, and all obvious plagues for the Guardians are gone. Now that every key NPC from Season 17 is free from plaguing nightmares, the search for Calus can continue.

However, it is uncertain what problems the Vanguard will face. The Egregore spores are continuing to spread on the H.E.L.M. and no one knows exactly where Calus is actually located. Alongside rotating activities, the Guardians will be busy following the story and figuring out what “Calus’ spore” means when he says he must “grow beyond himself”.

calus-dungeon-duality-destiny2-season17
Where is Emperor Calus hiding?

Key information about activities from July 5th to July 12th

Vanguard: Nightfall – The Crucible

The Nightfall: The Crucible is the strike this week:

  • Testing Ground, in the massive land tank of the Cabal on Nessus
    • The Guardians have proven themselves on Cabal battlefields and fought through the ranks of the Cabal to finally confront the Champion of the Empress in the “final test”. But he throws homing solar balls and uses his Cabal bubble for protection.

This is the Nightfall weapon of the week: In the 6th week of Season of the Haunted, you can earn a special Nightfall weapon.

  • The Nightfall weapon this week is not yet known and will be added in time

Playlist strikes have these modifiers:

  • Solar Scorch
  • Stasis Burn
  • Grounded
  • The Scorch modifier will accompany you all week, while the others change daily.

Endgame: Raid Challenges and Dungeon Rotation

This is happening in the latest raid “The Oath of the Student“:

  • In the “Oath of the Student” raid, the challenge “Quick Destruction” starts. To complete it, players must defeat all unstoppable champions simultaneously or within a few seconds.
  • As a reward for the challenge in the first section of the Grandmaster raid, this week there is a chance for a master version of the submachine gun “Subjugation”, the fusion rifle “Redemption”, or the linear fusion rifle “Catastrophic”.

You can earn additional top rewards from the endgame:

  • in the raid “Deep Stone Crypt” on Europa
  • as well as in the dungeon “Prophecy”
destiny2-raid-dungeon-rotation-season17
Every week the dungeons and raids rotate for top loot.

Weekly Activities

With Season 17, new activities have also been introduced. Explore the Derelict Leviathan and face the nightmares or surprise boss enemies in the new patrol zone. Equip the Solar Sense there and defend yourself in the Nightmare Containment. In addition, you can expect these weekly activities:

Savathun’s Throne World – Weekly Campaign Mission

  • “The Ghosts”
    • The Guardians have discovered traces of a ghost pointing to Sagira. Can Osiris’ dead ghost help uncover the mystery around Savathun? But to reveal the memory, you must find him first.

Crucible – These are the PvP playlists:

  • Private Match
  • Rumble
  • Control
  • Elimination
  • Glory Survival
  • Glory Survival: Freelance
  • Team Scorched

Additionally, you will receive bonus Gambit rank points if you venture into Gambit this week.

You will also receive additional bonus loot from the Nightfall.

Ascendant Challenge – Dreaming City

  • Petra Venj has the 3rd Ascendant Challenge for you this week. You can find Petra and her quest offering at the location “Divalian Mists” in the Dreaming City. The City of the Awakened is entering the second stage of corruption.

Sources for top loot in Season 17 of Destiny 2

This is the new max level: In the new season of the Haunted, the maximum power level of your gear is 1,570. This means that the power level at the start of the new Season 17 has increased by +10 power levels compared to the previous Season 16. All players have also been raised to the base power level of 1,350.

Those who want to level up quickly can also play the Legendary campaign of the Witch Queen expansion and upon completion reach 1,530 as well as get a new Exotic.

This top loot (Pinnacle Gear) brings your power level above 1,560:

  • Top raid “The Oath of the Student” (+2)
  • Legacy raid rotation this week: “Deep Stone Crypt” (+2)
  • Legacy dungeon rotation “Prophecy” (+2)
  • Achieve in Nightfall: Crucible with at least 100,000 points (+2)
  • Seasonal activity “Severance” (+2)
  • Weekly Witch Queen campaign mission with at least 100,000 points (+2)
  • Complete the activity “Preservation” in the Pyramid of Darkness (+2)
  • “Trials of Eternity”: Achieve at least 250,000 points or more (+2)
  • Defeat powerful Cabal in the exotic mission “Vox Obscura” (+2)
  • Complete 3 Gambit matches (+1)
  • Complete 3 Crucible matches (+1)
  • Complete 3 Vanguard operation strikes with the appropriate focus (+1)
  • Hawthorne’s Clan task (+1)
  • Trials of Osiris (2+) (from June 24th)

Glimmer highlights in the Eververse

This time you can expect a cool weapon ornament for the hand cannon “Fletcher” and additional goodies.

Destiny-2-Precious-Ivory
Precious Ivory is its name

This week, you can also obtain these highlights in the Eververse shop for Glimmer, the earnable in-game currency.

  • Legendary weapon ornament for the Fletcher “Precious Ivory”
  • Exotic emote “Rocket Jumper”
  • Exotic emote “All Alone”
  • Exotic sparrow “Spore Racer”
  • Legendary emote “Knit Project”
  • Legendary ghost projection “Atheon Projection”
  • Exotic weapon ornament “Dawn Sabre”
  • Exotic weapon ornament “Spring Scales”
  • New exotic armor ornaments from Season 17 for each class
  • Shader “Seven Sisters”

Caiatl has defeated her nightmare, and what now? How do you think the story will continue? Can the Vanguard still get their hands on Calus, or is this perhaps the story of the next DLC? And what about the Moon Pyramid? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

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

WoW is probably giving away the Epic Edition of Shadowlands – Did you receive it as well?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Players are currently reporting that they are finding the Epic Edition of the current addon World of Warcraft: Shadowlands on their accounts – just like that, as a gift. This is the most expensive version available for digital purchase, with tons of content.

The main points at a glance

We reveal in the video what awaits you in Dragonflight – in a concise 3 minutes:

Start video
Everything you need to know about the new WoW expansion “Dragonflight” in 3 minutes

Who receives the gift? According to current information, primarily former players worldwide are being gifted the Epic Edition. There are posts in various languages, including German.

Apparently, players who have not played for a while are primarily affected. MeinMMO has already asked Blizzard whether this is actually the case. However, the response is that there is currently no information available that they can share with us.

If you want to check if you are among the lucky ones, simply log in to the Battle.net desktop app. You should then be greeted directly with a gift or find a notification in the bell at the top right.

More about WoW on MeinMMO:

Shadowlands gifted – Will soon be included in the subscription anyway

What is behind the gifts? For some time now, the old expansions of WoW have simply been integrated into the subscription when a new addon is released. This is to allow new players to play up to the fresh content without having to buy many previous expansions first.

Since Dragonflight is set to be released in 2022, it is likely that they want to draw attention to the game once again and encourage former players to play. Soon, no one will have to buy Shadowlands anymore.

Many players are skeptical about Dragonflight – especially regarding whether Dragonflight is coming too soon. Rightly? We discuss the criticism in the podcast:

Recommended editorial content

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Link to the Spotify content

It is surprising that the most expensive digital version is being given away, which contains several goodies in addition to the base game:

  • A character boost to level 50, making your character ready for Shadowlands
  • The flying mount “Enchanted Everbloom”, which also starts a quest for the transmog set “Robe of the Eternal Traveler”
  • The cosmetic weapon illusion “Ghost Frost”
  • The Hearthstone of the Eternal Traveler
  • 30 days of additional playtime
  • The pet Animawyrmling

In our article, you will find all editions of Shadowlands compared.

Are you also among the lucky ones who have been gifted by Blizzard? Would you start again if you receive Shadowlands for free, or would you rather wait for Dragonflight? Let us know in the comments!

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

Player runs through 200 dungeons in Diablo Immortal – It calculates how often legendaries and set pieces drop

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 2 minutes

In Diablo Immortal, everything revolves around the next drop that elevates your build to a new level. But how well can Legendary and set pieces be found in dungeons? A player ran over 200 dungeons and noted the odds. We present his results on MeinMMO.

A player of Diablo Immortal has recorded his loot odds during dungeon runs over two weeks and shared his results on the discussion platform reddit (via reddit.com). After around 200 runs, the user “Competitive_Wear3354” calculated the following odds:

  • Loot Odds: Hell II Dungeons
    • Legendaries: about 2%
    • Set pieces: about 15%

Competitive_Wear3354 explains that dungeons are not particularly suitable for Legendaries. Instead, look for farm spots in the open world, even if some have been nerfed or are overcrowded.

Legendary gems also help with your build. More about the controversial items in the video:

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

How did the numbers come about? Competitive_Wear3354 ran over 200 dungeons in two weeks, noted all his loot successes, and converted them into odds.

He was able to gather some experiences:

  • In the various dungeons he ran, there was no significant difference in drop rates.
  • Competitive_Wear3354 says it’s more dependent on the “daily form.” Sometimes he found a set piece in 20% of the dungeons in a day, sometimes only in 10%.
  • He could not identify a loot cap that reduces the odds of set pieces or Legendaries.

Overall, he recorded about 800 drops of magical items during his 200 runs, averaging 4 per dungeon. About every 50 dungeons yielded a Legendary, and around every 7 dungeons a set piece.

More on the topic
Diablo Immortal: Change Difficulty – How to Get Stronger Loot
von Christos Tsogos

What should you farm in dungeons? Definitely not Legendaries. Dungeons are quite okay for gold and experience points. But they are almost only worth it for set pieces.

Sets give you strong effects, and the more you wear from a set, the better bonuses you receive. You could specifically run certain dungeons to hunt for the pieces.

Where to find the individual set pieces and what they can do, you can find in our extensive set overview for Diablo Immortal.

More about Diablo Immortal on MeinMMO:

Whether the odds change if you run the dungeons on other difficulty levels cannot be inferred from the statistics of Competitive_Wear3354.

But the average value gives a good impression of how often set pieces and Legendaries drop in dungeons.

If you are looking for more tips for your loot adventure, then check this out: The most important currency for free-to-play players in Diablo Immortal is running low – this is how you save properly

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

Why one of the biggest gaming YouTubers never wants to return to Twitch

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

With nearly 30 million subscribers, Seán “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin is one of the most popular YouTubers. His success as a Twitch streamer should be guaranteed. However, the 32-year-old does not want to go live anymore, as you can find out on MeinMMO.

Who is Seán “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin?

  • Jacksepticeye’s channel has amassed over 28 million followers since its launch in 2012, with videos generating over 15 billion views so far
  • In 2020, he ranked 8th among the highest-paid gamers worldwide
  • He primarily posts Let’s Plays and vlogs, and he is popular not least because of his humor
  • He engages in charitable causes and advocates for a more tolerant and open culture in gaming
  • As a Twitch streamer, he showcased Rust and Among Us, among others
  • In the popular podcast “Trash Taste,” he explains why he never wants to do that again.

In the video, we introduce the first successful streamers:

Start video
Twitch: Who were actually the first successful streamers?

“I’m afraid of going live.”

What’s behind it? Years of experience as a content creator, a large fan base, and a healthy dose of Irish humor. Jacksepticeye seemingly has all the prerequisites for a major career as a Twitch streamer.

Yet, that is exactly what the 32-year-old absolutely does not want. It’s certainly not due to fear of lack of success. Thousands of viewers followed Jacksepticeye’s streams of Among Us and also Rust in the past.

In the “Trash Taste Podcast,” which regularly reaches over 1 million views, McLoughlin explains why he avoids Twitch (via YouTube): He is his own biggest critic.

I find myself boring […] If someone says “I hate that,” even if it’s just one of 1000, I still see it and it ruins my entire mood.

Jacksepticeye in the Trash Taste Podcast

He can edit videos before publication, giving him more control over how he presents himself. This way, he can only show the highlights without the supposedly boring pauses in between. In a live stream, he constantly has the thought in the back of his mind that he has to please everyone. He calls himself a “People Pleaser.” And if negative opinions come up among the positive feedback, it’s all over for him.

With direct feedback, Seán should be familiar as a stand-up comedian. However, he finds it different. No matter what you say, it makes people laugh. Furthermore, nothing can easily be taken out of context and become uncomfortable.

On Twitch, “clips” are often made of streamers that simply show random scenes, usually without context. Here is the most popular clip on Twitch:

Start video
Twitch: This is the quirky story behind the most popular clip of all time

It’s all a matter of time

The 32-year-old is very busy. During his streaming days, Jacksepticeye sometimes streamed for 8 hours straight or into the early morning. He feels he can’t just go live for two hours. Additionally, it creates a conflict with other things he wants to do.

After all, he has his own clothing line with YouTube colleague Markiplier, sells his own coffee under “Top of the Mornin Coffee,” and recently released the documentary “How Did We Get Here?” in the spring. It depicts his journey from a lonely child in rural Ireland to a successful online personality.

More about YouTube and Twitch on MeinMMO:

Twitch has the disadvantage compared to YouTube that everything happens live. Nothing can simply be undone. Small mistakes can have big consequences, as a young professional recently had to find out:

Fortnite: 19-year-old pro destroys his career in 9 seconds – Greets a friend racially on Twitch

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

In one of the most successful new games of 2021, you play as girls who are somehow also racehorses

Marie Friske Marie Friske Reading time 3 minutes

The Japanese game “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” (PC, Android, iOS) is considered one of the most successful mobile games worldwide. The game features horse girls competing against each other in races. In 2021, the game generated over 937 million euros in revenue.

What is Uma Musume Pretty Derby? Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a mobile game developed by Cygames. It is marketed on Google Play as a training simulator.

On February 24, 2021, the game was released as a mobile game. A PC version followed on March 10, 2021. However, the game was only released in Japan.

In addition to the mobile game Uma Musume Pretty Derby, there is also an anime series and a manga set in the same universe. It thus constitutes an entire multimedia brand.

Here you can see the Japanese trailer for Uma Musume Pretty Derby:

Start video
Uma Musume Pretty Derby – Trailer of the crazy horse girl game

What is the focus of Uma Musume Pretty Derby? The game centers around human characters with animal traits – in this case, horse girls.

They compete against each other in races designed similarly to horse racing. Although the game is referred to as a “training simulator,” many players are likely more interested in the anime waifus in the game than the races themselves.

The term “waifu” refers to female characters in animes that represent archetypes of women or girls – and with whom players are meant to build an emotional connection.

What does the gameplay of Uma Musume Pretty Derby look like? The player assembles a team of different horse girls. They can spend time with the girls and train them to make them stronger and improve their chances of winning the races.

The characters have various stats that can be improved by the player: These stats include speed, strength, and wisdom.

A horse girl from the game, source: umamusume.jp

The game features various game modes. There is a story mode, as well as PvE and PvP elements. Similar to Genshin Impact, Uma Musume Pretty Derby is also a gacha game.

Here you can read what gacha game means.

Huge revenue, despite only being released in Japan

How successful is Uma Musume Pretty Derby? The revenue total in the release year 2021 speaks for the game Uma Musume Pretty Derby.

The website SensorTower analyzed its data and created an overview: It included the top mobile games in terms of global revenue in 2021. There were 8 games that earned over 1 billion US dollars in 2021. Uma Musume just barely missed this billion-dollar mark, landing in 9th place.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby achieved revenues exceeding 937 million euros from launch until December 14, 2021. It is important to note:

  • Uma Musume Pretty Derby launched only on February 24
  • It is only available in Japan

Note: With these limitations, the revenues are even more impressive and show how much money the controversial gacha games can bring in.

More about mobile games can be found here:

Will the game also have a global release? So far, no official global release date has been announced.

Are there more games like Uma Musume Pretty Derby? Uma Musume Pretty Derby is not the first game to feature hybrid female characters (as anime waifus). Azur Lane, a mobile game from 2017, already featured this unique concept.

In Azur Lane, it involves an alternate timeline of World War II. The characters in the game embody the various warships of different countries.

Here is another article on two popular husbandos in Genshin Impact.

What do you think of the game concept in Uma Musume Pretty Derby and Azur Lane? Feel free to let us know in the comments.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. sensortower.com
  2. noisypixel.net
  3. gamingonphone.com

Hunt Showdown: What happens when you die?

Mark Sellner Mark Sellner Reading time 3 minutes

The horror shooter Hunt: Showdown relies on a permadeath mechanic that allows you to theoretically lose everything if you die. How this works and why you can only theoretically lose everything is explained in this article.

How does death work in Hunt? First and foremost, we need to distinguish between death in the match and a truly permanent death in Hunt:

  • If you have teammates, you can still be revived and rescued
  • If you are alone in the match and die or cannot leave the round, you are permanently dead
  • Being dead does not mean you receive no experience; your bloodline still levels up

This means that the game is a little more challenging on its own, and you have several attempts in a group before it’s truly over for you. How this works exactly and why you still make progress no matter what happens will be explained below.

This means your permanent death

When am I really dead? Permanently dead status occurs when you die alone in a match or receive the “You are dead” screen and the sound takes on a dull tone. From that moment on, your character, also known as Hunter, is considered to have died permanently and cannot be rescued.

What happens next is quickly explained: You lose everything that the Hunter had with him, as well as the character himself. For the round that you didn’t survive, you will only receive half of the bloodline experience.

See the trailer for Hunt: Showdown here:

Start video
Hunt: Showdown Launch Trailer

What is bloodline experience? The bloodline defines your match-overarching progress in Hunt: Showdown. Whether you lose a match and die or emerge alive from the fight, you receive experience points on your bloodline for what you did in the game.

This raises your bloodline level from 1 to 100. By leveling up in the bloodline, you unlock new abilities, weapons, and equipment that you can then use with new Hunters. This is the only type of safe progress in Hunt: Showdown.

You can still be revived in a team

How does death work in the match? Now it gets a bit more complicated. The prerequisite for everything that follows is that you play in a team of two or three. If you die alone in a round, there is only the permanent death described above.

If you die as a team, however, you can be revived. However, this does not work indefinitely and is determined by the number of your health bars. This can vary from Hunter to Hunter. Overall, a Hunter has 150 health points, while the left health bar always accounts for 50 health points. The remaining 100 are divided into either 50 or 25 health bars.

With each death in the match, you permanently lose the bar on the far right. In the worst-case scenario, you have three large bars and can thus only be revived twice. In the best case, however, you have five bars (the large one on the left and four small ones on the right) and can thus get back up four times.

Between your Hunter and your weapon, you can see the health bars of your Hunter

If you exceed this number, you are permanently dead, and the scenario described above occurs. However, if you manage to make it out of the match alive after death, you can sacrifice the experience points of your Hunter to refill your missing health bars and start fit into the next round.

Recruit new Hunters and continue playing

What happens after death? If you lose your Hunter, that’s not the end of the world. To continue playing, you can simply recruit a new Hunter and start the next match. If you ever run out of money, the left Hunter is always free. This is basically your joker when nothing else works.

After each match, even if you win, you can reload the recruitment page and get new Hunters presented to you if the current ones do not appeal to you.

More about Hunt: Showdown on MeinMMO:

Tip for beginners: If you’ve been wondering what the hell I’m talking about, you are probably below level 10. Because until you have completed bloodline level 10, you are under a kind of puppy protection.

If you die, you simply lose nothing at all. You just need to refill your Hunter’s health bars, but you still keep him in your repertoire. But be cautious, because once you reach level 11, this Hunter is also lost if you come up short in the Bayou.

To help you win your first rounds, we have prepared the best 6 weapons and loadouts for beginners.

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

MMORPG closes its prison server where cheaters were locked up – But that is now causing serious problems

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 2 minutes

In EverQuest 2, a special server was established in 2015, where cheaters were banned. However, Drunder has now been deleted – with consequences. Accounts there have been permanently banned, but not every player was really a cheater.

What kind of server was that? Drunder was referred to by the developers themselves as a “prison server”. Since 2015, all the accounts that have broken the rules of EverQuest 2 are banned there.

Banned accounts could only play on this server and continue their lives there, albeit without Game Masters, without customer service, and in the presence of other cheaters. A subscription was still required. The inmates therefore continued to pay for their gaming experience.

What has happened now? Daybreak Games, the developers of EverQuest 2, have closed Drunder. All characters and accounts that had accumulated on this server have been permanently banned. However, this had some consequences:

  • On one hand, the entire Daybreak account of the players was banned. This also affects games like DC Universe Online or Planetside 2, even though they may have played there for years without cheating.
  • On the other hand, innocent players were also affected, who had consciously transferred their characters to this server to continue playing with their cheating friends. These players also lost all access.
Start video
5 old MMORPGs that are still actively played

Players are angry at Daybreak, but there is hope

How are players reacting to this? In the end, only about 1,000 accounts are said to be affected, as EQ2Wire reported on Twitter. There was no significant outcry outside the EverQuest bubble, as the closure of Drunder already occurred on July 1.

However, in the Discord for the MMORPG, there were some players expressing disappointment. They wished for an early announcement about the closure of the server so that they could react and create a ticket. This would likely have spared the developers many discussions.

Some also criticize that while players were cheaters, they still had fun with EverQuest 2 for years. Their enjoyment has now been ruined.

More about MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

What do the developers say? They point out that players were warned when transferring to Drunder that this was a “One Way” ticket. At the announcement back then, it said (via DayBreak):

There is no customer service for Drunder and a membership is required to gain access and play. Instead of disturbing the live servers to join the “prison server,” players can use our /petition system to request to join Drunder. To be clear: You will not be able to move individual characters to this server while keeping characters of the same account on another server. This is a “One Way” ticket for an entire account forever.

However, players who did not cheat should contact customer service. If it is determined that they were wrongly banned, the account will be restored. However, players must create a new account to submit a ticket.

What do you think about the concept of prison servers? And is it right to suddenly be banned even though one has had fun with a game for years?

In another MMORPG, many permanently banned players have now been unbanned:

MMORPG suddenly lifts permanent bans – Is it due to low player numbers?

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

New Anime MMORPG on Steam lets you explore the world flying – Releasing in August

Anny Anny Reading time 2 minutes

Aero Tales Online is an MMORPG in anime graphics. Starting from August 2, 2022, you can play it for free on Steam.

The developers Anisage Games recently announced that Aero Tales Online will be released on Steam and will enter Early Access in August. Additionally, you can download a mobile version of the MMORPG via Google Play.

What kind of game is this? In Aero Tales Online, you create a character and enter an anime world in a fantasy setting. The MMORPG focuses equally on PvP and PvE. The graphics look somewhat like the game is a few years older.

These features are promised by the developers:

Here you can watch the official trailer:

Start video
Official Trailer of the MMORPG Aero Tales Online: The World

What other features does it offer? If you do not want to fight permanently, you can take a look at the more relaxing features of Aero Tales Online:

  • Decorate your own house
  • Farming
  • Making music
  • Marrying your in-game partner

Who is the game suitable for? Aero Tales Online is suitable for fans of anime graphics, but do not expect a look on the level of Genshin Impact. The system requirements are correspondingly low, which may be convenient for some.

Additionally, through Aero Tales Online, you can find out which combat style suits you better. With the ability to switch between tab-target and action combat, you have a direct comparison.

Since the MMORPG is still in development, you should be patient if a few bugs arise.

More about MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

What do you think about Aero Tales Online? Have you heard about it before? Do you plan to try it out even though the graphics are not the latest? Do you generally like anime graphics, or do you prefer something darker and less colorful? Feel free to write it in the comments here on MeinMMO!

If you are looking for more anime MMORPGs, check here.

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

The most important currency for Free2Play players in Diablo Immortal is getting scarce – Here is how to save properly

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Diablo Immortal floods you with rewards and a multitude of different currencies, each serving a different purpose. One of them seemed inexhaustible at first, but the influx will soon end. You need them to purchase emblems.

What is this currency? Hilt is a type of supplementary currency to gold. Unlike platinum, you cannot buy it directly, but only receive it through playing, similar to gold.

With Hilt, you can purchase special items from the special Hilt vendor in Westmark. The currency is especially important for free-to-play players.

Why is this currency so important? The vendor sells you items that as a free-to-play player you can only obtain in limited quantities, as well as items that actually fall under the loot limits:

  • Legendary emblems
  • Legendary and normal gemstones
  • Rare emblems
  • Random legendary items
  • Crafting materials
  • Spells

Many of these items can only be purchased once a month or are limited per week. Especially the legendary emblems and the gemstone are important here, as they are some of the few ways to reliably obtain legendary gemstones for free.

What exactly the gemstones are about and how to obtain them can be seen in the video:

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

Hilt are getting scarce – How to save correctly

Why is the currency getting scarce? At the beginning of Diablo Immortal, you will be flooded with Hilt as a new player. This is because the reward for most achievements as well as for mastering challenge portals is Hilt.

However, achievements are unique or become increasingly difficult to obtain, just like higher-level portals. This means you will receive less Hilt the longer you play. Later, your only reliable sources will be the Battle Pass and some quests of the Shadow faction.

Once you have completed the Battle Pass, you will even receive fewer Hilt rewards than during the regular level-ups in the pass. The upcoming update is supposed to improve the Battle Pass, but how it will look and when it will come is still unclear.

More on the topic
Diablo Immortal is 1 month old – How is the controversial mobile MMO doing now?
von Benedict Grothaus

How can I save? If you have already reached the endgame and completed many of the achievements, you should start only buying specific items. As Diablo YouTuber DM: Diablo Immortal explains (via YouTube), your priority at the Hilt vendor:

  1. The legendary emblem once a month
  2. The second legendary emblem if you are Immortal
  3. Rare emblems

These items are the most important to maintain your grind. You will always need them to obtain better loot from elder portals and to improve your legendary gemstones. This will enhance your combat rating and your resonance, the key factors for becoming stronger.

Normal and legendary gemstones should only be purchased if you are really sure that you still have enough Hilt left for all other important items in the coming weeks.

Legendary items are not worth it at all, as you can farm them better. This works through grinding in dungeons, rifts, or in the open world. The same goes for spells and crafting materials.

Despite the many criticisms, Diablo Immortal actually has some good approaches that MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus would love to see in the sequel:

I want Diablo 4 to be like Diablo Immortal

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

Streamer sees himself as “The Face of Twitch” – But a European will probably be Streamer of the Year 2022

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

The streamer Félix “xQc” Lengyel sees himself as “the face of Twitch” in a tier list of the best streamers. However, he comes up empty in the “Streamer of the Year” nominations for 2022.

What’s this about being “the face of Twitch?”

  • The term “the face of Twitch” is an unofficial title for the current most successful, trending, and relevant streamer. It means something like: This is Twitch’s figurehead. This is the person you think of first when talking about Twitch streamers.
  • The title was first claimed by DrDisrespect: He revolutionized Twitch with his persona as a mustachioed character. But in 2018, he was overtaken by Ninja, who greatly benefited from Fortnite and brought Twitch into the mainstream. Already in 2019, however, shroud took over, a veteran of the platform. He was again a “classic streamer.”
  • Then shroud and Ninja moved away from Twitch, and a new generation took the reins in December 2019: In recent years, xQc has been the most successful and largest streamer on Twitch and thus “somehow” the face of the streaming service. xQc primarily attracted a young audience and took Twitch quite a bit away from gaming towards an entertainment niche with his reaction streams.

These were the former “faces of Twitch” before the term existed.

Start video
Twitch: Who were actually the first successful streamers?

xQc says: These 4 people are “the face of Twitch”

This was the tier list: The streamer xQc created a tier list about 3 weeks ago of who he thinks belongs at the top of Twitch.

Among those at the highest level, the “face of Twitch,” the streamer counted:

In further spots, in the A-Tier, well-known names like Ludwig, Sodapoppin, DrDisrespect, or shroud came.

The master proudly surveys his work:

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Link to the Twitch content

How was the list received? The list was intensely discussed in the English-speaking Twitch community:

  • Pokimane is somewhat annoyed that she only appeared in the “B-Tier” as the first woman – and she has always been nice to xQc, even inviting him over and letting him use her bathroom.
  • The political streamer Hasan saw it as a personal attack that he only made it to the B-Tier and created his own “I could punch him” tier list, clearly placing xQc as a victim.
  • Strangely enough, DrDisrespect is also on the list, who is no longer even found on Twitch.
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These are the 12 nominees for the “Streamer of the Year” – xQc is not on the list.

Nominations for “Streamer of the Year 2022” are more diverse

What is xQc surprised about now? The problem with the list is that it focuses purely on the English-speaking area and does not take any non-English-speaking streams into account. As a result, xQc has now confronted a reality check.

At the “Esports Awards,” the “Streamer of the Year” is honored. This is a relatively coveted award, which the Spaniard Ibai won in the last two years. Previously, streamers like DrDisrespect or Tyler “Ninja” Blevins received it.

However, this list of nominees for the award is significantly more diverse than xQc’s:

  • With QTCinderella and Valkyrae, there are two women on the list
  • With Ibai, TheGrefg (both Spanish), Gaules (Portuguese) and Kameto (French), there are 4 people on the list who do not stream in English
  • With shooter specialist Tarik, there is also a player on the list who plays no role in xQc’s world
twitch-ibai
The Spaniard Ibai has won the award for Streamer of the Year in 2020 and 2021. For many, he is “the face of Twitch.”

How does xQc react to these nominations? He is quite astonished when he sees the names of the nominees and searches in vain for his own.

He is particularly annoyed that “Tyler1” is found on the list.

xQc solemnly states that he doesn’t care about not being nominated for such lists but that it hurts him visibly that Tyler1 is on the list and he is not.

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Spaniard Ibai is a strong favorite to be awarded Streamer of the Year again in 2022

How is this list discussed? On reddit, there is a general consensus that the Spaniard “Ibai” will surely win the election and snag the award for the third consecutive time: He simply has too many fans, as he recently proved with a big event.

That xQc is not on the list despite being so successful may be due to his tendency towards gambling streams, it is believed. This could significantly reduce his nomination chances.

What’s behind this: The development underscores that there is no longer “a single face of Twitch” as the platform has become too diverse.

The English-speaking Twitch is only part of the global Twitch – in various countries, local scenes are developing, especially the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking scene is growing enormously.

It’s a bit sad that no streamer who streams in German made it onto the list. Because the streaming landscape has also changed in Germany:

After 4 years, Germany has a new largest Twitch streamer – Berliner has finally overtaken MontanaBlack

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

Pokémon GO: 6 Years After Release, Trainers Will Soon Be Able to Chat with Each Other – What We Know About Campfire

Franzi Korittke Franzi Korittke Reading time 5 minutes

Trainers of Pokémon GO can soon look forward to a long-awaited chat feature. We at MeinMMO have taken a look at what “Campfire” is all about and spoke with Philip Marz about when this app is expected to be available for all players.

What kind of function is it about? Trainers in Pokémon GO have been wishing for an in-game chat or another way to communicate with each other for years. Such a function does not yet exist in the game, which is why players have to resort to other platforms like WhatsApp, Discord, or Facebook to make arrangements.

Especially for raiding together, but also to build friendships or exchange Pokémon, it is important to be connected. But now Niantic wants to finally remedy this and has announced a new app: Campfire.

We at MeinMMO talked to Philip Marz, Head of Regional Marketing Pokémon GO (EMEA), during the GO Fest in Berlin, and had Campfire explained to us. Everything we need to know about the new app and when it is expected to be available for everyone is summarized for you below.

Campfire – All Information about the new App from Niantic

What is Campfire? Campfire is a standalone app from Niantic, the developers of Pokémon GO, and is intended to facilitate communication between players of all Niantic games in the future.

What can Campfire do? As Niantic has already communicated on their website, Campfire is intended to cover the social component of their games in the future. It is meant to help trainers “find new people, places, and experiences in their area” and connect with local communities. The following features are planned:

  • Find local communities / players nearby
  • Join communities
  • Add and manage Niantic friends
  • Send group messages
  • Send direct messages
  • Display and plan joint activities
  • Send signals on a map for others

With the help of these functions, you should have the opportunity to exchange messages with other players, announce raids, and share photos and locations with friends. The networking of users across all Niantic games is intended to be possible.

This is also confirmed by Philip Marz in the interview. He highlights the functionality and possibilities of Campfire as follows:

There will be both the opportunity to find communities nearby to then arrange group activities like raids together. There will also be the opportunity to exchange messages to then essentially engage in direct dialogue.

Philip Marz

In the following image, you can see initial impressions of the graphics and functionality of the Campfire app:

Insights into Campfire (via nianticlabs.com)

When can you use Campfire?

After there was a beta phase for Ingress Prime, another Niantic game, in recent months, worldwide tests in Pokémon GO are now planned. Selected groups of trainers in specific regions will have the opportunity to try out Campfire. You will find out which regions those will be on Niantic’s social channels.

When will Campfire be available for everyone? Of course, many trainers are looking forward to finally being able to chat with other players, so we asked Philip Marz this question in the interview and wanted to know when a release of Campfire is expected.

However, he could not give us an exact date. One reason for this is the feedback from the test groups, which they want to wait for in order to potentially adjust the product. He says:

The exact timing of when Campfire will be rolled out widely to the entire Pokémon GO community is not yet defined at this time. We are currently in the testing phase, of course, we are trying to implement all the experiences we are having and the feedback being shared, to provide the best possible experience.

Philip Marz

So when it will finally be possible for us to contact other trainers or search for communities nearby remains to be seen for the moment. If there are any new updates on this, you will naturally find out from us at MeinMMO.

More about Pokémon GO:

Niantic’s Ambition for Campfire and Pokémon GO

In the interview with Philip Marz, it becomes clear that Niantic aims to cater to the different interests and ambitions of players with the release of Campfire. Above all, having a single point of contact for the various functions is, according to Marz, an advantage and significantly improves Pokémon GO. He tells us in the conversation:

Campfire will fundamentally elevate the experience of Pokémon GO to a very, very positive next level. Also, in our ambition, we say the metaverse of Niantic is something where the focus still takes place in the real world. But through these digital and, in our case, augmented reality experiences, we can present this in a much more multifaceted way.
And Campfire contributes to this, where it is no longer the case that I can or must do everything separately in individual groups. And first have to figure out how to ultimately find the people in my area who share this passion? Instead, I have a product, everything is integrated, and I can access this […] very easily anytime I want and benefit from it. And if I don’t want to, that’s perfectly fine too. But I have everything really in one tool, in one app.

Philip Marz

In doing so, Niantic wants to make Pokémon GO even broader and positively expand it through such features. According to Marz, the developers are not only looking at a product life cycle of 5 to 10 years, as is common with other mobile games, but see Pokémon GO itself as a so-called “Forever Game”:

This will also meet our ambition, and we have seen it over the past six years. Pokémon GO has continuously evolved, and while the content is naturally limited, we have the opportunity to draw on a very, very broad portfolio of features that we can use to expand the gaming experience and adapt to very individual needs. We have already seen that PvP is of course a topic, there are those who only want to catch and collect. Some others are more focused on social issues. There are those who combine both. And here we are genuinely taking the path to say we want to make Pokémon GO even broader. For us, in our ambition, it is called a Forever Game.

So the birthday is next week, and then we will be entering the seventh year. So you can tell that more than half of the regular time has already passed. Our ambition goes much further. And this also requires us to broaden our features. And that is definitely something we are doing with Campfire.

Philip Marz

How Pokémon GO will continue and whether the game will actually become a “Forever Game” as the developers envision, will show time.

How do you find the planned app to finally communicate with each other? Will you download Campfire as soon as it becomes available? Or do you find it totally uninteresting? Please feel free to share your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers about it.

By the way, Niantic is hosting a special anniversary event for the 6th birthday of Pokémon GO with cool new costumes and a Rocket weekend. We will show you all the content of the event.

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

One thing Modern Warfare 2 must take from Warzone – Then it will be the hit of the year

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 5 minutes

MeinMMO author Maik Schneider has been covering Call of Duty for us for over 2.5 years. During this time, the shooter series has changed, primarily due to the successful Battle Royale Warzone. Above all, Maik appreciates one development in the ‘new CoD’, and if the responsible parties continue the Warzone path, Modern Warfare 2 could become a milestone.

Top graphics, refreshing gameplay ideas, few bugs, and please no World War II – this is probably the typical requirement profile for a new Call of Duty at the moment.

CoD 2022 is called Modern Warfare 2 and aims to fulfill all these desires.

There is one thing I want to add to this wish list. A ‘feature’ that Call of Duty has neglected for years: direct communication with players.

This one thing makes Warzone so much better than all the other CoD games. You can think what you want of the Battle Royale, but the communication between player and developer has developed greatly in recent years.

I have been playing Call of Duty regularly for 14 years now, know every title at least superficially, and some have even been played to death until they were no longer enjoyable. What I have rarely or never experienced is a healthy relationship between the developers and the community of the largest shooter franchise.

This is so important, and Warzone currently shows how this can function properly. If Modern Warfare 2 takes a cue from this, the latest CoD game could actually usher in a new era for the series.

I will discuss how CoD MW2 could benefit from a better feedback culture and how Warzone is currently implementing this successfully.

If you want to take a look at the gameplay of CoD MW2 first, you can find here in the video almost a complete mission from the campaign:

Start video
CoD: Modern Warfare 2 shows gameplay of a full level – looks more realistic than ever before

Become the biggest fans of your own community!

If you ask me today whether CoD MW2 will be a hit, I would give a clear: definitely. Even if shooter colleague Marko Jevtic wouldn’t fully agree with me.

Cold War and Vanguard simply couldn’t escape the large shadow of CoD MW 2019, and Modern Warfare seems to be exactly the right setting again.

In terms of graphics and shooter gameplay, I have no worries. Call of Duty regularly delivers top performances.

What could make it a milestone, what could even make it the best Call of Duty ever, is the communication and feedback strategy of Warzone.

Warzone celebrates its fans, pays much more attention to feedback today, and this is also noticeable in the changes to the game.

I wish for more of this, and that’s why I can finally recommend Warzone to my friends and fellow players again:

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von Maik Schneider

Warzone found the right way

I do not want to claim that the communication in Warzone between developer and player is perfect. Not at all. Topics like the “Field of View” settings on consoles and “Skill-Based Matchmaking” still cause a lot of frustration today.

And the first 1.5 years of Warzone were marked by “secret” changes to the game, little communication, and a lot of closedness. But then suddenly something changed, which I want to illustrate with three examples:

  • Experts for their own gameplay meta
  • Explanation of the thoughts behind changes
  • Gameplay decisions over community

Experts for their own gameplay meta

It sounds completely absurd, but in the first year of Warzone, the adjustments to the weapons were sometimes very arbitrary. Strong meta-weapons weren’t nerfed for a long time, and generally, there was rather little change to the weapons.

Then, almost overnight, the changes suddenly made sense. I remember an analysis by CoD expert “TheXclusiveAce” who said in a video about Warzone: “I think they hired someone who is now taking care of this”.

Since then, we receive detailed patch notes, regular weapon adjustments, and it is noticeable that Warzone is intensively dealing with weapon balance and the corresponding player feedback.

More on the topic
CoD Warzone: The best weapons with setups – Meta in Mid-Season 5 / October 2022
von Maik Schneider

Explanation of the thoughts behind changes

The developers now regularly explain their thoughts behind changes in the patch notes for Warzone. They even reveal their long-term strategy. Currently, the changes in the Battle Royale are based on three pillars:

  • More counters
    • All mechanics should have corresponding counter gameplay
  • More movement
    • You should move forward faster, and movement techniques will be expanded
  • More playtime
    • The time you spend watching in the match should be reduced

A clear message to all players about how things will proceed. Something to potentially look forward to. Communicating such thoughts helps us players to understand decisions and gives us a glimpse into the future.

Gameplay decisions over community

The preliminary peak of Warzone’s feedback culture: A player survey on Twitter that actually had an impact on the game.

The developers asked whether players want more health points in Warzone. It was about an increase of 50 health points, which would raise the health with armor to 300.

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With over 75,000 votes, nearly 72% of participants voted for an increase, which then came into play with the Mid-Season 2 – first for the large Battle Royale and later also for the modes with fewer players.

Such a feedback culture brings us as players closer to the development process, creating connection and understanding.

One player has particularly caught my attention positively: Ted Timmins, the Senior Creative Director of Warzone developer Raven Software. Time and again, he has been seen participating in contentious discussions in the past few months and providing clarifications.

More about Call of Duty on MeinMMO:

If CoD MW2 flops, the entire series wobbles

The Call of Duty community has always been used to receiving little to no answers. In the past, the authorities rarely responded to the concerns of players, especially after the game had been released.

The low willingness to communicate from the authorities is also one reason why the CoD community has developed into a rather toxic direction. No official instance has even attempted to do anything against these trends in the community. If anything, only the ban hammer spoke.

With CoD Vanguard, this “disconnection” recently reached a preliminary peak. The setting in World War II went far past the wishes of many players, and the zombie mode was torn apart by the otherwise so engaged zombie community.

More on the topic
Call of Duty loses 50 million players in a year – What is going so wrong?
von Maik Schneider

With Warzone, Call of Duty has proven that the responsible parties can respond to feedback. They even use it to shape and improve the Battle Royale.

And it is high time for the premium titles to adopt this behavior from Warzone. Vanguard already showed this in parts. However, due to the overwhelming negative feedback on the game, the willingness to communicate after release quickly declined again.

Although Vanguard was not a flop, it sold excellently compared to other games. But it was weaker than Cold War. And Cold War was already quite a bit lower than CoD MW 2019.

More on the topic
Call of Duty: Vanguard is only half as relevant at release as Modern Warfare – Where is the hype?
von Maik Schneider

If Modern Warfare 2 does not achieve the turnaround, Call of Duty will quickly be seen as a problem franchise at Activision again, similar to after Black Ops 4, the CoD from 2018. And suddenly, the important annual premium releases are at risk.

I truly believe that the key to success lies in engaging more with us players, actively moderating feedback, and discussing ideas to improve the game together with us. Especially if there really is no CoD 2023.

Then I might even believe the authorities this year when they say: “Experience the new generation of Call of Duty.” Then CoD MW2 will be the hit of the year!

I also want to know your opinion on the topic. Discuss my thesis about the new CoD in the comments or tell me what, in your opinion, should not be missing in CoD MW2.

If you want to inform yourself about the announced innovations of Modern Warfare 2 now, then take a look here: The 5 most important innovations in CoD MW2 and why I can only think of Warzone 2

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

New Champion Eats LoL – Bel’Veth is considered a “Hyper-Carry”, has absurdly high ban rate

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In League of Legends, there is a new champion, Bel’Veth, who is played in the jungle. Currently, she has the highest ban rate of all champions in the game: This indicates that she is a champion that players simply do not want to play against. The jungler is considered someone who can determine the outcome of a game on her own. Some already refer to her as a ‘Hyper Carry’.

How do you measure the strongest champ in LoL? It is difficult to say, who the strongest champ in LoL is, because heroes in different roles can have a completely different impact on the game, and therefore individual statistics do not always tell the full story.

Good indicators are, however, a high win rate and a high pick/ban rate: How often is a champion banned? How often is he played?

All these values suggest that the new champion in LoL, Bel’Veth, is significantly stronger than Riot Games assumed.

She is quite a nasty killer:

Start video
LoL explains the skills of the new jungler Bel’Veth in the trailer – 2 forms and infinite attack speed

Bel’Veth is banned almost twice as often as the second-worst heroine

In which statistic does Bel’Veth excel? Bel’Veth has by far the highest ban rate in LoL.

With 61.69%, she is almost twice as high as the second-most banned champion, Yuumi (31.02%). Only a few champions have a ban rate beyond 25%: Besides Yuumi and Bel’Veth, there are also Zed and Yasuo.

The statistic refers to all regions and all ranks in 5vs5.

People either do not want to play against a too strong Bel’Veth on the opposing team, or they do not want their own inexperienced teammate to choose Bel’Veth just because she is new, then possibly messing up the game.

However, since Bel’Veth also has a win rate of 53.15%, much indicates that the champion is feared.

More on the topic
The new champion of League of Legends can attack infinitely fast – theoretically
von Benedict Grothaus

What makes the heroine so strong? As the site Dexerto writes, many compare Bel’Veth with the hero ‘Master Yi’ at the beginning of LoL. She acts like a hyper-carry. Through her constant DPS, her mobility, and her ability to avoid damage, she forces opponents to keep her in check. Otherwise, Bel’Veth simply devours them.

Especially the item ‘Kraken Slayer’ is said to significantly enhance her and make Bel’Veth a force in the Rift, which players apparently have great respect for: With the item, attack speed is accelerated, and damage accumulates for a ‘True Damage’ hit.

A “Hyper Carry” is considered a champion who has such a constant and high damage output at the end game that he almost certainly wins team fights as long as his teammates keep him alive. He is like a “ticking time bomb” that goes off if no one defuses it early enough (via reddit).

What is Riot doing? Riot Games has already attempted to limit Bel’Veth’s dominance with initial nerfs when her win rate approached “55%”. This is then considered “much too strong”.

But apparently, even Riot Games could not stop the Queen of the Void. She is hungry.

A few weeks ago, Bel’Veth was already considered feared, especially in the “Low Elo” area:

In LoL, a champion is currently dominating Low-Elo – What makes him so strong?

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

New MMORPG Pantheon is a great hope for PvE fans – Promises 15 “Two Hours” dungeons at release

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 2 minutes

The MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is a major hope for many PvE fans. It promises a focus on group content, massive bosses, and aims to bring back the feel of the old MMORPGs like EverQuest. In a new video, the developers spoke for nearly an hour solely about the topic of dungeons.

What is special about the dungeons? Pantheon is set to launch with 15 dungeons. This number may slightly change before the final release, but 15 is the developers’ goal.

However, players shouldn’t sign up for the dungeons through an interface and complete them with a random group in a few minutes. Instead, the game leans more towards “Old School” games, where dungeons are something special and challenging:

  • The game is designed so that players should plan for at least two to three hours of playtime for big successes. This also applies to dungeons. Some may take a bit longer or shorter, and the travel time to the instances also plays a role, but everything should roughly align with this time frame.
  • There will be entry requirements, such as specific keys for the dungeons. Additionally, there will be requirements within the dungeons, such as a certain skill in climbing, as players won’t progress otherwise.
  • The dungeons will generally have a beginning and an end, but the path in between will offer various possibilities. This includes secrets that can be discovered but also overlooked.
  • In a dungeon, you can reach certain “safe spots.” Here, new players can be summoned into the dungeon if necessary. However, the summoned player must have already been to this spot themselves.
  • There will be no “easy mode.” Dungeons are meant to be difficult, and players must carefully consider which groups to pull and how to keep enemies in CC.

You can listen to the complete roundtable about the dungeons here:

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Pantheon is the hope for PvE fans

What makes Pantheon so special? Generally, the new MMORPG focuses on PvE. It impressed during a crowdfunding campaign in 2014. The core features of the game are:

  • There will be 14 different classes at launch.
  • Exploration is intended to play a significant role in the game world and the dungeons.
  • There will be a climbing system that allows players to explore the world vertically.
  • Players will need others for most content and cannot experience everything alone.

More about new MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

Where does Pantheon currently stand? In December 2021, it was announced, that 2022 would be spent preparing the game for an alpha and conducting it within the same year – but whether this will actually happen seems questionable.

Because there hasn’t been much cohesive gameplay so far.

We have taken a closer look at the current state of Pantheon here:

Pantheon is the hope for fans of “real” PvE MMORPGs – Where does it stand in 2022?

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

Destiny 2 brings cool statue for 110 € – But it would be even cooler if it screamed at me when I fail

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

Destiny 2 will again sell a large hand-painted statue in collaboration with numskull. This is the temperamental and unbridled PvP overseer “Shaxx”. But despite its detailed modeling, it lacks an important feature.

What feature is missing? Lord Shaxx is known for his temperamental character. He encourages Guardians in the Crucible, the PvP of Destiny 2, with his shouting and rewards them with loud words from time to time. Basically, it is a wonder that players can still hear anything after a round in PvP.

Despite his loudness, Shaxx is very popular among Guardians. Perhaps this is the reason why Bungie has now chosen him and dedicated a 30 cm large statue in collaboration with “numskull”. The piece is hand-painted and costs a proud 110 €.

Destiny-2-Statue-Lord-Shaxx
This is what the 30cm statue of Lord Shaxx looks like.

But even though the statue looks damn good, it lacks an important feature: namely that distinct shout of the PvP coach. If the statue could shout and motivate you during your matches, it would be even cooler and perhaps even worth considering for purchase. Especially since Lord Shaxx’s motivating shout in Destiny 2 has already been honored in special ways elsewhere.

Lord Shaxx has his own training CD in Destiny 2

We already reported on Shaxx in March 2020. At that time, clever Guardians spotted a training CD in Zavala’s office. With this, Guardians can interact to listen to Shaxx’s motivating speeches. If you have overlooked the CD until today, you can go to Zavala’s office.

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von Philipp Hansen

Where is the training CD? Directly to the left of the entrance, at the top, almost unreachable, there are some dumbbells and the mixtape in a shelf. To activate the cool beat of the workout soundtrack, you have to jump very high and quickly interact with the tape.

If you can’t find the tape but still want to listen to the music, we have incorporated Shaxxercise, which Commander Zavala apparently trains to regularly.

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The full-length video

Even though the tape has no real use and players can only interact with it, the action was celebrated. Such Easter eggs are well received by the community and show the fans of the loot shooter that Bungie also wants to put a smile on players’ faces outside of the story.

Recently, Bungie even fulfilled the community’s wish that Banshee-44 should permanently tinker with the exotic weapon Telesto, as it is worthy of the Queen of Bugs. However, it is still uncertain whether that was really a good idea.

More about Destiny 2 can be found here:

If Bungie had implemented Shaxx’s mixtape into the statue, the 30 cm large model would have been complete. Nevertheless, the hand-painted, imposing Shaxx statue looks good. If you are looking for something to boost your PvP spirit, you can place the statue next to your TV or monitor. Even serious looks can motivate.

What do you think of Shaxx? Do you think it’s cool that Bungie includes such Easter eggs in the game, and do you also find it a pity that the statue doesn’t talk? Feel free to leave us a comment about it.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Shaxx-Statue
  2. gamesradar

In FIFA 22, average players are now better than real legends like Miroslav Klose – that can’t be true.

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 4 minutes

Icons are among the best cards in FIFA 22 – or at least they should be. But too many legends simply fall behind compared to other players.

The problem with the icons: Ronaldo, Maradona, Pelé, Cruyff, Ronaldinho, and more – yes, there are some icons in FIFA 22 that still have it.

The problem is: Compared to the “top icons,” there are unfortunately many legends in FIFA 22 that simply cannot keep up.

Alessandro Nesta. Dennis Bergkamp. Michael Owen. Ruud van Nistelrooy. Frank Lampard. Miroslav Klose. Raúl, Ballack, Schweinsteiger. The list of illustrious names that currently barely play a role in FIFA 22 is long.

Because although these players have achieved great things in their careers, their strong playing style simply does not translate well into the game. Andrea Pirlo, for example, was a fantastic passer and playmaker, but due to his low pace, he is only second-class in FIFA 22.

FIFA 22 Miroslav Klose
Top striker in real life, but not in FIFA: Miroslav Klose

Similar is true for Klose: A deadly striker who simply does not exude the same threat in FIFA 22 as the real World Cup record holder did on the field. With 71 goals, he holds the record for international goals in the German national team, and no one has yet topped his 16 goals in World Cups.

Furthermore, icons are also very hard to obtain. You need extremely good luck to pull them – and if you’re unlucky, you only get them when they can no longer keep up. If at all.

On the other hand, there are players who may not excel in real life but are among the most popular cards in FIFA 22.

Atal & Co. show: The legends need revamping in FIFA 23

In FIFA 22, there are some players who are extremely popular in Ultimate Team. This is due to particularly great stats, high pace or skill stats, body types, and more.

Take, for example, the “FUT Fantasy” card of Allan Saint-Maximin. The Frenchman is undoubtedly a talented, good player in real life. But should he really have a card worth 2,600,000 coins that is better than most attackers in the game – including legends?

In the recently concluded Premier League season, he scored five goals and provided five assists for Newcastle. That’s okay, but not outstanding.

Another example: Youcef Atal from OGC Nice. The right back is also good, but not really exceptional. His new Shapeshifters card is, however, one of the best midfield cards in FIFA.

FIFA 22 Atal
One of the best players in FIFA 22: Atal

Other meta players in FIFA come to mind, such as Varane, Joe Gomez, the special card of Nabil Fekir, Vinicius Junior, or even the new Hero Shapeshifter card of David Ginola, which is among the absolute best in the game.

FIFA 22 Ginola
“Heroes” are actually categorized under “icons” – but Ginola is currently perhaps the best attacker

All of these are good, some even great players – but should they really be better than most of the icons?

What could change? Year by year, special cards in Ultimate Team become stronger, numerous events bring superstar after superstar. This has already devalued the Team of the Week significantly – and the icons simply cannot keep up at times.

This is also being discussed in the FIFA subreddit. There, a player named “reznovelty” writes: “With all this power creep, I hope icons really get a boost next year. Honestly, just make the Prime Icon Moments 95+ with crazy stats. At least they are real icons and not just any guys like Atal (no offense, Atal, if you’re reading this)” (via reddit).

In the discussion, however, the counterpoint is also raised: “On the flip side, the performance curve needs to be massively lowered,” says a user (via reddit).

Start video
FIFA 22: 10 helpful tips that will improve your gameplay

Another suggests leaving the power curve as it is – but adjusting the entire rating system and starting the season with lower values (via reddit): “You can do the same promo schedule next year, but if you just started with base cards being 5 overall points lower, the curve would be much less severe.”

Additionally, a reworking of currently outmatched icon cards is conceivable. Then icons like Pirlo or Klose might receive values that fit better into the game and are not quickly surpassed by other special cards.

The problem with special cards has existed for a long time and was also a topic in FIFA 21 and FIFA 20. Whether the icons can even keep up next year? What do you think?

We will see by the end of the year at the latest when the new FIFA is released. You can find everything about the FIFA 23 release here.

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