The latest dungeon “Duality” is currently popular content in Destiny 2. While many guardians need about 1 hour for the activity, a fireteam completes it casually from start to the kill of the final boss in under 9 minutes. But even if you don’t want to become speedrunners, the run reveals some practical shortcuts that you can also use.
What kind of record is this? Speedruns in Destiny 2 have their own fanbase. While other players usually spend hours in activities, the goal of the speedrunning community is to find new ways to complete dungeons or raids in record time. The faster, the better.
Players Gunnarhawk, Speeding-Rex, and Zero thought the same and took on the latest dungeon “Duality” from Season 17. In under 9 minutes, they completed all three encounters of the mini-raid along with boss fights and jumping sections with almost incredible speed.
Here you can watch the full run, which is both crazy and impressive – record time 8 minutes 54 seconds. You probably can’t get your top loot faster.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Crazy fast run with moves that make other guardians jealous.
How did they achieve this so quickly? Certainly, a lot of experience and even more time investment went into the Duality speedrun. To reach this speed, all processes within the team must be perfectly coordinated, practiced, and every buff must be optimally triggered.
You can always see that the fireteam waits briefly for the generation of solar sources to push their abilities. Additionally, lightning-fast armor and weapon switches are necessary, mind you, while jumping into the depths.
Only if everything works perfectly, it becomes possible to take down the bosses of the dungeon “Duality” in just one phase.
The perk “Bold Blade” gives guardians the ultimate speed advantage.
What weapons do speedrunners rely on? In this dungeon, swords are unmatched. With them, speedrunners gain an advantage not only against the bosses.
In the first encounter, they used the sword exotic “The Lament”, which provides healing during boss fights thanks to “Intensified Consumption”.
Also the legendary sword “Half-Truths” from the “30 Years Bungie” DLC is in use. It offers ultimate mobility advantages through the perk “Bold Blade”, helping players to “fly” over large areas in no time.
Against the final boss “Calus’ Scorn,” the speedrunners then use a double linear fusion rifle combo:
One is the Season 15 exotic “Lorentz Driver” to swiftly send the Bellkeepers to the afterlife from a distance using a Black Hole.
And for the final boss Caiatl, the current DPS king in Season 17 “Storm Chaser”, which, with activated buffs, deals 90,000 damage per salvo, so one final boss phase with Caiatl is enough to complete the dungeon.
Practical shortcuts you can also use
Calus is impressed by this performance!
But even if you don’t want to become speedrunners now, the record is certainly interesting for normal guardians as it reveals some practical tricks and shortcuts. For some, you need a bit of practice in “sword surfing”, others you can use as well.
These shortcuts are worth a try:
At 1:00 minute, the speedrunners use the first shortcut by activating the bell behind them and then jumping down multiple floors to the passage.
In the second encounter, time is tight, but the paths are long. Here, the speedrunners, depending on the bell position, do not take the path through the enemy-occupied middle, but simply fly around the outside. Visible in the video at minute 4:00 and 5:00.
More news from our Destiny 2 editorial team can be found here:
This is not the first dungeon to set insane records. In the Prophecy dungeon, just watching made people nauseous when speedrunners made the daring jump with their Sparrow that we all wanted to make.
In Pokémon GO the first live event for the GO Fest in Berlin will take place this weekend. We from MeinMMO will show you what spawns, shinies, and bonuses you can expect for this event and how you can participate.
What kind of event is it? After the big global GO Fest 2022 took place a few weeks ago, Pokémon GO is now hosting special live events in three cities that revolve around the GO Fest: Berlin, Seattle, and Sapporo.
This coming weekend, the first live event for the GO Fest 2022 will take place in Berlin. You can expect a lot of spawns and bonuses again. And there may also be one or two new Pokémon and shinies for you to look forward to. We have summarized all the content below and will tell you how to participate in the event.
[toc]
The GO Fest in Berlin – Start, Location, and Tickets
When does the GO Fest in Berlin take place?The GO Fest in Berlin runs from July 1, 2022, to July 3, 2022, each day from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time. With a special “Early Access” ticket, you can even start at 9:00 AM.
Where does the GO Fest take place? The event takes place in Britzer Garten Berlin. For more information about the location and how to get to the venue, you can visit the park’s homepage: britzergarten.de.
How can you participate in the GO Fest in Berlin? If you want to take part in the live event, you need a special ticket. You can obtain this through Niantic’s website. You can choose from the following two categories:
General admission:
Cost: 24.99 euros including taxes
Access to the event from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time on the chosen day
“Early Access”
Cost: 32.13 euros including taxes
Access to the event from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time on the chosen day
These tickets can still be upgraded with so-called add-ons, which are valid throughout the event period from July 1 to July 3, 2022. Each add-on costs 10.06 euros and can only be purchased in connection with the ticket purchase. No subsequent purchase is possible.
Breeders (not combinable with other egg bonuses from the event):
Eggs hatch four times faster
double XP when hatching
double candies when hatching
double stardust when Pokémon hatch
What should you keep in mind when purchasing tickets? The live event lasts for three event days, but a ticket can only be purchased for one of these days. Therefore, you can only play on site during the time you booked. As with all other Pokémon GO events, a ticket cannot be refunded after purchase.
All spawns and shinies for the GO Fest in Berlin
Of course, you can look forward to numerous spawns and shinies during the GO Fest in Berlin. As you know from the global GO Fest, the monsters will also spawn in a total of 4 different habitats during the live event.
In addition, there are more wild spawns, and you can look forward to one or two interesting raid bosses.
All monsters that you can encounter in their shiny forms are marked with a (*).
All habitats at a glance
During the live event, you can encounter Pokémon from the following habitats in the wild:
In addition to the Pokémon that spawn during the respective habitats, Niantic has announced more monsters in the wild:
Snorlax with cowboy hat*
Unown A*
Unown B*
Unown E*
Unown L*
Unown R*
Unown S*
Unown T*
All raid bosses for GO Fest Berlin
During the GO Fest in Berlin, you can indeed expect changed raid bosses. Look forward to the following monsters in level 5 raids:
Cresselia*
Darkrai*
These are the new Pokémon and shinies
For the GO Fest in Berlin, two new monsters are also making their debut. You will be able to encounter Shaymin in its Sky form for the first time in the special research and the new ultra beast Schabelle. Additionally, you will find Tarnpignon and Grillmak for the first time in their shiny forms.
Shaymin (Sky form): Shaymin is a mysterious Pokémon from the 4th generation of games. It belongs to the grass and flying types. You have already been able to catch its land form during the global GO Fest as part of a special research. Now the Sky form is up next.
You will recognize it by its white-green body and the white tufts of hair on its head that resemble antlers. On the sides, it also carries a pair of red leaves. It will not be available as shiny in the game for the time being.
Shaymin Landform and Shaymin Skyform (via pokemon.com)
Schabelle: After you already encountered Anego, an ultra beast, at the global GO Fest, Niantic is now following up with the live events. You can encounter the ultra beast Schabelle in the context of special research. It comes from the 7th generation of games and is of the bug and fighting types.
It has a distinctive, white, slender, and delicate body, long antennae, and veil-like floor-length hair. This monster will also not be available as shiny in the game initially.
Additionally, you should be able to catch this ultra beast for the first time with a special ultra ball designed specifically for ultra beasts.
At the live events in Seattle and Sapporo, other ultra beasts will celebrate their debut. We will show you which ones they are and when you will get them.
The new shinies: During the GO Fest in Berlin, keep an eye out for the new shinies Tarnpignon and Grillmak. They will be appearing in the game for the first time at this event.
You will recognize the shiny Grillmak by its orange body. Shiny Tarnpignon differs only by the blue area on its head from its normal form. Here you will need to look closely from the front view to recognize it.
Grillmak and Tarnpignon normal (left) and as shinies (right)
All bonuses for GO Fest Berlin
In addition to the numerous spawns and shinies, you can also look forward to many bonuses during the GO Fest in Berlin. The following bonuses will be available for all ticket holders, regardless of the additional add-ons:
6 special trades
reduced stardust costs when trading
9 free raid passes when spinning at gyms
Rocket balloons spawn more often
2 mysterious parts from Team GO Rocket grunts
Battle arena to compete against other trainers
Surprises in snapshots
Event field research
Special research in Britzer Garten
Encounter with Shaymin Sky form and Schabelle
Pokémon GO Fest 2022 T-shirt as an exclusive special edition
What do you think of the content from the GO Fest in Berlin? Will you participate in the live event? Or are you not interested in the event at all? Feel free to share your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
The mobile game Diablo Immortal was supposed to be released in China last week. But a critical post on social media apparently prevented that. A poster from the USA asked, “When will the bear finally resign?” – the Communist Party apparently did not find this funny at all. This statement could have far-reaching consequences for Blizzard in China. They are already talking about a “China ban” for Diablo Immortal.
It was actually supposed to be released on Thursday, June 23. However, the release was unexpectedly postponed by Blizzard’s partner in China, NetEase, indefinitely. Allegedly, Diablo Immortal still needs to be revised.
The postponement was preceded by a ban on the Diablo Immortal social media account on Weibo.
We show you the 6 classes of Diablo Immortal – in our tier list for Diablo Immortal, you can see who is currently in the lead:
Start video
Diablo Immortal: All 6 Classes in Brief Overview with Gameplay
Why was the social media account banned? On May 22, a single post appeared on the social media account stating:
Why is the bear still not resigning?
A user on reddit explained that this statement caused a political uproar in a short time because it was read as a call for China’s head of state, Xi Jinping, to resign.
It is said that Chinese internet users immediately relied on this post to see what would happen next.
Because it was clear to everyone: This was a highly sensitive point, and internet censorship would react.
Statement came from the USA – caused the ban of the account and deletion
Who made this statement? The statement likely comes from someone in the marketing team of Diablo Immortal, as the poster on reddit points out.
Normally, postings on Weibo are made from Guangdong, China. However, the problematic statement is said to have originated from the USA.
“Bear” and “resignation” both taboo topics in China
Why is this statement so problematic? In China, “the bear” is associated with the head of state, Xi Jinping. This is due to a meme suggesting that Xi Jinping resembles the cartoon bear “Winnie the Pooh.”
This meme has led to Winnie the Pooh being unwelcome in China.
The reporter Huang Chunmei Taipei for “Radio Free Asia” explains why the statement from the Weibo account of Diablo Immortal is considered highly problematic and why Xi Jinping rejects the comparison to the bear so vehemently (via rfa):
The word “bear” is associated in China with values like “incompetence, cowardice, inefficiency, and frequent mistakes.”
“Resigning” is, moreover, an absolute taboo in China: this applies to any political leader, from local politicians to the head of state. The subject is forbidden. It is known that internet censorship specifically searches for this keyword.
No official China ban, but marketing should be completely halted
What should happen now? At the moment, the post on Weibo has been deleted, and the social media account of Diablo Immortal has been suspended.
Officially, the release of Diablo Immortal is not banned, there is no official “China ban on Diablo Immortal.” Unofficially, however, such a thing could very well be in force.
The poster on reddit says: The marketing for Diablo Immortal has been completely halted. There are now rumors saying that Blizzard’s partner NetEase should be severely punished for the statement. It is said that they will not receive new licenses for 3 years. This also means: no WoW Dragonflight, no Diablo 4, no Overwatch 2 in China.
The seriousness of the situation is evident in the fact that NetEase has lost 10% in stock value due to the postponement.
The Twitch streamer Asmongold looks in shock at what is happening in China:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How much could this cost Blizzard? It was assumed that China would become the largest market for Diablo Immortal. In the long term, the loss of the “China” market for Diablo Immortal could cost Blizzard tens of millions of US dollars.
If WoW: Dragonflight, Overwatch 2, and Diablo 4 are really not allowed to be released in China anymore, there would be a loss of revenue worth several million US dollars.
Diablo Immortal will now always be associated with the post in China
Will Diablo Immortal still make it to China? An expert from Japan, Wu Yue Sanren, analyzes (via rfa): It is very unlikely that Diablo Immortal will still be released. Because if it were to be released now, it would always remind people of this particular incident.
It is said: There is a very pessimistic view on the release of Diablo Immortal in China. It has a “very small chance” of being listed again. But in itself, it seems doomed.
The Twitch streamer Asmongold looks in shock at what is happening in China:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How much could this cost Blizzard? It was assumed that China would become the largest market for Diablo Immortal. In the long term, the loss of the “China” market for Diablo Immortal could cost Blizzard tens of millions of US dollars.
If WoW: Dragonflight, Overwatch 2, and Diablo 4 are really not allowed to be released in China anymore, there would be a loss of revenue worth several million US dollars.
The lineup for “PlayStation Plus” games in July will only be officially revealed on Wednesday, but a leak from the well-known site dealabs has emerged. It shows three games for PS4 and PS5 that are really strong.
Which games are reportedly included in PS Plus according to the leak? For July, you can expect:
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s about Time (PS4, PS5)
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (PS4)
Arcadegeddon (PS4, PS5)
How reliable is the leak? Dealabs regularly leaks the upcoming games for PS Plus and has been correct almost every time. For June, the site correctly predicted all titles two days in advance. So the chances for this strong lineup are high, even though there’s no guarantee it will happen.
Since June 23, the model of PS Plus has changed. All info regarding this:
New Crash Bandicoot gets good reviews on Metacritic
What makes the lineup so good? On one hand, there’s no real “flop”. All three games sound really good and cater to very different genres.
With Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, PS Plus has a really strong game as the headliner. On Metacritic, the platformer scores an 85 on PS4 (based on 95 critic reviews) and even a 86 on PS5 (based on 21 reviews). Our colleagues at GamePro also gave it a strong 87 in their rating (via GamePro).
There is praise for the new art style, the strong level design, the fair checkpoints, and the high replay value of the individual levels. Only some jump sections are frustrating and the loading times a bit long. Nevertheless, the game is a successful return to old Crash Bandicoot games.
You can watch the test video for the game here:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
A horror game and a new multiplayer shooter are set to become free
What other games are there? The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is a game from the developers of Until Dawn. In this horror game, you accompany a chaotic group of young people who only wanted to relax and dive. But they are ambushed by a group of fishermen and have to explore an old cargo ship from World War II.
For fans of eerie moments and quick-time events, where you have to complete tasks in a frenzy and panic, the game is a massive fun. However, it lacks depth particularly in the characters.
Nevertheless, our colleagues from GameStar rated the game 77 (via GameStar). Here’s the corresponding test video:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The third game from the leak is Arcadegeddon, and it is also set to be released for PS4 and PS5. This new multiplayer shooter is supposed to be released on July 5, the release day of the “PS Plus” games in July.
In this colorful game, you must prevent an arcade hall from closing and fight optionally in PvE or PvP:
In PvE, you fight in a horde mode, with constantly new waves of enemies
In PvP, you fight in four-player teams against other players
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciaOOxLcSBc
What do you think of the lineup? Do you trust the leak? And do you also find it that strong? What game would you have wished for July?
Since June 23, there is a new model for PS Plus. Our author Maik Schneider has taken a look at it and is satisfied because one fear has not been confirmed:
A new round of balance changes in World of Warcraft is coming, featuring not only buffs for tanks but also nerfs for destruction warlocks.
The balance in World of Warcraft is an ongoing cycle. No wonder, with 36 specializations, many different types of content, and always new factors like tier sets, soul binds, or covenants, things can get quite mixed up. Now a new series of buffs is being introduced, primarily aimed at helping the two weakest tanks and increasing their DPS. But warlocks can also look forward to some enhancements and a rather drastic weakening.
This is how Blizzard buffs two tanks: Druids and Demon Hunters
For the tanks, there are several buffs aimed at improving solo damage. Druids and demon hunters, in particular, deal significantly lower DPS compared to death knight, monk, paladin, or warrior tanks. To help them not lag behind as much, Blizzard has targeted the following changes:
Druid
Guardian
Damage from shred and auto attacks is increased by 10%.
Demon Hunter
Vengeance
Damage and healing of all abilities are increased by 3%.
Damage from fracture and shear is increased by 20%.
Damage from automatic attacks is increased by 10%.
Demon hunters deal significantly more damage – even as tanks.
Warlocks becoming stronger – and at the same time weaker
For warlocks, there are clear buffs – especially for affliction warlocks, who were previously found at the lower end of the DPS charts. Destruction warlocks also receive enhancements, but also a significant weakening on their tier set.
Warlock
Affliction
Damage of all abilities is increased by 5%.
Destruction
(4) Set bonus: Blasphemy no longer grants Chaos Rain.
Damage from chaos bolt is increased by 5% in PvE situations.
Damage from immolate is increased by 20%.
Damage from conflagrate is increased by 20%.
Damage from firestorm is increased by 10% in PvE situations.
What’s up with the warlock nerf? Even if it seems on paper that chaos warlocks receive a sizable buff, it’s probably a nerf. The chaos rain that blasphemy could bring resulted in additional dreadsteeds appearing, which in turn generated even more soul shards. This led to absurd amounts of AoE damage but could also be a strong buff in single target situations. To ensure no disadvantage arises in such solo target cases, there are a few buffs to the associated spells.
The AoE damage of the destruction warlock has drastically suffered from this, and the era of “infinite soul shards” is likely over. This gives other classes a bit more chance to compete at the top of the AoE charts…
When do the changes go live? With the upcoming maintenance on June 29, 2022. Once the realms are restarted early Wednesday morning, you should benefit from the adjustments – or suffer as a warlock.
What do you think of the changes? Good and meaningful adjustments? Or far too little to restore balance?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dataminers who deal with the contents and changes of the game already know what you will find in the box starting June 27.
1 Coin Box starting June 27 – Contents
What’s inside? In the box you will find:
10 Ultra Balls
1 Charged TM
5 Max Potions
The box revolves around balls, potions, and a Charged TM. Last week, the box mostly revolved around berries, which you can also obtain by spinning PokéStops and through other activities in the game. Trainers didn’t react well to that, but many were happy to receive the Knursp. The new contents of the weekly box were shared by the Twitter account of the PokeMiners.
When will the box be available? Around 6:00 AM on June 27, the box should be unlocked for you. If you can’t see it, it’s advisable to restart the game. After that, the package should be visible to you.
You will find the box next to the other packages in the shop.
How long is the box active? You can find the box in the shop for one week and have enough time to clear your inventory and make space for the items.
A week later, on July 4, there will be a new box with different contents for you. What will be inside cannot be estimated yet.
How do you like the contents of the 1-coin event box this time? Please share your opinion in the comments here on MeinMMO and let us know if you can use the balls, potions, and Charged TM, or which items you would prefer to have in the weekly box.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the latest Item Spotlight, MeinMMO demon Cortyn shows you an item that can drive your friends in World of Warcraft crazy – while having a lot of fun yourself.
World of Warcraft is so full of items that no player can probably remember all of them. However, one item will never fade from the memory of your teammates once they have fallen victim to it. We present you the nasty Swapblaster – and how you can have a lot of fun with it. Mostly at the expense of others.
What is the Swapblaster? The Swapblaster is a usable item in WoW that does not get consumed upon use. It is not a toy, so it won’t end up in your collection. If you want to use the Swapblaster on multiple characters, you will have to collect it multiple times.
The functioning of the Swapblaster is quite simple: You select a player in your group or raid and then use the Swapblaster. After a short cast time, the device fires and spontaneously swaps the positions of both players.
What can you do with the Swapblaster? Drive your friends (or secret enemies) insane. With the position swap from the blaster, you can place your friends in positions where death is almost guaranteed.
A special feature when using the Swapblaster is that the movement of the other player is not interrupted. So if your target is running while you fire the Swapblaster, your positions will swap, and the target will keep running. And this exact situation can be wonderfully exploited.
Imagine standing close to an abyss and selecting your target. Now wait until the player starts to move and then fire the Swapblaster. Important: When activating the blaster, your character will turn towards the target. You need to turn your character back towards the abyss during the cast time (so turn around with the right mouse button pressed).
The usual sight of the victim after using the Swapblaster.
If done correctly, both characters swap positions, and your target runs directly into the abyss, leading to a certain death.
If you are a class with special movement effects – like portals or wings as a Demon Hunter – you can also teleport other players to lonely islands or other places from which there is no quick return.
More cool items from World of Warcraft that you absolutely need can be found here:
It is important that there are some restrictions for the Swapblaster. It cannot be used during combat and is not usable in certain areas – such as battlegrounds or “Mythic+” dungeons. However, it can be used in regular raids, dungeons, or the open world.
For the Swapblaster to work, the target must be within 40 meters and in line of sight. A line of sight blocker (such as a wall) prevents you from using the blaster.
How do you get the Swapblaster? You can craft it if you are an engineer. You need 50 Gear Spring Parts and 1 Temporal Crystal, as well as Engineering from Warlords of Draenor at level 100.
Alternatively, you can also buy the Swapblaster from the Auction House, as other engineers offer it for sale. A special feature of the blaster is that the user does not need to have the Engineering profession. Thus, the Swapblaster can be used by all characters.
Is there protection against the Swapblaster? Yes. Those who feel too disturbed by the Swapblaster can easily protect themselves against it. You need to use a “Neural Silencer”. When you use it, you are protected from the Swapblaster and also spells like “Leap of Faith” for 12 hours. The silencer can be purchased at the Auction House or it may be in the Blingtron reward boxes.
How do you like the Swapblaster? Do you enjoy annoying your teammates with it, or are you more often the victim?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Saturday, June 25, the all-time record for the most concurrent viewers on Twitch was broken. With 3.35 million viewers, the record is now held by the Spaniard Ibai Llanos Garatea (27): He organized and streamed a mix of a boxing event and show for five and a half hours. Ibai became popular in 2014 with his streams of League of Legends, since then he has exploded in popularity and is considered an internet celebrity in Spain.
What record is it? It is about the most concurrent viewers for a stream on Twitch.
Here in the statistics, it is about the column “All Time Peak Viewers”:
More people watched Ibai’s event than at the introduction of the new PlayStation or the LoL World Championship (via twitchtracker).
Fortnite and the USA Dominated Twitch for Years – That’s Over
Where did the record stand before?
For a long time, the American Tyler “Ninja” Blevins held this record: He had 616,000 concurrent viewers in March 2018 when he played the online shooter during the peak of the Fortnite hype with rapper Drake.
But now the Spaniard “Ibai” has shattered this record: At its peak, 3.35 million people watched him.
These were Ibai’s predecessors:
Start video
Twitch: Who were actually the first successful streamers?
5.5 Hours of a Huge Spectacle on Twitch
How did he set this record? On June 25, Ibai organized a big boxing event called “La Velada Del Año II”. It was supposed to be the “event of the year.” In 2021, he hosted a similar event and achieved great success.
The event lasted five and a half hours, and Ibai streamed it on his massive Twitch channel with 11 million followers:
At the event, there were 5 boxing matches, filled in between with various acts, such as short concerts (via twitter).
The sponsors of the event include Disney+, Spotify, Samsung, and PlayStation Plus.
The event took place at the multipurpose hall “Badalona Olympic Pavilion”, which accommodates over 12,000 spectators. Otherwise, a basketball team usually plays there.
The stream had the highest number of viewers during the third fight between Momo and Viruzz.
There was a lot going on:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Spanish-speaking Twitch is Growing Extremely Strong
Why is it so huge? Three factors come together:
The Spanish-speaking Twitch surpassed the English-speaking Twitch in the last year – the creators there are huge on social media. Apparently, they are not only watched in Spain but also in South America. Ibai is not an isolated case: Several Spanish and Portuguese-speaking streamers are now among the world’s biggest streamers and are growing extremely fast.
At other events, like the presentation of the PS5, viewers spread across multiple channels – however, Ibai managed to concentrate the viewers on his event.
Some German Twitch streamers are known for importing trends from abroad:
Who is Ibai? Ibai has a “typical streamer” career behind him: He became known for content related to a specific game, in his case with League of Legends.
Over the years, he emancipated himself from the game, moving increasingly toward a “general” direction, distancing himself somewhat from gaming, becoming an entertainer, and building a massive media presence.
Today he only occasionally plays the biggest games like LoL, Minecraft, or FIFA on his Twitch stream; otherwise, he spends a lot of time in “Just Chatting”.
Ibai now has his own LoL team. German influencers are following suit.
Since Destiny 2 removed Sunsetting and your weapon collection is no longer outdated, more and more earnable weapons are coming to the loot shooter. Guardians are excited about this, but they forget that the loot shooter is slowly heading into a problem. MyMMO author Christos Tsogos believes that Sunsetting for weapons needs to return.
First of all, what is Sunsetting? Sunsetting was introduced in Destiny 2 for the first time in November 2020. At that time, known weapons and armor received a “minimum shelf life” and could not be leveled up to the current light level afterwards. In short, affected weapons became unusable after the sunset and were unsuitable for the endgame.
But Bungie received heavy criticism from the Guardians after the introduction of this system. They desperately wanted their beloved and hard-earned weapons back and to be able to use them. After three months of complaints, Bungie gave in and removed Sunsetting again. Guns and armor that had already gone into the vault remained there for the time being.
Now more than a whole year has passed, and it is becoming clear how bad this decision was. Bungie should have kept Sunsetting for gear.
Unnecessarily many weapons, as everyone uses their favorites
Destiny 2 should offer fun in looting, but what should I loot if I already have everything I need? This is the question I ask myself every time a new season with “cool” new weapons comes out. Most weapons fit into a fire rate category, hopefully have special perks, and that’s it.
So why should I exchange my loyal and familiar weapons in my inventory for new iron when they still work well and can stand up? At this point, I unfortunately lost the incentive to earn and grind for new weapons.
I know my guns in the inventory well, know how to use them best, and therefore don’t need to torture myself through activities that give me a new weapon whose handling I need to relearn.
What enchanted me in Destiny 1, Destiny 2 no longer possesses. Every weapon feels almost the same, and hardly any gun triggers that familiar “wow effect” in me.
Destiny 2 Nachtschatten is considered the basis for many pulse riflesUnderneath the Kurz und Knapp hides the NachtschattenUnderneath the Neue Bestimmung hides the NachtschattenOld weapons like the Nachtschatten receive a new look and thus become a new weapon
Of course, new weapons in ongoing seasons also define a new meta, but so far there haven’t been any drastic changes that would make a weapon switch necessary for me.
In my opinion, Destiny 1 handled its Sunsetting better and encouraged players to collect new weapons as the old ones could no longer be used.
Sometimes separation is hard, but it creates excitement in the game and incentives to collect cool weapons again. If Bungie were to put my current favorite guns in the vault, I wouldn’t be upset; rather, I would look forward to collecting new weapons. This way, I learn to appreciate them, as there are no known alternatives in the weapon arsenal.
I will be forced to collect new weapons, but that makes looting feel rewarding again. When I bound the presence in Season 17 after a nightmare containment to receive more weapons, I initially got busy dismantling them immediately. It shouldn’t normally be that way, but the weapons come at you like leaves in autumn.
They are nothing special and as long as Bungie doesn’t bring back Sunsetting, nothing will change in that regard, at least for me. The development studio itself emphasized the importance of the content vault, also regarding weapons.
At the end of 2020, I didn’t understand this and was exactly, like most Guardians, upset about this decision. Slowly, however, I realize that Bungie was right, and through their abolition of Sunsetting, an important part of Destiny 2 has died for me, namely the joy of new loot.
Enough from me. Do you also believe that Sunsetting should return? Or do you think Bungie should continue to bring weapons that most players don’t even use? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Anyone looking to buy a graphics card can rejoice at falling prices. A user jumped at what seemed like a great deal and purchased an RTX 3080, but the joy didn’t last long.
Graphics cards have been really expensive over the past months, and you had to pay a lot if you wanted to game with current hardware. But currently, graphics card prices are dropping: Former crypto miners are flooding the market with cheap graphics card offers and are selling graphics cards even below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
A user couldn’t resist one of these offers for used graphics cards and got a GeForce RTX 3080 for half the price. At first glance, a damn good offer, but just a few hours later, his excitement about the new GPU faded.
User buys RTX 3080 for 500 Euros, but it is damaged from mining
What did the user do? A user bought a used MSI GeForce RTX 3080 SUPRIM X for 500 euros. This graphics card had been offered to him by a crypto miner at this price, and he couldn’t resist. After all, 500 euros for a used RTX 3080 that usually costs about double that seemed like a good deal. However, the user reported in a Chinese forum why the deal hadn’t been so great (via wccftech.com).
The user quickly found out why he got the RTX 3080 so cheap. The seller had likely already opened the graphics card once. The seals on the screws of the graphics card were broken. This means that the graphics card had previously been opened.
What exactly are the problems? The previous owner likely replaced the thermal pads on the video memory of the graphics card. This isn’t unusual, as the GDDR6X memory of the RTX 3080 is known to reach very high temperatures.
But the biggest problem was something else: First, the graphics card wouldn’t boot at all. With a trick, the bargain hunter managed to start the graphics card anyway. By using what is known as “Memory Shielding,” one can mask faulty memory. You can find instructions for this on the Chinese platform Bilibili in video form (via bilibili.com).
When he checked the graphics card with the small tool GPU-Z, he found that only 8 GB of the 10 GB video memory were recognized. Apparently, two of the ten memory modules had malfunctioned during mining and were no longer functioning properly.
While the user can use a cheaply acquired graphics card with some tricks and tweaks, he is not genuinely thrilled: Once memory modules are gone, there is a high risk that other memory modules will fail as well. The bargain turned out to be a problematic purchase for the bargain hunter.
Only 8 GB instead of 10 GB are displayed for the purchased graphics card.
What should I do if I buy a used GPU? Look closely at offers for used graphics cards and ask the seller if you are uncertain. This will save you trouble and a lot of problems.
Even if a seller sells you a defective graphics card, you, as the buyer, still have good chances. After all, both Amazon and eBay clearly state that products must work as described. Otherwise, the seller must rectify the issue, provide a discount, or take the product back. This also applies to private sellers who hide behind “no returns”.
Graphics cards can be operated continuously – if you adhere to the rules
Typically, you can also run a graphics card continuously. However, the condition is that you operate the GPU within the recommended specifications. These are usually set by Nvidia or the board partners (MSI, ASUS, and others). Nothing should go wrong in this area.
If you’re unsure whether you want to buy a graphics card, keep in mind that the next generation of AMD and Nvidia will be coming soon. Whether prices will improve further in the future, we can’t say:
In May 2019, English teenager Benjy “Benjyfishy” Fish made headlines: His mother took the then 15-year-old out of school so he could play video games with his friends at night in the USA and prepare for the World Cup in Fortnite. Three years later, however, his professional career in Fortnite has come to an end.
This story made Benjyfishy famous: In May 2019, the world first heard about Benjyfishy:
At that time, he had qualified for the Fortnite World Cup in Solo and Duo. A $100,000 entry fee was guaranteed for him, and he also had the chance to win millions of US dollars at the World Cup.
His mother, who was also his manager, took him out of school because he was always “tired and unfocused,” as he played tournaments at night according to US time.
Instead of regular school, he was to focus on Fortnite and be homeschooled – Benjyfishy was to learn two years of school material in three years.
Fortnite was a huge topic in gaming, especially in 2018 and 2019:
Start video
Everything you need to know about the battle royale shooter Fortnite
Teenager wins $600,000 prize money, builds a large Twitch channel
How did it go for Benjyfishy? Immediately after the story back in 2019, things were going very well for Benjyfishy:
In 2019, when he left school, he earned $393,736 in prize money alone. At the World Cup, there were no million-dollar prizes, but he had two times $50,000 entry fees and later won several tens of thousands of dollars for good placements throughout the year.
In 2020, he still earned $113,000 with eSports, although the Fortnite hype had already started to decline.
By 2021, things didn’t look so great anymore, as only $60,000 came in prize money.
With the Fortnite hype, the viewers also disappeared
Currently, Benjyfishy is more active on Twitch, where he has built a large channel with 3.8 million followers.
However, he lost over 60% of his viewers last year and slipped from being one of the 20 fastest-growing channels to rank 188 in follower growth.
73% fewer hours watched – in the last 365 days, the air has somewhat gone out of the Twitch career.
“Lost love for Fortnite” – Benjyfishy ends professional career at 18
This is what Benjyfishy says now: The now 18-year-old Benjyfishy seems to be completely fed up with Fortnite, after previously criticizing the scene and eSports.
Now he says: With Chapter 3 Season 2, he “lost his love for Fortnite,” and for him, it is “pointless to continue with something” that no longer brings him joy.
However, he is incredibly grateful for the last few years and wouldn’t want to miss them. After all, Fortnite fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a professional eSports player.
What is he doing now? Benjyfishy wants to fully dedicate himself to the eSports title Valorant. He is having as much fun as he hasn’t had since his World Cup days in Fortnite.
The young man explicitly thanks his mother: Without her, none of this would have been possible.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In a video from Friday, Benjyfishy ended his career in Fortnite.
This is what it’s all about: The decision of the mother whether it was right to take her son out of school was hotly debated back then. In hindsight, the decision paid off. Nevertheless, mothers should be careful when their son dreams of an eSports career:
On the one hand, Benjyfishy was already advanced at that time, having qualified as one of 100 worldwide for the Fortnite World Cup.
On the other hand, Fortnite was so trendy and money-laden back then, as no game has since managed. This hype could be maintained for quite some time.
However, the example of Benjyfishy also shows how quickly such a hype can be over: Prize money drops sharply, and Twitch viewers go to the next rising stars.
Whether Benjyfishy can manage to maintain the fame he built at 15 in the coming years is uncertain. Many who are now playing Valorant have already established a significant lead over Benjyfishy, and many Twitch streamers known for one game are having great difficulty transitioning to a new one.
Some parents go way too far with the eSports hype:
Carlos “Ocelote” Rodriguez is the hot-blooded owner of G2, the strongest European team in League of Legends. He looks at e-sports and what other LoL teams are doing to build their brand and make money: He can only shake his head.
This is the situation:
E-sports is a trending topic: Many companies want to invest in e-sports and start new teams. But many teams are losing money. This is how Schalke 04 had to sell its LoL team. Other teams are also reported to have financial problems.
The team G2 Esports based in Berlin is considered one of the largest e-sports organizations in the world and is growing the fastest. G2 dominates especially in the LoL league LEC, but is also among the top in games like Valorant. According to Forbes, G2 has doubled its market value since 2020 and is now the most valuable e-sports team not based in Los Angeles.
In Germany, a team called “Eintracht Spandau” is emerging that also strongly focuses on its brand:
Start video
Everything you need to know about the LoL team Eintracht Spandau – in 4 minutes
G2 in League of Legends in transition, still doubling company value in 2 years
Why is G2’s growth so remarkable? From 2020 to 2022, G2’s performance in League of Legends was not as strong as in previous years when they had a solid team and were mostly winning, even making it to the finals of Worlds 2019:
2020 was all right – the team confidently became champions in Europe in summer 2020 and at least reached the semifinals of the World Championship
2021 had issues – they traded top player Perkz before the season, finished only fourth in the summer playoffs 2021 and missed World Championship qualification: The first time in franchise history
Now G2’s LoL team traded 3 more players, restructured, and was able to impress again in spring 2021
However, it was not the case that everything was running smoothly between 2020 and 2022. On the contrary: out of 5 core players with which the phase began, only 2 remain now.
From November 2018 until November 2020, these 5 played together for G2. It is rare for a team to remain unchanged over 4 seasons.
Those who rely too heavily on individual creators will become unattractive to big brands
What is their key to success? The head of the team explains in an interview with Forbes what they do differently from the competition:
We monetize very differently than our competition: They often monetize only their individual creators, which brings a very small margin that cannot be scaled or maintained.
According to Rodriguez, a company that focuses so much on creators will also have trouble finding high-quality partners to work with, whereas G2 collaborates with heavyweights like Red Bull, BMW, Mastercard, or Phillips.
G2 aims to build the brand and logo with entertaining storytelling. If you build successful teams and specialize in storytelling, you are in control of your success and will also be extremely attractive to advertising partners:
Sponsor deals are a big element of how to sustain a business. We are able to create more value for our partners than they pay us, which ultimately leads them to be willing to renew their deals. This is something we are proud of, and it shows how we have been able to provide them with more value over the years.
You not only have to win, but you also have to entertain while winning
According to Rodriguez, it is not only important to win, but you also have to entertain. This can be achieved through exciting storytelling. Everything must always be connected to the brand.
Everything is a bad investment if you do not build a brand.
According to Rodriguez, an e-sports team does not operate like a typical sports team: There, people just show up who live nearby to support their team. In e-sports, this is not the case. As long as you create content in English and engage gamers, people from all over the world will see the content and become fans.
In the meantime, some in North America would prefer to support G2 at an international tournament rather than a US team, because the brand is more important than nationality.
We have had an in-depth discussion with the creators of the German LoL team Eintracht Spandau on a podcast:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Spotify that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
“What are other teams doing all the time – maybe a lot of parties?”
What does he say about other teams? Rodriguez explains:
So many teams fail to make a profit, and I am not surprised at all. Some teams have lost double-digit millions of US dollars. That is about what I have invested since the founding of G2. I have no idea what our competition is doing – maybe a lot of parties? But what exactly are they celebrating there?
He spares some teams from harsh criticism:
100 Thieves is really close to modern culture, understands gaming, hype, street and fashion
Team Liquid has an extremely ambitious ownership group and would invest a lot of money to keep the company relevant
Was considered a franchise player of G2 for years: Perkz. He was with the team from 2015 to 2020.
If you develop a new game, you need G2
For his own team, Rodriguez is now planning what FaZe has already achieved:
“To be honest, we are now at the point where we are getting too big to fail. We have built up too much credibility over the years at the business and fan level. This also applies to publishers: If you develop a new game, you need G2”.
Those interested in e-sports will likely be drawn to G2. If you are a brand looking to sponsor a top team, you will most likely end up with G2.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This is what G2 means by “storytelling” – the entire roster participates in a hype video.
What lies behind it: What G2 succeeds at and other teams do not: G2 has big names in their team, like Perkz or Caps, but always ensures that the brand “G2” is the most important and is known for its “own style”:
Rodriguez no longer even mentions the former “big name” Team SoloMid. TSM is in a crisis after all stars and franchise players like Bjergsen have disappeared there.
But G2 can give up their franchise player, Perkz, and put 3 relatively unknown players in the starting five and still double their market value. The G2 brand remains constant.
G2 has built a reputation as a “cool, somewhat trollish team” that does not take LoL too seriously and likes to mock opponents and joke with each other. They have maintained this reputation for years:
Almost everyone has a mobile phone that accompanies them throughout the day. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann activates a specific setting on every phone he buys: the power-saving function.
Your mobile phone or smartphone is surely one of your most loyal companions during the day. Because you always have the device with you, even if it just lies next to you all day long.
Whenever I buy a new phone, I immediately set a specific function. The advantage of this is significant, and the disadvantages are very minimal for me.
Thanks to a simple function, I save several hours of battery life a day
What is this function? The power-saving function is a feature that you can find on every Android device in the system settings. Therefore, it is not a feature exclusive to manufacturers. Normally, the function is automatically activated when your phone battery reaches a level of 15% charge. However, you can also permanently activate the mode yourself. And this actually has advantages for me and my daily life.
With each manufacturer, the settings and options look slightly different. Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, Xiaomi, and Google use different user interfaces for their menus and overlays. Moreover, depending on which Android version you use, the options can vary significantly. My examples here mainly relate to different Samsung devices that I use in my daily life, where Android 10 and 11 are currently in use.
Note: Modern Android devices like the Pixel 3 also offer an extreme power-saving mode nowadays. In this mode, many functions are disabled, most apps are paused, and processes are slowed down. This mode is not what is meant here.
What does it bring? In power-saving mode, the processor performance and maximum screen brightness are reduced by 10%. Additionally, the resolution is lowered to FullHD+.
At first glance, this sounds like a disadvantage, but in daily life, I hardly feel anything from it. Most of the apps I use daily consume hardly any performance, and most of you will feel the same way. Moreover, apps that you regularly use remain active. Android only shuts down background apps that you haven’t used in a long time:
You don’t need the full performance of your device for WhatsApp, Telegram, and similar apps.
The same goes for utility apps like emails, music apps like Spotify, or health apps.
The result from the activated power-saving mode is all the more remarkable. On average, I can connect my smartphone to the charger around 4 hours later than if I didn’t use the power-saving mode. This is especially helpful when I am on the go and have no outlet nearby.
If you want to save battery, you can also read the following tips and tricks that we have collected for you on MeinMMO:
On both my Galaxy Note 9 (Android 10, One UI 2.5) and my Galaxy Note 10+ (Android 11, One UI 3.1), I receive all notifications. This includes Threema and Telegram, but also my email apps (GMX and Gmail). My health app (Samsung Health) also collects its data and notifies me via push. Google Maps works for me without any restrictions when I am out for a walk.
Starting with Android 11, you can also set whether background apps should be turned off. For me, the option is located under “Battery” > “Background usage limits”. Here it is also shown as an image:
All notifications in the last hours are arriving without any issues (Android 10).You can set whether certain apps should not work in the background (Android 11).
Can the function damage my phone? No. Firstly, animations that consume battery are terminated. As mentioned above, only background processes that you haven’t used in a long time or that you want to disable are shut down. Secondly, brightness and performance are reduced. This way, you cannot damage either the battery or your phone.
Android 11Android 10Depending on the phone and Android version, the menu and labeling may look slightly different.
How to activate the function: The function is located under Settings and then under Device maintenance. Depending on the model and interface, this can vary slightly. Then select the sub-point “Battery”. Here you will find either the power-saving mode or the energy-saver mode. You can then choose whether you want to use full performance or save energy.
You can consciously decide to limit apps in their background activity. However, you should not do this if you want push notifications! So don’t check “Limit apps and home screen.”
Under Android 12, another possibility is added, namely adjusting the power-saving mode based on certain aspects. The phone can automatically activate the mode when it is unlikely to last until the next expected charge. You can find the setting under Battery > Power-saving mode > Set schedule:
No activation by schedule: Manual activation of power-saving mode
Based on my usual routines: The power-saving mode is activated when the battery is expected to run out before the next expected charge.
Based on the battery level: The power-saving mode is activated when the battery reaches a certain level. For example, 15%.
For many apps, you don’t need the full performance of your phone
Can you play with the power-saving mode? I keep the power-saving mode constantly activated and do not turn it off when I play on my phone. So far, I have not noticed any disadvantages:
Performance-hungry games like Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impact run absolutely smoothly without frame rate drops. Plus, I feel that the phone doesn’t get as hot as it used to. However, it could be that I’m just imagining this.
If I use GeForce Now to stream games like Hollow Knight or other PC games, I also notice no negative aspects of the power-saving function. Because the games are not processed on my phone but in the cloud by Nvidia.
For me and in my daily life, this setting has proven to be extremely helpful, so I use it regularly. What do you think? Are you familiar with this function, or do you prefer to stay away from it?
There are additional tips that you should keep in mind when you are on the go with your phone. A popular method is to turn off inactive apps in the background, as it supposedly saves battery. We explain why you should rather avoid this:
The new WoW expansion Dragonflight is set to be released in 2022. Two new MMORPGs have also announced their release for this year. Additionally, there were updates on new content in New World and Lost Ark, as well as more MMORPG news that we have compiled in this weekly recap for you.
The discussion of the week: Is the release of Dragonflight too early? Is the expansion too expensive? Both issues are currently being discussed in the community:
Swords of Legends has released the new patch 2.1. It included a new area, two new dungeons, the start of the new PvP season, and mini-games, including a cooking duel (via Gameforge).
That was the news of this week from the world of MMORPGs at a glance. Tell us, what was your personal highlight of the week? Or did we perhaps forget something important? Feel free to write it in the comments here at MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Diablo Immortal and the funding model of Blizzard’s latest title are highly discussed topics in the gaming world. Diablo Immortal utilizes MMO mechanics and social systems to entice players into gambling. Therefore, Leya, Maik, and Schuhmann discuss in this episode of the MeinMMO podcast about the shop of Diablo Immortal and how Blizzard even surpasses the Gacha games from Netmarble.
Currently, there is hardly a bigger topic in gaming than Diablo Immortal. The mobile version from Blizzard causes one negative headline after another in the gaming press.
Even well-known Twitch streamers like Quinn69 have little good to say about the action RPG. The streamer spent €15,000 until he got a desired item.
Yes, there is no question: Diablo Immortal is Pay2Win. This became clear relatively quickly after the release. However, how deep and insidious the gambling mechanics really are could only be seen after a few weeks.
Blizzard exploits the core mechanics of MMOs to make gambling in Diablo Immortal very appealing to players.
Therefore, the MeinMMO editorial team decided to dive deeper into the topic and explain how it all came about.
Here is how you can participate: You can actively contribute to the improvement of the podcast. If you have feedback such as suggestions or criticism, or if you want to submit a cool topic proposal that should be discussed urgently, then feel free to visit our Discord server.
Alternatively, you can also directly send an email to [email protected] and share your thoughts with us. Write your opinion in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Expensive specialized controllers are very popular, but they often cost over 200 €. For just about 20 €, you can replicate one of the most important features of these ‘Pro-controllers’. MeinMMO author Marko Jevtic will tell you why you should do this.
Especially for console gamers, their controllers are the most important tool in their favorite hobby. However, especially in shooters, the drawbacks of an analog stick compared to a mouse become apparent.
Expensive pro controllers like those from SCUF want to close this gap with a few clever tricks. One of the most important features of such ‘Pro-controllers’ is the ability to swap out your analog sticks with longer alternatives. Such features make these controllers very popular, but also incredibly expensive.
But this important and popular feature can be easily replicated for your standard controllers. It will only cost you 20 €. We are talking about the thumbstick attachments from KontrolFreek. I have been using these attachments for almost 10 years and I can’t recommend them enough.
In their promotional video, KontrolFreek briefly explains how these attachments help and how to use them correctly:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Plastic attachments for up to 20 € increase precision in shooters
What is the problem? Little control, jerky aiming movements, and lack of fine motor skills – most people who play shooters with a controller know these problems. The right stick is often just trickier and harder to tame than one would like.
That’s why controllers like the SCUF Reflex for the PS5 are so popular. This pro controller was able to sell over 100,000 units in just 3 hours after release. And that’s despite the cheapest version costing 220 €, while the most expensive costs even 270 €.
That is a lot of money for most players, but features like interchangeable thumbsticks make such a big difference for other gamers that the investment is worthwhile.
The attachments from KontrolFreek aim to help exactly there and use the simplest laws of physics.
What do these attachments do? For about 20 € (though there are also cheaper versions), you get 2 plastic attachments for your controllers. You can easily clip these onto the sticks of your original gamepad, which raises the height of the thumbsticks.
You can hardly see the difference from aboveFrom the side, it becomes clearThe extension of the PS5 stick provides more precision
This also increases the leverage on your sticks. The longer the thumbsticks are, the more control you have over the movements with your thumb.
This principle underlies the interchangeable thumbsticks in expensive controllers like those from SCUF. For many shooter fans, this is the most important feature of these pro controllers. For about 20 €, you can easily retrofit any controller to utilize this advantage.
There are several versions of the KontrolFreek attachments that vary in color, shape, and height. You must also decide which controller they fit on before purchasing.
I recommend buying the highest possible attachments, either in concave or hybrid form. In my experience, these are the best for shooters. The attachments for PS4 controllers also fit on PS5 and the Switch Pro controller, but not on the Switch JoyCons or Xbox controllers. For those, you would need to buy the KontrolFreeks specifically developed for them.
However, in my experience, it is sufficient to retrofit only the right stick. Since you get 2 attachments in one package, you can upgrade 2 different controllers.
Here are selected KontrolFreek attachments for PS4, PS5, and Switch Pro controllers:
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
Here is the same selection for Xbox:
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
What are the advantages of the attachments? Smooth pressing in any direction is thus made significantly easier, as you have to apply less pressure with your thumb to achieve sensitive movements.
This is a blessing, especially in shooters. With more fine motor skills, you can control the sticks more precisely as you wish. This also makes it easier to avoid extreme stick movements – which in turn means that you can also maintain strong aim assist in games like CoD Warzone without easily breaking it due to strong movements.
After a short adjustment period and perhaps some tinkering in the control settings of your favorite shooter, you will quickly notice how much better you can shoot with this extra leverage. Your aim assist sticks better to enemies, the strong recoil of your weapons can be controlled more easily, and you feel more in control when facing headshots with snipers.
If you play something where these attachments are a hindrance, it’s also no problem. You can quickly and effortlessly remove and reattach them. This gives you more flexibility regarding the height of your stick compared to some SCUF products, where you must decide upfront on a stick height.
More hardware recommendations from the MeinMMO editorial team:
In short: KontrolFreek promises more precision, and these simple plastic attachments for a maximum of 20 € can deliver on that promise. This gives you one of the most important features of controllers that cost 11 times or more.
What are the disadvantages of the attachments? The perhaps most important disadvantage you need to be aware of before buying is the adjustment period. Since the sticks now sit higher, your grip on the controller changes, which can feel significantly different depending on personal posture. You will quickly notice that your right thumb rests much more stretched on the stick even in the rest position than without the attachments.
This also has the side effect that your stretched thumb further increases the improved leverage, but especially at the beginning, it can feel uncomfortably ‘tense’. The distance to the buttons is also higher. This can lead to missing the reload button in the first few hours.
If the rubber on your standard stick is already a bit worn, it could lead to minor issues with the fit. In particularly intense moments, it may happen that the attachment falls off the stick and lands in your lap. This should happen rarely, but it can happen.
Conclusion: The best investment for my controllers in almost 10 years
Pro
Increased leverage leads to more precision in shooters
Great price/performance ratio
Attachments for PS4 and PS5 also fit on Switch Pro Controllers
Many colors and options
They are very well made and last a long time
Contra
A bit of adjustment time at first
Can fall off the controller in rare cases
The ‘gamer look’ of the attachments may not appeal to some
I bought my KontrolFreek attachments for Battlefield 4 back in 2013 shortly after the launch of the PS4. Since then, I’ve used the same attachment not only for PS4 controllers but also for the PS5 and my Switch Pro controller. So for almost 10 years, I’ve been shooting better thanks to my once purchased KontrolFreek for 20 €, across several console generations and manufacturers.
Sure, they don’t replace every popular feature of these pro controllers like those from SCUF, such as the so-called paddles, which are the buttons on the back of the controllers. But if you don’t have 200 € or more to spare after purchasing your PS5, or if you want to upgrade multiple controllers at once, these plastic attachments are a great choice.
That’s why I can easily recommend the KontrolFreek thumbstick attachments to anyone looking to improve their performance in shooters.
Rumor has it that Sony will soon be releasing a ‘Pro Controller’ for the PS5. Leaks suggest that it will also offer the popular longer sticks:
At the start of Season 17, Destiny 2 granted Guardians 100 extra slots in their vaults. But hardly a month later, players’ vaults are already overflowing. MeinMMO has a heart for vault hoarders, Godroll collectors, and item nostalgics, and reveals how you can always have enough space in your vault.
Where to put all the new weapons and armor? In this case, every Guardian in Destiny 2 has their own vault. For a long time, this storage could only hold 500 items. But then Bungie finally opened up 100 more slots for you at the start of Season 17 .
In the beginning, it was wonderful: With the extra space, it was tempting to just put every new weapon or armor you really want to test into the vault at some point.
5 weeks after the start of Season 17, it is clear: Guardians in Destiny love their stuff, and so the vault hoarders, Godroll collectors, and item nostalgics have already reached the current maximum limit again. Status: 599 out of 600 items.
Limit reached – vaults almost full again.
Why do many Guardians never have space in their vault? Actually, you don’t need that much stuff in Destiny 2 to play the game. Yet many Guardians constantly hit the vault limit with 580–599 items. The reasons for this are quite varied.
New players in Destiny 2 don’t know exactly what they should keep and what not to. So they keep many items that are actually unnecessary and don’t delete anything because they think it might be valuable, but they don’t know (yet).
For veterans, it’s the opposite. They often have three characters and have stored so many good weapons and armor over the years that the vault maximum is almost always reached.
So nothing helps: It’s time to tidy up! Here are our 7 tips on how you can organize your vault.
Tip 1: Don’t postpone weapon tests
If you try out new weapons immediately, you might not need to store them in the vault.
If you get a legendary weapon in Destiny 2, take the first opportunity to dive into an area with many enemies and try it out promptly.
Most of the time, you’ll quickly notice whether the weapon suits you. If it shoots too slowly or lacks precision, try different perk combos that you might be able to swap out. If you just throw everything in the vault, you’ll never test them and eventually forget about them.
If you want to be absolutely sure, look online as well. Top weapons from the respective seasons go viral quickly in Destiny 2, like the Submachine gun Trichternetz or the Calus Mini-Tool. This way, you can exclude that you’re about to dismantle a real gem.
Tip 2: Don’t store weapon exotics in the vault
The “Divinity” can always be crafted from the collection whenever you need it.
The tendency to want to keep these is high. But you don’t need to.
Exotic weapons can be restored at any time: Any exotic weapon you have ever obtained can always be crafted from the collection again. This also applies to various legendary weapons, like the ritual weapons from various seasons.
So if you’ve obtained a weapon once but don’t play it regularly, dismantle it. Only exotic weapons you’re currently using should really be stored.
If you need the exotic weapon again later, because it’s back in the meta, you can pull it from the collection for some materials and quickly infuse it with a legendary item back to your power level.
Tip: Don’t collect all the rewards for your reputation rank wins from the gunsmith Banshee-44. You can always leave 5-10 there throughout the season. If you need to infuse a weapon back to your power level quickly, you have a good source there that only gives weapons.
Tip 3: Create weapons or use those with double perks
A weapon that offers multiple perks to choose from (Image source: SoupTime/reddit)
In every season, there are weapon perks that work well and complement your builds. Until recently, Guardians were also very limited in this regard. However, since the release of Witch Queen, Bungie has created “stealth options” that also help keep more space in the vault by combining multiple options.
On one hand, you can use weapon crafting. Crafted, leveled weapons are flexible and can be reshaped anytime. This way, you always have what you need at hand.
Additionally, without crafting, you can also obtain weapons with multiple selectable perks. This increases weapon flexibility and allows you to often get 2 strong options dropped in one weapon.
One such weapon is, for example, the seasonal ritual weapons like “Chain of Command”.
Additionally, during the Guardian Games 2022, you could earn the submachine gun “The Title”. Every lit torch increased the chance of the weapon dropping with two benefits in each column. And Xur had already sold the pulse rifle “Stars in Shadow” with double perk benefits.
This practical option was added by Bungie in Season 14, where players could obtain a source of seasonal gear with high stats and weapons with two perks in elimination missions every week.
If you pay attention to this, you can also save a few double weapon versions in the vault. However, it’s important that you inspect the weapons before dismantling them, as the additional options aren’t visible in the first view of the weapon.
Tip 4: Don’t keep armor below 60 overall value
The exotic “Fortune Berry”, with only 51 overall value, can be dismantled.
Besides weapons, Guardians of course also keep armor in the vault. This includes exotic and legendary versions.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple with exotic armor as it is with weapons to restore them from the collection when needed. If you pull the armor from the collection, the overall values are always terribly low, making this impossible. However, you can still sort them out.
For exotic armors, you don’t have to keep all kinds of burn, Solar, Arc, and Void anymore. The costs for changing the affinity have been drastically reduced. So pay attention to the distribution that fits well with your build and keep only those.
All armors in your vault, whether legendary or exotic, with overall values below 60 can usually be safely dismantled.
Occasionally, there are also armor pieces that fit well into a build with a lower armor value, but this can also be true for armors above 60 overall value, of which you ultimately have more.
Tip 5: Don’t keep armor for looks
All the armor you have ever obtained can be used with transmog.
In Destiny 2, there are many different armors that allow you to define your Guardian. As a new player, you find an abundance, and it’s tempting to keep armor just for its looks. However, that’s also a space hog in your vault that you should save.
It’s better to earn the materials for Bungie’s transmog system. Once you’ve obtained an armor design, you can layer it over any other armor to always achieve the desired look. This also applies to the special glowing armors from the Solstice events.
Where can I get the transmog material“Synthetic Fabric”? Ada-1 offers you special bounties that transform armor into ornaments.
Yes, now you have to be strong because having more space in the vault also means that you should part with your dusty, beloved treasures. Even if you’ve logged over 35,000 kills on them.
Last memento photo of a “21 % Delirium”
So remove the lock from your “Hammerhead,” from the “21 % Delirium,” the “Exotic Spindle,” or if you wink at your “Singing Nail” or “Neckbreaker” and dismantle them.
Season 17 has shown: Bungie will bring back your old treasures every now and then, so the pain of separation quickly fades thanks to recycling. In addition, you can sometimes pull these weapons back from the collection if you want to take the “Exotic Spindle” for a nostalgic run in the Iron Banner or PvP. Because that’s still possible since the power level advantages aren’t active there.
For more news from our Destiny 2 editorial team, click here:
If you’ve followed all these tips, you can also become a cleanup pro and leave the management of your vault to a professional tool.
This handy tool helps you clean up your vault.
The “Vault Cleaner” from DestinyRecipes.com is not only practical but promises to get your vault in order in less than 5 minutes.
That gives you two options:
Let the tool lock the gear to keep it or unlock it to remove.
Export a DIM query to work with the items to be removed yourself.
You also don’t have to worry about losing anything. The tool won’t delete any of your items. You have to manually delete any locked items in-game.
Do you have any other tips that one should definitely follow when trying to free up space in their vault, or do you perhaps have the ultimate secret recipe for that? Then let us know in the comments and tell us how many items you currently have in your vault?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The streamer Ilya “Illidan” Pivcaev announced his return after a 4-year break from esports. He wanted to play Dota 2 professionally in Team Empire. However, a day later he announced his departure – because he couldn’t cope with the game.
Who is it about? Illidan was a professional player in the game Dota 2. He was active in the esports scene from 2013 to 2018. He stepped back in 2018 and focused on his career as a streamer on Twitch.
Recently, the streamer drew attention to himself when he officially joined the esports Team Empire, only to announce his departure again in less than 24 hours.
What led to Illidan’s departure?
Illidan had already filled in as a substitute in Team Empire several times
On June 23, he officially joined the team, replacing Arslan “Retrograde” Shadzhanv
The team won twice with this roster
After that, Team Empire lost three times in a row
A day after Illidan announced his return, he stepped down
“I feel like I would just make it worse”
How did Illidan justify his departure? In a post on June 24 on his Telegram channel, Illidan stated the reason for his departure from Team Empire.
He mentioned that he was having trouble grasping what was happening in the game. Therefore, he wouldn’t perform as well as he wanted. He no longer wanted to play professionally and also didn’t want to drag the team down with his performance (via t.me).
Start video
Twitch: Who were actually the first successful streamers?
What are the consequences for Team Empire? Team Empire now lacks a carry player. No replacement for Illidan has been announced yet. However, the issue is that the season has already started.
Many teams are already set, thus reducing the pool of possible players.
It is suspected that for the next matches, a substitute will fill in for Team Empire. The next match for the team will take place on July 1 against PuckChamp.
Why did Illidan have such big problems? During his break from professional esports, Illidan remained active as a streamer. Notably, in his statement, he mentioned that he couldn’t cope with the game Dota 2.
Dota 2, together with Apex Legends, is one of the main contents on his channel. In the last seven days alone, he streamed 13 hours of Dota 2 (via sullygnome.com).
On the other hand, it probably takes more targeted training than a bit of streaming to play competitively professionally. And after years of absence, re-entering might indeed be difficult.
How does the community react to Illidan’s spontaneous departure?On reddit, the community reacted humorously and wrote comments like “Illidone” from IvarSnow or “WTF, I thought I was someone who switches jobs quickly” from HiveMindKing.
What do you think about the whole thing? Feel free to write it in the comments.
In Korea, the LOA ON took place last night. It is an event for Lost Ark, where a glimpse into the future is given. A highlight was the new class Aeromancer, which is set to be released in Korea in 2022.
Her attacks control the weather. She can create rain, tornadoes, sunlight, and wind to control opponents or assist her own group. This is generally her role. All Specialists are intended to be classes that take on some sort of supporter role within their group.
However, there are currently no detailed information about the abilities. The release in Korea is scheduled for July 6.
At the LOA ON, the first gameplay of the Aeromancer was shown, which we have embedded here for you:
Start video
Lost Ark Aeromancer Gameplay
Much praise for the animations, but criticism for the childlike appearance
How is the new class received? On reddit, the Aeromancer receives a lot of positive feedback. The detailed animations used in the weather magic are especially praised:
Suhtiva writes: “Both, the Painter and the Aeromancer, are so beautiful. Respect to the design team.”
SakanaAtlas is absolutely thrilled: “Holy shit, she looks really incredible.”
However, there are also critical voices. NobleN6 calls the Aeromancer “Loli-Class”, a class that is deliberately designed to have a childlike appearance. Similar criticism was raised for the Painter class. Nevertheless, this led to record player numbers in Korea.
Some also do not like the pure “Mage feeling”. They would have preferred a mix of Mage and Assassin. However, the majority celebrates the new class.
The shooter Squad is one of the most popular shooters on Steam. The latest update “Amphibious Assault” has introduced the largest changes to the game so far. In addition to a new map, there are new weapons, vehicles, and another playable faction.
What type of game is Squad? Squad is a hardcore shooter on Steam that was released in 2015. It is considered a real insider tip among shooter fans because it focuses on realism and intense gunplay.
Here are the most important details in case you are not familiar with Squad:
Team-based shooter: 50vs50 with squads of 9 players
Similar to a combination of military simulator Arma and Battlefield
Focus on tactics: Communication within the team is important
Construction of fortifications to protect against enemies
What is the new update? The latest update 3.0 is called Amphibious Assault. New in the game are another playable faction, weapons, amphibious vehicles, and a coastal map.
This makes Amphibious Assault the largest update yet with arguably the most interesting additions to Squad.
What is the new faction? In line with the new map, the new playable faction is the US Marines. They come equipped with typical marine gear and amphibious vehicles.
In general, the selected faction determines which weapons and vehicles you have access to. Some factions may also be unavailable on certain maps.
What does the new map look like? The Black Coast map is a coastal landscape. Additionally, the developers Offworld Industries have improved the water mechanics in the game.
What’s the deal with the amphibious vehicles? Until now, vehicles in the game could only travel on land. With the update, the water route for vehicles is now also unlocked.
With the new amphibious vehicles, you can navigate in deeper waters where normal vehicles are unable to move.
What new weapons are available? New additions to the arsenal include the M16 and M27 assault rifles, and the machine guns type M38 DMR, M249 SAW, and M240. The SMAW rocket launcher is also included since the update.
You can watch the trailer for the update here:
Start video
Squad: Amphibious Assault Update Trailer
Squad achieves 90% positive reviews
How is Squad currently performing on Steam? Squad is an absolute hit on Steam. The reviews are very positive. Both for the last 30 days and overall, the shooter is popular in the community (90% positive with 79,581 reviews as of June 25, 2022).
The player counts are also impressive. The peak reached 13,850 players who were simultaneously in the game, trend increasing. (via steamdb.info)
The shooter Squad offers an interesting alternative for players who want to experience a shooter as a team. Especially with the new update, it’s worth checking out Steam.
