Zack “Asmongold” is the biggest MMORPG streamer on Twitch and has a clear opinion: Loot boxes and gambling in general have no place in games. He even went so far as to contact politicians. MeinMMO reports.
What is the situation?
Many games like FIFA, Genshin Impact or Lost Ark have in-game microtransactions that grant advantages, skins or items. Just for a single character in Genshin Impact, players in China have spent over 50 million euros in total. FIFA 21 even generated about 1.6 billion euros from the random packs in Ultimate Team mode.
He has now announced that he contacted the office of a high-ranking politician – US Senator Ted Cruz. Just to convince him to abolish loot boxes from games.
You can watch the clip here:
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What did the streamer say? Asmongold stated that contacting does not mean that something will happen. He also expressed:
I think I can get many, especially religious Republicans on board if I sell it to them as gambling. Because it is. It is effective brainwashing of children, getting them into gambling.
Asmongold
The chat then asked him if Ted Cruz could really make a difference and if he even cares, to which Asmongold replied: “I don’t know either, but I want to try and do it. I will really try to do it.” He further stated:
And I also think it is an easier sell [to Republicans] than to Democratic politicians (…) I am willing to put aside any differences I have if it gets me what I want.
Why did he contact a Republican? For some time, the Republican Party has been advocating for a ban on online gambling in the US or finding other ways to sneak legislation in. Since we primarily focus on gaming news and not political issues, you can learn more about it on isa.guide.de.
Asmongold apparently wants to take advantage of this goal and present loot boxes and other microtransactions as online gambling.
Whether the senator will actually respond and a conversation will take place remains to be seen.
Our MeinMMO author Maik Schneider has very different pains in the discussed Diablo Immortal:
Do you have a PS5 controller and would you like to use it on your gaming PC? MeinMMO presents 3 ways to connect the DualSense Controller to your PC or Macintosh.
Some games are released for both console and PC, but these so-called ports often play horribly with mouse and keyboard. One reason why many users then switch to a controller to play games like Elden Ring on PC with the controller.
We explain how to connect your PS5 controller to the PC and the individual steps.
Connect PS5 Controller to PC – The First Steps
Here’s how to connect the PS5 controller with a cable: You can connect your controller either with a “USB-C to USB-A” cable to your PC or use a “USB-C to USB-C” cable. For the latter, you will need either an adapter or a USB-C port on the PC.
What you need without a cable: If you don’t want to use your controller with a USB cable, you will need a Bluetooth adapter. Some motherboards and almost every laptop have an integrated chip. Next, you should update your PS5 controller to the latest version.
Here’s how to connect the PS5 controller via Bluetooth:
Turn on Bluetooth on Windows. The icon will be displayed in the bottom right corner of Windows.
Open the Windows “Settings” and click on “Devices.” On the left side, select the top tab “Bluetooth & other devices.”
Click the “+” on the right side and then click “Bluetooth”
Now, press the PS button and the Share button on your Playstation controller simultaneously. This activates pairing mode. Be careful not to accidentally start your PS5 when you press the PS button.
Ideally, the controller should now appear in the search. Once you select it there, it should connect.
In a further step, you need to choose from two tools if you want to use the controller on the PC. Because, unlike Xbox controllers, you cannot use PlayStation controllers directly on a Windows PC without additional software. There is also a simple solution for Macintosh.
What is this tool? The small, free tool DS4Windows solves the controller problem by tricking Windows: The tool tells Windows that the PS controller is actually an Xbox controller. This way, both PS4 and PS5 controllers can be used on a Windows machine with DS4Windows.
Here’s how it works: To use DS4Windows, you need to have .NET Framework 5.0 installed on your PC. The new 6.0 version does not work for us. .NET is a runtime library from Microsoft and you can download it directly from Microsoft.
Then download the approximately 8 MB tool and start it. Then connect your PS5 controller to the PC. Normally, the controller will be recognized directly by the software and you don’t need to do anything else.
Change the language to EnglishThe controller is recognized directlyHere you can make settingsWith DS4Windows you can easily use a PS5 controller on PC.
Connect DualSense with PC – Steam Software
What is this tool? The Steam software is known to just about everyone. Steam now also offers extensive support for controllers, which is somewhat hidden in the menus.
Here’s how it works:
Go to the top left in Steam settings and switch to the “Controller” tab.
Click on “General Controller Settings.” A new large window will open outside of the Steam client.
If you did everything right and the device is already connected, the PS5 controller should now be recognized as a DualShock 4 controller. You should now also be able to navigate the menus with the controller.
On Steam, the PS5 controller is ideally recognized directly.
Connect PS5 Controller with Mac
What is this tool? DualSenseM is an app that you can install from the App Store. The app connects your DualSense controller with a Macintosh and lets you use the capabilities of the DualSense. However, you cannot configure (map) buttons.
Here’s how it works: Install the DualSenseM app directly from Apple’s App Store and then start the program. If your controller is already connected, it should be recognized directly by DualSenseM.
Games that Support the Functions of the PS5 Controller on PC
How well do PS5 functions work on PC? All features of the PlayStation 5 controller are supported on PC. So you can also use haptic feedback, touchpads, LEDs, adaptive triggers, and even the gyroscope of the DualSense controller on PC. However, the games must also support these functions.
Which games are supported? On PC, you can use the unique functions of the DualSense, such as adaptive triggers or haptic feedback. Many games now support this. Here we present you a list of where you can use these features. In some games, you can currently only use the adaptive triggers:
Recommendations for your PS4, PS5, or PC: Are you still looking for a controller for your PS4, PS5, or PC? Then check out our buying guide for PS4 and PS5 controllers. Here we present the currently best controllers you can buy for your console:
The MMORPG Fly for Fun (shortly Flyff) was released in 2004 in Korea and made it to Germany in 2006. Over the years, the game has changed significantly and many players have long demanded Classic servers. These are now being implemented with Flyff Universe. The new MMORPG launched today, on June 14.
What is Flyff Universe? The new MMORPG to Flyff is a type of Classic server, but with more modern technical standards. The basic framework for the gameplay is Patch 7.0, which was released in 2007:
Flyff Universe uses a new engine, better graphics, new animations, and new shaders
Old contents like Power Dices or Kebaras PK Prison return
The UI is being overhauled
There is a German, English, and French localization and servers directly in Europe
The new version can be played both on PC and mobile devices – including crossplay
If you want, you can even play Flyff directly in the browser without having to download the MMORPG. We tested it ourselves, and the world was extremely crowded in the starting area at 11:30.
What makes the new version special? Flyff Universe is implemented by the original developer Gala Lab. However, the idea originated in the community. Some enthusiastic Flyff players have joined together to form their own small studio: Sniegu Technologies.
This studio created a Discord together with Gala Lab and discussed the contents of Flyff Universe there. In the future, the MMORPG is to be further developed, but in a different direction than Fly for Fun itself. The community is to be actively involved in this.
Start video
Flyff Universe Trailer
Flyff impressed with mysterious quests and crazy mounts
What kind of game is Flyff anyway? Flyff is a colorful anime MMORPG that many of you have even indicated as your first MMORPG. You start at the beginning with the Vagrant class and then choose between two different specializations – called jobs here – at level 15, from which further branches arise at levels 60 and 130.
The highlight of Flyff is flying. From level 20, you can move through the air on brooms, hoverboards, bikes, or with wings. Fighting in the air is also possible, but you can only use special attacks there. Most of the combat takes place on the ground.
Otherwise, Flyff focuses on:
A story with varied and sometimes mysteriously formulated quests
Tab-targeting in the combat system
Pets that you can tame and raise
Guilds
PvP in special arenas, guild battles, and in the open world, though this is only possible on selected PvP servers
Flyff Universe also has special PvP servers (marked with PK for Player Kill), where open PvP is possible.
Is Flyff Universe better than the original? The debate has been ongoing for some time now, as Flyff Universe has already been playable in Korea and in a beta for several months. Some things are said to make the classic version better, including the graphics.
However, the grind and corresponding boosters to shorten it also exist in Flyff Universe. It’s best to get your own impression of the free game.
If you have already done that, we look forward to your opinion: Do you like Flyff Universe? How do you find it compared to the original?
If you are hoping for a modern MMORPG, you can still look forward to the release of Throne and Liberty in 2022. This new game from NCSoft looks really good in the first gameplay trailer:
Today, June 14, 2022, there is a spotlight hour featuring Mantax in Pokémon GO. We at MeinMMO have looked into what bonuses will be available, when the event starts, and whether you can look forward to a Shiny.
What is the spotlight hour? In Pokémon GO, there is a special short event every Tuesday that highlights a specific Pokémon. It spawns at every corner. The spotlight hour is rounded off with a special bonus.
Today, you will encounter the Water and Flying-type Pokémon Mantax during the spotlight hour. Additionally, you can benefit from a candy bonus.
Spotlight Hour with Mantax – Start, Bonuses and Shiny
When does it start? The spotlight hour starts today, June 14, 2022, as usual at 6:00 PM local time. You have 60 minutes to take advantage of the event, until it ends at 7:00 PM.
What bonuses are available? Of course, you can encounter Mantax in the wild during the entire spotlight hour. If the spawns are not enough for you, you can also set a incense. The event is complemented by a candy bonus. You will receive double the amount of candies for sending your Pokémon during this time.
Are there Shiny Mantax? Yes, with a bit of luck, you may also encounter a Shiny Mantax. You can recognize it by its blue body.
Mantax normal (left) and Shiny (right)
Is the spotlight hour with Mantax worth it?
How strong is it: Mantax is a Pokémon from the 2nd generation of games. It evolves from Mantirps. However, the Pokémon is not particularly strong. It can only score points in defense.
For raids, you should rather rely on the best attackers in Pokémon GO, and Mantax doesn’t play a significant role in the GO Battle League either.
Who is the spotlight hour worth it for? The spotlight hour is especially worthwhile for Shiny hunters. The Shiny form has only been available since the Johto Tour in February. If you couldn’t secure a specimen then, today is your chance.
Additionally, today’s event is a good opportunity to sort out your Pokémon storage significantly and receive double candies.
Will you participate in the spotlight hour with Mantax today? Or do you find today’s short event rather boring and prefer to use one of the other spotlight hours in June 2022? Feel free to share your opinion with us here on MeinMMO in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The latest patch for Elden Ring is 1.08 on PS4 consoles, and 1.05 everywhere else. The patch notes are filled with minor corrections, but most players will hardly notice them. Therefore, we will reveal the 5 most important changes from Patch 1.05 and 1.08.
The latest patch for Elden Ring is called 1.05 or 1.08, depending on the platform. The official patch notes are long and detailed, and the patch is about 1 GB on Steam. Therefore, we will briefly summarize what important changes have occurred and what you need to know.
What else you need to know about Elden Ring, we summarize here for you in a brief 2 minutes:
Start video
Everything you need to know about Elden Ring – in 2 minutes
So now, if you bring your character into a new playthrough after completing it, you can buy smithing stones from the NPC merchant “Twin Maiden Husks” at the Site of Grace as usual. The only requirement is that you have already found the sound pearls:
This is particularly important for weapon upgrades, as you no longer need to find the smithing stone sound pearls again. But also spirit ashes sound pearls will be carried over, making improvements for your summons easier during repeated playthroughs.
2. Magic combos (“Chain Casting”) are no longer in the game
We thought, as did the community, that this “Chain Casting” was an intended mechanic for the best wizards. However, the latest patch notes show that we were wrong.
These powerful magic combos are now no longer in the game. The developers saw them as a bug, which has now been fixed. In this video, you can see what a difference it makes:
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3. Possible flask upgrades are now visible in the menu
In Elden Ring, you can enhance your flask with Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears. Golden Seeds increase the number of flasks, Sacred Tears increase the effectiveness of each flask. However, it was relatively easy to forget that you had collected these items and could also use them.
With the latest patch, this is now different. When you rest at a Site of Grace, a small dot now shows in the menu whether you can upgrade your flasks. This way, you should no longer miss potential upgrades for this important item.
A small dot now indicates when you can level up your flask. (Image source: Glitch Unlimited on YouTube)
4. The Ash of War “Waves of Darkness” is now very strong
There have been very few balancing updates in the latest patch, most of which are not worth mentioning. However, there is one Ash of War that is clearly the winner of Patch 1.05/1.08: The “Waves of Darkness”.
The Ash of War “Waves of Darkness”
You can acquire it in exchange for 10,000 runes from the Echo of the Outcast at Finger Reader Enia in the Roundtable Hold. Previously, this Ash of War was not good, as the hitbox was very unreliable and often completely missed enemies or dealt little damage.
Since Patch 1.05/1.08, it is now a good choice, especially as an area-of-effect attack. You slam your weapon into the ground, creating a ring around you. In this ring, there will be 3 lightning strikes within a short time, hitting all enemies in the vicinity and briefly staggering them. So if you ever find yourself surrounded, the “Waves of Darkness” are now a strong choice.
5. Rage quitting is easier than ever on PC
There is now an option for PC players to completely exit the game from the menu and return directly to the desktop. This not only saves time but also makes rage quitting easier and more definitive.
In the menu, PC players now find the option “Back to Desktop”
Most players of FromSoftware games know the situation: you get your butt kicked by a boss for hours, and you swear that the next attempt will be your last for the evening. After 1 hour, you’ve finally had enough, you annoyedly open the pause menu and exit the game.
But you just end up back in the main menu, where the option “Continue Game” is smiling at you. Gritting your teeth, and even though you know better, you press the button and try again.
This should now be less of a problem for PC players. Because in the menu, players on the computer can now directly flee to the desktop when they want to exit the game. This reduces the temptation to try again.
These are the 5 biggest changes from the latest update at a glance. What do you think of the changes? Did you notice anything else in the patch that you think is important? Are you still playing Elden Ring actively, or are you waiting for more content in the form of DLC? Let us know in the comments.
Recently, another change has emerged. This was not only secret but also substantial:
The players of Lost Ark are currently suffering from a massive bot influx. Amazon emphasizes that they are trying to get this issue under control. A user on reddit films how he bots on several PCs at the same time.
Update: In the meantime, there is a measure from Amazon against the bots and many players say it works.
“They are not afraid to block IPs,” uses the user OutTheory as a headline to provoke Amazon with a video. In it, at least seven PCs are shown, each running Lost Ark 16 times. OutTheory seems to have no fear of consequences. However, he does not show his face.
What kind of bots are these? The bots farm in-game gold to sell it for real money to players. This is called Real Money Trading, or RMT for short. Currently, there are so many of them that real players are getting stuck in queues when logging in.
Currently, the automated characters are not only running around in the low-level areas, as was the case at the release of Lost Ark. The bots have reached the endgame and are affecting the economy there. Several million gold are currently in the hands of the bots and are available for sale for real money.
What is Amazon doing about it? At the release of Lost Ark, it initially looked as if Amazon could get the bots under control. They banned over a million of them in one day. However, the current wave of bots seems to be causing the publisher bigger problems.
The publisher wants to fight the bots “on multiple fronts.” Not only are the bots threatened with a ban, but also players who purchase gold from them. Some of the bans are permanent, but many are temporarily limited to three days. They remove the purchased gold from the account.
Additionally, Amazon is trying to stop the bots by blocking IP addresses. However, they are hardly successful, as the botters can simply use VPN clients to obscure their own IP.
Start video
The 5 Reasons for the Incredible Success of Lost Ark
Community thinks the game is lost: In the comments on reddit, numerous users are mocking the publisher. Others are showing frustration. Many consider Lost Ark to be lost and see Amazon as incapable of combating the bot influx.
redbombs says: “This is crazy. They are not even afraid to show it because they know nothing will happen.”
anitime1 says: “The profit for them is too high. It will never stop.”
defusingkittens says: “They will not stop until the game dies. Then the players who funded it will ask why their beautiful game is dead. This also happened with New World.”
k1ng0fk1ngz says: “Imagine being stuck in the early 2000s believing that IP bans can really stop bots. Funny how AGS truly believes they are doing a good job.”
What do you think about the bot problem in Lost Ark? Is the responsibility with the players or with the publisher itself? Can the game still be saved, or is it soon facing death? Feel free to write us in the comments here on MeinMMO!
For active players in Lost Ark, there is also good news. A new patch along with a new class comes in June:
In GTA Online, you can upgrade your weapons with explosive ammunition. A clip shows how powerful this can be with sniper rifles.
What kind of ammunition is that? When you buy weapons at the gun shop, they come in standard configuration. With the help of a bunker and related research, you can unlock explosive ammunition. In the Mobile Operations Center, weapons such as the Heavy Sniper can be converted to a MKII version that can then use explosive ammunition.
Upon impact, there is a small explosion. A clip circulating on reddit shows how powerful this combination can be.
Jet pilots taken down with Explosive Sniper – “That’s OP”
This is what happens in the clip: On reddit, user Jaustin30 shares a clip titled “This is why I love the explosive sniper.” Sitting in his Apocalypse Bruiser on a hill, he already sees a Jet pilot approaching on the minimap. The pilot fires a rocket at Jaustin30, but it does not significantly damage his sturdy vehicle.
He exits his car and pulls out his Heavy Sniper MKII loaded with explosive ammunition. A well-aimed shot directly hits the flying jet, causing it to explode and simultaneously taking out the pilot.
We embed the reddit video here in the article:
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This is what players say about it: The video is actively discussed on reddit. Over 200 comments have already piled up talking about the content. Many say that the sniper with this ammunition is “OP”.
“When the laser pilot fires rockets, that’s a noob. It means time for some fun,” writes altaccount1700
“There’s nothing more beautiful to watch than a jet griefer exploding in mid-air,” says Free2Play_Trash
“Taking out players in mid-air with a click feels great. Especially when they think they are far away and you take them out without warning,” explains TrynaExist
Problems with jet griefers? In GTA Online, jets can be really annoying when flown by the right pilots. Players keep coming up with clever tricks to deal with this type of opponent.
In early June, Diablo Immortal was released and received a lot of criticism for its real-money shop. This shop has dampened some people’s enthusiasm for the upcoming Diablo 4. However, Blizzard employees are now speaking out and revealing details about the monetization of the upcoming game, which is said to look completely different.
What do the employees say about Diablo 4? The upcoming Diablo 4 will also have a shop where you can make purchases with real money. This has been clear for several years and was recently reaffirmed with a new job posting (via Blizzard).
However, the shop is supposed to differ significantly from Diablo Immortal. Rod Fergusson, the “Closer,” who was specifically brought in to complete Diablo 4, emphasized in a tweet that his game will be a full-priced title for PC, PlayStation, and console. The game is to be supplied with new content for years and will rely on expansions. The shop, on the other hand, is only meant to offer cosmetic content.
This tweet was commented on by Blizzard CEO Mike Ybarra with a “100 %”:
What else do the employees say? Adam Fletcher, Community Lead for Diablo at Blizzard, emphasized again in his tweet that Diablo 4 will be a full-priced title meant for PC and console players.
The idea is to release cosmetic items and likely paid addons with new content. Pay2Win as in Diablo Immortal seems to be off the table:
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When will we learn more about the shop? Both Fergusson and Fletcher emphasize that “soon” there will be more information about the shop. When exactly this will be is not known.
Diablo Immortal has become the mobile game many feared
What is the problem with Diablo Immortal? Diablo Immortal is Free2Play and thus does not have initial costs, which Diablo 4 will have. Instead, there is a greater focus on the shop. One problem is the legendary gems:
These gems are strongly tied to luck. To get them, you need gem emblems. For the highest gems, you also need legendary emblems.
These legendary emblems can be obtained in small numbers in-game, but the easiest and largest quantity can be bought for real money in the shop.
What do you think about the information regarding Diablo 4? Do you believe that Blizzard will keep the shop fair, or has your experience with Diablo Immortal made you skeptical?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO you have the opportunity to meet the mysterious monster of the same name through the Meltan Box. However, you should wait until Thursday to open the box. We at MeinMMO explain to you why it’s worth the wait.
What is the Meltan Box? In Pokémon GO, there is the so-called Wonder Box, which is also referred to as the Meltan Box. When you activate this, you release a type of special smoke and have the opportunity to encounter the mysterious Pokémon Meltan.
However, this week you should wait until Thursday to open the box. We explain why.
That’s why it’s worth waiting to ignite the Wonder Box
On Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time, the Trading Card Event will start. This event focuses on the collaboration between the popular trading card game and Pokémon GO. The cooperation with Pokémon Home and the Nintendo Switch games “Pokémon: Let’s GO, Pikachu!” and “Pokémon: Let’s GO, Evoli!” will also be highlighted in the context of the Wonder Box.
To activate the box, you must transfer a Pokémon of your choice from Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home or one of the Let’s GO games as usual. Please note, however, that you cannot get the monster back to Pokémon GO.
Why is it worth waiting? Of course, you can also encounter numerous Meltan right now by igniting the Wonder Box. Unlike catching Meltan at the moment, during the event you might also encounter a shiny version with a bit of luck.
These are only activated during certain events, which is why you have no chance of a Shiny outside these times. That’s why it’s worth making the most out of the Meltan Box during the Trading Card Event and catching as many Meltan as possible. You can recognize the shiny version by its slightly darker head.
Meltan normal (left) and as Shiny (right)
Are there more reasons to wait? Yes! Normally, the cooldown of the Wonder Box lasts 3 days. This means that you cannot activate it during this time. However, during the event, the time will be reduced according to Niantic (via pokemongolive.com). However, how much the cooldown will be is not yet known.
To optimally use the box and increase your chances of a Shiny, you should ignite it as often as possible during the event. If you activate it again before the event, your cooldown will be the usual 3 days, and you can only use your Shiny chance later.
How long it will take until you can use the Wonder Box again can be seen in the game. To do this, click on the Wonder Box in your item bag. There is a counter that tells you the remaining days. Once this reaches zero, you can start the box again.
You must consider: It’s important when igniting the Wonder Box that you do not activate any other smoke. Both do not work together. If you do this, it may happen that you do not receive any spawns anymore. So, prefer to use only the Wonder Box.
We have summarized for you how to connect with Pokémon Home and what you need to pay attention to in the following guide:
What kind of Pokémon is Meltan? Meltan is a mysterious Pokémon from the 7th generation. It is of the Steel type and can evolve into Melmetal with the help of 400 candies. Outside the Wonder Box, Meltan can only be found in the special research “More about Meltan”.
How strong is it? Meltan is not among the strongest Pokémon in the game. The situation is different for its evolution. Melmetal can benefit from a high stamina value, and its attack and defense values are also solid.
However, it can only rely on the Electric quick move Thunder Shock, which means it does not have a pure Steel moveset. Therefore, Melmetal does not make it into the list of the best attackers. In the Master League, however, it can hold its ground with a combination of moves including Thunder Shock, Heavy Slam, and Stone Edge (pvpoke.com).
Who should use the Wonder Box? The Wonder Box is particularly suitable for catching as many Meltan as possible to collect the corresponding candies for evolution. Furthermore, it is worth it for anyone looking for a strong Melmetal for their PvP team.
During the event, Shiny hunters will also get their share. You should definitely take this chance as it is not yet known when you might encounter a shiny Meltan again.
Will you use the Wonder Box for the Trading Card Event? Or have you already managed to secure a shiny Meltan in the past? Feel free to share your opinion on this with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
WoW Classic aims to thrill fans of “Wrath of the Lich King” with “Fresh Start” realms. MeinMMO reveals what this means.
The next expansion for the retail version of World of Warcraft, Dragonflight, will likely not be released this year. However, this is not the case for fans of “WoW Classic”. They will enjoy “Wrath of the Lich King Classic” in 2022. Now Blizzard has promised that a special request from the Classic community will also be fulfilled:
With the launch of Wrath of the Lich King, there will be new, fresh realms that start completely from “zero”.
When will the “Fresh Start” realms be released? Together with the start of the pre-patch for Wrath of the Lich King Classic. A specific date is not yet available, only the year 2022 is confirmed.
What exactly are “fresh” realms? Simply put: Realms that start completely anew and are not influenced by already existing players. Everyone starts together at level 1 and no one can access the gold wealth of already existing characters. So a completely new, fresh community will form on these realms that wants to embark on the adventure of Wrath of the Lich King together.
More about World of Warcraft and Classic can be found here:
What rules apply on the realms? Unlike the other realms, which seamlessly transition from Burning Crusade Classic to Wrath of the Lich King Classic, some restrictions and peculiarities apply on the “Fresh” realms. These are:
For at least 90 days, it will not be possible to boost a character on this realm.
For at least 90 days, it will not be possible to transfer a character to this realm.
Death Knights can only be created on these realms if at least one character is level 55 on the same realm.
Aside from that, all dungeons from Classic and Burning Crusade are immediately available on the “Fresh Start” realms.
What is the purpose of this? The intention behind these “Fresh Start” realms is relatively clear. Blizzard wants to make WotLK Classic attractive for newcomers as well. After all, it is a greater hurdle to get into an MMORPG where a large part of the players have already collected resources and gold for many years. Catching up is nearly impossible.
At the same time, there is also a continuous desire within the existing Classic community to be able to start completely “fresh”. With fresh realms for WotLK, this will be possible.
What is your opinion on fresh Classic realms? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
After the reveal of the Necromancer at the Summer Games Fest, Diablo 4 has introduced the last release class in its “Quarterly Update”. MeinMMO summarizes the first information about the dark class for you.
The Necromancer is officially in Diablo 4 and comes with his usual abilities as the general of an army of the dead. However, the developers also give the “Necromancer” more versatility and allow you to build without summons.
MeinMMO shows you the 4 skill specializations of the class and the special ability “Book of the Dead”, with which you can create a customized army or gain advantages when you forgo summons. By the way, you can now register for the Diablo 4 beta.
We embed the trailer for the Necromancer here:
Start video
Diablo 4 reveals last release class in trailer – see here the necromancer
The developers explain in the blog about the Necromancer that they want to meet your expectations for the so-called “pet class”. There are therefore many possibilities to summon a bunch of monsters and unleash them on your enemies (via blizzard.com).
However, the class should also provide more flexibility and allow you to create builds without summons. Also, familiar curses like “Decrepify” or “Iron Maiden” are expected to return.
Necromancer Resources
Essence
Charges slowly, can be charged by basic skills
Corpses
Left by enemies or created by yourself
Necromancer Weapons
Swords
Daggers
Wands
Foci
Shields
Scythes
You can see how the Necro poses with his weapons and armor in the following video:
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A more physical specialization with a focus on critical hits. Through your basic attacks, you accumulate a lot of Essence, allowing you to use many skills.
The developers describe the skill “Bone Spirit”. It consumes your entire Essence, and for every Essence point, you deal a percentage of their health points to enemies. Additionally, you have options to stop or block enemies with your bones.
In the video, you can observe 2 skills:
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Shadow magic with a focus on “Damage over Time”. You also distribute debuffs among the enemies and have crowd control abilities. You deal many hits in a short time.
The basic skill is called “Decompose” and allows you to create corpses that can be used for other skills. The skill “Blight” causes explosive damage and leaves contaminated areas where enemies suffer even more damage.
There is also a video for the skills:
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A more defensive specialization focused on high health. The more health points you have, the more you benefit from the advantages of the Blood specialization.
Skills draw blood from nearby enemies and give you power, which you can use for defense or attack.
“Blood Surge” drains blood from your enemies first, allowing you to channel the collected power into a Blood Nova. “Blood Mist” briefly makes you invulnerable, providing optimal escape opportunities.
Here are the skills of your summons collected, and the developers promise many different types of skeletons. But the classic golem is also included.
The specialization is structured in a way that allows it to mix with the others. You can be the Necro-general you wish and have comprehensive skills to create a large army.
The developers shared an image on the blog regarding this:
Unique Ability: Book of the Dead
Lastly, the developers introduced the “Book of the Dead”. A kind of command manual for your army. Here you configure your undead warriors, mages, and golems and should have the ability to further customize your playstyle.
All summons have multiple incarnations and can be specialized. The developers demonstrate this with the skeleton warriors. They can transform into 3 different warriors:
Skirmishers – More damage, less health
Defenders – Less damage, more health
Reapers – Slower attack, but with area damage
In addition, each summon receives unique upgrades for even more control over their advantages.
If you really don’t want any summons, that’s also fine: In the book, individual summons can be disabled, and you receive strong buffs for each monster you forgo. This gives the Necro in Diablo 4 more flexibility than ever before.
Diablo 4 is set to release in 2023 and has already revealed many details. Currently, however, another Diablo title is in the spotlight and is bringing many new players to the universe: The mobile game Diablo Immortal.
On June 6th, the new chapter High Isle for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online will be released. And with that, you can look forward to new weapon and armor sets as well as new Mythic Items. Here we present to you one of these sets that could be particularly interesting.
You probably already know the hustle for leads in ESO when an interesting new Mythic Item comes into play. It looks like you can prepare for that again. Because there is once again a Mythic Item that is remarkable.
Update: Previously unknown locations for leads have been added.
So get your brushes and shovels ready, because you will likely have to dig again.
Why the “Oak Soul Ring” is so strong
What kind of item is that? The “Oak Soul Ring” is a so-called Mythic Item. This type of equipment consists of a single set piece and stands out in its effect strength from the conventional three or five-piece sets.
It is important to know that you can only equip 1 Mythic Item. This means that they cannot be combined. So you have to make a difficult choice.
Why is the item so strong? The item provides you important buffs that you would otherwise receive from supporters. Some of these buffs can also be activated with potions and certain skills. However, that is not necessary when wearing the Oak Soul Ring.
Here are the effects at a glance:
Greater Fury – increases damage dealt by 10%
Greater Valor – increases weapon and spell damage by 430
Greater Brutality / Sorcery – increases weapon and spell power by 20%
Greater Savagery – increases critical weapon hit
Greater Might – increases critical damage by 20%
Greater Protection – reduces damage taken by 10%
Greater Determination – increases physical and spell resistance by 5948
Greater Heroism – grants 3 ultimate power every 1.5 seconds
Lesser Valor – increases health regeneration by 15%
Lesser Intellect – increases Magicka regeneration by 15%
Lesser Stamina – increases Stamina regeneration by 15%
Is there a drawback? Yes. Once you wear the Oak Soul Ring, you can no longer switch between your primary and secondary weapon. So you have to choose your skills very carefully.
In which situations is this item suitable? Since the item takes over important buffs that players would otherwise receive from supporters, it is particularly useful in situations without supporters. So, when you are out alone in ESO.
It is also practical for beginners who are not yet familiar with the 2 action bar system. They can comfortably stick to 1 action bar with a total of 5 skills and 1 ultimate skill and gain a lot of buffs.
How to obtain the “Oak Soul Ring” item
You obtain the “Oak Soul Ring” through the skill line “Excavation.” You need the Greymoor chapter for this. You also need the new High Isle chapter because you need to excavate the leads for your item there.
In advance, you need to obtain 5 leads from different sources, which can then be combined into the desired item.
You need the two skill lines “Scouting” and “Excavation.” You have to unlock them first. To do this, you need to travel to western Skyrim to Solitude. From the Wayshrine, you can now access the Antiquarian Circle.
In the building of the Antiquarian Circle, you must speak to Verita Numida, who will then give you a quest. You need to accept and complete this introductory quest. During this quest, you will also learn how the two skill lines work.
If you want to read more about it in detail, you can find our article on the antiquity system in ESO.
Start the quest with Verita Numida.The interface for scouting.This is what an excavation looks like.Here you will find the Antiquarian Circle in Solitude.Gallery on the antiquity system.
What level do I need for excavation and scouting?
Unfortunately, you need to invest some time here. To excavate leads for Mythic Items, you need the passive ability “Antiquarian’s Insight” (5/5) at maximum level. To unlock this ability, you need to do a lot of scouting and digging.
Attention! Always use all charges of the seer when excavating. This will give you more experience for the scouting skill line. It is worth using all charges even if you already know where the item to be excavated is located.
You need to possess 5 leads for the “Oak Soul Ring”
Since the new chapter will be released on the live servers only on June 6th, not all leads have been found yet. However, there is already information on how to obtain some of them.
Lead 1: Larimar Gemstones
You get the first lead in the area of Stormhaven. In the lower left part of the map, there is a smaller island in this area. There you might encounter a world boss at the mud crab beach. With a bit of luck, you will also receive the appropriate lead.
Lead 2: Stone Rings
You can find this lead when gathering blacksmithing resources in the area of Glenumbra. You can combine this with a discovery tour and simultaneously collect sky shards and mage guild books.
Lead 3: Sacred Resin
You receive this lead from enemies in the open world of Malabal Tor. So defeat as many hostile NPCs as possible that cross your path.
If you are interested in more about ESO, this might interest you:
You can obtain this lead when you face the world events in High Isle and Amenos. You need to defeat a volcano vent. In doing so, you have the chance to get this lead.
Lead 5: Petrified Oak Ring
For this lead, you need to pick locks! Specifically: Value chests in Rivenspire. You will find these primarily in the towns. Look for them in buildings or at crafting stations.
These add-ons can make your search for the leads easier. However, unfortunately, they are only available for PC players. Here is the add-on list:
If you want to have the perfect gear, you cannot avoid investing some time. If you do not want to farm endlessly until your desired gear finally drops in the right trait, you can also reconstruct set pieces from your collection.
Call of Duty: Warzone has announced a new map for Season 4: Fortune’s Keep. The map has now been fully revealed, and players are speculating on how much area the map offers and whether it will replace the popular Rebirth Island.
What does the new map look like? On June 22, Season 4 in Call of Duty: Warzone could start with a new map. After a little scavenger hunt on Twitter, the map was completely revealed on the evening of June 13:
In total, there are 12 named “Points of Interest” (PoI) on the map. The largest building is a mansion at the PoI “Keep” in the north, surrounded by many houses. To the west, a town provides ample cover, while in the east at “Winery,” there are more open areas.
Currently, there is much speculation about how large the map is. The only official information we have from Call of Duty so far is:
So far, Call of Duty has not made any concrete statements about it.
In the meantime, players are trying to figure out how big the map actually is compared to Rebirth Island.
Rebirth Island – Soon to be history?
The Warzone expert “JGOD” has tried to determine the sizes based on the 500-foot quadrants in a YouTube video. However, he came to the conclusion that the quadrants are not very accurate.
After comparing the buildings and streets, he created the following image:
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Fortune’s Keep appears to be larger than Rebirth Island based on initial findings. However, the question still remains how much larger the new map is. A user comparison on reddit shows a larger Fortune’s Keep, but Rebirth Island is not necessarily significantly smaller:
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As long as the developers themselves do not make any further statements about the area, speculation will continue. It is currently difficult to assess how large the map will actually be based on the maps.
What will happen to Rebirth Island? Here, too, no safe statements can currently be made. However, there has never been a case in Warzone where two small maps were run parallel to each other. If Fortune’s Keep comes in, Rebirth Island is likely to be removed.
Although the required storage for Warzone has occasionally decreased since release, a new map would probably again add a significant amount of new data to the game.
At the moment, it can only be speculated about this, and it remains to be seen what Raven Software will explain in the blog regarding the new Season 4.
Redfall is one of the highlights of the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase 2022. The new co-op game captivates with vampires and gunfire. It’s quite nice – if it weren’t for one detail that MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus finds totally off-putting.
Redfall gets a lot of things right. Among the announcements at the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase, the co-op game was definitely one of my favorites. Even before that, I was really interested in Redfall and the new trailer only solidified that interest.
The beginning isn’t very exciting. Vampires have taken over a city, blocked out the sun, and dried up a lake. Some cultists worship the bloodsuckers, and the few survivors are fighting back, yadda yadda.
Things get exciting around 2:47 minutes. There, the game shows four different playable characters with unique abilities. Right at the start: a sharpshooter who can summon a raven and has some sort of vampire eye.
Awesome! Exactly my thing. I love snipers and enjoy providing support from a distance. Everything after that also looks like an excellent game. Around 3:20 minutes, there’s stealth gameplay combined with team coordination.
There’s hardly anything more satisfying than coordinating with your squad and taking out multiple enemies simultaneously. And when things go wrong and the enemies become aware, the special abilities come into play, as seen impressively from minute 4:
Start video
Redfall in the gameplay trailer
One detail takes away all my anticipation
Even though the new trailer is full of interesting new info and gameplay for Redfall, I am skeptical.
I really like everything, and I want to try the game with friends. But at around minute 5:23, a single screen flashes briefly. It shows a loadout, and only for a split second can you see how weapons are compared with their stats.
I probably won’t make many friends with this at MeinMMO, but I simply don’t like loot shooters. Destiny annoys, Borderlands annoys. When I want to shoot, it just bothers me to constantly have to compare weapons in the inventory.
I want to shoot, not compare weapon perks and stats.
“Then just use what you like!” – Yes, haha. I like to play my character as well as possible and enjoy challenges. If I want to spend all day comparing Excel spreadsheets to get one percent better with one weapon, I would play EVE.
The classes already look diverse, and you can apparently even level up. That should be enough for personal customization. Why do I have to be overwhelmed with weapons, 95% of which will end up with merchants or in the shredder?
In the preview from GamePro about Redfall with an interview, a picture of an open world emerges, with less mission gameplay like in Left4Dead. I really hope that Redfall doesn’t lean too heavily towards Borderlands – otherwise, I will certainly lose interest quickly.
More new games and recommendations at Find Your Next Game:
When is Redfall coming? Redfall is set to release in September 2022 for Xbox and PC, by the way, as one of the 36 new games right in the Xbox Game Pass. Because of that, I will definitely try it anyway.
Still, I hope that the loot aspect is not as significant as it seems just from this one picture. New weapons… I’m fine with that, but please with new abilities and not just status values.
I will test Redfall and give the title a chance. Maybe it won’t be so bad, even if my hype is now considerably dampened. If worse comes to worst, I will just go back to Nightingale:
MeinMMO author Maik Schneider ran joyfully through the Hellgate at level 60 in Diablo Immortal. He is a Free2Play player and appreciates the free action RPG. However, after looking at the endgame mechanics, the joy has faded.
Diablo Immortal has brought me back to the Diablo series after many years. With a smile on my face, I think back to my time in Diablo 3. Splitscreen with four players, two TVs, until one of the co-op partners automatically lags behind because the guy on the controller is already asleep.
Instead of playing the Monk, I focus on the Necromancer in Diablo Immortal, and instead of a sleeping teammate, a world full of players opens up to me, with whom I can engage in many activities anytime.
So I diligently played the story since the release and finally reached the endgame at level 60, the start of the Paragon experience.
So far, I haven’t spent a cent and I am satisfied with the experience that Diablo Immortal offers me. I wanted to go straight into the grind for the matching set items for my build and had to find out that I cannot collect them all yet.
Because Diablo Immortal sets clear limits when it comes to endgame grind. And I think the current system after level 60 is a bigger problem than Pay2Win and Legendary Gems.
Because the biggest fans of the action RPG are restricted in their enthusiasm. The people who grind through the game from release and always defend it against constant Pay2Win accusations – it is exactly these people who are limited by the artificial boundaries.
Learn more about the controversial Legendary Gems in our video:
Start video
Diablo Immortal: What are legendary gems? Facts and locations in 3 minutes
The endgame has 3 major problems
After I completely understood how all the Pay2Win mechanics work, I was briefly demotivated.
However, I made it clear to myself that I do not want to be one of the best PvP players on the server. I just want a quick grind with friends sometimes – always with an eye on a strong build. And for this, there are also plenty of Legendary Gems that I can get without spending real money.
As I delved deeper into the Paragon and endgame systems, I realized that the actual problems for frequent players lie exactly here and not in the Pay2Win approach.
Overall, I would like to point out three mechanics that restrict the endgame or limit frequent players in their ability to explore Diablo Immortal all day:
Paragon limits do not allow better equipment
Loot limits restrict upgrade potential
Real money items tied to characters
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Diablo Immortal wants to give latecomers a chance to catch up with the diligent Paragon grinders. For this, the maximum Paragon level has a strict “soft cap”.
On my server, El’Druin, the Paragon server level at the time of this article is 26. All players below this level receive a decent experience point boost. If I am above it, I get fewer experience points. The XP bar at the bottom of the picture even turns red.
1 – 2 levels: 80% XP
3 – 4 levels: 60% XP
5 – 6 levels: 50% XP
7 – 8 levels: 40%
9 – 10 levels: 30% XP
11 – 12 levels: 20% XP
Further above: hardly any XP
This would not be a problem if the Paragon level only affected the Paragon system. But it is also related to the gear.
The two rings of all item sets can only be grinded on the difficulty “Hell IV”. Hell IV is recommended only from Paragon level 150, and equipment of this difficulty can only be equipped from 150 onwards.
Hell IV for the ring from the set.Paragon level 150 for Hell IV.
Even if I am struggling through the instance with a team and get the coveted set item, I need Paragon 150 to equip it. Currently, it will take 62 days until the server level reaches this level. That would only be mid-August.
A similar situation applies to the armor smith. No matter how many materials I offer to the smith, eventually I need a higher Paragon level, or there will be no more upgrades. For equipment level 8, I already need Paragon level 30.
Additionally, all gear loses value as soon as the next Paragon threshold is reached. Because at the new Paragon level, there is the important Legendary for my build again in a better version – so grinding again.
A team of frequent players has discovered that there are loot limits in many activities. For example, I can play a maximum of five cursed chests a day or complete five side quests. After that, there is no more glorious chest as a reward.
Two limits are particularly restrictive: Legendaries and Normal Gems. As soon as I have collected six of them in one day, the chances of further items of that type drop rapidly.
If I patiently wait for the new Paragon threshold, I cannot even really start grinding to bring my Legendaries up to date. If you find six, the next Legendary takes ages to appear.
You can learn more about the loot limits in the game here:
Character Binding – Second Character has to pay twice
Lastly, the shop policy slows things down. If you buy something with real money, these packages are character-bound. You can’t just start a second character and then go full throttle with the purchased advantages.
Only the character on which the items were actively purchased benefits from this. This applies to the Battle Pass as well as to cosmetics and other packages.
Sure, you can also start a second character without all the stuff. But especially with cosmetics, I can’t help but shake my head. Part of the community feels similarly.
Conclusion: Legendary Gems do not matter to me, but let me grind!
Diablo Immortal causes waves in me. At first, I was hyped and had a lot of fun. Then I understood the situation with the Legendary Gems and I was downcast.
Then I realized that I can also build great builds without a 5/5-star gem. Currently, the situation with loot and equipment limits brings me down again.
My problem is that I want to engage more with it, I want to play more. That I actually hold a full-fledged Diablo in my hands, but I keep running into artificial hurdles that shouldn’t be there in part. This includes the XP walls between areas.
That’s why I stand here today and say: Pay2Win is not the biggest problem in Diablo Immortal. It is the progress barriers that have been built in endgame that prevent the biggest fans of the action RPG from enjoying the game without limits.
Feel free to leave a comment on the topic. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
FIFA 22 introduced a new type of player card with the “FUT Heroes”. When these heroes return in FIFA 23, the list is likely to get longer – and a few players may join.
These are FUT Heroes: The “Heroes” are deserving players from certain clubs or leagues who may not have fully reached the legendary icon status but still hold a place in the hearts of many fans. In FIFA 22, players like Mario Gomez, Lars Ricken, or Di Natale were included.
These cards are always associated with a league, but not with a specific club. They build strong connections to players from the same league in your team and can be used perfectly for squad building.
But who could be included in FIFA 23? Let’s look at some cards.
Players like Ginola became heroes in FIFA 22
These 6 players show leaks as new heroes for FIFA 23
Is anyone already known? The FIFA leaker “FUT Sherriff” has already shown some cards via Twitter that could return as heroes in FIFA 23. While these are not yet official, the leaker has proven to be very accurate in the past. These players are:
Capdevila: Joan Capdevila was mainly active in the Spanish league, defending for Atlético Madrid, Deportivo La Coruña, and Villarreal. With Deportivo, the left-back won the Copa del Rey, and with Villarreal, he finished second in the 07/08 season. He also won the European Championship with the national team in 2008.
Lúcio: Bundesliga fans will remember the Brazilian defender well: after three years at Bayer Leverkusen, Lúcio moved to Bayern Munich, where he stayed from 2004 to 2009 and played 144 matches. He then moved to Italy and later to Brazil. Additionally, he was part of the Brazilian World Cup team in 2002.
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This is what a Lúcio card could look like in FIFA 23
Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt mainly played as a forward during his active career but even switched to the defensive wing at times. He played for Feyenoord Rotterdam, Liverpool, and Fenerbahçe Istanbul. For the Netherlands, he made 104 international appearances, and was vice-world champion in 2010 and third in 2014.
Peter Crouch: Crouch was an English forward who played for Aston Villa, Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, and Tottenham. He spent most of his career at Stoke City, with 225 games and 46 goals. He proved to be extremely strong in the air. For England, he played 42 matches.
Claudio Marchisio: Marchisio played 269 matches for Juventus Turin throughout his career and spent a total of 12 years as a professional there, after already completing 13 years as a junior player at the Italian top club. He won numerous Italian championships and cups and was also vice-European champion with Italy.
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Yaya Touré: The midfielder was known for many years as an extremely strong midfielder, who moved after three very successful years with FC Barcelona to England. At Manchester City, he became the captain and was the boss in midfield for over 8 years. Touré collected numerous titles – and it is quite questionable whether he should not rather be in line for an icon card.
Who else could come as a Hero to FIFA 23? 6 Suggestions
Which players are in the running? The list of possible heroes is simply endless, as even a single heroic moment can theoretically qualify a player for such a card. At the same time, players who have been long and successfully active for certain clubs or in certain leagues are also an option.
In the FIFA subreddit, there are plenty of names being discussed by fans. We present a selection of these players and some additional suggestions here:
Lukas Podolski as a Bundesliga representative and national team favorite – though an icon card would also be possible here.
Rafael van der Vaart would also be an option for a hero card following his international career.
Claudio Pizarro also quickly comes to mind in the Bundesliga, just like…
Giovane Élber, the best foreign goalscorer in Bundesliga history until Pizarro surpassed him. By the way, it is now Robert Lewandowski.
David Villa as a fantastic Spanish striker is often mentioned – though he would also have chances for an icon card. But if Touré becomes a hero, Villa could too.
Wesley Sneijder is also a player many have wanted as an icon for years – but he would also fit as a hero.
Who would you like to see as a hero in FIFA 23? Which players do you think deserve it – and who should rather be an icon? Tell us in the comments!
When exactly FIFA 23 will be released is still uncertain. What is certain is that it will be the last “official” FIFA title from EA Sports – they will switch to “EA Sports FC” afterwards.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Fortnite there are many modes, but one was particularly popular – Groupsquads. This chaotic yet fun mode captivated many players for a long time, but for inexplicable reasons, it was adjusted and brought into a poorer light. We show you how Epic Games destroyed the mode.
How does Groupsquads work? Groupsquads is just like the well-known solo, duo, trio, and team modes a separate mode. In it, two teams of 16 players each can compete. The goal is to be the first team on the newly updated map to reach 125 points. Depending on the number of players, the required points vary to avoid unnecessarily prolonging the match.
Many players loved this mode because you couldn’t die permanently. After your death, you would respawn and could fall upon your opponents again.
Completing tasks and quests in Groupsquads was also easy, but Epic made many changes that increasingly made the Groupsquads mode less popular.
No changes were necessary
What changes were made? When this mode was introduced in Chapter 1, many changes took place by Chapter 3.
Although many players used Groupsquads to complete their quests, this changed in Chapter 2. At the start of a round, you received separate tasks that were tailored to the chaotic mode and offered you very few XP for the Battle Pass.
Players couldn’t even complete their seasonal quests and had to switch to the known solo, duo, trio, and team modes for that. This hit a sore spot for many. But not only that.
Where once giant buildings rose from the sky through building battles, this is no longer possible today. At the start of a round, you now have less time to loot various POIs and must immediately look out for where the storm eye is located.
Upon reaching the storm eye, it now does not stay in one spot but moves across the entire map. So you need to be more mobile and agile. The crazy building in Groupsquads is no longer possible. The storm forces you to engage in long-range battles in open areas instead of having wild shootouts inside structures with the shotgun.
In the Fortnite community, the Groupsquads mode was a constant topic. Adjustments were made where none were necessary. Many players complained about the changes, yet Epic Games keeps altering the mode.
Is Groupsquads still playable now? A lot has happened, but the original wild character of the mode is gone.
Many players have turned away from the mode since the extreme gameplay changes. However, now you are thrown into a round with weapons. Additionally, quests and tasks can also be completed this time. Even bounties can be accepted and completed in Groupsquads.
You can tell how Epic Games is backtracking and wants to restore the mode to its former glory, but whether the efforts will be worth it remains to be seen.
What do you think of Groupsquads? Do you like the mode with its new changes or do you think nothing of it and want to stay away from the mode? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On reddit, a discussion erupted regarding the gender of champions in League of Legends. This happens from time to time. Ryan Mireles, Lead Gameplay Producer of LoL, got involved in the discussion and revealed an interesting detail: Almost all female players exclusively use female champions.
What does the developer say? In the reddit thread, there was a discussion about why more female champions are currently being introduced into the game. Out of the last 10 champions, 8 were female. Recently, on June 9, a new heroine named Bel’Veth was introduced.
Mireles explained that Riot Games aims to have about 50% male and 50% female champions in the game. However, since the proportion of male heroes is currently higher, female champions are simply appearing more often:
A few years ago, we looked at the diversity of our champion roster, and it turned out that we had about 60% male champions and 40% female champs. We believe that in the long run it is better to have a ratio of 50/50 between male and female champions. We will likely continue releases until we achieve a 50/50 ratio.
This statement was met with some confusion from users. They wondered why the ratio needed to be balanced. But then Mireles explained how much impact the gender of the champions actually has and why having more female champions would be important.
What does the distribution look like among players?
Male players are said to use both genders about equally. So it does not matter much whether a new champion is male or female.
97% of all female players, on the other hand, are said to exclusively use female champions.
According to the developer, many players are completely left behind when a male champion is introduced:
We do not leave half of our player base behind by developing more female champions. Our data even shows that female players primarily play female champions. In fact, about 97% of female players only play female champions. Male players are evenly distributed between male and female champions, so they choose 50/50 between male and female champions.
When we introduce a male champion, we leave most of our female players behind, as most of our female players do not use male champions at all.
In line with this, the developer also shows a World Cloud from a survey conducted in 2017. It displays the most popular champions among male players (left) and female players (right).
The most popular champions, divided by gender.
What will the next champion be? In April, Riot Games introduced three new champions. One of them was Bel’Veth as the new jungler. Next in line are an AD carry and a top laner.
The gender and appearance of champions in League of Legends have already led to some discussions. For instance, in the summer of 2021, it was about how most male champions follow the same model with six-pack abs.
However, many also wish for heroes beyond the beauty ideal, like Gragas:
Since December 2020, ARK fans have been waiting for new information about ARK 2. At the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022, it finally happened: There was a new trailer. The excitement quickly turned into disappointment, as there wasn’t much to see. However, there is plenty of new information that Studio Wildcard shared on Steam and their own website.
What does the new trailer show? At the beginning of the trailer, we see a Dodo. This is a small, harmless bird that is then chased away by a Dino – presumably a Deinonychus – at 00:41.
Shortly after, a Tyrannosaurus Rex enters the scene, scaring off the significantly smaller Dino. We also see Santiago da Costa (played by Vin Diesel) and his daughter riding a T-Rex (from 00:42). Then a date follows: 2023. The fears of ARK fans are confirmed, ARK is delayed.
Why is the trailer disappointing? Cinematically, the trailer looks good, but apart from the delayed release, it offers players no new information – it just looks good. There was also no hoped-for information about a possible PS5 release of ARK 2.
Start video
ARK 2 Trailer Release 2023
Climbing, fighting, and parkour – New ARK 2 information on the websites
What information does the trailer not show? What Studio Wildcard missed with the trailer, the development studio made up for elsewhere: On various websites and platforms, such as Steam, we have seen numerous new information since the release of the new trailer that sounds really good. MeinMMO summarizes what is stated there.
Exploring the world of ARK 2 in third-person
What new information is there about the world of ARK 2? In the world of ARK 2, a completely new experience is to be created through the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5, which affects weather, smoke, or even foliage.
The new map: ARK 2 takes place in the new world of Arat. The inhabitants of this world are called Aratai.
The Aratai: The inhabitants of Arat, the Aratai, see humans as intruders and therefore want to drive them out of their world. Aratai will hunt you down, attack you, and ride on their own tamed creatures.
Dynamic world events: In ARK, there will be natural and unnatural events that will occur in the game world independently of the players’ presence. Interacting with world events offers a challenge and can yield a reward. Examples of world events include herd migrations, gatherings at watering holes, or wounded creatures.
Natural behavior of the game world: In ARK 2, the world and its effects are supposed to respond to what happens in it: water flows around obstacles, smoke and particles are influenced by physical forces, and foliage reacts to passing wildlife.
Weather: In ARK 2, there will be localized weather systems and individual storm clouds.
Until we see the first gameplay on the “ARK 2” map Arat, we might have to wait a bit, but another map has just been freshly released in ARK: Survival Evolved: The popular mod map Fjördur is here and playable on all platforms!
What new information regarding the technology is available? The big news for ARK 2 is that Xbox consoles will also be able to access mods of any kind in the future. For the predecessor, mods were limited to the Steam version of the game.
Cross-platform modding: Community-created mods will be available in ARK 2 on all platforms – including the Xbox consoles – and playable on unofficial servers.
Third-person perspective: In ARK: Survival Evolved, players could switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. However, ARK 2 will only have the third-person perspective.
What do we know about building in ARK 2? Building in ARK 2 is also expected to feature several changes, including the collaborative construction of structures in a team.
Building with templates: In ARK 2, you will be able to create, save, and share building templates, similar to how it works with schematics in Minecraft. This way, you can place a building template on the map and construct the building as a team.
Building options: The revised building system includes countless additional building options, according to Studio Wildcard.
Changes for combat with animals and fists
What changes are there in movement: Movement in ARK 2 will experience significant new innovations and be inspired by other games. For example, Studio Wildcard wrote that they are looking at soulslike games for the melee combat system and that Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed served as a template for the parkour movement.
Soulslike melee combat: ARK 2 is supposed to have a melee combat system inspired by soulslike games like Elden Ring. This includes techniques such as target lock, blocking, dodging, combos, and special attacks.
New movement mechanics: In ARK 2, it should be possible to navigate the world in new ways. This includes free climbing and parkour. You should also be able to slide and swing.
What do we know about interactions with animals in ARK 2? Even regarding animals, there will be some changes in ARK 2 compared to the predecessor, targeting the senses of the creatures and camouflage.
Animals have senses: In ARK 2, animals will now hunt using their senses and try to track survivors by seeing, hearing, or smelling.
Camouflage: Since animals in ARK 2 will rely on their senses, there should also be better opportunities for hiding. You can visually camouflage yourself, hide behind obstacles, or even mask your scent.
Animation of attacks: Attacks in ARK 2 are supposed to actually hit the target. For example, a bite should tear the flesh of the victim and the target should respond to the physical hit at the spot.
If you are now excited about survival games because of all the new information and can’t wait until 2023 for the release of ARK 2, check out our list of the 25 best survival games in 2022.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Lost Ark was the most popular MMORPG on Steam at launch, on February 8, garnering up to 97% positive reviews. However, the game now stands at only 60% positive impressions in the last 30 days and has fallen to a balanced rating. But what is the reason for that? We at MeinMMO summarize.
Despite massively overcrowded servers and long queues at the start, the atmosphere was as excellent as the player numbers. With 97% positive reviews, Lost Ark was even the most popular and best-rated MMORPG on Steam for a while. While this figure dropped to around 85% in the first two weeks, Lost Ark remained very popular among genre fans.
What is the current status? By the evening of June 9, Lost Ark slipped into the “balanced” rating on Steam. This happens when a game receives more than a third of negative reviews. Currently, Lost Ark has 60% positive feedback in the last 30 days, based on 5,760 individual reviews from last month.
Looking at the total 163,523 ratings, there is still a glowing blue “mostly positive” on Steam. However, this has drastically decreased compared to the launch. Currently, only 74% of all reviews are positive. So the MMORPG has also dropped by about 10 percentage points here.
Why was Lost Ark so successful at all? You can see 5 reasons in our video:
Start video
The 5 Reasons for the Incredible Success of Lost Ark
Amazon and Communication
Why did reviews drop right at the start? After the good 97% start, the general reviews began to decline within the first two weeks. This was mainly due to communication from Amazon. Fans had issues with bugs, queues, and the future plan, but the publisher remained silent on these topics for a long time.
After this incident, the situation regarding communication from Amazon improved significantly.
What is the current status? The Amazon team releases monthly team updates where they discuss current issues, tasks, and new features. These announcements usually include something new about the upcoming updates, which is well received by fans.
However, the fact that communication has not been consistently improved became evident just last month. In the May update of Lost Ark, there were things in the game that were not announced in the patch notes. There were also pieces of information in the notes that were not present in the game. Although Amazon apologized for this, it also resulted in a small wave of new negative reviews.
With Argos came the first raid for 8 players and it sparked discussions immediately
The Problem with Bots
What is driving the ratings down currently? Lost Ark has been facing a massive problem with bots in the game for months. These bots continuously farm gold and sell it to real players, a practice known as RMT, or Real Money Trading. Initially, Amazon fought successfully against waves of automated accounts and even banned over a million of them.
These are not just wild characters running amok in low-level areas, as was the case when the game started. Bots have now made it to the endgame and are significantly affecting the economy there. The satisfaction of players in the high gear score area is dropping just like that of new players, who sometimes hardly get to fight any monsters due to the many bots.
Scenes like these have unfortunately become commonplace and are not a rarity:
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How is Amazon responding to this? As a player, it feels like the publisher currently lacks answers to this problem. Although they recently announced in the forum that they would also punish buyers of gold more harshly, this has not yet shown any effects.
Amazon has also attempted to remove some gold sources in the game to deny bots the opportunity to quickly acquire gold. However, this led not only to a reduction in the bustling characters but rather to even more bots in the MMORPG.
Additionally, honest players are also being deprived of the same sources of income, which could lead to them resorting to RMT more quickly, as many fans fear.
How this front will develop is currently an open topic, which annoys many players and is currently leading to negative reviews.
Bug Fixes Are Missing for Weeks
What else is causing frustration? Hotfixes for bugs disrupting gameplay were the norm in the early days of Lost Ark. While there were regularly unplanned server downs, players were not angry about it because the errors in the MMORPG were quickly resolved, and usually, there were even compensations for the downtime.
Currently, however, that is not the case. An annoying bug, where the user interface gets stuck on your mouse cursor and you can no longer move because of it, has been in the game for over 3 weeks. It’s particularly frustrating when it happens during a raid. Fans have thus demanded compensations for lost loot due to failed dungeons and raids, but so far in vain.
Here you can see the bug in action, even though the player can still move here. This is not always the case:
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Additionally, a serious bug that caused your character to get stuck in a loading screen and could only be saved by contacting support persisted for over 2 weeks in the MMORPG. Other, smaller bugs have been present for even longer in Lost Ark.
How are the fans reacting? They are currently angry and frustrated that seemingly small errors take so much time to resolve. Time and again, the “time bug” is mentioned as an example. This bug involved incorrectly displayed times in the in-game calendar. This error persisted for 2 months in Lost Ark and generated resentment, even though it hardly had any real impact on your gameplay.
Fans can be seen sporadically on Reddit and in forums, turning their backs on the MMORPG after over 1,000 hours of gameplay. Many of these postings paint a sad yet hopeful conclusion.
Lost Ark is Still a Good Game
Why are the ratings just a snapshot? Currently, many things are going wrong in Lost Ark, and this is also reflected in the fallen Steam ratings. However, that does not mean that the MMORPG is inherently a bad game – on the contrary. Lost Ark captivates its fans and draws them in because the basic game mechanics simply feel really good.
This is also evident in the fact that many of the negative reviews on Steam are written with a heavy heart and resonate with the sentiment “I’m having so much fun with the game, please don’t continue as you are now.”
Some of the negative reviews come from players with over 500 and even over 1,000 hours of gameplay, who simply hope that Amazon will address the current issues sensibly so they can play their favorite MMORPG with full enthusiasm again.
What do the fans say? We would like to quote some of these exclusively negative reviews for you. They all come from the Steam page of Lost Ark:
ZomgSquirrel writes after 906 hours: “I’m writing this while sitting in the queue. The game is fun, and there is truly a lot for every type of player to do, but the constantly growing bot population and the outrageous RMT make it impossible to play normally. […] Unless much harsher measures against bots and RMT are taken, I’m afraid I can’t recommend playing the game. Thanks for your time.”
tatjanat writes after 522 hours: “I love this game, but I feel Amazon doesn’t care about real players anymore.”
vee writes after 899 hours: “The best combat system I have ever experienced in an MMORPG. Great raids with unique mechanics and excellent horizontal progression. Sadly, the game is currently plagued by bots and poor management. […] None of this has been worked on, even after months.”
otomeanzu writes after 1,059 hours: “Right now, the game is just unplayable because of bots and a publisher that just doesn’t care. The game is unbelievably successful in Korea and Russia and it could be here too. Lost Ark is a great game, but Amazon is doing too much wrong here.”
What do you think of the current situation of Lost Ark? Are you still playing, or do you see it the same way as the authors of the negative comments? Do you also feel that Amazon needs to do more, or can you not understand the flood of negative reviews? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
