The best counters against Scyther in Pokémon GO in the guide. We will show you the best attackers and movesets. This way you are well prepared for the raids against Scyther.
What kind of Pokémon is Scyther? Scyther comes from the first generation of Pokémon GO and belongs to the Bug and Flying types. You will regularly encounter Scyther in 3-star raids or as a challenger from Team GO Rocket.
We will show you the best counters against Scyther and which types it is weak against (type effectiveness).
Scyther Counters
Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Rhydon with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Shadow Tyranitar with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Shadow Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Rhyperior with Rock Wrecker and Rock Slide
Terrakion with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Shadow Roserade with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Tyranitar with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Shadow Steelix with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Gigalith with Rock Wrecker and Stone Edge
Mega–Charizard Y with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
Landorus with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Aeropteryx with Wing Attack and Ancient Power
Shadow Ho-Oh with Hidden Power and Brave Bird
Mega-Ampharos with Volt Switch and Charged Beam
Roserade with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Alolan Geodude with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Shadow Zapdos with Fire Spin and Sky Attack
Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge
Weaknesses of Scyther: Due to its type combination, Scyther is particularly vulnerable to Rock. However, Flying, Fire, Electric, and Ice attacks also deal significant damage to Scyther.
Is there a Shiny Scyther in Pokémon GO? Yes, you can find and catch shiny Scyther with luck. In the following graphic, we show you how the normal and shiny forms differ:
Here you see Scyther and its evolution Scizor compared to their shiny versions
How many trainers are needed? If you have the top counter Pokémon and have already reached a relatively high level (40+) in Pokémon GO, you can easily battle Scyther solo. With lower levels but strong counters, you should also be able to beat Scyther in pairs.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In GTA Online, the latest update introduced a modern, electric SUV to the game. However, something seems off, according to players who have taken a closer look at the vehicle. Or rather: inside.
What kind of vehicle is this? The new car is called the “Obey I-Wagen,” which players can now purchase at Southern San Andreas Super Autos for 1,720,000 GTA-dollars.
While the vehicle is not one of the fastest cars in GTA Online, it indeed has a different approach: Looking at the official blog post about the update, it quickly becomes apparent that a lot of emphasis was placed on modernity with this new car. It is described as a “fully electric SUV,” eco-friendly and progressive.
Fully modern and up-to-date, then. But that apparently only holds true as long as one does not look inside the car.
Dusty interior frustrates players
This is the problem: On the GTA Online subreddit, players are currently discussing a post that shows the interior of the new vehicle. Unlike the advanced, modern designs that the I-Wagen is supposed to have, the interior looks more like a pretty dusty old car.
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Instead of modern driving systems that one would expect to find in such a vehicle, players are greeted by a rather monotonous, gray interior. Particularly, some users have fixated on the absence of a cassette player:
“Cassette system, lol,” writes user “NeedForMadnessAuto” (via reddit). The good old cassette technology has indeed become quite rare in modern cars.
“Haven’t you heard? Cassettes are the next big hipster thing,” writes user “sinadoh” (via reddit).
“Another nice car that won’t be added to my collection because it has a terrible, lazy, old interior, damn it, Rockstar,” writes another user (via reddit).
“Maybe Obey decided to skip a modern interior due to the chip shortage,” speculates user Zebarata (via reddit). Have the real-world supply issues spread to Los Santos?
Moreover, the thread repeatedly criticizes that this is not an isolated case: Too often, one would find cars whose interiors simply do not match the modern exterior: “I wish people would complain more about the interiors. A luxurious Rolls Royce with the same interior as an old SUV is a joke,” writes user szejdow (via reddit).
At the same time, some players question why this issue even arises. For them, it is incomprehensible that one would play GTA Online in first-person view at all, thus encountering the gray interior. And: Besides the interior design, the car’s performance also fails to excite players.
If you place high value on a stylish interior for your GTA vehicles, this car may not necessarily be a good investment. By the way, if you are currently looking for GTA dollars: Recently, there was a quick, easy way to secure $203,000 in 3 minutes.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On the release night of Rainbow Six: Extraction, there is some trouble in the community. The problem: teammates you should be able to rely on. Only a few seem to have any interest in teamwork.
Now there are initial larger complaints, which, however, have nothing to do with technical flaws. Players are upset about their teammates.
What is the problem with the teammates? You need to be able to rely on your teammates in Rainbow Six: Extraction for your success. The missions are doable, but a single mistake can already lead to defeat even on the easiest difficulty.
If you lose your health points and go down, your colleagues need to drag your operator and safely extract him from the zone. Otherwise, he is lost, and you have to rescue him again. The same happens if you are left behind, meaning you are not at the extraction point in time.
Now, some players are complaining on reddit about the toxic behavior of their teammates. They don’t wait for their colleagues and start the extraction before everyone is ready. In the worst case, this causes you to lose one of your operators for a while.
Additionally, some players are reportedly acting like true elitists (via reddit). According to reddit users, they expect players to play flawlessly and perfectly and become insulting when mistakes are made. Fans are urging Ubisoft to take action quickly – otherwise, it could escalate like in “the big brother” Siege.
Start video
Everything you need to know about Rainbow Six: Extraction – in 2 minutes
Toxic community spills over from Siege to Extraction
Why are the players so mean? Extraction is a sort of spin-off to the tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Siege. The co-op shooter is based on the Outbreak event from 2018, but it contains no PvP components.
Nevertheless, the operators from Siege have been carried over, and many Siege fans are likely to check out Extraction at least once. The Siege community is considered quite toxic, as is the problem with many shooters. Insults tend to fly when not reacting correctly in heated situations.
Moreover, Extraction plays with a certain fear of loss. I, too, have caught myself urging my teammates to try a little harder or to be more careful. I simply didn’t want to lose my operator.
Our tip: If you want to avoid toxic teammates, play only with friends or solo. While the tactical co-op component is lost when playing alone, the difficulty adapts. Playing solo, Extraction feels very much like a stealth shooter or Hitman.
Furthermore, community interactions outside the actual game, such as via Discord, are reported to be much more pleasant, as MeinMMO reader Grinseaktze informed us. Here, voice chat and coordination are also possible, and you can even find teammates without a clan who also do not want to deal with insults.
How is Rainbow Six: Extraction received? Players of Extraction praise that hardly any flaws can be found. It simply feels “finished” – a pleasant change after the somewhat catastrophic releases of late.
Also, on Metacritic, the new co-op shooter receives largely good reviews from the press. Criticism mainly concerns the fact that Extraction is not much more than a separate co-op mode. The game is good at what it does but is nothing really special.
We at MeinMMO had a lot of fun in our tests and will keep playing in the coming weeks. One of the biggest plus points for us was the duration, as Extraction can be wonderfully played in between. You can read more about this in the preview report by MeinMMO author Marko Jevtic:
On Steam, the new game “Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel” is currently climbing the charts. The free-to-play card game is now also playable on consoles – what’s inside?
What kind of game is this? Whether as a manga, TV series, or card game: In the early 2000s, it was hard to avoid “Yu-Gi-Oh”. So it’s no wonder that the monster cards quickly found their way into numerous video game versions.
The new “Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel” now joins with stylish graphics and plenty of monster cards. It was released across platforms on January 19, 2022.
The game offers classic Yu-Gi-Oh duels. You can assemble your decks from over 10,000 cards and compete in tournaments, solo modes, or against players from around the world. A tutorial brings you up to date on rules and mechanics – because a lot has been added since the early days of the card game.
The game is free-to-play, meaning it can be downloaded for free. This applies to both Steam and the console versions: Master Duel is also available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. At a later date, mobile versions for iOS and Android are also planned.
A brief overview is shown in the trailer:
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Yu-Gi-Oh climbs on Steam, surpassing Apex Legends & GTA V
This is how the game is doing: Although the game was released quietly on January 19, 2022, it is currently attracting a lot of players on Steam. According to the “Steamcharts” overview, “Master Duel” is currently in fourth place among the games with the most active players.
With just over 208,000 current players, Yu-Gi-Oh is currently only behind CS:GO, Dota 2, and the recently transitioned free-to-play model PUBG: Battlegrounds (as of January 20, 2022, 6:16 PM).
Games like Apex Legends (currently: 182,696 players, 5th place) have thus been left behind for the moment. In comparison to GTA V (6th place, 106,570 players), the card game currently has nearly double the number of players.
The current player numbers on Steam (via SteamCharts)
This is what players are saying: On Steam, the game is currently rated “Mostly Positive”, based on 3,089 reviews, of which 75% were declared “positive” (as of January 20, 2022, 6:16 PM, via Steam).
Players praise the variety of cards included in the game, as well as the gameplay, which implements the card game well. Additionally, there are reward and crafting systems that allow players to secure cards for their decks quite effectively, at least at the start.
However, it should be noted that there is a shop where you can also spend real currency for so-called “gem sets”. With these, you can buy additional card packs, thus gaining an advantage.
However, some players criticize that it is not entirely easy for new or returning players after several years to follow the game. There are long effect chains that can lead to very many and very strong cards being played early in the game. Those who only know the very original, basic Yu-Gi-Oh might have trouble with that.
With a new update, there has been a change to the portal mode of Battlefield 2042. You can now find a new feature: Zombie Survival. The mode actually comes from fans and has been popular since release. Now it is temporarily playable permanently.
What kind of mode is this? In Zombie Survival, you play cooperatively with 4 players against AI opponents. The twist is that the opponents are “zombies” who only wield knives. This makes it easier for you to defend against them.
The mode was created by fans in Battlefield Portal, where players can unleash themselves and create their own rules. In this case, the creator is the player StoneMountain64, but such zombie modes have existed since the release.
The modes were already used at the release of Battlefield 2042 to easily farm XP and level up operators or weapons. At that time, the “zombies” also only had one health point, allowing for mass kills. However, the mode had 2 problems:
dozens of farming lobbies clogged the limited portal slots, making other exciting modes unplayable or impossible to create
some lobbies were open, allowing players to join – but on the opponent’s side, where they were then farmed themselves
Ultimately, it was decided that farming XP through such lobbies in Portal would be completely stopped. The modes gradually disappeared. However, Zombie Survival is back now.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the new Battlefield 2042 – in 2 minutes
How can I play Zombie Survival? From January 20 to January 27, you can play Zombie Survival directly through the portal menu of Battlefield 2042. You can find the mode directly in the feature and select it.
Players report that it is possible to earn experience again to level up weapons and operators.
Zombies and Rush – Battlefield 2042 brings popular modes into the game
With Zombie Survival, the second popular mode has returned to Battlefield 2042. The first was Rush, which was also only temporarily available, but was extended and brought back after a week of absence.
The developers apparently want to show that they listen to the community and implement feedback. However, whether this is enough remains to be seen. In a new update, the requested scoreboard is supposed to be coming, but for many fans, this is too little and too late.
The state of Battlefield 2042 has been poor in many respects since release and is only slowly improving. The severity of the problem is illustrated by Steam, which is known for its rather harsh policies:
Today, on January 20, a hotfix update is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Google Stadia in Destiny 2. The hotfix 3.4.0.3 also brings a small server downtime. You can find the most important times and information here on MeinMMO.
What you need to know today: Bungie has announced a short downtime for today, Thursday, January 20. The servers were already offline on Tuesday, and today Bungie will roll out hotfix 3.4.0.3. By the way, Bungie already prepared this maintenance in the background yesterday, so that the downtime today is as short as possible.
To ensure you know exactly when you can play and what changes in the game, MeinMMO will guide you through hotfix 3.4.0.3 and continuously update this article with fresh information.
Update 6:00 PM: The new hotfix 3.4.0.3 is now being rolled out on all platforms. The update size on PC is 116.1 MB.
Maintenance on January 20 – All times and server downtime
These times are important today:
At 5:00 PM German time, maintenance work will begin on all platforms.
From 5:45 PM, the servers will go offline. You will be kicked from all activities, and downtime will begin.
Around 6:00 PM, the servers will be back online, and hotfix 3.4.0.3 will roll out worldwide.
Once you have downloaded (and copied) the update, you can play Destiny 2 again.
It’s important: Even if you have downloaded the update, there may be connection issues until the maintenance is over. You may have to expect queues when logging in. Additionally, keep in mind that third-party applications and the official companion app may not be functioning correctly.
What changes with update 3.4.0.3 in Season 15
What the hotfix brings today: Players are still dealing with several issues, and today’s Destiny 2 hotfix 3.4.0.3 aims to resolve some of these known problems.
There are issues related to low performance on PC.
Players also report performance issues on consoles.
There are problems with the increased occurrence of the MARMOT error. Players typically receive this message only when the game files of Destiny 2 have been corrupted and need to be repaired or verified.
Additionally, the shader “Wild Overgrowth” was not unlocked in collections for some players after hotfix 3.4.0.2.
What was already confirmed before the hotfix:
The update is supposed to fix the issue of Gambit crashes due to finishers, as the community manager previously communicated on Twitter.
If you encounter issues in the game, it’s always advisable to report them directly through the official Bungie Help Forum to bring it to their attention.
Patch Notes for the Update in Destiny 2
What’s in the patch notes? Bungie publishes a comprehensive list of all changes to an update in the form of patch notes. These are traditionally released together with the update itself. Bungie has released these on time. Here’s an excerpt of the most important changes:
Improved responsiveness of Phryzhia (ogre boss), who becomes vulnerable when the “Cursed Idol” buff is activated.
A problem was fixed where the cooldowns for Hunter class abilities were extended when the player’s mobility value exceeded 100. Players can now increase their mobility to any value over 100 they want, without affecting their cooldowns, even if this does not provide any real advantage.
PvP: A problem was fixed where invisible geometry could block bullets or movements on some curved surfaces.
and more
You can find the complete patch notes on Bungie’s website:
Annoying bugs and errors can really ruin your gaming experience. Previously, only Tuesday was “Maintenance Day” at Bungie. But that has now changed. The developer now also updates the servers on Thursdays, bringing more hotfixes into the game.
What’s your opinion on this? Do you think the update frequency of Bungie is much better and errors are fixed faster? Or does the second day of the week, where you have to expect downtime, bother you?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In League of Legends the new professional season 2022 has begun. The LCK in South Korea is still considered the best league in the world. There, a champion has developed a reputation for being so strong that he has achieved a ban rate of 100%. We look into why Renekton is so feared
Which champion is it about?
It’s about the vicious crocodile Renekton, a feared top-laner in League of Legends.
Renekton, “the Butcher of the Sands”, has been in League of Legends for 10 years. He entered the league on January 18, 2011.
The last time he was adjusted was in September 2020, but nothing has changed about him for a year and a half. However, changes to items and the meta have influenced him as well.
Crocodile can do it all – stun, gank, tank and execute tower dives
What makes him so special: Renekton is by far the most banned champion in the LCK in South Korea.
He has a “pick & ban” rate of 100%, while his pick rate is 0%. He hasn’t even been played in South Korea in 2022. The ban rate is 100%.
What makes him so strong? Renekton is considered the “most reliable stunner” in LoL. This makes him always a dangerous factor, players on reddit believe. He is also considered a strong pick for the early game in LoL. Moreover, he is relatively mobile, can gank well with his W, set traps, and also shine in the late game. He is also quite tanky. The crocodile is also suitable for tower dives.
He apparently works well as a “good blind pick,” as he does not require building a team around him, but is useful in many cases.
This is now the concern: Some Renekton players on reddit are already having second thoughts, as it looks like a nerf is waiting for them soon.
A player says: “That’s just what makes Renekton himself.” If you take away his abilities – especially the stun, he is no longer Renekton; you might as well call him Steve.
The other top 5 champs in LoL 2022
Who is seen as similarly strong in Korea?
The champion Twisted Fate was either played or banned in 97.4% of all games. He was played 3 times and won all 3 games.
The cat Yuumi ranks in third place – she has a pick & ban rate of 92.1% – most of the time she is banned. She has been on the field in 14 games.
Caitlyn ranks in fourth place – with 86.8% she also has a strong presence in the draft. Similar to Twisted Fate, she has been constantly banned. She has only been seen in 5 games.
The champion Aphelios has a pick & ban rate of 81.6%: The remarkable thing about him is that he was picked in 65.8% of all games. So he is indeed being played.
In LoL there was quite a hype around a champion in January 2020:
At the start of 2022, PUBG Battlegrounds is experiencing a surge in popularity. Especially newcomers, who are playing the game for the first time after the switch to a free-to-play model, are overwhelmed by a flood of weapons. MeinMMO tells you which weapons are the best in PUBG in 2022.
With over 40 different firearms and numerous attachments, it is not easy to keep track in PUBG. Due to the randomness of loot in a battle royale, it is also difficult to try out all weapons thoroughly and calmly.
That’s why we tell you which 3 weapons are currently the best in PUBG. We explain the biggest pros and cons of the weapon and reveal which attachments you should definitely use.
This selection is based on our own experiences, as well as the collected opinions of some professionals and frequent players. The preferences of streamers like summit1g have also been taken into account.
Weapon and ammunition are only available from dropped crates
What makes the weapon so powerful? The AWM is undoubtedly the strongest weapon in the game.
This sniper always kills with a headshot – even against a level-3 helmet. However, this strength is balanced by its rarity: You can only find the weapon in dropped crates. The same goes for the ammunition, which is why you should be very careful with your available bullets.
In return, you don’t need that much ammunition due to the lethality of the AWM. With its massive range and the high speed of the bullets it fires, it is comparatively easy to aim with the weapon.
The best attachments for the AWM:
Muzzle: Suppressor
Stock: Cheek pad
Scope: 6x scope
Why these attachments? The suppressor counters one of the few weaknesses of the AWM, namely its loud shots. The cheek pad reduces the shaking of your scope and overall the stability of the weapon, making it an excellent choice here. You have more flexibility with the scope choice; with the 6x scope, you can fully utilize the strengths of the weapon.
Mini14 – The best DMR in PUBG 2022 for beginners
The Mini14 is one of the most popular weapons in the game
Pro
Highest bullet speed in the game
Easy to find
Very accurate at all distances
Fast reload
Contra
Only 3 attachment slots
Below-average damage
Disadvantages in close combat
What makes the weapon so strong? The Mini14 is the most popular DMR and one of the best weapons in the game. Its damage is not the best, but it is super easy to use. With an extended quick draw magazine, you can fire many shots quickly and kill your opponents.
The weapon has the fastest bullets in the game, and it fires with high precision and stabilizes quickly when shooting. Thus, it can be used easily at all distances, and its performance is always reliable.
Its disadvantages as a DMR are particularly significant in close combat. Furthermore, it cannot be equipped with attachments as well as other weapons.
The best attachments for the Mini14:
Muzzle: Compensator
Magazine: Extended Quick Draw Magazine
Scope: 6x scope
Why these attachments? Both the compensator and the extended quick draw magazine help you fire more bullets faster. This way, the Mini14 can put a lot of pressure on opponents, even though it does not have automatic fire.
The 6x scope is designed for long distances because the Mini14 has no difficulties at these ranges. Depending on how aggressively you want to play with the weapon, you can also use a 4x or even 2x scope.
Beryl M762 – The best assault rifle in PUBG 2022
The Beryl has developed into one of the best weapons in the game over the years
Pro
Strong TTK
High fire rate
Faster bullet speed than comparable ARs
4 attachment slots
Contra
Difficult to control
Not the most beginner-friendly weapon
What makes the weapon so strong? When the weapon came into play in mid-2019, it had a tough time among many players. Its high damage could not completely make up for a terrible recoil. Since then, the weapon is, in the eyes of many, the best AR in the game and one of the strongest weapons in PUBG.
It deals more damage than the AKM and also has a faster bullet speed. However, its recoil is not easy to control. Like most ARs, the Beryl is therefore not particularly beginner-friendly. However, those who delve into the realistic weapon mechanics and learn how to handle the Beryl will be rewarded with a very strong and flexible weapon.
Moreover, you can attach 4 attachments to the Beryl – which is rare for weapons in this game. Additionally, it can also be used in burst fire mode. This further increases its already high flexibility.
The best attachments for the Beryl M762:
Muzzle: Compensator
Foregrip: Vertical grip
Magazine: Extended Quick Draw Magazine
Scope: Red dot sight
Why these attachments? Grip and compensator help with the recoil, which the weapon desperately needs. The magazine allows for a higher margin of error since you have more bullets ready and can reload faster.
The red dot sight should support the weapon’s aggression potential. If you have the confidence to shoot continuously at distance with the weapon, you can also switch to scopes with more zoom.
This is our choice for the best weapons in PUBG 2022 with their best attachments. What do you think of our choice? Do you have other favorites or preferred attachments? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to showcase your PUBG weapon skills in another game, you should check out Super People. This battle royale takes a lot from PUBG but does some things quite differently:
In Fortnite, bots have been causing chaos in lobbies since Chapter 2. Many brainless skins wander through the map and are seen as easy prey. But now, the bots are so strong that they can even win entire matches.
What happened? Bots have been a topic since Chapter 2 in Fortnite. They are supposed to fill lobbies for beginners, providing a better entry into the sweaty battles. However, these bots were merely mindless shadows of skins that moved, shot, and built like crazy.
In the game, they were never perceived as a threat, but now a player shows that bots can tear you apart.
Careful! Bots have aimbots
In the Fortnite clip from Additional-Resort624 on Reddit, they show how a real player is ripped apart by a bot.
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The bot initially wanders aimlessly around, collecting loot and looking for its next victim. It then aims through its scope and spots the last opponent of the round.
However, this player disappears behind treetops with their web shooters and feels safe. The bot seems to ignore this, as it confidently fires a shot through the foliage, which accurately hits and sends its opponent to the afterlife.
How was it in Chapter 2? In Chapter 2, bots were introduced for the first time. They were meant to help new players to get a good and easy start in Fortnite without being immediately thrown into a box with sweat gamers. However, they are often placed in better lobbies as well to fill missing spots.
The better you got, the fewer computers were thrown into a lobby with you. Bots were not really regarded as opponents since they wandered mindlessly, shot wildly, and built walls for no reason.
Players had an easy game with them as they were not dangerous and also dropped loot upon death. However, this easy game changed with Chapter 3.
What is different in Chapter 3? It is unclear what the cause behind the bots’ talent increase is, but they seem to have received a polish. As seen in the clip, you can only approach bots to a certain distance as they notice you immediately.
Their accuracy and enemy detection have also increased, making them a new threat in matches. However, no changes have been made to their building skills. Therefore, do not underestimate them; otherwise, you might be the next one with a bullet between your eyebrows.
What do you think of the bots in Fortnite? Do you find them ridiculous and do not recognize them as a new threat, or are you afraid of them? Let us know!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Microsoft has acquired Activision Blizzard. However, in the future, it could be about more than just a conflict between PS5 and Xbox Series X. For a long time, new trends like cloud gaming have dominated the battle between major gaming giants, says MeinMMO author Benedikt Schlotmann.
However, Microsoft’s plans could be much bigger than just a few games that might not appear on the competition’s consoles. The trends in gaming have changed significantly in recent years.
Game consoles played a crucial role in recent years
For years, consoles played an important role, and big companies produced their own consoles to win over players. The three manufacturers Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo even built their own ecosystems to bind players to them.
If you wanted to play all games, you had to buy a PlayStation and an Xbox, as otherwise you risked missing out on important exclusive titles. And this worked for years because people bought the games and the consoles. Especially because consoles always represented the more straightforward gaming experience. Much more accessible than, for example, a gaming PC, which often posed more challenges when games didn’t work as expected.
Even in this battle between gaming systems, big sums were at stake: Microsoft bought Bethesda for 7.5 billion US dollars and simultaneously introduced new games, the science fiction epic Starfield, which will not appear on PS5.
But with cloud gaming and new subscription services, this could change in the long run.
Cloud gaming could eventually replace PS5 and Xbox Series X
Digital technologies are becoming increasingly important, and the Internet is becoming faster in many parts of the world.
If you can play all current top titles from the Game Pass via the cloud on your smartphone or even on your TV, then the console you have under your TV becomes less important, as explained by the US site IGN regarding Microsoft’s purchase (via IGN).
IGN compares today’s consoles to a Blu-Ray player. While the viewing experience on a Blu-Ray player is undoubtedly the best, most people today would still opt for Netflix or other streaming services, as it is ultimately cheaper and more accessible:
Just as Netflix displaced the Blu-Ray player
The Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming could displace consoles
The trend towards cloud gaming is also shown by looking at recent years. Subscription services are on the rise, and players now have to consider how much money they spend each month on various subscription services. Here, several major providers like Microsoft, Netflix, and Apple compete for users’ favor.
While online services like Netflix or Disney+ are booming, the sale of DVDs and Blu-Rays is continuously declining. DEG-Online reports a decline of 20% in 2020 (via degonline.org) compared to the previous year. This also shows that many people are now relying on digital media and no longer go to stores to buy their movies.
Subscription services are very much in trend, and for many people, it is simply cheaper to spend 10 euros per month for a variety of movies or games rather than paying 60 euros each time for a new game. In the context of games, it is often referred to as a “Netflix for gamers”.
EA’s subscription service has also been integrated into Game Pass.
Xbox could win where Stadia fails – become the “Netflix for gamers”
Subscriptions and streaming services are in trend: Many had hoped for a “Netflix for gamers” with Google Stadia, but Google Stadia has crashed. This is due to the lack of a comprehensive game library to bind a wide user base in the long term. Additionally, many games still had to be purchased, and Stadia couldn’t be used with Steam and others.
Here, GeForce Now is significantly more successful. Nvidia provides the hardware for streaming with GeForce Now and charges for the technology. Users already need to own the games on Steam and others, as you cannot purchase games through GeForce Now.
Microsoft, on the other hand, offers not only a vast selection of games with its Game Pass but also makes top titles available without extra charge right at release. With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Xbox expands its portfolio to include some of the biggest names in gaming, such as Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Call of Duty.
Microsoft is on par with Facebook, Apple, and others with the acquisition
With this acquisition, Microsoft is on par with major digital competitors like Facebook and Apple, who have already laid important cornerstones.
And these topics will be very important for gaming in the future. The CEO of Activision Blizzard explained that they had to sell to Microsoft to play along with the big companies in the world. As direct competitors, Activision’s CEO mentions companies like Amazon, Apple, and Facebook, but also firms like Netflix.
And those who want to participate successfully in this new world need resources and technologies to keep up. Activision Blizzard has therefore chosen Microsoft.
It is therefore no longer about who sells the most consoles. Rather, it is about making sure that people spend more time with their own games or their own worlds. Users should not have to set a console in their living rooms anymore but should be able to play as many games as they want over their TVs through a subscription service.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Bobby Kotick, the controversial CEO of Activision-Blizzard, allegedly intended to buy critical press media according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The aim was to improve the negative press regarding his company.
Recently, the boss explained the reasons why they had to sell instead of acquiring publisher EA.
However, in an article in the Wall Street Journal, another rumor has surfaced. Bobby Kotick allegedly intended to simply buy critical gaming media.
Insiders claim Kotick wanted to buy Kotaku or PC Gamer
What is behind these plans? According to the Wall Street Journal, insiders close to Bobby Kotick have claimed that Kotick had these plans.
He allegedly had the idea of acquiring a site like PC Gamer or Kotaku. This was purportedly based on the idea of ensuring favorable press for Activision Blizzard.
Whether these plans had anything to do with the sexism scandal at Activision Blizzard is not known.
The scandal has caused and still causes negative headlines and loss of image. Furthermore, it is said that the company’s value fell so much because of this that Microsoft ultimately swooped in.
What is the truth behind these rumors? So far, there has been no evidence or positive feedback regarding the rumor that Kotick wanted to buy a site like PC Gamer or Kotaku. According to the Wall Street Journal, the claim was denied by a spokesperson for Activision Blizzard. The company behind Kotaku declined to comment, and PC Gamer has not yet responded to this claim.
Interestingly, 12 years ago, there was already an April Fools’ article on Kotaku claiming that the site was supposedly taken over by Bobby Kotick and then named “Koticku”.
Why is Bobby Kotick still under criticism? Even if the claim about the planned purchase of gaming sites remains just a rumor without official backing, Bobby Kotick is still under criticism. He allegedly knew about the allegations of sexual harassment in the company for a long time and even concealed them from the board. Therefore, many employees at Activision-Blizzard are also calling for his resignation.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Do you absolutely want to buy a PS5? Saturn and Media Markt have just dropped and are offering consoles accordingly. MeinMMO presents the offer to you.
Are you still looking for a new PlayStation 5 and have not received one yet? Then you currently have plenty of opportunities. After Amazon had PS5 consoles on sale a few days ago, the next retailer now has PS5 consoles in stock.
Where can you get a PS5 console? Right now, you can take the opportunity to buy a PS5 at Saturn and Media Markt. MeinMMO explains what you need to consider. We at MeinMMO will update our article if the situation changes or if there are new bundles available.
You can currently buy a PS5 at Saturn
Update January 20, 3:00 PM: It seems that this was indeed the final drop from Media Markt and Saturn. The fact that this happened completely unexpectedly and at an atypical time for both retailers is currently causing a lot of frustration on social media. The relatively small quota, the constant filling out of captchas, and other technical problems have made it especially difficult to successfully purchase a console this time – all of which are very atypical for Media Markt and Saturn.
We certainly hope that some of you were lucky!
Update January 20, 2:13 PM: The quotas at both Saturn and Media Markt were indeed surprisingly small and likely sold out within minutes. However, it is possible that bundles will be released again later. We will of course keep an eye on it for you!
What is the current situation? The sale of the PS5 and suitable bundles has already started at the electronics retailer Saturn! If you want to buy a PS5, you should hurry. However, keep in mind that Saturn often re-lists consoles. So bring a little patience and you will get your PS5 console.
Some canceled consoles from double purchases may also come back on sale. So have patience and time when you dive into shopping.
Here are the direct links to the product pages from Saturn:
If you have already received a PS5 or are still looking for suitable accessories, then check here. Because currently you get one of the best 4K TVs for the PS5 on sale. Here you can save big if you still need the right TV for your new console.
Didn’t get a PS5? If you didn’t get a PS5, then it’s best to check our ticker. Here we keep you updated daily and explain how to get a PS5 the best way and show you drops around the coveted console.
The offers listed here are equipped with so-called affiliate links. When purchasing through one of these links, you support MeinMMO: Without affecting the price, we receive a small commission from the provider.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Patch 9.2 there is a new affix. We reveal how “Encrypted” will change your dungeon runs in WoW: Shadowlands.
Patch 9.2 End of Eternity is slowly but surely coming into view. This also coincides with the start of a new “Mythic+” season, which naturally requires a fresh affix to make the dungeons tougher and more interesting. Meanwhile, it is known from the PTR what the new affix “Encrypted” will do – and it offers a lot of room for maneuver.
What is it about? It’s about the new affix “Encrypted”. This becomes active after the launch of Patch 9.2 and the start of Season 3 in WoW: Shadowlands. The affix thematically fits the new area Zereth Mortis, where it is largely about the encrypted messages of the First Ones that players must decrypt to unlock powerful forces and gain more knowledge.
As usual, it will significantly change the playstyle of the dungeons and the approach to particularly tough bosses or trash packs.
How does “Encrypted” affect gameplay? The affix is, as has become customary, a bit more complex. When active, different trash groups and all bosses are equipped with relics. These are small enemies with low health that are easy to kill. As long as they are alive, they have auras and effects:
The relic Urh regularly fires projectiles at players that cause damage.
The relic Wo reduces the damage taken by all nearby enemies by 15%.
The relic Vy increases the speed of all nearby enemies by 15%.
The story of Zereth Mortis also influences the dungeons – with the new affix.
Of course, the affix has not only negative aspects but also positive ones. Depending on which of the three relics you kill first, players receive a buff at the end of the current fight.
If you kill Urh first, you get 150% movement speed for 45 seconds and stealth for 10 seconds, allowing you to skip several trash groups.
If you kill Wo first, the group receives 20% haste for 45 seconds.
If you kill Vy first, you get a 25% reduction in cooldown time for 45 seconds, meaning cooldowns are ready faster.
However, the buff doesn’t just happen like that. After the third (and thus last) relic of a group is defeated, a small miniboss, an Automa, appears. It has few abilities, and upon its defeat grants the corresponding buff.
More about WoW and Patch 9.2 can be found here on MeinMMO:
When is the affix active? As usual, the “Encrypted” affix only comes into play when you tackle dungeons at level +10 or higher. Only then will enemies be equipped with the affix, and you must face the additional enemies, but you can also reap the rewards and thus skip particularly difficult passages in the dungeon or drastically simplify bosses.
What do you think of the new affix? A cool innovation in Patch 9.2? Or basically just like previous affixes?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new expansion Endwalker of Final Fantasy XIV started early access on December 3rd, 2021, but was immediately overwhelmed, leading to the suspension of the game’s sales. How is the MMORPG doing 1.5 months after the release of the expansion?
How did the launch go? Even before the early access of Endwalker began, FFXIV director Naoki Yoshida warned players in a blog post that there would be long queues when logging in. And that’s exactly what happened.
Although the servers went online at the announced time, huge queues formed immediately. On some servers, the queue length exceeded 8,000 players. Moreover, errors 2002 and 5006 kept recurring, throwing players out of the queue and forcing them to start over.
The servers themselves remained relatively stable, except for some crashes on Phoenix and Tonberry. It often took many hours for players to finally log in.
What has happened since the release?
This is how the FFXIV team reacted to the overcrowding: To cope with the high demand, the developers implemented several measures before and after early access. They were designed to ensure server stability and to shorten wait times as much as possible.
These included:
An auto-logout system that kicks inactive players out of the game.
Instanced areas to distribute player load.
Queues only for subscription holders. Free trial players had to wait until the queues dissolved.
After several weeks with no improvement in wait times when logging in, Director Yoshida announced that further measures would be taken:
This is what happens next: So far, the queues have mostly stabilized at the level before the expansion. Even during peak hours in the evenings or on weekends, queues rarely exceed 500 players and move quickly.
The great rush for the expansion is over, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be server problems again. Therefore, the FFXIV team is now planning far ahead and preparing several new data centers for the long term to prevent a repetition of the Endwalker situation.
The first 5 servers of the Oceanian data center will go online on January 25th. The switch to these servers will be free for all players and will include various bonuses such as temporary EXP boosts.
Players from other regions will have to wait a little longer. New data centers will only be added in Europe, the USA, and Japan in summer 2022.
A year later, in summer 2023, a second expansion is planned. Presumably as a preparation for the expansion 7.0. An earlier installation of new servers was not possible due to the global semiconductor shortage.
On January 25th, the digital sales of FFXIV will also resume. However, the trial version will remain deactivated for the time being. Director Yoshida wants to first observe the situation and later decide whether and when that should happen. The instancing of the areas and the auto-logout will likely remain for the time being.
Start video
Everything you need to know about Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker in 3 minutes
Endwalker receives top scores on Metacritic
This is what critics say: Despite the server issues and queues, Endwalker was very well received by both players and critics. On Metacritic, the expansion received a score of 92 from critics and an impressive 9.5 user score.
This made Endwalker the highest-rated user game of 2021, surpassing titles like It Takes Two (9.2 points) and Monster Hunter Rise (9.0 points).
It is also the highest-rated FFXIV expansion on Metacritic, surpassing Shadowbringers, which was the previous titleholder.
Especially praised were the high-quality story, which concludes the Hydaelyn-Zodiark saga with much emotion, and the overall polished gaming experience. There were hardly any notable bugs or other issues that usually mar the gaming experience for players during new launches.
This content has already been released: Since the release of Endwalker, there have already been two smaller content updates that went live on December 21st and January 4th. They included the first part of Pandaemonium, an 8-man raid in normal and epic modes.
In the epic mode, there was again a brief race for the world first kill, accompanied by a charity stream. Organized by community members led by podcaster Frosty Mogborn, the stream raised a total of $27,420 for “Extra Life 4 Kids”.
The favorites from the US team “Thoughts per Second” of the Free Company “Radiance” on the Gilgamesh server secured first place in the race, achieving the last boss of the raid about 14 hours after the patch’s release.
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With a gap of almost two hours, “Aether Group 3” took second place, followed by “Entropy” in third. Director Yoshida congratulated the winners in a tweet.
More info in February
This is what happens next: In an interview on Radio Mogstation, Director Yoshida announced that fans can expect a larger developer stream in February. It will present information about the big patch 6.1 and beyond. According to Yoshida, the information might even extend to the next expansion 7.0 which doesn’t yet have an official name but is already in the works.
The confirmed contents of patch 6.1 are as follows:
24-man raid Eorzea’s Myths.
Major changes in PvP, such as a new mode.
The housing area of Ishgard called Empyrium.
Travel between data centers of a region will be possible (for example, between Chaos and Light in Europe).
In the February stream, fans will learn how the story of FFXIV will continue. Endwalker was the grand conclusion of the Hydaelyn-Zodiark storyline. Now a fresh story is set to begin where players are no longer “Warriors of Light”, but regular adventurers.
Further information is also expected about the new PvP system and the new content Island Paradise, which sounds like a sort of Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing within FFXIV.
And yet again, an MMORPG is shutting down in 2022. This time, the mobile MMO Mu Origin is affected, which is already no longer available for download. We at MeinMMO summarize.
When is the game shutting down? Publisher Webzen announced in a brief statement on their website that the mobile MMORPG Mu Origin unfortunately has to close. Just one day after the announcement on January 17, the game disappeared from the app stores on January 18.
You can no longer download Mu Origin or purchase items from the game’s real-money shop. However, if you have the game installed, you can still continue playing it.
The game servers will shut down on March 31, in about two months. From that date, even playing fans will be kicked from the game. Webzen has not yet specified an exact time for this.
Why is Mu Origin shutting down? The publisher Webzen has not yet provided a specific reason for why the over 5-year-old game must close. However, it is conceivable that they want to push the already released successor Mu Origin 2 further.
Shutting down the predecessor would make sense. It is also possible that Mu Origin has lost so many players to the second part that operating the original is no longer profitable. But both are just speculations, as we do not have any player numbers or similar information.
The publisher only writes the following words: “For over 5 years, we have traveled the Mu continent with you. With great sadness, we must now announce that our long journey with Mu Origin must come to an end.
We have tried our best to create a better gaming environment for you, but we have come to realize that we can no longer continue this service in this way. We are very sad, but we had to decide to shut down the servers of Mu Origin.
Furthermore, it should be noted that there will be no refunds.”
Here you can see gameplay from the dying Mu Origin:
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What is the mood like? Mu Origin no longer had a very large community. The players who still actively exchange ideas in the forums and on reddit are not very surprised by the server shutdown.
Many of them have already switched to Mu Origin 2 or have completely turned their backs on the game. A few fans seem to want to run a private server, but even this post could only achieve 7 upvotes on reddit.
What are the players saying? In a reddit thread, there is a discussion about the server shutdown, but actually, no one is really surprised. On the contrary, people are even asking why it is happening only now.
The user ProfessorMeatbag writes: “I can’t say I’m surprised. But this is already somehow shady. After all, they only started a cash grab event a week ago. No matter how much you love or hate a game, a complete shutdown is always bad for the people who invested time and money.”
Imaginos_in_disguise responds: “If anyone ever decided to spend money or time on this game, they are to blame themselves. It was never really good.”
UndisputedTankhard expresses frustration: “I don’t really care, but it sucks that Webzen is shutting down another game. I still wish I could play Archlord again – not just on private servers.”
Mu Origin was the first mobile offshoot of the Mu universe, which has already released several games, including Mu, Mu Legend, Mu Archangel, and Mu Origin 2.
These MMORPGs are all loosely based on the same, rather grindy gameplay from an isometric perspective. In Asia, the games can achieve moderate success, and the outlook for MMORPGs in the West is not particularly bright either.
While Mu Origin 2 in the Google Play Store has a score of 4.2/5 with over 67,000 ratings, Mu Legend only receives mixed reviews on Steam and, according to Steamcharts, peaks at only 47 players in a 24-hour period.
What do you think about yet another MMORPG dying in 2022, even if it is “only” a mobile MMORPG? Have you played any of the Mu games or are you even affected by the server shutdown of Mu Origin? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
In the co-op PvE shooter Rainbow Six: Extraction you have 18 operators available. All of these are known from Rainbow Six Siege, but work differently in the new genre. MeinMMO tells you which 3 operators are particularly strong at the beginning.
The playable “classes” in Rainbow Six Extraction are called operators. These are characters who were playable in Rainbow Six: Siege with their unique personalities and abilities. At launch, there are 18 operators in the game, 9 of which are unlocked at the beginning.
Although these characters were transferred from the PvP shooter Siege to the PvE shooter Extraction, their function and utility change significantly due to the genre shift.
Especially 3 operators show how important they can be for a successful mission, particularly at the start. We tell you which operators they are and why at least one of them should be part of every team.
Start video
Everything you need to know about Rainbow Six: Extraction – in 2 minutes
Sledge: The Destroyer
In Extraction, Sledge is particularly strong as an offensive power against the parasite aliens. His shotgun can handle even larger creatures efficiently.
Sledge specializes in a lot of raw violence from close range
In addition, his namesake sledgehammer is capable of stunning the aliens. He can swing it as many times as he likes and at an impressively high frequency.
This allows him to deal with both the exploding sprayers and take larger threats like the tormentors out of the game temporarily and make them vulnerable. But be careful: To hit, you need to be closer to the enemies than you might think.
Additionally, both his shotgun and his hammer are excellent tools for destroying walls. With him, it is a breeze to open up new paths for the team to attack or flee if necessary.
Lion: The Scout
Lion was part of the original “Outbreak” event in Rainbow Six Siege – a limited-time game mode that was expanded and serves as the basis for Rainbow Six Extraction. Accordingly, it’s no surprise that he is an important part of the team in this game.
Lion provides valuable information to the whole team
Although his SMG and his revolver can deal good damage, his device is the real star of the show. The EE-One-D drone marks all moving enemies in an area for a short time. After a cooldown, the drone can be deployed again.
Especially in missions where a target needs to be defended, this ability can significantly contribute to success. Thanks to Lion, you can see from which directions the most and meanest enemies are storming towards you. With this valuable info, you can then react thoughtfully and strategically rather than be caught off guard by surprise.
Doc: The Medic
Especially at higher difficulty levels, it can quickly happen that a team member loses their overview and gets knocked out by the aliens. That’s where Doc comes in.
Doc keeps the team alive effortlessly
With his special reanimation pistol, he shoots health orbs that heal team members by 15 health points or revive downed comrades. Thus, he can make his team fit again from a safe position and distance. Because the aliens will run away from the downed player, those revived are often safe as well.
If the enemies rush Doc in the meantime, he can fend for himself more than adequately in close combat with his strong shotgun.
Sledge, Lion, and Doc thus fulfill 3 very strong and important roles in a team. They work excellently together, but also serve as strong assets to any team in Rainbow Six Extraction.
What other operators are there, and what can they do, you can find out in our article:
After the revelation of the potential acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft and Xbox, Sony has now also commented on the matter. In the official statement, it talked about the games that are distributed by Activision on the PlayStation.
What kind of deal is this? In an announcement that shook the gaming industry, Microsoft announced that they want to buy the publisher Activision Blizzard for a staggering 68.7 billion, which is by far the largest purchase in the history of gaming.
The prospect of the deal also caused strong reactions among fans, many of whom are now concerned about the state of Activision Blizzard games that have previously been available on or are still expected to be released for the PS5. This includes titles such as Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4, as well as Call of Duty.
Now, Sony has commented on the issue and is trying to smooth things over.
Sony believes that ongoing contracts will remain valid
What Sony says in the statement: According to the statement published in the US magazine Bloomberg, Sony does not expect any significant changes in the immediate future.
According to the statement:
We expect Microsoft to adhere to the contractual agreements and continue to ensure that Activision games are cross-platform.
What does this mean? Sony is most likely to have set up contracts with Activision that concern games like Call of Duty or Overwatch.
The statement can be interpreted to mean that all established deals and releases involving Activision will continue as planned.
Additionally, the acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year 2023. Until that happens, the publisher will continue to operate autonomously.
What does Microsoft say about this? In the announcement of the deal, it was stated: “The games from Activision Blizzard are played on a variety of platforms, and we plan to continue supporting these communities in the future.”
Currently, it’s hard to say how this issue will develop in the coming months.
Many believe that Microsoft will proceed as it did with the acquisition of Bethesda, the developer of Skyrim and Fallout. Existing deals, like with Deathloop, were honored, but all future releases for major franchises will be exclusive to Xbox and PC and will appear in Game Pass.
Are you comforted by Sony’s statement? What do you think the impact of the deal will be? And what do you generally think about it? Take part in our survey:
In Destiny 2, the Witch Queen is not far away, and Guardians are passing the time with the current activities. Some players have now discovered a trick to have fun jet ski races with their friends in the new dungeon “Sog der Habsucht”.
What did Guardians discover? In Destiny 2, there is a new dungeon called “Sog der Habsucht“. This has been available since December 2021, and players have already thoroughly explored every corner due to the long Season 15.
The latest discovery is that players have found a way to bypass the Death Barrier in the lake during the phase with the Fallen shield to race. However, there are some things to keep in mind.
Racing like in Mario Kart
What is needed for this? The most important items are:
Warlock – Top Path of the Dawnblade for more mobility
Titan – Middle Path of the Fist of Havoc (Thundercrash)
Titan Exo – Unyielding Lion
Hunter Exo – St0mp-EE5
The items, as well as the chosen ability tree of the Warlock and Titan, are there to help you climb a certain rock wall. It’s best to deploy a Rally Banner during the phase with the “Fallen Shield”. This will give you enough ammo and a full super bar.
How do I proceed? Once you have started the phase with the shield, equip your Griff der Erlösung. With this, shoot small Stasis ledges against the rock wall behind you that you can use as platforms.
This is the area with the Lake of Death
Climb the rock wall to the hole through which you came earlier. Then pass through the Crystal Cave until you are almost at the Skull. Stand on the crystal that marks the transition to the old area.
This allows you to summon your Sparrow. Once you summon it, float back to the Fallen Shield through the Crystal Cave you previously traversed.
Head to the Rally Banner you set and try to slowly drive onto the lake with your Sparrow.
Note that you must not abruptly land on the water. This could trigger the deadly barrier located at the water. The Sparrow bypasses this mechanic, as it floats above the ground.
Once you have completed the entire procedure, you will have access to a huge closed arena that you can use as a racetrack with your friends. Your Sparrow essentially becomes a jet ski.
What should be noted? Since the deadly barrier is underneath your Sparrow, you should make sure not to dismount from it. Also, avoid performing abrupt stunts. Any actions that involve contact with the water will result in instant death.
What do you think of such ideas to shorten the waiting time until Witch Queen? Have you figured this out already, or do you stick more to the “official” activities of Bungie? Let us know!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developer Mark Darrah worked at BioWare for many years. When the development of the big MMO shooter Anthem was struggling, he came on board and took over as “Executive Producer.” Today he says: The idea that there is a special magic at BioWare that can turn everything for the better is bullshit.
What is meant by “BioWare Magic?” In a major insider report from Kotaku on the downfall of Anthem, the term “BioWare Magic” is described (via Kotaku).
“In the studio, there is the term ‘BioWare Magic’: It is the belief that no matter how hard the development of a game is, in the last months everything will come together. The game will always merge into something complete. This happened with the Mass Effect trilogy, with Dragon Age: Origins, and with Inquisition. Experienced BioWare developers compare this to a hockey stick, it is flat for a while and then suddenly goes up. Even if a project looks like a complete failure, there is the belief that if you work hard enough – and endure the heavy crunch – in the end everything will come together.”
Kotaku
Did it work for Anthem? As we know today, the development of Anthem was catastrophic. The game was somehow finished at the end, but the studio was completely burned out. Significant issues then arose in the systems and endgame of the shooter, but the continued development of the shooter completely collapsed.
This is what the head of Anthem says now: In a video, former head of the game, Mark Darrah, discusses BioWare Magic and the legendary hockey stick. He says:
Every time someone says “BioWare Magic,” it feels to him like someone is jabbing a needle in his brain
He thought that the term had actually been eradicated for a long time, but during the development of Anthem, at least one person used it
The belief that the development of a game will suddenly accelerate dramatically late in the process through “BioWare Magic” is “terrible” – because you don’t know when that point is reached where everything happens magically
“What is BioWare Magic? BioWare Magic is a shitty way of working. It means slapping a name on something that implies: ‘Don’t worry. Don’t freak out. We know that at a later date everything will happen quickly and it will all work out.
But the truth is: This ‘It will be fine’ – this is how crunch occurs and this is how you end up with games that have to be pushed back.”
Mark Darrah
In the end, Darrah states clearly: “BioWare Magic is bullshit.”
Darrah says it’s not as if he wants to bash BioWare. Many studios work this way, even CD Projekt (Cyberpunk 2077).
People should definitely stop calling this concept ‘BioWare Magic,’ it is not magic, but simply a bad way of working.
With the end of Anthem and the crisis of loot shooters, we recently delved into this at MeinMMO:
For the release of Ubisoft’s new PvE shooter Rainbow Six Extraction, there are first reviews and critiques on Metacritic. The game receives some praise but also fundamental criticism. Overall, the shooter lands in a solid midfield. Find out here what exactly is being criticized and praised.
On January 20, 2022, the co-op shooter Rainbow Six Extraction was released on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Stadia. All info about the release of the shooter can be found here.
Right at the start, there were already some first critiques to be heard on Metacritic:
The ratings are in the 70s range, ranging from 72 (PC) to 73 (PlayStation) to 75 (Xbox).
User reviews were not yet available at the time of this article (January 20, 2022, at 10:00 AM).
In the following paragraphs, we will look at what some of the critiques are saying about Rainbow Six Extraction. To get in the mood, here’s a video that briefly explains the game:
Start video
Everything you need to know about Rainbow Six: Extraction – in 2 minutes
“One of the most intense and exciting co-op experiences currently available”
These are the positive reviews: Several sites rave about the game. They praise especially the solid implementation of the tactical gameplay and gunplay known from Rainbow Six Siege, which has been smoothly transferred into a type of zombie co-op shooter.
Game Heroes (95 points) praises the game highly and even claims it is “one of the most intense and exciting co-op experiences currently available.” It is an innovative addition to the Siege universe and would revitalize the stagnant genre of co-op shooters.
JeuxVideo (80 points) also praises the optimal mixing of the ultra-tactical military shooter gameplay from Siege with fun shooting at zombies. The intertwining of these two seemingly contrasting aspects is brilliant and the greatest strength of the game.
Dexerto (80 points) also mentions how well the gameplay and gunplay of Siege have been transferred to another genre. And even though the objectives in the missions are not always consistent in their difficulty, it is always exciting and thrilling to achieve them. The wild scenes in which one desperately tries to escape with little ammunition and an unconscious comrade on one’s shoulder are a highlight.
“Feels more like an expansion to Siege than a full-fledged game”
These are the mixed reviews: Aside from the generally positive critiques, there are many reviews that point out various shortcomings in the game. For instance, it is criticized that Extraction feels more like an addon for Rainbow Six Siege rather than a real standalone game. Therefore, many critics agree that it is especially relevant for owners of Game Pass or Ubisoft Connect, as the game is included for free there.
VGC (60 points) cannot recommend the game if you want to play it alone, especially not on PlayStation since it is only available at full price there. But if you have Game Pass and have nothing else to play, then Extraction could be a great fun.
IGN Adria (60 points) feels that the game lacks exciting moments. It is just a “glorified zombie mod” that would be better off as a game mode in Siege. In its current form, the game is a strange experiment of mismatched aspects. It is not really satisfying for either veterans of the series or newcomers.
Gaming Age (42 points) goes even further and states that Extraction is not really interesting for anyone. On PC, GTFO is better, in Game Pass, there’s Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and for tactical shooter fans, Rainbow Six Siege is still the pinnacle. There just are no clear advantages that point towards Extraction.
Have you played Rainbow Six Extraction yet? What is your assessment of the new co-op shooter? Do you see it as a suitable addition to Siege or is there something that bothers you about it?
