A player has discovered the hidden boss Serenity Maiden Liu in New World. This boss only appears when a specific series of tasks is completed. However, there was no title or good loot as a reward. On reddit, he receives a lot of sympathy from other players for this great achievement.
Serenity Maiden Liu is a level 60 opponent that can also be defeated by a player alone. However, summoning the boss is rather complicated.
According to the reddit user EarthlingKira, it took an “absurdly long time” to solve the puzzle for summoning. He did not show the exact steps in the video, but gave a few cryptic hints in a comment. He assumes that he is the first person to have summoned and defeated the boss.
In his video, you can then see the fight and at the end also the rewards. For solving the puzzle, there was only a blue item, a potion, and the gypsum for named bosses as a reward.
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Many users on reddit are excited that there are hidden bosses and secrets of this kind in New World. They hope that there are more contents that will gradually be discovered by the players.
However, a large portion of the players also feels sympathy for EarthlingKira:
The user genogano writes: “A secret boss that gives you nothing that distinguishes you from others who did not solve the puzzle is quite a waste. At least you should have received a title or an achievement.”
Sinikal_ writes: “Really, really cool thing. But extremely disappointing rewards for this effort.”
The user Octipice cynically responds: “It feels like you summarized the entire game in short form.”
Since the release of New World, there has been criticism of the reward system and the high grind. A lot of effort for little yield was also the summoning of this boss.
EarthlingKira noticed the puzzle because some Corrupted Swarmers (Crawler) and Impalers were not standing in the correct places at the Outpost of Tranquility in Everfall. What many players would see as a “bug” has here led to the appearance of a special boss.
In a comment, the user gives a few hints for summoning the boss, but no complete guide:
Whenever you kill a Swarmer or Impaler, a new one spawns somewhere
It becomes increasingly difficult to find these new enemies
If you run too far away or take too long, the puzzle resets
A total of 21 enemies must be defeated
The order of kills plays an important role
Everfall is the Asia area in New World and the boss is located there.
Are there more bosses of this kind? Yes, EarthlingKira is quite sure of that. There is supposed to be another puzzle in Brackwater, in Syleio Seko. Kira also assumes that there is probably a correct way to enter the cathedral in Myrkgard and that the spawn of the Flying Dutchmen may not be as random as many think.
What do you think about the boss and such puzzles in New World? Have you perhaps already solved such a puzzle? Feel free to write it in the comments.
A new major update for New World is coming in January. We have collected all the information about it here:
PUBG: Battlegrounds has nearly doubled its player numbers on Steam. This development occurred on the day the game switched to a free-to-play model.
PUBG: Battlegrounds, previously known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or simply PUBG, has been one of the largest games on Steam since its release in 2017. Although the game remained very popular, it never reached the player numbers of the initial months again. Now measures have been taken to make PUBG relevant once more.
What happened? On January 12, 2022, the game switched to a new payment model: It is now free-to-play instead of costing €29.99 as before. Thus, the game that established the battle royale genre follows the popular payment model of the latest BRs.
This step seems to have paid off: Compared to the last 2 months, the player numbers of PUBG have nearly doubled: The game had up to 668,707 players on the servers simultaneously after the switch (via SteamCharts). In December 2021, that number was still 363,839.
How does the game work as free-to-play? PUBG is now available for players on all platforms for free download. It no longer costs €29.99 as before.
Players now only have to pay for access to ranked and custom matches, alongside skins and cosmetics. For that, you need the DLC Battlegrounds Plus, which costs €12.99. All those who have paid for PUBG will receive this DLC immediately and at no additional cost.
Start video
Everything that makes PUBG: Battlegrounds special in 2 minutes
Battle Royale remained popular but did not set any new records
In January 2018, the game had its biggest month. According to Steam Charts, over 3.2 million players were simultaneously engaged in the battle royale. This is still a record on Steam – second place belongs to CSGO from April 2020, where there were ‘only’ 1.3 million players (via SteamCharts).
These numbers have significantly shrunk since then, but the game has never become insignificant. Since the mega-record, the player numbers steadily declined, settling at around 450,000 players during peak times in 2021. Nevertheless, it was still often in the top 5 most played games on Steam.
With the switch to F2P, these numbers immediately improved again. At least in the short term.
Another game is also impressing with its player numbers – and it strongly resembles PUBG: Battlegrounds. What it’s all about, you can find out in our article:
The reputation farming will probably be mandatory again in patch 9.2 of World of Warcraft – and that makes some players really angry.
Patch 9.2 Eternity’s End is already under a bad star. Many players dislike the story with Sylvanas and Zereth Mortis, the new area, feels too alien to really fit into the classic world of Warcraft. But there is another reason causing discontent. Anyone who wants to wear more legendaries has to grind reputation.
What is the problem? With patch 9.2, players will enjoy a small but nice feature. It will be possible to equip and use two legendary items from the “Shadowlands” category at the same time. This is only possible with selected effects that belong to a specific covenant, but the increase in power is obvious.
The problem, however, is that to unlock these “double legendaries,” one must first grind reputation in Zereth Mortis and reach a respectful standing with the “Cipher of the Firsts.”
Respectful is the second-highest reputation level in World of Warcraft and usually requires a certain amount of farming time. Anyone who wants to achieve a respectful standing with a new faction must complete daily quests and side tasks for several days to reach this reputation level.
Why are players angry? Players are quite upset, at least in the comments on Reddit and wowhead, about this detail. This is mainly because Morgan Day from Blizzard had explained in an interview in November that player power is not tied to progress in Zereth Mortis:
If you are a person who is only interested in raiding, then you can basically ignore this system completely.
In this context, the implication was essentially: Anyone who only wants to raid doesn’t have to care about Zereth Mortis at all and can focus solely on raiding or Mythic+.
More news about World of Warcraft can be found here:
This is how the community reacts: As expected, negatively – at least the part of the players who express themselves in the comments on wowhead and the subreddit. Many cynically say: “Alright, see you at the next expansion” or refer to this development quite dramatically as “bullshit”.
Thus, this is a development that is not well-received by many players.
However, keep in mind that this is still the PTR of patch 9.2 Eternity’s End. It is quite possible that Blizzard will make changes here and tie the regulation of double legendaries to other conditions.
At least it currently looks like the reputation only needs to be earned with a single character, as unlocking seems to apply to all characters on the account.
What do you think about this? A typical case of “Blizzard breaks its promise” or was it completely clear in advance that one must farm at least a bit of reputation?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Roco Kingdom is a new MMORPG for Android and iOS that strongly resembles Pokémon. The player takes on the role of an apprentice in a magical world where you can catch crazy creatures and engage in turn-based battles with them. Development began about a year ago.
What kind of game is this? Roco Kingdom is a new MMORPG with a completely open game world without loading screens. You create a character in anime style and explore this magical world, which roughly resembles the visuals of Genshin Impact.
On your journey, you will encounter various creatures that you can battle and catch, similar to Pokémon.
So far, 42 different creatures have been presented, some of which are already evolutions of other monsters. Blue orbs resembling Poké Balls are even used.
The battles are turn-based. Each monster takes an action, then it’s the other one’s turn.
There are various cities, and you will be able to fly around the world with some of these monsters.
The developers promise a lot of gameplay depth and many tasks to complete in the world.
The game world is based on Roco, a Chinese anime.
The game is being developed by a Chinese indie studio, which is supported by the gaming giant Tencent as the publisher. The game is being created in Unreal Engine.
The developers have already released several cinematic trailers throughout 2021. Recently, the first actual gameplay was also included. We have embedded this gameplay trailer for you:
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How is the trailer received in the West? Under the video, several positive reactions are accumulating, mainly referring to the animations in the battles:
One user comments under the video: “The animations are so clean. Wow.”
Another wonders how a mobile game has such good animations: “Why does a game for iOS and Android have better animations than Pokémon Sword and Shield?”
Yet another describes the game as a mix between “Breath of the Wild and Pokémon.”
When will the game be released? There is currently no exact release date. In a developer post, it is mentioned that Roco Kingdom “will not be released until 2040,” which is a very cryptic statement regarding the release. In general, the developers want to take their time until the game meets their expectations.
Among other things, you will be able to battle and catch these cute ducks.
Will the game also come to the West? There is currently no statement on this. However, Tencent is a large publisher and has already released several games in the West, owning stakes in gaming companies like Epic and even the entire Riot Games studio. A release here would be quite possible given sufficient interest and success in China.
Since Pokémon was also enjoyed on the Game Boy in its early days, the game fits well on smartphones.
However, anyone who definitely wants to play a Pokémon MMO in the West can currently rely on Temtem. There, you can catch, train, and breed Temtem and battle against other trainers. We took a closer look at the game in 2021, almost a year after its release:
If you want to buy a graphics card or PS5, you need to be very lucky right now. MeinMMO wants to know how much you would spend on a graphics card.
This is what it’s about: Games are becoming more beautiful. For example, the game Valhalla Rising is drawing attention with stunning graphics. But great graphics come at a price, as you need powerful hardware if you want to set all graphic settings to maximum.
Your opinion is requested: How much are you willing to pay for a new graphics card? Is the current situation influencing your purchasing decision, or do you have a firm pain threshold that you won’t exceed? Or have you given up your PC building hobby and are only buying pre-built PCs now? Let us know in the comments!
How can I vote? You can make your choice as always using the polling tool in this article. You can also discuss with other readers under our article.
Due to the poor availability and high prices, many users are now hoping that a Chinese manufacturer could supply them with cheap graphics cards. MeinMMO explains who is behind the name “Innosilicon”.
The social media platform Twitter, also known as “The Vestibule of Hell” and “The Root of All Evil,” has now announced in a blog post which gamers were tweeted about the most in 2021. Among the content creators, those from the Minecraft phenomenon Dream are leading the way. In esports, surprisingly, the young pros from Fortnite dominate.
Who are the biggest content creators in gaming worldwide? The list of the top 5 places is international:
Colon is a content creator from Japan. He is primarily active on YouTube, where one of his most successful videos is about Mario Maker. However, Colon is also active as a musician in the “J-Pop” genre.
AuronPlay comes in at number 2; the 33-year-old Spaniard is one of the biggest Twitch streamers in the world. With 11.1 million followers, he has the second-largest channel on Twitch – only Ninja has more followers from his Fortnite days. AuronPlay streams everything: Minecraft, GTA, Rust, Among Us.
In third place is Felipe Neto, a 34-year-old Brazilian. He is a vlogger, actor, and comedian on YouTube. He has 43.6 million subscribers on the video platform and has been active there for ages. As a Brazilian, he lamented the 1-7 defeat at the 2014 World Cup in his own country against Germany. When he deals with gaming, it involves games like Outlast or Minecraft.
Who has ever wondered how a Brazilian felt about the 1-7 at the World Cup 2014… about average.
In fourth place is the Spaniard Ibai, who, like AuronPlay, is a successful Twitch streamer. Ibai focuses a lot on events, plays everything that is popular, such as Minecraft, LoL, or Rust. Spain has a very lively Twitch scene.
The top 5 is completed by the mysterious Minecraft streamer Dream, who never shows his face. Dream is absolutely leading in the English-speaking world when it comes to the gaming bubble. When he makes announcements in Minecraft about which mob should be added to the game, it gets heard. He is especially popular with young fans and has built a network around his private server Dream SMP. Dream also won the award for “Content Creator of the Year 2021,” even though he was caught cheating.
BadBoyHalo – the fourth Minecraft streamer in the group
Junichi Kato – a Japanese YouTuber and streamer
Teenagers from Fortnite dominate esports on Twitter
Who are the biggest esports athletes on Twitter? Among esports athletes, it is not necessarily the “best players” who are at the top, but rather relatively young players from Fortnite:
In fourth place is Scump, the first from the Call of Duty scene. We previously reported about him on MeinMMO because he drove TimTheTatman crazy at an event. It was a lot of fun for everyone involved, except for the streamer, who complained: He is about to turn 30, is going bald, just wants his peace, and now this guy is publicly ruining him.
The 25-year-old Rekkles is defeated by a gang of Fortnite teenagers – at least on Twitter.
Shooters dominate esports on Twitter
In sixth place is the 20-year-old Brazilian Nobru. His game is Free Fire, a battle royale for mobile devices.
In seventh place is another Brazilian. The 30-year-old FalleN is a pro in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
From a different generation is the Spaniard Mixwell. The 20-year-old was once a pro in CS:GO but switched to Valorant in 2020 and is now among the leading professionals in Riot Games’ shooter.
Another big name in Valorant is Canadian Tenz. He once made headlines for a spectacular transfer.
These esports athletes were tweeted about the most in 2021.
What are the most important games on Twitter? There is a noticeable Asian preference. The biggest game is actually Genshin Impact, followed by Apex Legends, Ensemble Stars, Final Fantasy, and Fate/Grand Order, a mobile game known for its notorious monetization from Japan.
Minecraft is only in eighth place, Fortnite only in tenth.
These were the biggest games on Twitter in 2021.
In which countries is gaming tweeted about? The fact that Twitter is not just a medium for gaming in the English-speaking world is also evident in the countries where there are the most tweets about gaming: Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Brazil, along with the USA, make up the top 5.
Gaming is bigger on Twitter than ever
What else is there to say? In total, there were 2.4 billion tweets about gaming in 2021 – 14% more than in 2020 and 10 times more than in 2017. Especially in the fourth quarter of 2021, there were tweets about games more often than ever before, Twitter joyfully chirps.
Twitter attributes this to the boom in NFTs. Moreover, they specifically mention Halo Infinite.
Germany, Austria, or Switzerland do not appear anywhere on these lists. Apparently, we are not as tweet-crazy about gaming as other regions and countries.
MontanaBlack or HandOfBlood should really get a move on for 2022:
The Russian mobile developer Pixonic has incorporated an employee as a DLC character in their game War Robots. The revenue was used without his knowledge and that of the players to finance a prosthesis for him after he had a severe car accident in 2019 and lost his arm.
What happened? Andrey Kvasov is an employee at Pixonic, the developer of the mobile game War Robots. He works in the IT department. In November 2019, he had a serious accident while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. A truck crashed into the tourist bus.
In this accident, Andrey lost his left arm and a finger from his right hand. However, the tragic incident led to a beautiful story that Andrey has now shared.
Developer created their own character with a backstory for their employee
How his employer helped him: To support him, the studio released a DLC character dedicated to their employee and even shares the same name. The revenue was intended to finance the necessary prosthesis for Andrey.
The skin was released in the summer of 2021, but Pixonic kept the backstory to themselves for a long time. Now Andrey has shared the story on a Russian forum (via Pikabu).
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a character in a video game, […]. On my first day back to work after the accident, my colleague Karina came up to me and said: “Hey, Andrey, why don’t you want to become a pilot? We can rethink your story and somehow bring it into the game.” I didn’t even think of refusing.
The in-game description for the character reads: “Dedicated to Andrey Kvasov. Andrey, you are a cool pro, and it is a pleasure to work with you. In a situation where many would break down, you remained not only strong but also kept a positive attitude and inspired us all.”
The pilot was included in the Battle Pass of War Robots and thus had to be purchased by players with real money. What they didn’t know: Both the appearance and the backstory are real, and by purchasing it, they initially supported the financing of the prosthesis for Andrey without their knowledge.
Here you can see the direct comparison between the two Andreys. (via Pikabu)
He reportedly did not even know about it:
The character was sold in a special package, and the proceeds went to a prosthesis. […] I didn’t find out right away, but only a few months later when a certain amount had accumulated. […] It was a big and pleasant surprise for me. The players also learned later that the story is true. Every pilot owner received a free buff and a notification that the money invested in this action went towards purchasing a prosthesis for a real person. The players reacted very positively to the news, and I received many kind words.
How is he doing today? Now, Andrey says he lives a “normal life,” goes to the gym regularly, works normally, and continues to play video games. His injury is no longer a significant obstacle in his everyday life.
He also has a message: “I want to wish everyone good health. It sounds cliché, but it’s the kind of thing that you only learn to appreciate once you lose it. And I also hope you see the good where it might not seem to be at first glance. It is definitely there – I have checked it.”
Furthermore, he emphasizes that fortunately there are now some devices that allow people with disabilities like his to experience the full gaming experience.
Andrey is one of many examples that show how many people remain optimistic despite such serious events and can continue to be active gamers thanks to appropriate hardware.
The Chinese giant Tencent is one of the largest gaming companies in the world. To promote their game PUBG Mobile, they plan to spend millions of euros on content creators. Anyone who has reached a certain number of followers can apply.
What exactly is this action about? PUBG Mobile has launched the “Next Star Program”. They are handing out a total of rewards worth 100 million dollars (87 million euros). The rewards include:
Incentives in the form of cash
Special training to become a better creator
Exclusive access to new content
In-game items of all kinds
Promotion through the official channels
Contact with pro players
However, how exactly these rewards will be distributed is not revealed by the developer Quantum Studio and the publisher Tencent. Nevertheless, this amount is enormous and shows that Tencent is mainly focusing on the mobile game.
Because for the PC and console versions, there is only a slimmed-down “Appreciation Program”, through which players can create a kind of reflink and earn money from their followers’ purchases.
How can you participate in “Next Star”? Anyone who wants to join the PUBG Mobile program must meet certain requirements. You need at least 50,000 followers on YouTube, TikTok, or Twitch. Additionally, you must provide a constant level of quality and be passionate players.
Those who meet these criteria can apply through the official website (via pubgmobile).
PUBG Mobile is a huge success worldwide, also popular in Germany
What is PUBG Mobile? This battle royale is the mobile version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. As in the PC version, you can compete against other players using various weapons and vehicles on huge maps. The fight continues until only one person is left alive.
The mobile version also frequently engages in collaborations and cross-promotions of all kinds. There has already been a partnership with Resident Evil and recently with the LoL series Arcane. This keeps attracting new players to the shooter.
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What is happening with the PC version? While PUBG Mobile was released from the beginning as a Free2Play shooter, the PC and console versions had to be purchased for a long time. However, that has changed this week.
From now on, you can play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for free on these platforms. More on this here:
In FIFA 22 the new TOTW 17 is now live and we know who made it into the team. Find out everything about the new Team of the Week here.
What is the TOTW? EA includes 23 players in the Team of the Week every week, who have excelled with strong performances on real football pitches. These players then receive what are known as “Inform cards”, which have their stats boosted.
New in FUT 22 is that there is also a “Featured” card, which has a stronger boost than the normal TOTW cards.
How to get TOTW cards: With a large portion of luck you can pack Inform cards from packs. Alternatively, the cards are also available on the FUT transfer market, where they can be quite expensive.
This is the TOTW 17: In the new Team of the Week 17, two really strong defenders stand out: the Brazilian meta-defender Marquinhos (89) and the Frenchman Hernández (87). Both receive really strong Inform cards that provide top stats.
Especially Serie A receives this week 3 more strong Inform cards with Bastoni (87), Milinkovic-Savic (87), and Berardi (86).
The featured player this week is Ünder from Marseille, who gets a significant upgrade from 77 to 84.
TOTW 17 Starting XI:
GK: Aitor (83)
CB: Marquinhos (89)
LB: Hernández (87)
CB: Bastoni (87)
RB: Lainer (83)
CM: Milinkovic-Savic (87)
CDM: Tchouameni (84)
CM: Bellingham (84)
LW: Oyarzabal (87)
RW: Berardi (86)
ST: André Silva (86)
TOTW 17 Bench:
GK: Benitez (83)
LB: Raum (82)
RB: Hector Bellerin (82)
RM: Puertas (82)
ST: Ajorque (82)
RW: Ünder (84)
CAM: Caprari (81)
LB: Armer (70)
CAM: Licoln (79)
ST: Ndiaye (77)
ST: Dani Escriche (75)
LW: Song Wenjie (67)
The Bundesliga in TOTW 17
Who is in from the Bundesliga? This week, 4 players from the Bundesliga are represented in the TOTW.
Jude Bellingham from BVB receives his second Inform card in FUT 22, which gets respectable upgrades in dribbling and shooting.
Leipzig’s striker André Silva has strong shooting and dribbling stats. Unfortunately, his pace is still lacking.
Stefan Lainer receives a solid RB card that can score with pace and physicality.
David Raum from VfL Bochum mainly has one thing to offer: speed. But the other stats are also interesting, making him a solid left back.
What do you think of the new TOTW? Are you satisfied with the selection? Let us know in the comments!
If you want to know what will change soon in FIFA 22 gameplay, check this out:
A new shooter called LEAP is set to launch on Steam next week. A new trailer showcases gameplay scenes that immediately highlight the players’ special movement tools. The closed beta is expected to start soon.
What exactly is LEAP? It is a first-person multiplayer shooter with a sci-fi setting. Players take on the role of so-called LEAP elite mercenaries, who fight each other for cash and are divided into two factions.
The game features various class abilities and gadgets. Additionally, there are several vehicles to fly quickly across the maps. The classes and abilities are determined by the exo-suit that the mercenaries wear.
In large multiplayer matches, the goal is to take out opponents.
Who is developing LEAP? The game is being developed by Blue Isle Studios, who previously created the “Harry Potter MMO” Citadel: Forged with Fire. Now, the creators have announced a closed beta and showcased new gameplay scenes:
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60 players compete against each other – on hoverboards, metal floaties, and robo-deer
What does LEAP offer? According to the official website, you can compete in matches with up to 60 players against others. There are supposed to be several modes and different maps. The exact details are not clear from the website and the Steam page (via Steam).
Before you start matches, you must choose between two factions: the “United Earth Defence Coalition” and the Exo-Terrans. You can utilize four different classes or exo-suits:
Pathfinder: All-rounder, suitable for most combat situations.
Titan: This class has a jetpack, is mobile, and is heavily armored. It also comes with heavy weapons that allow you to engage enemies from the air.
Wraith: This class is known for its stealth and agility. It can apparently dissolve into thin air and is especially strong from a distance.
Tech Ops: This class is described as a supporter who can heal and defend others. Tech Ops can perform repairs and place automated turrets.
Players have access to some interesting movement tools during a match. You can ride robo-deer and metal floaties or fly through the air on a hoverboard.
The maps appear vast and diverse in the showcased gameplay scenes.
As a reward for successful matches, there will primarily be cosmetic rewards. There is talk of helmet emotes and skins for exo-suits, vehicles, and weapons.
How can you participate? You can sign up for the playtest on the official website (via playleap.com). The early access phase is set to start in February. Whether LEAP will be a free-to-play shooter or must be purchased is not clarified in the announcement.
When does the closed beta start? The closed beta of LEAP is set to start in a week, on January 19. Participants will be able to try LEAP for the first time through Steam.
The announcement does not clarify which content the closed beta will offer.
What do you think of LEAP? Is the shooter interesting to you?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a blog post, Sony presented the games with the most downloads and the most successful Free2Play games on the consoles PS4 and PS5. It is notable that online games dominate. Additionally, there are a few evergreen titles on the list that have actually been out for years.
What are these lists? In a blog post on PlayStation.com, Sony revealed the 20 paid games with the most downloads for PS4, the most downloads for PS5, and the most commonly used Free2Play games for both consoles.
For this article, we restrict ourselves to the data from Europe. Sony’s list also includes data from America. Players from Asia, Australia, or Africa were not considered.
Moreover, the top 10 is almost exclusively occupied by multiplayer online games. Only ranks 4, 7, and 10 feature single-player games. Further down, we see two more online shooters with CoD: Black Ops Cold War and Rainbow Six Siege.
Among Us also celebrated its release in December 2021 and made a lightning start into the top 6.
What is striking? FIFA 22 and FIFA 21 are also very popular on PS4. Additionally, GTA 5 and Minecraft make it into the top 5, even though they have actually been out for years. The Witcher 3 is also considered an old title that has made its way back into the charts.
Overall, online games dominate the PS4 ranking. Offline games only hold ranks 7, 8, and 10. Later, more online games such as Fall Guys, ARK, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Among Us come in.
Free2Play charts dominated by the usual suspects
Which Free2Play games are downloaded the most? For the free games, Sony has only released one list for PS4 and PS5 combined, which contains only 10 games:
The only surprises here are probably the high ranking of eFootball PES 2021, which is currently the lowest-rated game on Steam, and Splitgate at rank 10. The shooter was released in 2021 and initially achieved really good player numbers on Steam. However, these dropped significantly after a few weeks. Overall, it seems to have gone well for Splitgate on PlayStation.
What do you think about the ranking? Did you expect these placements or are there any big surprises for you? Feel free to write it in the comments.
So far, there are relatively few game announcements for 2022. However, there could be some new information at the next event:
Anyone looking to buy a graphics card can now order the RTX 3080 12 GB. Nvidia has upgraded its RTX 3080. However, retailers are asking a lot of money for the graphics card.
What is this upgrade? Quietly, Nvidia released an improved version of the popular GeForce RTX 3080. This is an upgrade of the video memory, as the new version has 12 GB of video memory instead of 10 GB.
But anyone who hoped to purchase a graphics card at a good price will be disappointed. Prices (not surprisingly) are again at uncomfortable heights, and hardly anyone is willing to spend so much money on a graphics card.
You can order the RTX 3080 12 GB for 1700 Euros
How high is the price for the RTX 3080 with 12 GB? Currently, prices for the graphics card start at 1700 Euros. At least you can now order the graphics card from the provider Mindfactory. By the way, there is currently no recommended retail price (RRP) because Nvidia did not make any significant announcement for the graphics card.
The price is thus higher than the previous RRP of the GeForce RTX 3090 – Nvidia’s previously most expensive graphics card. It officially costs 1499 Euros. With the RTX 3090 Ti, Nvidia had already presented a faster (and presumably more expensive) graphics card than the RTX 3090 at CES 2022.
Through the following link, you will land directly in the Mindfactory shop and could order the graphics card directly. However, you are not allowed to order more than 2 graphics cards at once:
What did the users request? Already after the release of the RTX 3080, many users demanded that Nvidia offer the RTX 3080 with larger memory. In our summary of the test of the GeForce RTX 3080, we had already reported that some testers criticized that Nvidia only equipped its new RTX 3080 with 10 GB of video memory. There were even rumors that Nvidia wanted to sell the RTX 3080 as a 20 GB version.
With the RTX 3080 12 GB, users are at least somewhat accommodated, as the memory of the graphics card is expanded by 2 GB.
According to initial reports, the 12 GB version of the RTX 3080 reportedly does not deliver more performance than the previous model. Here Nvidia has now released the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, which offers more performance than the graphics card without Ti.
What can you expect in 2022? Even if graphics card prices in the new year will likely remain very high, there is still some exciting news.
Because manufacturers are already preparing the next generation of graphics cards behind the scenes. First leaks report that the GeForce RTX 4090 will be twice as fast as the current RTX 3090. However, when these graphics cards will come is still unknown, as Nvidia has not yet presented any graphics card.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a lengthy stream of the Japanese radio Mog Station, the head of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, spoke about the near and distant future of the MMORPG. The next addon 7.0 is already in development. Additionally, further adjustments for the jobs will come with the next patch 6.08.
The new job Scythe is currently very strong and offers high personal DPS as well as good support for the group. This makes other jobs appear less rewarding in raiding. However, instead of nerfing the Scythe, other jobs will be buffed to keep up with it. This is meant to provide better balance.
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Everything you need to know about the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV – in 2 minutes
The changes are already coming with patch 6.08. While it doesn’t have a release date yet, it is expected to arrive by February at the latest. The following jobs will receive a buff:
Samurai
Black Mage
Monk
Yoshida also believes that Dancers and Paladins should receive buffs as well. It was also noted that jobs not mentioned in the radio talk will also be adjusted. Just not all jobs.
In February, there will be a large producer letter that gives fans an overview of the upcoming content. The information is supposed to cover the entire 6.x patch series up to patch 7.0, which represents the new addon.
Primarily, however, the contents of patch 6.1 will be presented. It is already known that the patch will bring the first part of the 24-man raid Myths of Eorzea and major changes in PvP. However, the exact information about the continuation of the story or regarding the highly anticipated content Paradise Island is still scarce. This will change in February.
This is the situation regarding the sales of FFXIV: Currently, the MMORPG is in a complete sales stopdue to the overcrowded servers and the free trial has also been temporarily paused. During the radio stream, Yoshida explained that there will be new information on the status in the upcoming weeks.
Currently, the team is planning to install new servers, including the Oceania data center. According to Yoshida, a roadmap will be provided as early as this week.
This is what Yoshida says about the addon: Although the latest expansion Endwalker has just been released, director Yoshida has already talked about the next addon. Development has already started, and the rough story structure is also set, according to Yoshida.
He has previously mentioned that it will be a completely new story arc, which players will start not as “Warriors of Light” but as ordinary adventurers again. Characters like Krile and Thancred will play an important role in the upcoming patches, but there will also be a number of completely new characters who will accompany you on your new journey.
What comes after space? Even if the setting changes, it will still be a battle of values. We have a lot to show you, and we have already decided what it will be.
Naoki Yoshida, Radio Mogstation
Players can look forward to more moral and philosophical questions in the story, even though the Hydaelyn-Zodiark saga has ended with Endwalker.
The team is also already considering which job will be the next “poster job” for the Warrior of Light, also known as Meteor Survivor or Hiroshi in Japanese. It stands for the players of FFXIV and has taken on a new job with each expansion. In Endwalker it was Paladin, in Shadowbringers, Dark Knight.
The host of Radio Mog Station also asked whether the Warrior of Light could be female. Similar to how it was in the official cooperation video “Fly me to the Moon” with Sia for Endwalker.
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Yoshida replied that he has not thought about it until now. However, as he gradually needs to consider the trailer for the next addon, he will take the question into account.
It shouldn’t take long until the next wave of information about upcoming content in FFXIV arrives. If the development team maintains its usual pace, fans can expect the next content update, patch 6.1, in spring 2022.
Call of Duty: Warzone continues to lose top streamers to the competition. However, some fans, like TimTheTatman, remain loyal to the game. But due to a silly mishap and other annoyances, even this streamer has had enough and feels like a clown.
What happened? The streamer TimTheTatman was in the Warzone and managed to get into the top 6. Since he died while being on the move, he had to be respawned and when he jumped down, he saw a downed opponent lying at the landing spot.
So he skillfully landed next to the guy and wanted to execute him. But when he tried to hold the corresponding button, the finisher animation was not triggered. Instead, his avatar “pulled” his fists and the streamer could only ineffectively pound the opponent.
That he should at least have a pistol after the spawn was somehow “forgotten” by the game.
The enemy, in turn, was able to heal himself during this time and then shot the streamer out of the game with a headshot.
This led to an absolute meltdown by TimTheTatman, who then screamed at the screen for minutes.
Who is TimTheTatman? TimTheTatman’s real name is Tim Betar and he is 31 years old. He started his streaming career with Fortnite and was then with the legendary Ninja. Later, he switched to CoD and got even bigger there. Before his switch to YouTube, he was among the top 10 streamers on Twitch. TimTheTatman represents the more laid-back, clumsy gamer type, who serves as a good counterpoint to extremely competitive streamers like Dr Disrespect or Ninja.
Streamer feels like a clown and needs sauna with eucalyptus oil
How did the scene continue? TimTheTatman, who usually does not have a choleric temperament, was beside himself with rage. The victory he thought was secure was taken from him due to a funny glitch, and the round was lost. You can see his outburst at the end of this clip.
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TimTheTatman raged long and wide against the game and claims that he’s really had enough:
I’m really done, dude… I’m stopping, bro, I’m just stopping! Why can’t I do anything in this game? I’m done. I need a break. I need to go somewhere, I don’t know where. Why doesn’t anything work in this game, bro? This game is just totally broken.
The hardest part is that I really love the game. I do, I love Warzone, but holy shit! What am I supposed to play now? I don’t want to play Apex Legends, I don’t want to play Minecraft. What am I supposed to play instead? There’s nothing else, but then Warzone is just …
Continuing in his rant, the streamer reveals that he would actually lose all self-respect if he were to keep playing:
I would have to walk away, take a step back and look in the mirror. I should put on a clown nose and stare at myself because I keep playing this game.
Then someone played clown music in the stream, which TimTheTatman abruptly cut off.
Is TimTheTatman quitting Warzone now? Probably not. Because he himself says in the stream that he actually loves Warzone and doesn’t want to play any other BR games. But for the evening it was probably over, as he explains at the end that he will probably go to a quiet sauna with relaxing eucalyptus oil.
Tornadoes and lightning are now racing across the island of Fortnite. Here you can learn how to take advantage of the stormy weather.
What has changed? In the latest hotfix from January 11, 2022, the long-awaited tornadoes and lightning have been added to the Fortnite island.
Where can I find tornadoes and lightning? You can now encounter both weather phenomena randomly in your matches. However, you shouldn’t look for them in the ranked modes: both features are currently disabled in competitive play modes.
The good news is: you don’t need to be afraid when a tornado or a thundercloud suddenly appears in front of you.
On the contrary: you can use both elements to move quickly around the map.
What do tornadoes and lightning bring?
How you can take advantage of the weather: You probably know the feeling: you’ve landed calmly on the edge of the island and started looting. Collect materials, weapons, maybe grab a loot llama – and suddenly you realize: Damn, the storm is already here.
To get away quickly, in the current Chapter 3 you mainly had to rely on cars, launch pads, chili peppers, or the popular Spider-Man web shooters. Now the weather provides even more mobility.
The benefits of tornadoes: Tornadoes are hard to miss and thus easy to spot when they form nearby. They don’t deal damage to you but catapult you high into the air, allowing you to cover a lot of distance with your glider.
They can also be used to escape escalating gunfights that you might not be able to handle.
However, you should be a little cautious – tornadoes can pick up a lot of debris from the surroundings. If, for example, a car that is about to explode gets caught in it, you’d better not get hit.
A player even managed to be taken out by a flying tree while trying to surf on the storm. You’d better try to avoid that:
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Until January 18, 2022, the Tornado Week is running. During this time, you should encounter the storms more frequently.
How to utilize lightning: You can find lightning by looking for dark storm clouds. Lightning strikes can occur there.
Unlike the storm, lightning does damage to you, but only a little: a lightning strike deducts 10 health points. However, you gain a significant speed boost, allowing you to move extremely fast. This way, you can also bring a bit more mobility into your game.
If you want to get struck by lightning, you can increase your chances by:
Going into the water under the storm cloud
Or climbing to the highest point under the cloud
But beware: lightning can set flammable objects in the vicinity on fire. So don’t build a wooden tower just to reach the lightning.
The mid-season update for Call of Duty: Vanguard was released without much announcement. The content is manageable and primarily focuses on the zombie mode. We will show you the patch notes and first reactions on MeinMMO.
This is the situation:
Season content for Call of Duty usually arrives in 2 stages: a large influx of content at the season start and a second wave of content during the “mid-season”
Before the respective updates, we get information about new content in the form of a blog including a roadmap
This time, there were no preliminary informations, and now it seems clear why: The multiplayer mode is effectively left empty with the mid-season 1
CoD Vanguard: Update 1.10 – Patch Notes
When is the update coming? The mid-season update is already online, and you can download the patch at any time.
How big is the update? It is quite modest – you only need about 5 GB of storage.
What does the update offer? There is virtually only content for the zombie mode. The story continues, and a new survival mode can be started from the headquarters in Stalingrad.
Multiplayer fans are almost left empty-handed. The new content consists of a new weapon – the MP “Welgun”. Otherwise, the changes are limited to bug fixes and balance adjustments.
What changes in multiplayer? As mentioned, there is no new content aside from the new submachine gun. Here’s how to unlock the Welgun:
Welgun unlock
Multiplayer: Achieve 10 kills in a match with submachine guns 15 times while using the scope.
Zombies: Achieve 5 rapid critical kills with submachine guns in a row in 50 different portal missions.
Next, we’ll show you the most important adjustments from the patch notes in English:
Stability
Removed sources for “Packet Burst” during matches
Removed several causes for game crashes in multiplayer
Fixed controller issues for players using mouse & keyboard
Spawns
Revised spawn logic for small maps with many players
Reworked spawn logic in control mode
Improved domination spawns on “Dome”
Weapons
Fixed various camo challenges
Fixed katana unlock
Three-line rifle can now be reloaded with ZF4 3.5x scope
Fixed additional challenges and weapon blueprints
Maps
Fixed collision issues on various maps
Extensively revised destructible objects on all maps
There were also minor changes and improvements in the menu. Now let’s move on to the balance adjustments for the weapons:
M1 Garand – Buff
Recoil reduced
Type 99 – Buff
Reduced flinch when aiming
Shorter aim time
One-shot kills with upper body hits even with lower caliber
Three-line rifle – Buff
Shorter aim time
Kar98k – Buff
One-shot kills with upper body hits even with lower caliber
There were adjustments to equipment, killstreaks, and perks:
Stun grenade – Nerf
Damage reduced in hardcore mode
Duration of the stun effect reduced
Fire grenade – Nerf
Damage has been reduced
Mortar fire – Nerf
Duration shortened
Fewer grenades per deployment
Fixed placement issues
Alarmed – Nerf
Small delay added until you receive the visual signal
Unyielding – Buff
Immunity to damage from grenades
Also protects against incendiary ammunition and flamethrower attacks
Reinforced – Buff
Incoming fire damage reduced by 30%
More protection against explosive damage
Zombie mode: New survival mission brings familiar mechanics
What changes in zombie mode? The CoD Vanguard cooperative mode is doing slightly better, continuing its story and receiving new gameplay mechanics:
New Stalingrad location
Von List’s Office – a new area
New void mode
The map “Shi No Numa” can be played as a survival mission
Through a portal in Von List’s Office, you can access the new mission
You must survive 3 rounds against endless hordes of zombies
After the 3 rounds, all players receive 5,000 bonus essence
If you survive 12 rounds, your perks drop only to tier 2 upon death
Pack-a-Punch machine available in the void
After 3 rounds, players can return to Stalingrad to gear up
Tome of Rituals
You can now upgrade your artifacts with sacrifice hearts
All artifacts have 4 levels with strong bonuses
Pack-a-Punch
From level 3, weapons now have special skins
Weapons
Riot shield available in zombie mode
When held, the shield protects against damage from the front, and from behind when on the back
Support
Warmachine and Reaper are now available in zombies
These were the most important changes in Vanguard for the mid-season. If you want to take a look at the English patch notes yourself, you can find them here (via sledgehammergames.com).
What are players saying about the update? Looking at the first reactions on Twitter or Reddit, the low content density in multiplayer is not the main focus for many players.
While there are some voices concerning the content, especially missing nerfs for shotguns and issues with camo challenges are often mentioned.
@CODWarfareForum on Twitter: “We waited 2 months for the 1.5 update, and it’s the lamest mid-season update since the seasons started.”
AssumptionSquare7400 on Reddit: “No nerf for double-barrel or combat shotguns? Must be a joke.”
@PatrickWantsOut on Twitter: “I can’t play. The game crashes constantly after the update. I can’t even think about how I was actually looking forward to the update.”
There are also some players complaining about missing blueprints for their weapons and many posts with screenshots showing that Vanguard doesn’t start anymore after the update.
Super People is only known by a few players in this country. Nevertheless, the game regularly has more players on Steam than many of the most famous names in the shooter market – even though it is still in a closed beta. MeinMMO tells you what it’s all about.
What is Super People? Super People is a battle royale by the South Korean developer Wonder People. This game is currently developing into a kind of insider tip among shooter fans. In some form, the game clearly borrows from every popular battle royale. In particular, the strong similarities to PUBG: Battlegrounds cannot be denied.
What makes the game special are the titular superheroes: each player controls one of 12 possible ‘Super People’. Each has its own extravagant abilities that can completely turn the gameplay on its head. While this may not always feel fair, it significantly differentiates the game from its major competitor PUBG in some respects.
How well-known is Super People? The biggest streamers – like Shroud, Dr Disrespect, and TimTheTatman – have already played Super People before their large audiences. The player numbers are also impressive:
According to SteamCharts, the game usually has around 20,000 to 30,000 players at the same time, with peak times often reaching around 40,000. At one point, there were even nearly 55,000 players in Super People at the same time (via SteamCharts).
These numbers are impressive for several reasons: The game currently has significantly more players on Steam than Halo Infinite, Battlefield 2042, or the survival hit Valheim. Most players are still relatively unaware of the game, and it is also in a closed beta.
How can I play the game? Super People is currently free to play. It can be expected that it will also be free-to-play upon release. While the game has not been released yet, and there is also no release date, it is already possible to play it through a closed beta.
Super People plays like PUBG, if it were more eccentric
To be able to participate, you first need to gain access to the closed beta. However, this is quite simple and can be done quickly:
You can request access for Super People on Steam. This happens with just a few clicks on the Steam page of the game. You typically and currently receive access to the closed beta very quickly – many players seem to be able to start just a few minutes after requesting access.
Super People is not original, but plays well
How does Super People play? At first glance, Super People looks almost identical to PUBG. This is also the case upon a second and third glance:
Like in PUBG, Super People is a battle royale that can be played in either first or third person.
The weapons available in Super People are almost identical to the guns in PUBG.
You loot and equip items and weapons just like in PUBG – with a virtually identical menu and the same routines.
Even when firing, the weapons in Super People feel just like those in PUBG.
These are just the most important gameplay similarities to PUBG. Even players who only know the battle royale classic from videos will discover many more similarities. These include:
The waiting lobby before a game
The customization options for your character
The layout of the map and key locations
The vehicles
The mechanics around the ring
The controls
The options menu
Even the loot menu evokes strong memories of PUBG
What makes Super People special? Super People does stand out from PUBG in detail. This is partly because it audaciously borrows from all other battle royale titans. However, Super People does so in a clever way that ensures a good mix:
Weapons in the game have a rarity value. The rarer the weapon, the better its statistics. This is reminiscent of Fortnite.
While you can’t build structures like in Fortnite, you still collect materials. With these, you can craft or upgrade your equipment and weapons with a quick crafting animation.
At the beginning of a round, you are assigned a superhero. This functions like a class from a hero shooter: you have many special abilities, both as active skills with a cooldown and as passive strengths. This is reminiscent of Apex Legends.
The loadouts in CoD: Warzone also seem to have impressed the developers of Super People. You start each round with a random signature weapon that deals more damage. After a few minutes in a round, a loadout package drops on the map, which contains that weapon among others.
It seems that Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown was also played by the developers. In the rounds, you can collect blueprints and money, which you can invest in your characters and their class. While you do not lose your gold at the end of the round, the more you loot, the easier it is to enter a game with the desired loadout.
Even though none of these elements is original: their combination results in a unique mix that significantly shakes up the familiar PUBG gameplay. For example, your signature weapons and class abilities influence which guns you will play with. This gives you an incentive to play weapons that you wouldn’t necessarily like.
How do the superheroes change the gameplay? The most exciting feature on this list is probably the superheroes, which function like classes in other games. Currently, there are 12 in the game, and they significantly and funnily change the gameplay.
At the beginning of each round, a superhero is randomly selected for you. For 100 gold, you can change this selection randomly, and for 500 gold, you can specifically choose whom you want to play as.
The hero “Teleporter”
The hero “Driver”
The hero “Marine”
An overview of all 12 current heroes
One class has an atomic bomb as its ultimate, functioning like a bigger airstrike from CoD Warzone. If you see enemies in a building or behind cover, you can blow them into the next lobby with nuclear firepower.
Another superhero is very agile, can go into cover by sliding, attack aggressively – and then teleport to escape a dangerous situation in a split second.
Surprisingly fun and effective is also the driver class: your ultimate is a golden and armored monster truck, which you can use your skills to jump. This way, you can beam the car to you frequently and use it for safety, as mobile cover, or aggressively run over enemies.
How do the heroes change the gameplay? These heroes currently don’t always feel fair. The balancing can certainly still be adjusted. However, the classes make the serious and slow gameplay of PUBG significantly faster and more relaxed, without making the weapons feel less realistic or fun to play.
The result is an interesting mix that offers much of what is known but alters it noticeably and entertainingly through eccentric additions. Thus, Super People is more than just a simple and shameless PUBG copy when playing.
Even if no one calls the game original: players have a lot of fun with Super People and often find it better than the big competition.
YouTuber jackfrags says that “Super People could be a PUBG knockoff that is better than PUBG” (via YouTube).
Oopz writes in a comment under this video: “I can already see from watching that this looks much smoother than PUBG. The movement looks very good”.
MisterNegativity does not live up to his name, writing on reddit: “Super People is going to replace PUBG for me”.
Higi from the MeinMMO community writes: “I have a lot of fun! Yes, it reminds me of PUBG in terms of setting, but I just don’t care about that. Everyone copies from everyone.”
Super People seems to be on a good path. The current player numbers and early reactions speak for themselves.
What do you think? Are you excited about Super People? Do you want to test the game in the closed beta? Or do you think it doesn’t innovate enough to be interesting? Let us know in the comments.
If you want to play the big inspiration yourself, PUBG is now free to play as of today, January 12th:
New World is getting a new equipment upgrade system with the January patch. This will allow you to increase the gear score from 600 to 625. However, many players were disappointed because they created their perfect gear with a lower gear score. But you will also be able to upgrade those in the future.
The Shadow Shards are used to raise equipment from a gear score of 600 to 625. You will always need double the shards compared to the previous level – a gear score of 601 requires one shard, 602 then two, 603 then four, and so on.
However, some players were disappointed with the system because they have crafted or found suitable equipment that does not have a gear score of 600. The weapons and armor receive random stats on drops and crafting that do not always match. The only exceptions are items with fixed names, such as the strong Voidbent Armor.
But now, Amazon has good news for players who have strong epic items.
Even gear at level 590+ can be upgraded with Shadow Shards
What has been announced? As the developer Zin_Ramu mentioned in the forum, items with a gear score of 590 can now also be upgraded with Shadow Shards:
We really wanted to keep the value of the legendary 600 high. But I can understand that this can be limiting and discouraging when you have a lot of bad RNG and don’t get your legendary roll.
That’s why we are considering lowering the minimum gear score required for an upgrade to 590. You still need to reach competence 600 to unlock the upgrade via Shadow Shards. But once it’s unlocked, you can now upgrade from 590 to 600, and at moderate Shadow Shard costs. This allows those really good 590-599 rolls to become great weapons with a little extra Shadow Shards.
This change is supposed to be implemented “as quickly as possible”. Whether it will be included directly at the release in January has not yet been confirmed.
However, there is a small catch. Epic equipment items available at levels 590 to 599 will remain epic even after being upgraded beyond gear score 599 (via NewWorld):
Epic equipment only has two bonus effects
Legendary equipment, on the other hand, has three
There will be no change in that regard despite the upgrade. This is justified by the fact that legendary equipment should not be devalued and that Shadow Shards should only be used for upgrades, not for generating new legendary equipment.
Legendary equipment has one more perk and will therefore remain the best in the game.
What do you think about the adjustment to the equipment? Are you happy to keep your epic items, or are you still trying to get legendary equipment in the long run?
We have completely translated the currently provisional patch notes for the upcoming update 1.3 into German:
We present to you the best controllers 2022 for Xbox and PC and give you some tips on what to consider when making a purchase.
The controller is no longer just the exclusive toy of the console. PC gamers also rely not only on good gaming keyboards, but also on gaming controllers.
But which controller is worth it for whom the most? In our article, we present which controllers are very well suited for the PC and for Xbox, what advantages they offer, and what you should pay attention to when buying.
Especially for competitive gaming, the rule is: The faster the reaction times, the better your chances are. In our article, we present the following things:
What should I consider when buying a controller?
The best controllers for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
XInput and DirectInput – What is that actually?
By what criteria did we select the controllers? We looked at the currently available controllers for Xbox and PC, examined reviews, tests, top lists, and experiences to present you the best controllers. Some of the devices were tested directly in our editorial team. This also contributes to the assessment.
The article was first published on April 26, 2020, and is regularly updated with new controllers. Last update January 12, 2022. We have added a new price-performance tip and removed one controller.
[toc]
What should I consider when buying a controller?
This is how the controller purchase works: The following steps should be considered before buying a controller and weighed subjectively:
Wireless or wired: First, you should consider whether you want a wireless or a wired controller: Wireless controllers are more flexible, but you may have to deal with input lag. With a wired controller, you are bound to the cable, but you do not have to recharge it in between and minimize lags.
Calculate the budget: How much money do you want to invest? A controller does not have to be expensive to work well. However, more expensive ones are often significantly better built or rely on mechanical and thus more precise components.
Preferred games: Those who enjoy playing shooters have different preferences than someone who prefers sports games or prefers to play MMOs.
Ergonomics: How important is a good grip and easily reachable buttons? Are you willing to adjust or does everything need to fit immediately?
Compatibility: Not every controller works with every system. PS4 controllers are often compatible with PC but not with Xbox One. Conversely, this problem exists as well.
Best controller for Xbox Series X and One under 50 Euros: PowerA Wired Controller For Xbox Series X|S
Weight: 210 grams | Connection: Wired | Cable length: 3.0 meters | Battery: Not available | Price range (according to Geizhals): 39.99 – 59.99 Euros
Who is the controller suitable for? If you are looking for an affordable alternative to the official Xbox controller, but do not want to miss out on the familiar layout, then take a look at the PowerA controller. The investment is also worthwhile for those looking for an inexpensive second controller for their console.
This is what the PowerA Wired Controller For Xbox Series X|S offers: You get the affordable controller currently in 15 different styles and colors. The cable is permanently connected to the controller and is not detachable. You can connect a headset or headphones via the headphone jack.
The PowerA controller also features the typical asymmetrical Xbox design, with the thumbsticks slightly offset. Depending on the color, the controller additionally offers a mute button for sound. With a weight of 210 grams, the controller is also lighter than the official model. Paddles or other additional features are not available with this controller.
Pro
pleasant ergonomics
good price-performance ratio
headphone jack for headset/headphones
volume control and mute button for sound
Contra
mediocre build quality
only wired
no paddles
This is what users say: On Amazon, the controller has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars with more than 10,000 ratings. Buyers praise the pleasant ergonomics and good feel, reminiscent of the official Xbox controllers from Microsoft. Some criticize the poor build quality of the thumbsticks.
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Best Xbox controller for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S under 100 Euros – Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
Weight: 277 grams | Connection: Bluetooth, wired | Cable length: – | Battery: 2 replaceable AA batteries | Price range (according to Geizhals): 44 – 59 Euros.
The standard comes with every newly purchased Xbox One.
Who is the controller suitable for? The Xbox Wireless Controller is especially suitable for gamers looking for a good D-Pad and precise thumbsticks. It is especially interesting for games like FIFA, as the buttons require a certain amount of pressure to trigger. Accidental triggering is unlikely.
This is what the Xbox Wireless Controller offers: The controller features a simple design and is available in several colors. At 277 grams, it is lighter than its competitors but also slightly larger. The D-Pad is precise, and the buttons only trigger under considerable pressure.
The enormous advantage of the Xbox Wireless Controller is that it can be easily connected to the PC via a USB adapter.
Additionally, the comprehensive compatibility is a strong point: The controller works with the Xbox One X, Xbox One S, Windows 10, and Android. Games like PUBG or Call of Duty are also possible with this controller on Android. Furthermore, the Steam game client immediately recognizes the connected device. The controller also features a 3.5 mm headphone jack for headphones and headsets.
Besides the many available colors, it is also possible to have the controller engraved at Microsoft.
Pro
buttons require significant pressure…
high compatibility with Xbox, Windows PC, and Android
relatively light (277 grams)
both Bluetooth and wired options available
Contra
… which can take some getting used to
mediocre build quality (plastic)
This is what users say: The Xbox Wireless Controller is rated 4.6 stars out of 13,405 reviews. Buyers praise the precise buttons and good compatibility, as well as the excellent support with Steam. Some complain about the poor build quality of the controller.
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Alternative: Best controller for PC and Xbox Series X up to 100 Euros – Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
Weight: 277 grams | Connection: Bluetooth, “Xbox Wireless”, wired | Cable length: – | Battery: 2 replaceable AA batteries | Price range (according to Geizhals.de): 58.19 – 79.99 €
Who is the controller suitable for? If you have appreciated the previous Xbox Wireless Controller, you should take a look at the new edition. Microsoft has improved many things, and the controller now provides even better feedback. By the way, a controller comes with the Xbox Series X|S.
This is what the controller offers: A new Xbox controller is included with the Xbox Series X|S. However, if you want to play cooperatively on your new next-gen console or want a different color, you can purchase another one.
In direct comparison, especially the appearance has changed significantly since the launch controller of the Xbox Series X. How good the new Xbox controller is has been explained in detail here. In addition, three changes immediately stand out. The new controller offers the new share button, and the D-Pad has also been revised.
Who is the controller suitable for? If you are looking for a high-quality controller that offers you particularly tactile buttons and feels comfortable in large hands, then you should take a look at Razer’s controller. However, you should note that the controller is wired.
This is what the Razer Wolverine V2 offers: The Razer Wolverine V2 is a wired gaming controller for Xbox Series X|S and PC. MeinMMO tested the Razer Wolverine V2. In our test, the controller delivers high precision. We particularly appreciated the mecha-tactile buttons and D-Pad.
The controller fits well in large hands but presents problems in small hands. This is mainly due to the mappable special buttons on the back of the device, which are difficult to reach.
Pro
high-quality build
mecha-tactile buttons and D-Pad
easy-to-use software
ability to lock triggers
freely mappable additional buttons
Contra
unfamiliar ergonomics for small hands
non-detachable cable
no paddles
special buttons are on the back of the controller
This is what users say: The controller receives 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 135 ratings. The controller is praised for its good ergonomics, thanks to rubberized grips and its precise buttons. In particular, the rounded D-Pad and quiet buttons are highlighted.
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Best Xbox One Controller with Paddles – PowerA Wired Controller Fusion Pro
Weight: No indication | Connection: Wired | Cable length: 3.0 meters | Battery: Not available | Price range (according to Geizhals): 119.00 Euros
Many players now rely on so-called “paddles” located on the back of the controller. The Fusion Pro is one of the best of its kind.
Who is the controller suitable for? If you are looking for a controller that has similar qualities to the Xbox Elite Controller but is somewhat cheaper, then take a look at the Fusion Pro Controller from PowerA.
This is what the PowerA Fusion Pro offers: The Fusion Pro looks like an ordinary Xbox controller and is also an officially licensed Xbox controller. The controller is available in both black and white.
The Fusion Pro is highly configurable. The analog sticks and button rings are interchangeable, and all parts are hidden behind a magnetic front plate. At the back of the controller, you can adjust the trigger pull in up to three levels with a lever.
Also good is the “Pro Pack” which consists of four detachable paddles that can be configured. This makes the Fusion Pro one of the best controllers with paddles for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on the Elite Controller.
Pro
good build quality due to high-quality materials,
interchangeable parts,
adjustable trigger pull length
great ergonomics
configurable paddles
Contra
expensive
no wireless function
This is what users say: On Amazon, the controller is rated 4.1 stars based on 426 reviews. The high similarity to the Xbox Elite Controller and the great build quality are praised. Some criticize that certain headsets or individual microphones are not recognized.
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Best customizable Xbox One Controller – Xbox One Controller Scuf Prestige
Weight: 267 grams | Connection: Bluetooth | Cable length: 3 meters | Battery: internal, fixed battery | Price range (according to manufacturer): From 159 Euros
There are hardly any controllers like the ones from Scuf that can be customized to such a degree.
Who is the controller suitable for? If you are looking for a controller that can be almost fully customized to your needs, then you should take a look at the Scuf Prestige. This controller can be freely configured on the manufacturer’s website.
This is what the Scuf Prestige Controller offers: The Scuf Gaming controller focuses on individuality: On the company’s own site (via scufgaming.com), you can assemble your own controller according to your preferences. The buyer has a wide range of options to choose from: from colors, grips to the material of the thumbsticks – there are no limits to customization.
Also successful are the “paddles” on the back of the controller. The Scuf Impact is currently one of the best Xbox One controllers with paddles available alongside the Xbox Elite Controller.
Customization can become quite expensive. The base price is 159 Euros, which is no small sum. With each additional customization, such as different thumbsticks, special grips, or triggers, additional costs are incurred. However, for those who are not deterred by the price, they receive a fantastic controller that is tailored to their needs like no other controller.
Best Wireless Controller for Enthusiasts and Xbox Series X – Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
Weight: 345 grams | Connection: Bluetooth/2.4 GHz | Cable length: 2.7 meters | Battery: built-in rechargeable battery | Price range (according to Geizhals): 155 – 199 Euro
The absolute high-end among the Xbox One controllers. Expensive, but outstanding quality. And it should also work with the Xbox Series X.
Who is the controller suitable for? If you are looking for a controller that focuses on great quality and high battery life and is also comfortable to hold, then take a look at the Xbox Elite Controller. This offers not only great workmanship but also guaranteed support for the Xbox Series X.
What does the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 offer? The Elite Series 2 mainly offers an enormous range of accessories. Alongside the controller, it includes a USB-C charging cable, charging station, 6 thumbsticks, 4 paddles, 2 D-Pads, and a tool to adjust the thumbsticks. The package is rounded off by a travel case.
Unlike the Elite 1, the Elite 2 no longer has a battery compartment, but a built-in battery. This offers a runtime of about 30 to 40 hours. Thanks to the extensive accessories, there are many customization options, which is extremely practical.
On the downside, the price of around 180 Euros and the relatively high weight stand out. The Elite 2 weighs about 350 grams and is therefore significantly heavier than comparable controllers. Otherwise, buyers receive one of the best controllers on the market.
Pro
many customization options
dock for charging
high battery life (around 40 hours)
great handling
good quality
Contra
very expensive
high weight
This is what users say: On Amazon, the controller is rated 4.2 stars out of 1921 reviews. Buyers praise the high battery life, good grip, and great handling. Some complain about the lack of quality control by Microsoft, as some users experience unresponsive or stiff buttons.
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Best Xbox Controller for People with Limited Mobility: Xbox Adaptive Controller
Weight: 552 grams | Connection: Bluetooth and USB-C | Cable length: – | Battery: internal, built-in battery | Price range (according to manufacturer): From 89 Euros
Microsoft developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller for gamers with limited mobility.
Who is the controller suitable for? The Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed for people with limited mobility. The controller is therefore primarily aimed at these players.
This is what the Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller offers: Microsoft refers to its Adaptive Controller as “a central hub for devices to make gaming accessible.” The controller does not resemble an ordinary controller in the slightest:
The base station looks like a rectangular box and features two very large buttons, a D-Pad, and menu buttons. The Adaptive Controller also does not need to be held in the hands, but can instead be placed on a table in front of the player.
Although other controls such as switches, buttons, mounts, and joysticks can be connected via USB to the station, these must be purchased separately.
What are XInput and DirectInput? XInput and DirectInput are two input methods on PC. They support the input of the controller on the PC and pass it to the game. DirectInput is mainly used by older games, while XInput is the current state of technology.
If you primarily want to play old games on PC, you should ensure that they also support DirectInput. Windows supports both standards, but the games also need to be capable of using the commands.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The 29-year-old Andy “Reginald” Dinh is the head of Team SoloMid, the largest and most important team of League of Legends in the USA. Now Riot Games says they are conducting an independent investigation against him. The head of TSM is accused of having abused employees and LoL players.
Who is Reginald?
Andy “Reginald” Dinh founded a website for League of Legends called “SoloMid.net” in 2009 – at that time, he was still playing LoL himself in the mid lane. However, he quickly transitioned from player to management role and founded his own esports organization, Team SoloMid.
However, in recent months, TSM has been struggling significantly: many big names have left the organization, including club icon Bjergsen, Twitch streamer Myth, and manager Leena Xu. The LoL legend Doublelift fired Reginald himself.
This is now the announcement: As reported by the magazine “WIRED”, Riot Games has commissioned an investigation against Reginald. In a statement from Riot Games, it is stated:
We are aware of the allegations made against the CEO/owner of TSM. As the league operator, we have engaged the law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations of misconduct against the head of the team […]
Riot Games
No further comments are available on this matter.
Doublelift voiced harsh criticism of Reginald.
“Passionate Owner” or “Schoolyard Bully”?
What are the allegations? The allegations center mainly around the player and streamer “Doublelift”, who said that Reginald is a “bully,” a kind of “schoolyard thug” who repeatedly belittled his players to the point that they began to cry.
Doublelift says Reginald is like a schoolyard bully who gets away with being a bad guy because he is so powerful that people are afraid to stand up to him.
As evidence, clips from various professionals in the past were cited showing Reginald in action (via Youtube).
However, players who were featured in these clips have already defended Reginald, stating that he always wants what is best for his team. He is indeed a “passionate owner.”
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WildTurtle, one of the alleged victims of Reginald, defended him.
These are new accusations: WIRED now says they spoke with four individuals who experienced incidents in which Reginald allegedly “verbally abused” players and staff:
He is said to have called employees “stupid” and “worthless.”
He also allegedly called them after work to yell at them.
Sometimes Reginald would belittle people for hours. His tirades would be triggered by small mistakes.
Furthermore, Reginald is said to have yelled at employees in front of assembled teams to set an “example.” He was apparently proud of this, according to a former TSM employee, according to Wired.