7 Iconic Weapons from Halo that Halo Infinite Absolutely Needs to Bring

Halo Infinite offers a wide range of different weapons. But which ones from previous installments did not make it into the selection? Here we list some of the most well-known for you.

Although the selection of weapons in Halo Infinite is quite extensive, some of the most popular weapons from previous installments are missing.

In addition to classics like the assault rifle or the battle rifle, there are also some new weapons that haven’t appeared in the series before.

But our list is about classics from earlier installments that are still missing and should definitely be brought into the game. We have selected 7 cult weapons for you.

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1. DMR

Previous appearances: Halo Reach, Halo 4 and Halo 5.

What kind of weapon is this? The DMR made its first appearance in Halo Reach as a replacement for the well-known battle rifle. In contrast, the DMR is a semi-automatic weapon with higher penetration power.

This offers advantages for accurate players who want to eliminate their opponents with few shots. This weapon is not present in Halo Infinite but could definitely make it into the game in the future.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? A single-fire weapon that is strong at range is missing among the UNSC weapons and is more mobile than, for example, the sniper rifle.

While the Commando LMG has moved a bit into this niche, it does not have the same penetration power as the DMR nor the precision at rapid fire. Therefore, a DMR variant would be a sensible addition.

2. Spartan Laser

Previous appearances: Halo 3, Halo ODST, Halo 4, Halo 5

What kind of weapon is this? Since Halo 3, the Spartan Laser is considered one of the most iconic weapons of the series. Its charged shot is quite powerful, destroying vehicles and penetrating shields and armor like butter.

However, a high degree of precision and skill is required to be effective with this weapon and to hit your targets.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? The question should rather be: Why not? A huge laser that destroys almost everything but also requires good timing and aiming? Such a weapon does not yet exist in Halo Infinite, apart from the rocket launcher, there are hardly any really powerful weapons that could take its place.

via Screenshot on Halopedia

3. Type-33 Flak Cannon

Previous appearances: Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo ODST, Halo Reach, Halo 4

What kind of weapon is this? This is a type of plasma rocket launcher from the Covenant. Unlike the UNSC rocket launcher, the individual shots have less penetration power, but the weapon can fire more shots per magazine.

It also still has enough power to deal significant damage to opponents, making it one of the more powerful weapons in the Halo series.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? Currently, there is no counterpart to the UNSC rocket launcher in the Banished’s weapon repertoire. The Flak Cannon is also not just a copy of the UNSC rocket launcher: With more bullets in the magazine and a significantly higher rate of fire, this gun plays quite differently.

Thus, it would bring additional variety and increase the selection of heavy weapons.

via Screenshot on Halopedia

4. Type-51 Plasma Repeater

Previous appearances: Halo Reach

What kind of weapon is this? The Plasma Repeater is a rapidly firing weapon whose rate of fire slows down the longer you shoot at the target. The rate of fire and damage of the weapon are high, especially during the first shots of the magazine.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? This weapon has not appeared in any of the major installments outside of Halo Reach. Since there is currently no rapidly firing plasma weapon in Halo Infinite, the Repeater would be a sensible addition.

via Screenshot on Halopedia

5. M7 and M20 Submachine Gun

Previous appearances: Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST (M7), Halo 5 (M20)

What kind of weapon is this? The M7 submachine gun was introduced for the first time in Halo 2 and replaced the assault rifle. It had a high rate of fire and was very strong at short distances but had lower penetration and range.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? The MP introduced a new feature in Halo at the time: dual-wielding. In addition to the M7, you could also wield several other weapons in both hands. However, this feature was not included again in any Halo installment after Halo 3 and Halo 3 ODST.

In Halo 5 it was then included as the more modern M20 version, but without the dual-wielding feature. Therefore, it would be cool if in Halo Infinite you could carry 2 weapons in both hands again.

Additionally, there are no fully automatic weapons in Halo Infinite that are most effective at short range. The game could certainly use a weapon that takes on the role of a submachine gun.

6. M90 and M90A Shotgun

Previous appearances: Halo Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST

What kind of weapon is this? Those who played the earlier Halo installments will remember the old shotgun model. The M90 or M90A had a high penetration power but had a low rate of fire and a longer reload time.

It can best be described as a pump-action shotgun and could also eliminate opponents up close with a single shot in multiplayer. Later, it was replaced by the M45 shotgun, which, although firing faster and loading quicker, has less penetration power.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? The new Bulldog in Halo Infinite is now much more precise, reloads significantly faster, and has a drum magazine, but has less power than any other UNSC shotgun before it. Therefore, the good old M90 would be a sensible addition.

via Screenshot on Halopedia

7. Type-25 Carbine (Spiker)

Previous appearances: Halo 3, Halo Reach

What kind of weapon is this? The Spiker had its first real appearance in Halo 3. This weapon comes from the Brutes and can be quite devastating.

It fires automatically, and its projectiles are needle-like, similar to the needle rifle from the Covenant. They penetrate armor and get stuck in the target. However, it has difficulty against energy shields.

Due to its high rate of fire and damage, it is strong against enemies whose shields are down or those protected only by armor.

Why should this weapon exist in Halo Infinite? It would be a sensible addition to the Banished weapons, as there are currently no rapidly firing weapons among the Brute guns. It could serve as an automatic alternative to the Mangler, which is currently the best-kept secret among weapons in Infinite.

via Screenshot on Halopedia

All 22 current weapons in Halo Infinite

What weapons are there in Halo Infinite? Here is the complete list:

UNSC Weapons

  • MA40 Assault Rifle
  • BR75 Battle Rifle
  • VK78 Commando (LMG)
  • MK50 Sidekick (Pistol)
  • CQS48 Bulldog (Shotgun)
  • S7 Sniper Rifle
  • Rocket Launcher
  • Hydra

Banished/Covenant Weapons

  • Commando Carbine
  • Needle Rifle
  • Plasma Pistol
  • Energy Sword
  • Gravity Hammer
  • Mangler
  • Disruptor
  • Stalker Rifle
  • Destroyer
  • Skewer
  • Shock Rifle

Bloodsucker Weapons

  • Heatwave
  • Sentinel Beam
  • Cindershot

Many of the weapons are very powerful, and players regularly test what they can do. This includes the sniper rifle, which can eliminate 23 players in a row with a single headshot.

Here you can check out all weapons in the showcase:

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We have listed our 8 most important weapons in Halo Infinite and what makes them so strong for you here.

Will new weapons still come? Yes, this was already confirmed by Head of Creative Joseph Staten before release (via ign.com).

New weapons are also supposed to be included. Unfortunately, it is not clear when this will happen and which weapons will come first.

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer is a free-to-play game with live service support. Therefore, new content will be added to the game over a long period.

What do you think of our list? Do you have other favorites that you would like to see in our list? Which weapons do you like the most?

If you want to improve in Halo Infinite, we explain here the best controller settings and how you can improve your aiming.

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

Albion Online is the best sandbox MMORPG you have never played – Playtest

MeinMMO author Mark Sellner has played many MMORPGs, but he has always avoided Albion Online. In retrospect, this was a mistake because the game is great, if only the cash shop wasn’t so annoying and my focus was fully on sandbox.

In the last two months, the MMORPG Albion Online was able to gain a lot of new players again, as can be seen on the Steamcharts website. Although this does not include all platforms, but only Steam, currently the title is on the rise.

Good enough reason for me to finally take a look at the MMO that I have been putting off for what feels like an eternity. To get an impression of the sandbox in its unique graphic style, I played Albion for just over five hours. During that time, I tried to take in as much content as possible.

While the game initially bored me and I almost wondered if it was worth my time, I was quickly proven wrong. Albion is certainly not without its flaws, but it has its moments and can be a lot of fun. Provided you can come to terms with the compromises you have to make.

By the way, if you want to start Albion Online now, you can find a comprehensive beginner’s guide on MeinMMO.

Who is writing here? Mark Sellner is an MMORPG author at MeinMMO and has spent over a thousand hours in many titles from the genre. As MMORPGs from the iso perspective have recently risen sharply in his interest (thanks Lost Ark), it’s time to take a look at Albion Online.
Already in the first city, there are plenty of players.

In the very first minutes of the game, one thing stands out: the MMORPG runs really smoothly. The animations look good and it’s fun to move through the world by clicking the mouse in the iso perspective. This is also the very first task that awaited me in Albion. 

What at first glance seems like dull quest design proves to be a tutorial for the MMORPG. It can even be fun if you approach it with the right mindset. The game first sends me to a lighthouse, only to send me back down from the lighthouse again. A task that symbolically represents the quests of the next four hours. But it’s not as bad as it sounds.

Shortly after my lighthouse sprint, Albion equips me with a shield and a sword, thus introducing me to its classless system.

Similar to Path of Exile, there are clear paths you can take, but in the end, your abilities depend on your gear. My sword starts with two different attacks, from which I have to choose one. Armed and equipped with a skill, I may then open the big gate and heroically slay my first three enemies.

Stranded on an island with a coast, a jungle, and high mountains, Albion starts and teaches me the basic mechanics of the title. The next quest then sends me to gather materials because crafting is a big part of the game. I just click on the tree or rock I want to gather and my character diligently works to mine the stuff.

Even normal monsters have new move sets ready, and mini-bosses in dungeons and expeditions even more so. I must actively dodge to defeat the enemies, and even then, one or another in-game death remains almost unavoidable. 

At least as a noob, I can simply get back up after dying.

The rather slow fights quickly gain depth and are a lot of fun, even though I have few skills available and my character moves rather sluggishly than dodges quickly. The same combat system that initially discouraged me is now the highlight of the sandbox MMORPG.

Also a highlight is the randomly generated dungeons that you find repeatedly on the way in the maps. They are portals that glow a little green (solo) or blue (groups). The first time I even accidentally landed in one because I thought it might teleport me to the other side of a bridge.

It did not, instead it opened a dungeon in a mine, which yielded me plenty of loot. A pleasant surprise and together with the expeditions, slightly larger planned dungeons, my highlight of the preview session.

More on the topic
Albion Online Beginner’s Guide: What you need to know about the MMORPG when you start in 2022
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Please spend more money

However, there is one major downside, and that is the Free2Play concept of Albion Online. The game constantly urges me to invest money in Albion if I am playing as a free player. Whether it is pay-to-win in the long run, I cannot assess. At first, it does not feel like it.

So why this constantly popping-up shop window?

Don’t you want a skin right now?

One of the first quests gives me the premium stats for three days. The premium status is an optional subscription system that provides certain bonuses and costs €10.86 per month. Theoretically, you can also buy premium with in-game currency, but according to community statements, it is difficult to farm the necessary silver unless you are already a premium character.

With every single monster kill and every material gathering, a message appears on my screen showing how much bonus I receive from the premium status for the current action.

However, Albion not only subconsciously tells me to please spend money. Regularly, the shop window opens to inform me about exciting deals.

In the first five hours, I had no disadvantages as a free-to-play player. Whether that will remain later, I cannot judge yet. Nevertheless, the constant irritation with life easements in the cash shop quickly becomes annoying. 

For me personally, the graphic style is also a small downside. As much as I liked the gameplay, I couldn’t get used to the graphical aspect of the game even after hours.

This window opened more than once, which is very annoying.

However, that is also somewhat positive because Albion not only runs on your Windows or Mac PC but also on Android and iOS systems with the same account.

Even though I don’t play on mobile devices at all, I made an exception for Albion. And it was a good decision. Because while I had no access to my PC, I could simply continue playing on my smartphone exactly where I had left off.

Albion is well implemented and plays smoothly on Android. I had no problems setting up my account accordingly, and the mobile client has the same range of functions as the PC version. This is really pleasant for a free-to-play title and gives me more freedom than I am used to from many MMORPGs.

Conclusion

Albion Online is a lot more fun after five hours than I expected. The graphic style initially turned me off and still does, but it doesn’t detract from the fun.

Once Albion picks up some speed, the initially slower fights are really enjoyable and quickly become challenging. Gathering materials is also fun, if not for the constantly full inventory. But that’s manageable.

The cash shop offers many life easements that I could live with if Albion didn’t constantly try to sell them to me. And I really mean constantly. If I can say that these cash shop messages are the most negative thing about the MMORPG, then it is a good game.

I personally will probably not continue playing due to the complete sandbox aspect and the graphic style. However, if you don’t have a personal problem with the graphics, the sandbox, and PvP, then Albion is a great MMORPG that you can confidently start even in 2022. It’s definitely fun and thanks to the free-to-play principle, you have nothing to lose.

Mark Sellner

MMORPG expert at MeinMMO

By the way, Albion is also one of the best mobile MMORPGs you can play on Android and iOS in 2022.

Even though these materials respawn quickly, I quickly find it annoying that other players can steal resources from you, similar to New World. And not only that – if they have better tools than I do, other players can start hacking at the same rock after me and finish before me. Then I am left empty-handed and quite frustrated.

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MMORPG Albion Online changes the Open World – Everything about the new update in 7 minutes

What starts slowly finally gets good

Only when Albion finally gives me a weapon of my choice does the game start to become truly fun. With the materials collected, I can choose which weapon and armor I want to craft. The options are the already known sword and shield with heavy armor, bow with leather armor, and staff and spellbook with light armor.

Because throwing fireballs is simply the coolest thing, I decide on the mage gear. Suddenly I have four active abilities instead of just one as before. This happens after about 20 minutes in the game and really ramps up the entire game. Now, freshly equipped, I am allowed to attack a fortress to free the island’s harbor and finally complete the tutorial.

As a mage, I can lay cool fire fields, but my life dwindles away quickly if I’m not careful.

Having defeated the enemies and caught the ship, I continue onto the continent and into the first larger city, which quickly turns out to be a village. I continue to follow various quests given to me by the overseer of the village. I particularly find it negative that I can only activate one quest at a time. However, this doesn’t matter much anymore, as soon there are no more quests available.

The current tasks help me improve my equipment and bring me closer to the crafting system. I spend the next hours better understanding the skill system, upgrading my equipment, and gathering a lot of materials.

Once I have figured out how the basic mechanics of Albion work, the game no longer feeds me quests and grants me full sandbox freedom.

This is more fun than it sounds on paper and has almost survival game aspects at certain points. Although the game initially protects me, I later lose my entire inventory should my character die. And I have died often.

This is not a problem, as fighting NPC monsters is not only fun but also becomes quite challenging fairly early on and constantly tests my skills. 

Even normal monsters have new move sets ready, and mini-bosses in dungeons and expeditions even more so. I must actively dodge to defeat the enemies, and even then, one or another in-game death remains almost unavoidable. 

At least as a noob, I can simply get back up after dying.

The rather slow fights quickly gain depth and are a lot of fun, even though I have few skills available and my character moves rather sluggishly than dodges quickly. The same combat system that initially discouraged me is now the highlight of the sandbox MMORPG.

Also a highlight is the randomly generated dungeons that you find repeatedly on the way in the maps. They are portals that glow a little green (solo) or blue (groups). The first time I even accidentally landed in one because I thought it might teleport me to the other side of a bridge.

It did not, instead it opened a dungeon in a mine, which yielded me plenty of loot. A pleasant surprise and together with the expeditions, slightly larger planned dungeons, my highlight of the preview session.

More on the topic
Albion Online Beginner’s Guide: What you need to know about the MMORPG when you start in 2022
von Alexander Leitsch

Please spend more money

However, there is one major downside, and that is the Free2Play concept of Albion Online. The game constantly urges me to invest money in Albion if I am playing as a free player. Whether it is pay-to-win in the long run, I cannot assess. At first, it does not feel like it.

So why this constantly popping-up shop window?

Don’t you want a skin right now?

One of the first quests gives me the premium stats for three days. The premium status is an optional subscription system that provides certain bonuses and costs €10.86 per month. Theoretically, you can also buy premium with in-game currency, but according to community statements, it is difficult to farm the necessary silver unless you are already a premium character.

With every single monster kill and every material gathering, a message appears on my screen showing how much bonus I receive from the premium status for the current action.

However, Albion not only subconsciously tells me to please spend money. Regularly, the shop window opens to inform me about exciting deals.

In the first five hours, I had no disadvantages as a free-to-play player. Whether that will remain later, I cannot judge yet. Nevertheless, the constant irritation with life easements in the cash shop quickly becomes annoying. 

For me personally, the graphic style is also a small downside. As much as I liked the gameplay, I couldn’t get used to the graphical aspect of the game even after hours.

This window opened more than once, which is very annoying.

However, that is also somewhat positive because Albion not only runs on your Windows or Mac PC but also on Android and iOS systems with the same account.

Even though I don’t play on mobile devices at all, I made an exception for Albion. And it was a good decision. Because while I had no access to my PC, I could simply continue playing on my smartphone exactly where I had left off.

Albion is well implemented and plays smoothly on Android. I had no problems setting up my account accordingly, and the mobile client has the same range of functions as the PC version. This is really pleasant for a free-to-play title and gives me more freedom than I am used to from many MMORPGs.

Conclusion

Albion Online is a lot more fun after five hours than I expected. The graphic style initially turned me off and still does, but it doesn’t detract from the fun.

Once Albion picks up some speed, the initially slower fights are really enjoyable and quickly become challenging. Gathering materials is also fun, if not for the constantly full inventory. But that’s manageable.

The cash shop offers many life easements that I could live with if Albion didn’t constantly try to sell them to me. And I really mean constantly. If I can say that these cash shop messages are the most negative thing about the MMORPG, then it is a good game.

I personally will probably not continue playing due to the complete sandbox aspect and the graphic style. However, if you don’t have a personal problem with the graphics, the sandbox, and PvP, then Albion is a great MMORPG that you can confidently start even in 2022. It’s definitely fun and thanks to the free-to-play principle, you have nothing to lose.

Mark Sellner

MMORPG expert at MeinMMO

By the way, Albion is also one of the best mobile MMORPGs you can play on Android and iOS in 2022.

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

New MMORPG arrives in 2022, completely forgoing PvP – See first gameplay here

With Embers Adrift, a new MMORPG for PC is set to be released in 2022, focusing entirely on PvE. The developers have now provided an update on the current status and also released a video with new gameplay.

What kind of game is this? Embers Adrift will be a sandbox MMORPG set in a medieval world. PvP is currently not available in the alpha stage, although the developers do not rule out a duel feature for friendly fights in the future.

However, the focus is clearly on PvE:

  • The game does not use classes, allowing you to choose your own weapons and abilities. However, there will be a Holy Trinity+ consisting of Tank, Healer, DD, and Crowd Control.
  • There will be no larger quest hubs, and boring farming tasks should be handled by NPCs. All quests in the game are designed to tell a story and provide greater rewards at the end.
  • In Embers Adrift, group play is important. There are dungeons, raids, and group content in the open world. Those who wish to explore alone can do so, but will face some challenges. Additionally, part of the story is intended to take place in group instances.
  • As a sandbox MMORPG, crafting will also play an important role.
  • There are elements designed to enhance immersion, including the absence of a minimap, unnecessary tooltips, and a reduced interface.

Overall, Embers Adrift promotes the idea that players should embark on adventures with friends that they would later recount around a campfire.

How is Embers Adrift funded? This MMORPG deviates somewhat from current games in this aspect. There will be a subscription that must be purchased to play Embers Adrift. In return, there will be no cash shop.

What’s new? In a new State of the Game, the developers talked about the current status of Embers Adrift. The game is still in a closed alpha.

However, the developers have again confirmed the release for “later in 2022” and have also released 4 minutes of new gameplay, which we have embedded here for you:

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Embers Adrift is in a closed alpha, but is making significant progress

What is the current status of Embers Adrift? The MMORPG is currently in a closed alpha, accessible only by purchasing a preorder package for 50 euros. This is the only package currently available.

The closed alpha is also held only during specific play sessions and is under an NDA. One of the initial goals for the developers in 2022 is to allow the alpha to run 24/7.

In December, some adjustments were made to the game, including the following:

  • The first 6 skills will now be unlocked within the first 10 levels. Previously, you had to complete the first 20 levels for this.
  • There is now a positional bonus in the combat system. If you attack enemies from the side or behind, there are various advantages depending on the weapon you wield.
  • The character editor and animations have been overhauled and improved.

Overall, the MMORPG is already quite advanced:

  • Virtually all areas planned for launch have been completed
  • The dungeons are already said to be complete
  • They are currently fine-tuning the crafting system

In general, the development of the MMORPG seems to be comparatively advanced. However, some animations and the overall combat system still appear somewhat stiff in the latest gameplay video. It is unclear if they will work on this further.

Was Embers Adrift once called something else? Yes, the game has been in development since 2018, originally under the name Saga of Lucimia. However, the development team separated from one of its founders in 2021, which was likely a significant reason for the renaming.

What do you think about Embers Adrift? Is this MMORPG interesting to you, or does the new gameplay put you off? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

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

WoW: Patch 9.2 removes the unpopular Shards of Domination

In Patch 9.2 of World of Warcraft, the Domination Shards meet an inglorious end. They hardly work anywhere anymore.

Some systems in World of Warcraft start small and grow really big. Pet Battles are one such case, which started as a small bonus and ended up as a relatively large, permanent game system. Now, the Domination Shards meet an inglorious end. They were supposed to be a great feature from Patch 9.1, but will be disabled again with Patch 9.2 Eternity’s End – the system just didn’t resonate well.

What is it about? It’s about the Domination Shards, sometimes also called “Domination Shards”. These were special sockets from Patch 9.1 that players could install in certain armor. The sockets provided not just strong bonuses like several percentage points of bonus damage but could also activate specific set bonuses that provided massive advantages in the current raid “Sanctum of Domination”.

What will change? In a forum post, Blizzard revealed that the Domination Shard system will not continue in the upcoming Patch 9.2 Eternity’s End. Furthermore, the system will be completely disabled in almost all relevant content. It is stated more specifically:

Our plan, which we are currently working on in the PTR, is to deactivate the shards in Zereth Mortis [the new area], the Mausoleum of the First [the new raid], in all PvP situations, and all dungeons, starting with the launch of the “Eternity’s End” update.

In this scenario, the Domination Shards would still be active in the old Shadowlands zones, the Maw, Sanctum of Domination, and in Torghast.

Basically, it means that in the old content from Patch 9.1, the shards will still work, but in all new and current content – like the raid, Mythic+, or PvP – neither the shards nor their set bonuses are relevant and are disabled.

Why was this so annoying? The problem with the Domination Shards was simply that they posed another barrier to truly succeed in the endgame. For many players, it was already exhausting enough to farm the shards on a single character – having to repeat this on Twinks was then a hardship.

Moreover, it wasn’t enough to just visit the raid “Sanctum of Domination” regularly. Those who really wanted to keep everything up to date had to visit Korthia regularly as well, to upgrade the shards and unlock their full potential. Another of many hurdles that players found too annoying to really arrive at the endgame.

Additionally, there was the problem that the shards could only be socketed into a few selected armors. Those who found equipment that was actually higher in item level had to grudgingly wear the inferior armor.

What do you think about the shards being deactivated? Is it a good thing that the system is completely buried? Or should the game system have been supported until the end of Shadowlands?

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

Streamer says he wants to destroy heterosexuals in Mario Kart – Twitch permanently bans him

A Twitch streamer said in a stream that he would destroy heterosexuals. He apparently referred to beating them in Mario Kart. However, he was permanently banned from the streaming platform Twitch for the statement due to “hate speech”. After a passionate appeal to Twitch and with community support, the ban was lifted.

Who is the streamer?

  • The streamer “AngelBePLayin” is a relatively small Twitch streamer with about 2000 followers. When he streams, an average of 16 people watch him.
  • The streamer primarily shows Pokémon games on Twitch, including Pokémon: Sword/Shield and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl. He refers to himself as a “Togepi-enthusiast.”
  • The streamer has been on Twitch since June 2020.
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Twitch permanently bans body painter: “I am losing my livelihood”
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Permanent ban for “hate speech”

What kind of ban was it? The streamer received a permanent ban on Monday, January 10, due to hate speech. This includes “promoting, glorifying, and supporting violence, physical harm, or death against others, based on their protected characteristics.”

Apparently, the streamer was banned for a statement he made after a successful race in Mario Kart. He said: “I am going to go now and destroy more heterosexuals.”

It was apparently intended as a lighthearted remark. “to destroy” is equated here with “to defeat”.

https://twitter.com/AngelBePlayin/status/1480410466715258882
The streamer was shocked by the ban.

“Twitch ban takes away part of my livelihood”

This is what the streamer said about the ban: The streamer found the ban extremely unfair. He sought help, as Twitch is a part of how he earns his livelihood.

He also found it unfair because Twitch defends heterosexual people here while creators who belong to the LGBTQ+ community are regularly attacked and nothing happens to them. This refers to “hate raids.” Streamers had already protested against this in 2021 and called for a strike.

“Twitch does something to protect heterosexual people and bans my channel while simultaneously ignoring and abandoning BIPOC and queer creators, leaving them to deal with a ridiculous amount of hate speech alone. That is RIDICULOUS.”

AngelBePlayin

This is how the discussion went: The streamer shared many tweets from people who were also upset about the ban. Users said:

  • “So it’s okay if there are hate raids without anything happening. But a people-of-color creator gets banned without warning. Makes absolute sense. You’re playing with someone’s income and taking half of it away!”
  • “Stop trying so hard to protect the rights of heterosexual white people. We don’t need that.”
  • “This is not correct. Please let a real person look at this, and if a real person has decided this, then they need to be retrained. Unban this account!”
https://twitter.com/AngelBePlayin/status/1480763965055520775
The streamer looked ecstatic after the good news.

Twitch unbans streamer – apologizes for the mistake

This is how it ended: Twitch actually apologized to the streamer and unbanned him. It was a mistake on their part, as indicated by a tweet.

The ban policy of Twitch is controversial. Errors keep occurring. A public protest seems to effectively address the problem:

The ban policy of Twitch is becoming increasingly ridiculous

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

Player says: Battlefield 2042 has so many bugs that Steam exceptionally refunded him the money

Usually, you have to adhere to very clear deadlines to be able to request a refund on Steam. In the case of the shooter Battlefield 2042, however, one player seems to have caught an exception.

What’s happening with Battlefield 2042? Battlefield 2042 was released in November 2021, but has since faced extremely critical feedback.

Many players were disappointed with the shooter – and even in recent weeks, there has been a lot of trouble.

As of the current state (January 11, 7:11 PM), the Steam reviews for the shooter are in the “mostly negative” category for both “recent reviews” and “all reviews”.

Only 33% of the reviews in both categories are positive.

So it’s not surprising that some players might be considering a refund for the game. However, on Steam, you usually have to adhere to certain rules to receive a refund.

One player, however, reports an exception.

Player gets stuck in settings – Allowed to return Battlefield

So here are the rules: A refund on Steam can be requested for most purchases on the platform, but to ensure it works, you must meet certain requirements.

Two factors are particularly decisive:

  • The refund request must be made within two weeks of the purchase date.
  • Additionally, the playtime must be less than two hours.

The player reports: On the subreddit for Battlefield 2042, user “Roboserg” reports that he apparently got lucky with his return of the game, even though he actually no longer met the Steam rules.

In a longer message, “Roboserg” reached out to Steam Support and emphasized that he had been using Steam for over 15 years and had never played a full-price game with so many issues.

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The user speaks of a bug that made it impossible to change the controller settings and hunted him through the settings menus for two hours before he could even play properly.

Then he played for nearly two hours but experienced low FPS and numerous bugs – which is why he requested a refund, even though the hour limit had already been exceeded.

The first attempt was denied by support, but after another round of explanations, Steam showed mercy – even though the 14 days had already passed.

According to the post, Steam Support referred to it as a customer service gesture that would allow the refund to be granted.

What does the community say? The post has received mainly positive reactions regarding the refund (via reddit). Given the still short playtime, other players are pleased that the return happened. At the same time, however, some are angry who had less luck with their refund requests.

Steam has clearly deviated from the norm here. It seems that for the user, this is more likely an isolated case – it doesn’t look like Battlefield 2042 is currently being refunded en masse.

However, there have been past examples where refunds for heavily criticized games were demanded in large numbers. Cyberpunk 2077 was one such case, which even got pulled from the PS Store because it could not deliver on its promises.

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

The affordable new graphics card from AMD is the hope of many desperate gamers – but it could disappoint

Graphics cards are a rare commodity and in most cases far too expensive. With the RX 6500 XT, AMD introduced an affordable graphics card for under 200 euros.

Graphics cards and PS5 consoles are currently a rare commodity and are either hardly available or you have to pay thousands of euros on eBay for a graphics card.

Which graphics card is it about? AMD presented several new products at CES 2022. Among the products is the Radeon RX 6500 XT. It is officially the smallest graphics card in AMD’s RX 6000 series.

With a suggested retail price of 199 US dollars, it is also the cheapest graphics card AMD has announced so far. In Germany, the MSRP is likely to be a little over 200 euros including taxes.

But not only because of the price do many gamers pin their hopes on AMD’s new graphics card. The idea is to make the graphics card unattractive for miners with a small video memory.

Small Video Memory Should Protect Graphics Card from High Prices

Our colleagues at GameStar have already reported that AMD wants to protect the RX 6500 XT from extreme prices by equipping the graphics card with only 4 GB of video memory. This makes the graphics card quite unattractive for miners, as the VRAM is too limited. Nevertheless, many believe that 4 GB of video memory could be too little for gaming in 2022.

At best, this means for many gamers that at least the competition from the miner sector is eliminated. Nevertheless, there are more than enough reasons why you as a gamer currently have little chance of buying a graphics card.

What is exactly the problem? Now the online magazine PCGamer reported that manufacturer Asus has named the first prices for the RX 6500 XT (via PCGamer.com). And the prices are likely to disappoint many users:

  • The Asus TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6500 XT OC Edition is said to cost 334 € according to the manufacturer.
  • The cheaper variant, the Dual Radeon RX 6500 XT OC Edition is expected to launch at a price of 299 euros.

The prices mentioned are manufacturer’s recommendations. We expect that the graphics cards at retailers like Amazon, MediaMarkt, or Alternate will likely be significantly more expensive and you will have to spend at least 400 euros for the graphics card.

And this price could disappoint many users. Because AMD introduced the RX 6500 XT as a successor model for the RX 570 and the GTX 1650. These are two popular and widely used graphics cards. Both graphics cards are already a bit older: the RX 570 was released in summer 2017, the GTX 1650 a little later in 2019.

However, AMD is not the only manufacturer that might have affordable graphics cards on offer. Other manufacturers also plan to offer inexpensive graphics cards from 2022, and they could bring some surprises. Among them is a manufacturer that hardly anyone in Germany is likely to know. Whether this could be a potential hidden gem is explained to you by MeinMMO in the following article:

Gamers are now hoping for an affordable graphics card – But it won’t come from AMD or Nvidia

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

After hacker attacks in FIFA 22: This is how EA wants to protect your accounts

In FIFA 22 there have been recent incidents where particularly valuable FUT accounts were taken over by fraudsters, who then emptied them. Now, EA has made a comprehensive statement on the matter.

What happened? Several members of the FIFA community have spoken up in recent weeks, reporting attacks on their accounts.

  • Among those affected were content creators and streamers, but also lesser-known names from the top trader lists – players with extremely valuable accounts – have reported incidents. Even “NickRunTheFUTMarket”, a well-known trader in FIFA 22, only tweeted the message “Hacked, Goodnight”. The streamer Trymacs was also hit – twice.
  • Apparently, someone logged into the Ultimate Team accounts and emptied them. Highly rated players and large amounts of coins were simply gone.
  • The two-factor authentication sometimes didn’t help. There was much criticism of EA’s customer support, where the security measures apparently were not sufficient to fully protect login data.
  • You can find an overview of the hacking case in FIFA 22 here.

EA statement on the incidents – measures to improve security

This is what EA says about the incidents: At first, EA only responded with a very brief message stating that they were investigating the cases. Now, however, there is a more comprehensive statement in the Pitch Notes for FIFA 22, which includes an apology and outlines the steps that will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

“In recent weeks, we have been made aware that there were attempts to take over the accounts of high-profile players,” says the Pitch Notes. Investigations have confirmed that several accounts “were compromised using phishing techniques,” according to the statement.

Through threats and other social engineering methods, fraudsters were able to exploit human errors within our customer experience team, circumvent two-factor authentication, and gain access to other players’ accounts. 

The EA SPORTS FIFA Team in the Pitch Notes (via EA.com)

As it stands, “fewer than 50 accounts” have been taken over using this method. The owners are currently being identified to restore account access and content. At the same time, investigations are continuing according to EA.

“The security of accounts is always also based on human behavior, and we are aware that there is room for improvement,” says the statement. Therefore, three measures will now be implemented to improve account security.

All EA consultants and those supporting EA account services will receive individual retraining and additional team training. The specific focus will be on account security practices and the phishing techniques used in this case.

We will enhance the account ownership verification process with additional steps, such as a mandatory manager approval for any email change requests.

We will revise our customer experience software to better detect suspicious activities, flag threatened accounts, and further minimize the potential for human errors in the account update process.

The EA SPORTS FIFA Team in the Pitch Notes (via EA.com)

These steps may result in longer waiting times if you contact support with relevant inquiries, but they are necessary to ensure the security of the accounts, according to the statement.

What do you think of the statement? Do you consider the steps to be appropriate, or would you have preferred a different solution? Let us know in the comments.

Apart from the hacking incidents, there is currently also talk about the upcoming TOTY event regarding Ultimate Team. This year, the Team of the Year in FIFA 22 is being voted on.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. FIFA 22 Pitch Notes

Destiny 2: Weekly Reset on 11.01. – The Wolves are back

In Destiny 2 today, on 11.1. 2022, a new week begins and it offers at least a bit of variety, as Lord Saladin comes to raise the iron banner once again. You can expect this and many other changes that we from MeinMMO have listed for you.

This week: The story of Destiny 2 remains frozen in Stasis, but the Iron Banner brings back excitement with its fierce battles. Visit Lord Saladin in the Tower for Iron Banner bounties and to have a quick chat. The old wolf deserves a bit of distraction.

Furthermore, the Challenge loop of the Vault of Glass starts again. If you haven’t completed all the Challenges yet, you can take on the challenge once more.

If you don’t own the Crucible ornament for the Hegemony yet, taking a look at the heated battles with Lord Shaxx might be worthwhile. With double XP, the old Shaxx shows you that he can also wear the giving pants.

Iron Banner Iron Destiny 2 Season 15 Lost Forgotten Title
The Iron Banner calls you!

The most important information about activities from 11.01. to 18.01.

The Nightfall: The Proving Ground is the strike this week:

  • Exodus Crash, on Nessus
    • You will embark on a journey through the remains of Failsafe and eliminate the pesky Fallen plague.
  • These Nightfall weapons are currently available:
    • The Comedian, Void Shotgun (Master)
    • Shadow Price, Arc Auto Rifle (Master)
  • Playlist strikes have these modifiers:
    • Arc Singe
    • Stasis Burn
    • Freezing Grip
    • The Singe modifier accompanies you all week, while the others change daily.
  • Weekly bonus this week:
    • The Weekly bonus is currently in the Crucible.

What happens in the RaidVault of Glass”:

  • In the Vault of Glass, the Conflux Challenge named „Wait for it…“ takes place. Note that you can only destroy the Wyverns when they sacrifice themselves.
  • As a reward, in the raid’s Challenge Mode, a time-lost weapon awaits you. This week it is the scout rifle “Vision of Confluence”. The weapon also comes with guaranteed 2 perks per slot. But always keep in mind that Hard and Normal mode share the loot.

Crucible – These are the PvP playlists:

  • Private Match
  • Rumble
  • Control
  • Elimination
  • Glory Survival
  • Glory Survival: Freelance
  • Momentum Control

Ascendant Challenge:

  • Petra Venj has this week’s 2nd Ascendant Challenge for you. You will find Petra and her quest offer by the shore. Savathun’s Curse is retreating again and is at the first stage of the Sorrowful Plague.

If you want to see the new trailer for Witch Queen, we have written a separate article about it:

Sources for top loot in Season 15 of Destiny 2

This is the new max level: In the Season of the Lost, the maximum power level of your gear is at 1,330. This means the power level has only increased by +10 compared to the previous Season 14.

So you won’t be bothered with annoying levels, but can jump straight into the endgame.

This top loot (Pinnacle Gear) brings you over 1,320:

  • Reach at least 100,000 points in the Nightfall: Proving Ground (+2)
  • Omen mission “Falconmoon” (+2)
  • Dungeon “Sog der Habsucht” (+2)
  • Omen mission “Glykon” (+2)
  • Raid “Vault of Glass” (+2)
  • Imperium Hunt: The Technocrat (+2)
  • “Trials of Eternity”: Achieve at least 250,000 points or more (+2)
  • Defeat 4 champions in the Shattered Realm (+1)
  • Simulation: Exo Challenge (+2)
  • Complete 3 Gambit matches (+1)
  • Complete 3 Crucible matches (+1)
  • Complete 3 strikes with the relevant focus (+1)
  • Hawthorne’s clan quest (+1)

Glimmer highlights in the Eververse

Don’t forget your Glimmer gift: If you’re short on Glimmer, be sure to check into the Eververse right after the weekly reset. Bungie is already giving you Glimmer in the fifth week. You just have to pick it up from Tess and then you can shop for cosmetics.

Do you own the Divinity? Then this is a fitting Sparrow for the weapon

Here’s what you can get for Glimmer this week from Tess:

  • A weapon ornament for the Ticuus bow “Ferromant”
  • The exotic ship “Aeshnidae-Starflyer”
  • Exotic Sparrow “Four Degrees of Separation”
  • Legendary emote “Dandelion”
  • Legendary emote “Hairstyle Correction”
  • Exotic ghost shell “Simulation Shell”
  • Exotic ghost shell “Archangel Shell”
  • Legendary ghost projection “Rasputin Projection”
  • Legendary ghost projection “Tricorn Projection”
  • and as shader “Mystoposphor”

How do you find this week without the Trials? Will you play some Iron Banner rounds or have you had enough of all the repetitions? Let us know in the comments!

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

14-year-old LoL player wins flame duel against feared Twitch streamer

Streamer Matthew “Mizkif” Rinaudo is known as a sharp-tongued mocker on Twitch. After all, he learned from the legendary “IcePoseidon”. But now he has found his master in League of Legends. He clashed with a 14-year-old LoL player, who rhetorically put him in his place. Much to the delight of Mizkif’s acquaintance Emiru, who greatly enjoyed the incident.

Who is Mizkif?

More on the topic
Back then, the worst streamer on Twitch raged, today his heirs reign
von Sayumi (Lena)

“Hey, I own an esports organization – Show some respect!”

This is what Mizkif had to hear in LoL: Mizkif got into a LoL match with a young opponent when they were randomly matched together. During an extensive exchange of niceties, Mizkif also learned that his new nemesis is only 14 years old.

In the following game, Mizkif was again matched with the new enemy and asked him: “You talked so much trash. Are you ready to lose again? Come to the middle for a handshake.”

However, the player had in the meantime armed himself and was excellently prepared for the second round of trash talk. He asked Mizkif: “Wait a second, aren’t you a TikToker? From Mario – and your girlfriend spanked you. Damn, and I have to fight against you?”

His new nemesis was referring to a TikTok video in which Mizkif lost to his acquaintance Emiru in a “Super Mario 64” speedrun (via youtube). In the video, you can see Mizkif desperately hammering on the controller, Emiru taking over, and Mizkif finally shamefully holding his hands over his face.

In the trash talk duel with the young LoL player, Mizkif grinned and turned away from the screen while Emiru was doubling up in joy in the background. Mizkif then wrote: “Hey, I owned an esports organization – show some respect,” but he had already recognized his defeat. The remark evidently hit home.

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The reaction “I own an organization” is on a similar level as the legendary “I can buy the bank that owns your house and can throw you out” from Ninja during his Fortnite heyday.

However, this doesn’t seem particularly impressive to a 14-year-old.

“How will he recover from this?”

This is how it’s being discussed: The clip has now garnered nearly 82,000 views.

On reddit, people are enjoying the streamer’s suffering (via reddit):

  • “First his girlfriend kicked his ass in Mario Kart. Now this happens. How will he recover from it?”
  • “You’re that TikToker” definitely hurt him the most!”
  • “Brings back memories of when we used to trash talk after a 1vs1”

The big question after the video is: How would Tyler1 have handled this situation and how many keyboards would he have smashed in pure rage?

LoL: Twitch streamer describes his life as a lonely grind hell – wonders what everyone is on about

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

Elden Ring: All information about the action RPG with co-op and PvP – Release, gameplay, system requirements

With Elden Ring, FromSoftware brings its next dark fantasy universe after Dark Souls and Bloodborne in early 2022. Everything we know so far can be found here on MeinMMO in our overview.

What is Elden Ring? This is the next big project from FromSoftware, who created an entire genre with Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. The developers are known for brutally hard, dark, and complex action role-playing games. These include:

  • Demon’s Souls
  • Dark Souls 1-3
  • Bloodborne
  • Sekiro

With Elden Ring, FromSoftware, under the leadership of developer legend and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, aims to take the next step. We have already summarized and presented 6 of the biggest differences for you.

The game was already announced at E3 2019 but disappeared for a long time. During the unveiling of the first real gameplay trailer at the E3 2021, fans absolutely went wild.

In addition to Miyazaki, the famous “A Song of Ice and Fire” author George R. R. Martin is involved in the story and lore of Elden Ring. His books also inspired the popular series Game of Thrones. What is currently known about Elden Ring can be found here.

We will continuously update the article with the latest information on Elden Ring.

Update, January 17: We have updated the article and added sections on multiplayer and crossplay.

[toc]

Elden Ring – Release, Platforms, Beta, Playtime

When will Elden Ring be released?

The game will be released on February 25, 2022.

On which platforms will Elden Ring be released?

The action RPG will be released on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. On PC, the game will be launched via Steam.

Will there be a beta for Elden Ring?

There was already a network test that showcased a lot of gameplay. However, it was only brief and is already over. It is not known whether another test will take place before the release.

Is there a multiplayer mode in Elden Ring?

Yes. There will be co-op and PvP, similar to previous FromSoftware games.

Is there crossplay in Elden Ring?

This is not currently known. As of now, only consoles can play together across generations.

How much playtime does Elden Ring offer?

According to Hidetaka Miyazaki, you can complete the main story in Elden Ring in about 30 to 40 hours. However, with additional content, the playtime will be significantly longer.

Gameplay for Elden Ring

Currently, there is quite a bit of gameplay available for Elden Ring. Here, you can watch 19 minutes of it:

Start video
19 Minutes of Gameplay from Elden Ring – With Coop

Here you can also watch the latest story trailer:

Start video
New trailer provides insight into the story of Elden Ring, the most anticipated RPG at present

Pre-order Elden Ring – Bonuses and Editions

What editions are available? Elden Ring will come in a total of five different variants. Not all of these editions are available for every platform on which Elden Ring will be released. Here’s the overview:

Standard Edition

  • Price: 59.99 – 69.99 €
  • Platforms: Available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Download)

Launch Edition

  • Price: 59.99 – 69.99 €
  • Platforms: Available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Download).
  • Game on physical media (PC version comes with a code)
  • Art cards: 3 exclusive art cards show the environment of the Lands Between, size: 135 × 170 mm
  • Woven patchAn exclusive woven patch
  • Stickers3 exclusive stickers with emblem patterns from the game
  • PosterAn exclusive poster showing a hero of the past. Size: 393 × 334 mm
  • An alternative steelbook: an exclusive limited edition of the steelbook depicting a hero of the past

Deluxe Edition

  • Price: 79.99 €
  • Platforms: PC only
  • Digital artbook & original soundtrack

Collector’s Edition

  • Price: 189.99 €
  • Platforms: Available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Download).
  • Game on physical media (PC version comes with a code)
  • Art cards: 3 exclusive art cards show the environment of the Lands Between, size: 135 × 170 mm
  • Woven patchAn exclusive woven patch
  • Stickers3 exclusive stickers with emblem patterns from the game
  • PosterAn exclusive poster showing a hero of the past. Size: 393 × 334 mm
  • Digital soundtrack
  • Exclusive steelbook
  • Hardcover artbook with 40 pagesAn exclusive artbook with 40 pages. Size: 24.1 × 21.5 cm. Language: English
  • Statue of Malenia, Blade of Miquella (23 cm)

Premium Collector’s Edition

  • Price: 259.99 €
  • Platforms: Available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Download)
  • Game on physical media (PC version comes with a code)
  • Art cards: 3 exclusive art cards show the environment of the Lands Between, size: 135 × 170 mm
  • Woven patchAn exclusive woven patch
  • Stickers3 exclusive stickers with emblem patterns from the game.
  • PosterAn exclusive poster showing a hero of the past. Size: 393 × 334 mm
  • Digital soundtrack.
  • Exclusive steelbook
  • Hardcover artbook with 40 pagesAn exclusive artbook with 40 pages. Size: 24.1 × 21.5 cm. Language: English.
  • Statue of Malenia, Blade of Miquella (23 cm)
  • An official replica of Malenia, Blade of Miquella’s helmet. Comes with a stand. A strictly limited and numbered 1:1 scale helmet.

Unfortunately, both Collector’s Editions are mostly sold out and can only be found at exorbitant prices. However, you can keep an eye on the shops from Amazon (via amazon.de) and Bandai Namco (via store.bandainamco.eu) in case new copies become available.

However, the quantity of the Premium Collector’s Edition is limited to 6,000 units, so you shouldn’t expect restocks here.

Pre-order customers will also receive some bonuses:

  • Bonus gesture “The Ring”: This gesture can be used in the game. Players can also obtain it later in the game.
  • A digital adventurer’s guide: “This guide contains everything you need to know for an adventure in the Lands Between.”

Elden Ring – System Requirements and Download Size

What we know so far about the specs: Officially, FromSoftware has not yet revealed any system requirements. What is known is that Elden Ring will have an FPS lock, as is customary for the developer’s other games.

The game is expected to run at up to 60 FPS, offering a native 4K resolution, and ray tracing will be added after release. (via vg247.com)

What hardware does your PC need? A report from Gameinformer has also published specs for Elden Ring, which have not yet been officially confirmed. (via Gameinformer). So enjoy this information with caution.

Minimum System Requirements

ProcessorIntel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-6300
Memory8 GB
Operating SystemWindows 7
Graphics CardNvidia GeForce GTX 770 (2 GB) or AMD Radeon R9 280
Pixel Shader5.0
Vertex Shader5.0
Free Disk Space150 GB

Recommended System Requirements

Processor Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory12 GB
Operating SystemWindows 10
Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 480 (4 GB)
Pixel Shader5.1
Vertex Shader5.1
Free Disk Space150 GB

Will the game really be that huge? Officially, there are still no details regarding the download size. However, it seems unlikely that the game will indeed require that much storage space upon release. It might just be a placeholder.

However, there is already a leak regarding the PS5 and Xbox Series version, which is reported to have a significantly lower download size.

  • The PS5 version is said to be 44.4 GB in size. This figure comes from the Twitter account “PlayStation Game Size,” which has correctly revealed download sizes beforehand. (via Twitter)
  • The Xbox Series version is expected to require around 50 GB of storage. This info is sourced from the Xbox Store, so it is likely accurate (via reddit).

Nothing is currently known about the PC version. Based on previous FromSoftware games, it is likely to be similar to the other versions.

The information refers to the standard version, without any potential Day-1-patch.

Will there be a preload? While this has not been officially confirmed, according to “PlayStation Game Size,” a preload for PS5 and PS4 is expected to start on February 23.

More on the topic
Elden Ring: All information about the system requirements – How powerful does your PC need to be?
von Tarek Zehrer

Performance and Modes on Xbox and PlayStation

Of course, there are also differences between the individual consoles. Here are the official specifications (via bandainamcoent.eu):

PS4 and PS5

  • PS4: 30 FPS and up to 1920x1080p (Full HD)
  • PS4 Pro: 30 FPS and up to 3200x1800p (Dynamic resolution)
  • PS5: Up to 60 FPS (Performance mode) and 3840x2160p, ray tracing will be added
  • HDR support
  • No save game transfer between PS4 and PS5

The PlayStation 5 offers two different modes. One is the performance mode, which provides 60 FPS but reduces the details in the graphical settings. Then there is the quality mode, which delivers 30 FPS and better graphics. Both modes run in 4K.

Xbox One and Xbox Series

  • Xbox One: 30 FPS and up to 1600x900p, no HDR support
  • Xbox One X: 30 FPS and up to 3840x2160p
  • Xbox Series S: Up to 60 FPS (Performance mode) and up to 2560x1440p
  • Xbox Series X: Up to 60 FPS (Performance mode) and up to 3840x2160p, ray tracing will be added

Here too, there will likely be a quality mode and a performance mode.

Explore the Lands Between of Elden Ring

What is Elden Ring about? As is customary with previous games from the Dark Souls developer, Elden Ring is also a game with a mysterious and dark story.

So far the creators have kept quiet on many aspects, but we now know some hard facts:

  • The world of Elden Ring is called “The Land Between”.
  • In the Lands Between stands the powerful Erd Tree, to whose roots the Elden Ring once belonged.
  • The Elden Ring, a mysterious and powerful object, is broken into six parts due to a significant event.
  • You play as the “Tarnished”, seeking to reassemble the Elden Ring and ascend to the Elden Lord.
  • To do this, you must drive away the current ruler, Marika the Eternal. Her many children are demigods and have seized the pieces of the shattered Elden Ring.
  • They have been driven mad by the power of the pieces, causing a war in the Lands Between.

A large part of the background story and lore of Elden Ring comes from the pen of George R. R. Martin in collaboration with FromSoftware.

You travel through the Lands Between and unravel the mystery surrounding the Elden Ring. Along the way, you encounter various and peculiar characters, battle through numerous threats, and master the challenging combat system known from FromSoftware’s games.

This time, however, side characters are supposed to play a bigger role and also be important figures from the Lands Between. The first gameplay reveal gives you an insight into the Lands Between:

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Elden Ring has a huge open world

This is the difference from previous games: The first difference that is likely to catch your eye is the scale of the game world in Elden Ring. It will be noticeably more extensive and larger than what you are used to from previous Souls games like Bloodborne or Dark Souls.

While they also did not have small game worlds, the design and structure of worlds such as Lordran from Dark Souls 1 were significantly closer, more interwoven, and labyrinthine.

Elden Ring aims to push into larger dimensions and offers a more open and expansive game world.

What we know about the Lands Between:

  • There will be a total of 6 different regions.
  • There is no specific order in which you must visit each region.
  • Some areas cannot be fully explored immediately.
  • There is a day and night cycle, dynamic weather, and events.
  • Hostile creatures roam around and wander through the various regions.
  • Despite everything, there is supposed to be a red thread in the story so that you never lose sight of your goal.

While exploring the world, you will receive a useful means of transport. You can quickly get from one place to another with a sort of “spirit horse”.

This horse can be summoned at any time or disappears as soon as you dismount. You can also fight from the back of your horse and traverse steep slopes in giant leaps.

If that’s still too slow for you: There will be a sort of fast travel system.

Legacy Dungeons offer classic level design

What are Legacy Dungeons? In the game world of Elden Ring, there are numerous dungeons. These will include all kinds of varieties, such as castles, caves, catacombs, and other types of dungeons that you will explore. You can enter these seamlessly through the open world.

These dungeons offer the classic level design familiar from games like Bloodborne or Dark Souls. Their game worlds were, aside from a few more open areas, more like nested labyrinths and significantly more compact than typical open worlds. There should even be sections with puzzles.

Those who prefer this level design will not miss out in Elden Ring. How many dungeons there will be is currently unknown. However, since there will be six main regions in Elden Ring, each ending with one of the main bosses, one can assume at least six dungeons.

According to FromSoftware, however, there will be significantly more optional boss enemies than was the case in previous games. So there may be even more Legacy Dungeons in the game.

In Elden Ring, we will once again explore mysterious depths. (via de.bandainamcoent.eu)

Multiplayer in Elden Ring

In Elden Ring, there is co-op and PvP. Both are based on familiar systems that you’ve partially seen in Dark Souls. Summonings and invasions are again central, and the progress in boss battles is not shared.

Co-op Mode

This is how the co-op mode works: Players are “summoned” into your game world. This works through specific symbols that others can place on the ground in their world.

These symbols are then made visible in your game world. This way, you can explore dungeons and the open game world together in Elden Ring. However, you will need several items that you can find early in the game:

  • The “small golden statue”: This allows you to place a golden symbol in the game world. It then appears at the same spot for random players, who can summon you.
  • The “Tarnished’s crooked finger” allows targeted collaboration with others. You place a symbol with it, but for your co-op partner to summon you, they need another item.
  • You can set a password with the crooked finger to play specifically with friends.
  • With the item “crooked finger medicine” and the corresponding password, you can make your friends’ symbol visible and summon them. However, this item will be consumed.

You can summon a maximum of two players for assistance, so you can be a maximum of three. In Dark Souls 3, for example, up to three co-op partners were possible. If you want to tackle a dungeon with other players, you first need to enter the instance and summon your friends there.

If you are traveling with your co-op partners in the open world, you cannot simply enter the next dungeon. You can freely explore the open world with other players, though. The co-op mode only separates between dungeon and open world.

Furthermore, when you defeat a boss, your co-op partners are sent back to their world.

Is progress shared? No, progress is limited to the host. Guests in a game world cannot take items with them; defeated bosses remain alive in the co-op player’s world unless the player has already defeated them.

At least for defeating enemies, the guest will receive the same amount of EXP as the host, and co-op players do not lose this if they die.

Your horse is also not available in co-op. You will be on foot.

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von Tarek Zehrer

PvP Mode

This is how you can initiate duels:

  • With the “small red statue,” you can place a red symbol. This allows players to summon you specifically and challenge you to a duel.
  • The “Tarnished Duelist’s crooked finger” lets you summon duel opponents using a password, similar to the co-op mode.
  • Your opponent also needs crooked finger medicine to summon you specifically.

This is how you can initiate invasions:

  • To invade, you need the “bloody finger.” This allows you to invade the game worlds of random opponents.
  • With the “spotter tongue,” you can let yourself be invaded by other players and thus provoke invasions.
  • With the “blue ring,” you can automatically be summoned into the worlds of other players who are currently being attacked.
  • Thanks to the “white ring,” you can automatically call players for help who have the blue ring equipped, in case you are attacked by so-called invaders.
  • The “finger severer” allows you to kick summoned players out of your world.

As in co-op, your horse is not available in PvP. You should keep this in mind. However, you should not have to search forever for your opponents. According to the developers, interface elements will exist that should prevent you from having to play an extended game of hide and seek in the open world.

You can watch the gameplay from YouTuber Arekkz here:

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Elden Ring – Crossplay only very limited

Is there a crossplay function? The action RPG currently offers only a very limited crossplay feature.

In a network test that took place in November 2021, there was no real crossplay. It was not possible, for example, for a PC player to play with friends on Xbox or PlayStation.

At least the beta of Elden Ring allowed PS4 and PS5 players to play together, and the same applies to Xbox Series and Xbox One players.

This isn’t surprising, as those platforms likely share the same servers.

What about the full version? It is still unclear whether there will be differences in this regard compared to the beta. FromSoftware has not really commented on this yet.

So, there is a tiny chance that the full version will deliver more extensive crossplay options. However, why this is unlikely has been summarized in our overview of the crossplay feature.

The combat system of Elden Ring

How does combat work? Anyone who has seen the gameplay and played earlier games from FromSoftware will likely notice the similarities. Overall, the combat in Elden Ring will again function based on the familiar concept:

  • Dodge
  • Block
  • Parry
  • Light and heavy attacks

New elements are stealth and jumping, adding several tricks to the combat system.

These weapons are available: The scenes shown so far displayed the already familiar selection of weapons:

  • One-handed swords
  • Two-handed swords
  • Shields
  • Magic
  • Bows
  • Dual weapons
  • Spears

The previous Souls games offered a wide variety of weapons. It can be assumed that Elden Ring will offer something similar, if not even more extensive.

In Elden Ring, however, you will not only fight on foot but also from the back of your horse, which will provide additional options during combat. In addition, you can call NPCs for assistance in emergencies.

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NPCs as helpers in Elden Ring

How does this work? This is only possible near small summoning statues, so there are some limitations. This is only possible near small summoning statues, so there are some limitations.

  • The statue marks the beginning of an area where NPCs can be summoned.
  • If you interact with the statue, a symbol will appear on the screen. This indicates that NPCs can be called.
  • There are different NPCs, often enemies that you can defeat in the game world.
  • These will then drop their ashes. With this item, you can summon the respective NPC types for assistance.
  • The spirits disappear again when they are defeated, you die, or move too far away from the summoning area around the statue.

For example, you can summon a wolf pack as a ghost troop. These NPCs are a useful support in combat and can already help you as a distraction. Even if you are overwhelmed by hordes, they can save your life.

You can collect these helpers and even level them up, making them stronger alongside you. However, the classic NPCs are not eliminated by this new system.

As in Dark Souls, you can summon certain NPCs at specific locations. These are often characters you meet in the game world.

How was it previously? In previous games like Bloodborne or Dark Souls, you could summon phantoms of NPC characters at specific spots in the game that could help you in battle. They usually were located just before boss battles or at tricky spots and could serve as a kind of co-op replacement.

This principle is now expanded in Elden Ring.

How will that work? In Elden Ring, you can now also summon the ghosts of defeated enemies, who will then assist you against other opponents.

You are supposed to be able to command these undead. How exactly this will unfold is still unclear. Apparently, you can carry these undead as a sort of in-game item and summon them in emergencies.

Your horse will not only be important for exploration but will also play a vital role in combat (via de.bandainamcoent.eu)

Jumping and Stealth System aim to provide more freedom

This is new: To suit the open game world and give players more freedom, the developers have expanded the movement options.

As a result, players can now jump and stealth as desired. These are elements that were already used in Sekiro and are now combined with the more Dark Souls-like elements of Elden Ring.

This is how stealth works in Elden Ring: Miyazaki described the innovation as a simple system that provides numerous new options. Players can crouch, crawl, and perform assassination attacks on opponents.

As a result, you have the opportunity to stealthily eliminate entire groups or simply bypass certain opponents. You can also hide in tall grass and observe the surroundings. This allows you to plan your approach and scout the area.

Jumping can also provide new attack opportunities, especially in combat.

What changes because of that? Until now, there were only dodges in the active combat. In Sekiro, the jumping element, for example, allowed you to deliver blows while jumping or even dodge enemy attacks by jumping onto the opponent’s head.

Overall, in Elden Ring, you will have greater freedom of movement than before.

In Elden Ring, we can sneak up on our enemies (via de.bandainamcoent.eu)

Character progression, known classes, freely selectable skills, crafting

What we know about character progression: Overall, character progression will work similarly to how it’s known from games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne. You will once again create your character with a comprehensive character editor, a preliminary version of which has already been revealed.

There will be a total of 10 different character classes, but they only serve as the foundation for your later progression.

These classes are currently known: From previous leaks and scenes, we already know five of the 10 starting classes. (via fextralife.com)

  • Warrior
  • Prophet
  • Champion
  • Enchanted Knight
  • Bloody Wolf

You will gather experience points in some form (in Dark Souls it was Souls, in Bloodborne it was Blood Echoes), level up your attributes, and adapt your playstyle with appropriate equipment, spells, or skills.

This is new: In Elden Ring, you can now also unlock certain skills that can be re-assigned at any time. This allows for the use of certain combat styles that were previously determined by specific weapons in Dark Souls. According to Miyazaki, there are over 100 such skills in Elden Ring (via IGN.com).

The skills can be partially purchased from merchants but are mostly hidden in the game world of Elden Ring and need to be discovered.

There is also a kind of crafting system where players can create items at any time, provided they have the right materials.

What do you think about Elden Ring? Are you excited for the latest title from FromSoftware? What innovations would you like to see? Discuss with us in the comments.

By the way: On Steam, Elden Ring is now the most wished game. General anticipation is high.

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

Lost Ark: These are the most popular classes before the release – Surprisingly, supporters dominate

The most popular class for the EU launch of Lost Ark was long the Summoner, but she will no longer be available to us. Who has replaced her and what are generally the most popular classes for our version of the MMORPG?

What happened to the Summoner? In our own survey about the most popular class in Lost Ark she ranked first. She was also one of the most well-received classes globally.

However, Amazon decided to not bring the Summoner in our version of the game at launch, even though she was already included in the beta. Instead, we are getting the Sorceress, who is currently the newest class of the MMORPG.

Now, you might think that many players would be angry about this decision. But that would be a misconception, because although there is a lot of confusion in the community about why they don’t just bring both mages, the Sorceress is being received very well.

What is the most popular class? She is even so well-received that she is currently the most popular class in Lost Ark. At least that is indicated by a large-scale survey on the official reddit. 

A total of 8,541 people voted on which class they will play at launch. 15.57% of them, or 1,330 people, chose the Sorceress, making her the most popular class. The frustration over the removal of the Summoner seems to have completely faded.

Start video
Lost Ark delivers intense action with 15 classes – See here in the video what they look like

What stands out about the results? Of the 15 classes that we have at the launch of the EU version of Lost Ark, 13 are specialized in damage. The Gunlancer could perhaps still be considered a tank, but actually, he also deals a lot of damage.

There are no healers in this MMORPG, but there are incredibly diverse ways to deal a lot of damage to your opponents very quickly. Ironically, the only two support classes that serve to assist others take the 2nd and 3rd place among the most popular classes.

Just slightly ahead of the Bard with 787 votes, the Paladin with 999 votes is currently in 2nd place. The top 3 is thus dominated by support classes. These are often character classes that are less popular in MMORPGs.

You probably do not need to worry for now that you won’t be able to find a supporter for the first dungeons and raids in Lost Ark.

The complete voting

Why are supporters so popular?

The community is also wondering about this on reddit. Fans are throwing out some interesting aspects as to why Lost Ark is the MMORPG where support is finally fun. We certainly do not want to withhold these from you.

  • The user Zombie_Alpaca_Lips writes: ‘The game gives us exciting and challenging supporters to play. People are often not fans of healers and supporters because they find them boring and you just have to sit back and heal. Players want to feel that they contribute something to the group, and the Paladin and Bard let you feel that significantly.’
  • Puzzlehead has a funnier response, but many can relate to: ‘People play Paladin just because they have the coolest outfit at the end. That’s the real endgame.’
  • MarketingOwn is certain: ‘I am really looking forward to the release. Also, I wanted to play support from the beginning to assist my team members. I’m just not 100% sure yet whether it will be the Paladin or the Bard. They are both great!’
  • User Khrucible assumes that people do not inform themselves: ‘All those people with the cool skins are going to be so upset when they realize that the evil Paladin is a supporter!’

What do you think of the survey? Do you think there will be enough supporters in the game at launch, or will it take a long time to form groups? And which class will you play at launch? Are you also looking forward to the supporters and the Sorceress, or is there a completely different class that is your favorite for the MMORPG? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.

By the way, Lost Ark will soon receive DirectX 11 – It looks better and runs smoother.

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

2022 will be the best gaming year in a long time – 6 trends in the editor’s forecast

MeinMMO’s editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski is confident that we will still have some gaming trends to discuss controversially in 2022. After 2 years of extreme drought, she finally sees a strong year ahead.

I have never anticipated a gaming year with as much excitement as 2022. Sometimes it almost makes me dizzy thinking about everything that is coming our way.

Two hearts beat in my chest: I am incredibly excited that there will be a lot of action. But I am also a bit afraid of the work that lies ahead of us. 

That’s why it’s all the more important to be prepared and ready for all eventualities. Here are my predictions:

1. NFTs will stay and grow

Even in 2021, NFT, along with Metaverse, was a major buzzword that spread in gaming. Major players are testing the waters and unveiling plans:

If you think about it, blockchain and NFTs are just a logical consequence in online gaming. 

Virtual items have been traded since the early days of MMORPGs. Those who lacked the time or talent to earn the craziest items themselves and still wanted to boast in the guild could check dedicated websites or eBay and make a purchase. 

However, they did not achieve real ownership. That is exactly what blockchain technology changes.

Why NFTs are currently so attractive to game developers has a simple reason: NFTs have the potential to generate such remarkable sums that every classic gold dragon would immediately switch to pixels to defend digital assets.

We are therefore increasingly seeing reports of games that are already making millions before they even arrive

So we can expect several announcements and introductions of NFTs in games this year. Despite the current headwinds from the gaming community. It will be controversial.

The author: Leya started as a freelance writer at MeinMMO at the end of 2016. The job was supposed to be a nice sideline to her marketing studies in the Netherlands. It escalated a bit. In March 2021, she became the editor-in-chief of MeinMMO. What has always fascinated Leya about marketing is the movement of trends. How do they develop and how can one even set them? She carries this fascination into her current job and continuously deals with the questions of why certain areas in gaming boom – or why they don’t.

2. Breakthroughs in poor working conditions for game studios

By now, there is hardly any major gaming studio left that is free from nasty scandals:

Sexism, crunch, bullying, bossing, and drinking parties at work – we have seen more reports on these topics in recent years than we would have liked.

Here is an excerpt:

Blizzard Activision stands out particularly. Everything started with a lawsuit in July 2021 from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Shocking details emerged that went through marrow and bone. 

You can get a deeper insight into Blizzard’s sexism scandal in the video talk with GameStar:

One could say that the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard was already a breakthrough. There was a high media interest. Employees organized protest marches, work was stalled due to the scandal in parts. 

It is clear that the grievances in the industry can no longer continue as they have. I assume that we will read many more insider reports in 2022. Likewise, the studios will reorganize themselves.

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3. More “Switch clones,” even though the Steamdeck is flopping

The Steamdeck is Valve’s answer to the extremely popular Nintendo Switch. Even though first tests confirm that the handheld console is of high quality, one question burns in my mind:

Who needs this?

The Nintendo Switch is now 5 years old, and you can see the strain on the console. It’s increasingly hitting its limits. The Steamdeck is supposed to catch that and bring the power of a PC, just in handheld form.

Sounds cool in theory. But how big is the actual target group? Steam is assigned to the PC-gaming community and they are the ones most likely to be addressed by the Steamdeck. But do they really want to play their God of War or Elden Ring on a 4K monitor?

I am convinced that a niche is being addressed here, which probably won’t be enough for the Steamdeck to be a profitable business for Valve.

Cloud gaming is also developing further. With streaming via Game Pass or Stadia, you can already play on the go with a smartphone or tablet. That is the cheaper alternative.

Additionally, 2022 will still be dominated by the pandemic. This decreases the need for a powerful console on the go. 

Nevertheless, we will see more “clones” of the Switch, of which there are already some. No wonder. The Switch has now sold nearly 100 million units – others also want to nibble at that pie.

4. We will get more AAA mobile games

The whole platform war has been seriously annoying me for years. I look forward to the days when it won’t matter anymore where we play – and those days are probably closer than we realize.

The mega-success Genshin Impact has shown the way. Even with mobile-typical gacha mechanics, Genshin Impact was able to score on PC and consoles. I played it myself on PC at launch and could not visually tell that I was actually playing a mobile game.

Especially with MMORPGs from Asia, we can observe this trend of high-quality mobile games. They often even release for at least PC as well as iOS and Android. 

We will see even more of that in 2022.

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Additionally, mobile gamers are now expecting higher quality in games. The smartphone hardware has become increasingly powerful over the years. The graphics of the games are better, and gaming no longer drains so much battery life. 

For a few weeks now, I have been playing League of Legends: Wild Rift on my phone and am about to hit 100 hours. In terms of complexity, graphics, and controls, I notice no difference to a console. 

I say that in 2022, there will still be a high-quality multiplatform game that approaches the size of Genshin Impact – perhaps even in the MMORPG sector. And we will see more mobile games with the quality of Genshin Impact, Pokémon GO, Call of Duty: Mobile, outside of Diablo Immortal.

I know that this trend will not please every “hardcore gamer.” But when you look at the expected revenues in the mobile games sector predicted by SensorTower to reach 138 billion dollars by 2025, it’s not surprising.

5. The Xbox Game Pass will get serious competition

Over 18 million subscriptions can be counted for the Xbox Game Pass today. I personally use the service and must say again and again that it is really good. This allowed me to replay beloved retro gems or discover cool new games like Psychonauts 2. 

At the moment, the Xbox Game Pass offers the best value for money in gaming. 

But others are certainly not sleeping and want their own Netflix for gaming. I am convinced that we will see at least one truly serious competitor this year. Valve and Sony are promising candidates here.

For us as consumers, it’s of course a good thing to have more options. After all, every service then has to see how to win our gaming hearts!

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6. A lot of great games are coming our way! Big and small

In the last 2 years, we have had to deal with many delays. Which is understandable due to the global pandemic.

But now in 2022, we are getting so many games! Just looking at the release list for February and March makes me dizzy. 

Among them are top titles like Lost Ark, Elden Ring, Total War: Warhammer III, Dying Light 2 or Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. There are also big expansions like Witch Queen for Destiny 2.

I personally look forward to a gem called Have a Nice Death. A hand-drawn action roguelike where you play as the CEO of Death Incorporated. 

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Check out the trailer for Have a Nice Death

2022 will be characterized by several controversies solely concerning NFTs. Keywords like “Play-to-Earn” already make one ponder where gaming is headed. Personally, I find it fascinating how large the industry has become and what opportunities are all open.

However, we are also expecting a pretty cool gaming year due to the sheer number of cool games in the pipeline. It will be rather difficult to decide what to play from all of that.

Next year we will see how it all turned out in 2022. What do you think?

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

Twitch streamer buys a company for 6.1 million € that perfectly fits her image

The Twitch streamer Katiyln “Amouranth” Siragusa has now announced that she has invested 7 million US dollars in a company that is a leader in producing inflatable swimming pools. This suits her, as Amouranth established the “Hot Tub” meta in 2021 on Twitch: she would sit in such a swimming pool in her living room and talk to fans in a bikini.

This is Amouranth on Twitch:

  • Amouranth is one of the most successful streamers on Twitch, which is partly due to her enormous workload: She is practically always streaming. In the last 30 days, she streamed 323 hours (more than 10 hours per day, not counting weekends and holidays). Even xQc, who is considered a notorious Twitch junkie, is only at 298 hours.
  • Amouranth considers herself a variety streamer because she showcases different things on Twitch: She dances, plays Mario Kart, licks a microphone during ASMR streams or has shaped the “Hot Tub” meta on Twitch.
  • In addition to her Twitch stream, Amouranth has built a “social media” empire. She regularly fills her channels on Twitter and Instagram with photos of herself in revealing clothing. On paid channels, there are these photos with even less clothing on her body.
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Amouranth buys company that makes inflatable pools

This is the company she bought: On Monday, Amouranth posted on Twitter that if her post received 400 likes, she would reveal what investment she made. It would be crazier than the purchase of the gas station, which she was able to complete cheaply through tax tricks.

The investment turned out to be a company that produces inflatable swimming pools. The company is said to make about 15 million $ in revenue per year and is one of the main suppliers of this product for retailers like Amazon or Cosca.

Amouranth says the company was acquired for about 10 million US dollars, half of the money would be raised through “low-interest loans”. According to Amouranth, she committed to investing 7 million US dollars of her own money over a period of 7 years in the company to become a partner.

Apparently, she believes she acquired the company relatively cheaply, as it had some “weak years” due to the pandemic. She hopes to achieve over 20% return per year from her portfolio of investments. So far, it is going well, and Amouranth is confident that the pool company will work too.

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What is the “Hot Tub meta”? Amouranth’s investment is particularly fitting because such an inflatable pool was a fixed part of her appearance on Twitch for months. She also says that the company produces these “floating lights” that “we Hot Tub girls” use to illuminate the water.

During the so-called “Hot Tub” meta on Twitch, it was customary for female streamers to sit in a pool in their living rooms in swimsuits and chat with their fans from there. Among other things, viewers could donate money to the streamer, and she would write the names of the donors on her body with a marker.

Amouranth shaped this “meta”. However, she apparently did not feel completely comfortable with it. It is said that when her parents visited, she showed them her whole house, but left out the room with the pool.

The idea behind the “Hot Tub” meta was that the nudity rules of Twitch prohibited streamers from streaming in underwear or appearing sexually suggestive, but allowed them to dress appropriately for the occasion. With the idea of “I’m sitting in a pool”, a bikini was deemed appropriate.

Why is Amouranth doing this? The Twitch streamer says she wants to earn a lot of money over Twitch while she is young by maintaining and celebrating the image of a “shameless E-Girl”.

In the long term, she wants to invest her money so that she can financially establish an animal welfare project. The death of her dog has shaken her. She wants to dedicate her life after Twitch to animal welfare, she said. This is also the purpose of these investments.

Twitch streamer licks microphones, earns 1.3 million € a month – This is how her parents feel about it

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

Russian newspaper writes: Destiny and Call of Duty are partially responsible for unrest in Kazakhstan

Video games have often been identified as a cause of problems in the real world. A Russian newspaper accuses games like Destiny and CoD of contributing to unrest in Kazakhstan.

Is that the accusation? The state-funded Russian media company “Komsomolskaya Pravda” published an article about the current unrest in Kazakhstan. Putin sent military troops there to deal with the “anti-government protests.”

The Russian newspaper mentions that young people aged 25–30 are the reason for the protests. They grew up with American video games that deal with destroying symbols of the old USSR. Among these destroyed symbols is the famous cosmodrome “Baikonur,” known to many players of Destiny 1 & 2.

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Assassinations and the ruins in the Cosmodrome

Which games are allegedly responsible? The media company holds four well-known games accountable that supposedly encouraged young people to protest:

  • Command and Conquer
  • Frontline: Fuel of War
  • CoD: Black Ops
  • Destiny
Destiny-Earth-Cosmodrome
The cosmodrome in Destiny occupied by hostile species

What reasons are mentioned? Specifically, CoD and Destiny are highlighted. In Black Ops, one had to destroy a missile of the Soviet troops, as well as kill a general of the then USSR. But the newspaper goes further and names the following things that are part of a mission:

In this, the player had to neutralize the guards of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, shoot down the Soyuz-2 rocket, rescue the CIA agent, and eliminate the Soviet General Dragovich, who forced him to work for the Nazi scientists of the USSR after the Great Patriotic War. This liberation mission called “Special Assignment” was written in 2010 by American programmers.

In Destiny, the Cosmodrome, also known as the space graveyard, was supposedly a victim of previous coups before the place was overrun by Fallen and Hive. Through such images and events in these games, young players are allegedly encouraged to act against the Russian system.

The Russian newspaper wrote the following paragraph:

A completely fresh game from a developer in the United States – Destiny, 2014. There, already in the first mission, the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a ruin, and the enemies are aliens. It turns out that scenarios of coups in Kazakhstan were written in the United States 20 years ago.

By the “completely fresh game,” Destiny 1 is meant, which is already almost 8 years old.

Destiny 1 indeed shows the devastated Cosmodrome. However, the Russian newspaper overlooks the fact that Destiny takes place in a post-apocalypse: The entire world of Destiny is a wasteland. Therefore, there does not need to have been a “coup” in Kazakhstan for the Cosmodrome to be devastated – an alien invasion is the more likely cause.

What do you think of these wild claims? Do you believe there is some truth to it and that Destiny is really responsible for the protests? Or can you only grasp your hair at the thought? Let us know!

By the “completely fresh game,” Destiny 1 is meant, which is already almost 8 years old.

Destiny 1 indeed shows the devastated Cosmodrome. However, the Russian newspaper overlooks the fact that Destiny takes place in a post-apocalypse: The entire world of Destiny is a wasteland. Therefore, there does not need to have been a “coup” in Kazakhstan for the Cosmodrome to be devastated – an alien invasion is the more likely cause.

What do you think of these wild claims? Do you believe there is some truth to it and that Destiny is really responsible for the protests? Or can you only grasp your hair at the thought? Let us know!

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

A guy has cows that practically live in the matrix – And they really produce more milk

What happens when cows are equipped with gaming technology? A cattle breeder has tried it out and presented the surprising results.

This is what happened: A Turkish cattle breeder equipped his cows with VR technology. In harsh winters, cows have to stay in the barn. But the breeder wondered what might happen if he pretended to the animals that they were actually standing on the meadow?

The action is likely to remind many users of the movie “The Matrix”. Some users are already calling it the “Mootrix”.

Cows produce more milk with VR technology and are less stressed

The Turkish breeder Izzet Kocak developed the devices together with veterinarians so that the devices fit perfectly on the cow’s head (via kotaku.com). This way it should also be ensured that nothing could happen to the cows. In total, he equipped two cows with such VR devices for his test.

What is the result? The farmer can certainly consider the result a success:

  • The milk production of the VR cows increased from 22 to 27 liters per day.
  • Furthermore, the animals are said to be significantly less stressed than before.

Also because the test was so successful, he now wants to buy 10 more headsets for his dairy cows.

What does all this have to do with gaming? VR headsets are mainly used in the gaming sector. They create a virtual world in which the player can fully immerse themselves. This works because the VR experience reduces impressions from the real world, as the player can only see the virtual world through the headset.

This immersion in a virtual world is referred to in technical jargon as “immersion”.

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Equipping animals with VR is not a new invention

The idea of improving animal production with VR is actually not new. As early as 2019, the Russian government tested VR technology with cows. This primarily aimed to increase milk production in Russia to circumvent certain sanctions on EU food.

Reports from Russia suggest that the experiment was quite successful, and farmers stated that the milk production of the cows had been increased. As with the Turkish farmer, it was also found in Russia that cows are said to feel less fear, and the herd is more peaceful than without technology.

But there are also news in the gaming sector related to VR technology. Sony finally presented the latest VR model for the PS5 at CES 2022 and also introduced an exclusive game for the console.

Sony finally reveals new accessories for the PS5 – This is PS VR 2

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

Fortnite players want old feature back: “New Llamas are a trap”

After about half a year, players in Fortnite apparently have had enough of fleeing Llamas. They are asking: Can we please have the old ones back?

What are Loot Llamas? The Loot Llamas have existed since 2018 in Fortnite. They serve a similar function as the regular loot crates but are significantly rarer. Moreover, they primarily offer support items such as building materials, potions, ammunition, and more in large quantities.

Especially in the late phases of a Battle Royale match, this can be extremely useful.

Previously, there were always 3 Llamas per match on the map waiting to be found. If you caught one, you had to take some time to open it – but at least it was done quietly. However, at the start of Season 7 – Chapter 2 in summer 2021, a change was made.

Not only could you find more Llamas per match now – they also run away!

The change that happened with the Llamas: Before the change, the Llamas were just rare, stationary special crates; now they are living beings that panic when you approach them. Then they bounce away and try to escape from loot-hungry players.

In this case, you can only shoot at the living piñata until it is defeated and drops all its loot.

Additionally, Llamas have quite a bit of health, so they can consume a lot of ammunition initially. Overall, they are significantly more challenging to deal with than before Season 7 – Chapter 2.

And that seems to be irritating some players now.

Criticism of fleeing Llamas – Are they too “dangerous”?

This is what the community says: In the Fortnite subreddit (via reddit), a post with over 2,000 upvotes and more than 250 comments is currently being discussed, titled “Can we finally get the old loot llamas back?”

User “CorbinMar” criticizes several points about the current Llamas. You need too much ammunition to take them down and would also attract other players in the process. In the worst case, you can hardly fight them if you have just used your ammunition on the Llama, but it teleports away at the last moment (via reddit).

In the comments, there is much agreement with the post:

  • “Yes, they are a trap. Just leave them out,” writes a user (via reddit).
  • “I used to open Llamas before they started moving. But now I don’t even bother. I just get sniped or taken down by the MK7 while I’m hunting them,” “Sk49captain” shares their bad experiences (via reddit).
  • “The idea of taking a risk and making noise to get primo loot is great. The problem is that the loot in the Llamas is never worth it,” criticizes user Kazehana_3 (via reddit).
  • “At first it was fun, not so much the second time, and then it just became annoying. Even worse is when they suddenly teleport into nothingness. I don’t know why that even exists,” says user pizzaredditor (via reddit).

How are players solving the problem? While many players say they would rather skip the Llamas now, some are still finding the loot exciting enough to take the risk.

One solution to the “escape problem” is to sneak up and quickly build a cage around the loot Llama with building materials. However, this is not exactly easy for beginners, and the Llama can still escape quickly before you have built your box.

Another solution is to stick to the loot that the Llama drops while fleeing and not shoot at all. But then you only get a fraction of the possible loot.

What do you think about the topic? Do you think the current loot llamas are good, or would you prefer the old version back? Let us know in the comments!

At the same time, another, fresher item is currently very popular. So popular that players in Fortnite don’t want to part with it.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. VG247
  2. reddit

2 policemen were fired due to their love for Pokémon GO

They ignored the call for backup from a police colleague and preferred to play Pokémon GO instead. Two police officers were fired for this.

What is it about? Two police officers who worked for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were fired. Among other reasons, because they were playing the mobile game Pokémon GO (via Kotaku.com).

  • On April 15, 2017, the two officers Lozano and Mitchell were assigned as patrol for the LAPD.
    • Both have over 28 years of experience as police officers combined.
  • Colleagues communicated via radio that a robbery was taking place and requested backup.
  • The two mentioned officers ignored the request for backup and instead caught Pokémon.
  • The exact details of the evening have now been shared with the public through new documents.

Surveillance camera records how the cops were looking for Snorlax

This is what happened that evening: While the request for backup was made via radio, the two officers Mitchell and Lozano were not far from the store where the robbery was taking place. A colleague saw the car with the two officers leaving the area after the radio call. Apparently, so that the two officers could play Pokémon GO.

The surveillance camera (DICVS), which is installed in the police vehicles, recorded the evening and what the officers did. The recordings from that evening, together with the lies of the officers regarding the incidents, led to both being fired.

The representatives of Lozano and Mitchell subsequently filed a request to appeal the decision. They argued that using the DICVS material as part of the official investigation of their behavior violated the privacy protections of conversations between officers. On January 7, this appeal was denied. Therefore, there is now a good insight into what happened that day in the police car of the two officers from the official documents from January 2022:

[…] For the next about 20 minutes, the DICVS recorded how the two plaintiffs talked about Pokémon GO while driving to various locations where the virtual creatures apparently appeared on their mobile phones.

On the way to the location of Snorlax, Officer Mitchell pointed out to Officer Lozano that ‘a Togetic just appeared.’ It would be ‘in Crenshaw, south of the 50th.’ After Mitchell apparently caught the Snorlax and shouted, “I got it!”, the two plaintiffs agreed to ‘get the Togetic’ and continued driving.

At the next stop, the DICVS recorded Mitchell saying: ‘Don’t run away. Please don’t run away!’ while Lozano explained how he caught the Togetic [with Ultra Balls] and then exclaimed, ‘I got it!’

Mitchell explained that he was still trying to catch it. ‘Holy crap, man. That thing is fighting like crazy with me. Finally, Mitchell shouted, ‘Holy crap, finally,’ which was apparently a reference to catching Togetic, and he remarked: ‘The guys are going to be so jealous.’

The two plaintiffs then decided to return to the 7-Eleven (where their Sergeant Gomez later met them) to finish their shift. On the way there, Mitchell remarked, ‘I got you a new Pokémon today, buddy.’

In 2017, the hype around Pokémon GO was still very strong. The game had not even been out for a year yet, and special Pokémon that were strong or rare attracted hundreds of players.

By 2022, no one would probably go out of their way for a Snorlax or a Togetic anymore. The Pokémon have become significantly less exciting, and there are much stronger alternatives that can be fought and caught even from home via remote raids.

Right now, Pokémon that look unnatural are particularly exciting. Like this broken Shelmet that Pokémon GO trainers find really cool.

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

CoD Warzone nerfs the 2 most popular weapons – Here are strong alternatives

Call of Duty: Warzone has announced nerfs for its most popular weapons. The LMG Bren and the submachine gun MP40 will take a hit. MeinMMO presents you with suitable alternatives right now.

Are you currently diligently watching your kill cams in Call of Duty: Warzone? Currently, there are 2 main players:

  • The LMG Bren for long-range kills
  • The submachine gun MP40 in close combat

However, the developers have already announced that the airtime of the Caldera stars will be cut. Both are about to receive a nerf. So that you are not completely without a suitable role double, we will show you suitable alternatives.

For the Stable LMG Feel – Type 11 Setup

What can the Type 11 do? With the Bren, an LMG currently sits at the top of the food chain in Warzone. The gun is easy to control, deals a lot of damage, and offers decent mobility for an LMG.

If you are looking for a 1-to-1 replacement for the feel of the Bren, we recommend the Type 11 for the time after the nerf. There is a noticeable kickback on the first shots. However, the sustained fire afterwards feels very calm and pleasant. The MG42 is another stable LMG alternative.

CoD Warzone: Type 11 Setup

  • Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
  • Barrel: Sakura 487mm Shrouded
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Stock: Warubachi Weighted
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 6.5mm Sakura 90 Round Drums
  • Ammunition: Lengthened
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Perk: Brace
  • Perk 2: Fully Loaded
Attachments in English
  • Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
  • Barrel: Sakura 487mm Shrouded
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Stock: Warubachi Weighted
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 6.5mm Sakura 90 Round Drums
  • Ammunition: Lengthened
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Perk: Brace
  • Perk 2: Fully Loaded
cod warzone season 1 vanguard nerf alternatives type 11 setup

The Assault Rifle Always Remains Cool – BAR Setup

What can the BAR do? If you want to switch back to assault rifles after a Bren nerf, we recommend the BAR.

The weapon is extremely stable and easy to control due to its low fire rate. However, this is also its biggest disadvantage – if you miss a bullet, the time-to-kill goes up significantly.

CoD Warzone: BAR Setup

  • Muzzle: Recoil Booster
  • Barrel: CGC 30″ XL
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Stock: Cooper SP
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: .50 BMG 40 Round Mag
  • Ammunition: Lengthened
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Perk: Hardscope
  • Perk 2: Fully Loaded
Attachments in English
  • Muzzle: Recoil Booster
  • Barrel: CGC 30″ XL
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Stock: Cooper SP
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: .50 BMG 40 Round Mag
  • Ammunition: Lengthened
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Perk: Hardscope
  • Perk 2: Fully Loaded
cod warzone season 1 vanguard nerf alternatives bar setup

Your New Trusted SMG – Type 100 Setup

What can the Type 100 do? Currently, with the MP40, there is a very balanced SMG at the top with a large 45-round magazine. A nerf is likely to hit the weapon hard because it has several advantages over its competitors. Currently, nothing can compare.

However, with a nerf, the cards will be reshuffled, and the Type 100 has already secured a few trump cards. The SMG is very easy to control and also offers respectable damage. The magazine feels a bit small, also due to the high rate of fire. However, reloading is pleasantly quick.

CoD Warzone: Type 100 Setup

  • Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
  • Barrel: Warubachi 134mm Rapid
  • Optic: Monocular Reflector
  • Stock: Warubachi Skeletal
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 8mm Nambu 30 Round Mag
  • Ammunition: Incendiary
  • Rear Grip: Stippled Grip
  • Perk: Gung-ho
  • Perk 2: Quick
Attachments in English
  • Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
  • Barrel: Warubachi 134mm Rapid
  • Optic: Monocular Reflector
  • Stock: Warubachi Skeletal
  • Underbarrel: m1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 8mm Nambu 30 Round Mag
  • Ammunition: Incendiary
  • Rear Grip: Stippled Grip
  • Perk: Gung-ho
  • Perk 2: Quick
cod warzone season 1 vanguard nerf alternatives type 100 setup

The setups are recommended by YouTuber and Warzone expert “P4wnyhof” with small adjustments. If you want to see more information about the weapons and recoil gameplay of the setups, check out his English video (via YouTube).

After the integration of Vanguard and all the new weapons, the weapon meta is slowly calming down. Bren and MP40 are not overly OP, but still strong enough to push aside many other firearms.

It remains to be seen which direction the weapon compass will point after the next balance update. But with our 3 alternatives, you are well-equipped as soon as the nerf brings the two overpowering Bren and MP40 back to reality.

Feel free to share your alternatives in the comments. If you are looking for more weapons with strong setups, check out our list of the best weapons: CoD Warzone: The best weapons with setups – Season 1 / January 2022

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. YouTube - P4wnyhof

The corporation behind GTA 5 wants to buy the FarmVille company – Offers more than for Bethesda

Take-Two is a publisher for some of the biggest and trendiest video game franchises in the world like GTA Online, Red Dead Redemption 2, Borderlands, or Civilization 6. They have now made an acquisition offer for the mobile company Zynga for over 12.7 billion US dollars. That is significantly more than Microsoft paid for Bethesda in 2020. With that money, they could also develop Red Dead Redemption 2 about 23.5 times.

This is the news:

  • In a conference call yesterday, the CEO announced that Take-Two has made an acquisition offer for Zynga. The offer was 12.7 billion US dollars. This means they are paying a premium of 64% over the current market value of the company behind FarmVille.
  • Zynga has 45 days to find a better offer. The deal is not yet finalized.
  • As a result, Zynga’s stock rose considerably by 40.67% – however, Take-Two’s stock fell by 13.13%.

23.5 times Red Dead Redemption 2 – 48 times GTA 5

How much money is that? 12.7 billion US dollars for Zynga is an extremely high amount. The development costs for Red Dead Redemption 2 are estimated to be around 540 million US dollars. Take-Two could finance about 23 times such a major project with the money they are paying for Zynga (via screenrant).

Red Dead Redemption 2 is considered one of the best games of all time.

GTA 5 is said to have cost “only” 265 million US dollars. So for that money, about 48 times could have been possible. (via metro)

Apparently, the extremely high price that Take-Two is offering for Zynga has caused the “Take-Two” stock to drop on the market.

More on the topic
Microsoft has just acquired Bethesda for 7.5 billion US dollars
von Schuhmann

Why is Take-Two doing this? Essentially, they say: Acquiring Zynga promises them around 500 million US dollars in revenue per year in the future that they would not achieve otherwise.

By acquiring the company, they now have a “clear path” to bring their franchises, which previously only ran on PC and consoles, to mobile. In the coming years, it is expected that 50% or more of Take-Two’s revenue will come from mobile. GTA 5 was the big hit here in recent years.

With the acquisition of Zynga, Take-Two acquires a catalog of mobile games like FarmVille, Words with Friends, CSR Racing, Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells, and many more. In addition, there are the technology and data of the companies. They also gain access to the NFT/Blockchain technology from Zynga.

“I hate that mobile gaming generates so much money”

How is this being discussed? It is being discussed relatively calmly on reddit and viewed from a business perspective. Only occasionally are there top comments that seem more heated:

  • One user says. “This is almost double what Microsoft paid for Bethesda – it just shows how much money is in the mobile market”
  • “Now 2 of the largest gaming companies, Activision Blizzard and Take-Two, own 2 of the largest mobile studios in the world, King and Zynga.”
  • “I hate that mobile gaming generates so much money, and there are maybe 3 mobile games worth playing, and almost all good ones are just ports.”

People are especially surprised by how much money is involved in the deal. In retrospect, the acquisition of King (Candy Crush) by Activision Blizzard seems like a bargain, it is said.

red dead online heist title image
Coming to mobile soon?

Don’t you guys have phones?

What’s behind it: The deal shows the breadth of the gaming market and that gaming is developing in different directions:

  • On one side, there are AAA games that push the limits of what is possible and create virtual worlds where gameplay seems to have unlimited possibilities. They are milestones of the genre like Red Dead Redemption 2, Skyrim, or GTA Online.
  • On the other side, there are games that rely on simple gameplay principles, grind mechanics, and microtransactions.

Both types of games exist in the same economic cosmos, even if they target different audiences. In recent years, and probably still now, many fans of traditional PC and console games see the danger that “their games” are being neglected or overshadowed by casual games.

This was seen, for example, in reactions to the announcement of Diablo Immortal at BlizzCon 2018. But the situation seems to have calmed down somewhat. That companies like Take-Two are making such investments for incredibly high sums seems to be becoming the new normal.

This battle for the “one true gaming”, the PC and console gaming, does come up now and then, but has noticeably cooled down.

As the major next project of Take-Two, many fans wish for GTA 6:

GTA 6: What rumors are saying about release, announcement, and setting

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