Pikmin Bloom: Get a medal during the Community Day in December

Community Day starts on December 18 in Pikmin Bloom. We will show you all the information about it and how you can earn a medal.

What kind of event is this? As known from other games by the developers at Niantic, there is also a Community Day in Pikmin Bloom once a week. This is an event designed to encourage you to move. Anyone who participates actively can look forward to a medal this time.

If you want to participate in the Community Day in December, it’s free. We will show you the most important information here on MeinMMO.

More on the topic
New Pikmin game by Niantic reminds of Pokémon GO yet is quite different
von Sayumi (Lena)

Community Day in December at Pikmin Bloom

When does it start? The Community Day is on Saturday, December 18, and will be active all day.

The Community Day in November started with a time limit from 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM, but this has been removed for the December Com-Day, so the event runs all day.

What rewards are there?

  • With an increased chance, giant flowers will grow into Christmas stars when you plant regular blue, red, yellow, or white petals around them.
  • Seeds in your plant backpack grow 1.5 times faster than usual. If you plant flowers, you can further increase the speed.
  • If you reach 10,000 steps during the event, you will receive a special Christmas star flower medal for it.
Pikmin Bloom Medal Community Day
This is what the Christmas star medal looks like that you can earn during the Community Day in December.

What you need to keep in mind: Niantic appeals to your “common sense” that you should use when taking on the 10,000 steps challenge. Remember, steps are also counted inside your house, and you can climb stairs or participate in the challenge on a treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike.

You can also hatch eggs in Pokémon GO without leaving the house.

Do you play Pikmin Bloom and use it to motivate your movement, or does the principle of the game not appeal to you at all? Let us know your opinion on this here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange with the community about it.

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

Genshin Impact is allegedly bringing a change to earn old characters without Gacha

A trusted leaker believes that you will soon be less dependent on the Gacha system in Genshin Impact. Specifically, characters and weapons from the standard banner will become farmable. A system like this already exists in another miHoYo game.

As official information about the future of the game is rare, large parts of the Genshin Impact community rely on leaked information. This should always be treated with caution, of course. One of the most trusted leakers is a Twitter user with the pseudonym UBatcha.

This leaker shared new information on December 14, 2021. Even though he himself rates the credibility of this statement as “questionable,” the tweet catches the attention of Genshin fans:

https://twitter.com/Ubatcha1/status/1470873188011810828?s=20

What does the leaker say? We are translating the tweet for you into English:

[Questionable]

A method to obtain weapons and maybe characters from the standard banner. That would of course be without Gacha. The exact release date is unknown; it should ideally be released in mid-2022 if it happens.

Genshin Impact leaker @UBatcha1 on Twitter

According to the leak information, it could be possible to obtain characters and weapons without Gacha by mid-2022 at the earliest. This would specifically concern the characters and weapons obtained from the standard banner “Wanderlust”.

This leak comes just weeks after the double rerun banners introduced one of the biggest changes to the Gacha system in the game.

Methods to currently obtain characters and weapons

How to obtain characters currently? Currently, you can only obtain characters through 5 methods:

  • As a beginner, you will receive the characters Traveler, Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa through the first story missions.
  • Barbara and Xiangling are unlockable through quests.
  • Every month you can buy 2 characters with Stellar Glimmer in the Paimon Shop. The selection rotates monthly through 6 different fixed offers. In December, these are Barbara and Kaeya; in January, Fischl and Xiangling.
  • During certain events, you can unlock characters. Recently, it was Xinyan.
  • All other characters can only be obtained through the Gacha system.

With the change that the leaker expects, this would add a 6th method. Thus, there would be an alternative to the “predetermined fate” to obtain weapons and characters from the standard banner.

How to currently obtain weapons? Weapons are obtained in Genshin Impact through various small events, chests, or quests in the game. Additionally, you can receive some 4-star weapons from the paid Battle Pass or craft them for free at the blacksmith. The Paimon Shop also offers weapons in exchange for Stellar Glimmer.

Otherwise, you obtain weapons, like the characters, from the Gacha banners.

More on the topic
Genshin Impact: FAQ about the Gacha system – How Pay2Win is it really?
von Sascha Asendorf

Getting certain things is expected to become much easier due to this change, especially since there is no increased probability for specific weapons and characters in the standard banner. Whether this potential change only applies to 4-star characters and weapons or whether rare 5-star characters could also be unlocked is unclear.

This information is pure speculation: Like all leaks, this information should be treated with caution – especially in this case. The leaker even directly addresses the many uncertain details and eventualities.

However, this speculation might turn out to be true: There is already a similar system in another game by the Genshin Impact developers: Honkai Impact 3rd.

Another miHoYo game allows crafting characters

Honkai Impact 3rd is another game developed by miHoYo. The game was released in 2016. Like Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd is a Gacha game; however, there has been a system for some time now that allows you to unlock characters without Gacha.

This is what the character crafting system looks like in Honkai Impact 3rd. Image source: Twitter

In Honkai Impact 3rd, you can unlock a character with sufficient “fragments.” You obtain these fragments – similar to Stardust and Stellar Glimmer in Genshin Impact – when you unlock something in Gacha. Additionally, you can purchase these fragments with items obtained from missions and events (via Twitter).

This system in Honkai Impact 3rd makes it easier for you to unlock your favorite characters. You are not completely reliant on the random Gacha system.

Whether this system will appear in Genshin Impact in this form or similarly is unclear. Even the leaker is not sure whether a Gacha-free unlocking of characters will ever be available in Genshin Impact.

What do you think of such a change? Would you like this system? Is there a specific character you just can’t get through the Gacha system, even though you really want him? Let us know in the comments.

Currently, Arataki Itto is the latest 5-star character. If you got lucky in the Gacha and pulled him, you can find a detailed guide here to help you get the most out of this fun Geo-DPS:

Genshin Impact: The best builds for Arataki Itto at a glance

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

Yes, WoW has something new in the in-game shop again

A new pet has arrived in the shop of World of Warcraft. Many players find the timing quite inappropriate.

Once again, a new pet has been added to the shop of World of Warcraft. A little faerie dragon named ‘Blinky’ is now available – and this annoys some people again.

What kind of pet is this? The new pet is named “Zwinki” (‘Blinky’) and is a small, cute faerie dragon. It is a new model, not just a small scaled version of the faerie dragons. The faerie dragon changes color from Red to Yellow and Blue and ultimately back to Red.

As usual, the pet costs 10 € and can also be used as a battle pet in pet battles. It is a dragon and uses abilities that are largely also found with other dragons and faerie dragons.

WoW Blinky Pet
Zwinki, the new pet in World of Warcraft.

What is the problem? Shop items have always had a hard time in World of Warcraft – at least for a loud part of the community. Whenever something new lands in the in-game shop, some players note that this is quite inappropriate for an MMORPG that requires a subscription fee. After all, it would be outrageous to pay 13 euros a month, in addition to the cost of a new expansion, and then be asked to pay again for game content.

Accordingly, the feedback on nearly every shop item is quite negative.

Some point out that you can also ‘earn’ the shop rewards by unlocking real money currency with in-game gold through the WoW token, but the result remains the same: In the end, someone has to pay real money for the pet.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

More deals in the shop: In addition to the new pet, Blizzard has also just launched a sale with special offers. Many mounts and pets are discounted, and there is a special dragon pack with lots of mounts and companions.

Whether it’s appropriate to be bringing new items to the shop every few weeks during the current period of content drought is, of course, a different matter.

Do you like this pet? Will you go for it? Or are you staying clear of shop items?

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

Asmongold explains why the future of Twitch consists of cooking shows and reality

Twitch is increasingly becoming like television. At least that’s what streamer Asmongold explained to his fans during a livestream: He means the current hype of a TV show and the consequences of this hype. But what content can fans expect in the future?

What happened? In a stream on his secondary channel zackrawrr, the streamer talked about the possible future of Twitch content. The reason for this is the ongoing hype surrounding the TV show ‘MasterChef’.

Big streamers describe the show as incredibly funny and exciting, while they watch it live on Twitch with their viewers. Angry Asmongold, however, does not celebrate it at all, calling it a short-lived trend and making a prediction for the future of Twitch.

The future of Twitch is a mix of celebrity and streamer content

What does Asmongold say about the future of Twitch? During his livestream on December 16, the streamer shared his concerns about future content on Twitch. According to Asmongold, the entire meta for streamers is shifting away from traditional gaming. The future belongs to react content, celebrities, and TV shows:

Where is content going in the next few years? I believe that the focus is shifting more towards real-life content. Additionally, celebrity content will mix with the well-known internet content.

Asmongold also believes that watching MasterChef will not hold up as profitable content for long. Streamer Trainwreck is said to have received a DMCA strike two years ago for watching the show live with fans.

Asmongold is sure that the hype around MasterChef will die down as soon as the first streamer receives a ban or DMCA strike. All others will suddenly leave the sinking ship thereafter.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitch content

Are there any positive examples of TV content? Not directly from TV, but certainly inspired by it are events like the Angelcamp from Germany. This and other events are hosted by Twitch icon Jens ‘Knossi’ Knosalla.

As a classic example, the format ‘Love or Host’ should be mentioned (via youtube.com). In this Twitch show, there is a contestant who faces a series of streamers. One by one, the potential candidates are eliminated until only two possible dates for the contestant remain.

In the end, the two remaining participants decide whether they want a date or a host from the contestant.

It is difficult to say that Twitch is slowly developing into a mix of reality TV and familiar web content. For a long time, copies of TV formats have dominated the platform. Whether dating, quiz, or sports events, the origin of these livestreams is often found on television.

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

Is Fortnite in a skin crisis? Players see poor prospects for 2022

In Fortnite, skins are the most important aspect of the entire Battle Royale. Many players shine and show off with old, rare, and original skins. Now, the community sees poor prospects for 2022 regarding skin variations. We will show you more about it.

What’s the problem? On reddit, the community expresses its frustration over the ongoing reskin wave. Many new skin packs or offers from the item shop are reskins. These are original and popular outfits that are recolored and sold as new.

The current situation does not bode well for players. The Christmas event usually offered many cool and new outfit options that could be purchased in the item shop. However, in 2021, the offerings look overwhelming, even though Epic had prepared two skins to address the problem.

Fortnite releases reskins instead of contest skins

Epic Games held a concept contest from June 12 to July 15. There, fans of the shooter had the opportunity to showcase their creativity in the form of self-designed skins. Epic also offered a prize of $2,500 and the implementation in the game for the winter event 2021.

As the winter event has now been released and leakers have revealed all new skins in the item shop and in the gifts, it becomes apparent that there is no trace of community ideas. Neither in the codes nor as leaked content do the concepts appear.

However, many reskins can be found. As a package offer in the item shop, but also in the data for the two free winter festival outfits.

Why Epic decided to release copies instead of the creative and new options from the community is unclear. However, the fact is that players have had enough of it and can no longer stand seeing these copies.

What do the players say about it? The community can no longer stand such copies. Many think they understand Epic’s intention behind it.

There are newcomers who have seen various models in skin lists that are interesting but cannot be earned because they are locked behind old battle passes.

They think that Epic wants to give new fans the chance to wear their favorite look in a modified form. Nevertheless, this is not an excuse for letting original and creative skins disappear. This is what a reddit user says about it:

The only ones who benefit from this bundle are people who didn’t get the original Midas or were disappointed that Shadow Midas didn’t have the touch effect.

But here’s the truth: As long as there is a demand for a skin, you can expect that as many reskins as possible will be made for it. Because Epic loves $$$. It’s the consequence of the business model “FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)”. That’s why I am neutral towards reskins, as this is an indirect consequence of this poorly constructed system.

says reddit user ChaoticJestrick on the subject

It’s noticeable that players’ patience is slowly but surely running out. Alternatively, many designs from the community could be used. Many ambitious and creative minds are active in the community and post their concept ideas in forums daily. Responses to these are rarely seen or not at all.

What do you think about this issue? Do you find the current situation in Fortnite dramatic or do you not care? Let us know in the comments!

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

CoD Warzone & Vanguard: How to complete the Christmas Event tasks for festive gifts

In Call of Duty, the Christmas spirit has broken out. The event “Festive Fervor” is now live in CoD: Vanguard and the free Battle Royale Warzone and gifts you with themed cosmetics. MeinMMO shows you the tasks and how to complete them quickly.

For Christmas, Call of Duty often has a fitting event with a touch of festive spirit. This year, this means for CoD: Vanguard and Warzone:

  • The event “Festive Fervor” is online until January 4th
  • You can earn 13 festive cosmetics
  • A nasty Krampus and naughty elves are causing trouble
  • Small extra mechanics change the game flow
  • Shipment as a Christmas edition and trees on Caldera

In this article, we focus on the event tasks so you can easily earn up to 13 cosmetics. In Vanguard and Warzone, there are 6 tasks each, and if you complete all 6 in one of the games, you get a blueprint for the LMG “Type 11” on top.

Here we embed the German trailer of the event:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

CoD Vanguard: Solution to the 6 “Festive Fervor” Tasks

  • Task 1: Eliminate Krampus 3 times.
  • Reward: Battle Pass tier-up

Solution: Krampus hunts down naughty players. Either make the constant camper in “Team Deathmatch” or keep away from objectives in modes like “Control” or “Domination”. Krampus will find you, that you can be sure of – don’t let him get too close:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content
  • Task 2: Kill 10 members of Elf Team 6 hiding in multiplayer maps.
  • Reward: Calling card “Cookie Crumble”

Solution: Start a “Quick Match” and remove the modes “Control” and “Search & Destroy”. While you’re in the match, pay attention to unusual laughter or similar sounds – that’s one of the elves. If you hear one, he’s very close. Look around and fire a few bullets at the little rascals.

  • Task 3: Open 5 supply crates.
  • Reward: Sticker “Gift Receipt”
cod vanguard chillend elf
The elves chill somewhere on the maps in multiplayer

Solution: Take the Killstreak “Supplies” or “Emergency Drop” with you and open a total of 5 of the dropped crates.

  • Task 4: Achieve 5 kills with killstreaks.
  • Reward: 1 hour double account XP

Solution: Take killstreaks that provide you with guaranteed kills. “Glide Bomb” or “War Machine” for 5 kills in a row works well, or “Flamenaut” for 9 kills, and “Attack Dogs” for 10 kills. The dogs are also festively dressed.

  • Task 5: Complete 10 Armageddon matches.
  • Reward: Calling card “Santa’s Delivery”

Solution: A pure diligence task. The “Armageddon” mode has its own playlist and is a variant of the “Drop Zone” mode. There are many killstreaks from supply crates in “Armageddon” – tasks 3 and 4 can be completed here easily.

  • Task 6: Complete 15 Shipment matches.
  • Reward: Talisman “Christmas Tree”

Solution: Also a diligence task. Start the “Shipment 24/7” playlist and play as long as you can withstand. 15 matches on Shipment can be stressful – but you have until January 4th to complete the task.

cod vanguard festive fervor rewards
The 6 rewards in Vanguard

CoD Warzone: Solution to the 6 “Festive Fervor” Tasks

  • Task 1: Play Warzone for 7 hours.
  • Reward: 1 hour double account XP

Solution: From now, you must fight through Warzone modes for 7 hours until the end of the event.

  • Task 2: Travel 25 miles (about 40 km) in Warzone.
  • Reward: Spray “Derailed”

Solution: If you want to complete the event and tackle the 7 hours of Warzone from task 1, you should be able to check off a large part of this task at the same time. In total, you need to walk across Caldera about 15 times from one side to the other. Your distance covered on Rebirth Island also counts.

  • Task 3: Deal 365 damage to Krampus in Warzone.
  • Reward: Emblem “Skull Flake”

Solution: The nasty Christmas monster rampages in Warzone too and randomly selects victims that it chases for 3 minutes, similar to a bounty contract. To increase your chances of being selected, open festive crates (with festive ribbons) and collect coal pieces.

cod warzone christmas trees on the map
Near the Christmas trees, there are crates with a chance for coal.
  • Task 4: Destroy 12 elves in Warzone.
  • Reward: Calling card “Toy Weapon”

Solution: Similar to Vanguard, the elves are hiding somewhere on Caldera. When you’re within 10 meters, you can hear laughter and strange noises. Look around, fire at the troublemakers, and secure your rewards. Among them can even be double XP tokens.

  • Task 5: Open 24 holiday crates in Warzone.
  • Reward: Emblem “Naughty List”

Solution: You can recognize the festive crates by the ribbon, and they can be anywhere on Caldera. You will surely find them at the Christmas trees scattered all over the map. The trees are marked on the map.

cod warzone festive fervor holiday crates
Crates with ribbons are the best kind of crates.
  • Task 6: Visit 8 points of interest in Warzone.
  • Reward: Calling card “Gnome Wars”

Solution: Always land in different areas at the start of a match and visit major landmarks like “Capital”, “Arsenal”, or “Lagoon”.

If you complete all tasks either from Warzone or Vanguard, you will receive, in addition to the small cosmetics, a weapon blueprint in a festive style:

cod warzone vanguard festive fervor blueprint reward

Feel free to leave us your thoughts on the event in the comments. What do you think of the camper scare Krampus in Vanguard? Do you like the Christmas trees on the Pacific island Caldera?

If you want to read more about my thoughts on the new island paradise of Warzone, then check here: I love and hate the Pacific update of CoD Warzone – Why do you do this to me?

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

A simple trick should significantly improve your FPS in Battlefield 2042 – Here’s how it works

Many users are complaining about the weak performance of Battlefield 2042. Now, a user has introduced a trick that is supposed to improve the FPS – at least for PC. MeinMMO explains how it works and what you need to consider.

What is the problem? Many users are complaining about weak performance in Battlefield 2042, even though many have powerful hardware. The developers are already working on fixing the most significant issues with Battlefield 2042, but until then, many users are hoping for an improvement in their situation.

A user on reddit has now explained how to significantly improve performance in Battlefield 2042 when playing on PC. MeinMMO presents the trick to you and explains how it works. With this trick, you can get a decent amount of FPS from your game, depending on settings and system, though there are no guarantees.

Improve FPS in Battlefield 2042 – Set Priorities and Disable Overlays

What is this trick? A user presented the trick in the Battlefield 2042 subreddit (via reddit.com). He himself plays with a GeForce RTX 3080 and had a maximum of 50 to 60 FPS at high graphics settings.

This is the trick: You go to the Task Manager and sort all running tasks. Then, look for the Nvidia programs that are active. Right-click on those tasks and set the priority to “High”.

As an additional step, it is recommended to disable all game overlays. This includes things like Steam, Origin, Discord, and any programs that offer to display an overlay in-game. Because these overlays can consume a lot of FPS – especially when you’re playing Battlefield 2042 through Steam and have the Origin system running alongside the Steam overlay. You can disable the overlays as follows:

  • Steam: Settings => In-Game => Uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”
  • Origin: Application Settings => More => Origin In-Game => Set the slider for “Enable Origin In-Game” to 0
  • Discord: User Settings => Game Overlay => Set the slider for “Enable in-game overlay” to off
Start video
Everything you need to know about the new Battlefield 2042 – in 2 minutes

How well does the trick work? We at MeinMMO have tested the trick, but it has only worked partially for us. This is also due to the fact that we already have different hardware within the team and the conditions are hard to reproduce.

So it depends on what hardware you are currently using. Your processor, graphics card, and RAM all play a role. Some users on reddit also criticize that the trick is quite cumbersome:

  • Occasionally, the settings in Windows cannot be used, so you cannot select a priority.
  • Furthermore, Windows is said to reset the settings you made upon every boot. Therefore, you need to select the priorities again each time.

The thread itself has 829 upvotes and 95% approval, making it one of the larger topics on reddit that do not show memes or gameplay.

Other ways to improve low FPS in Battlefield 2042

What other options are there? If the trick does not help, then you should try more things or at least check to be on the safe side:

Have you already tried the trick and noticed any improvements? Or is your performance still so poor that playing the shooter from EA remains unenjoyable? Let us know how well the trick works and discuss with us in the comments!

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

300,000 players are currently waiting for a new multiplayer on Steam in which Corgis fight

On Steam, you can check out many games before their release and add them to your wishlist. One of the games that already has the most fans before its release is Party Animals – a rather quirky brawler featuring cute animals.

What kind of game is this? In Party Animals, you play as a fluffy Corgi, a cute dragon, or an adorable rabbit competing against other players for victory. However, it’s not as peaceful as it sounds.

The game looks quite similar to the party game Gang Beasts. You fight using your fists, baseball bats, or giant lollipops transformed into clubs, trying to kick your opponents out of the ring.

When you’re not getting beaten up, you can use traps like opening trapdoors or burning ovens to eliminate your opponents. If a player is causing you too much trouble, team up against them and throw them out together. But remember, alliances can often be just temporary.

On the Steam page for Party Animals, the developers promise over 100 different ways to fight. However, from the current gameplay, only 2 modes have been revealed: classic knockout and the battle for a giant gummy bear.

Party Animals supports both online multiplayer and split-screen, offering full controller support. It is set to be released in 2022 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, and will be part of Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Rank 3 of the Most Wanted Games on Steam

Party Animals is already this popular: On the list of games that most players have on their wishlist, Party Animals is ranked 3rd (via SteamDB.info; as of December 17). The game has over 300,000 followers.

While the trailers on YouTube both have under 25,000 views, they also have almost no negative ratings. Therefore, Party Animals is likely primarily a niche game but could also emerge as a surprise hit like Fall Guys or Among Us.

Only two significantly darker games stand above Party Animals on the Steam wishlists: the SoulsBorne game Elden Ring and the horror survival game Dying Light 2. Thus, the other two games in the top 3 form a stark contrast to the cute party brawler.

We haven’t had a chance to check out Party Animals yet, but we have already played Dying Light 2 – the most wanted game on Steam currently:

In Dying Light 2, you have to constantly make tough decisions, but that’s what captivated me.

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

Postcard book in Pokémon GO – How it works and what trainers are bothered by

In Pokémon GO a new feature has been released: the postcard book. We at MeinMMO have looked at what this feature is and show you the first reactions of the trainers.

What kind of feature is it? Currently, the Christmas event is being celebrated in Pokémon GO. Just in time for the start, Niantic announced the postcard book as a new feature in their blog (via pokemongolive.com). With this feature, you should have the opportunity to save certain places as a nice memory. We will show you how this should work.

What is the postcard book?

The postcard book is, as the name suggests, about saving postcards. These should remind you of the visits to beautiful places. It’s possible to collect both the received postcards from friends and your own, which are in the gifts in the item bag.

Open postcard book via item bag

You can find your new postcard book in your item bag. You can also open it under “Postcard Book” in your avatar view. By clicking the book, an overview will open showing which cards you have already collected.

Adding new cards works in two different ways, depending on whether it is your own card or that of a friend.

Your own postcard: To add your own postcard to your book, open your item bag. There, click on the gifts to open them in a selection window. Then you have the option to select the appropriate package. Click on it and press the “Save” button. The card is now stored in your postcard book.

This is how you pin your own postcards

Postcards from friends: Of course, you can also save postcards that you received through packages from friends. Just click in your friends list as usual and have the desired gift displayed.

Before opening it, you have the opportunity to click on the pin icon on the right side of the screen. This way, you have secured this card as well, and it will be displayed in the postcard book.

This is how you pin postcards from friends

What does the community say about the postcard book?

In the reddit community, there is hot debate about the new feature. Some trainers, like BroBroBrayBray, are excited about the new function and write: “I am so happy about this feature that has been long overdue. I don’t have to worry about accidentally sending it anymore.” (via reddit.com).

In fact, in the past, some trainers wanted to hold back gifts because of the postcards to have them as a nice memory. JULTAR also reports that he accidentally sent such a package, although he wanted to keep it (via reddit.com).

Thanks to the function in the postcard book, this can no longer happen, as the image can be saved. Particularly positively mentioned on reddit is also the possibility to favorite specific postcards and to like your favorite picture of this stop (via reddit.com).

Criticism of the postcard book

However, the postcard book has received some criticism. The trainer FatalisticFeline-47 has listed a number of things that bother him about this new feature. Among other things, he lists the following points of criticism (via reddit.com):

  • Storage limit of 300 postcards
  • Gifts from a friend can be pinned multiple times, but they are only seen once
  • You cannot pin your own gifts with stickers
  • Postcards no longer contain the texts “Greetings from” and “Trainer name” that are displayed when opening the gift

JumpJumpOver also points out that trainers who do not share their nickname for the postcard book will be listed in the group “Unknown Trainers” (via reddit.com). Furthermore, he notes that the data apparently is not saved in the game, as there was a delay of a few seconds when opening his postcard book until the cards were displayed.

Dependent_Chemist would like to be able to browse other postcard books as well (via reddit.com). Whether Niantic will respond to this wish and change one or the other function of the postcard book remains to be seen.

What do you think of the postcard book? Have you already tried the new feature? Would you change anything about it, or do you like it as it is? Feel free to share your opinion on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.

This weekend the next Community Day will take place. We have looked at which monsters and bonuses you can expect for the December Community Day and how to make the most of it.

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

New World plans over 100 server mergers in Europe – German servers are also affected

In the forum, the developers of New World have now provided an overview of future server mergers. Almost 100 servers are affected in Europe alone, including all German ones. We at MeinMMO will show you how the mergers will proceed in the future.

Which servers will be merged? Community Manager Luxendra has posted a list of upcoming server mergers. This list is quite long, which is why we focus on changes to German servers:

  • Vanaheim Nu: The servers Silpium, Ganzir, Aiolio, and Vagon will be integrated into the server Learad.
  • Vanaheim Chi: The servers Panchaia, Nastrond, Gladsheim, and Vaikuntha will be integrated into the server Aaru.
  • Vanaheim Core: The servers Corbenic, Goldenthal, Lesath, Marsic, and Kioram will be integrated into the server Tartarus.
  • Vanaheim Coral: The servers Chryse, Dvaraka, Banoic, Cassipa, and Canis will be integrated into the server Arcturus.
  • Vanaheim Nacht: The server Kurhah will be integrated into the server Lacerta.
  • Vanaheim Rho: The servers Ravenal, Vimur, Thrudheim, and Jansenia will be merged. However, it is unclear who will be the “main server” or if there will even be multiple main servers.
  • Vanaheim Psi: The servers Noatun, Suddene, Nysos, and Nexdorea will be merged. However, it is unclear who will be the “main server” or if there will even be multiple main servers.
  • Vanaheim Luft: The servers Caspak, Altruria, Barsoom, Nericus, Eridanus Luft, and Fomax will be merged. However, it is unclear who will be the “main server” or if there will even be multiple main servers.

So, all German world sets are affected by the changes. Generally, there is only one world set where no changes will be made.

The complete list of adjustments can be found in the New World forum.

When will the mergers take place? This is not yet specified in detail.

However, there will be an in-game notification before the merger occurs. Once this in-game message is present, no more server transfers will be possible. New server mergers are also typically scheduled for Wednesdays.

First mergers have already taken place last week.

New World queue new
At launch, there were often long queues, which is why many new servers were opened. These are now being gradually closed again.

FAQ about server transfers

Why and how are worlds merged? In the forum, the developers explain that merging servers should improve the player experience. Because for many contents like farm trains or territory battles in the endgame, a high player count is necessary.

However, the player count alone should not decide about the merger. In the forum, it is stated:

We evaluate several factors to determine whether a world needs a world merger, including, but not limited to, population density and general world activity. Once we have determined that a world needs to be merged, we compare it with existing worlds in the same world set to find an optimal partner world – during this, we compare elements like faction, playstyle, and language.

The developers also emphasize that worlds from different regions, such as US-West and Europe, will never be linked.

How exactly does such a server merger work? The smaller servers will be integrated into a larger server X. All progress such as level, gold, items, factions, or companies will remain intact.

However, the world will remain in the version that exists on the large server X. This applies to the status of events, expansions of settlements, and ownership of various territories.

Players and companies coming from other servers will therefore first have to conquer the territories.

What do you think about the server mergers? How is it currently on your servers? Feel free to write it in the comments.

Yesterday, a new patch was released in New World that has revamped the endgame. More about it here:

New World: New Update 1.2 significantly overhauls the endgame – patch notes and maintenance

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

FFXIV Endwalker is forgiven, which other MMOs receive a shitstorm

For two weeks, the content of the Endwalker addon from Final Fantasy XIV has been accessible to players, but not playable for everyone. Long queues at login and server errors dampen the fun for fans of Endwalker and impact the mood. However, a real shitstorm is absent.

The situation in brief:

  • Since mid-2021, FFXIV has experienced a strong increase in new players. The MMORPG received a lot of attention from major WoW streamers and YouTubers in the summer, such as Asmongold, Bellular, or Preach, causing a media boom.
  • Back then, queues formed at login and server issues became apparent. The developers were even forced to close an entire data center with 8 servers for new characters because the servers were overcrowded.
  • The problems worsened with the launch of the new addon Endwalker. Queues reached into the thousands, and players were plagued by login errors 2002 and 4004 that threw them back to the end of the queue. Creating new characters is virtually impossible.
  • In MMORPGs like New World or Outriders, such server issues have previously caused major shitstorms. The forums and social media were flooded with complaints and negative comments about the state of the servers.

In FFXIV, however, the situation is somewhat contained. While there are various complaint threads and posts about canceled subscriptions in the forums, discussions remain relatively civil. Some users even praise FFXIV for how they are handling the difficult situation.

“I had to cancel the subscription because I have a job.”

This is happening in the forums: Since the early access of Endwalker on December 3rd, there has been a split mood in the FFXIV community. On one hand, many fans celebrate the addon for its story and new boss battles. It is so popular that it is among the highest rated games on Metacritic in 2021.

On the other hand, for the past 1.5 weeks, players have been facing extremely long queues at login that dampen their mood.

Those who come home from work in the evening and want to play a round of FFXIV must first spend several hours in the queue, which sometimes exceeds 6,000 players. And it is also not guaranteed that they will be able to enter the game at the end, as errors 2002 and 4004 prevent players from being able to enter and require them to restart.

Consequently, there are numerous complaints about the server issues in the official forums and on reddit. Some players express their dissatisfaction about the long queues and that they cannot play whenever they want or have time.

[…] If I can’t play the game when I have time for it, then I have no choice but to unsub. Maybe when the rush is over, I will be able to play again. It’s very sad. […]

LanierRida in the official forums

The discussions in such threads mainly revolve around whether it is credible that all current problems are related to the semiconductor shortage and that the FFXIV team is struggling to obtain new servers.

What do the developers say? In a statement before the release of Endwalker, director Naoki Yoshida announced that there are problems and that the issues are due to the semiconductor shortage. They cannot obtain enough hardware even if they offer suppliers more money, according to Yoshida.

The semiconductor shortage is a problem that extends beyond the gaming industry. Not only major corporations like Sony and Microsoft are facing issues, but also car manufacturers who have had to reduce their production, or other industrial sectors.

However, some users in the forums doubt the credibility of this explanation. The argument is that Square Enix is a billion-dollar company that has decided to cut costs on servers and is now dealing with the consequences.

[…] The game experience in your game has been absolutely terrible since the early access of Endwalker, and I’m fed up with it. One has to plan their whole day just to get a little playtime. […] The semiconductor shortage is no excuse for not fixing the issues for so long. […]

imeanlikesrsly

It’s not a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it. They are willing to spend more money than originally planned to acquire new servers. However, Square Enix is not a semiconductor manufacturer, nor do they produce server parts. Therefore, they have to buy them. And the current waiting time, according to alternative sources, is 52 to 70 weeks. This is due to global shortages […]

Saefinn

On the other hand, another part of the players defends the FFXIV development team. They argue that the sudden hype surrounding the MMORPG was unexpected. Square couldn’t have been prepared because they couldn’t know that the surge would be much greater than anticipated.

Reassurances outweigh complaints

So it was with other games: While the mood in the FFXIV community is boiling, there has not been a real shitstorm, like those typically seen at launches of other multiplayer games.

In comparison to the angry reactions from other MMOs and multiplayer games, the atmosphere around FFXIV is very mild.

This is the case with FFXIV: In complaint threads, many call for calmness and keeping a cool head. Unsatisfied players are advised to suspend their subscriptions until the situation has stabilized so that they do not continue paying for unsatisfactory service.

One does not receive the service one pays for. Therefore, it is okay to leave the game. And voting with one’s wallet is, as known, more valuable, the users say.

Honestly, if you have problems, then cancel your subscription for a month or two until things calm down. The game is good; it’s just in a situation that nobody likes, and some problems cannot be fixed until SE gets new hardware.

Raiya

Even the largest complaint thread on reddit with over 7,700 upvotes began with the words “Dear SE, can you ensure that we don’t disconnect from the queues?” A very polite request, considering the tone typically found in such situations. Reddit is often the first place where a shitstorm brews.

Especially the latest post about the server status has received a lot of support and positive reactions. In it, director Yoshida announces that players will receive another 14 days of free game time as compensation. Along with the already gifted 7 days, that amounts to a total of 3 weeks of game time that have been given since the early access of Endwalker.

Suspension of sales is insane. It’s hard to believe that a company would even think about it.

anime9102 on reddit

On reddit, many players post memes about how they may have overhyped the MMORPG. Several posts request to stop promoting the “critically acclaimed MMORPG with the free trial version up to level 60.”

Also, on social media, there is relatively calm. The Twitter post about server problems received almost 6,000 upvotes, with most comments being positive or joking about FFXIV and Yoshida suffering from their own success.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content

Communication and a little heart as the key to success

That’s why there’s no shitstorm: One of the reasons that there is currently no shitstorm in the FFXIV forums is that the team has actively communicated these problems long before the actual launch of the addon. Yoshida clearly explained which problems there would be, what they would be due to, and how the team plans to address them.

This transparency, and especially the continuous presence of updates that inform players about the current status of the work, have shaped the expectations of a large part of the community. Players knew exactly what to expect.

Accordingly, while there were negative reactions to the server issues, they were also raised loudly, but they were intercepted by the more moderate part of the community. In the forums and on social media, one often sees how upset players are being told to take a deep breath.

Another reason is that the FFXIV team has built a lot of goodwill with its community since the reboot of FFXIV 1.0.

  • On the one hand, this is again due to clear communication. Whenever problems arose in the past, Yoshida spoke up and explained transparently why the team made certain decisions.
  • On the other hand, FFXIV has often listened to the wishes of the community. For example, jobs such as Samurai, Red Mage, and Dancer were added in new addons because they were highly requested. The introduction of male Viera as a playable race was very celebrated.

With the current server issues, it adds that 21 days of free game time is a considerable amount and is perceived by many players as a generous gift and the right course of action.

Furthermore, many FFXIV players appreciate that developers behave warmly during their appearances in interviews or at fan festivals.

  • The writer of the story of Shadowbringers and Endwalker, Natsuko Ishikawa, broke down in tears during PAX West when she received a huge applause from the audience.
  • The composer of FFXIV, Masayoshi Soken, moved the community to tears and received thousands of love declarations when he spoke on stage at the digital fan festival in 2021 about his cancer diagnosis.
  • Director Yoshida himself has been praised by both FFXIV players and many from the WoW community for asking about his mother’s health during an interview with Asmongold .
  • The Localization Lead Michael Christopher Koji Fox gained significant popularity during the 1.0 version because he communicated openly with players in the forums and shared small lore secrets with them.
ffxiv soken composer cancer
The composer Masayoshi Soken is very popular in the community for his music and cheerful demeanor.

Thus, on the one hand, there is a trusting relationship that the developers are putting a lot of effort into finding solutions. And on the other hand, there is a certain personal sympathy towards individual people from the development team that fosters a fundamentally positive atmosphere.

What’s next: In his latest post about the server status, Yoshida confirmed that the schedule for patch releases will continue despite the problems.

On December 21, patch 6.01 will be released, introducing the normal mode of the new raid Pandaemonium. Players will farm the anticipated 4 bosses to obtain new gear and further increase their item level.

On January 4, the epic version of the raid will be released, along with several new gear sets, recipes for crafters, and the fun dungeon Euphoratron.

At the same time, work is being done on a new data center and new servers for all regions. Especially Europe and North America are expected to receive particularly extensive additions.

However, Yoshida did not specify when these additions will come. “We hope to present some sort of roadmap by the end of January 2022,” said the director.

And how about you? What is your mood and the mood of the people in your guilds? Are they annoyed and angry? Or are they calling for calm? Let us know in the comments how you view the server issues of FFXIV.

Play Final Fantasy XIV if you want to treat yourself to something nice.

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

You can now buy a PS5 at Otto – New drop sold out

Have you been trying to buy a PS5 for months? Currently, you have the chance to snag a PS5 from the online retailer Otto. MeinMMO explains what you need to know.

The PS5 console remains in high demand and is still difficult to obtain. The demand is still so high that even Sony can hardly meet the demand for the PS5. Gamers are therefore using every opportunity to buy a PS5. At this current time, you have the chance to buy a PS5 directly from Sony.

Where can you buy a PS5? Currently, you can find various bundles of games and the PS5 console at the online retailer Otto. Some of the bundles are already sold out, but typically more bundles come in throughout the morning.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to buy a PS5, keep an eye on Otto’s shop this morning.

Update: 12/17/2021, 12:25 PM: The second drop has also passed, and all consoles are sold out. If you’re very lucky, there may still be a few consoles available due to cancellations. We continue to wish you good luck if you weren’t successful again.

Update: 12/17/2021, 9:43 AM: There are again PS5 consoles available at Otto today! You can directly access the shop through the following links. If you land on the remote control via the links, that is a measure from Otto. Stay persistent, and you also have a chance to get a PS5.

Otto has also added two more bundles that you couldn’t buy yesterday:

Don’t like the bundles? More bundles are expected to follow throughout the morning. We cannot give you an absolute guarantee for this, as we have no insight into the shop’s data. For better overview, you can also directly check Otto’s main page and bookmark the page. Here you can find all PS5 bundles and offers directly at Otto.

Update: 12/16/2021, 1:11 PM: That’s it for the shipping retailer Otto. Now it seems that all PS5 consoles are gone. However, we will keep you updated if anything should happen.

Update: 12/16/2021, 12:47 PM: Currently, not much is happening at Otto, and there are no consoles available for purchase at this time. However, it is still uncertain whether that’s it for today. So keep an eye on Otto’s shop as a few announced bundles are still missing.

Update 12/16/2021, 11:48 AM: If you haven’t had a chance at Otto yet: You can currently buy a PS5 at MediaMarkt and Saturn! We will present you with all important information in the article. Otherwise, keep an eye on Otto’s shop, as two bundles are still expected.

Update 12/16/2021, 10:30 AM: We have added new bundles with which Otto has expanded its offerings:

Didn’t get a PS5? If you haven’t gotten a PS5, be sure to check our ticker. Here we keep you updated daily and explain how to best get a PS5 and showcase drops related to the coveted console.

Buying a PS5 in December 2021 – Make sure to watch out for these retailers

By now, Sony has also announced colorful side plates for the PS5

If you have already received a PS5 or are still looking for suitable accessories, you will be pleased with Sony’s latest announcement. The manufacturer has now finally introduced colorful side plates.

If you dislike the standard white design of the PS5 and are hiding the console in your closet because of it, you will be able to order colored side plates starting in 2022. MeinMMO has summarized all the important information for you in the following article:

Sony finally presents colorful side plates for the PS5 – Here’s what you need to know

The offers listed here are associated with affiliate links. By purchasing through one of these links, you support MeinMMO: Without affecting the price, we receive a small commission from the provider.

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

WoW fixed the most annoying problem for twinks in Shadowlands

Fresh characters at level 60 only had outdated gear in World of Warcraft . A hotfix has now fixed this issue – and almost completely removed the problem.

With patch 9.1.5, Blizzard has significantly simplified the leveling of characters in World of Warcraft. Many catch-up mechanics ensure that a fresh hero at level 60 is ready for action soon. However, the biggest downside so far has been the missing gear – but this has now been addressed with a hotfix.

What was the problem? A fresh character at level 60 must collect all gear starting from the lowest item level. They first find media through world quests at item level 145 (or slightly higher, depending on equipment). Gear constitutes a large part of a character’s strength. Therefore, one must farm all gear before truly being a useful team member in dungeons, raids, or PvP.

What has WoW changed? “In passing,” Blizzard introduced a new item called “Incense of Infinity”. You can purchase this from the NPC “Au’Dara”. She is located in Oribos on the upper level, right next to the flight master, and costs a mere 500 gold coins.

WoW Incense of Infinity

If a character uses this item, they learn all gear from their current covenant at item level 200.

This is still not the maximum, but most gear at this level already possesses a large part of its power. From there, it is significantly easier to upgrade only the desired gear in Korthia and Torghast or obtain it from dungeons and raids.

What are the requirements? To purchase the item, at least one character on your account must have reached covenant rank 80. Anyone who has played somewhat actively should have accomplished this. The corresponding character can then buy the “Incense of Infinity” and easily send it to all secondary characters. They can use the item even if the character is just freshly level 60 and has chosen a covenant.

Have you already equipped your twinks with the good gear? Or does this item finally provide enough incentive to try out a new character?

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

New multiplayer game fully relies on NFTs, already earns 48 million euros before release

The upcoming economic simulation Legacy fully relies on the use of NFTs and cryptocurrencies. You should even be able to earn money while playing. The concept has already attracted numerous players – enough to generate over 48 million euros before release.

What kind of game is this? In Legacy, you build your own factory along with the necessary infrastructure and design your own products. You compete with other players using these products. By playing, you can hire NPC workers and automate your production.

Roughly, it sounds like the popular construction game Factorio with a strong focus on multiplayer. It is being created by game guru Peter Molyneux, who has previously been responsible for Black & White and Fable.

With your products, you should be able to earn real money in the form of cryptocurrency, the LegacyCoin. This runs on Ethereum’s blockchain, an already established currency. However, you must first purchase a piece of land through so-called NFTs.

Legacy Products
You should design and sell your own products. For this, cryptocurrency serves as the reward.

Where does all the money come from? Land ownership in Legacy is managed through its own shop by publisher Gala Games. There, various “ownership certificates” are available for purchase in different sizes.

Payment is made in cryptocurrency – such as the native coin GALA, BAT, or Ethereum. The current availability as of December 16 looks as follows*:

  • Startup for 0.802 ETH or 2,902.19 euros (2,000/2,000 sold)
  • Enterprise for 1.685 ETH or 6,097.50 euros (1,403/1,500 sold)
  • Firm for 4.584 ETH or 16,588.11 euros (824/850 sold)
  • Corporation for 15.28 ETH or 55,293.69 euros (234/250 sold)
  • Conglomerate for 30.56 ETH or 11,0587.37 euros (60/60 sold)
  • Heart of London for 220.607 ETH or 798,309.84 euros (1/1 sold)

Yes, the most expensive item costs almost 800,000 euros and is already sold. Overall, Legacy totals 13,374.998 ETH or approximately 48,400,062.34 euros from all sales. And that’s before the game is even released, as the release is scheduled for 2022.

*The exact prices fluctuate with the price of Ethereum. We checked them at the time of writing at 19:12 on December 16

Properties belong to players, not the game

What are NFTs? The idea behind NFTs, or “Non-Fungible Tokens,” is that you actually own the items you acquire. Each NFT is unique due to a code and exists only once in the world.

By purchasing, you acquire ownership rights, unlike in most games. When you receive an item there, it still belongs to the publisher. You are only “borrowing” it. We explain in our special how NFTs work:

More on the topic
NFT is the new trend in gaming, companies are worth billions of dollars – But why?
von Schuhmann

Some larger companies have already jumped on the bandwagon. For example, NFTs in Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon sparked controversy.

The name Molyneux also makes many gamers skeptical. Although he is considered a genius who invented the “God Game” genre, he has recently been seen as unreliable. He often promises more than he can deliver (via Kotaku.com).

Games like Artifact attempted something similar but failed in the attempt. Back then, players were supposed to own and trade their game cards, but the game went bankrupt and was shut down after a few months. The re-release, Artifact 2, was also never really a success.

The value itself is largely based on speculation. Those who invest often hope for an increase in value and a profitable exit. Critics see the risk of a bubble popping – and even environmental damage due to energy consumption. There have even been initial fraud cases involving immense sums:

People invest fortunes in virtual NFT apes – Developers cheat them out of €2.3 million

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

New game on Steam mixes Scrabble with Battle Royale – Better than any vocabulary test

There are combinations that you don’t expect. Scrabble and Battle Royale are such a mixture that sounds neither particularly obvious nor logical. Nevertheless, the new game “Babble Royale” on Steam brings real thrills.

What kind of game is this? You can find “Babble Royale” for free on Steam. It has been available since December 15, 2021, and is in Early Access. There aren’t too many reviews yet: Only 35 as of the writing of this article, and 91% of those are positive (via Steam).

However, the game is certainly worth a look. The basic principle is easily explained: A match actually plays out like a game of Scrabble. This means: You have a game board with spaces where you must place words from a limited selection of letters. Up to 16 players can play simultaneously.

Babble Royale
At the beginning of a match, you fly onto the board in a BR style and look for a landing spot

But here comes the Battle Royale aspect into play: Together with all other players, you first jump onto the game board as the letter “A”. You can choose freely where on the field you ultimately land – either in the center or rather on the outskirts. The problem: the so-called “Hot Zone” shrinks from outside to inside over the course of the game, like in genre counterparts Fortnite, Warzone, and others.

Your task is to quickly work your way into the safe area by stringing words together. But caution is advised! Your opponents can kill you by adding their own word to yours. At the same time, you can also try to get your enemies in trouble with creative letter combinations.

To gain an advantage, you can collect power-ups scattered across the field and level up. Then you can carry more letters or receive supplies faster. Because: Your supply of letters is limited and is only replenished after a cooldown.

High-speed word crafting keeps the brain engaged

What makes it appealing? Babble Royale is certainly an unusual mixture, but it is surprisingly entertaining. The “curiosity factor” pulls you in quickly and, thanks to Battle Royale elements like different skins or the letter drop onto the map, brings a smile.

But the game itself keeps you really busy: Anyone who has played Scrabble knows that it’s not always easy to create meaningful words from the jumble of letters in your hand.

Compounding this is the requirement that the words also need to make sense with adjacent tiles. You can’t just lay down words haphazardly; you have to consider what else is already on the board.

Babble Royale
Tactical action under time pressure is required

In Babble Royale, the time factor and the constant threat from other players come into play as well. This adds significant pressure on your thought process but simultaneously creates excitement.

What is an additional hurdle here in Germany: The game is played in English. You really have to get into it under pressure, which is not so easy. While you are still figuring out how the hell to form a logical English word from “G, D, A, A, F,” your opponents have already sent you back to school with quickly fired-off words like “Nog” or “Dip.”

The nice thing is: You at least learn what word you were just eliminated by. The explanation is displayed right away. “Nog” is, by the way, “a wooden block, the size of a brick, built into a wall, as a hold for the nails of woodwork.” In this sense, you might consider Babble Royale as a tough but highly entertaining vocabulary test!

If you want to practice outside of a match, you can do “Combat Training” in the main menu. It looks like this:

Babble Royale Training
In training, you can practice how to attack enemy words

What’s next? On Steam, the current status in Early Access is referred to as “Season Zero.” In the coming months, the game is to be provided with additional content and features. Currently, the game is free to play; however, there is an in-game shop with cosmetics for the letter tiles.

If you have a fondness for quirky games on Steam but don’t want to lay words, then maybe “Super Animal Royale” is for you – a similarly crazy Battle Royale.

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

You can test CoD Vanguard for free for 5 days – The big competitor to Battlefield 2042

In Call of Duty: Vanguard there is an extended “Free Weekend” where you can access the multiplayer shooter for free. Additionally, there are bonuses available if you usually only play in the Battle Royale Warzone.

When is free access available? The “Free Access” to Call of Duty: Vanguard runs from December 16, 7:00 PM to December 21, 7:00 PM German time (via Call of Duty Blog). This allows everyone who hasn’t tried the shooter yet to catch up.

Whether you’re a complete newbie, usually only play Warzone, or you got Battlefield 2042 in the fall and now want to check out the competition: During the Free Access you have 5 days to try out the multiplayer.

You can get your first impression of Vanguard here in the video:

Start video
Everything you need to know about the new Call of Duty: Vanguard – in 2 minutes

Extended Free Weekend in CoD Vanguard with XP Bonuses

What’s included? If you start with the free access in Vanguard, you can access three playlists.

  • The “Free Kills Playlist”, where you can battle on the maps Radar, Das Haus, Hotel Royal, Eagle’s Nest, Numa Numa, and Shipment. The modes “Team Deathmatch”, “Domination”, and “Hardpoint” will be played. Additionally, “Armageddon” and “Shipmas” will follow once the Festive Fervor update is online. You can find everything about the Christmas update in CoD: Vanguard here.
  • The 24/7 Shipmas playlist will also come after the update, allowing you to access the Christmas version of the Shipment map around the clock.
  • The third playlist is called “Champion Hill”, a mode with matches in the form of trio tournaments.

With these playlists, you should get a comprehensive insight into Vanguard. If you want to dive deeper, you can check out:

And even if you already have the game, it’s worth playing at least over the weekend.

These bonuses are available: During the free access period, players can take advantage of various XP bonuses. There are double experience points in the following areas:

  • Player XP
  • Weapon XP
  • Operator XP
  • Clan XP
  • Battle Pass XP

Thus, a few Vanguard rounds can pay off for Warzone players over the weekend – because with the XP from the event, you can also improve your loadouts in the Battle Royale. We show you more leveling tips here.

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

Destiny 2: Update 3.4.0.1 is here – All patch notes and information

Destiny 2 received a new update today, December 16, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Google Stadia. Update 3.4.0.1 includes a hotfix. You can find the key times and information here on MeinMMO.

What you need to know today: Bungie has announced an update for today, Thursday, December 16. This was already prepared for you with a background maintenance yesterday.

To ensure you know exactly when you can play and what changes are happening in the game, MeinMMO will guide you through hotfix 3.4.0.1 and will update this article as soon as something changes.

Maintenance on 16.12. – All Times and Server Downtime

These times are important today:

  • At 5:00 PM German time, maintenance will start on all platforms.
  • From 5:45 PM, the servers will go offline. You will be kicked from all activities, and the downtime will begin.
  • It is expected that the servers will be back online around 6:00 PM, and hotfix 3.4.0.1 will roll out worldwide.
  • Once you have downloaded (and copied) the update, you can play Destiny 2 again.
  • At 7:00 PM, maintenance is planned to end on schedule.
Update History:
5:45 PM – Maintenance starts on time.
6:10 PM – The update is already available for download. It is 244.4 MB in size (PC)
6:30 PM – The servers are back online, so you can log in again.

It is important: Even if you have downloaded the update, there may be connection issues until the maintenance ends around 7:00 PM. You may have to expect queues during login. Also, please note that third-party applications and the official Companion app may not be accessible correctly.

The 6-player activity for the 30th Anniversary “Challenges of Eternity”.

What Changes with Update 3.4.0.1 in Season 15

This is what the hotfix brings today: Bungie has not announced any details about the update in advance. However, it is only a minor fix for known issues.

  • The dungeon “Sog der Habsucht” should have been farmable since the weekly reset on Tuesday. However, players reported that this had not yet been implemented by Bungie. The Bungie Community Manager confirmed on Twitter that this is indeed the case and that the change will come today.
  • Moreover, there was speculation that the drop rate of the sword “The Other Half” might be buggy, as players only very rarely get this weapon to drop. However, nothing was mentioned about this in the patch notes.
  • It seems that there are also more frequent crashes in the “Challenges of Eternity”, preventing players from entering the activity or causing them to disconnect during the activity, followed by a black screen. Unfortunately, Bungie has not yet resolved this known issue in this update.

A link to the official patch notes for update 3.4.0.1 can be found at the end of this article.

Patch Notes for Update 3.4.0.1 in Destiny 2

What’s in the Patch Notes? The comprehensive list of all changes from hotfix 3.4.0.1 will be published by Bungie in the form of patch notes.

Traditionally, the information is released together with the update itself.

Are you enjoying the festive atmosphere and the snow on the Tower right now? What event is actually your favorite? Xur with his galactic pony, the triumph moments of 2021, or the contemplative dawn with Eva Levante?

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

MMORPG classic Neverwinter brings huge update – with adventure zone and grappling hook

The MMORPG classic Neverwinter is receiving a huge update with Dragonbone Vale in January. This not only brings new areas but also a grappling hook and battles against evil cultists. We at MeinMMO summarize.

What is the new update? On January 11, a new and massive update will be released for the MMORPG Neverwinter (on consoles on February 8). It is called Dragonbone Vale and takes you deep into the Sword Mountains to fight the dragon cult.

Since this will be really challenging on your own, the newly formed alliance “Shield of the North” stands by your side, consisting of the Lords’ Alliance, the Emerald Enclave, the Hand of Fate, and the Harpers.

You start the new expansion in an alliance war camp and make further preparations there to delve deeper into the valley and disrupt the rituals of the dragon cult.

You can expect not only completely new mechanics but also four new areas that are thematically adapted to the update. All this is summarized as a new adventure zone where you can really let loose.

What are the new features? At the center of the update “Dragonbone Vale” is the adventure zone and the ongoing fight against the cultists and their corruption. You can look forward to the following innovations:

  • The grappling hook, which allows you to move around more easily
  • Quests in the new adventure zone, where you can actively change the map
  • Heroic encounters in the areas where the corruption is strongest
  • The 4th area will be added in a new update on February 8 (March 8 for consoles) and will already provide new content
The corruption is spreading further and you need to stop it

What is in the adventure zone?

The adventure zone is divided into four map sections, three of which are available right at the start of the update. On these maps, you need to protect supply caravans and master other tasks to help the alliance achieve victory.

In the process, you will constantly fight against the corruption of the dragon cultists, who pose a constant threat in the new adventure zone. Your task is to push back this corruption by completing various tasks and making your way to the heart of the cultists.

The new grappling hook: Exclusively in the adventure zone, you will receive a new tool to make traversing the terrain easier and more fun. The grappling hook helps you overcome large distances and height differences.

These hooks are indestructible and are therefore available to you at all times to be used at specific points. It helps you explore the steep mountains to the last nook.

The new grappling hook is a highlight of the update

Impressive fortresses await you in the new areas

The new adventure zone is divided into four new, large regions where there are various tasks and battles to undertake. The first three areas are available immediately after the update, while the last area will be released on February 8 as part of an additional content update.

For consoles, the additional content update will be released exactly one month later, on March 8.

The Wetzsteindickicht: In the new area Wetzsteindickicht, you will mainly encounter members of the Emerald Enclave, who have established a base in the forested area of the valley.

There, they conduct magical research to push back the cult’s corruption. Together with Etrien Sael, who has offered her help, you join the efforts to restore balance in the thicket.

In this area, you assist the researchers and mages of the enclave. They want to ensure that nature regains control over the corruption in the thicket.

Stillwater: Under the leadership of Sergeant Knox, the Lords’ Alliance commands in Stillwater. They have erected an impressive fortress as a post for the fight against the cult.

From this fortress, you support reconnaissance missions and supply deliveries to the other camps. You prepare to attack the dragon cult’s war camp.

You will assume the warrior and organizational tasks of the alliance when you stand by Sergeant Knox’s side in Stillwater and fight with him and his soldiers.

The alliance fortress in Stillwater

Wyrmbruch: In Wyrmbruch, you find yourself in a dragon graveyard. The valley was once the place where ancient dragons spent their final moments before dying. You can expect lots of cool dragon skeletons.

In the meantime, the place serves as a dig site for the red wizards of Tay, who are collecting dragon bones to support the rituals of the dragon cult.

Your task is to assist the Hand of Fate, led by Celeste, in stopping the experiments of the red wizards and pushing back the corruption while fending off the constant onslaught of undead hordes.

Wyrmbruch looks darker than the other areas

What else is coming?

Scaley Plague Heights: What exactly lies in Scaley Plague Heights is currently uncertain. The fourth map will be added on February 8 with the new content update.

Behind a magical barrier, the dragon cult and the red wizards of Tay are said to be hiding and making preparations. However, what exactly they plan is not yet known to the alliance.

The adventure zone is thus a lively and ever-changing war against the cultists. A similar mechanic was already present in Guild Wars 2 with the Misty Shore, which also generated a lot of enthusiasm.

Are you looking forward to the update in Neverwinter? What is your highlight (and why is it the grappling hook)? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.

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

New Update 1.09 of CoD Vanguard fixes 13 maps and gives you stronger sniper weapons

Call of Duty: Vanguard released its extensive update 1.09 on the evening of December 15th. Included are many fixes for maps, adjustments to weapons, and revisions in the Zombie mode. The patch notes are shown to you by MeinMMO in English.

The World War II CoD Vanguard still suffers from some teething problems even six weeks after the release. With the latest update 1.09, many bugs are to be fixed and broken challenges repaired.

CoD Vanguard: Update 1.09 – Patch Notes

When does the update come? The patch 1.09 is already online.

How large is the update? Although the adjustments are quite extensive, the download remains small. On PlayStation, the update was barely more than 200 MB.

What has changed? The developers split the extensive patch notes into: one part Multiplayer and one part Zombies. We will now proceed similarly:

Multiplayer Adjustments with Update 1.09

What has changed in multiplayer? Many adjustments concern broken challenges that do not count progress correctly. Included are also buffs for sniper attachments and numerous repairs of the multiplayer maps:

Stability and Season Challenges

Weapons

  • The riot shield reliably blocks bullets from the front again
  • ‘Firefight’ blueprint had visual issues
  • Sights now work with the ‘Hunter incentive’ blueprint of the Kar 98k
  • Bolt-action revolvers no longer jump around when reloading
  • Setups with 7-bullet magazines now have bullet reserves that are divisible by 7
  • Talismans are now easier to use and are less buggy
  • Camo challenge of the double-barrel shotgun shows the correct magazine attachment
  • Camo challenges of the STG44 and M1 Garand show correct progress
  • Kills for challenges in Warzone also count in Vanguard now
  • Panzefaust challenge with killstreaks now requires long-range kills

Balancing

  • Bolt-action revolver: Small caliber no longer reduces damage, but has more range loss
  • Gorenko sniper rifle: Standard sight no longer obscures vision when using the bayonet
  • The bayonet together with the perk ‘Melee Range’ no longer has super range
  • Mortar strike is now easier to deploy and the calling device deals more damage
  • Kar 98k and Type 99 – Smaller calibers can now also finish enemies with chest hits
    • We tested the small bullets and recommend trying out the 20-bullet magazine of the Kar 98k. Simple chest hit kills with 20 shots in the magazine are very strong.

Maps

  • Paradise
    • Out-of-map exploits removed
    • Issues with destroyable walls fixed
  • Radar
    • Spawn adjustments to reduce spawning near enemies
    • Render problem removed that showed a lot of fog on the map for some
    • Weirdly blinking textures removed
  • Bocage
    • Bullet penetration fixed for some walls
    • Frag grenade problem fixed that caused damage through walls
  • Red Star
    • Bug fixed where light effects followed the player around the whole map
  • Berlin
    • Distracting and graphically incorrect shadows no longer appear under lights
  • Numa Numa
    • Invisible terrain removed that intercepted bullets
  • Gavutu
    • A wall kept reappearing even though it was already destroyed
  • Demanysk
    • The perks ‘Demolition’ and ‘Tactician’ now work correctly on the map
  • Sub Pens, Castle, Oasis, The House
    • Out-of-map exploits removed

Modes

  • Control is now online as a new mode
  • Champion Hill Duos now runs more stable and does not crash the game anymore
  • The scoreboard and spectator mode now work in Champions Hill

User Interface

  • No more crossplay error when inviting players from other platforms
  • The progress displays for a prestige level up now work correctly
  • Incorrectly displayed prestige icons have been revised

Zombie Adjustments with Update 1.09

The list for adjustments in the zombie mode is also impressive and makes many bugs disappear from the game:

Objectives

  • Purge
    • Better visibility in dark areas for easier collection of control runes
    • The progress bar no longer overlaps with other notifications
    • Professor Krafft now also speaks about completing a purge mission

Alliances

  • Brimstone
    • No longer deals damage when players are down
    • Only deals damage to zombies in the player’s line of sight
  • Dead Accurate
    • Rocket launchers now work correctly with the alliance
  • Swift Vengeance
    • Description changed – only weapon damage is increased by the alliance
    • Knives now work correctly with the alliance

Weapons

  • Weapons from boxes now show the correct weapon model
  • The magazines of weapons from mystery boxes sometimes displayed the magazine incorrectly
  • There were issues with some sights that prevented a player from loading into the match
  • Hits with rocket launchers showed incorrect critical hits

Gameplay

  • The portal missions should now allow you to access other locations more frequently
  • Exploits have been removed that allowed players to shield themselves from zombie damage

Furthermore, there have been some minor adjustments regarding visual issues, such as the display of subtitles, and overall stability should now be better. If you want to take a look at the English patch notes yourself, you can find them here (via sledgehammergames.com).

The substantial list eliminates some annoying bugs from the game. However, there are still some overpowered weapon options and various issues.

Feel free to leave a comment with your impression of the game’s state. Does Vanguard work well for you, or do you have major problems?

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

Fortnite: How to get the 14 gifts for the Winter Festival 2021 – All event information

Today starts the Winter Event in Fortnite with numerous gifts and new features. We from MeinMMO will show you how the Winter Festival 2021 works and what you need to pay attention to in order to collect all 14 gifts.

What is the Winter Festival? In the Winter Festival 2021, Epic Games is generous and rewards the community with a huge amount of free items, skins, and much more. The map will be festively decorated and you can expect a lot of XP.

14 Gifts and a Christmas Cabin

Epic Games has expanded the Winter Event again and has unearthed the winter cabin once more. With this, Sgt. Winter is available to you, who is casually enjoying his drink in his cabin.

He is surrounded by 14 gifts dedicated to you. These are festively wrapped and just waiting to be opened by you.

What items are in the gifts? Since they are all wrapped, you can’t be sure what is hidden inside the gifts, but the packaging on some boxes suggests that at least one of them comes from the Matrix series. There are definitely 14 gifts, but you can only open one per day.

You need to go to the cabin and select one of the gifts located on the left or right side of the house.

Once you have decided on one, you can take a closer look at the gift and shake it to hear what is inside. If you are completely sure of your choice, you can open the gift and claim it as yours.

What else can you do in the cabin? You can join Sgt. Winter and enjoy the campfire. To do this, you need to click on the bearded old man in the cabin and then select the fire next to him. This will grant you a free extreme XP boost daily.

Use this daily during the holidays to push your Battle Pass to the maximum level.

How long does the event last? The event runs from December 16, 2021, to January 6, 2022. You have 22 days to open all the gifts. So if you missed a day, don’t worry, Epic has thought of a big time limit so you won’t miss any of the gifts.

Are there challenges? Yes, there are, and you can earn two additional items. However, these are tied to challenges you need to complete in Fortnite.

  • Snowboard Glider – Complete 7 Winter Festival quests
  • Ice Lama – Complete 10 Winter Festival quests

The quests are simple, each day a new one is revealed. So check your quest tab daily to see which task is next.

What do you think of the Christmas event? Do you think it’s cool that Epic is giving away 14 secret gifts to every player as a way to thank the community? Let us know in the comments!

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