Palia sounds like the perfect MMO for fans of Animal Crossing – Expected to start Alpha in 2022

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 5 minutes

Palia is a new MMO that mainly focuses on cozy and social aspects. While you can optionally go hunting for animals, your house, your neighbors, and activities like cooking or fishing are the main focus. It is developed by former employees of Blizzard and Riot Games. The first alpha is supposed to start in 2022.

What exactly is Palia? In Palia, you play humans who are a “legendary people” in the game world. At the peak of their creativity, they suddenly disappeared and no one knew why. Now, after thousands of years, humans have suddenly reappeared, and you must create a new home in this unknown world.

Palia offers various activities that you can experience alone or together with other players:

  • There is housing with thousands of different items. Your friends should be able to come over and help you decorate.
  • Activities like fishing, cooking, chopping wood, mining stones, or building your own farm are part of the core content.
  • You can constantly change the appearance of your character and give them cool outfits.
  • You can build friendships and relationships with NPCs in the area.

While Palia is supposed to allow for combat against creatures from the surrounding area, this is meant to be completely optional. The focus is primarily on special hunting quests. Instead of classes, a system of various skills is implemented.

If you want, you can completely forgo fighting. There will be no PvP at all.

A first look at the world of the MMO is provided by this trailer from June:

Start video
Trailer for Palia, one of the most interesting upcoming MMOs

A perfect MMO for fans of Animal Crossing

What content will there be in Palia? The new MMO was first introduced in June 2021. Since then, there have been several interviews and Q&A sessions where the developers have shared more details about Palia:

  • Your houses should be located in real neighborhoods, small or large, allowing you to interact with the same players in your area.
  • When you leave your cities, you enter the so-called Adventure Zones. There, you should be able to explore various areas and biomes, discover secrets, and also go hunting.
  • In the open world, there should be hidden lore items that players can find to learn more about the story.
  • You will be able to eat and drink in the game. This is not mandatory, but it offers advantages and makes cooking more interesting.
  • There will be mini-games while cooking to create a similar experience to the real world. There will also be crafting content where you simply drag items into an interface.
  • Dungeons are planned for the future. How these will look and whether there will be fighting or puzzles has not been revealed.
  • Also planned for the future are “various ways” to present your achievements and collections.
  • You should be able to have fun alone and complete tasks, but Palia still strongly focuses on cooperation with others.
  • Role-playing should be an important part of Palia.
  • There will be custom key bindings.
  • Over time, the world and the story of Palia should continually develop. Even after the release, many updates are planned, as the game aims to engage its fans for “decades.”

What makes Palia so interesting? The basic idea of the MMO is based on the fact that players have a world they can immerse themselves in without too much work or stress. Palia is intended to be a relaxing balance to everyday life.

The developers aim to achieve this through their unique gameplay. Many content, such as cozy housing, fishing, and cooking, as well as interaction with NPCs and other players in the world, immediately remind one of Animal Crossing. And it was indeed the most successful new game in 2020 (via GamesWirtschaft).

Graphically, Palia also settles in a similar world. So, anyone looking for a relaxed MMO with many opportunities for interaction with other players might find their home in Palia.

  • Palia Tavern
  • Palia Kitchen
  • Palia Recipe
  • Palia Pre-Alpha Ingame 2
  • Palia Pre-Alpha Ingame 1

What about monetization? There are currently no details on that. However, the developers are confident that players will be satisfied with the model.

Pre-Alpha for Palia was a success, Closed Alpha expected in 2022

How is Palia developing? In July, the developers announced that they had received investments of 25.3 million euros to advance development. Throughout the year, they have also regularly searched for new developers for the game.

In September, the pre-alpha took place, but with an NDA on it. In the summary of the pre-alpha, the developers wrote that players “caught 78,650 bugs, harvested 76,431 fruits, hunted 128,952 beasts, baked 153 cakes, worked a tremendous amount of land, and identified invaluable system bugs.”

Additionally, it is said that there was a lot of valuable feedback, on which further development will build.

More about new MMOs on MeinMMO:

Who is behind Palia? The studio Singularity 6 was founded by Aidan Karabaich, a former developer at Carbine Studios (WildStar) and Lead Designer at Riot Games (LoL), and Anthony Leung, former Development Director at Riot Games.

On board they have:

  • Evan Hill, Level Designer of The Last of Us Part 2
  • Jeremy Fenske, former Concept Artist of ESO
  • Jon Davis, 10-year programmer at Respawn Entertainment (Call of Duty)
  • Other former developers from Blizzard and Riot Games

According to the developers, not only gameplay is important, but also atmosphere. Accordingly, some first soundtracks have already been shared on Twitter and YouTube.

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What’s next for Palia? The closed alpha for the MMO is expected to start in the first half of 2022. You can already register on the official website (via Palia).

With a bit of luck, you will be selected for the tests and can thus test one of the interesting MMOs for the coming years. However, there is no guaranteed access to the alpha, such as through a founder’s package.

The developers have not yet commented on a possible release date. A full release in 2022 currently seems rather unlikely.

What do you think about Palia? Do you find the MMO exciting? Or does it always have to be combat, dungeons, and PvP for you? Feel free to write it in the comments.

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

Pokémon GO: The 7 best Pokémon you should catch at Community Day

Franzi Korittke Franzi Korittke Reading time 5 minutes

In Pokémon GO will be holding the Community Day in December on December 18 and 19, 2021. This will be huge and will bring you 25 different monsters, some bonuses, and of course, special event attacks again. We at MeinMMO will show you which monsters you should definitely secure.

What kind of event is it? As in every month, there will be a Community Day in Pokémon GO again this December. However, while in other months only one monster is the focus, this event will feature all C-Day Pokémon from the years 2020 and 2021.

Thus, on both event days of the Community Days in December, you will encounter a total of 25 different Pokémon. Each of them can also be evolved and will learn a special event attack in its final evolution. We have looked at which monsters will be available and will show you which ones you should definitely catch.

When does the C-Day take place? The Community Day will take place on December 18 and 19, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time.

7 Pokémon that you should catch at the Community Day

The selection of Pokémon for the Community Day in December is huge. You can encounter Machollo, Roselia, Wablu, Kaumalat, Serpifeu, Dartiri, Evoli, Zwirrlicht, Sheinux, Floink, and Ottaro abundantly in the wild.

In eggs and raids, you’ll also find additional monsters like Glumanda, Hornliu, Abra, Nebulak, Rihorn, Karpador, Porygon, Elekid, Elektek, Magby, Magmar, Samurzel, Plinfa, and Knospi. Evolving the Pokémon from the wild, eggs, or raids will grant the final evolution a special event attack.

Due to the large selection, you should decide in advance which Pokémon you want to catch. Below, we have summarized 7 monsters that are especially worth catching.

Kaumalat

Kaumalat is a dragon and ground Pokémon from the 4th generation. It evolves from Knarksel into Knakrack. Outside of events, Kaumalat is quite rare to find in the wild. Just that is a reason to secure an exemplar.

Moreover, Knakrack is one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO due to its strong stats. During the event, it learns the charge attack Earth Power. In the PvP League, it is also a good candidate in the Master League. So, it’s worth securing a strong Kaumalat. You will find it in the wild on the first event day.

Kaumalat

You will receive Kaumalat as a reward for the Limited Research for the Community Day in December.

Machollo

The fighting Pokémon Machollo comes from the 1st game generation. It evolves from Maschok into Machomei. You can catch it in the wild during the first event day. If you evolve Machollo into Machomei during the C-Day, it will learn the event attack Counter.

You should definitely take this opportunity during the Community Day to secure a strong exemplar because Machomei is one of the strongest fighting Pokémon in the game. You can use this monster excellently in raid battles, and it can also excel in the Super and Hyper League.

Machollo

Sheinux

You should also secure a couple of Sheinux on this day. The electric-type monster from the 4th generation can evolve into Luxio and then into Luxtra. Luxtra will learn the event attack Psychobeizer this weekend.

Outside of the Community Day, Sheinux is not found in the wild. It can occasionally be found in eggs or raids. So, if you missed out on the last C-Day, you now have the chance to secure a strong exemplar. Luxtra is a good electric attacker that you should secure for raids.

Sheinux

Roselia

You should also secure Roserade, the evolution of Roselia, for the Community Day. The monster can score well as both a poison and grass attacker in raids. For this reason, it makes sense to secure a second exemplar here.

And even for the Community Day, Roserade is special. While every other monster only gets one event attack, the grass and poison Pokémon gets Bullet Seed and Weather Ball Fire. In the GO Battle League, Roserade plays a rather subordinate role.

Roselia

Evoli

Evoli should certainly not be missing from this list. It starts with eight different evolutions. For this reason, it is worth catching a few more Evoli.

If you are still looking for a strong attacker for raids, you should focus on Feelinara (Fairy type), Psiana (Psychic type), Folipurba (Grass type), and Glaziola (Ice type). These are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

But the evolution into Nachtara can also be helpful for you. If you often compete in the GO Battle League, you should definitely secure an exemplar for the Super and Hyper League. And Feelinara is also an excellent candidate for PvP battles.

Evoli

Dartiri

Dartiri is a normal and flying-type Pokémon. It comes from the 6th generation and evolves into Dartignis and then into Fiaro. This monster is particularly interesting for trainers who love to compete in the PvP League. There, Fiaro is a strong candidate, especially in the Hyper League. PvPoke also recommends using the event attack Incinerate (via pvpoke.com).

Dartiri

Wablu

And also Altaria, the evolution of Wablu, can shine in PvP battles. Especially in the Super League, it can convince with its event attack Moonblast, which is why you should secure a strong exemplar.

During the first event day, you will find Wablu in the wild. However, to evolve into Altaria, you will need to spend 400 candies. Therefore, it is worth it to catch as many monsters as possible on this day.

Additionally, Altaria has a Mega Evolution that can be greatly utilized in raids or Team GO Rocket fights.

Wablu

More strong monsters

Besides the mentioned Pokémon, there are also more interesting and strong monsters to catch. Impoleon, Garados, Gengar, Simsala, Rihornior, Porygon-Z, and Elevoltek are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO and are therefore excellent for use in raids.

Their corresponding pre-evolutions Plinfa, Karpador, Nebulak, Abra, Rihorn, Porygon, Elekid, or Elektek can be found during the Community Day in raids and in 2 km eggs.

Glumanda and Hornliu could also be interesting for some trainers. Their evolutions Glurak and Bibor have corresponding Mega Evolutions, which make the monsters even stronger. They are also good candidates for the GO Battle League. However, these monsters can only be obtained in raids or eggs.

More about Pokémon GO:

What do you think of the spawns for the Community Day? Which monsters do you absolutely want to secure this weekend? And will you use these specimens more in raids or the PvP League? Feel free to share your opinions and experiences here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange with other trainers.

By the way: Pokémon GO has released a new feature. We show you how the postcard book works and what the trainers think about it.

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

FIFA 22: Winter Wildcards has now started – With strong upgrades

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

In FIFA 22 the next event is coming up. Winter Wildcards is a completely new promo, but what could be hidden behind the name?

When does Winter Wildcards start? The new event started on Friday, December 17, at 7:00 PM. Winter Wildcards replaces the currently ongoing Versus event. The freshly started Icon Swaps will of course continue as usual.

What is Winter Wildcards? Looking at the calendar, Winter Wildcards is set to be this year’s “larger” winter event. Previously, it was the “Futmas” event, which was already replaced by “Freeze” in FIFA 21 . Now we have a new successor.

What kind of event is this? In the Winter Wildcards event, there are various boosts – from stats to skill moves and weak feet to position changes. The first team of the event will be available until December 23 – after that, it will be replaced by the second team.

In addition, there is, as speculated before, another swap event. 24 Wildcard tokens can be earned in Squad Building Challenges and tasks, which can then be exchanged for rewards. However, exchanging will only be possible from December 26.

Now, let us first show you the event cards.

This is the Winter Wildcards Team 1

This is the Winter Wildcards team: The Winter Wildcards Team 1 features some extremely strong cards equipped with various boosts.

For example, Pogba gets a new card with all stats above 80 – and thus joins the Gullit Gang. Neymar is moved to the forward position and has extremely dangerous attacking stats. And then there are various boosts on skill moves and weak feet. 

FIFA 22 Winter Wildcards

You can find the complete list of players from the first team here: 

  • ST: Neymar (93)
  • ZM: Pogba (90)
  • ST: Coman (89 + 4 star weak foot)
  • MS: Fabinho (89 + 4 star on weak foot and skills)
  • ZM: Milinkovic-Savic (88)
  • LAV: Spinazzola (87 + 5 star skill moves)
  • RAV: Nelson Semedo (86)
  • LF: Embara (86)
  • IV: Pau Torres (86)
  • ZM: Taarabt (86 + 5 star skill moves)
  • ST: Embolo (85)
  • IV: Tuanzebe (85)
  • IV: Niakhaté (85)
  • LF: Acheampong (85)
  • RF: Graham (84)

Are you still looking for players to improve your team? Then we will show you 5 strong attackers that are currently too cheap.

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

Destiny 2: Xur today – location and offers on 17.12.

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

Xur will set out again today in Destiny 2 to supply Guardians with special goods from mysterious locations. When he arrives and what good tentacle face brings you on December 17th, you will find out here on MeinMMO.

What happened this week in Destiny 2? Destiny 2 launched the well-known Dawning event fitting for the winter season. With new cosmetic items and the familiar cookie baking, Bungie is luring Guardians back who have taken a break.

Furthermore, the shocking insider report about Bungie has far-reaching consequences. The head of HR is stepping down from her position because of this.

Bungie is reworking the snowballs in the winter event and providing numerous upgrades with the good old Eva. You can now encounter these in certain activities, and with their special effects, they are worth it. We summarized which ones they are and what they can do in another article.

All information about Xur on December 17, 2021 – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia

When does Xur arrive? Xur will go to an unknown location at the daily reset at 6 PM. He will remain there until December 21st at 6 PM, until every Guardian can admire his goods.

After that, he will disappear again for a whole week until the next weekend start.

Where is Xur? This is his location for the weekend

Xur’s position: The good merchant is located in the EDZ in the Twisted Bay.

Xur’s position in the EDZ

Xur’s inventory from December 17 to December 21 – All Exotics at a glance

What does Xur have on offer? As always, Xur will have an exotic weapon and armor for all characters, that is for Warlocks, Hunters, and Titans. Here is his offer:

Weapon:  Graviton Lance – Pulse Rifle for 29 Legendary Shards

Titan:  Unyielding Lion – Leg Armor for 23 Legendary Shards

  • Mobility: +10
  • Resilience: +16
  • Recovery: +6
  • Discipline: +16
  • Intellect: +13
  • Strength: +2
  • Total: 63

Hunter: Galanor’s Pieces – Gauntlets for 23 Legendary Shards

  • Mobility: +14
  • Resilience: +9
  • Recovery: +10
  • Discipline: +8
  • Intellect: +23
  • Strength: +2
  • Total: 66

Warlock: Lunafaction Boots – Leg Armor for 23 Legendary Shards

  • Mobility: +12
  • Resilience: +7
  • Recovery: +15
  • Discipline: +2
  • Intellect: +20
  • Strength: +12
  • Total: 68
This is his inventory for December 17, 2021

Xur always has with him: You will always receive an Exotic Engram for 97 Legendary Shards from Xur, as well as the weekly quest for an Exotic Code.

If you would like a more detailed description, Nexxoss has created a suitable guide to all of Xur’s gear:

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The Trials of Osiris on December 17 – Map, Weapons, and Information

Which map is on for this week? The large and open map “Bannerfall” is back on.

This map is waiting for you – Bannerfall

This is how you get your loot: You will no longer receive your loot in the Trials of Osiris through three, five, and seven wins, but through:

  • Seven victories
  • 50 rounds
  • as well as the notorious flawless run

This is the reward for a flawless run: This time, you will receive the Adept version of “Shayura’s Wrath”. This is an SMG with Void element.

Once you have received your desired weapon, you can focus your Trials engrams specifically on it. Additionally, there are enhancement prisms and ascendant shards. Remember that your reward increases further as soon as you have a complete passage – even if you lost one or two games.

When do the Trials start? The Trials start as usual at the daily reset at 6 PM.

How was the week for you? Have you already pushed Xur’s rank to the maximum? Let us know in the comments what you are planning to do until the Witch Queen!

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

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

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

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

Marko Jevtic Marko Jevtic Reading time 3 minutes

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.

More about Genshin Impact on MeinMMO

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

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

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.

More news about World of Warcraft can be found here:

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.

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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

Kevin Willing Kevin Willing Reading time 2 minutes

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.

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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.

More on the topic:

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

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

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.

  • A Guardian of the Forest
  • An Icy Gunslinger
Two original skins that have not yet been released

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.

You can find more about Fortnite here:

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

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 4 minutes

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:

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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:

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  • 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”.

More about Call of Duty:

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

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

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.

More about Battlefield 2042 on MeinMMO:

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

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

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.

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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.

More on the topic at MeinMMO:

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

Franzi Korittke Franzi Korittke Reading time 4 minutes

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.

More about Pokémon GO:

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

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 3 minutes

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.

More about New World on MeinMMO

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

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 7 minutes

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.

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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

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

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

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

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.

More updates on World of Warcraft can be found here:

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

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

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

  • Legacy City 2
    A city in Legacy
  • Legacy City 1
    A factory with workers
  • Legacy City from above
    A city from above
  • Legacy Gala Games Shop
    The available “certificates” in the shop
Some images of Legacy. You can find a trailer on the official website of Legacy.

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.

More on this topic on MeinMMO:

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

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 4 minutes

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.”

More on Steam at MeinMMO:

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

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

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:

More about CoD Vanguard and Warzone on MeinMMO:

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.