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Today, on November 3rd, 2021, the last raid hour with the Dark-type Pokémon Darkrai takes place in Pokémon GO. We at MeinMMO show you the best counters against this legendary monster and tell you if the short event is worth it.
What kind of event is it? Every Wednesday there is a one-hour raid hour in Pokémon GO. During this time, level 5 raids with legendary monsters appear in almost all gyms. As it was last week, Darkrai will also be the raid boss today, November 3rd, 2021.
When does the raid hour start? The raid hour starts as usual at 6:00 PM local time. You will already see the dark eggs above the gyms that announce the raids. After the start, you have 60 minutes to face Darkrai until the short event ends again at 7:00 PM local time.
Which counters should you use? Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokémon, which makes it particularly weak against Fighting, Bug, and Fairy type attacks. Take advantage of this weakness and use appropriate attackers against the legendary monster. The best counters have been summarized for you with the help of the overview from Pokebattler below (via pokebattler.com):
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| (Shadow) Machamp | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Conkeldurr | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| (Shadow) Hariyama | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Lucario | Counter + Aura Sphere |
| Scizor | Counter + Bullet Punch |
| (Shadow) Granbull | Charm + Play Rough |
| (Shadow) Pinsir | Bug Bite + X-Scissor |
| Zacian | Quick Attack + Play Rough |
| (Shadow) Gardevoir | Charm + Dazzling Gleam |
| (Shadow) Scyther | Fury Cutter + X-Scissor |
Use these Mega Evolutions: In addition to the previously mentioned monsters, your Mega Evolutions also serve as suitable counters against Darkrai:
Further good counters against Darkrai can be found in our counter guide:
How many trainers do you need? With the most effective attackers and a high player level, you can defeat the raid boss with just three players. However, we recommend bringing one or two more trainers. With a group of 5-6 players, the raid becomes a little easier, and you should definitely succeed.
Is there a shiny version of Darkrai? Yes, with a bit of luck, you may encounter a shiny specimen. You can recognize it by its purple body.
Should one participate in the raid hour? Darkrai can be particularly impressive with high attack and stamina values, making it one of the best Dark-type attackers in Pokémon GO. If you still need a strong specimen, you should take advantage of the raid hour today. Even shiny hunters will get their chance during the short event.
What do the next days bring in Pokémon GO? After today’s raid hour, you have until November 5th, 2021, at 10:00 AM local time to battle against Darkrai. After that, the legendary Dark-type Pokémon will no longer be found in the game for the time being.
It will be replaced on Friday directly by three legendary raid bosses: Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. You can encounter them in level 5 raids until November 16th. Additionally, the Festival of Light begins on Friday, bringing you Dedenne. We looked into why trainers love the new Pokémon Dedenne so much.
Will you participate in the raid hour today? Or have you already caught a strong specimen and will skip today? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments here on MeinMMO.
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Before the release of CoD Vanguard on November 5th, Sledgehammer Games listed numerous changes since the beta in a blog post. Now, another new feature has been quietly added to this list, showing that players can be even quieter.
After the Vanguard beta caused mixed feelings in the community, developer Sledgehammer Games reacted. In a comprehensive blog post, summarized by MeinMMO, they presented a variety of changes for the release. It was clear: Almost all adjustments benefit aggressive players.
Now, without major announcements, this blog post (via Sledgehammer Games) has been discreetly expanded with another point. This change could make a significant impact by the time of release.
What is it about? Dead Silence, a field equipment from Modern Warfare and Warzone, is back in CoD: Vanguard. Now it is stronger than ever.
Dead Silence, like the perk Ninja, makes player movements quieter. But unlike Ninja, Dead Silence is not a perk and therefore not active all the time.
After it was already announced that the perk Ninja is making a return, some players thought: Why should I choose Dead Silence now? Why not just choose Ninja and take a different field equipment?
The developers’ solution: Vanguard now not only has Dead Silence and Ninja in the selection, but Dead Silence has also been enhanced with the functionality of the perk Ghost. So, Dead Silence now functions like both Ninja and Ghost, two of the traditionally strongest and most important perks in CoD.
Why this is more important than the late and discreet addition in Sledgehammer Games’ blog suggests, is shown by a look at the professional scene. Because for many CoD veterans, a ‘Call of Duty’ game is only good if Ninja or Dead Silence is present and working well.
Now both are available, once as a perk and once as field equipment. Not only that: Dead Silence is better than ever. This makes loadouts much more flexible and the perk balance more even.
This change will change the meta: Since Ghost and Ninja are blue perks, it was thought: Players must decide whether they want to be permanently quieter with Ninja, or remain undetected on the mini-map with Ghost.
With the changes to Dead Silence, players now get both the effect of Ghost and Ninja. But only for a limited time.
What does that mean? Dead Silence is a field equipment, therefore its abilities are time-limited and have a cooldown. During this limited time, however, you have the effects of two of the strongest perks at once, both of which are blue.
This means you can equip another blue perk. Effectively, for the limited time of the field equipment, you have the effect of 5 perks:
Additionally, Dead Silence could still increase your movement speed and your field-of-view, as currently seen in Warzone and CoD MW.
This is particularly exciting because blue perks are probably the strongest perks in the game. Ghost, Ninja, and Ballistic Vest were among the most important perks in Black Ops Cold War for almost all loadouts. In Vanguard, the equivalent perks are now all blue:
Strong perks are now more relevant: Since one can forgo Ninja or Ghost, the strong other perks in Tier 1 become much more attractive. The perk Reinforced reduces damage from explosives and helps with regeneration, while Survival Training makes you immune to gas and gives you more resistance to flash effects.
The newly announced perk Dauntless could also land in Tier 1. With this perk, you do not lose speed when shot.
What are the implications? All these perks make aggressive, so-called ‘Run&Gun’ gameplay easier. At the same time, campers will have a harder time as they can rely less on sound cues and the mini-map.
Aggressive players can now create even more aggressive loadouts that either take less damage from explosions or better resist gas and stun effects.
Additionally, they can now use Dead Silence to flank opponents quickly and unnoticed, or to escape to a new position after a multi-kill.
Online, many players are very happy about this change. Especially the higher flexibility in loadouts is being praised.
In the Reddit post about this discovery (via Reddit), users express their enthusiasm for the new possibilities:
What do you think? Do you think this is a good solution for loadout variety and perk balance? Or do you think it makes aggression too strong? Let us know in the comments.
Find all further information about the preload and download size of CoD Vanguard before release on MeinMMO.
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Since yesterday, the Iron Banner event has been active in Destiny 2 and there’s literally hot news. In yesterday’s update, Bungie overhauled the Iron Banner armor for Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks, giving them a fiery-cool armor glow.
In the past seasons, the Iron Banner event has increasingly become the norm for Destiny 2 players. Bungie had long only brought back old, revamped armors and weapons. This did not allow for a connection to the prestige of old Iron Banner times. Thus, it was refreshing for players to realize after the first rounds of Iron Banner that their newly earned armor is now literally burning for the Iron Banner.
The change came with the last update: After it was released, Bungie’s community manager confirmed the fiery armor glow of the “Iron Forerunner” armor on Twitter.
A pesky little bug prevented the Iron Forerunner sets from glowing with a bright flame during the first Iron Banner event of the season.
That’s why the armor is so cool: The community finds the new armor glow really fiery. And that can be taken literally. This armor burns for the Iron Banner. Hot flames erupt from your chest.
The players are excited too: An armor that glows like the Trials armor or the Solstice armor is already cool and very popular. But this armor has a realistic flame effect, and that makes it really hot. Player metal-4-life on reddit agrees:
Man, I hope this isn’t just for the banner week, it looks so cool!
The player Charles tweets a photo of the new set and thanks the community manager of Bungie for his now complete hot look.
To get the new glow, you merely need to complete the bounties from Lord Saladin and earn Iron Banner tokens. Afterwards, you can exchange the tokens for weapons and the new “Iron Forerunner” armor pieces from Lord Saladin in the Tower. You need a bit of luck with him until you have the complete set.
Lord Saladin’s tasks consist, as always, of 1 quest “For the Upcoming War” and 4 bounties.
Bungie wants to see your fiery armor: If you’re also burning for the new armor, you have a chance to be featured in Bungie’s upcoming TWAB. All you need to do is upload a screenshot of your burning armor and reply to the tweet from dmg04. You have until Thursday for that.
That’s the catch: Unfortunately, the armor glow is not permanent. The community manager also shared this on Twitter. Your armor only glows during the Iron Banner week. However, players have already requested that the new fiery armor glow should be permanent.
Can the armor be used as an ornament? The new Iron Banner armors can, thanks to transmog, also be converted into ornaments. For this, you need synthetic fabric straps. Ada-1 offers corresponding bounties in the Tower, which you can also complete in the Iron Banner. Per class and season, you can convert up to 10 armor pieces.
However, there are still some issues: A few players have reported problems when converting armor pieces. Apparently, it doesn’t always work correctly as an ornament. The issue is similar to that of the Solstice armor. It also didn’t function properly with transmog. Bungie will need to improve this.
Have you already been able to snag some of the new armor pieces? What do you think of the fiery look, and should Bungie reverse its decision to activate the burning only during the Iron Banner week?
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Battlefield 2042 is currently increasing the number of players per match more than its predecessors. Never before have so many soldiers been able to battle each other on a map. MeinMMO gives you an overview.
How many players can play against each other? Here are some decisive factors. Depending on the mode, the numbers vary, and the platform you play on is also crucial.
In general, Battlefield 2042 offers the highest possible number of players per match. Up to 128 players are possible, allowing 64 against 64 players to compete.
This is only the case on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. According to DICE, the PS4 and Xbox One are technically limited and must make compromises with some other differences in player numbers.
Battlefield 2042 has three major categories and four modes that the multiplayer divides into. This refers to All-Out Warfare, Hazard Zone, and Battlefield Portal.
This is how it looks in All-Out Warfare: All-Out Warfare includes two modes, Breakthrough and Conquest. Here, 128 players per match are possible, older consoles only support a maximum of 64 players.
This is how it looks in Hazard Zone: In the Hazard Zone mode, for example, there are not 128 players per match, but a maximum of 32. This is because the mode is set up more like Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown and there are numerous NPC enemies on the maps. Here you will find a summary of Hazard Zone and how the mode works.
There are also restrictions for older consoles here. Instead of 32 players, only 24 players are possible. The reason lies in another limitation for Xbox One and PS4: The maps are significantly smaller than on PC or the newer consoles.
This is how it looks in Battlefield Portal: Since players in Battlefield Portal can create their own matches and can modify almost everything thanks to numerous tools, 128 players per match are also possible here.
However, this is only valid for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
How was it until now? The recent Battlefield installments were still released for PS4 and Xbox One. Due to technical restrictions, the player counts were limited to a maximum of 64 players per match, meaning teams of 32 against 32 players could compete.
Here’s a brief list:
64 players have been a long tradition. However, compromises have often had to be made with consoles, as they are traditionally technically weaker than modern gaming PCs.
Since the Xbox One and PS4, the numbers have at least leveled out, and the PS5 and Xbox Series can actually achieve 128 players now.
What do you think? Are the player counts okay for you? Or would you have preferred more or fewer?
If you don’t yet know the maps you will be playing on: Here is an overview of all new maps from Battlefield 2042.
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In League of Legends, the best European team, G2, is completely restructuring for 2022. The long-time champion in European LoL will sell its bot lane consisting of the legendary ADC Rekkles and the supporter Mikyx. The new players are reportedly talents from the Regional League.
What’s going on with G2?
This was G2’s previous bot lane: As a carry, G2 had probably the most famous bot laner in European LoL in 2021: Martin “Rekkles” Larsson. The 25-year-old Swede was the face of Fnatic for 5 years and won numerous championships with them.
As a supporter, the 22-year-old Slovenian Mikyx played, who spent nearly 3 years at G2 and was part of the team that won everything in 2019 and 2020.
The Slovenian has made a good name for himself in LoL over the years, although he has often been seen as a bit unstable. People joke about a “coin-flip” player who flips a coin before a match to determine whether he plays exceptionally well or poorly.
These are the reportedly new players: As reported by Dotesports, G2 has played a series of training matches against the “big teams” during the Worlds in Iceland, trying out various players. The selection process is said to have lasted several weeks.
In the end, a new bot lane emerged:
Dotesports reports that the ADC Flakked has apparently managed to establish himself against established competition from Europe. Allegedly, G2 also considered signing the ADC of the Mad Lions Carzzy or the one from Rogue, Hans Sama. But they seem to have decided on Flakked.
Flakked and Targamas are reportedly set to officially join G2 on November 16. It’s still unclear who will play on the top lane and at which teams Rekkles and Mikyx will end up. Both players are reportedly for sale.
At the moment, these transfers are not yet confirmed, but are just rumors. The players will only be able to transfer officially in 2 weeks when the transfer period begins. However, many players have already received permission from their teams to look for new opportunities.
Update 3.11., 16:29: Following new rumors, the German Broken Blade is allegedly in talks for the top lane of G2. He recently played for Schalke, but they sold their spot in the league.
An interesting development is currently taking place in the USA. Although the teams have a lot of money, the players are still pushing onto the market:
LoL: The richest US teams are currently losing their outrageously expensive players
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Horde and Alliance – Finally united? An interview with the WoW director at least suggests “Cross-Faction” play and raises hopes.
This is a topic that has been around for ages and is repeatedly discussed in World of Warcraft. The faction barrier disturbs many players who would like to play with their friends “on the other side.” However, this has not been possible so far. At least for raiding, a solution seems to be slowly coming into sight. Because Game Director Ion Hazzikostas gives hope.
Where did the information come from? From an interview between VentureBeat magazine and World of Warcraft’s Game Director, Ion Hazzikostas. He revealed many details about the current state of development in a lengthy conversation and also addressed some critical questions. One of the topics was the possibility of Horde and Alliance being able to raid together.
What was said? Hazzikostas was asked if “something like cross-faction raiding is now more on the developers’ radar” and gave the following response:
I would say it is more on our radar, yes. That is one of the things we need to solve a lot, how we could approach it and enable it, but in the end, the question is: If Jaina and Thrall can fight side by side in a raid, why can’t Alliance and Horde do that in this raid as well? Especially when we know it would solve many of the social problems players are facing. […]
Accordingly, it seems that the developer team of World of Warcraft is at least seriously considering such an implementation. However, it is also clear that this would involve many adjustments. For example, specific rules would need to be established so that a combined group in PvP in the open world could not exploit.
When could this happen? Since implementation has not yet been confirmed, one should not expect it in the near future. Such large features are usually introduced with the launch of a new expansion or the corresponding “pre-patch”.
If the developers actually want to bring the feature, then the first (realistic) date for that would probably be Patch 10.0, which is the start of the expansion after Shadowlands. And that is likely still two years away.
What do you think about it? Do you want Horde and Alliance to raid together? Or would that ruin the core of WoW?
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As part of the FYNG: Hardware Edition, we want to know what resolution you prefer at a minimum. Is 1080p enough for you, or do you need more?
On the occasion of our Find Your Next Game: Hardware Edition week, we want to know from you: What resolution should it be for you when gaming at a minimum? Are you still gaming on a 1080p display and are satisfied with it? Or do you already have a WQHD or 4K display at home and can’t imagine gaming without these high resolutions anymore?
What resolutions are available? Currently, there are three resolutions that are widely used:
A high resolution has several advantages when gaming: details come out sharper, and the entire image looks crisper. However, for higher resolutions like 2K, WQHD, or 4K, you also need corresponding displays to truly benefit from the higher pixel count.
Vote and let us know what resolution you game with. Discuss with us in the comments which resolution you prefer:
More about FYNG Hardware: We at MeinMMO, together with our colleagues from GameStar and GamePro, present exciting facts and news about hardware. We also introduce you to new products if you need a gift for yourself or someone else for Christmas:
Find Your Next Game Hardware – All articles and streams at a glance
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Just 2.5 years after release, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite must now close. The last weeks of the game are running. We show you what Niantic says about the end of the game.
What’s new? On November 2, Niantic announced that their game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will close on January 31. The game is expected to be removed from app stores in December. In conclusion of the game, there will be a big event that unlocks more rewards and additional bonuses for you.
We will show you everything you need to know about the end of the Pokémon GO successor.
What’s next for Wizards Unite?
How long can you play? You can still play Wizards Unite until January 31, 2022. However, you will not be able to download the game starting December 6. On January 31, the community forum and all social media accounts for the game will also be closed.
What about my in-game currency? Niantic states, “Players will not receive refunds for past purchases unless required by law, but can continue to use their gold and items before the game closes on January 31, 2022. We have planned a number of fun changes to the game for the last few months, so players will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy their remaining gold. We will stop the ability to make in-app purchases on December 6, 2021.”
Looking for alternatives? Check out:
Players are writing: Many people from the community are expressing their sadness about the closure on Twitter. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was released in the summer of 2019 and attracted a fair number of players at launch. Many knew that Niantic had experience with Pokémon GO and were looking forward to the AR game in the Harry Potter universe. There were even features of Wizards Unite that Pokémon GO players envied
This is currently active: Since November 2, an event is running in Wizards Unite that gives you the following bonuses:
What do you think about the closure of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite? Are you still playing actively and now have to stop, or did you stop playing earlier? Let us know your opinion and what you think the reasons for the closure are, here on MeinMMO in the comments.
Niantic continues to support Pokémon GO and recently released Pikmin Bloom, which also strongly resembles the other games from the developers.
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The news about the postponement of the highly anticipated Blizzard titles Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 has caught fans off guard. But what do you think, readers of MeinMMO? Participate in our poll and let us know your opinion about the postponement.
What is the situation regarding Diablo IV and Overwatch 2? In the latest ‘Investor Earnings Call’, Blizzard discussed the status of its upcoming projects. The two highly anticipated projects Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 have been postponed indefinitely.
It is now expected that the earliest release will be in 2023. Hopes of playing a new Blizzard hit in 2022 have thus been completely dashed.
What were the expectations? This is particularly disappointing, as there had recently been many promising updates about the two titles.
For Diablo IV, various heroes and disgusting monsters had already been revealed. Additionally, the developers showed how the gross sound effects in the game were created.
For Overwatch 2, there was strong anticipation of a 2022 release, as according to a report from Blizzard, the upcoming e-sports season is expected to utilize elements from Overwatch 2.
Why is Blizzard postponing the games? Apparently, the development of both titles is still not in a state that justifies a release in the upcoming months. Rather, the postponements are likely necessary to ensure the desired quality of both games.
This is understandably just a weak consolation for many fans. After all the scandals and upheavals at Blizzard, a positive announcement about an upcoming release of a new AAA game would surely have smoothed the waters and sparked new hope.
But perhaps it is overall a good thing that Blizzard is playing it safe with its two major new projects and giving the games more time.
But what do you think, readers of MeinMMO? Do you find the postponement generally acceptable, or can you only shake your head at it? Participate in our embedded survey and let us know your thoughts on the matter.
Feel free to use the comment function and share your thoughts on the matter regarding Blizzard and the postponement of Diablo IV and Overwatch 2.
In addition to the postponement of the two games, Blizzard is also not finding peace otherwise. The recently appointed co-CEO Jen Oneal has already stepped down from her position and has completely left the company Blizzard. You can read the full story about the incident here: Co-CEO of Blizzard leaves – once again it’s only a man in charge
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Activision Blizzard has presented its business report for Q3 2021. The cash shop registers are glowing in games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Hearthstone, and WoW. However, the stock fell by 13% in pre-trading. The reason is apparently the postponement of Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 to 2023.
How is Blizzard doing financially? On November 2, there was an earnings call for Q3 2021 at Activision Blizzard. Financially, it was a good quarter for the company:
This number stands out:
A metric appears in the financial reports that is called “In-Game Net Bookings”, which is the money Activision Blizzard earns through microtransactions made in the game – that is when the customer has already purchased the game.
The figure for Q3 2021 is a whopping $1.198 billion. That is more than half of Activision Blizzard’s total revenue. A lion’s share of the money will come from the free-to-play title Call of Duty: Warzone, but there are also increasing offers in WoW’s cash shop, such as a €25 mount in the shop.
Why did the stock drop anyway? Blizzard’s stock fell by 8% in after-hours trading following the earnings call.
This morning, in pre-trading, it is even cheaper. Compared to the price at market close on Tuesday evening, the stock has now lost about 13% of its value.
This is just a snapshot, however.
The share loss is apparently due to the postponement of Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 to 2023. Originally, the release of both titles was planned for 2022.
Blizzard is chronically suffering from releasing too few new games. This allegedly also causes internal trouble with Activision Blizzard.
Moreover, Jen Oneal, the co-head of Blizzard, will leave the company. She was promoted to the top of the company only a few months ago after J. Allen Brack left the company following a lawsuit over sexism.
We have thoroughly discussed Blizzard’s situation in a podcast:
What else stood out? A major topic in the business report was once again the fight against the apparently rampant and systemic sexism at Activision Blizzard. Here, they have established a catalog of countermeasures:
CEO Bobby Kotick draws consequences from the scandal at Activision Blizzard
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Patch 9.1.5 of World of Warcraft brings a lot that players have been wishing for. We have all the content and novelties here for you.
The content of Patch 9.1 has become stale for many players of World of Warcraft, and there has been eager anticipation for the update 9.1.5. The patch is finally live and has brought many improvements, fulfilling the community’s wishes. This aims to make the time spent in the Shadowlands more pleasant. We will tell you everything that has changed with Patch 9.1.5.
Note: The article will be regularly updated with new information when changes occur in Patch 9.1.5. Currently, it is up to date as of 03.11.2021 – the release date of the patch.
When is the release date? The patch went live on 03.11.2021. You can already play it.
Are there new zones, dungeons, or raids? No. Patch 9.1.5 is a “minor” patch that mainly brings improvements to existing content.
What are the highlights? Factions can be switched without penalty, Legion Timewalking comes along with the Mage Tower, and the AoE cap will be removed again.
Even though there are no particularly large content updates like new raids, dungeons, or areas, there are a few novelties in the form of fresh or rehashed content to keep players entertained.
Timewalking: Legion: Particularly noteworthy here is the Timewalking: Legion, which will run for the first time for 2 weeks and then integrates into the usual rhythm. Unusually this time, the dungeons will also be available in their “Mythic+” version, offering great rewards that you can upgrade with Valor Points. The following dungeons will return with Timewalking:
In the “Mythic+” timewalking, these dungeons will all have their own affixes, separate from the rest of the “Mythic+” system.
Return to the Mage Tower: The Mage Tower from Legion will reopen in Patch 9.1.5 – at least during Timewalking: Legion. There are the familiar challenges for all classes to overcome, but now with new rewards in the form of a set. A special treat awaits Guardian Druids, as they can earn a new skin of the “Bear Form”.
More Timewalking Dungeons: Even though “Timewalking: Legion” is one of the highlights of Patch 9.1.5, work is also being done on other timewalking periods and new content will be added. In total, 9 old dungeons will return in addition to the existing ones and ensure that old instances from Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and others can soon be tackled meaningfully again.
New Character Customizations: A few races can look forward to new options for how their character can look. Especially Nightborne, Lightforged Draenei, and Void Elves will receive additional cosmetic options that you can select at your trusted barber in the future. These include varying ear lengths, new hair colors for Void Elves, different tail lengths for Draenei, and new tattoos for Nightborne.
New Forms for Druids and Night Fae: Followers of the Night Fae covenant can be particularly happy, as they will receive even more soul shapes to choose from. Additionally, there will be “small creature forms,” such as squirrels or Corgis. However, these can only be used in rest areas. Druids are also expected to receive new travel forms, but details are still missing.
Aside from these larger improvements and novelties, there are also a lot of small tweaks and adjustments that are not that significant and may only interest a fraction of players. But due to the abundance, there is likely to be something for every player.
Probably the biggest changes will be made by Blizzard to the covenant system. After nearly a year of criticism, the developers accept the community’s feedback and ensure that switching covenants is possible without issues. This comes with a whole series of further changes:
However, much attention is also being paid to feedback and criticism outside of the covenants. The experience in the dungeons is drastically improved. The AoE cap on many abilities is removed, and the worst affixes are made significantly more bearable.
Furthermore, there are adjustments for actually outdated content that is still visited, for example, to collect transmog or mounts. This includes:
With a new patch, many new balance changes also come into play. While these are not as plentiful in Patch 9.1.5 as players are used to, there is still much to report.
The biggest change is the adjustment of the AoE cap on many abilities of almost all classes. Classes were previously limited to dealing damage to a maximum of 5 targets with one ability, but this cap is now removed or significantly expanded. This means that additional targets will take less damage, but at least all targets will be hit. As a result, all classes are at least somewhat viable in all situations.
Real buffs are given, for example, to the Frost Mage, whose three most important abilities now deal 10% more damage on average.
If you’re interested in all class changes in detail, this article delivers all the information about class adjustments.
Besides that, there are also a few adjustments that do not directly relate to gameplay but are more aimed at fostering a more sociable interaction. In the future, Blizzard will send a warning to all players who have been reported too often, perhaps for spam or offensive language. If the behavior does not improve, there will be consequences. Players who report such incidents will also be informed that their report resulted in a sanction.
In addition to sensible changes to gameplay, there are also a number of decisions that are viewed skeptically by the community. For example, Blizzard is altering some representations of women in the game and even removing an ancient emote.
When will Patch 9.1.5 be released? The patch has already been released, officially on November 3, 2021, in Europe, including Germany. Americans usually got to enjoy the update already on November 2 due to maintenance work and time differences.
What do you think of Patch 9.1.5 and are you looking forward to it again? Or are you rather waiting for the next big update 9.2, which will likely be more extensive?
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Jen Oneal is stepping down from her co-lead position at Blizzard. Responsibility now falls solely on one man, Mike Ybarra.
Just a few weeks ago, J. Allen Brack stepped down as head of Blizzard and was replaced by a new co-lead. Mike Ybarra and Jen Oneal were supposed to lead the company together and ensure that the issues of the past – such as the sexism scandal – do not recur in the future.
Barely 3 months after taking on this job, Jen Oneal is now giving it up. The leadership of Blizzard is now going back to Mike Ybarra.
Where does the info come from? From Jen Oneal herself. She initially reached out to employees and later to everyone. She published a statement on the official Blizzard website, describing her reasons for leaving. She reflects on her past at Blizzard and is confident that Mike Ybarra can handle the task alone.
What else did Oneal say? In her farewell post, she describes that she and Mike Ybarra have done a lot in recent months to make Blizzard a better workplace, so that the company can again be “the creative powerhouse” that has brought millions of players into Azeroth and all the other Blizzard worlds.
She further describes that video games and creating them have been her “lifeblood” and that she has had the fortune to find her passion in being a voice for diversity, equality, and inclusion.
The following is stated:
I wanted you to hear from me personally that I have made the decision to step down from the co-leadership of Blizzard and take on another role before I leave ABK [Activision Blizzard King] at the end of the year. Effective immediately, Mike Ybarra will lead Blizzard. I do this not because I have lost hope for Blizzard, but quite the opposite – I am inspired by the passion of everyone here, who are working wholeheartedly towards meaningful, lasting change.
This energy has inspired me to step out and explore how I can advocate more strongly for the intersection of games and diversity, and I hope to have a larger impact on helping Blizzard (and other studios). While I am not entirely sure what shape that will take, I am excited to embark on this journey.
Blizzard stands behind this decision and supports Oneal by donating 1 million dollars to “Women in Games International”, a non-profit organization that Oneal is also involved with. WIGI advocates for equal opportunities and diversity in the games industry.
Oneal continues, stating that she trusts Ybarra and expects him to make good decisions for Blizzard’s games and work culture – many of which have already been initiated and partially implemented in recent months.
Blizzard’s best days are ahead of us. I truly believe that.
In conclusion, Oneal thanks all employees who have raised their voices in recent months to bring about improvements. That has inspired her to take a different path, where she can still support these efforts.
How the community reacts: The announcement is also hotly discussed in the community. Many initially found it good that Blizzard was led by a man and a woman in the course of restructuring and equal opportunities. However, that the woman is disappearing just under 3 months later raises some eyebrows. It especially seems that the position of Jen Oneal will not be filled – the leadership completely returns to Mike Ybarra.
Some believe it was a “PR stunt” to feign diversity and then quickly revert to the old pattern. Oneal’s words, however, contradict that.
Others just shrug and wonder if Oneal did anything during her time. After all, Ybarra has been heard much more, actively engaging with the community – for instance, during streams where he played World of Warcraft quite ambitiously.
However, others note that good leadership from outside can be difficult to recognize. Just because Oneal was not as much in the public eye does not mean she had nothing to say or that she did not make decisions.
Many view the departure critically: However, there is also a large part of the community that is discussing in the WoW subreddit, who do not believe the reasons for the departure. Mid22 summed up the entire text like this:
Blizzard inspired me so much that I decided to leave the company and distance myself as much as possible.
More than 2,300 upvoted this comment – a sentiment that apparently resonates.
In a slightly different interpretation, Zoupa7, who also received nearly 400 upvotes, expresses:
Lol. My guess is that this whole co-lead thing was basically a competition between the two, and they concluded that Mike is better suited for the role.
In any case, Oneal’s departure is causing confusion in the community. The message being sent right now dampens the excitement and hope that Blizzard would transform for the better. A dampening that also affects Blizzard itself. Amy Dunham, a Blizzard employee who announced her departure just a few hours ago, spoke to PCGamer magazine:
That Jen is leaving Blizzard is tragic. I have complete understanding for her and her decision, and I respect her immensely. She is a world-class leader. She was also the one thing this entire year that made me feel hopeful about the company.
What do you think of this announcement? Logical and understandable? Or strange that Oneal is already leaving?
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One of the most important things in Pokémon GO is a fully functioning game. However, it requires maintenance at regular intervals. Such maintenance has now been announced by Niantic, which is already generating a lot of discussion in the community. We at MeinMMO will show you what has happened.
What is it about? On the evening of November 2, 2021, Niantic announced via their official Twitter account that maintenance work will take place from November 3, 2021, through November 6, 2021.
This announcement has caused quite a stir among trainers, as Niantic further states that there may be disruptions in the game during this period.
What is the reason for the maintenance work? Niantic has only announced in their post that there will be maintenance work. The purpose of this is not revealed.
What do the maintenance works mean for the trainers? As Niantic has communicated, there may be disruptions in the game between November 3 and November 6, 2021. In principle, Pokémon GO should still be accessible during this time.
So if you cannot access the game in the coming days or something does not work properly in the game, the maintenance work could be the reason for it. There will likely be a brief announcement from Niantic on their Twitter account at the start and end of the work.
This announcement has sparked discussions and speculations on social media. The trainers primarily hope for improvements in the game.
These are the reactions on Twitter: Especially on Twitter, trainers provide a whole range of improvement suggestions for the game and tag Niantic in their comments to ensure they get noticed.
User Jacob asks directly under Niantic’s post whether there will be a fix for the strange day shift he has been experiencing for weeks (via twitter.com).
User Hank Barta expresses another wish: “Maybe they will fix Adventure Sync. I walked almost 10 miles today and couldn’t hatch a 10km egg until I restarted PoGo several hours later.” (via twitter.com).
Reactions on reddit: Discussions about the possible reasons for the maintenance work are also lively on reddit. User mrragequit456 speculates: “Maybe this update/maintenance will also change the game’s refresh rate.” (via reddit.com).
Kyoukai hopes that the delay in clicking the evaluation of old Pokémon will be fixed (via reddit.com).
What changes the maintenance work will have for the players remains to be seen at this point. If Niantic makes a public statement about it, you will of course find out from us at MeinMMO.
But the community not only expresses some suggestions on what could be adjusted and improved during the maintenance work on social networks, but also some trainers express their concerns about the upcoming disruptions.
Jakeupinfinity writes: “That’s a long time for server maintenance, but if it makes the game run better and everything is online, then that’s cool. I hope I won’t be excluded from any raids or anything.” (via reddit.com).
Moreover, several trainers express concerns regarding the Light Festival starting on Friday. As Pokecrafter320 points out, the maintenance work coincides with the start of the event.
He already has a suspicion and writes: “This maintenance work coincides with the start of the Light Festival, so I suspect that it will either be extended or something will be changed to accommodate the shorter time.” (via reddit.com).
LocationCompetitive1 summarizes: “The pros and cons of a game that is always running. At least they are informing people this time. Usually, people just start complaining and saying they can’t play.” (via reddit.com).
How severe the disruptions and impairments in the game will actually be remains uncertain at this time. We at MeinMMO will keep you updated on this matter.
What do you think the maintenance work is for? Do you have concerns that you will experience significant disruptions in the game in the coming days? Feel free to share your opinion here in the comments on MeinMMO.
The quests in the game have changed, by the way. We have summarized the new field research for the month of November and show you which ones are worth it.
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The new MMO New World (Steam) announced massive changes to PvP a month after its release. The PvP is intended to be more rewarding overall, and more diversity is desired.
This is what New World says about PvP overall: New World published a long blog post about PvP on Tuesday in our time (via newworld-forum). They started the post with an apology and thanked players for their patience. Lag and exploits had caused issues, with New World especially highlighting the invulnerability exploit.
These are the goals for PvP in New World:
This is what they want to change in Open World PvP: In Open World PvP, New World wants to improve the rewards for “flagging as PvP willing” in the endgame. During the leveling phase, the 10% XP bonus apparently suffices, but not in the endgame.
This is what New World wants to change regarding wars: There are currently no fixed changes. However, they are monitoring the balance. At the moment, defenders reportedly win about 80% of the battles. They are keeping an eye on that.
We discussed the current state of New World on MeinMMO in a podcast:
This is what New World wants to change regarding territories: New World is generally quite satisfied with the territories but plans to make changes to the balance:
Recently, New World faced difficulties with marauding hordes led by a streamer:
New World: Twitch streamer invades server, gets banned – “Puts my livelihood at risk”
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The system requirements for CoD Vanguard are officially announced. The requirements are unlikely to cause concerns for most users, as the shooter runs well even on older hardware.
The release of Call of Duty: Vanguard is approaching, and we now know what hardware you need to play the shooter properly.
Where does the information come from? Activision has officially shared the system requirements for CoD Vanguard with the community. There are classifications for “Minimum”, “Recommended”, “Competitive”, and “Ultra 4K”.
More on the release and contents of Vanguard:
What does minimum requirement mean? Minimum requirement refers to the hardware you need if you want to start the game. However, it does not guarantee that the game runs smoothly at stable 60 FPS.
Minimum means that the game runs on your hardware and does not just produce still images. However, you should not expect to be able to play on maximum settings.
What processor do I need? As a minimum, the game recommends either an Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300.
Basically, we would recommend at least a 4-core processor for gaming, even aside from Vanguard.
What graphics card do I need? For the full version of Vanguard, at least a Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or an AMD Radeon RX 470 is recommended. Both graphics cards are somewhat older, as the GTX 960 has been around since 2015.
Comparable performance in current graphics cards is offered by the GTX 1650, which on paper delivers an average of 10% more performance than the GTX 960. The GTX 1650 is installed in many gaming PCs and also in some gaming laptops.
What are the other requirements? The remaining requirements do not expect a high-end PC: You will need at least 8 GB of RAM for CoD Vanguard, while 12 GB is recommended. 8 GB is now installed in almost every gaming PC, but for long-term gaming, we recommend at least 16 GB of RAM.
| Minimum requirements | Recommended requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X | Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X |
| 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 (2GB), 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon R9 380 | Nvidia Geforce GTX 1070, GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 |
| 45 GB hard drive space | 45 GB hard drive space |
| Windows 10, 64 Bit | Windows 10, 64 Bit |
Competitive:
| CPU | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Graphics card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070/RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700XT (8GB memory) |
| Hard drive space | 61 GB at launch |
| Operating system | Windows 10, 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11, 64 Bit (latest update) |
Ultra 4K:
| CPU | Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Graphics card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080/3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| Hard drive space | 61 GB at launch |
| Operating system | Windows 10, 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11, 64 Bit (latest update) |
So far, MeinMMO author Maik Schneider has been able to play his first sessions in the multiplayer of the new World War shooter and can hardly wait for the release. Because CoD Vanguard brings important changes that many players might enjoy.
Not sure if you want to play Vanguard and whether the World War setting after the Cold War is for you? Here we summarize all the important information about CoD Vanguard’s gameplay and explain what you need to know:
CoD Vanguard: Multiplayer played – What we know now about the gameplay
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Cobalion will be found as the next legendary raid in Pokémon GO. In our counter guide, we show you the best Pokémon against Cobalion.
How long will Cobalion stay? The legendary Pokémon appears on November 5th at 10:00 AM local time. Together with Terrakion and Virizion, Cobalion will dominate Level 5 raids until November 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM local time.
What is Cobalion weak against? The legendary Pokémon is of Steel and Fighting type and is therefore weak against Fire, Fighting, and Ground types.
You should use these Pokémon: Here we show you the 10 best counters that we have summarized for you with the help of the overview from Pokebattler (via pokebattler.com). Make sure your Pokémon know the right moves, as that’s what makes them good counters:
Mega Evolutions: Using Mega Evolutions against Cobalion is also a good option. Focus on the following counters:
How many players do you need? Already 3 players with solid counters are enough to defeat Cobalion. Various Pokémon, like Blaziken or Machamp, are easy to come by, so you shouldn’t have major problems with the raid boss.
How much CP is 100% IV? Cobalion can reach a maximum of 1727 CP from the raid. This is a specimen with 100% IV. If boosted by weather (under snowy or cloudy conditions), it even reaches 2159 CP.
What moves can Cobalion learn? The Pokémon’s attacks are not particularly good. There is no standout:
Sacred Sword is an event move, so it can only be learned with a Premium Charge TM.
Is there a Shiny Cobalion? Yes, you can also encounter a Shiny version of Cobalion with some luck. You can recognize it by its dark blue body and green horns and wings.
Are Cobalion raids worth it? The monster will not play a significant role in the Pokémon GO meta. As a Fighting attacker, it lacks a Fast Move, and as a Steel attacker, it faces too much competition. Metagross and Dialga remain the best attackers of this type.
However, Shiny hunters will fully enjoy Cobalion. So, if you’re looking for a shiny specimen, make sure to take your chance.
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The new Call of Duty: Vanguard releases this week on Friday, November 5th. MeinMMO shows you important innovations of the shooter, info on the release, and wants to know from you: Which innovation are you most excited about?
For over 15 years, a new Call of Duty has been released annually, and in 2021 it is CoD: Vanguard. We show you the most important innovations compared to the predecessor Black Ops Cold War and information on the release of Vanguard.
In a survey, we want to know from you which new or revised feature is your highlight of Vanguard.
When does Vanguard release? The new CoD celebrates its release on November 5th and is playable on Xbox and PlayStation consoles starting at 00:00 and on PC via the Battle.net launcher at 05:00.
Is there a preload? If you pre-order Vanguard, you can download the data package beforehand. Players on consoles can already start the download. On PC, the preload starts today, November 2nd, at 18:00. You can find all the details about the download and the release schedule here:
What modes are in the game? Vanguard comes again with the familiar package of solo, PvP, and co-op content. You can find detailed information about the individual modes here:
In addition, the battle royale Warzone and Vanguard will “merge” at the start of the first season. How the gameplay of Warzone will change in this regard is not yet precisely defined. We have summarized how the battle royale might be played at the end of the year:
To stay fresh and exciting, the developers are continuously working to improve the “next” Call of Duty. For Vanguard, there is a quite respectable list of new or revised features, which we would like to introduce to you briefly:
What happens with the gunsmith? Every primary weapon in Vanguard can be equipped with 10 attachments, allowing for much more customization than in recent CoD titles. Additionally, there are 2 extra attachments with passive bonuses and one attachment for different ammunition types.
What is RICOCHET? The new anti-cheat system is designed to improve the security infrastructure of CoD and protect against hackers and cheaters. Part of the system is also a kernel driver for PC, which will come later and premiere with the transition of Warzone to the Vanguard technology.
What happens with the zombie mode? The first zombie mission of Vanguard is not a typical round-based map but offers you a command center where you unlock more areas as you pass through portals and complete missions in these zones. With each completed mission, the match becomes harder, and you get more opportunities for upgrades and exploration in the command center.
What is the setting? Vanguard returns to the roots of CoD and is set in World War II again. The story begins with the very first modern special forces unit in warfare hunting down a nasty Nazi who is already plotting for a Fourth Reich.
What is combat pacing? For the first time, you can choose how many players you want in your matches across all standard modes. Alongside “Tactical” with the normal team sizes of 6vs6, there are also “Assault” and “Blitz,” which can increase the player count to up to 24vs24.
What happens with the movement? Vanguard aligns itself with the movement of Modern Warfare from 2019 and brings back weapon mounting and tactical sprint. Additionally, there is “Blind Fire” which allows you to shoot from cover. It is a type of mounted hip fire and brings significant extra precision.
What is operator progression? With the new CoD, you not only level up your weapons but also all operators. If you play with certain characters, you unlock exclusive cosmetics and master your favorite operator in the game.
What can be destroyed in the level? It is no comparison with Battlefield, but smaller elements can now be destroyed in multiplayer. Here you can break down a door, there windows can be destroyed, and new sightlines are created that did not exist at the beginning of a match.
How much content is there at launch? The multiplayer is robust compared to its predecessors with a 6vs6 map at launch. You can start on 16 different maps, and by November 17th, the 17th will be added – the Vanguard version of Shipment.
What is “Patrol”? The new mode will be constantly available and will complement standard modes like “Team Deathmatch” or “Domination.” In “Patrol,” you must hold a point that constantly moves across the map.
What happens with killstreaks? The predecessor Black Ops Cold War relied on a scorestreak system, and you could work on your streaks over multiple lives. Vanguard reintroduces killstreaks and if you collect many kills in a row without dying, you receive heavy firepower as a reward.
What happens with Warzone? With the start of Season 1 on December 2nd, Warzone will take over the graphic engine from Vanguard. Additionally, many new weapons will come into the battle royale, and there will be a fresh map in a Pacific style.
We would love to read your opinion on Vanguard in the comments. Do you maybe have another highlight or find the new Call of Duty completely uninteresting? What is your impression of Vanguard compared to Cold War from last year?
If you are still unsure about the purchase, take a look at our checklist for the undecided: CoD Vanguard launches this week: Why should you play it? The quick check
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That in New World, some percentage values are not quite correct and the system behind it does not function perfectly, is unfortunately known. A reddit user has now focused on the value of luck. To prove that luck works, over 1,000 boars had to die.
What is the point of contention? Amazon itself does not currently explain exactly how luck works in the MMORPG. It is a value that is expressed in percentages and that you can have on your equipment.
How exactly these percentage values work has not been completely clear so far. Players were unsure whether one percentage point adds 100 or 1,000 points to the luck value required.
The luck system works similarly to Dungeons & Dragons. So when you loot something, a die with 100,000 sides is thrown. The result is then multiplied by your luck value, giving you the luck you ultimately loot with.
Legendary or rare items have a minimum luck value required to drop. Legendary leather from boars, for example, requires 101,150 luck to end up in your inventory (via nwdb.info).
The point of contention within the community was shifted by a decimal place. Players were unsure how exactly the number behind the percentage values is calculated.
If an item has a drop chance of 10%, does 30% luck raise the drop chance to 40% or to 13%? The reddit user SkyLineOW has set out to clarify this uncertainty (via reddit).
How did the experiment go? SkyLineOW assumes that luck scales with 100 points, thus supporting the 13%-theory, and sets out to prove this. He has chosen the legendary leather that is dropped by boars as his subject.
In total, he has equipment that gives him a bonus of 4,390 luck points. Based on the assumption that you need 101,150 points to get the leather, SkyLineOW calculates a drop chance of 3.24%.
He then kills 571 boars and obtains the coveted legendary leather from 19 of them. This corresponds to a drop chance of 3.33%, which is very close to his predicted result.
More pigs need to die: Although he was nearly certain that his theory was confirmed, he continues the experiment. He acquires equipment with more luck, bringing his total luck points to 9,590.
He recalculates his drop chance for the leather, which should now be 8.44%. After killing 573 boars, he discovers the leather on 43 of them, which corresponds to a chance of 7.5%.
What does the experiment confirm? Since both values fall within the 90% tolerance range, it confirms his theory. One percentage point of luck corresponds to 100 luck points.
At the end of the experiment, he reaffirms his numbers and notes that he has also counted other items. Thus, it should be clear how exactly luck works in New World and that it actually works.
The drop rates are likely far below what the community envisioned with 30% more luck. Until Amazon itself provides an explanation, we must rely on SkyLineOW, as it seems to work.
How does the community react? In the thread, there are further questions and smaller theories. It has been proven how exactly luck behaves in New World, which many players are grateful for.
SkyLineOW unfortunately does not mention how much time his experiment took him, but it must have been several hours. The community on reddit recognizes this and rewards SkyLine with over 4,200 upvotes and 422 comments.
He himself says that he is now 99% sure that his theory is correct. He hopes to have helped people and apologizes to the countless boars that had to die for this.
What do the players say? The fans are grateful to the creator for his time:
What do you think of the experiment? Has a question been clarified for you, or did you already think it works like that? Do you feel sorry for the boars, or does science win here? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
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The release dates of Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 have been postponed again. Here, we show you what Blizzard says about the two big games.
The bad news surrounding Blizzard simply doesn’t stop. Even when focusing solely on the major Blizzard games that are supposed to be released in the coming years, the issues persist.
Blizzard postponed the release dates of Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV to an unknown date.
What was said? In the latest “Investor Earnings Call,” Blizzard revealed some details regarding the future of the company. The discussion focused on the content pipeline, namely the planned content for the upcoming year. It states:
As we have worked with new leadership in Blizzard and the franchises, particularly in some key creative roles, it has become clear that some of the planned Blizzard content for the upcoming year needs more development time to reach its full potential. While we continue to plan to release a significant amount of content next year, we are now planning for a later launch than originally planned for Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV.
Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV were meant to be the next two “big things” from Blizzard, the top releases that millions of fans are waiting for.
The extended waiting time is likely to have negative financial and reputational consequences for Blizzard.
Why were the games postponed? Apparently, they are not satisfied with the current state of the games and cannot meet the targeted release dates. It further states:
These are two of the most eagerly anticipated titles in the industry, and our teams have made significant progress in recent quarters regarding the completion. However, we believe that if we give the teams a bit more time and continue to increase their creative resources to support the games post-launch, it will ensure community satisfaction and interest for many years to come.
Consequently, the upcoming financial year for Blizzard is likely not going to look as good as previously planned. However, they are confident that these decisions are the right ones for the “long-term success of the franchises.”
When are the new dates? Since there have been no confirmed dates for Overwatch 2 or Diablo IV yet, it is difficult to speak of “new” dates. However, both Blizzard and the community had largely assumed that both games would be released sometime in 2022.
The announcement of a postponement now makes it very unlikely that 2022 will still be targeted. Therefore, no one should expect major new titles in the coming year.
What do you think of the postponement? A good thing if it serves the quality of the games? Or are you just frustrated because “Blizzard can’t get it right again”?
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