In Japan, the first regional test for the MOBA Pokémon Unite is currently running ahead of the release in July. MeinMMO shows you how you can still participate.
What is this test about? The test is mainly aimed at assessing the server stability of Pokémon Unite. Nevertheless, you can already get a first impression of the gameplay of the Pokémon MOBA. The arena “Eos Island” is available in the test, and you will engage in a 5v5 battle against other players. You can choose from various Pokémon with different characteristics.
How long does the test run? The test phase started on June 24 and runs until Saturday, June 26 at 11:59 PM, which is 4:00 PM our time. We will show you how you can participate.
Participation despite the Japanese network test for Pokémon Unite
What you need for this: First, you need a Japanese Nintendo Online account. To do this, simply select the appropriate region when creating it. In the video from our colleagues at nintendo-connect, you can also see how this works with Japanese and American accounts:
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You also need around 1.4 GB of available storage space on your Switch.
Once you have downloaded the network test, you can now also access it with your German account. You can then select Europe (ヨーロッパ) and Germany (ドイツ) as the region.
Although you will have to navigate a bit through the Japanese menu, you should not have any major problems getting at least a glimpse of the game.
Pokémon Unite releases as a free-to-play game on Switch, Android, and iOS
What is Pokémon Unite actually? It is a variant of the well-known MOBA games, thus there are similarities to titles like League of Legends. You choose from a specific number of Pokémon and engage in teams against each other in arenas.
Each Pokémon has certain characteristics and attacks that must be leveled up and unlocked during the match. Numerous Pokémon can also evolve during the game through level-ups.
When is Pokémon Unite coming out? The release for Nintendo Switch is planned for July. The mobile version for Android and iOS will follow in September.
Will the game cost anything? No. Pokémon Unite will be released as a free-to-play title on the Switch and mobile. There will be an in-game shop where you can buy cosmetic items for real money: In Pokémon Unite players and Pokémon wear cool skins – Here’s what they look like
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Destiny 2 is experiencing server issues on June 25 and must now conduct an unplanned emergency maintenance. What does Bungie say about this?
This is the situation today:
Anyone trying to log into the action MMO Destiny 2 on Friday, June 25 is facing bad luck.
All day Bungie has been struggling with error messages – error codes like BAT, WEASEL, and PORPOISE are annoying the Guardians (via Twitter).
Those who manage to get into the game receive the message “contact Destiny servers” or get kicked out entirely.
Around 1 PM German time, the Destiny developer announced that they need to perform emergency maintenance.
Update 2:39 PM: Bungie has now responded and temporarily ended the emergency maintenance. You can log back in. However, they must continue to investigate the server issues, and players should be prepared for updates about Destiny 2, it says on Twitter:
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When will Destiny 2 be back online? Unfortunately, we do not have any information on that yet. MeinMMO will update this article immediately when Bungie provides new details.
However, it is quite possible that Bungie will resolve the issues quickly (we are keeping our fingers crossed).
Earlier in June, Destiny 2 struggled with server issues. However, only players in Europe were affected back then – this time it seems to affect Guardians all over the world. The last time, no emergency shutdown was necessary either.
This is why the maintenance over the weekend is so frustrating for players
Right now, with the weekend approaching, players of Destiny 2 are very frustrated about the server issues. Under the announcement that they are now temporarily bringing down the servers, complaints are piling up.
Friday is traditionally known as Xur day in Destiny and is the starting point for the Trials of Osiris. But even outside of these two fixed events, many Guardians plan to engage in a raid or a few relaxed strike completions over the weekend. Just everything that players don’t have time for during the week.
Some Guardians are also making fun of all the complaints. They are exaggerating the statements of the annoyed complainers:
Wow Bungie, really? I have 12 kids to take care of […]. I work 110 hours a week and therefore only have 12 minutes to game. And you choose now, when I’m playing, to shut down the servers? Incredible.
Were you looking forward to a relaxed Destiny evening at the start of the weekend and are now expecting the worst? Or do you think that the excitement is unwarranted and Xur will arrive as usual because Bungie will quickly fix the problem? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The big Summer Sale has started on Steam and various games are temporarily on sale. We at MeinMMO present to you 5 MMORPGs that are currently cheaper and that we can recommend.
What kind of sale is this? The Summer Sale 2021 on Steam runs from June 24 to July 8 at 7:00 PM German time. You can get some games cheaper than usual.
What types of games are these? We have selected 5 MMORPGs that are on sale and that we can recommend to you. They mostly have positive reviews on Steam and have all been tested and approved by our MMORPG author Alexander Leitsch.
The list is sorted by the size of the discount. At the end of the list, you will also find more MMORPGs, as well as other online games that are currently discounted.
[toc]
Black Desert – 90% Discount
Type: Sandbox | Developer: Pearl Abyss | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: March 3, 2016 | Model: Buy-to-Play
What kind of game is this? In Black Desert you will find a sandbox MMORPG that offers you a lot of freedoms. You can
level endlessly and farm gear
improve 11 lifeskills, including fishing, hunting, and gathering
build your own network of workers and create production chains to earn gold
Who is it worth it for? If you’re looking for a new theme park MMORPG like WoW or FFXIV, you should stay away from Black Desert. The game places a lot of emphasis on you finding your own content.
However, if you want to dive deep into a world full of economy, trade, and PvP, you should definitely check out Black Desert.
How much does it cost on sale?Black Desert is currently 90% off on Steam. You can get it for €0.99 instead of €9.99. The more expensive packages have been reduced by 50 %.
However, there are always promotions where Black Desert is even available for free. So if you don’t necessarily need a new MMORPG right now, you might want to wait for such a moment.
Type: Sandbox | Developer: Notorious Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: December 30, 2014 (Early Access) | Model: Buy-to-Play
What kind of game is this? Xsyon: Prelude is an apocalyptic fantasy MMORPG where players decide how the world around them develops. Accordingly, the economy and quests are also player-driven.
The game world of the MMORPG is divided into different zones, with the starting areas being excluded from PvP. However, open PvP is possible in other zones.
There are 8 different attributes in the game that characters can be specialized in. There are no fixed classes.
A major focus is on crafting and hunting animals.
Players can change the terrain of Xsyon and build cities.
The colleagues at MassivelyOP took a look at the MMORPG in a video in 2018:
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Who is it worth it for? Xsyon is a sandbox MMORPG and doesn’t hold your hand. It’s also an indie project and visually does not look very high quality.
However, due to the terraforming and the custom player quests, it has unique systems that can be a lot of fun, especially when you organize with other players in a tribe. Nevertheless, Xsyon is overall very grindy.
How much does it cost on sale? You can get Xsyon for €9.23 instead of €27.99.
What kind of game is this? Final Fantasy XIV is a theme park MMORPG from Japan. It has a strong focus on the story, and in the endgame, you will encounter challenging raids and tasks. Highlights include:
A huge game world
Various jobs that can be leveled with one character
A deep crafting system
Challenges in the form of dungeons and raids with different difficulty levels
The base game up to level 60 is now free-to-play, but beyond that, you will need the appropriate expansions and a subscription. However, with the latest expansion Shadowbringers and the upcoming release of Endwalker, there is a lot of content waiting for you.
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Who is it worth it for? Final Fantasy XIV is perfect for fans of a good story, dungeons, and raids, as well as players who enjoy tab-targeting. While the combat system itself is a bit sluggish and not very action-packed, the bosses compensate for it with their mechanics.
Many mechanics within FFXIV are designed to keep a large part of the old content relevant for players, whether through dailies or other types of rewards.
How much does it cost on sale? The standard edition of the latest expansion Shadowbringers costs €13.99 instead of €34.99 on Steam. The Collector’s Edition is available for €19.99 instead of €49.99.
Gloria Victis – 60% Discount
Type: Sandbox | Developer: Black Eye Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: June 9, 2016 (Early Access) | Model: Buy-to-Play
What kind of game is this? Gloria Victis is a medieval MMORPG with a strong focus on realism. Players are not heavily guided but are thrown into the dangerous world and have many freedoms there.
There are PvE content such as group quests, events, and raids
Crafting plays an important role
You develop your heroes based on skills. There are no classes
In terms of player numbers, Gloria Victis is more of a niche MMORPG. On average, there were 361 players online in recent days (via Steamcharts). However, the game is rated positively at 71% with over 4,500 reviews. Moreover, the indie developer Black Eye Games is constantly working to improve the game and provide updates.
YouTuber TheLazyPeon took a closer look at the game in early 2020:
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Who is it worth it for? Anyone looking for a hardcore medieval MMORPG where PvP is possible everywhere should definitely check out Gloria Victis. The action-packed combat system and the sieges of castles are a lot of fun.
How much does it cost on sale? You can get Gloria Victis for €7.99 in the Steam Summer Sale. Normally, you pay €19.99 for the MMORPG.
The Elder Scrolls Online – 60%, but only for the base game
Type: Themepark | Developer: Zenimax Online| Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia | Release Date: April 4, 2014 | Model: Buy-to-Play
What kind of game is this?The Elder Scrolls Online is a theme park MMORPG, but not a classic one. It features a lot of single-player content and allows you to have fun anywhere in the world Tamriel, regardless of your level.
ESO impresses particularly with its unique story and the setting of the game world. There are many iconic places that you already know from the “Elder Scrolls” games, as well as the well-known compass instead of a minimap.
Highlights include the regular updates, of which there is at least one per quarter, the large game world, and the complete voice acting.
YouTuber SchleckiLP took a closer look at ESO in 2021 and made a video about it:
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How much does it cost on sale? In ESO, you can currently save 60% on Steam, but only on the base game. This generally costs only €19.99 and has now been reduced to €7.99.
However, a new expansion Blackwood was just released, which still costs €59.99. However, if you spend €69.99, you will get the base game and the other 4 expansions included.
In 1.6, a new swordsman named Kaedehara Kazuha arrives in Genshin Impact. The official website now has information about the character’s background and abilities. MeinMMO summarizes what to expect.
Who is Kazuha? Kazuha is a wandering samurai from Inazuma. He is described as a particularly powerful swordsman who has fought numerous battles and seems to have had a hard life. Nevertheless, he appears very humble and friendly.
Among his hobbies is reciting poems, and he also enjoys sleeping on warm rocks in the afternoon sun while traveling aimlessly through the lands. With his calm demeanor, he quickly deceives others about his abilities. Even Beidou, the leader of the Crux Fleet, did not recognize this when she took Kazuha into her crew with whom he is now traveling.
Few people know that he is being sought in his homeland of Inazuma. The reason for this is still unknown. So far, all that is known about his backstory is that he hails from the once-famous and large Kaedehara clan, which has now lost its significance and is merely a name.
What is Inazuma? This is a new area that is not yet available in Genshin Impact but will find its way into the game sooner or later. The region is heavily inspired by ancient Japan, as evidenced by its names, characters, and initial concept art.
This is what Kazuha can do: According to miHoYo, Kazuha is a support character who also possesses good attack abilities. He can provide your team with damage bonuses for your elements and has abilities that can help you control groups of enemies.
These are his characteristics:
Weapon: One-Handed Sword
Affiliation: Crux Fleet
Constellation: Acer Palmatum
Elemental Eye: Anemo
These are his abilities:
Normal Attack: He can perform up to five sword strikes.
Heavy Strike: Consumes stamina, performs two quick attacks forward.
Elemental Attack: Chihayaburu
Technique that attracts enemies to Kazuha using wind power and then ejects them. Deals Anemo damage.
Press: Can be used in mid-air.
Press and Hold: Longer charge increases range and elemental damage.
Aerial Attacks: If you use Chihayaburu in the air, you can initiate an attack directly from the jump.
The elemental damage will then be converted to Anemo damage.
Subsequently pulls enemies back towards you.
Kazuha Slash: This is his ultimate ability.
A single strike that creates an Anemo field in the vicinity.
The field causes Anemo damage over time to your enemies.
Elemental damage from the attack can take on the respective element and cause additional damage upon contact with Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, or Electro effects.
Kazuha Banner – Possible Release and How to Get Him
When will Kazuha be in the game? There is no official date yet. However, it is generally assumed that Kazuha’s banner will arrive in Genshin Impact on June 29 when the Klee banner ends. He is one of the 5 major highlights from Update 1.6.
How to obtain the character? New characters are typically available through banners or wishes that cost you primogems. While this can be farmed in the game, it is significantly faster if you acquire creation crystals. However, these can only be obtained through specific actions or can be purchased with real money. This is part of Genshin Impact’s gacha system.
The gacha system is a point of contention in such games and is also compared to gambling. In our FAQ about Genshin Impact’s gacha system, you can learn more about how it works.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
To buy or not to buy the Battle Pass? Many players face this question at the beginning of a new season of Call of Duty: Warzone. MeinMMO explains why it is by no means mandatory and shows who really benefits from purchasing.
What is the Battle Pass all about? The Battle Royale CoD Warzone and the respective, annual main title of the CoD series – currently Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – are continuously supplied with fresh content through free seasons. Part of this is the so-called Battle Pass.
This free pass offers players additional incentives in the form of further rewards – like here with the Battle Pass in Season 4. However, if you purchase the pass, you get more. Many wonder whether they miss out on something by not buying the Battle Pass. Is it really necessary to fully enjoy the season? You will find out here.
All about the Battle Pass for Call of Duty: Warzone
Since Modern Warfare 2019, there is no annual pass and no loot boxes in CoD. Instead, new content such as maps or base weapons are unlocked freely and free of charge for all players through the seasons and via a structured Battle Pass, where rewards can simply be unlocked through playing without a random factor.
Loot boxes are a thing of the past in current CoD titles
The structure of the seasons and the Battle Pass has remained the same since its introduction and is therefore generally representative for all further seasons.
What exactly is included in the Battle Pass? Through the Battle Pass, additional, mostly cosmetic items such as emblems or operator skins can be unlocked in the respective season. But also bonus XP tokens, new base weapons, or blueprints for alternative cosmetic variants of weapons and even CoD Points (premium currency) can be obtained there.
This is how the Battle Pass is structured: The pass offers 100 tiers and is essentially free, but consists of 2 reward branches:
a premium branch for buyers (costs around 10 €). Here, upon purchase, you immediately receive some cosmetics such as new operator skins or XP tokens. In 100 tiers, you can unlock another reward on each tier by leveling up the Battle Pass (simply by collecting XP, i.e., by playing).
and a free branch that offers rewards for all Warzone players – regardless of whether you buy the Battle Pass or not. However, there are not rewards at every one of the 100 tiers on the free reward path. You get less prizes here, but still all gameplay-relevant items, such as new base weapons.
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Here you can check out all the rewards from the Battle Pass of Season 4
There is also a traditional Battle Pass bundle for 2,400 CoD Points (about 24 €), where you get 20 tier skips along with the Battle Pass and can bridge 20 tiers in the Battle Pass and immediately grab the corresponding rewards. Tier skips are paid and cost 150 CoD Points per tier jump.
Interesting for frequent players: If you fully unlock the purchased Battle Pass, you will receive enough CoD Points to finance a Battle Pass for a new season. You won’t have to spend any more money.
You can also buy the Battle Pass later. If you reached the 100 tiers in a season and have not yet bought the Battle Pass – definitely get it. The game will deduct 1,000 CoD Points from you and directly credit the 1,000 points from the pass back to your account (300 points were already obtained from the free reward branch).
What if I play multiple CoD titles? In short: You can currently level the Warzone Battle Pass across 3 games:
in Warzone itself
in CoD Cold War
and in Modern Warfare from 2019
Because the Battle Royale has functioned as a kind of link between the annual major releases since Modern Warfare. However, the seasons focus their content primarily on Warzone and the latest installment, currently Cold War. There is no new content for Modern Warfare – not even through the Battle Pass. However, content from the current Battle Pass can still be unlocked through Modern Warfare and then used in Warzone and, if applicable, also in Black Ops Cold War.
Here are some Battle Pass highlights from the joint Season 4 of Warzone and Cold War
Who benefits from the Battle Pass in CoD Warzone?
Battle Pass in CoD Warzone – To buy or not? This question really depends on how important cosmetics are to you and whether you play a lot or regularly in Warzone or the other CoD titles.
The Battle Pass is by no means a must to fully enjoy a season. All essential content is released either as updates through the season or via the free reward branch of the Battle Pass – such as in the case of new weapons.
If you buy the Battle Pass, it only expands the rewards pool and grants you some XP bonuses, CoD Points, and a lot of cosmetic items – provided you play enough. Because only those who regularly play CoD and invest time can work through the 100 tiers of the Battle Pass by the end of a season. To recoup the cost of the pass, you need to reach level 74 – most casual players are unlikely to achieve that.
Conclusion: If you play a lot and regularly and/or care about additional cosmetic bling-bling for character and weapon customization, then you can buy the Battle Pass with peace of mind and secure access to the premium reward branch. There, you then have the opportunity to unlock various cool and sometimes crazy cosmetics for an additional 10 €, alongside all the free content of the respective season.
However, if you play little or occasionally, then basically you’re not missing anything important apart from the additional cosmetics and can skip the Battle Pass without a guilty conscience. You get all gameplay-relevant content as well – without having to spend extra money.
So yes, you can fully enjoy the seasons and fresh content even without the Battle Pass.
What do you think? Is the Battle Pass in CoD Warzone a must-buy for you? Or have you also had fun in the battle royale without all the extra cosmetics? Let us and other readers of MeinMMO know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Microsoft has officially introduced Windows 11. In addition to design adjustments, there are also improvements aimed specifically at gamers. MeinMMO presents the new features.
Microsoft emphasized how important gamers are at its official Windows event. Windows 11 is said to provide “the best PC gaming experience yet.”
In this context, Microsoft introduced several features aimed specifically at gamers. MeinMMO presents the new functions and explains the pros and cons of these features.
Auto-HDR is supposed to enhance graphics
What is it? Auto HDR is an algorithmic tool designed to provide better representations for older titles that previously did not support high dynamic range (HDR).
What is the advantage? In its simplest implementation, HDR provides games with a wider color gamut with improved contrast ratio and color accuracy. This way, even older games can look prettier and more modern.
What is the disadvantage? The prerequisite for benefiting from Auto HDR is that you own an HDR monitor. Without a corresponding monitor, you cannot benefit from HDR.
The game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in SDR and Auto HDR.
DirectStorage aims to reduce loading times
What is it? DirectStorage is a new application programming interface for data input and output. The interface is designed to allow the graphics card to retrieve data from the hard drive much faster.
What is the advantage? Essentially, DirectStorage means that content can be loaded directly from the GPU, without burdening the processor. This especially reduces loading times for games.
What is the disadvantage? You need the right hardware to benefit from DirectStorage. Microsoft stated that the technology would work on PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives and PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
It should also be noted that DirectStorage is exclusive to Windows 11, so you will need to upgrade if you want to take advantage of the benefits.
Direct integration of Xbox Game Pass in Windows 11
What is it? Windows 11 will already come pre-installed with the Xbox app at launch. This way, you can directly access the Xbox Game Pass and play your games if you have a subscription. The cloud features are also expected to be tightly integrated into Windows 11.
What is the advantage? With the integration of the Game Pass, you have direct access to all the games from the subscription. Some showcased games from E3 are coming directly to the Game Pass, making it worthwhile for people who want to play many games for little money.
What is the disadvantage? Not everyone is happy with pre-installed apps or programs. Additionally, you must subscribe to benefit from the Xbox Game Pass. But if you do it right, you can save a lot of money when signing up for the Game Pass.
Broad hardware support and cloud gaming
What is it? Microsoft stated at the Windows event that it wants to support a wide range of hardware on Windows 11. In addition, they plan to bring “Xbox Cloud Gaming” (formerly xCloud) to the Xbox app on Windows 11 later this year.
What is the advantage? Officially, Xbox Wireless Controllers are compatible with Windows 11, just like keyboards and gaming mice, surround sound headsets, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Supported hardware also includes the official Xbox Wireless Headset.
With the integration of Xbox Cloud Gaming, gaming streaming on the Windows PC will soon be possible without any issues.
Android games are coming to Windows 11
What is it? Microsoft is integrating the Amazon app store into its own store, making Windows 11 interesting for mobile gamers. This way, you can easily install Android apps on your Windows 11 PC.
What is the advantage? Essentially, you no longer need additional programs or emulators like “BlueStacks” to run your Android apps on Windows 11. This would eliminate an intermediate step and make usage easier, especially for those who are hesitant to use emulators.
What is the disadvantage? So far, Microsoft’s presentation has been very general. Therefore, we do not yet know what the minimum requirements will be for running Android apps, as the hardware also needs to support the emulator based on Intel’s Bridge technology.
In a statement, Intel explained to the online magazine TomsHardware that “Intel Bridge” aims to support all x86 platforms, including AMD (via TomsHardware.com).
Thanks to the Amazon app store, you will soon be able to install Android apps on Windows 11.
Tips for Windows 10: If you want to protect yourself against malicious software on Windows 10, we have a tip for you that you should try.
The tip costs you nothing but offers additional protection for your valuable data.
Since players can be temporarily banned in Valorant for leaving a match early, Sydeon felt indeed like she was in a form of hostage situation, as she couldn’t leave the match and was constantly berated.
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Sydeon is thoroughly fed up with such sexist tirades. She also stands against relativizing statements that dismiss it with a shrug saying “Well, that’s just how it is in gaming”:
Furthermore, I want to say that [a saying like] “These are video games, coarse language is normal, and don’t be so sensitive” doesn’t hold. If this [gaming] is culture, then damn well change it!
Indeed, many women in gaming are now so frustrated with such stupid remarks, that they avoid voice chat.
Are there other cases as well? Another example of sexist insults against women in Valorant was recently observed with the streamer Anny. She shared a clip on Twitter where, as soon as she identified herself as a woman in the voice chat, she was already insulted. Among other things, she was showered with hate or was urged to perform sexual acts.
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After massive sexist insults, the streamer has had enough
What happened next? Sydeon was not satisfied with just venting her anger on Twitter. She also reached out to the developers at Riot Games in another tweet, asking them to address the situation. Such trolls make the game an “unsafe place”.
Only 20 minutes after Sydeon’s tweet, Riot employee Joe “SWAGGERNAU7” Lee already reached out for more details:
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The studio Riot Games itself has a controversial history regarding sexism and harassment in the workplace. The situation at the studio had reportedly become so severe that there was an exposé about the work atmosphere at Riot from Kotaku.
As a result, many changes were made at Riot to alter the toxic image of the company. Among other things, a renowned Harvard professor was even commissioned to reform the company and address sexism. This was two years ago, and since then the situation seems to have improved and they take the issues of sexism and harassment seriously.
The Twitch streamer Sydeon just wanted to play a round of Valorant, but after facing massive insults, she felt pretty bad. However, she did not let this get her down, contacted Riot, and went viral on Twitter.
Who is Sydeon? Sydeon, whose real name is Sydney, is a 23-year-old streamer and cosplayer. Since January 2021, Sydeon has been steadily climbing the rankings on Twitch and currently has over 200,000 followers.
Her fans enjoy watching her play games like Minecraft, Among us, or Valorant. She is also known for high-quality cosplays from games like Apex Legends.
What happened? Sydeon actually just wanted to play a cozy round of Valorant in solo queue. But as soon as it became known that she is a woman, she faced sexist insults:
I signed up for a solo queue match. I was basically taken “hostage” after being yelled at and ordered to get back to the kitchen and how dare I even play. I am shaking with anger. I have never been this upset. I get insulted either for being boosted because I play with friends or I get flamed for my damn gender!
Since players can be temporarily banned in Valorant for leaving a match early, Sydeon felt indeed like she was in a form of hostage situation, as she couldn’t leave the match and was constantly berated.
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Sydeon is thoroughly fed up with such sexist tirades. She also stands against relativizing statements that dismiss it with a shrug saying “Well, that’s just how it is in gaming”:
Furthermore, I want to say that [a saying like] “These are video games, coarse language is normal, and don’t be so sensitive” doesn’t hold. If this [gaming] is culture, then damn well change it!
Indeed, many women in gaming are now so frustrated with such stupid remarks, that they avoid voice chat.
Are there other cases as well? Another example of sexist insults against women in Valorant was recently observed with the streamer Anny. She shared a clip on Twitter where, as soon as she identified herself as a woman in the voice chat, she was already insulted. Among other things, she was showered with hate or was urged to perform sexual acts.
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At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
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After massive sexist insults, the streamer has had enough
What happened next? Sydeon was not satisfied with just venting her anger on Twitter. She also reached out to the developers at Riot Games in another tweet, asking them to address the situation. Such trolls make the game an “unsafe place”.
Only 20 minutes after Sydeon’s tweet, Riot employee Joe “SWAGGERNAU7” Lee already reached out for more details:
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The studio Riot Games itself has a controversial history regarding sexism and harassment in the workplace. The situation at the studio had reportedly become so severe that there was an exposé about the work atmosphere at Riot from Kotaku.
As a result, many changes were made at Riot to alter the toxic image of the company. Among other things, a renowned Harvard professor was even commissioned to reform the company and address sexism. This was two years ago, and since then the situation seems to have improved and they take the issues of sexism and harassment seriously.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 wanted to hold a special event for the launch of their shooter. However, the PR agency that organized it took some liberties that ended in a series of racist stereotypes about Arabs and the Middle East.
What kind of event was it? To celebrate the launch of the new military shooter Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, the Polish developers of CI Games hired the US event agency Incredible Adventures to provide a special show for a dozen journalists and influencers.
One morning, they were all loaded into a bus and taken to a kind of boot camp. There, the stereotype of a village from the Middle East was staged, complete with shabby mud huts, broken vehicles on the road, and a table with some rotting meat on it.
According to journalist Eric Switzer from the site “The Gamer“, this was already a harsh grab into the box of racist clichés about the Middle East and the fact that a pro-Trump flag flew over the whole facility didn’t make it any better.
This controversial flag was seen over the facility – Source: The Gamer
This is what the enemies looked like – Source: The Gamer
The “village” – Source: The Gamer
A few pictures from the event, taken by Eric Switzer from The Gamer.
What happened next? During the event, participants were herded through the “village” by war veterans and instructed in various combat techniques. They were given airsoft guns to shoot at actors wearing kaftans and headscarves, making the characteristic battle cries stereotypically associated with Arab jihad fighters.
However, the event made sure that the supposed Arabs were not declared as Arabs, but rather as “bad guys who have a lot of good Americans on their conscience”.
In the end, there was a survival kit that included, among other things, a telescopic baton.
Developers didn’t want Arabs as enemies in the event
How it all ended: Eric Switzer was shocked and disgusted by the event. He wrote an article about how inappropriate and racist the event was and expressed his irritation that some other participants seemed to enjoy it.
Developers and organizers apologize: Nevertheless, his article created waves and the developers soon spoke out. According to CI Games, they had explicitly requested Incredible Adventures to make sure that the actors playing the enemies in the event were dressed like opponents from the game. However, this was rejected by the organizer, who instead brought in the cliché Arabs. Due to the COVID pandemic, no developers were present at the event as they come from Warsaw in Poland.
In the game, according to the developers, great care was taken to avoid depicting enemies in a clichéd manner and clear cultural associations were avoided:
We are making great efforts to ensure that we avoid stereotypes or the negative portrayal of cultures. Respect and tolerance are cornerstones of our corporate culture and we were shocked when we realized that an event intended to be fun and engaging for participants instead caused offense to some attendees.
Also from the PR agency Evolve PR, which planned the event, came an apology upon request from the site Kotaku:
We were not involved in the planning of the physical event itself. We read the story and apologized to Eric as well. Had we known the details, we would not have participated in inviting anyone to the event.
Every Thursday, new playlists launch in Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops Cold War – including the evening of June 24th. However, both CoDs took the opportunity this time to introduce updates with several changes. MeinMMO presents the patch notes.
What’s going on with CoD? The first week of Season 4 is over, and everything is back to normal in Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops Cold War. With the playlist update on the evening of June 24th, the crash event has ended, and the usual rhythm returns.
However, the update on Thursday evening didn’t just adjust the playlists. A few bug fixes and new features were also introduced – such as new rewards in the ranked mode “League Play” of Black Ops Cold War. We have looked at the changes and present them to you in an overview, along with the new playlists in the game.
Warzone fixes map exploits and “Dirt Bike” audio
What has changed in Warzone? If you tried out the crazy Dirt Bike in the first week, you might have noticed – the sound was awful. Somehow a bit too loud, and sometimes the gas sputtered, which could get very annoying. The developers have worked on the audio and write in the patch notes:
Dirt Bike audio has been reduced
Next up is the riot shield. In the right hands, this equipment piece can become a nasty weapon in Warzone, but it’s now a bit less common in matches. The developers state:
The riot shield has been temporarily removed as ground loot – but can still be found in loot boxes
Additionally, some bugs have disappeared from the game. Certain objects on the map apparently had issues with collision – players could exploit somewhat permeable objects to their advantage. The recon binoculars and the “Red Door” fast travel system also had problems:
Collision issues with various objects on the map removed, which players had used for peeking/exploiting/shooting through
Glitch removed that allowed the use of the recon binoculars’ abilities without equipping it
Interaction text of the “Red Doors” was sometimes displayed incorrectly
If you want to take a look at the English patch notes yourself, check out developer Raven (via ravensoftware.com).
CoD Warzone: The current playlist
Battle Royale – Solo / Duo / Trio / Squad
Rebirth Resurgence Quads
Rebirth Resurgence Duos
Plunder Trios
Cold War: Update 1.19 brings new rewards for “League Play”
What has changed in Cold War? In Cold War’s multiplayer, you have access to new modes – in the current playlist and your custom games. Additionally, a 2v2 gunfight tournament is starting again, where you can earn cosmetics by fighting against 15 other teams.
The biggest new feature is earnable cosmetics in the “League Play” mode. Each ladder event now gives you rewards based on your final placement. There are also extra rewards if you achieve 10 wins during an event – depending on your current division. These include charms and stickers.
Completion Ladder Events
Top 25
Top 10
Top 5
Event win
2 Event wins in a row
3 Event wins in a row
6 Event wins in a row
Division Rewards
10 Wins Participant Division
10 Wins Advanced Division
10 Wins Expert Division
10 Wins Elite Division
10 Wins Master Division
If you want to browse the English patch notes yourself, check out developer Treyarch (via treyarch.com).
Call of Duty aims to provide its players with fresh content every week, regularly cycling through the playlists and also making minor adjustments outside of major season updates.
The development studio Solid Clouds has announced a new MMORPG – Starborne: Frontiers. The company includes former developers from EVE Online, one of the most successful space MMOs ever.
What is Starborne Frontiers? This new MMORPG comes from the developers of Starborne: Sovereign Space, an MMORTS. The developers have confirmed the following content for the game:
There will be PvP, PvE, and group content.
You will be able to build your own space base.
There will be more than 12 factions with their own backstories and ideals.
The story behind the world of Starborne is set to be greatly expanded for the MMORPG.
Although it’s set in the same universe as Starborne: Sovereign Space, Frontiers will be a standalone game.
Why is the game exciting? The development team at Solid Clouds consists of true veterans of the sci-fi genre. Three former EVE Online developers are involved in the creation of the Starborne universe, including Hrafnkell Oskarsson, who worked as a lead game designer on EVE Online.
The game offers even more exciting approaches, as the development of the MMORTS Starborne: Sovereign Space is by no means being halted. Since both games are set in the same universe, there will be cross-game events. This can lead to an interesting dynamic.
A first glimpse of the game is provided by the developers’ teaser trailer:
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Starborne aims to meet the needs of sci-fi fans, but developers face challenges
A competitor for EVE Online? According to the developers behind Starborne, the game was born out of sheer frustration that there is no game that does the same thing and can fully meet the needs of players.
With Starborne Sovereign Space, there was an initial attempt to solve this problem. While the game may not have gained widespread popularity, it was very well received within its community (via Massively) and filled a gap that had largely remained open.
Starborne Frontiers is set to further fill this gap and continuously expand an existing universe. An MMORPG fits perfectly into the existing concept.
How has the development of Sovereign Space gone? The MMORTS is the first game from the indie studio Solid Clouds. Development on Sovereign Space has been ongoing for more than six years.
An end is, however, in sight. Although the game only entered an open beta phase last year, a final release of Sovereign Space is still planned for 2021.
When is the new Starborne Frontiers coming out? There is currently no exact date or year from Solid Clouds. An MMORPG usually takes a long time to develop, and since we have only seen an announcement and a short teaser so far, the release of Starborne Frontiers will likely take several more years.
The new MMORPG Lost Ark is coming to the West and at first glance resembles the popular Diablo games. We will show you what similarities and differences exist between the games.
What’s it about: The much-anticipated MMORPG Lost Ark now has a release window for Europe in autumn 2021 and has already undergone its first alpha test. The game has excited many fans of games like Diablo, as the gameplay is very similar to ARPGs at first glance.
But will the MMORPG provide fans of Diablo with a replacement or at least a bridge until the release of Diablo 4? In this article, we will compile the similarities and differences between Lost Ark and the Diablo games so that you can get an idea of it.
Similarities and Differences
While it is clear that Lost Ark belongs to the MMORPG genre, it has several gameplay elements that make it attractive to fans of ARPGs like Diablo or Path of Exile. In this section, you will find the biggest and most important of them.
Perspective and Control
The first and most obvious similarity between Lost Ark and Diablo games is, of course, the camera angle. The MMORPG is played from an isometric perspective, where you look down on your character from above. While you can rotate the camera freely, the angle will only change if you use the zoom function to get a closer look at your character.
Left: Normal perspective in Lost Ark. Right: Zoom on the character.
Furthermore, the control in Lost Ark is very similar to that of Diablo. The character is not moved using WASD like in most modern MMORPGs, but by clicking the mouse buttons. You click the desired spot and your character will move there.
The attack controls are also similar. The normal attack is executed with a mouse click. Abilities are defaulted to the QWER and ASDF keys, while items can be used with the keys 1 to 4. So compared to Diablo, it is offset by one row.
Combat System
The core gameplay of the combat system in Lost Ark is also almost identical to that of Diablo and other isometric ARPGs. It is an action-oriented combat system, where there is no auto-lock-on. You must specifically aim with your skills and position yourself accordingly to hit the enemies around you.
Similar to Diablo 3, each class has its own resource that it must collect or manage when fighting to use skills or unleash strong ultimates. There is no global cooldown for skills like in WoW or FFXIV; instead, each skill has its own cooldown.
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While there aren’t many enemies in individual areas, you will often be overwhelmed by them in instanced content.
Lost Ark will also throw many enemies at you in combat, as is usually the case in Hack’n’Slay games. The hordes of enemies are especially huge in raids, dungeons, and rifts, and you will not infrequently have dozens of monsters on your screen at the same time, making their mass destruction with cool skills all the more satisfying.
Skill System
Another similarity can be found in the tripod skill system of Lost Ark. It fundamentally resembles the skill system of Diablo 3. In D3, each ability can be further customized with one of 6 runes to tailor it to your playstyle or build.
The basic system of adapting and customizing an active skill also exists in a similar form in Lost Ark – but more comprehensive.
Players gain skill points as they level up, which can be assigned to individual active abilities of their class. These points can be spent in the tripod system to customize the skills. You have a greater selection of effects compared to the runes of Diablo 3.
Left in the image is the tripod skill menu. The ability Raid Missile is fully developed here and has three different additional effects. Right in the image are further skills with tripod adjustments (Image source: reddit)
Each normal active ability has 8 passive effects, which are distributed over three levels in the tripod. For each level, you can select one additional effect for your skill. Thus, a fully developed skill in Lost Ark ultimately has three additional effects.
Similar to Diablo 3, these can be pure attack or duration boosts, or they can completely change the skill. For example, a single attack can become a triple attack, or the skill gains a vampiric life-draining effect. So there are many options for different builds.
Loot Spiral and Gear System
One of the most important features of Diablo games that many players love is the cool loot spiral. Like from a piñata, the colorful items drop to the ground when defeating monsters and bosses. You then sift through the heaps of useless stuff for the armor pieces that are stronger than your current ones or fit better to your current build.
This loot spiral also works similarly in Lost Ark. You level up your character, and at the same time, you receive weapons and armor dropped by enemies. Later, at higher levels, you will get armor from raids and dungeons or can farm materials in the endgame to forge the armors or upgrade them to higher levels.
While there is less colorful loot fireworks in the MMORPG than in Diablo, fans of big loot piñatas will still find their pleasure here. There are large world bosses and special treasure caves that really rain items.
Left: Loot pile in Lost Ark. Right: Loot pile in Diablo 3
In addition, Lost Ark also features many different ways to improve your gear a little bit more like in Diablo 3:
You can have the secondary status values rerolled by an NPC, similar to Diablo 3
By socketing runes, you can create or transfer elemental resistances
Engravings on your rings grant them special effects and more
Thus, you land in a spiral designed to continuously improve the gear and become stronger. The potential for min-maxing is very high.
Differences
However, since Lost Ark is clearly not a “1-to-1” Diablo clone, there are also various differences that may deter some Diablo fans from the MMORPG. Here are the biggest and most significant of them.
Setting and Story
The first and also one of the biggest differences is the setting of the MMORPG. Unlike Diablo, we are in Lost Ark not in a dark, brutal medieval setting where blood flows and people are dismembered. Lost Ark rather draws on several different settings and mixes them into a colorful bunch.
Huge pink lotus flowers would be out of place in the dark Diablo setting.
Depending on the class you start with, you will land in a magical elven kingdom, a devastated steampunk city, in an Asian Wuxia setting, or in another environment. These starting areas represent different continents in Lost Ark, which you can explore and all have their own themes.
Lost Ark was created by a Korean developer studio. It thus has a distinct Asian look that translates to the appearance of characters and armors. The outfits are partly revealing or exaggerated in size, like those of the Berserker or Destroyer weapons.
The story also revolves around demons, and there are indeed dark and sinister areas, but it does not reach the brutality of Diablo. Instead, there are too many colorful and cheerful elements in the story and gameplay, such as dances, emotes, and fancy cosmetics.
More information about Lost Ark on MeinMMO can be found here:
Another difference, of course, are the MMORPG elements in Lost Ark. Unlike Diablo games, you will never be completely alone here. In open areas, you will encounter other players. There are also classic MMORPG elements:
A detailed character creator
Raids and dungeons that require a group
Housing
Life skills like resource gathering
A large sailing system where you explore the world’s oceans with your ships
An auction house where you can trade with other players (Diablo 3 had that once, but … we better not talk about that)
World bosses and world events like chaos rifts where large numbers of players gather
Open PvP in certain areas
Housing in Lost Ark
Sailing feature
Photo mode for screenshots
Character creator
Dungeons to be completed in a party
Relationships with NPCs. Yes, even pandas
While it is theoretically possible to play Lost Ark a lot alone without groups of other people, sooner or later it will be necessary to get better gear.
Overall, Lost Ark as an MMORPG offers many more features than the Diablo series or other ARPGs. Some of them, like cosmetics, can be ignored if you don’t care about them; others provide too strong gameplay advantages, and you will miss good bonuses or items if you skip them.
Endgame
The MMORPG elements are especially noticeable in Lost Ark’s endgame, which differs from Diablo. In Diablo 3, players typically farm greater rifts to acquire better gear for their builds. This can be done both in groups and solo.
Additionally, there are seasons in Diablo 3, each with its own theme that brings special effects and gameplay mechanics, such as the ethereal weapons in the upcoming season 24. In each season, a new character is started that must also be leveled from 0 and equipped.
To obtain the best equipment in Lost Ark, you need to participate in the tough raids and chaos dungeons to farm items, armor, and upgrades. You will only be successful there if you are out with a group.
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This is what a 16-man raid in Lost Ark looks like.
The content is instanced and often has its own mechanics. In the Guardian Raid against the boss Necrasena, a giant scorpion, you must chop off its tail with special items to prevent it from executing powerful attacks.
Moreover, there is a daily or weekly cap on endgame content like raids or dungeons. This means you cannot endlessly spam these contents to get the best items as you can only enter them a limited number of times or obtain a certain amount of loot from them.
Have you decided whether you will play Lost Ark based on the similarities and differences? Let us know in the comments and tell us your impression of the MMORPG.
You will also have the chance to test the game yourself during the next beta:
Destiny 2 polishes weapons from the Moon and the Dreaming City with new perks and level caps in Season 14. Everything about the return and why some players complain about it, while others are excited.
What’s coming: To make your arsenal in Destiny 2 a bit more varied, 12 “new” weapons are coming to the action MMO soon. However, the items are not entirely new; they are updated versions of the weapons from the Moon and the Dreaming City – the two DLC locations from 2018 (Forsaken) and 2019 (Shadowkeep).
The 12 weapons come with new perks, which are partially only found on weapons of the ongoing Season 14
All returning weapons have a new and especially an unlimited infusion cap (you can upgrade the weapons endlessly).
You will find the updated weapons exactly at the original loot sources.
MeinMMO clarifies in this article when the new guns are coming, which fresh perks you will find on the classics, and what those weapons are in detail. But why doesn’t the expanded arsenal excite all Guardians?
When are the “new” weapons coming? Bungie is planning a new update for Destiny 2 on July 6. The patch is supposed to include among other things the 12 enhanced weapons (and also fix some issues). Therefore, a visit to the old DLC locations is worthwhile during the ongoing season of the Splicer.
Please note: The indicated new perk is only one of many. It is not exactly clear whether all old perks will return and what other new perks you will find on the guns.
3 weapons lure you to the Dreaming City
These 3 weapons from the Dreaming City will come to Destiny 2 in Season 14
So, those were all 12 weapons to look forward to in the ongoing Season 14. However, some Guardians see a problem with the returns.
This is positive: Some Guardians are excited about the returning weapons. For example, the sniper rifle Dusk Breaker’s Oath has loyal fans, and in the current PvP meta, the 120 hand cannon Sounding Lullaby should be really powerful. Many of the fresh perks on the old veterans are also quite strong and make the weapons interesting again.
According to players, this makes the old DLC locations significantly more attractive since the loot is then on a current level. In other words, everything you find in the Dreaming City or on the Moon can be used everywhere (even in the endgame). This is important since the DLCs can still be purchased afterwards.
What’s being criticized: Other Guardians do not like the reheating of weapons at all. And rightly so, after all, they may have already farmed God Rolls of the guns, which then stayed behind due to weapon sunsetting and now have to be farmed again.
What do you think about the return of the 12 weapons from the Moon and the Dreaming City? Are you excited to hunt beloved weapons with new perks and enjoy revisiting the old locations? Or do you think that this reheating of loot only harms Destiny 2 and that Bungie does not respect players? Tell us in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A few ancient recipes are returning to World of Warcraft. Collectors rejoice, as these items haven’t been available for over 10 years.
Over nearly 16 years, World of Warcraft has changed so much more than any other MMORPG. The game world has been significantly shaken up and revised multiple times. This has also led to the loss of some items over the years because they simply can no longer be obtained. Now Blizzard is bringing back 9 of these “ancient” recipes – and collectors rejoice.
Why were the recipes gone? Many quests and creatures in the game changed with Cataclysm. This also resulted in some rewards being lost in the game data, which could no longer be obtained.
What’s changing? Blizzard has added a few particularly old recipes that were previously unobtainable back to the game. These can be purchased and learned from certain vendors with the upcoming Patch 9.1.
Which recipes are these? The following recipes will soon be available for purchase with Timewalking badges:
Recipe: Greater Arcane Elixir (Alchemy)
Recipe: Haggard Game (Cooking)
Recipe: Large Bear Steak (Cooking)
Blueprint: Ice Deflector (Engineering)
Pattern: Robe of the Winter Night (Tailoring)
Pattern: Stormshroud Shoulders (Leatherworking)
Pattern: Stormshroud Gloves (Leatherworking)
Pattern: Stormshroud Armor (Leatherworking)
The recipes serve no current gameplay purpose. There are just a few transmog items and old recipes in the book for collectors.
A few ancient recipes are returning.
Where can you find these recipes? You can buy them from the Timewalking vendor for Cataclysm. The vendor is located in Orgrimmar (Horde) and Stormwind (Alliance), but only during the Timewalking weeks: Cataclysm. The location will be directly marked on your map. Next time, the vendors will be active from September 22nd to September 28th.
Were the recipes still in the game? Yes. If you obtained and learned the recipes before Cataclysm, you can still craft the items now. Those who just secured the recipes but never learned them could have made a hefty sum of gold. Collectors were willing to pay several tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins for these unobtainable recipes.
However, that may soon change, as at least 9 old recipes will be easily accessible again.
More news about World of Warcraft can be found here:
This is what players are saying: In the WoW subreddit and in the comments on wowhead, many players hope this is just the beginning and that Blizzard will use this method to bring back many lost recipes and items into the game. There are indeed a number of transmog templates that are no longer obtainable due to Cataclysm, but still display in the collection as if they can still be obtained.
Whether this is just a “trial balloon” to gauge how players react to the return of these recipes or a one-time event – we will likely find out in the upcoming patches.
Will you acquire these ancient recipes? Or did you prefer that they were extremely exclusive?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Since E3 2021, we finally know more about the multiplayer of Halo Infinite. MeinMMO summarizes all important information for you about the release, the content, the beta, and the new features that are known so far.
What is Halo Infinite? This is the latest installment in the legendary Halo series. As usual, this shooter consists of a story campaign and a multiplayer component.
The multiplayer aims to deliver the classic online battles that fans of the earlier games love so much.
Developer 343 Industries states on its own website (via halowaypoint.com), they wanted to provide the “essence of Halo”. Some core points are mentioned that have defined Halo for 20 years: “Sandbox-focused, exciting gameplay that offers players a wide variety of weapons, vehicles, and toys […]”.
However, there will be a significant difference in Halo Infinite compared to previous installments.
What changes with Halo Infinite? Unlike previous Halo games, where story and multiplayer were released together as a package, developer 343 Industries is treating both areas separately for the latest installment.
With E3 2021, there was a plethora of new information, including release date and many more details. In this article, however, we will mainly focus on the multiplayer of Halo Infinite and give you an overview. The post will be updated by us at MeinMMO so that you are always up to date.
[toc]
Here you can watch a video overview of the multiplayer:
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When does the multiplayer for Halo Infinite release?
Currently, there is no exact release date, but the multiplayer and story are expected to release in ‘Holiday 2021’. So the shooter will be released sometime between fall and New Year.
Is there a beta?
Yes. There will be at least one beta test for the multiplayer. You can read how to sign up shortly.
For which platforms will the multiplayer be available?
The multiplayer will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and on xCloud, just like the story.
Is Halo Infinite part of the Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, upon release, the shooter will be included in the Game Pass (Day 1 on Xbox Game Pass).
Do you have to buy story and multiplayer separately?
No. While the campaign will be the usual full-price game, the multiplayer will be released as a free-to-play version and will be free for everyone to play.
Does the Halo Infinite multiplayer have crossplay?
Yes, you can play together on all platforms where the multiplayer appears.
Is there cross-save?
Yes. You can take your Spartan across all platforms.
Is there a splitscreen and local LAN feature?
Yes. You can play Halo Infinite in splitscreen on Xbox consoles. Additionally, you can host local games via LAN on PC.
Are there microtransactions?
There will at least not be a classic in-game shop where you can buy items for real money. Halo Infinite will adopt a seasonal model with battle pass.
Everyone should be allowed to play the multiplayer for free
MeinMMO will delve deeper into the points mentioned in the overview.
Free2Play with Crossplay and Cross-Save
Why is the Halo Infinite multiplayer Free2Play? The developers justify Free2Play by saying they want to constantly bring new players to Halo. A major factor is that they are offering the multiplayer as a free-to-play game on all platforms, along with the crossplay feature.
This could bring significantly more players together than before. This is also how they want to attract new players to the Halo universe.
How does it work? You can play Halo Infinite cross-platform on all devices where it is released, that is, on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and on xCloud.
Additionally, you can use your game progress across devices, so you are not limited to a single platform.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Beta
When will the beta take place? Details are not available yet. From the developers’ blog post, it appears that one or possibly several tests will take place over the summer.
How can I participate? You must sign up for the “Halo Insider Program” on the official website (via halowaypoint.com). If you are lucky, you will then have the opportunity to participate in one of the tests.
Customize your personal Spartan
Here is how you can customize your Spartan: In addition to the visual customization of your character, players can choose and modify their own AI.
These AIs will provide information during matches about the team’s status or the current objective and whisper different things in your ear depending on the AI.
The visual modification of your Spartan should be as extensive as it has ever been in any Halo before. Helmets, armor pieces, visors – you will be able to unlock these in numerous variations.
In Halo Infinite, not only individual parts of the armor can be modified. You can also change the body type, and you can even replace limbs with prosthetics.
Here is an overview of the various elements that can apparently be modified:
There is now a greater selection of visual customization options for weapons and vehicles as well.
How will all this be unlocked? According to 343, they pursue a “player-first” mentality. There will be no random elements like loot boxes in unlocking visual customization options. You can earn these things for free and also through seasonal battle passes.
Battle Pass of Halo Infinite does not disappear after purchase
This is how the battle passes work in Halo Infinite: You can buy a battle pass for each season, as one is familiar from other multiplayer shooters. However, unlike other games like Fortnite or CoD Warzone, the battle passes of Halo Infinite do not disappear when the season ends.
Once you have bought the pass, it belongs to you, and you can activate and deactivate it as you wish, thus deciding which battle pass you want to complete at any given time.
Items unlocked through the battle passes are purely cosmetic.
You unlock them through the battle pass; direct purchase is not possible.
Each season has its own theme, which the items are based upon.
Will there also be free items, outside of the battle pass? Yes, there will be various events where you can unlock items for free. As an example, the developers showcase this samurai armor:
The “Hayabusa” samurai armor is a long-time fan favorite
What are these gadgets? You can find various tools on the maps of Halo Infinite that will help you in combat. Some of these may already be familiar to veterans from Halo 3. These include super shields that reduce enemy damage until they are used up. This time, however, you can decide when the shield becomes active.
New tools include the grappling hook. With this, you can swing across the maps or pull weapons towards you. However, you will lose these tools if you die.
This way, you can also take the tools of other opponents and use them against them. These tools are supposed to bring new tactical opportunities to the multiplayer.
Game modes and maps in Halo Infinite
This is what we know so far about maps and modes: No specific multiplayer maps have been presented yet. However, there are already some images and information. Classic arenas are expected to return, where weapons and gadgets can be found at specific points, allowing battles in relatively confined spaces.
But there will also be some large maps in the game, as the sandbox plays an important role according to the developers. Unlike before, vehicles will no longer simply spawn anywhere on the map. Instead, they will be delivered by Pelican jets and visibly dropped at specific locations on the map.
Weapons will also now be dropped in proper containers and will not suddenly appear. This should create the feeling of being on a real battlefield.
These modes have been mentioned so far:
Big Team Battle with 24 players
Ranked and social playlists
Additionally, there is now the “Academy”, where new players can learn the mechanics of Halo. Here, you will train with AI and even bots.
Spartan training in multiplayer against bots
What is this? In the new Academy mode, you can complete tutorials and test your skills against bots. This is a good way for newcomers to learn the controls and get familiar with the Halo experience. Bots play a significant role.
How do these bots work? You can determine the number of bots that face you in the Academy mode. You can also set their strength.
They should give you the opportunity to prepare for the actual combat against other players.
Halo Infinite system requirements and up to 120 FPS
What hardware is needed on PC for Halo Infinite? This is currently hard to say. 343 Industries has not yet provided official system requirements for PC. Even Steam does not have a listing of the requirements yet, only mentioning Windows 10 as a single detail.
However, since Halo Infinite will also be released on Xbox One, the game should not be too hardware-hungry. Some websites like game-debate.com (via game-debate.com) list the following specs:
Today, on June 25, 2021, the Bidiza event starts in Pokémon GO. We at MeinMMO have summarized all the information about the event for you.
What kind of event is this? Originally, Niantic announced this event as a surprise event. It has been known for a few days now that everything during the event will revolve around the Pokémon Bidiza and its evolution Bidifas.
When does the Bidiza event start? The event starts on Friday, June 25, 2021, at 10:00 AM local time. You will have almost a week to take advantage of the Bidiza event before it ends again on July 1, 2021, at 8:00 PM local time.
What to expect during the Bidiza event in Pokémon GO
During the event period, you will have the opportunity to encounter a variety of Bidiza. Whether in the wild, raids, rewards, or with Team Rocket – they will be everywhere. Furthermore, with a bit of luck, you may also have the chance to encounter a shiny specimen.
Bidiza and Bidifas normal (top) and as Shiny (bottom)
Additionally, Niantic has planned some special features and bonuses for Pokémon GO trainers. We have taken a look at what these will be and summarized them for you.
Special Charge Attacks
As Niantic has already announced, Bidiza with various charge attacks will be available during the event (via pokemongolive.com). These charge attacks are event-related and cannot otherwise be learned by this Pokémon. We have summarized when you can find Bidiza with which attack for you:
Event Charge Attack
Time Period
Shadow Ball
June 25, 2021, 10:00 AM to June 26, 2021, 11:59 PM
Thunderbolt
June 27, 2021, 12:00 AM to June 28, 2021, 11:59 PM
Icy Wind
June 29, 2021, 12:00 AM to June 30, 2021, 11:59 PM
If you want to teach your Bidiza one of the above-mentioned charge attacks, you will again have the opportunity on July 1, 2021, between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time. With the help of a Charge TM, it is then possible to change the attack. After that, it can only be changed using a Charged TM.
Bidifas, the evolution of Bidiza, will also receive a special charge attack during the event period. If you evolve a Bidiza into Bidifas during this time, that Pokémon will learn the charge attack Hyper Beam.
Special Bonuses during the Bidiza Event
In addition to Bidiza with special charge attacks, Pokémon GO trainers can also look forward to a few bonuses. You will receive special Bidiza stickers from gifts and at PokéStops. The probably much more interesting bonus is the increased catch XP, which Niantic has announced (via pokemongolive.com). But this is also time-limited.
double catch XP: June 25, 2021, 10:00 AM to June 26, 2021, 11:59 PM
triple catch XP: June 27, 2021, 12:00 AM to June 28, 2021, 11:59 PM
quadruple catch XP: June 29, 2021, 12:00 AM to June 30, 2021, 11:59 PM
Who is the Bidiza Event for?
Especially interesting about the Bidiza event is the increased catch XP. Trainers who still need some experience points for the next level-up should take the opportunity of the increased XP on these days and catch Pokémon diligently.
However, collectors of Pokémon with special event attacks as well as Shiny hunters among the trainers will also get their money’s worth at this event. Unfortunately, Bidiza and its evolution Bidifas are not suitable for use in PVP or raids due to their poor stats.
If you are more interested in Pokémon GOthis might also interest you:
What is your opinion on the upcoming Bidiza event? Will you take advantage of the increased catch XP or are you hoping more for a Shiny? Feel free to let us know in the comments right here at MeinMMO.
The GO Fest 2021 is getting closer and now has a really good bonus related to legendary Pokémon. Those who have missed some legendary monsters in Pokémon GO can get them at the GO Fest.
This was announced: On the second day of the GO Fest, which takes place on July 17 and 18, all legendary Pokémon that have been in the game so far will appear in Tier-5 raids. That means: On Sunday, July 18, 2021, you have the chance to encounter every single legendary monster in Pokémon GO.
The raid monsters will also appear for players who do not have a ticket. So you don’t even need an event ticket to catch the legendary monsters. However, there will be some advantages for ticket holders at GO Fest 2021:
There are an additional 10,000 XP per raid won
You can get up to 10 raid passes when spinning photo discs at gyms
A limited research will also provide up to 8 remote raid passes
In addition, there will be an event box in the shop with three remote raid passes that will be available on Sunday, July 18.
So ticket holders can theoretically get a total of 21 raid passes to hunt for legendary monsters.
When will which legendary Pokémon appear?
This is how the legendary raid day works: The Pokémon will not appear all at once, but spread throughout the day. There will be a total of four changing thematic hours that will run twice during the event. During these periods, specific monsters will appear in the raids.
The Wind Hour (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM)
Mewtwo
Ho-Oh
Latias
Latios
Regigigas
Giratina in its Altered Forme
Cresselia
Thundurus
Virizion
The Lava Hour (11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
Zapdos
Entei
Regirock
Groudon
Heatran
Reshiram
Landorus in its Therian Forme
Yveltal
Terrakion
The Frost Hour (12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
Articuno
Suicune
Lugia
Regice
Kyogre
Palkia
Kyurem
In addition: Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf in their usual regions
The Thunder Hour (1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
Zapdos
Raikou
Registeel
Rayquaza
Dialga
Thundurus in its Therian Forme
Zekrom
Xerneas
Kabalium
Update:Via Twitter, Niantic later announced that Terrakion, Kobalium, and Virizion will also be available at the GO Fest. We have added these three monsters to the list.
Important: Mysterious Pokémon such as Mew, Jirachi, or Victini do not count as legendary Pokémon that will appear in raids during the event. However, you can get the new mysterious Pokémon Meloetta at GO Fest 2021.
A really strong bonus for the GO Fest 2021
Who benefits from the bonus? With the legendary Pokémon, the GO Fest suddenly becomes interesting for all players who missed some of the specimens. For example, because they haven’t been available for a long time, or simply because the time windows for the appropriate raids were missed. The opportunity to catch all legendaries at once has not occurred in Pokémon GO until now.
They are not only interesting from a collector’s perspective, but often belong to the best attackers in Pokémon GO. Reshiram, for example, is a top Fire attacker, and the same applies to Zekrom in the Electric category.
Those who missed monsters like Reshiram or Zekrom get a new chance
And Pokémon GO: Where to get Mewtwo? We explain it! – after all, it’s one of the absolute best monsters in Pokémon GO. The GO Fest now provides the opportunity to collect candy for the most useful legendaries. In addition, you can also hunt the monsters wonderfully as Shinies.
This is what the GO Fest looks like now: It has been known that Saturday would bring habitats with special spawns. There will be a special research, several collector researches, and a focus on music themes.
Microsoft officially presented Windows 11 at its “Windows Event”. One feature that could especially appeal to mobile gamers is included.
Microsoft introduced the successor to Windows 10 at its official Windows event. In addition to a new design and many other adjustments, Microsoft showcased a special feature that could benefit mobile gamers.
Windows 11 is said to officially be able to run Android apps. This could be a great feature for mobile gamers who do not want to pull out their phone.
However, there may be some limitations that we are currently unaware of.
Android apps are coming to Windows, but not in the way you think
How exactly does it work? Microsoft integrates the Amazon App Store into its own store. This way, you can easily install Android apps on your Windows PC.
There will probably still not be native support, as Windows will use an emulator in the background to let you use the apps on Windows 11. Developers are referring to “Intel Bridge” here.
Here we do not know yet what the minimum requirements will be for running Android apps, as the hardware must also support Intel’s Bridge technology.
Android apps on Windows 11 are also a significant response to Apple’s ability to run iOS apps on macOS.
First official images show the integration of the Amazon App Store into Windows 11.
What does this bring? Users who primarily play and work on PC and occasionally use an app on their smartphone may in the future be able to use their apps directly on their PC or tablet computer with Windows 11. However, Microsoft aims to offer even more features for gamers with Windows 11.
Do you want to quickly log into your favorite game and collect your daily rewards? This way, you wouldn’t even need to log in on the phone. However, how exactly the integration and, for example, the support for mouse and keyboard works is still unknown.
The biggest advantage, however, is primarily for developers, as they will not have to pay Microsoft any fees for usage.
The TikTok app on Windows 11 as an Android app.
High fees from app stores have long been a thorn in the side of developers
Anyone who wanted to submit an app to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store had to give up a portion of their profits to the platform. In contrast, anyone now publishing Android apps via Windows is expected not to pay any fees.
Developers refused to pay fees: Various developer teams have long complained about the high fees of different platforms. In August 2020, Epic decided to sell the currency V-Bucks directly in the iOS version of the game to circumvent the high fees from the App Store.
Apple and Google then removed the Fortnite app from the store because Epic’s approach violated the platform’s terms of service. However, Epic did not want to accept this and sued both companies because it did not want to accept the ban from the stores.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, there are new features in Raid battles. Among other things, the raids will be visually enhanced – and there will also be rewards for the best trainers.
This is what’s happening in Pokémon GO: As outlined by the developers at Niantic in an announcement, they have come up with a few new features to celebrate the four-year anniversary of Raid battles in Pokémon GO.
On one hand, several yet unspecified quality-of-life improvements have been announced – small elements that should improve the raid experience.
In addition, there is a visual overhaul of the raids. On one hand, the user interface is to be adjusted. On the other hand, raids will now take place in a brand new raid stadium.
When are the raid updates coming? By now, the updates are already available in the game. This also applies to the other changes – as the visual adjustments are not the only ones.
New achievements reward the best trainers in raids
For certain actions, trainers will now be highlighted after a raid. Trainers who have dealt the most damage or helped their teammates with Mega Evolutions through boosts will be showcased.
In addition, a whole range of achievements can be earned after a battle. If you earn the achievement for the first time, you will receive a medal that can then be leveled up as usual. Dataminers have already uncovered this feature.
Soon you can earn medals for raid achievements
Achievements are available for among others:
Trainers who use the last attack in the raid
Deal the most damage
Keep a single Pokémon in battle the longest
Use the largest Pokémon in battle
Participate in the raid from the furthest distance
Use a Mega Evolution
Change the avatar’s outfit or pose
Use the most charged attacks in battle
There are now not only rewards that make raids worthwhile, but also the new achievements.
The Elder Scrolls Online provides a good reason to wreak havoc in PvP now: The Midyear Mayhem. As every year, there are cool rewards that you can earn only during the event.
Special Loot and Bonuses for the Midyear Mayhem PvP Event
What can you get this year? As always, there are tons of items to loot by competing in PvP. Particularly cool are:
Special shields with your faction’s banner
Pages for the Ebony Style
Midyear Laurel Wreath of the Victor
Get the new personality: You can also earn Event Tickets by completing daily quests in Cyrodiil and on the battlegrounds or in a district of the Imperial City. These tickets can be exchanged with the Impresario for special items, including the three fragments of the Deadlands Fire Walker personality and the unstable morphing star needed for it.
If you want to transform your hero into a burning abomination from within, then this reward is just right for you. And with a bit of luck, you can grab a few of the new achievements in PvP and thus unlock premium goodies from loot boxes.
The Midyear Mayhem is just one of many events that take place in ESO in 2021. In addition to the PvP massacre, there will be more substantial innovations. Among them is a completely new region coming into the game in Q4.
In Black Desert Online, horses are indispensable as riding animals. On the one hand, there is no fast travel system in BDO, and on the other hand, they serve as pull power for heavy carts. It is even possible to participate in mounted combat. In this article, we at MeinMMO explain how you can acquire these noble creatures.
In general, there are several ways to obtain a mount in the MMORPG. You can catch and tame horses yourself, buy breeding animals from other players, and even rent or breed horses yourself.
How do I get a horse? To acquire a mount, all you need to do is visit the stable master in the nearest town and buy a riding license or a draft horse for 15,000 silver. The latter cannot be ridden, but only hitched to carts. How to quickly earn silver, we reveal here.
Alternatively, you can access the horse market through the same NPC and purchase the horse you desire. Additionally, you have the option to sort the offered horses by ranks, talents, and gender. With a bit of luck, the horses offered by players might even be cheaper than the NPC’s.
Can I rent a horse? You can rent horses from friends, but only those ranked up to 8, and for a duration limited to one week. However, this function is rarely used because it is not worth it due to the limited time and fees.
Where do I get my first mount? You receive your first mount, a donkey, free through the Black Spirit questline. The experience of the donkey increases when you ride on it. There are three types of donkeys with different colors, but mules have no gender in BDO and cannot be bred.
All about horse taming in Black Desert Online
What do I need to tame a horse? To tame a horse in BDO, you must first meet two requirements.
The first is that you must have reached at least level 5 in the training category. You can access this menu with the “P” key. To improve your training, you need to level up your horse first. The easiest way to do this is with automatic pathfinding. We recommend beginners to start with the donkey, which is obtained as an early quest reward.
The second requirement is a few tools you need for taming. This includes a lasso, which can be purchased from the stable master. Here, we recommend buying at least 20 or even 30 lasso units, as the amount decreases with each taming attempt.
Cubes of sugar are also important to keep the horse calm while taming. These can be easily made yourself. By searching for NPCs, you can buy 1 mineral water and 10 sugar cane from the cooking goods merchant and heat the items with the “L” key.
Capturing horses in Black Desert isn’t that easy. Source: YT-Melideas.
How do I tame a horse? Once you have found your suitable place and spotted some wild animals, proceed as follows. Important: You must not approach too closely, and beginners should be particularly patient during the first attempts since the mini-game can be a bit tricky. Moreover, you will need to use more sugar if it tries to break free with a lower training level:
Take your lasso in hand with a right-click
Move slowly towards the horse with the W key
Activate left-click when the red crosshair appears
If you aimed poorly or the animal leaps forward, you must start over.
Move slowly and cautiously towards the horse again
Wait until the horse raises its front hooves
The mini-game starts; confirm with the left mouse button
By pressing the space bar at the right moment, you calm the horse
Wait until the horse raises its front hooves again
Spam the space bar to land in the right area of the horizontal bar
Approach the wild horse slowly and cautiously again
Use a sugar cube when it raises its front hooves; then it won’t run away
On average, you need to repeat this process 3 times, and then the animal belongs to you
Once you have successfully tamed the horse, you need to go to the stable master with it and register it to yourself. You will need to enter a name for the animal and find out its gender – which is important for breeding, which we will explain to you in another guide in the future.
How do I level my horse AFK? You can raise your mount’s level while you are not at the computer. To do this, you use automatic pathfinding and ensure that the circuit is large enough to allow your horse to gallop. If the animal cannot speed up due to a too-small route, you will not gain experience.
It is important to pack enough carrots before your automatic ride because your horse consumes stamina, and when it is exhausted, it negatively impacts your experience gain. You can simply check the box for “Automatically use carrot,” and your steed will run in circles and eat by itself.
YouTuber Refaser has taken a closer look at the mount system in BDO:
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Interesting Facts about Horses in Black Desert Online
What else do I need to know? Lastly, here are a few additional pieces of information that will make breeding and leveling mounts easier for you:
Initially, you have limited space in the stable; a maximum of three animals fit in. You should invest contribution points here to quickly obtain a horse farm. The higher the stable level, the more animals fit in.
Never buy breeding horses on the market that do not possess breeding points.
You can sell your horses at the horse market. The price depends on their level, abilities, and gender. Logically, you can offer mares at a higher price.
You can buy a mount breeding set in the pearl shop for 333 (stallion) and 640 pearls (mare) to reset the number of points.
You gain five percent more experience when wearing the silver-embroidered trainer clothing. You can either buy this on the marketplace or craft it yourself. The luxury clothing merchant has an item for you that even grants you ten percent experience.
If you are often galloping with the horse, it consumes a lot of energy – you can refill it with carrots from the stable master. Alternatively, you can set up a carrot field.
By the way, you can level horses while trading. Just hitch them to the cart, and the experience comes almost by itself.
For mounted combat, you need a stirrup, saddle, harness, horse head, and of course, horseshoes to increase your animal’s attributes.
