Escape from Tarkov shows the third trailer for the new map “Streets from Tarkov” and gives a first impression of how battles in the city center could unfold. It features brutal street battles, a nasty NPC squad with a military vehicle, and destructible walls.
What’s going on?At the Summer Games Fest, there were over 30 announcements for new games or fresh content for older hits, and the hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov was among them. The “Streets of Tarkov Teaser #3 – Battle of Concordia” was showcased.
MeinMMO shows you the trailer and provides more information about the next map:
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Trailer shows the Concordia Complex in the “Streets of Tarkov”
What does the trailer show? For the first time, there are images of the new map “Streets of Tarkov”, showing battles in the jungle of the city. The map was announced over 11 months ago, and earlier teasers only featured a solitary warrior showcasing the areas of the map.
The new trailer shows a lot of action and aims to convey how battles unfold in the street canyons. The trailer focuses on the Concordia residential complex – a business-class complex consisting of 2 buildings with 149 parking spaces and enclosed green areas in the backyard.
The areas within the Concordia buildings are cramped and dark, while the areas around them are more spacious and open. There are many rooms with windows in the buildings from which the outside areas can be targeted.
New weapons are not seen, but there are still two strong highlights in the trailer:
A destructible wall for tactical breakthroughs
A group of NPCs on a military vehicle
For the first time, Tarkov shows destructible environments and allows you to destroy at least one wall in the Concordia complex. Whether you need certain items for this or if a regular grenade will suffice for the breakthrough remains to be seen.
Also exciting is the end of the trailer. A “Bronetransportjor” (BTR) – a Russian military vehicle – is shown. The armored vehicle brings NPCs to the combat zone and could be a hint at a new Scav boss who wants to stir up the area with his squad. No more information is available – the trailer ends shortly after the BTR comes to a stop.
Streets will be the most ambitious new map so far
When is the new map coming? There is no release date for the new map “Streets of Tarkov” yet. The map is expected to come with update 0.13. The EFT YouTuber “Pestily” stated that he has already asked the developers when the map might come but received no concrete answer. Pestily estimates the release at the earliest in December 2021 (via YouTube).
More about the new announcements at the Summer Games Fest:
According to the developers, the Streets are the “most ambitious new location” in the game and could surpass previous standards for size and detail richness in Escape from Tarkov. If you’re looking for a map guide for the popular customs area until the release, check here: Escape from Tarkov: All about the customs map – Loot, spawns, tactics.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fortnite: Battle Royale has made some changes to the game with Update 17. This includes an adjustment in the game mode Team Rumble. However, that does not sit well with many players.
What has changed? In Season 7 of Chapter 2 in Fortnite, there were many updates. One affects the Team Rumble game mode. In it, 2 teams of over a dozen players compete to be the first to reach 150 eliminations. Dead players respawn after 5 seconds with their existing gear, which ensures intense action.
However, with the update, a subtle detail has changed that upends the entire mode. Now the storm, which limits the play area, starts moving across the map right from the beginning of the game. This brings movement into the game but also prevents players from being able to look around in peace or even complete specific challenges at special locations.
However, these challenges were a main reason why many players used the mode at all. With the new storm behavior, it becomes much harder and sometimes completely impossible.
Players demand “Revert the change”
What is the mood in the community? Those who now want to complete challenges in Team Rumble might find themselves stuck in a match, unable to enter the desired locations at all or not for long enough. And even if someone just wants to shoot, they are often thwarted because there simply isn’t enough time to grind a decent loadout.
This frustrates many players from the community, and they are demanding, via the hashtag #Revertteamrumble on Twitter and in various threads on reddit, that Epic immediately reverts this change, which they see as silly. Even a petition has been started to urge Epic to revert the unpopular change. Here are some voices from the community:
Der Marcl: ‘The new season in Fortnite is really good so far… except for one exception. What happened to Team Rumble?! As a casual, I only played TR, but since the new update, this mode just becomes trash. What a shame.’
Darien Versio: ‘Please, change Team Rumble back, it was good as it was, the changes have ruined the whole mode!’
Tristin: ‘This new version of Team Rumble is just bad. Please revert these changes or make it a separate mode, it really feels like I’m being pushed out of a game I love (and pay for), because you’ve taken away my favorite way to play.’
Thalapathy Fan: ‘Why did you change Team Rumble? It was literally the best game mode for us average and bad players to tackle challenges without dealing with the try-hard sweats. Looks like Fortnite is an official game for sweats now.’
So let’s hope that Epic has a heart for the players and brings back their old mode in Team Rumble soon. However, not all changes and innovations in Season 7 of Chapter 2 in Fortnite are unwanted. There are 5 hidden changes on the new map that are not immediately obvious. Find out here what secrets you can uncover. Have fun!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a small info box, it was clearly stated: “Traverse the stunning world on foot or horseback, alone or online with other players, […]” This is a clear indication of an online co-op mode with more than one player.
Online multiplayer for 4 players?
What will the multiplayer look like? According to another press release (via Gameradar), the group size is expected to be a maximum of 4 players. However, Bandai Namco has not explicitly confirmed this, and the press release is not yet available to MeinMMO. It is also still unclear if there will be PvP and how exactly this multiplayer mode will function. However, according to the developers, more information will be released over time, so stay tuned.
It could be that it involves the mode known from Dark Souls, in which you could “summon” players into your game world, which was somewhat cumbersome.
MeinMMO has reached out to Bandai Namco to learn more about the co-op mode.
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What is Elden Ring actually?Elden Ring is an action RPG from the creators of Souls, FromSoftware. As expected, it is dark and gritty. Everything is broken and dangers lurk everywhere. In this grim world, the goal is to retrieve the shards of the Elden Ring to prevent something worse from happening.
When will Elden Ring be released? Elden Ring is set to release on January 21, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and digitally for PC.
For more on the Summer Game Fest, check out our news ticker:
Finally, the time has come! The MMORPG Lost Ark is coming to the West and we have directly 2,500 keys for the first alpha test. Secure your access now.
This is Lost Ark: The game by the Korean developer Smilegate is an isometric action MMORPG for PC, reminiscent of ARPGs like Diablo in its combat system. You can traditionally create a character and head into the world of Arkesia. We have presented the features of Lost Ark here.
The MMORPG celebrated its soft launch in Korea back in 2018. Since then, a lot of content has already been released by the developers. Lost Ark therefore has a long list of features and gameplay elements that will also come to us:
By now, there are 20 playable classes in Lost Ark. They are divided into 5 base classes with several specializations. In the European version, 15 of them will already be playable at launch.
The skill system of Lost Ark is called Tripod. With this, you can further develop and modify the individual skills of your classes in the style of A-RPGs like Diablo. Your skills will not only receive bonuses, but also new effects and appearances.
In the world of the MMORPG, you follow a central main story quest. However, there are various side quests and daily missions that you can complete for bonuses and more background story.
On most maps, there are huge world bosses that can drop great loot.
In dungeons and raids, there is plenty of loot as well as smithing and upgrade materials for your armor.
With the sailing feature, you can explore the oceans of Lost Ark, visit islands, upgrade your ships and crew, and recover treasures.
Some special NPCs in Lost Ark have a “relationship system.” You can befriend them and learn more about their background story or simply receive gifts.
PvP is available in both competitive modes in arenas and duels, as well as in certain areas of the open world where you can control individual islands.
You can watch the English trailer here:
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After almost a year of silence, Amazon has now announced the release of Lost Ark in the West and directly kicks off the first alpha.
When does the alpha run? Things are moving quickly with Lost Ark now. The alpha test begins tomorrow, June 11 at 9:00 PM our time. So you can soon dive into the new MMORPG.
The end is 4 days later on June 15. You can use the weekend to test the alpha content. You can find everything about the actual release of Lost Ark in our article:
What kind of test will this be? In the alpha test, players will be able to play all 15 starting classes of the European version and try out their skills. Keep in mind that this is a technical alpha. It will mainly test server infrastructure and stability. So expect some areas to not be fully localized or to have bugs in them.
However, the alpha will feature German texts. Synchronization will only be in English. Additionally, the alpha test will be under NDA (Nondisclosure Agreement). So you can play Lost Ark, but you must not talk about it, spread screenshots, stream it, etc.
How to get keys: In collaboration with Amazon, we are giving away 2,500 access keys for the first alpha at MeinMMO. If you want to participate in the test, you have two options for entering the giveaway.
UPDATE: The giveaway is over. The keys will be sent out shortly.
The official site for Lost Ark is now online. While the MMORPG itself is free, you can still pre-order founder packs there and secure associated bonuses and advantages. We have summarized all the information for you here:
In Pokémon GO it is now confirmed which Crypto Pokémon Giovanni will use starting June 17. It is Crypto-Ho-Oh. MeinMMO shows you here how strong the Pokémon is in PvP and PvE and the wishes of the trainers.
What’s new? The developers from Niantic announced which Pokémon the Rocket villain Giovanni will have next in his team. Not just any Pokémon, but Crypto-Ho-Oh will appear in and after the battle won.
We show you here in the overview how strong the Pokémon will be and whether it is worth using.
Giovanni with Crypto-Ho-Oh – All Info
When does it start? Starting Thursday, June 17 at 00:00, Giovanni will put Crypto-Ho-Oh in his team. You will battle it in a duel against him as the third Pokémon. If you win the battle, you can catch Crypto-Ho-Oh afterwards.
He will keep the Pokémon until September 1 at 00:00. If you complete the new Rocket research “A Seven-Colored Crypto Pokémon”, you will receive a Super Rocket Radar. This will allow you to track down Giovanni.
How strong is it? Ho-Oh is a Fire and Flying type and is especially popular among fans due to its unique appearance and the story in the anime. However, its moveset is not really good.
In PvP, Crypto-Ho-Oh could play an important role in the Master League. However, you need some luck because Kyogre is very strong in the Master League and is often used by players. If you can dodge this Pokémon, Crypto-Ho-Oh already has better chances.
In PvE, there are many good Fire attackers like Reshiram, Skelebra, Flampivian, Entei, or even Lavados. Therefore, Crypto-Ho-Oh unfortunately doesn’t have much to say. However, it is also not significantly weaker. So if you love the Pokémon and want to use it, you will just need a few more seconds of battle time per raid.
If you want to get the most out of your team, you should rather put Ho-Oh on the bench.
When talking about Pokémon Ho-Oh, one must also mention Lugia. Therefore, it is clear that players already have precise ideas about how things should continue with Giovanni after Ho-Oh. They wish for Crypto-Lugia as the Pokémon they receive from Giovanni starting in September.
This is also requested by the well-known Pokémon YouTuber Reversal on Twitter. He hopes not to be disappointed following Ho-Oh and to find Crypto-Lugia in the game.
What do you think of the announcement for Giovanni’s new Pokémon? Is Crypto-Ho-Oh a monster you have been hoping for, or would you have preferred something else?
Please share your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and discuss this topic with other trainers.
Destiny 2 aims to restore a dusty exotic weapon to its former glory and will give the Sleeper Simulant a significant upgrade. Learn here how the buff looks in detail.
This weapon is about: It concerns the exotic linear fusion rifle Sleeper Simulant (Sleeper Simulant). Once, this weapon exotic was a powerful tool in PvE of Destiny 2, but has become essentially insignificant due to nerfs and has not been a top choice for the coveted exotic slot for quite a while.
Sleeper Simulant gets “the highest damage per shot” so far
What’s up with the buff?
In Season 14, this exotic weapon was actually supposed to be buffed.
Many players were already thrilled: Cool, the Sleeper will finally be relevant again.
But the buff turned out to be way too weak (3%) and was hardly noticeable.
The exotic was still too weak for the Guardians.
However, a player cautiously inquired on reddit whether the 3% was actually intended. And lo and behold: Bungie actually responded, which may please many. As Community Manager Cozmo23 explained, the 3% was a mistake; a larger buff was planned. The weapon will now definitely be made stronger – even stronger than originally planned.
The details of the buff are as follows: Instead of the 3%, which became due to a mistake in the last buff, originally 15% more damage was planned. And now the weapon is supposed to become even 16.5% stronger compared to the previous season.
What does it mean? This could actually restore the former top exotic to its past glory and finally make it relevant again in boss fights and generally in endgame content – something many Guardians have been asking for seemingly forever.
For context: According to Cozmo, the Sleeper would deal by far the highest damage per shot after this buff, have a very good burst damage. Additionally, the damage on body shots is much higher than that of all other linear fusion rifles. The Sleeper forgives significantly more, especially regarding this weapon category, when one misses the crit spot (via reddit).
Since Destiny 1, the Sleeper has been a well-known exotic
When will the buff come? Unfortunately, Cozmo has not made any statements about this so far. However, it is quite conceivable that the buff will already be included in the next patch, which is supposed to come soon. The update will also help the new Warlock armor exotic “Boots of the Tinkerer” back into play.
What do you think of Bungie’s plan for the Sleeper Simulant? Did you enjoy playing the exotic in the past? Would you be happy if the weapon became relevant again soon? Let us and other readers of MeinMMO know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Cortyn is looking forward to the new Borderlands spin-off. Because it could be better than the actual Borderlands 3.
That was my personal highlight of the Summer Game Fest: I know. After the Summer Game Show yesterday, half of all players are jumping for joy because of the upcoming release of Lost Ark, while the other half is in tears of joy because Elden Ring is within reach. But for me, the highlight was the new Borderlands spin-off at the very beginning of the show.
That’s why I’m so excited for the new Wonderlands: I want to be honest. Borderlands 3 was indeed a good game. But unfortunately, it was also “only” good. I never quite felt the spark like I did with part 2. I devoured Borderlands 2, played through the story at least seven or eight times, and in the end, I could recite every line of dialogue. I loved the humor, loved the weapons, loved the story.
And above all, I loved the Tiny Tina DLC, which not only brought cool ideas in an absurd setting but also had one of the strongest stories that Borderlands 2 had to offer. Tina’s grief over Roland’s death transformed into a tabletop RPG was brilliant; it stood in stark contrast to the laid-back atmosphere that Borderlands 2 usually radiated.
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That this setting – with knights, magic, dice, and lots of ridiculous mythical creatures – is getting its own game is the fulfillment of a small dream for me.
One thing is already clear to me: Even though not many details are known yet, it’s already clear to me that I will enjoy the game. A comprehensive co-op campaign, customizable characters that can even cast spells, and the typically absurd Borderlands weapons along with funny dialogues that mock every fantasy cliché.
All this is a mix that can only turn out well.
For me, it is already clear that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will be “my” Borderlands 3. At least if the developers manage to recreate the magic of the old DLC from part 2 once again.
I’m optimistic. What do you think?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The highly anticipated action game Elden Ring has finally received its first gameplay trailer and a release date. The information was shared during the Summer Game Fest.
When is Elden Ring released? The latest trailer for Elden Ring revealed the release date. The game will be released on January 21, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and digitally for PC.
You can watch the trailer with the first gameplay here:
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What is Elden Ring? The game is an action RPG from the SoulsBorne creators, FromSoftware. In the story, you take on the role of a “Tarnished” and travel through a land ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal. Elden Ring, the source of the Eldtree, has been shattered.
The children of Marika, all demigods, have claimed the shards of the ring for themselves and gained new powers. They ignited a war that ravaged the world and can only be stopped by you.
In the open world of Elden Ring, you will travel both on foot and on horseback. The combat system will remind players of the Dark Souls games. There are several boss battles and also sequences that look like PvP duels.
The atmosphere of Elden Ring also seems to be classically in the style of the Dark Souls series. The trailer shows a bleak world full of ruins, dying nature, and wandering corpses.
George R. R. Martin is working in a supportive role on the story and game world. Martin is known as the author of the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” on which the series “Game Of Thrones” is based.
This is how fans are reacting: Within minutes of the announcement, Elden Ring trended in the top spots on Twitter. Over 100,000 tweets have been sent about Elden Ring. Players have been waiting in vain for new information since the game’s announcement at E3 2019. Now there is not only first gameplay but also the release date.
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The official tweet about the trailer has almost 50,000 likes and over 1,300 comments just 20 minutes after its release. In the large r/games subreddit, the thread about Elden Ring jumped directly to the top spot among the pinned announcements. After just over 20 minutes, it has over 500 comments.
It looks incredible. But if someone told me it was Dark Souls 4, I would have believed it. […]
Top comment in the reddit thread
Meanwhile, the thread announcing the release date of Elden Ring has reached the general front page of reddit r/all and has made it to the top spot.
However, the most activity is currently on the Elden Ring subreddit (via. reddit). Within 20 minutes, nearly 2,000 comments accumulated there. Fans expressed their hype in various ways. Many commented with “Oh Elden Ring!” as a reference to the first teaser trailer for the game.
Others posted references to older FromSoftware games like Dark Souls with comments like “Humanity Restored” or “Praise the sun!” The mood seems to be generally very good, and players are excited to finally receive new information about the game after 2 years.
For more on the Summer Games Fest, check out our news ticker:
Call of Duty revealed the first trailer for the new Season 4 at the Summer Games Fest. It features new maps for Black Ops Cold War and a threat from orbit for Battle Royale Warzone. MeinMMO shows you the trailer and details.
What’s going on? Season 4 of Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops Cold War starts on June 17, and now the first trailer is online. The trailer showcases images of the new maps for the multiplayer in Cold War and hints at a significant map change for Warzone.
What can we see in the trailer? The gameplay trailer shows information about Warzone, the multiplayer, and the zombie mode in one minute. It features 3 new maps for Cold War, a nail gun as a weapon, motorcycles, and fresh locations for Warzone.
Additionally, there was a hint at a new map for the zombie mode Outbreak and possibly even a preview of the next significant survival map. During the stream, there was also brief mention of a “Hijacked Gulag” outside of the trailer.
Multiplayer maps for Cold War
Collateral – 6vs6 / 12vs12: Large desert map, apparently with buildings
Amsterdam – 2vs2: Small city map
Hijacked – 6vs6: Classic from Black Ops 2 on a large yacht
Content Zombie mode
Hint at a map with a zoo for Outbreak
Zombie in a subway tunnel as a possible teaser for a Berlin map
Content Warzone
Satellite crashes change the map
Motorcycles as new vehicles
Possible new Gulag in the style of the Hijacked map
The trailer also continues the story of Call of Duty. A new, currently nameless operator with a red mask will likely be the “poster boy” at the start of Season 4. The villain forces a man to drop American satellites over Verdansk. The purpose of this is unclear. However, it changes the map, and the trailer features two locations that were marked by the satellite impacts.
When is all this coming? It is not yet certain whether all the content from the trailer will come directly at the start of the season. This will likely only be clarified when the roadmap for the new season goes online. Season 4 starts on Thursday, June 17.
The short trailer has already shown quite a lot and gives a good impression of Season 4. With Season 3, Call of Duty especially made a splash in the Battle Royale Warzone, and it will be exciting to see if the developers want to maintain that pace.
The Austrian publisher Koch Media plans to release 12 new games under the new gaming label Prime Matter in the coming years. Among them are highly anticipated titles like Payday 3, which will be revealed at the E3 2021.
What is the new label Prime Matter all about? Under the name Prime Matter, publisher Koch Media intends to bring 12 new games to market over the next two years.
The headquarters of Prime Matter will be located in Munich, and games from all kinds of genres will be developed there, including shooters, role-playing games, and co-op games.
12 New Games with Label Prime Matter
These games are all part of Prime Matter: The games currently planned under Prime Matter include sequels to well-known and highly anticipated titles like Payday and Kings Bounty. However, there are also some completely new works among them. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find more information about the individual games from Prime Matter that were revealed during E3 2021.
Payday 3
What is it?Payday 3 is the long-awaited sequel to the popular co-op shooter series Payday. In it, you perform heists and earn lots of money by working together as a team. The game is being developed by the once troubled studio Starbreeze and uses Unreal Engine 4. As it is expected to be more intense, the game will only be rated for ages 18 and older.
The crew of Payday is back!
When is it coming? Payday 3 is unfortunately not set to be released until 2023 for PC and consoles, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.
King’s Bounty II
What is it? King’s Bounty II is a tactical RPG in which you engage in turn-based battles in a fantasy world. The game is being developed by 1C Entertainment and uses Unreal Engine 4. It will be a single-player game and rated for ages 16 and older.
When is it coming? King’s Bounty II will be released on August 24, 2021.
Encased
What is it? This is a classic role-playing game set in a post-apocalypse. The game is reminiscent of Fallout, is said to use an isometric view, and comes with a bit of dark humor. It started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 and has now become a full-fledged game by Dark Crystal Games.
Who else is reminded of Fallout 1 and 2?
When is it coming? Encased is set to release in December 2021 as a digital release for PC and will be rated for ages 18 and older.
Scars Above
What is it? This game will be an action-adventure set against a sci-fi backdrop. You explore an alien planet, and the gameplay is a mix of exploration and fighting against horrific alien beasts. The game will be a single-player title and uses Unreal Engine 4.
You must explore this dark world.
When is it coming? Scars Above won’t be released until 2022 for PC and consoles and is rated for ages 16 and older.
Dolmen
What is it? This game is an action RPG in which you fight through a ghastly sci-fi world full of repulsive, cosmic horrors. The game draws inspiration from the dreadful stories of H.P. Lovecraft, so expect a lot of disgusting stuff. The developer behind Dolmen is the Massive Work Studio, and it uses Unreal Engine 4.
Things are getting gross here.
When is it coming? The game will be released sometime in 2022 for PC and consoles.
Final Form (Working Title)
What is it? Here you get a shooter set in a cyberpunk setting from Reikon Games. In the game, you take on the role of a humanoid avatar representing an intelligent spaceship. The game utilizes Unreal Engine 4, and it will have a co-op mode for up to three players.
In Final Form, you play as the avatar of a spaceship.
When is it coming? Unfortunately, no release date is known yet. However, the game is intended to be released for PC and consoles.
The Chant (Working Title)
What is it? This is a gruesome horror action-adventure. You explore a lonely island where a spiritual New Age cult has established a cozy retreat. However, something has gone wrong, and you can expect pure horror! Developer Brass Token utilized Unreal Engine 4 for the game.
When is it coming? This title is set to be released sometime in 2022 for PC and consoles and will likely be rated for ages 16 and older.
Echoes of the End
What is it? This game is from Myrkur Games and will be a third-person action-adventure. You embody the protagonist Ryn, who possesses mysterious powers and must prove herself in a fantasy world. The game places a strong emphasis on the story and the decisions you make within it.
In Echoes of the Mind, the story plays a significant role.
When is it coming? This game does not have a release date yet and is expected to be released for PC and consoles.
Gungrave G.O.R.E.
What is it? Here you will get a hearty, crazy third-person shooter from the studio IGGYMOB. The game combines design elements from Western and Asian games and promises wild shooting orgies with a hardened bad-ass macho hero.
In Gungrave GORE, there will be a lot of shooting.
When is it coming? This entertaining shooter is expected to be released sometime in 2022 for PC and consoles.
The Last Oricru
What is it? This game will be a third-person action RPG from GoldKnights studio. The title is set in a fantasy setting torn apart by wars. Besides fighting, you must also carefully decide whom to trust and influence the outcome of the war.
In this world, a terrible war rages.
When is it coming? The game is coming in 2022 for PC and consoles.
Crossfire: Legion
What is it? This game from Smilegate and Blackbird Interactive is indeed a real-time strategy game set in the world of the shooter Crossfire. You can play the game in multiplayer mode or as a campaign.
Crossfire Legion will be a real-time strategy game.
When is it coming? Crossfire: Legion is expected to be released in 2022 and only for PC.
The Next Painkiller Game
What is it? Here it seems that a sequel to the Painkiller series is on the horizon. So expect a bloody shooter in which you clear out the hordes of hell, even in co-op mode.
When is it coming? So far, no release date is known, but the game is expected to be rated for ages 18 and older and to be released for PC and consoles.
In addition to these new games, well-known titles from Koch Media, such as Iron Harvest and Phoenix Point, will also be added to the new label Prime Matter.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Shortly before the E3 2021, the Summer Game Fest will host an exciting show for gaming fans. We at MeinMMO will be covering the event live and will accompany it with a ticker.
When exactly does the Summer Game Fest take place? Today, Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 8:00 PM German time, the multi-day event will kick off with a kickoff show, followed by further events until June 23.
However, the highlight will likely be the opening show this evening, which we will also accompany with a live ticker.
When will the live ticker start? From around 7:30 PM, we will update this article with regular updates and news. We will summarize all the games shown, trailers, and general information.
Update 9:46 PM: After almost 2 hours, the event is now over, with quite a few interesting announcements made. What was your favorite? Let us and other readers at MeinMMO know in the comments.
Update 9:42 PM: Now comes the big finale and a real highlight – the world premiere of the open-world action RPG Elden Ring.
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In Tribes of Midgard, players must defend against the impending invasion of giants during Ragnarok.
You play as a Viking whose village holds the seeds of Yggdrasil. They are the key to protecting the gods from other realms in a world of dark creatures.
Your village must be defended against the shadows from Helheim, for which you collect resources in the wilderness. With that, you craft weapons among other things. Meanwhile, the giants are getting closer to the village, wanting to destroy Midgard and fulfill the prophecy of the end of the world.
Update 9:35 PM: Here’s a new isometric adventure, Tunic, about a small fox in a big world. Explore the wilderness, discover ghostly ruins, and fight against terrible creatures from long-lost times.
Update 9:34 PM: A new trailer for the multiplayer survival horror game Back4Blood:
https://youtu.be/evU3IHMn_Ik
Update 9:27 PM: Now there’s music from Sonic Unleashed – played by a philharmonic orchestra.
With the major update 1.6, Genshin Impact brings some new features and events into the game. The update has been playable since yesterday. The major highlights from the event are: and 5 highlights chosen:
The big “Summer! Sun! Adventure!” event
A new area that allows you to explore new islands
New features and improvements for the housing system
A free skin for Barbara
Kazuha arrives as a new character
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play co-op RPG from developer miHoYo. You can play on PC, PS4, Android, and iOS, and it offers crossplay between all platforms.
Update 9:21 PM: Appearance by actor Giancarlo Esposito, who portrays the villain “Yara” in Far Cry 6.
He is known as Gustavo Fring in the TV series “Breaking Bad.” He talks about what it was like to appear in a video game.
Update 9:20 PM: Here’s the trailer for the new Ratchet & Clank, which releases tomorrow, June 11:
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At the end of the Iraq War, special forces searching for weapons of mass destruction discover something much deadlier: a buried Sumerian temple that contains a nest full of ancient and horrific creatures.
To survive the night underground, they must forge an alliance with their enemies in the world above them.
Update 8:57 PM: Now there’s another world premiere – a trailer for the vampire battle royale Vampire The Masquerade Blood Hunt. You can already register for the alpha now, and a closed beta will start in July. The full release is set to take place later this year.
https://youtu.be/e35nuWSbuKg
Update 8:56 PM: Now comes a new trailer for the return of Fast & Furious to Rocket League:
https://youtu.be/X44Xj8WuD2Q
Update 8:54 PM: A short news piece about Amazon’s New World: It will be presented in more detail tomorrow, June 11, as part of the Summer Game Fest.
Update 8:52 PM: A world premiere of The Anacrusis – a cooperative first-person shooter for four players, set aboard a huge spaceship stranded on the edge of explored space. The game comes exclusively for PC and Xbox – and from day one in the Game Pass:
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Update 8:34 PM: Now several indie games from Sony are being presented – including a new soulslike, Salt & Sacrifice (from the creators of the popular Salt & Sanctuary):
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Update 8:30 PM: Now there’s another star guest: actor Ryan Reynolds. He is promoting his own video game film Free Guy with various streamer celebrities from Twitch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2sqqdMDNv0
Update 8:25 PM: Now there’s new information about Season 4 of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and CoD Warzone. It’s set to launch on June 17. Here’s the trailer for it:
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In the trailer, some new content can be seen, including
New multiplayer maps for Cold War
New content for the zombie mode
A possible new Gulag for Warzone.
All information is summarized here for you: CoD Cold War & Warzone show trailer for Season 4 with Hijacked and satellites over Verdansk.
Update 8:22 PM: Finally, something many have been waiting for! Here comes the trailer for Lost Ark! The game is set to be released in fall 2021. You can find out more about it here:
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Directly tomorrow, on June 11, the first alpha test for European players will start. In the alpha, you will be able to try out the 15 classes that will be playable in the European version.
The tripod skill system allows you to adapt the abilities of these classes to your playstyle. This not only changes the strength of the skills and their CC effects but also their appearance.
Lost Ark will receive German in-game texts for localization. However, the voice acting will remain in English.
Update 8:19 PM: Now for some relaxation, we have a music interlude.
Update 8:15 PM: Now the well-known actor Jeff Goldblum, known among others from the film Jurassic Park, announced a new game: Jurassic World Evolution 2.
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Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a management simulator and the sequel to the first Evolution game from Frontiers. It will primarily offer players an exciting new campaign with a story focus. Additionally, you can expect:
An expanded building system for your park
Up to 75 prehistoric species that you can save and genetically modify, including some flying and marine reptiles
The “Chaos Theory Mode” that lets you replay famous moments from Jurassic Park movies, exactly how you want
There is no release date yet.
Update 8:10 PM: With Hideo Kojima, a prominent guest has now arrived, bringing something special – gameplay from the Director’s Cut of Death Stranding on the PS5.
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The Director’s Cut of Death Stranding showed in the first trailer the PS5 version of the game, a new area, and also new enemy types. Hideo Kojima didn’t reveal much more info, but fans can still be excited. The full reveal of the Director’s Cut is expected in “just a few weeks.”
Update 8:06 PM: Next comes a trailer for a new tactical game in a retro style, which will be released on Steam – Metal Slug Tactics:
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Metal Slug is a popular run-and-gun video game series that now takes a new perspective. In isometric gameplay, you will experience the following features in Metal Slug Tactics:
Your team will consist of Metal Slug characters, and you will face iconic Metal Slug bosses
The mission layout will be procedurally generated
You unlock super attacks by filling your adrenaline bar
You can combine your attacks into strong combos
The game does not yet have a release date but can already be added to your wishlist on Steam.
Update 8:03 PM: The show kicks off with a new trailer from Gearbox – for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands! So the rumors have been confirmed. The Borderlands series is getting a new spinoff featuring the cult character Tiny Tina:
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Update 8:02 PM: Good to know: The opening show is set to last 90 minutes today.
Update 7:55 PM: Just 5 minutes left, then it will finally start.
Update 7:31 PM: Currently, it doesn’t seem like anything will happen before 8:00 PM. There is merely an overlay indicating that it will start at 8:00 PM. Apparently, there will be no pre-show.
Update 7:25 PM: Good evening, everyone. Just 5 minutes until the stream for the highly anticipated Summer Game Fest 2021 starts. The show itself, however, won’t start until 8:00 PM German time. So you have a little time to gather food and drinks.
What we know and speculate about the Summer Game Fest
What can we expect from the event? The Summer Game Fest is likely to be the interesting event for online and multiplayer fans taking place in the coming days. Many companies known for such games will be involved.
These companies are involved
What they might show at the Summer Game Fest
Activision / Blizzard
CoD Season 4, Diablo Immortal, Overwatch 2, CoD 2021
Additionally, further well-known companies will participate, including 2K, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Microsoft / Xbox, SEGA, Sony PlayStation, Steam, Square Enix, Tencent Games, and Wizards of the Coast.
Which games or developers are you most excited about tonight? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As part of the Summer Game Fest 2021, Amazon shared new details about the western release of Lost Ark. The MMORPG is set to launch in Europe with an adapted version and 15 classes. Additionally, there will be an Alpha starting on June 11. We have summarized all the information.
What do we know about the EU release? Lost Ark is set to be released in 2021 in Europe and North America for PC. Amazon has not yet provided an exact release date, but the release window has been indicated as autumn 2021.
Lost Ark will be Free2Play and is expected to have a shop. The exact structure of this shop is currently unclear.
It is certain that the western version will receive several adjustments and will not correspond to the release version in Korea.
What do we know about the Alpha? The first Alpha is set to start in the west on June 11 at approximately 21:00 our time (via Lost Ark). The first Alpha will also serve as a stress test. Amazon has already announced that there may be bugs and localization errors.
The highly anticipated Lost Ark is finally coming to us
What content will Lost Ark launch with? Currently, there is only limited information about the western version of Lost Ark, which we have summarized for you:
At launch in Europe, there will be 15 classes with different abilities
The characters are expected to be more diverse with additional skin colors
The gender lock will remain
The housing system that gives you your own island will be available
It is still unclear how the shop will be adapted in the west. Here, Amazon has evaded initial questions. In Korea, Lost Ark is considered Pay2Win because players can purchase certain gameplay advantages, lift daily and weekly restrictions, and convert real money into in-game currency.
How is Lost Ark performing in Korea? Over the past few years, Lost Ark has been continuously expanded. For example, there have already been some new classes, new continents, dungeons, and a significant expansion of the housing system.
What do you think about the western release of Lost Ark? Did you expect an Alpha this soon?
Borderlands fans can look forward to more. A new looter-shooter is coming soon – with Tiny Tina as the dungeon master!
2K and Gearbox have let the cat out of the bag. For all Borderlands fans, there is more to come soon. A new title puts the chaotic Tiny Tina in the spotlight and lets her host a big tabletop adventure again, as you loot tons of weapons while experiencing an absurd pen & paper adventure. This confirms the leak from a few days ago.
Is this a DLC for Borderlands 3? No! Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a standalone game. A looter-shooter based on the weapons of Borderlands, but set in a crazy fantasy world.
This means that while there are the usual weapons from Borderlands, the entire world is primarily filled with fantasy elements – knights, fireballs, dragons, and fairies included. They are all a bit crazy, after all, Tiny Tina has her quirks and is known for changing game rules during a session.
In classic Borderlands style, the co-op campaign can be experienced with up to four players. Also included are “repeatable endgame content” so there is still something to do after completing the campaign.
You can see the first impression of the content and the madness of the game world here:
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When will Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands be released? There is not yet a precise release date, but at least the developers have mentioned a rough timeframe. The game is expected to be released “early 2022,” sometime between January and March.
On which platforms will the game be available? Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will be playable on most major platforms, including:
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox One
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 4
PC (Steam and Epic Games Store)
Tiny Tina rides the dragon – and surely brings chaos for the hero team.
Setting like in Borderlands 2: The setting may feel familiar to veterans of the Borderlands series. After all, there was already a DLC in Borderlands 2 where Tiny Tina led a tabletop pen & paper session. In “Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep,” players took on the roles of brave heroes (with firearms) who had to save a medieval fantasy world that Tiny Tina created.
What was essentially funny had a pretty important meaning. Because the pen & paper adventure was Tina’s way of processing the death of a loved one.
The DLC for Borderlands 2 is still considered the most popular and best in the entire series. Therefore, it is understandable that the developers dedicate a standalone game to this setting.
Are you excited about Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands? Or is the “deadliest 13-year-old in the universe” a bit too crazy for you?
The MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is the first major new MMORPG of 2021. Right after its launch, it is doing really well on Steam – so well, that it briefly stood in the Top 10 and has three times as many players as Black Desert and The Elder Scrolls Online.
What kind of MMORPG is it? Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (short: PSO2:NG) is a new iteration of the well-known MMORPG from Sega, which was released in 2012. With New Genesis, the developers have overhauled everything and turned it into a new game.
This is how big the MMORPG is on Steam: Shortly after launch, PSO 2 on Steam impresses with over 59,000 players (via steamcharts.com). Currently, it ranks 15th among the most played games, although reports suggest it has even been in the Top 10 (via Githyp.com).
Previously, Black Desert and The Elder Scrolls Online were among the MMORPGs on Steam with the most players. PSO 2 has surpassed both, even with a significant lead:
PSO 2: 48,681 current players, 59,197 at peak
The Elder Scrolls Online: 20,535 current players, 49,061 at peak
Black Desert: 17,063 current players, 59,917 at peak
PSO 2 had about 5,000 players on average before New Genesis on Steam. The number has increased more than tenfold. The numbers from the console versions are not included for any of the games.
“NG fixes every problem I had with PSO 2”
What the players say: The current ratings on Steam are “mostly positive” with 70% positive reviews (via steampowered.com). On Steam itself, it is simply praised without specific details. It is said, for example, that New Genesis is a “fun, friendly, and rewarding dream world” (via steamcommunity.com).
On reddit, a user goes into more detail about the advantages. It states: “NG fixes every problem I had with PSO 2 […] Where the maps of PSO 2 are random mazes with a race to the end, NG is more of an open world and encourages exploration […] The story is told more naturally through quests or tasks that send you through the world” (via reddit.com).
The class system is also said to be better now, and the classes have more depth than before. Many players point out that New Genesis is a completely new game and has little in common with PSO 2 other than the name.
What is not well received? One of the most common criticisms is the lack of higher resolutions, which players consider outdated. For example, native resolutions of 3440 x 1440 (Ultrawide) and 2,560 x 1,440 (WQHD) are said not to be supported.
The gameplay is also criticized in parts. New Genesis is complex, the UI is not mature, and the terminology is unusual (via steamcommunity.com). Generally, the negative voices are rather isolated and often lack detailed criticism.
If you are still looking for a new MMORPG, you should definitely take a look at PSO 2. New Genesis is free to play. We at MeinMMO also recommend the game in our list for June:
During GO Fest 2021, you will be able to catch Meloetta in Pokémon GO. What makes the mysterious Pokémon special, you can find out here.
It has been confirmed: A teaser for the big GO Fest 2021 was shown on the official Twitter channel of the game. There is a shadow of a Pokémon visible, accompanied by a few music notes and the GO Fest logo.
The clearly recognizable shadow was immediately identified by trainers as Meloetta. This monster is a mysterious Pokémon – such as Victini, which you were able to catch at the past GO Fest 2020.
A complete quest was dedicated to Victini at the past GO Fest, which was one of the highlights of the event. It is quite possible that Meloetta will receive similar treatment and will be catchable through a special research.
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The tweet about the new Pokémon. Trainers quickly unraveled the mystery.
What kind of Pokémon is Meloetta?
This is Meloetta: Meloetta is a mysterious Pokémon of the Normal and Psychic type, introduced with the fifth generation of the main games. It has neither an evolution nor a pre-evolution, but it has an alternate form. It can switch from “Singing Form” to “Dancing Form,” changing its Psychic type into a combat type.
The forms of Meloetta: left Dance, right Song.
Whether this special feature will be introduced directly with Meloetta remains to be seen. Other shape-shifting Pokémon like Deoxys received their different forms only over time, which then had to be caught separately.
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That’s why Meloetta fits into GO Fest 2021: GO Fest 2021 has a clear music theme. Among other things, “musical Pokémon” will appear in the wild. You can also choose between Rocker and Pop-Star Pikachu, thus deciding what type of music plays during the event in the game.
The singing and dancing Meloetta also fits in. According to PokéDex entries from the main games, it can captivate anyone who hears its melodies.
EA has apparently fallen victim to a hacker attack: hackers are said to have stolen the source code for FIFA 21 among other things, as well as data related to the Frostbite engine.
This is what happened: According to a report by “Vice”, hackers have stolen a large amount of data from EA. In forum posts, messages from the hackers are currently being shared, claiming that various EA services can be exploited with the data (via Vice)
Among other things, the source code for FIFA 21 is said to be among the stolen data, as well as the code for the matchmaking servers of the football game.
Moreover, the hackers are said to have secured the source code and various tools for the Frostbite engine. This engine is the foundation for numerous games from EA, including the new Battlefield 2042.
In addition, other developer tools are included in the stolen data. The hack encompasses a total of 780 GB of stolen data, which they are now trying to sell in various forums.
Among other things, data about FIFA 21 is said to have been stolen
EA comments on the attack
This is what EA says: EA has confirmed the attack on the data to Vice Motherboard and also stated that the information regarding the contents is correct. The incident, in which a “limited amount of source code” and associated tools were stolen, is currently under investigation, an EA spokesperson told Motherboard.
The players’ private data, meanwhile, are safe: “There was no access to player data, and we have no reason to believe that there is a risk to players’ privacy,” said the spokesperson. “Following this incident, we have already implemented security improvements and do not expect any impact on our games or business. We are actively working with law enforcement and other experts as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.”
Hacker attacks can be a significant problem for video game companies. Such incidents happen repeatedly. Earlier this year, for instance, CD Projekt Red was the victim of a cyber attack. With the demands of the hackers, the developers then went public.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Valheim has announced its first major update Hearth & Home in a new blog post, including release and content. The update is mainly aimed at the Viking builders, but also provides fresh content for everyone.
When is the update coming? In a post on Steam, the developers of Valheim announced that Hearth & Home is supposed to be released in the third quarter of 2021 (via steampowered.com). That would be between July 1 and September 30 – potentially quite soon. The delay is mainly due to wanting to fix bugs first.
At the same time, they informed the community that they cannot keep the promised four updates this year. The roadmap will be revised accordingly. They also said they simply were not prepared for the influx of players who now want more.
What’s in Hearth & Home? In the developers’ post, they also introduce some of the new content. The new content is mainly aimed at players who use the building system of Valheim – which is likely a large part of the community:
new building components for roofs and windows made from “Darkwood”
expansions for the cooking station: a spice rack, a slaughter table, pots and pans
Additionally, there will be new foods and an overhauled system of stamina and health points. Food is an important factor in Valheim’s combat and provides you with strong buffs. With Hearth & Home, it should be possible to play a proper tank.
Finally grow onions!
A table full of new food.
The new expansions to the cooking station.
The new components on the roof.
The list is not yet complete. The mentioned features are merely a preview of what is to come, the developers said.
Vikings hunger for new content
Valheim was released in February 2021 out of nowhere and became a huge success, even ranking in the top 5 on Steam for a while. Several million Vikings have jumped into the world daily, farming, building, and fighting.
The survival game has numerous content for solo and co-op players, including five bosses that serve as the final challenge of their respective areas (“biomes”). In this way, Valheim is more or less divided into chapters.
However, many players have now “completed” everything and defeated all bosses. Currently, they only have the option to build more, make Valheim more exciting with mods or reinvent themselves.
Many are waiting for new content, which is finally supposed to come with Hearth & Home. Even content after the first update is already known, although its release is not yet announced. This includes three new biomes that you can already explore. However, the next one will probably not please many of you:
In Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 7 has started. In addition to a new theme and a battle pass, there are a few secret changes now found on the map. We present the secret things to you so you can discover them as well.
What’s going on in Fortnite? On June 8, 2021, Season 7 – Chapter 2 began. As seen in the trailer, the aliens have arrived in Fortnite and are likely planning an invasion.
The meeting also caused changes to the map, with new weapons and even spaceships now allowing you to fly over the map. But were there changes that you might not notice right away?
Secret changes in Season 7
Here we show you a few things that can now be found in Season 7 on the map. Some of you may not have noticed them yet, but it’s good to know in case you need them in battle or want to gather more info about the story.
1. Purple Names for Locations
What’s new? If you now look at the map during a round in Season 7, you will see that some named locations are displayed in purple on the map instead of white. This change is not just cosmetic, but serves a purpose.
If you land at a location marked in purple, you will find spaceships there. The color is meant to indicate where you will definitely find a UFO on the map.
This purple text is now new in Season 7
2. Conspiracy Board from Bunker-Jonesy
What’s new? This change is rather hidden, as it is located on the edge of the map near the NPC Bunker-Jonesy. If you visit his house now, you will find a conspiracy board there. The character seems to be collecting some information.
The board is even being expanded, and more pictures and drawings appear over time. You should pay Bunker-Jonesy a few visits if you want to know what exactly he is researching.
Bunker Jonesy seems to have his own theories about the alien invasion
3. Secret Underground Base of IO
What’s new? A base from the organization IO, which is literally hidden – it is located beneath Corny Complex. You can gain access through a secret entrance in a farmhouse above the base. This bunker contains all kinds of screens with clues about the aliens, weapons, and even how Rick from “Rick and Morty” ended up on the Fortnite island.
What’s new? That players like the bus driver in Fortnite is probably no secret since they started a petition to be able to thank the driver in the game. In every round, you can express your gratitude to the “hero” before continuing your journey. However, it doesn’t stop there in Season 7.
At certain NPCs on the map, you can now tip the bus driver. You can either give the bus driver a small tip of 500 gold bars or be particularly generous and donate 4000 gold bars. While this won’t give you any advantage, if you want to show your gratitude more clearly, you can leave a tip for the bus driver.
You can give the bus driver a small or large tip
5. Living Llamas on the Map
What’s new? Most of you will know the loot llamas – the creatures that are distributed as piñatas across the map. They were rare and hard to find, but those who were lucky were rewarded with a lot of materials, ammunition, and useful items.
After a long break, the llamas are back in the game, but this time very different from how you knew them. Because the loot llamas are now alive and can even run away from you. They are now harder to catch, but they appear more often in the game – while there were only a maximum of 3 per round before, you can now find up to 5 llamas.
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There are many things to discover in the new Season 7. Some changes might not be as relevant for your battles, but are still fun to know. There also seem to be some hints about the story hidden on the map. So, there could still be a lot coming our way before the aliens start their invasion.
What do you think about these secret changes? Have you discovered them yet or maybe even found more? Share your discoveries with us in the comments!
On the occasion of the upcoming MMORPG Ashes of Creation, MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski spoke with studio head Steven Sharif.
What will you learn here? The mind behind Ashes of Creation explained to MeinMMO:
why Ashes of Creation will not fall into the Kickstarter MMO trap
when his game will be ready for release
why he had a tough start as a game developer – without experience
The background to the interview: In 2015, Steven Sharif founded Intrepid studio to realize his big dream: to launch an innovative MMORPG that deeply resonates with the “classic MMORPG fan”.
Others keep pushing their milestones further back. The single-player campaign of Star Citizen was originally supposed to release in 2014. It is still far from ready.
You hear little about these games for years, although years ago it already seemed they would be released in a few months.
“The problems of Kickstarter MMOs fall into 2 categories”
MeinMMO: In the past, we unfortunately often had to report on the cancellation of Kickstarter MMORPGs before they were even released. The usual pattern is that these projects are too ambitious and ultimately cannot keep their promises. How will you ensure that this does not happen with Ashes of Creation?
Steven Sharif: When you look at where Kickstarter MMORPGs traditionally go wrong, it usually falls into two categories:
Either they run out of funding
or they expand the scope of their games so much that they become larger than they can handle.
In both categories, Ashes of Creation is solid. We are unique in that I am privately financing the game. The lion’s share of the funding is covered by me. Revenue from pre-orders and Kickstarter are support. In this regard, I have no concerns about the future of Ashes of Creation.
I will finance Ashes of Creation until it is finished, no matter what it costs, and I have the means to do so.
We do not have to answer to any publisher or investor. When it comes to quality, there are no deadlines pushing us.
However, I have a very clear definition of the systems in the game. Yes, it is ambitious, but I do not turn around every corner and add this and that system. This gives us clearly defined limits from a management perspective.
We have had our delays in the past. When I started and founded the company [Intrepid], I was new to this industry. I had never been a developer before. I was a player at first. I had my ideas about how the game should be, but my project management experience did not align with that of a developer.
At the beginning, I did not focus on bringing producers on board, but solely on development. When I brought producers on board to help with project management, new expectations for development emerged that delayed the process.
I have always been transparent with our community about this, through letters and letting them know that the game will be finished when it is finished. We keep you updated every month with our live streams. You get to see the progress.
Just trust that the game is in good hands, we are making progress, and we are working hard. I think this is the right way to approach it.
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In the MeinMMO podcast, we talked extensively about the problems of crowdfunding MMOs
“I don’t believe we need to launch perfectly”
MeinMMO: The point about ensuring quality until release and that it’s practically beneficial not to have a publisher, I have heard several times now. However, this has led to games really never getting finished. Have you set a point for yourselves when Ashes of Creation is considered finished?
Steven Sharif: Sometimes as a developer, you have the problem that you think everything has to be perfect [at launch]. That is true.
As long as the core pillars of Ashes of Creation function as we envisioned, we can have a successful launch. After the release, we still have plenty of time to refine systems further and iterate on them. We can release these as updates.
I don’t believe we need to launch perfectly. Players will see that throughout our further development through the alphas and betas. They will get a good picture and feel secure that we are ready to bring a nearly perfect game to market instead of a perfect one.
MeinMMO: What do you mean by the core pillars? Do you have examples for that?
Steven Sharif: Meaningful engagement, PvP systems in communities that connect players, factions, our node system.
You know, these are things we need for a reactive world that responds to the actions of the community. These are the design elements that really drive the meta of what Ashes of Creation is supposed to be. That sets us apart from other games that have launched in the past.
But we also have traditional systems. Our class system is largely quite classic. There are skills that can be leveled with skill points, and level and player progression are quite traditional. There is crafting, there is housing. These are the things players expect in an MMORPG.
The node system is essentially the central hub that determines how the world develops and how players experience the content. This should interest players the most. The [node system] is what they really expect us to do well.
What is so special about the node system of Ashes of Creation? The nodes are the most innovative idea of the MMORPG. The entire open game world is divided into zones where there are nodes, points of particular interest.
The nodes have their own level and can be upgraded by players through their actions in the respective zone. By questing, farming, or killing monsters, in other words, by gaining experience points, players automatically contribute part of that to the respective node.
As a node levels up, a small NPC base emerges at that point, which can ultimately develop into a huge metropolis.
“Game development is a difficult thing”
MeinMMO: You mentioned earlier that you were a novice in the gaming industry. How was it for you to start as an outsider in the industry?
Steven Sharif: It was very difficult and it is still difficult. Game development is a difficult thing. Software development is a difficult thing.
We have been at it for almost six years now. The first years were just planning and paperwork and then we went to Kickstarter. After that, production really began. Sometimes I feel like I had an early onset of Alzheimer’s because I had to learn so much.
I am the creative director and I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing about me, but I always want to learn as much as possible about everything that happens. I want to be able to talk to my developers and understand what is happening [in their work].
I tried to learn everything about design, about technology, about community engagement, about concept, art, animations, environments. There are just so many moving parts.
It was very difficult for me at the beginning to kick back. Now I feel more in sync with what happens. I have a very clear understanding of how things are developed. I now know how to work with my developers to effect change and influence the development cycle. That makes me comfortable.
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You can watch fresh alpha gameplay of Ashes of Creation in 4K here
“At the beginning, there were many naysayers”
MeinMMO: When we report on a new game, everyone always wants to know what the developers worked on beforehand. Do you find that people don’t trust you because you lack experience?
Steven Sharif: Yes, absolutely. At the beginning of the project, there were many naysayers who said: “What does this guy know about developing a game?” I am also a player and that is a valid argument.
Would I hire someone who has no experience in game development? Probably not. There are, of course, entry-level positions. But with the people leading the development, you want to see experience.
So if someone has concerns, I tell them that they do not have to follow our game. They do not have to buy Ashes of Creation. There are no advantages at release if one hasn’t followed Ashes of Creation from the start. There are no benefits from pre-order packages.
Those who doubt can just sit back and wait.
You know, I think we, as the MMORPG community, tend to be jaded when a new game comes out. The reason for that is because we have been burned. I once told Asmongold in a stream that MMORPG players are like a beaten dog. We were [constantly] shown this shiny treat and we were excited about it. When we get close to the treat, we just get beaten up.
So I understand this skepticism. I understand if no one wants to believe the hype.
So relax and let us do our thing. We will either release a great game or not. The key point is that you will get the opportunity to experience it yourself. […]
If we want to have new, innovative MMORPGs in the future, if we want companies that are ready to risk their money to develop these large games, then we as a community need to be willing to take risks and support those people.
That is what will keep the genre healthy. We need to accept failures, but we must not allow those failures to influence our perception of other potential games.
More from the interview is coming soon: I was able to talk to Steven for over an hour, which made the interview quite extensive. We will publish more in the coming days and link to it here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you are as powerful as an OP anime character in Destiny 2, you will probably be nerfed soon. Why is being too strong a problem in the action MMO?
This is what makes Guardians fun: When you feel really powerful as a player, soaring high through the air, dodging bullets and taking down half a dozen enemies with burning swords, you are having a blast in Destiny 2.
Bungie now explains why it’s “too anime” and why you will unfortunately need to be nerfed. We’ll take a look at how the Destiny developers design classes and why the balancing act between “Anime as Fuck” and balance is not always easy.
Where did Bungie philosophize about animes? Recently, the two leading Bungie developers Kevin Yanes and Chris Proctor were questioned by community experts for almost 3 hours. We have already dealt extensively with the important information from the conversation on MeinMMO here.
In the podcast, Chris Proctor dryly attests to anime enthusiasts: “People with anime characters as profile pictures are intelligent, rational, and I stop everything and listen to them immediately.” Quite funny, but the topic of anime is much more important when it comes to class balance and how powerful a Guardian can feel before it gets annoying for their teammates.
Movies and Series as Inspiration for Power Fantasy
It’s no secret that Bungie likes to cater to these “I feel like the greatest hero in the universe” fantasies. Many classes resemble iconic figures from cinema and comics: Captain America is the Void Titan, the Emperor is the Stormcaller, even Superman is represented, and for some time now, finally as strong as in the comic.
Especially with the Chaos Warlock, the “Dragon Ball” fanboy comes out in Yanes. The class is not overpowered, but it is at the top of the anime spectrum. The power fantasy here is Son Goku firing his iconic Kamehameha. There you have it, the community has been using this reference since the Super exists, and Bungie has now confirmed it.
Son Goku is a Warlock
Community experts then abruptly pull Yanes out of his daydream. They argue that, like in Dragon Ball, the power of the Chaos Warlock can’t be contained and just blasts through walls. Yanes admits, yes, that shouldn’t be the case; the team was always working on that.
However, as they will never completely separate the PvE and PvP sandbox in Destiny 2, such “Anime as Fuck” classes are unfortunately not sustainable in the long run.
This is how Bungie designed the OP Titan: Bungie also works with so-called power fantasies when designing classes. The overpowered Stasis Colossus was internally called the “Frost Hulk.”
According to Yanes, they had exactly the image of the Hulk in mind as he jumps between buildings and smashes aliens in the first “Avengers” film (2012). And this feeling was then implemented in the game – when the Titan entered the game far too strong.
You can check out what Yanes meant here:
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Especially Supers that last long after activation and can then score a ton of kills are at the top of the power fantasy scale. But players should not be as overpowered as a pumped-up Super Saiyan or anime villain.
It should be obvious that such an ice monster was too strong in the actual game, right? Yes, Bungie was aware of this and admitted that they brought the class live and assumed they would need to nerf it 3 or 4 more times:
Experts agree in the podcast that movement skills and Supers currently constitute a large part of a subclass’s power – especially in PvP.
This is the dilemma: Bungie looks at it from the victims’ perspective. Sure, it feels great. But it makes it no fun for others to not be able to hit a jumping, rolling, and sliding Hunter. When a Guardian flies around in full anime boss mode, everyone else doesn’t have such a pleasant experience.
In general, all abilities should have pros and cons.
When the Stasis Hunter combo terrorized the PvP, there was hardly a choice. Everyone played the combo or was at a disadvantage.
Movement skills like the “Icarus Grapple” or “Hunter Dodge” offer virtually no downsides and make classes with these abilities the top choice in PvP.
The Duskblade is “Anime as Fuck”
According to Bungie, continually ramping up the power of all other classes is not an option either. The rule remains, if you are too high up on the anime scale, a nerf is sure to come soon.
This is what the future should hold: Bungie wants to emphasize the “identities” of each subclass more strongly in the future. For example, the Nova Bomb should focus more on having the devastating, singular attack more often. Yanes describes it as, “Oh, I see red on the radar a room away, I have the solution for this problem [namely the Nova Bomb].”
Easy-to-land abilities should be weaker, but available more often. Heavy skill shots should pay off when they hit. Will that eventually apply to Jötunn too?
Bungie gives the all-clear: The game will never be as slow as in Destiny 2 Vanilla again. They just want to shift the focus more towards weapon play starting in Season 15 and rethink the role of abilities in duels.
What do you think of the anime scale that Bungie uses for the fun but also the power of a subclass? Would you like to be overpowered – because when everyone is OP, no one is OP – or is a balanced equilibrium important to you? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
