I bought a one-handed keyboard for my PS4 and PC – This keypad is so good for 25 €

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 5 minutes

Overall, the functionality of the keypad is rather limited. Because besides the nice lighting and the usual keyboard function, the device offers no special features.

Pro
  • sufficient illumination of the keys
  • decent haptic feedback and high-quality keys
  • membrane keys feel quiet and fast
  • space-saving on the desk
  • non-slip
  • additional macro keys simplify everyday gaming
  • fair price-performance ratio (20 – 25 euros)
  • generally works without issues with the PlayStation 4
Contra
  • macro creation does not always function as desired
  • limited functionality (no software)
  • support for the keypad on the PS4 depends on developers.

Is the keypad suitable for you?

Are you looking for an alternative to your controller on the PlayStation or just want more space on your desk? Then check out the keypad from RedThunder.

For me, the keypad definitely represented an interesting alternative to the standard keyboard. Once I finished my work, I pushed the keyboard back and picked up the keypad instead. This way, I suddenly had an enormous amount of space on the desk that I was not used to.

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Gaming is enjoyable and the keypad provides the essentials for a game of Overwatch and Co. Movement and all important functions such as special abilities are directly at hand on my keypad. However, if you suddenly feel the need to engage in textual disputes with your opponents in the middle of the game, the keypad limits you.

The mouse suddenly has plenty of space on the desk.

For which games is the keypad suitable? Particularly for fast games like shooters or action RPGs, the keypad is definitely suitable. For building and strategy games like Anno 1800, where I have many commands spread across the keyboard, I would still prefer the “proper” keyboard. Also, MMO players who use their numeric keypad will likely not be happy.

If you are considering buying the keypad for your game console, you should check beforehand whether your game on the PlayStation 4 supports external keyboards at all.

You can also read on MeinMMO which keyboard I would most recommend for gaming and home office:

Why Roccats Vulcan 121 is the best keyboard for gaming and home office for me

You want more space on your desk or are looking for a comfortable alternative to play on the PS4? MeinMMO author Benedikt Schlotmann has now bought a one-handed keyboard. And suddenly there is again space on the desk, and gaming has somehow changed. He shares his impressions in this article.

Usually, I prefer to work and game with a full-size keyboard. However, for gaming, I hardly need many parts of the keyboard. I hardly ever use the numeric keypad and many special keys never come into play, as my left hand is usually always in the WASD area of the keyboard.

This led me to consider getting a keypad. Keypads are additional input keyboards for PCs. They are smaller than a standard keyboard and also smaller than tenkeyless models (TKL). TKL models do not have a numeric keypad.

The keypad is limited to the absolutely necessary keys. Often, at the center of the keyboard, at the height of T, G, and B, it ends. But I usually don’t need more when I’m playing Overwatch or Apex Legends.

This is how I went about it: I looked at various keypads on Amazon and at my trusted electronics store. I value a pleasant haptic feedback just as much as proper lighting, as I also like to game in low light.

This is the product I decided on: Finally, I chose the one-handed keyboard from the manufacturer RedThunder. Compared to “real” keyboards, which can easily cost 100 euros, this one-handed keyboard cost around 25 euros.

The device is equipped with membrane keys (Rubber Dome). These keys are quieter than conventional mechanical keys, but they are not as durable. However, due to the price, I opted for the cheaper membrane variant.

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I have never had so much space on my desk as with this keypad

These are the advantages: The device can be easily connected to the PC or PlayStation 4 via USB cable. There is no software for special functions. The lighting and its brightness are controlled directly via the macro keys.

The lighting of the keys is decent and bright enough to play in the dark. However, you should not expect extensive lighting or options like those in the Roccat Pyro tested by MeinMMO from a 25-euro keypad.

The lighting is decent and sufficient for evening gaming.

The operation is, unsurprisingly, not particularly complicated. The one-handed keyboard only covers the left half of the keyboard and relies on a significantly shortened space bar.

The keys offer a pleasant pressure point and respond well to inputs, even though the membrane keys are no comparison to mechanical keys. They are quiet and hardly audible. The keycaps also provide a decent haptic feedback and feel good under the fingers.

The device also remains non-slip on the desk, even when things get hectic and I need to hit several keys quickly.

In the first round of Overwatch, it feels strange that I have both hands much closer together since the one-handed keyboard takes up hardly any space on my desk. However, I quickly get used to the situation.

Pleasant ergonomics when you want to game without a “proper” keyboard and don’t want to annoy your friends with clattering keys.

I also almost never feel like I’m missing any keys. Only the M is missing from the keyboard for the map function in various games, but there is the option for macro keys.

How does the device work on the PlayStation 4? The keypad is generally recognized without any problems as an external keyboard on the PlayStation 4, allowing typing and limited navigation through menus. However, whether the keypad works with PS4 games depends entirely on the game and not on the hardware. Games that support external keyboards on the PS4 include

  • Black Ops Cold War
  • Fortnite
  • Overwatch

and some other games. My current favorite shooter Apex Legends does not support my keypad, just as Genshin Impact does not. Just quickly connecting the keypad to the PS4 does not suffice.

Is the use of a keypad on the PS4 legal? Manufacturers like Hori or SplitFish have already launched licensed keyboards and mice for consoles (PS4 and Xbox). However, the community debates whether users who use a mouse and keyboard on the console have unfair advantages over controllers. The use is legal, but not well-received.

These are the disadvantages: Basically, I could assign the macro keys G1 (F1) and G2 (F2) on the keypad with macros. However, it works sometimes more, sometimes less.

I would like to assign the “M” to one macro key, as I need it for the map in Apex Legends or Genshin Impact. To do this, I begin with the macro recording and press “M” on my other keyboard.

However, it doesn’t all work right away and causes a lot of frustration, as the device does not tell me how to proceed. Sometimes the assignment works when I am in-game, other times I have to be outside the game in the desktop view. Frustrated, I then assigned the map function to one of my thumb keys on the mouse.

Overall, the functionality of the keypad is rather limited. Because besides the nice lighting and the usual keyboard function, the device offers no special features.

Pro
  • sufficient illumination of the keys
  • decent haptic feedback and high-quality keys
  • membrane keys feel quiet and fast
  • space-saving on the desk
  • non-slip
  • additional macro keys simplify everyday gaming
  • fair price-performance ratio (20 – 25 euros)
  • generally works without issues with the PlayStation 4
Contra
  • macro creation does not always function as desired
  • limited functionality (no software)
  • support for the keypad on the PS4 depends on developers.

Is the keypad suitable for you?

Are you looking for an alternative to your controller on the PlayStation or just want more space on your desk? Then check out the keypad from RedThunder.

For me, the keypad definitely represented an interesting alternative to the standard keyboard. Once I finished my work, I pushed the keyboard back and picked up the keypad instead. This way, I suddenly had an enormous amount of space on the desk that I was not used to.

Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.

Gaming is enjoyable and the keypad provides the essentials for a game of Overwatch and Co. Movement and all important functions such as special abilities are directly at hand on my keypad. However, if you suddenly feel the need to engage in textual disputes with your opponents in the middle of the game, the keypad limits you.

The mouse suddenly has plenty of space on the desk.

For which games is the keypad suitable? Particularly for fast games like shooters or action RPGs, the keypad is definitely suitable. For building and strategy games like Anno 1800, where I have many commands spread across the keyboard, I would still prefer the “proper” keyboard. Also, MMO players who use their numeric keypad will likely not be happy.

If you are considering buying the keypad for your game console, you should check beforehand whether your game on the PlayStation 4 supports external keyboards at all.

You can also read on MeinMMO which keyboard I would most recommend for gaming and home office:

Why Roccats Vulcan 121 is the best keyboard for gaming and home office for me

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

6 Tips for Tank Beginners in Final Fantasy XIV

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 8 minutes

Good tanking in Final Fantasy XIV requires some tricks. In our guide for newcomers, we explain what you need to pay attention to in dungeons and against bosses.

This is what it’s about: In FFXIV, like in many MMORPGs, the principle of “Holy Trinity” applies. This means that the jobs are divided into healers, tanks, and damage dealers. While the DPS deal a lot of damage and healers need to keep the group alive, it is the tanks’ job to maintain the attention of the enemies.

This is a task that comes with certain responsibilities and requires basic knowledge about the tank’s role in a group. Therefore, it can be difficult for MMO newcomers to step into this role.

With our guide and tips for tanking in Final Fantasy XIV, we want to alleviate your fear of tanking. You can find an overview of the tank jobs and their specifics in FFXIV in our detailed job guide:

More on the topic
Final Fantasy XIV Class Guide: Which Job Suits You?
von Irina Moritz

Hate, Aggro, Enmity – What is that?

These are the basics: The main task of a tank in MMORPGs is to keep the attention of the monsters on themselves and ensure that they do not tear the rest of the group apart. Accordingly, the tank must ensure in battle that they maintain the hate of the enemies.

Hate is referred to by different players as aggro, hostility, or enmity. If you should read these terms in a group chat, it refers to the same gameplay mechanic.

In FFXIV, holding hate is fundamentally very easy. If you activate your tanking stance before the fight (for example, Defender for Warrior or Tankiness for Dark Knight), almost all your actions will automatically generate massive amounts of hate. Therefore, there is no reason to turn off the tanking stance in dungeons.

If you continue to attack the enemies in battle, your hate will grow automatically and other players can hardly take it away from you. Against single enemies or bosses, you can simply use your combos; against larger groups, spam area attacks to hit all monsters and maintain hate.

Personal tip: When you enter instanced content in FFXIV, your tanking stance will often be automatically disabled by the game. Therefore, get into the habit of quickly checking your tanking stance when entering dungeons or boss fights.

I lost hate, why? In rare cases, it can happen that you lose hate while tanking despite being in tanking stance:

  • Your equipment is too weak: If you enter a dungeon with too weak weapons and armor, it may happen that players who are much better equipped steal the monsters from you. Therefore, always try to keep your equipment at the most current level.
  • Not enough AoEs: Most pulls in dungeons consist of multiple enemies. They must all be constantly attacked in order to maintain their hate on you. Most players will use their area attacks when there are 3 or more enemies, and as a tank, you should do that too if you want to keep hate.

However, maintaining hate is not the only task of a tank in FFXIV. To ensure that your dungeon runs and boss fights go smoothly, we have some basic tips for you.

Tip 1: Gather everything together

When you are in dungeons, you will repeatedly tank larger groups of enemies consisting of multiple monsters. These enemies are usually taken down by area attacks (AoEs) from your group members.

However, to ensure that the area attacks hit all enemies, the mobs need to be grouped properly beforehand. This simply happens by running ahead of the monster group and pulling them together behind you into a pack.

Keep in mind that not all area attacks from your group members are circular. For example, monks or dragoon have AoEs that hit enemies in a straight line in front of them. Try to consider this when grouping the enemies. This will make your dungeon run more pleasant for you and your group.

  • ffxiv tanking bad
  • ffxiv tanking good
Left: Example of poor mob grouping. Here the area attacks of the group would miss part of the enemies. Right: Example of good mob grouping

Tip 2: Avoid Cleaves

One of the basic rules when tanking in FFXIV is that the enemies must always be turned away from the other players in the group. This is especially important with bosses because they use special abilities known as “cleaves”.

Cleaves are often particularly strong area attacks aimed at the tank. They deal high damage and can take out some group members in one hit.

The tricky thing about cleaves is that they often come without warning. While most attacks in FFXIV are preceded by red circles, markers, or other visual signals, cleaves are often invisible. Only through short animations of the enemies can one recognize when such an attack is executed. The first primal in FFXIV, Ifrit, has such an attack, for example.

Most of the time, it’s bosses that execute cleaves, but there are also normal trash mobs that do it. Therefore, always try to turn the monsters you are tanking away from the group to avoid collateral damage.

In general, you should try not to stand too close to your teammates. Some of the so-called tank-busters, which are particularly strong attacks against tanks in FFXIV, deal area damage. If such a tank-buster hits a healer or DPS in the group because that person is standing next to the tank, they will be going down immediately.

Tip 3: Stand still

A good tank in FFXIV does not simply hold aggro and stay alive. As a tank, you have direct influence on the way the dungeon run goes. On one hand through the pull tempo or the enemy positioning, but also through your own movements.

The melee jobs in FFXIV all have positional requirements for some of their abilities. This means that skills deal more damage when they are executed from behind or the side.

Therefore, try to move as little as possible during fights and not to turn the enemies, unless necessary to avoid an area attack or to better position them. Just stand still and spam your abilities. The melee players in your group will thank you for it.

Personal tip: In boss fights, it may happen that the boss casts an area AoE on the spot where you are standing as a tank. During the cast time, the boss does not move. You can therefore sidestep the AoE and then return to your position. This way, the boss will not turn, and the melee players can better meet their positional requirements.

Tip 4: Get out of the puddles

During battles in instances, it is common for enemies to leave permanent puddles on the ground. They deal damage or inflict debuffs on players who step into them. As a tank, you should of course avoid these floor AoEs yourself.

On the other hand, you should also pull the enemies out of the puddles. This especially helps the melee players in your group. As mentioned above, their abilities have positional requirements. If the enemies spend the whole time standing in the floor AoE, the melee players will either take damage themselves or deal less damage because they cannot use positionals.

However, it can also happen that enemies are strengthened by such puddles. Therefore, it is always a good idea to pull monster groups and bosses out of their ground AoEs.

  • ffxiv aoe bad positioning
  • ffxiv aoe good positioning
Left: Example of poor positioning. The boss remains in the green poison puddle. Right: Example of good positioning. The boss is outside the poison and melee can attack from behind.

Tip 5: Watch for the good AoEs

While you should pull enemies out of damaging AoEs, there are good AoEs where you should stand still. These include all types of healer or ground AoEs. For example: Sanctified Ground of the Scholar, Refuge of the White Mage or Earthly Star of the Astrologian.

These AoEs heal you or reduce the damage you take. Therefore, you should stand in them as much as possible and position the enemies so that your group members can stand in the good ground AoEs while attacking.

There are also damage AoEs where you want to stay. The DPS job Ninja can place a puddle called Doton on the ground that deals continuous damage to enemies. When positioning the enemies, try to ensure that as many of them as possible stand in Doton.

  • ffxiv doton
  • ffxiv refuge
  • ffxiv earthly star
  • ffxiv sanctified ground
From left to right: Doton, Refuge, Earthly Star, Sanctified Ground

Tip 6: Use your defensive cooldowns

It may sound obvious, but using defensive cooldowns requires more than just firing them off. Generally, you do not want to activate all your CDs at once and charge into the enemy group. That would be pure waste.

It is also not a good idea to not use CDs at all, or only when you’re at 10% of your HP and barely hanging on. The defensive skills are meant to provide continuous aid for the healer. You should activate them in larger enemy groups sequentially to keep the damage consistently lower.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In the case of heavy tankbusters in raids, it makes sense to activate several defensive cooldowns. However, in dungeons at normal pull speed, it will not be necessary.

Personal tip: The ability Swap may not sound defensive but can and should be used as such in group pulls. It slows down normal enemies and ensures that they attack you less frequently. This, in turn, means you’ll take less damage.

Note: large pulls

During your tanking adventures, you will be grouped with experienced players in instances. Many of them have done these contents thousands of times and know them by heart. Accordingly, they are also used to a faster pace when pulling enemies.

It may happen that some group members run ahead and pull the enemies for you. This is not fun and can lead to annoyances, especially for newcomers. So if you are new and tanking for the first time, let your group know.

Try to coordinate with the healer to see if you are comfortable with larger pulls. If the healer agrees, you can attempt to pull more than just one group of enemies. It is definitely possible to survive more than one group if you use your defensive cooldowns and the healer is attentive.

More guides for FFXIV on MeinMMO can be found here:

Bonus: Small Tanking Lexicon

  • Hate, Aggro, Enmity, Hostility: Common terms for the enemies’ attention. As a tank, you must “hold hate” so that enemies do not attack other players.
  • Pull: The act of gathering enemies on the way through the dungeon or attacking bosses. A pull can also refer to a group of enemies (for example: Big Pull = several groups of enemies).
  • (Trash)-Mob: Common term for enemies in dungeons
  • Tank Stance: Tank stance. An ability that gives you a permanent buff with which you generate much more hate.
  • Voke / Provoke: Tank ability that immediately pulls the hate of an enemy onto you. Useful when one of the group members accidentally pulls hate.
  • CD / Cooldown: Abilities that have their own cooldown, apart from the global cooldown. For tanks, this refers to defensive skills that reduce damage taken.
  • AoE (Area of Effect): Area attacks of any kind
  • Tank-Buster: Heavy attack executed by bosses against tanks. Tankbusters are extremely strong and often need to be mitigated with cooldowns. Otherwise, the tank faces instant death.
  • Cleave: A heavy area attack directed at the tank. Cleaves are often not signaled by red markers and can hit players standing near the tank. Tankbusters can be cleaves but do not have to be.

What tips would you give to new tanks? Let us know in the comments, and particularly useful tips will be added to the guide with mention of your name.

Final Fantasy XIV is introducing new expansion Endwalker – Release date and all the information

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

300 people continue to work on Cyberpunk 2077 – But what about the multiplayer?

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

CD Projekt Red promises investors that Cyberpunk 2077 continues to be a top priority in 2021. More than half of the original team, about 300 people, are still working on the sci-fi epic. However, we at MeinMMO ask: What about the multiplayer online game for Cyberpunk 2077?

This is the situation:

These are the new updates: The head of CD Projekt Red, Adam Kiciński, addressed investors in a conference call to reflect on the first quarter of 2021 and open a perspective for the coming months.

Cyberpunk 2077 remains the main topic at CD Projekt Red. Looking back at the past months, it emphasizes that it has primarily focused on the stability of the game.

cr-projekt-red-timeline
Cyberpunk 2077 has already been improved.

In response to inquiries, it assures the investor representatives that about 300 people continue to work on Cyberpunk, approximately half of the original team. They are working on the “next-gen” edition, among other things.

Expansions for Cyberpunk 2077 are mentioned, multiplayer is omitted

What about multiplayer? The planned multiplayer mode was not a topic at the investors’ conference. The inquiries were rather about when Cyberpunk 2077 would return to the PS Store.

CD Projekt Red hints at bringing “paid, large DLCs” for Cyberpunk 2077, comparing it to the Witcher 3 expansions “Blood and Wine” and “Hearts of Stone.” If they release such larger expansions for Cyberpunk, they will not be free.

CD-Projekt-Red-Fixes
What’s next: Fixes and free DLCs, but no word on the multiplayer mode.

Cyberpunk 2077 Online seems to be far away

What does this mean for multiplayer? Those looking forward to the multiplayer mode of Cyberpunk 2077 can take away two things from the new information:

  • On one hand, CD Projekt Red continues to work on Cyberpunk 2077 – they are not giving up on the title
  • It seems, however, that the current focus is on improving the single-player game and developing paid DLCs

The work on the multiplayer component is currently not reflected in the presentation and plans of CD Projekt Red.

More on the topic
I already believe I know how the multiplayer mode of Cyberpunk 2077 will be
von Florian Franck

If everything had gone “according to plan,” the multiplayer mode would probably take up a significant part of such a conference, as the experience with titles like GTA 5 Online has shown that there is big money to be made here.

However, as things have actually unfolded, CD Projekt Red’s priorities have currently shifted towards the single-player mode and damage control.

In another presentation, it was stated that CD Projekt Red intends to focus on bringing “all game franchises online one day” – as it currently sounds, that “one day” is still far in the future.

Cyberpunk 2077 rethinks multiplayer mode – postponed or canceled?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Transkript Konferenz
  2. Präsentation AQ1

The 5 Best Battle Royale Mobile Games for Android and iOS 2021

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 6 minutes

The Battle Royale genre also offers some interesting titles for mobile devices. So if you want to experience thrilling fights on smartphones and tablets until the last person stands, check out our list on MeinMMO of the best Battle Royale games on iOS and Android for the year 2021.

What is Battle Royale? Battle Royale is a shooter genre that revolves around a large number of players, usually around 100, dropping onto a large area. The goal is to loot weapons and gear and kill each other at will.

The carnage continues until only one player (or team) is left. To prevent players from getting lost in the vastness of the map, the play area is gradually reduced by a deadly barrier, usually energy fields or gas. So to avoid dying, players must eventually leave their cover, and in the end, the last survivors meet in the end game in tight quarters.

This exciting, ever-changing gameplay makes Battle Royale a fun genre that also has strong representatives on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

These 5 mobile games you should keep an eye on as a Battle Royale fan

How we selected: In our list, we focused on 5 strong titles that initially have many players on Google Play and the App Store. Additionally, we made sure not to present yet another Fortnite- and PUBG clone, but rather focused on specific unique features.

But now enjoy our top Battle Royale games for mobile!

PUBG Mobile

What kind of game is this? PUBG Mobile is the mobile version of the classic Battle Royale game PUBG. The gameplay is therefore quite similar to its big counterpart and represents the standard Battle Royale game. 100 players drop onto a large map, collect weapons, and fight until the bitter end.

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What are the highlights? PUBG offers realistic graphics with Unreal Engine 4. There are several maps that you may know from the original, including Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok. The weapons are based on real firearms. There are no crazy fantasy weapons or sci-fi stuff here.

As a special feature, there are vehicles and even helicopters. In the special Payload mode, there are even more explosions, and if Battle Royale becomes too much for you, you can alternatively play in a 4vs4 deathmatch and a zombie mode. A unique feature of PUBG Mobile is the choice between first-person and third-person perspectives.

What are the players saying? On Google Play, PUBG Mobile has 4.3 stars and over 37,000,000 ratings. In the App Store, it has 4.2 stars and over 54,000 ratings (as of June 2, 2021). Players praise, among other things:

  • Joey Backer: ‘There are many Battle Royale shooters for mobile devices, but none are as polished as PUBG Mobile! Whether in first-person or third-person, the controls are freely configurable and everything is more smoothly animated than other games.’
  • Robert Herzog: ‘One of the best Battle Royale games available on mobile. It’s super realistic, and a round now and then is always fun!’

If you want to play PUBG Mobile, you can download it for free in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Call of Duty Mobile

What kind of game is this? This is the adaptation of the popular CoD franchise for mobile devices. You play as grim soldiers who shoot each other in a variety of game modes. You use numerous weapons, maps, and operators known from the originals.

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What are the highlights? The Battle Royale mode is just one of several modes that CoD Mobile offers. You can also play various competitive multiplayer modes like classic deathmatch in different forms or modes like Kill Confirmed (where kills must be confirmed by collecting tags).

However, if you want to play Battle Royale, you get a full-fledged mode, which is by no means a mini-version of the Warzone from the “big” CoD. Instead, you get a game mode that has some cool features:

  • Huge map with vehicles and up to 100 players
  • Upgradable weapons
  • Pre-customizable classes
  • Regular special events

What are the players saying? On Google Play, CoD Mobile has 4.5 stars and more than 13 million ratings. In the App Store, it has 4.7 stars and over 76,000 ratings (as of June 2, 2021). Players praise, among other things:

  • Terri Cadwell: ‘An absolutely great game and a wonderful pastime. Wonderful graphics and hardly any bugs!’
  • Hadi Naveed: ‘A very good multiplayer and Battle Royale game, but you need a good internet connection; otherwise, it lags.’

If you want to play CoD Mobile, you can download it for free in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Fortnite

What kind of game is this? While the other games presented here are either original mobile games or adaptations of known PC and console titles, Fortnite does not have its own, standalone mobile version.

Instead, mobile gamers play in the same game environment as all other Fortnite gamers. In theory, you can even play as a mobile gamer alongside players on console or PC. Thanks to cross-play and cross-progression, you can play a few rounds on PC and then continue on mobile with the same account and the same skins and achievements.

https://youtu.be/ak6O0P069cI

What are the highlights? Fortnite is a colorful Battle Royale shooter with a special feature: You can largely destroy the game world with the pickaxe and build structures and cover from the resources obtained.

Therefore, in Fortnite, it’s not just about good shooting skills. You also need to master the art of building cover quickly and gaining height with daring tower constructions.

Additionally, many new features keep coming into play during the constantly changing seasons. These include NPCs in the game, which make it appear somewhat like an MMORPG.

What are the players saying? Players appreciate the easy access to their favorite game on the go in the mobile version. However, Fortnite is exclusively distributed by Epic Games itself. The app must be downloaded via the Epic site and can only be installed from an external source. Since a lawsuit with Apple, the iOS version is no longer available.

Garena Free Fire

What kind of game is this? Garena Free Fire is a successful Battle Royale game that you may have never heard of. The game resembles PUBG Mobile in terms of appearance but focuses on shorter battles with 50 players that last approximately 10 minutes.

https://youtu.be/hMBx5jkNi1s

What are the highlights? Garena Free Fire requires less powerful smartphones than most competing titles and thus runs quite well on less powerful devices. The graphics still look decent.

In addition to fast-paced combat with up to 50 players, Garena Free Fire also offers numerous weapons, vehicles, characters with abilities, and even a well-functioning voice chat!

What are the players saying? On Google Play, Garena Free Fire has 4.2 stars and over 86 million ratings. In the App Store, it also has 4.2 stars with over 4,000 ratings (as of June 2, 2021). Players praise, among other things:

  • Emmanuel Richard: ‘I’ve been playing it for weeks, and it’s a really great game. The controls are excellent, and the graphics are realistic.’
  • Divine Gaming: ‘Very good game. The controls are good, the gameplay is super good, and the graphics are also good. I only sometimes have problems with the ping on some days.’

If you want to play Garena Free Fire, you can download it for free in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Battlelands Royale

What kind of game is this? This cute little Battle Royale game takes a slightly different approach than the games shown here. Here, only 32 players fight for the final victory. The characters are cute comic figures with big heads, and all the action takes place from an isometric third-person perspective.

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What are the highlights? Battlelands Royale is aimed at players who want quick, fun battles. The light-hearted fights are over in 3 to 5 minutes. You can also dive right into the action without spending a lot of time in lobbies. Battlelands Royale is therefore optimal for players who just want to quickly engage in a Battle Royale game on their mobile phone.

What are the players saying? On Google Play, Battlelands Royale has 4.0 stars and nearly 1 million ratings. In the App Store, it also has 4.5 stars and over 22,000 ratings (as of June 2, 2021). Players praise, among other things:

  • Maheel Hilall: ‘The game is indeed a lot of fun, and it’s better than most games I play. My only problem is the few game modes; that gets a bit boring after a while.’
  • John Watcher: ‘Top-down, twin-stick Battle Royale with fast, addictive games. Unlocking new skins is very grindy, but you don’t really need the skins. The core of the game is really fun; now the unlocking systems and the Battle Pass just need to improve.’

If you want to play Battlelands Royale, you can download it for free in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

So much for the recommended mobile Battle Royale games of 2021. Want more games where PvP plays a role, and you can compete with other players? Then check out this list here. We have introduced for you the best free PvP games on the iOS and Android platforms in the Google Play Store. Have fun trying them out!

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

New MMORPG reminiscent of Genshin Impact – What is The Legend of Neverland?

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 3 minutes

With The Legend of Neverland (Android, iOS), a new MMORPG has been introduced in Korea that is strongly reminiscent of Genshin Impact. It is said to be coming to us soon. We at MeinMMO reveal what the game is about.

What kind of game is this? The Legend of Neverland is a mobile MMORPG planned for Android and iOS. It is being developed by the Korean company Frima GameArk Global. It features a colorful and open game world and visually and gameplay-wise resembles Genshin Impact:

  • You create a character in an editor at the beginning and can determine gender and appearance
  • There are various classes with different weapons and abilities
  • The game features an action-packed combat system
  • You will be accompanied by different fairies that assist you in battle
  • You can expect typical quests like “Collect Berries” or “Kill Foxes”
  • You can acquire mounts
  • In the endgame, PvP elements, guilds, and an extensive costume system await you

When will the game be released? The Legend of Neverland is currently in pre-registration in Korea and is expected to be released here soon:

  • In the App Store, there is talk of an expected release on July 15, 2021 (via App Store)
  • The game has also been listed in the Google Play Store (via Play Store).

A first glimpse of the MMORPG is offered by this YouTube video from Gaming Mobile. The game was beta-tested at the end of 2020:

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The Legend of Neverland resembles Genshin Impact, uses the same monetization

This is how the game is perceived: So far, The Legend of Neverland is not playable for us in the West, but under the many gameplay videos on YouTube, a clear picture emerges. While people would like an MMORPG reminiscent of Genshin Impact, they are bothered by several things:

  • The battles and quests seem to offer little variety
  • The performance appears to be rather weak in many videos
  • The game is only coming to mobile platforms
  • The graphics and the entire game remind too much of Genshin Impact, but more like a worse version of it

On TapTap, a gaming platform from Asia, The Legend of Neverland currently has a rating of 7.2 out of 10 stars, but it only has 25 reviews (via TapTap).

More on new MMORPGs on MeinMMO:

Why the comparison to Genshin Impact? Both games feature almost identical art styles and colorful game worlds. The combat system and movement also immediately remind players of the action RPG by miHoYo. At the beginning, you are accompanied by a fairy that many compare to Paimon.

Also, it seems that the game uses some of the voices from characters in Genshin Impact, as some users point out in the comment sections of the videos.

The similarities between the two games were highlighted by video game analyst Daniel Ahmad with various images on Twitter:

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Both titles also resemble each other in their monetization methods. In The Legend of Neverland, you can acquire fairies that accompany you in battle. These are tied to a gacha system and require the use of real money currency.

However, there are also several differences between the games, including the MMORPG aspect, PvP, and character creation.

What do you think about The Legend of Neverland? Are you interested in the game or is the copy more off-putting to you? Let us know in the comments.

An additional MMORPG that closely resembles Genshin Impact is Tower of Fantasy. We have introduced it to you here in more detail: New MMORPG Tower of Fantasy looks like Genshin Impact – Here’s what you can expect.

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

6 Bundesliga players from FIFA 21 who need to get much better in FIFA 22

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 4 minutes

The Bundesliga season is over, but the next one won’t take long to come. Some players impressed last season so much that their ratings from FIFA 21 definitely need to be adjusted in the next installment. Which Bundesliga players should improve in FIFA 22?

What kind of list is this? Every year, the FIFA ratings play a major role for fans. Which players have improved? Which are getting worse? Who is suitable for their own Ultimate Team or as a star in Career Mode? They always spark major discussions.

The ratings are based on the players’ abilities in real football. Today, we take a look at some players from the Bundesliga who made a name for themselves last season – and who should receive improved ratings in FIFA 22.

André Silva

Here’s why André Silva needs to improve: The Frankfurt player impressed last season with an exceptionally strong ratio. 28 goals and 8 assists in 32 games tell a clear story and helped Eintracht Frankfurt secure a spot in Europa.

Andre Silva
The second-best scorer of the season behind Lewandowski should receive a better card

Silva is already surrounded by transfer rumors thanks to this strong performance. But wherever Silva will play: it’s certain that he will receive a noticeably better rating than his 79 in FIFA 21.

Silas Wamangituka

Here’s why Wamangituka needs to improve: The lightning-fast forward of VfB Stuttgart had a really good season with 16 goal contributions in 25 games. However, the season ended bitterly for him with a serious injury – otherwise the numbers might have been even stronger.

Wamangituka
The talented attacker should get an upgrade

Even in FIFA 21, the 5-star skiller was popular, especially in the silver modes, but also impressed with a strong TOTS card. However, his regular silver card is quite weak with 70 points. In FIFA 22, an upgrade is definitely deserved.

Angeliño

Here’s why Angeliño needs to improve: The Spaniard at RB Leipzig can be found almost everywhere on the left side of the field. He was active both defensively and offensively, preventing goals while also creating danger upfront.

Angelino
This is what the card looked like in FIFA 21

However, in FIFA 21, he only had a base rating of 80, which no longer reflects his value. An upgrade is due – similar to several other Leipzig players who ultimately helped the club secure second place behind Bayern. As a member of the Bundesliga TOTS, Angelino has good chances for an upgrade.

Wout Weghorst

Here’s why Weghorst needs to improve: The player from Wolfsburg is also someone whose numbers can simply speak for themselves. 20 goals and 9 assists in 34 Bundesliga matches is a strong ratio that played a significant role in VfL’s performance. In the end, Wolfsburg finished 4th in the table.

Weghorst FIFA 21
The tall Weghorst was extremely dangerous in the league

In FIFA 21, Weghorst had an 81-rated card, whose pace was its biggest weakness. This made Weghorst relatively harmless in play. FIFA 22 should improve on this.

Marvin Friedrich

Here’s why Friedrich needs to improve: Union Berlin surprised everyone this season and played really high in the table. Eventually, the Berliners finished in 7th place – thanks also to the strong performances of Marvin Friedrich.

Friedrich
The Union player is likely to receive a stronger card

The defender provided a solid defense, currently holds the highest market value at Union (via Transfermarkt.de), and is also the best-rated player of the club according to Kicker’s ranking (via Kicker.de). However, in FIFA 21 he only has a 74-rated card – so an upgrade is due in the next installment.

Andrej Kramaric

Here’s why Kramaric needs to improve: Two Inform cards and a Player of the Month award in FUT already indicate that Kramaric had a solid season.

Kramaric
Kramaric received a strong POTM card – will his Gold card in FIFA 22 trend in this direction?

No wonder: 28 games, 20 goals, 6 assists – the numbers are positive for Hoffenheim as well. His Gold card in FIFA 22 should therefore be significantly better than his current 82-rated card.

Whether all these players will even remain in the Bundesliga next season is still uncertain – after all, beside the EM, there’s also a transfer window coming up in summer. Meanwhile, FIFA 21 is still running the Team of the Season event, which is slowly coming to an end.

Which players do you think deserve an upgrade? Let us know in the comments!

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

The largest LoL team in the world sells naming rights for $210 million to a crypto exchange – Riot says: No

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

Team SoloMid (TSM) is the largest and most valuable esports organization in the world, especially known in League of Legends. They are also active in Valorant. TSM has sold its name to a cryptocurrency exchange in a huge advertising deal. However, Riot is restricting the deal.

This is the situation:

  • According to Forbes magazine, Team Solo Mid is the most valuable esports organization in the world. Its value is estimated at 410 million US dollars. In the USA, TSM’s LoL team is a legendary team, with great players such as Bjergsen and Doublelift having played here over the years. Furthermore, TSM has signed great content creators like Myth.
  • The team has now raised 210 million US dollars for a 10-year deal with the cryptocurrency trading site FTX. The deal stipulates that TSM will change its name to TSM FTX .
  • However, Riot prohibits TSM from appearing under this name in the LoL league LCS or other Riot Games events in North America.
FTX is a cryptocurrency exchange. In a ranking of all these exchanges, FTX ranks 271st. The most successful exchanges, according to this ranking, are companies like Binance, Huobi Global, and Coinbase Exchange (via coinmarketcap).

TSM is now called TSM FTX, and they are getting paid handsomely

This is the deal: In a press release dated June 4, it states that FTX Trading Limited and West Realm Shires Services Inc have entered into a “multi-year deal worth 210 million US dollars” with TSM. As part of this deal, FTX secures the naming rights to TSM, which will now be known as “TSM FTX”.

In addition to the 210 million US dollars, each player and every employee of TSM will receive one million US dollars in FTT, the cryptocurrency of FTX.

TSM says they want to invest the new financial resources further into gaming and esports over the next 5 years. They plan to open offices in Asia, Europe, and South America. Furthermore, they want to promote infrastructure and talent development.

The CEO of TSM, Andy “Reginald” Dinh, explains in the press release how great and innovative he finds the CEO of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, and how important the deal is for TSM.

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Important woman in LoL has 3 times Ärger in 2 weeks, has to take a lot of criticism
von Schuhmann

TSM explains the deal to its fans in a crazy Ant-Man-style video

This is how to sell it to the fans: In a video, they parody the character of “Luis” (Michael Peña) from the Marvel films “Ant-Man” and his unique storytelling style (via youtube).

The gag is that a complex story is told in nested flashbacks, where all characters gesture wildly, while the narrator speaks over it in his own voice, each character sounding just like the narrator and behaving atypically.

In the end, the story boils down to one single sentence: “We are changing the name.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEwgnOnEkgM
TSM parodies Ant-Man.

In the video, some of TSM’s stars and players make cameo appearances: for example, you can see “PowerofEvil”, the German midlaner of TSM.

Whether TSM will become stronger in LoL with all this money is an interesting question:

Riot prohibits new name at official events

This is what Riot Games says: The operator of LoL and Valorant, Riot Games, has made its position on the deal clear in a statement.

The esports head for North America, Chris Greeley, says to the US site Dotesports:

“While TSM’s sponsorship deal with FTX does not violate the sponsorship rules of the LCS; a crypto exchange falls under the category of sponsors that have restrictions. Therefore, TSM cannot use its new name and FTX advertising on jerseys in the LCS or at other esports events from Riot Games in North America.”

Chris Greeley

This is how TSM reacts: The CEO of TSM says that the deal would exclude the use of the name and jerseys in the official streams of Valorant and League of Legends. But FTX remains the sponsor of the LoL team and the Valorant teams of TSM.

The players will therefore wear the new name in their own content, live streaming, on social media platforms, and at personal events.

This has more visibility than the official stream of Riot Games.

Cryptocurrencies are currently among the biggest influencers in gaming and also seem to be a huge topic among esports folks:

Twitch streamer loses 8 million dollars, yells at viewers who advise him against gambling

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. dotesports
  2. reddit (Reginald Kommentar)
  3. Pressemeldung TSM

Destiny 2: The best exotic weapons in Season 14 – These Exos are currently meta

Sven Galitzki Sven Galitzki Reading time 4 minutes

Currently, in Destiny 2, the Season of the Splicer is in full swing, and some weapon exotics have clearly emerged as the meta. MeinMMO shows you which exotic weapons you should focus on in Season 14 – in PvE and PvP.

New season, new meta: Destiny 2 is currently in its 14th season. In every season, exotic weapons – both new and old – stand out as particularly effective for common activities in PvP and PvE. They define the meta – whether through a buff, seasonal mods, a new exotic masterwork catalyst, or simply through consistently solid traits.

We will show you which weapons are currently trending in light of the ongoing Season 14 and are particularly popular among Guardians due to their strength.

What does meta mean? The term can be used as an abbreviation for “most effective tactics available” – meaning the most effective tactics available. If something is meta, then it belongs to the strongest weapons or skills in the current patch that offer significantly more advantages than disadvantages – that’s why many informed players use the meta.
Alternatively, meta can also be used to describe something that goes beyond the actual game. The term can be translated from Greek as “over” or “beyond”.

Keep in mind: The selection is based on current trends, expert opinions, and personal experience. If you think we forgot any top performers, feel free to let us know in the comments. We will gladly expand this list hand in hand with you if needed.

Meta Weapon Exotics for PvE

The PvE meta is currently defined primarily by exotic weapons in the heavy slot, though generally grenade and rocket launchers are favored for effectiveness in endgame. However, the selection is not particularly diverse. The following weapons are especially recommended in Season 14.

Always the right choice for PvE endgame: The Anarchy

Heavy slot:

  • Anarchy: This grenade launcher is still absolutely unrivaled when it comes to passive damage over time in boss fights or against champions. Combine this weapon with the seasonal mod “Breach and Clear”, and you will become an overwhelming boss killer.
  • Deathbringer: Since the introduction of the corresponding catalyst, this rocket launcher is top-tier in terms of boss damage. And with the seasonal mod “Ghost’s Decree”, which allows you to create massive Sparrow Cells with this weapon, you are currently even able to obliterate large groups of trash mobs in seconds.
  • Xenophage: This heavy machine gun is still very strong at close to medium distances against bosses. Whether the bosses are wriggling or only have small crit spots, with the Xeno you can comfortably shoot without needing to hit special spots for maximum damage.In the new raid, you can even take out the Oracles with one-shot.
  • The Lament: This monster of a sword still dishes out massive damage, has a good ammo economy, and with its shield penetration is still an absolute top choice wherever it comes to shield champions.

Energy slot:

  • Divinity: For debuffing bosses and tough enemies, this fusion rifle is still a must-have for groups. This way, you can significantly boost your DPS from a safe distance. Your team also thanks you as the enemy crit spot becomes significantly larger.
  • Risky Business: This submachine gun is still quite situationally useful, but extremely handy and still very powerful in the endgame when playing against arc enemies or generally countering arc damage. Thanks to seasonal mod, it is also effective against overload champions.

Kinetic slot:

  • Witherhoard: Whether clearing ads or using the seasonal mod “Breach and Clear” to debuff champions and bosses – this exotic grenade launcher is absolutely recommended and is definitely worth the coveted exo slot in any group (often even solo).
Destiny Last Word Exotic Revolver
Shreds everything at close range in PvP: The Last Word

Meta Weapon Exotics for PvP

For the recommendations in the Crucible, the situation is quite the opposite. Here, most common alternatives can be found in the kinetic slot. Energy and heavy weapons offer fewer effective exotic options than in PvE. Generally, the PvP meta hasn’t changed much for a while, as very little has happened in PvP for some time.

Heavy slot:

  • Wardcliff Coil: To take out entire groups of enemies, this rocket launcher is still the first choice in the Crucible – especially as a masterwork.

Energy slot:

  • Cloudstrike: Anyone who can handle this sniper is capable, with a bit of luck (depending on enemy formation), of wiping out entire groups with just one shot. In the Trials, such a shot can already grant you the round victory.

Kinetic slot:

  • The Last Word: This hand cannon is particularly recommended in conjunction with a sniper and takes out enemies at close range like no other hand cannon.
  • Loreley Splendor: This scout rifle has quickly made its place in the hearts of the PvP faction and can be a deadly and precise tool in the right hands, capable of challenging even the most favored hand cannons in 1v1. With its catalyst, it can be fired accurately from the hip and can be really lethal.
  • Crimson: Health regeneration and automatic reloading after a kill make this special hand cannon a favorite among many Guardians.
  • Stay Frosty: This hand cannon has been popular in PvP for a while with its extra damage and radar in aim view. After the nerf of the 120s, it can still shine a bit more.
  • Chaperone: If you can handle shotguns, this weapon can be deadly at longer distances with just one precision hit and is therefore still very popular.
  • Bastion: This fusion rifle remains a top choice for Guardian duels. With good aim and precise timing, you can wipe out just about everything that comes your way at close range – including shotgun rushers and active supers.

Also interesting:

Did we completely forget a strong weapon or is your absolute top favorite missing among the currently best weapon exotics? Let us and other readers of MeinMMO know in the comments. What do you sacrifice your valuable exo slot for?

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

Palia could be the perfect new MMO for fans of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 4 minutes

The new MMO Palia focuses on fishing, farming, and housing. It aims to combine these elements with the social aspects of MMOs. It is developed by veterans who previously worked at Blizzard and Riot Games. In Discord, they have answered numerous questions and revealed new details about Palia.

What kind of game is this? Palia emphasizes the cozy aspects of an MMO. Instead of constantly battling huge monsters and crawling through stuffy dungeons, you should preferably build your own house in Palia and get to know your neighbors.

  • You play a human who can decorate their house with over 1,000 items
  • Various activities like fishing, farming, or hunting await you in the game
  • You can marry NPCs or form friendships with them
  • Fights are possible, but play a minor role

We from MeinMMO have already introduced you to the basics of Palia in this article.

In further interviews and in Discord about the game, many new details have been announced. It becomes clear that Palia primarily targets fans of games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley and wants to bring them into an MMO world.

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Palia does without player death and time gating

What we know about the game world: Palia is said to feature a large world that partially contains instances. The world can be explored on foot, but also with a glider. There will be a fast travel system so you don’t always have to cover huge distances.

Overall, the game world places a strong focus on the lore. You can experience this through conversations and books, for example. Additionally, players should be able to influence the story themselves.

One hour in the real world is supposed to equal one day in Palia. So there are 15 minutes each for morning, noon, evening, and night.

As of now, all houses in the game world are accessible. However, there will be certain times when NPCs lock their houses, such as at night when they want to sleep. The developers also promised many Easter eggs that players will be able to discover in the world.

Palia world exploration
Palia promises an open world with various creatures and secrets to discover.

What we know about character creation: Players creating a character in Palia have the choice between two body shapes, one of which is somewhat masculine and the other feminine. There will not be fixed genders. Both body shapes share the same hairstyles but have different faces.

Currently, character creation is kept simple, but many options are planned for the future. Elves will also be a race alongside humans. Whether there will be more races has not yet been revealed by the developers.

What we know about crafting: The developers emphasize that there will be no options like stamina, monetary investment, or waiting times that could restrict you in crafting or gathering. The currently known content related to gathering and crafting includes:

  • Hunting
  • Your own farm
  • Cooking
  • Fishing
  • Logging
  • Crafting your own gear
  • A possible animal taming system, which is only planned for the future

There has been extensive discussion about fishing. It is expected to be roughly based on the system from Stardew Valley and connected with a mini-game. The entry into fishing should be relatively easy, but there is a learning curve, so you will need to engage thoroughly with the mechanics.

What we know about housing: You earn your own house by completing quests for villagers. Your house and garden are instantiated and your retreat point, but other players can visit you and help with decorating in the future.

While furniture may not be placed everywhere, if you want your bed in the kitchen, you can do that. Overall, there should be no maximum number of items you can place in your house.

Your land always belongs to you, and there should be no ways to sell it. Also, stealing items will not be possible.

Palia Housing
Housing plays an important role in Palia.

What we know about the combat system: In the current version of Palia, there are no real fights yet. The most action-packed content is hunting, where you can hunt animals for food production. For this, you use the bow with a crosshair.

A combat system is planned for the future; however, there will be no player deaths and magic will also be omitted. Furthermore, there will be no Holy Trinity of tank, healer, and damage dealer.

Dungeons are planned for the future, but they should be done casually and without much preparation. A group should consist of up to four players.

However, the developers have repeatedly emphasized that all content related to fighting and all tougher challenges are optional. Those who wish to can experience Palia in a relaxed way. This also applies to possible PvP, which is possible in the form of challenges, but should never take place in the open world.

More on new MMOs on MeinMMO:

The first test is under NDA, the release is planned for as many platforms as possible

What we know about the pre-alpha: The pre-alpha is expected to happen in a few months, but not in “quarters or years”. For this pre-alpha, you can register (via Palia) and will be notified later via email if you are allowed to participate.

The first test is under NDA and will not contain all important features yet. However, progress made during the game will be deleted before the release.

What we know about the release: Palia is supposed to be released for PC. Additionally, a mobile version has high priority. In general, the release is planned for as many platforms as possible. If crossplay is possible, it shall also be implemented.

There have already been remarks about the release time frame. Palia is set to be released in “less than 3 years”.

Where can I learn more about Palia? Most of this information comes from the Discord about the game (via Discord). There you can ask questions to the developers in chat.

What do you think of the new MMO Palia? Does the concept appeal to you, or do you think combat is essential to MMOs? Feel free to let us know in the comments.

If you’re looking for an interesting MMO right now, you might find it in this list: The 15 currently best MMOs and MMORPGs 2021.

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

Damn! WoW BC Classic is much more fun than it should be

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 6 minutes

Actually, MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus just wanted to take a few rounds in the new WoW BC Classic and reminisce. Now he plays almost daily. How can a 14-year-old MMORPG that one has played for hundreds of hours be so fascinating?

When The Burning Crusade first launched back in 2007, I probably played it more often than my parents would have liked. Multiple characters at max level, daily dungeons, raids every week… and it was great.

I have certainly invested several hundred or even thousands of hours, visited Karazhan regularly, even when I didn’t need anything from there anymore, and even got into roleplaying. Burning Crusade is the expansion that made me a permanent WoW fan.

Accordingly, I was very happy when in 2019 WoW Classic was announced first and then finally Burning Crusade Classic was announced in 2021. Since June 2nd, the first expansion of World of Warcraft can be played again on the Classic servers.

Of course, I knew from the start that it wouldn’t be the same as before. Still, I wanted to check it out. I just didn’t expect that The Burning Crusade could captivate me a second time.

I fell in love – for the second time

I had planned to revive my old characters: a gnome warlock and a draenei paladin. I bought a somewhat hated boost because my plan was:

  • to start my draenei at the pre-patch on June 19
  • to boost the warlock first – he will be my main anyway
  • to play the paladin until BC finally starts
  • to switch at release and then catch up with the paladin later

The thing is… I fell in love with my paladin. For the second time. The first levels were a bit tough, but the further I got, the more I remembered why I liked the class back then.

wow bc classic draenei wave
My draenei was supposed to be just a twink – now she is my main.

Leveling takes a long time, I probably needed an hour per level from level 30 or 40, sometimes more. But it was worth it. The experience wasn’t just slow; it was decelerating.

At a time when the next big thing is always on the horizon, and you expect something to happen all the time, and you’re always under pressure… it’s nice to take your time. To have to take your time to achieve something you want to achieve. A nice bonus: every new piece of gear is a little highlight for that extra dopamine boost – or whatever that stuff is called that makes you happy.

… and then I reached level 40

As a tank, the paladin in BC is really strong. With the pre-patch, he receives proper taunts and some adjustments that allow paladins to hold aggro quite well in a group – thus preventing the DPS buddies from taking all the hits by standing in for them.

At first, it’s a bit tricky because the actually strong abilities are still missing. The first few levels, I also played with a two-handed weapon despite being a tank – it was easier.

Then I reached level 40 and got a core talent of the tank paladin, the holy shield. With this ability, the paladin increases his block value and deals holy damage with each block, generating additional threat.

With 2-3 seconds to “initiate” it is now almost impossible for DPS to take the “aggro” from me. That was the point when I realized what I am generally missing today in MMORPGs and in retail WoW: communication.

wow bc classic heiliger schild paladin
Holy Shield is enormously important

I am talking to people again – how strange … and wonderful

As a tank in Classic, it is important to communicate with your teammates. Briefly stating what you plan to do with the enemies, where you position them, or when the DPS players can start dealing their damage is just part of it.

In retail, this hardly happens anymore. In random dungeons, it is usually enough for a tank to just stand in front of the enemies and give them an angry look. There are hardly any threat issues anymore. Chats in dungeons often show only a “hey” and a “bye,” if they are even used.

The only big exceptions are rated PvP matches, mythic raids, and the toughest dungeons. Here I still talk with my guild and the group, even over the microphone, but in general, communication in WoW and many MMORPGs is hardly necessary anymore in this way.

In classic content as well as in the BC content, there were always moments where I did some quests together with people from the surroundings or even talked to them after dungeons. Especially in times when much communication is only digital, if at all, such encounters are simply something beautiful.

The world is full and I want more of it

What I noticed while leveling, but especially in Outland, is the sheer number of players. Even though there is “layering” that divides players into different phases, there are tons of characters everywhere.

wow bc classic ehrenfeste taverne spieler
The inn of Honor Hold on the Hellfire Peninsula is packed.

This is something you don’t see in retail anymore. If at all, you might still meet in dungeons, but the outside world and the cities are largely empty due to phasing and because everyone is wandering around somewhere but has little reason to gather.

This made it clear to me why so many people preferred Classic over Retail. It’s a nice feeling to see that the world is lively, and you are not standing alone.

Before the release, I already wrote that I welcome the changes of BC Classic and even wished for cross-realm features. By now, I have to revise that opinion: I truly understand why people enjoy seeing and meeting “their own people” again and again.

However, I still believe that layering is still useful to a certain extent, after all, it led to an excellent start for BC Classic – at least until the trolls showed up.

More about WoW Classic on MeinMMO:

The unexpected: new old memories

My big fear about BC Classic was that only a few old memories would come flooding back and I would set the game aside again after a while. Just a quick nostalgia kick and then on to the next game.

What I didn’t expect was that I would have completely new experiences. After all, I basically completed TBC back in the day, so what new could I possibly discover?

In fact, while leveling alone, I had a few situations that have already burned themselves into my memory. Things I never noticed before or maybe had already forgotten.

This was helped by Questie, one of the best addons I could find for BC Classic. Questie shows available quests – even completely off the beaten path. I found several tasks that I didn’t even know existed.

“Damn, they’re taking my wrath away?!”

However, one particularly memorable situation arose in Burning Crusade itself, more precisely in the Blood Furnace, one of the first dungeons of the expansion. There are indeed enemies that can remove players’ buffs (“purge”).

WoW TBC Classic Dungeons Blutkessel
The entrance to the Blood Furnace on the Hellfire Peninsula.

With a paladin tank, it can happen that they remove Wrath of Justice here. The spell increases the threat that the paladin generates with holy damage and is the reason he can tank at all.

I used to be a healer, not a tank. It surely took three or four DPS deaths for me to realize that I was missing important buffs. Annoying, but after the “Aha” moment, I learned something about my class. A nice feeling!

Now I am all the more looking forward to reliving all instances and especially my favorite raids – this time from a completely different perspective.

More on the topic
With TBC Classic, the best raid of WoW returns
von Benedict Grothaus

BC Classic will be great, but it won’t last forever

As much as I am looking forward to grinding the heroic instances, visiting Karazhan, and kicking both Illidan and Kil’jaeden’s butts (again), I know very well: it will eventually come to an end.

TBC is completed content, just like WoW Classic. I know what will come and I won’t be surprised by much, even if I can have new experiences. I already know which items I will need later and what I will need to work towards.

The feeling of “new” is therefore not completely there anymore, but I also don’t need that. I don’t want to think about the fact that this will all be over one day; I just want to live in the moment.

That’s why I am taking my time leveling, looking for a guild to play with at 70, grabbing a few friends, and simply experiencing BC Classic… for the second time. Because the last thing I want is a complete “rush” to level 70 and experience everything immediately – like the players who finished all content within 24 hours.

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

We talk about the appearance of women in games – News in the podcast

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 2 minutes

Last week, discussions in gaming revolved around the appearance of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West and a Kickstarter MMO that turned into a fiasco.

These are the topics: A major controversy arose last week regarding the appearance of the protagonist Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West, who was given makeup in an edited image. The MMORPG Dreamworld reportedly made too many promises to its backers during the Kickstarter campaign. The vast world with absolute freedom faces serious issues with stolen assets and nepotism.

Another MMORPG, Swords of Legends Online, also sparked discussions when it introduced open-world PvP just before the launch of the 2nd beta test. Minecraft was embroiled in a scandal over cheating in speedruns.

Also, send us your opinion on this week’s topics. We not only present them but also discuss them and give our thoughts. Talk to us in the comments.

Participating are:

Here you can listen:

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Here you can follow the podcast:

In addition to the weekly recap, there are also occasionally thematic podcasts that cover larger events or games. For example, we discussed crime in online games in detail.

Suggestions or Criticism?

Here’s how you can contribute: You can actively participate in improving the podcast. If you have feedback such as suggestions or criticism, or if you simply want to submit a cool topic proposal that urgently needs to be discussed, then check out our Discord server.

Alternatively, you can also directly send an email to [email protected] and share your thoughts with us. Write us your opinion and discuss with us!

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

2 new MMORPGs have announced their release date for 2021

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 2 minutes

From May 31 to June 6, there was a lot happening in the MMORPGs. Two new expansions were released, and two new games announced their release dates, while two others at least provided a release window. We at MeinMMO have summarized all the important news of the week.

The highlights of the week:

The developers of Swords of Legends also talked about the release. It is mentioned “a few weeks after Beta 2”. Bless Unleashed, on the other hand, has delayed its release somewhat. Additional optimizations are supposed to be completed in mid-July, and the release is still expected “in summer 2021” (via Steam).

What were other highlights?

This week’s discussion: In Retail WoW, there is a prolonged content drought. Cortyn from MeinMMO believes: WoW: Shadowlands has lost, no matter what Blizzard does now.

New dungeon for Black Desert, more events in Guild Wars 2

This is what happened this week in the major MMORPGs:

  • WoW and ESO both released an expansion.
  • Black Desert released a new video for the upcoming cooperative dungeon Atoraxxion (via YouTube).
  • Guild Wars 2 made two new episodes of the Living World available for free, where an achievement is currently bugged (via Guildnews).
  • For Final Fantasy XIV, we at MeinMMO created a guide with all fashion accessories and how you can find them.

This week in the smaller MMORPGs:

This is what happened in the MMORPGs in development:

This was the overview of this week’s news from the world of MMORPGs. What was your personal highlight? Did you experience something exciting this week? Or did we forget something important? Let us know in the comments.

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

Pokémon GO: “Just a Bite” for 1 € – All Ticket Contents for Kaumalat

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

In the shop of Pokémon GO, you can currently find the €1 ticket for the Community Day featuring Kaumalat. Check out all the quests and rewards on MeinMMO to find out if the purchase is worth it for you.

What is this ticket? For Community Days in Pokémon GO, Niantic has been releasing tickets for about €1 in the game’s shop for a long time. By purchasing the ticket, you unlock a special research task that is related to the Community Day for your account.

In the following overview, we show you all the quests and the associated rewards that you receive when you purchase the ticket “Just a Bite” for the Community Day featuring Kaumalat. This will help you decide whether the purchase of the ticket is worth it for you.

Where can you get the ticket? Open Pokémon GO and visit the shop. Below the boxes, you will find the category “Global Events”. Here you can find the ticket for GO Fest 2021 and also the ticket “Just a Bite”. If the ticket has a different name for you, you may need to restart the app.

Ticket for Community Day with Kaumalat – Research

Where does the information come from? Due to the time difference, the Community Day featuring Kaumalat already started in other parts of the world. Trainers took screenshots of the unlocked €1 research task and shared them, among other places, on reddit. The following overview is from the website Leekduck.com.

Kaumalat Research for C-Day 1/4

TaskReward
Use 10 Power-Ups
on Pokémon		15 Poké Balls
Catch 15 KaumalatEncounter with
Kaumalat
Make 5 great throws20 Kaumalat candies

Stage reward: For completing these three tasks, you will also receive 2,000 Stardust, 1 Incense, and an encounter with Kaumalat.

Kaumalat Research for C-Day 2/4

TaskReward
Catch 15 Kaumalat30 Kaumalat candies
Send 10 PokémonEncounter with
Knarksel
Evolve 3 Kaumalat10 Silver Berries

Stage reward: For completing these three tasks, you will also receive 1,500 experience points, 1 Incense, and an encounter with Kaumalat.

Kaumalat Research for C-Day 3/4

TaskReward
Make 3 excellent
Curveball throws		50 Kaumalat candies
Evolve 1 Knarksel1 Lucky Egg
Send 10 Pokémon15 Ultra Balls

Stage reward: For completing these three tasks, you will also receive 2,500 experience points, 1 Rocket Radar, and 15 Hyper Balls.

Kaumalat Research for C-Day 4/4

TaskReward
Already completed2 Silver Berries
Already completedEncounter with
Kaumalat
Already completed3,500 XP

Stage reward: For completing these three tasks, you will also receive 3,000 Stardust, 2 Rare Candies, and an encounter with Knakrack.

More about Pokémon GO

Is the purchase of the ticket worth it?

Things to consider: The actual value of the items you receive through the rewards exceeds the purchase price of €1.

  • A Rocket Radar costs 200 coins, which is about €2
  • A Lucky Egg costs 80 coins, which is about 80 cents

In addition, there are 5,000 Stardust (minus the Power-Ups), berries, balls, XP, and encounters with strong Kaumalat. If you were planning on buying the items from the rewards anyway, then you are getting them cheaper at the moment.

If you are not interested in the items from the rewards at all and do not need any additional strong Kaumalat in your collection, you can also ignore the ticket.

What do you think about this time’s ticket for the Community Day? Is this something you want to buy, or are you playing the event for free? Feel free to share your opinion here in the comments on MeinMMO and discuss with other trainers.

Pokémon GO will soon challenge you with new quests for raids

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

Buy RTX 3080 Ti – who is the new Nvidia graphics card worth it for?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 5 minutes

Nvidia has introduced the fastest graphics card after the GeForce RTX 3090. But for whom is the graphics card worth it? MeinMMO presents an in-depth overview of the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and explains what interested parties should pay attention to.

With the RTX 3080 Ti, Nvidia has released a graphics card that fits between the currently fastest graphics cards:

  • The GeForce RTX 3080, which offers 4K performance and is officially available for 699 euros RRP in stores
  • And the GeForce RTX 3090, the currently fastest graphics card, aimed primarily at enthusiasts and professional users, which is expected to cost 1,499 euros RRP
  • The RTX 3080 Ti aims to position itself between the two graphics cards with its 1,199 euros RRP and fill a niche.

Currently, there are no graphics cards available at the normal recommended price. Right now, you have to pay a hefty premium for every graphics card. We already explained that the high price of 700 euros and more is not worth it for the RTX 3060.

But how does it look with the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti? MeinMMO is looking at the first independent tests and explains who might find the purchase of the graphics card worthwhile. We will also mention alternatives that are currently available for interested parties.

High performance of the RTX 3080 Ti – The price: far too high

So far, some independent testers have had the chance to test Nvidia’s new graphics card. Here are some results:

  • Our colleagues from GameStar describe the RTX 3080 Ti as the “real gamer flagship from the RTX 3000 series” (via GameStar.de). With this graphics card, gamers get the best performance
  • PCGamer’s testers also praise the new graphics card: You get more or less the gaming performance of an RTX 3090 at a lower price (via PCGamer.com). It also offers excellent performance with ray tracing enabled.
  • The German magazine ComputerBase also tested the graphics card (via Computerbase.de). Here the conclusion is less positive: The RTX 3080 Ti is far too expensive and the RTX 3080 is usually the much better alternative. Because the RTX 3080 Ti offers no “killer feature” and a reason why gamers shouldn’t just opt for the RTX 3090.

How fast is the RTX 3080 Ti? The RTX 3080 Ti shows its strong performance especially at a resolution like 4K. Because here, custom models (graphics cards that are not by Nvidia) are a few percent ahead of the RTX 3090.

In overall performance, the Founders Edition of the RTX 3080 Ti is only 2 percent behind the RTX 3090, but 11 percent ahead of the RTX 3080.

In smaller resolutions like WQHD (1440p) and Full HD, the performance advantage is barely visible. In WQHD, the RTX 3080 Ti is only 9 percent ahead of the RTX 3080, in Full HD only 7 percent. Compared to the RTX 3090, the RTX 3080 Ti lags behind by 3 percent (WQHD) and 1 percent (Full HD).

The average performance of the RTX 3080 Ti in direct comparison. Image source: ComputerBase.de

The price is criticized: Some testers especially criticize the price of the new graphics card. The RTX 3080 Ti costs 1,199 US dollars and is thus 500 euros higher than the RRP of the GeForce RTX 3080.

However, there are also voices saying that prices in the current situation don’t matter. Although the prices are already not appropriate, the graphics card is likely to cost double in two weeks anyway.

Nonetheless, major hardware experts on YouTube like JayzTwoCents question what sense it makes to release another high-end graphics card at a price that hardly any buyer can afford (via YouTube.com). In a survey here on MeinMMO, it became clear that very few of you are willing to spend much more than 1,000 euros for a graphics card:

More on the topic
When buying the graphics card, you have a pain threshold, but it’s quite high
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Is the memory of the RTX 3080 Ti sufficient? The RTX 3080 Ti offers 12 GB of video memory, which is 2 GB more than the RTX 3080, but less than the RTX 3090. Because the latter offers 24 GB.

However, tests show that 12 GB of memory is quite sufficient for the RTX 3080 Ti (via pcgameshardware.de). In demanding games, Nvidia’s efficient memory management ensures that you can play uncompromisingly with 12 GB of video memory.

In resolutions higher than 4K (5K and more), the 12 GB of the RTX 3080 Ti are indeed a bit tight, but still better than the RTX 3080 with its 10 GB of video memory.

RTX 3080 Ti or the RX 6900 XT – Which graphics card is the better choice?

If you mainly play in Full HD and WQHD, you can also go for AMD’s RX 6900 XT, as it offers a similarly strong performance for 200 euros less. At higher resolutions like 4K, the RTX 3080 Ti takes the lead again. Also, if you’re very concerned about efficiency, then the Radeon RX 6900 XT is the better choice as it consumes less power. The larger memory of the RX 6900 XT (16 vs. 12 GB) is also a point in favor of the Radeon graphics card.

However, if you want to get the most out of ray tracing, there is still no way around Nvidia. With DLSS, another point speaks for Nvidia’s graphics card, but AMD is closely following the competitor.

Before purchasing, you should make sure: Is it worth spending 500 euros for the 10 to 15% more performance compared to the RTX 3080?

Because if you are willing to spend four-digit amounts on a graphics card, you could also go for the RTX 3090, which is then not that far away in price. The RTX 3090 offers 24 GB of VRAM, meaning even more video memory than the RTX 3080 Ti, which is only equipped with 12 GB.

For whom is the RTX 3080 Ti worth it?

  • You want uncompromising gaming performance, then you get with the RTX 3080 Ti similar power as with the RTX 3090, but at a lower price and smaller size (only Founders Edition).
  • If you have the money for the graphics card and want to spend it. You get one of the fastest graphics cards available (if it is available).
  • You want the best possible ray tracing performance.
  • You play in 4K or want at least triple-digit FPS values in WQHD (1440p).

For whom is the RTX 3080 Ti not worth it?

  • If you don’t have 1,200 euros for a graphics card. The RTX 3080 Ti is one of the most expensive graphics cards that you can currently buy.
  • If you need to upgrade other components beforehand to prevent them from limiting the graphics card. If you want to upgrade from an RTX 2080 Ti to an RTX 3080 Ti, you may need a stronger power supply.
  • If you can forgo high ray tracing performance or mature DLSS.

Regarding DLSS, both AMD and Nvidia graphics card owners can soon look forward to exciting news. Because AMD’s DLSS alternative is coming in mid-June and aims to support both AMD and Nvidia hardware.

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

5 player types in CoD Warzone that you definitely don’t want in your lobby

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 6 minutes

If you are not currently battling with a thick Bertha in solo mode, Call of Duty: Warzone is fully geared towards team play. However, there are quite a few player types lurking in the depths of the internet that you’d rather not have in the lobby. With a wink, we’d like to present 5 of them to you on MeinMMO.

A battle royale like Call of Duty: Warzone is most fun when played in a team. If communication works and players are roughly on the same skill level, frustration is rare and most matches are enjoyable – even without victory.

But there are these types of teammates that you could gladly do without. In our slightly tongue-in-cheek list, we present you with 5 annoying player types that aren’t necessarily needed in your lobby. You might even recognize yourself as one of them.

Snacker – The Disturbance in the Line

What kind of player is this? A loud, often hungry player type. The Snacker is usually busy with other things while gaming. This player is often well-prepared – snacks are ready, drinks are on standby, and the controller is fully charged. Ideally, he would be a great teammate; if it weren’t for the constant rustling and ongoing noises from the background.

Constantly with a bag of chips in their mouth, the Snacker always keeps things lively, and even a spontaneous visit in real life won’t stop them from continuing to game with their annoyed crew. It just misses some loud music in the background. Ah, there it is already…

How does this player perform in Warzone? Not badly, but a Snacker always leaves potential on the table. This player type is easily distracted by their surroundings. One might miss a respawn because checking their phone is more important. Or in a critical firefight, the Snacker arrives late because they need to wipe their hands before returning the chip hand to the input device (not wiping hands would be worse).

And then there are those constant noises – adjusting the audio settings to hear footsteps better doesn’t help.

But when the Snacker is fully engaged, they are fit and can help the team. You just have to catch the right moment – somewhere between 12 and noon.

cod warzone player types chips
A load of chips in your ear is usually unpleasant.

Know-It-All – Often more annoying than going down

What kind of player is this? Definitely one of the most talkative player types. The Know-It-All has an opinion about everything and loves to share it with everyone. The interest in the statements is usually secondary. What matters is that someone listens and that it is said by the Know-It-All. Unfortunately, during the conversation, you often realize too late that hot air is being sold as the “wisdom of the day”.

But woe betide you if you express your own opinion. You’ll immediately get a 20-minute monologue explaining why the exact opposite makes way more sense. Just being contrary for the sake of it.

How does this player perform in Warzone? Better than expected. In fact, a Know-It-All often knows interesting mechanics or playstyles that you should try. This player type has been polishing their “know-it-all” status for their whole life and to not look like a fool, they have indeed acquired a lot of knowledge.

But it can be incredibly annoying when even successful actions are burdened by a challenging “but” that brings down the mood. If an action goes wrong, it just becomes stressful.

division 2 episode 3 is worth it maik title
Even the author sometimes shows the Know-It-All…

Full Noob – We all started somewhere, but…

What kind of player is this? An inattentive, but at least communicative player type. A Full Noob stumbles from one “unfortunate” situation to the next and lets their entire thought process be taken over by their teammates. This is generally not a problem when starting a new game – but the learning resistance is the frustrating factor with the Full Noob. You can explain something twice at least. By the 5th time, however, that’s it.

We all started somewhere, but if the same mistake keeps happening after countless hours, then one remains an amateur forever – that’s the Full Noob. We should always help Noobs. They ensure that our favorite game becomes bigger and stays alive. But sometimes the price is too high.

How does this player perform in Warzone? As poorly as expected. And unfortunately, that often bothers others. You get a bad feeling when the promise “I’ll cover you” comes from a Full Noob. You should always keep an eye on the kill feed to see if the full-noob teammate goes down. You won’t get a call that an enemy is approaching, as that would be somewhat helpful.

However, if you quickly realize that your teammate is willing to learn and grow from their mistakes, you should persevere. In the end, a new teammate on your level could emerge.

Improving in Warzone?

Chiller – When it takes a little longer

What kind of player is this? A tea-drinking and rather leisurely player type. After each round, you have to quickly start the next one and hope that the Chiller is briefly distracted. Between the matches, they always find a reason to quickly get something done. For example, making tea, doing the dishes, preparing food, or calling mom. All the things that normal players tend to neglect because we want to game.

The Chiller manages to get all this done in between. You’re supposed to take a 15-minute break after playing for 60 minutes – don’t you adhere to that?

How does this player perform in Warzone? Helpful but often absent during crucial moments. Timing is the basis for successful plays in Warzone, yet the Chiller completely fails here. Sometimes they miss the call to attack, other times they spend an eternity at the loadout box trying to decide.

This often puts them and their teammates under time pressure and stress – kryptonite for the Chiller. Because once the circle is closing in or stressful situations require good coordination, you lose the Chiller.

cod warzone player types fine hammocks
A little break is nice – but preferably later.

Rager – When yelling is the only option

What kind of player is this? Probably the most helpful player type on the list, but also unpleasant. The Rager loves to sweat and is always focused on winning – almost always. Too often, anger bubbles to the surface, which also affects the Rager’s performance. If something goes wrong, it almost always ends up in a tirade.

It doesn’t matter if their teammates are still fully engaged in the game – first, the anger must be released, and the Rager needs to complain loudly. Preferably to teammates. It would be even worse if the Rager were actually responsible for the mess. And if the infamous “tilt” kicks in, only trolling and yelling remain.

How does this player perform in Warzone? A strong teammate who can keep up. However, the regular outbursts of anger make it hard to tolerate them for long. The biggest trigger for the Rager is the Gulag, as the respawn mechanism doubles the hate: first, the KO in the match, and then even the duel for the re-entry goes wrong. You can count down to the next exaggerated insult in your head.

But if you catch them on a good day when the sun is shining in the Rager’s heart, it can be a lot of fun. If you can’t stand the screaming of your rage teammate, then ghost the Rager for a few years. They all become calmer with age.

Which player types does the author identify with? I try (almost) always to be a nice and helpful teammate. However, I regularly catch myself fitting into all categories:

  • Snacker: A handful of chips is fine when I’m down. I can surely hear the enemies’ footsteps like this.
  • Know-It-All: I work as a Warzone author – it’s only logical that everyone wants to hear my tips right away.
  • Full Noob: Obviously, I have to reload after every shot – I don’t care what MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus has for “smart” advice about that.
  • Chiller: Who is really back immediately after saying “I’ll be right back”?
  • Rager: Sometimes it just has to come out – they’re all cheaters anyway.

No matter how you turn it, we are all not perfect and don’t always have the best mood. But remember that in MMOs you’re rarely alone, and your comrades are also affected by your mood. Don’t let off steam on your team. Try to improve a little with each match and be aware of how important communication is in gaming.

Did you think of any of your teammates while reading? Or maybe you found yourself in the categories? Let us know in the comments on MeinMMO.

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

WoW BC Classic is huge, attracting 130,000 people on Twitch to a streamer alone

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

With the launch of Burning Crusade, WoW Classic is experiencing a new hype on Twitch. Although this time it is not as big as in 2019, when Classic first launched, it still gives the game a top trend and some streamers a lot of viewers.

This is how BC Classic is performing on Twitch: Currently, World of Warcraft is in 7th place among the most-watched games on Twitch (via sullygnome.com; the Just Chatting category is ignored). This means the MMORPG is even ahead of the perennial favorites Fortnite and CS:GO.

In the trends, WoW is even in 1st place, making it currently the game with the greatest growth potential on the streaming platform. Compared to before the release of Burning Crusade, WoW has climbed several places in the ranking.

Overall, over 17.3 million hours were watched in the past week, with an average of 103,002 viewers tuning in. The biggest streamer is Asmongold, with nearly 3 million total viewer hours. In 2nd place, sodapoppin, barely reaches around one million hours.

Asmongold attracted nearly 130,000 simultaneous viewers on the release night on June 2nd – that’s three times his usual average (via sullygnome.com).

WoW Asmongold shakes title
Asmongold is the largest WoW streamer in the world. He is currently benefiting from BC Classic.

BC Classic Strong on Twitch, but Classic Was Stronger

How strong was Classic? The original version of WoW Classic from August 2019 achieved even better numbers and made World of Warcraft the most-watched game on Twitch with Asmongold as its cursed king.

The largest WoW streamer had over 263,000 players at peak – more than double compared to BC Classic now.

More about WoW Classic on MeinMMO:

Is Burning Crusade weaker? The data offers little to no insights as to why viewers are less interested in Burning Crusade than in WoW Classic. However, it seems plausible that the fascination of novelty has simply worn off.

Burning Crusade builds upon the hype of Classic, which was already there. There isn’t much new to see. It is also noticeable that interest in WoW is generally declining at the moment. Cortyn from MeinMMO even has a rather gloomy outlook for the current addon Shadowlands:

More on the topic
WoW: Shadowlands has lost, no matter what Blizzard does now
von Cortyn

Is BC Classic worth it? WoW fans who did not play Burning Crusade at its initial release 14 years ago should definitely catch up. The game feeling of Classic is entirely different and BC does some things better than WoW Classic before.

Even brand new players can rediscover how MMORPGs used to work with BC Classic and why millions of players still swear allegiance to World of Warcraft. Soon on MeinMMO, you can also read why BC Classic captivates our author Benedict Grothaus much more than it actually should.

You can also find WoW Classic in our 7 MMOs and online games that we recommend in June 2021.

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

Games will run more smoothly on the Xbox Series X soon – Ideal for shooters

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Microsoft has stated that the Xbox Series X will officially support AMD’s DLSS alternative. This is likely to lead to higher FPS in games soon. Fast-paced games like shooters will particularly benefit from this.

AMD not only thoroughly presented its DLSS alternative, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), but also stated that FSR would be available as early as June 2021. Many had speculated that FSR would not be released until much later.

What does this have to do with Xbox? The manufacturer Microsoft relies on AMD hardware for its Xbox Series X and S. In an interview with the online magazine IGN, a Microsoft employee stated that the Xbox Series X|S would support AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution:

At Xbox, we are excited about the potential of AMD’s “FidelityFX Super Resolution” technology as another great way for developers to increase frame rates and resolution. We will share more about it soon.

Statement from Microsoft, via IGN.com

Microsoft has already provided developers with specific tools to integrate FSR more easily into Xbox and Windows games (via gpuopen.com). This has made integrating FSR much easier.

Thus, there is a possibility that FSR could be integrated into both old and new titles. This way, gamers on Xbox and PC would benefit.

AMD’s DLSS alternative is an important step for the Xbox Series X

What are DLSS and FidelityFX Super Resolution, anyway? With Nvidia DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), the game is calculated internally at a lower resolution and scaled to a higher resolution such as 4K via AI algorithms to increase FPS. With the RTX 3060, the performance gain is up to 30%.

AMD aims to offer a similar technique with FidelityFX Super Resolution. Instead of using AI calculations, AMD intends to rely on open-source technology. This way, FSR works with both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. Nvidia’s DLSS, on the other hand, only works on RTX graphics cards that have specific computational cores (so-called Tensor cores).

This is why FSR is important for Xbox: In the first official benchmarks that AMD presented with the RX 6800 XT and GTX 1650, the new technology delivers a decent FPS boost. Depending on the settings, you can gain between 20 and 50% more FPS without performance losses.

This is especially good for games where high FPS numbers play an important role. These include competitive shooters, where higher FPS can mean not only a smoother gaming experience but also higher hit chances.

The shooter pro shroud, together with tech expert Linus, has already examined how important more FPS are for playing shooters. The experts have already concluded that a higher refresh rate is indeed helpful.

You can also see how great the impact of significantly higher FPS on gaming is in this YouTube video:

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60 vs 144 vs 240 Hz in the YouTube video by The Tech Chap

Because with higher FPS, you get a significantly smoother gaming experience, which also affects your accuracy.

What’s the catch? So far, we do not yet know how AMD’s technology will work exactly. Additionally, there are no independent benchmarks yet.

We will have to wait until June 22, 2021, when FidelityFX Super Resolution is officially released. It will also clarify whether AMD’s Fidelity Super Resolution is competitive with Nvidia’s DLSS. Because Nvidia is still significantly ahead when it comes to DLSS and ray tracing:

6900 XT vs RTX 3090: Nvidia is clearly ahead in ray tracing – that might change soon

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

Destiny 2 has a new, best submachine gun – This is what makes Shayura’s Wrath so strong

Philipp Hansen Philipp Hansen Reading time 5 minutes

In Destiny 2 you should try the new weapon “Shayura’s Wrath” if you want to succeed in the Crucible. MeinMMO explores what makes this little SMG a favorite and why it is inherently superior to its counterparts.

This new weapon is about: Shayura’s Wrath is a legendary submachine gun that was added to Destiny 2 in Season 14. You carry the weapon in the energy slot and inflict Void damage with it. The rare SMG is currently being praised by Crucible professionals. MeinMMO looks into what makes the weapon so strong in detail and what the God Rolls are.

With Shayura’s Wrath, you have one of the best dueling weapons in the entire Crucible at your disposal – and not just on PC. For some time now, controller users have also benefited from a buff for SMGs that makes fully automatic weapons much easier to handle on consoles.

Why is this seemingly insignificant little gun so strong?

Here lies the advantage: Even without any perks, lethality improvements, or the like, Shayura’s Wrath is superior to almost all submachine guns. Many players still remember the PvP dominance of Antiope-D in the early days of Destiny 2. Just like back then with the Antiope, it is now Shayura’s turn with its extreme range and zoom, which is so atypical for submachine guns.

  • Shayura’s Wrath has nearly incredible range for an SMG and plays more like an auto rifle.
  • You can deal strong damage at long range, but don’t have to sacrifice stability and comfort.

But why is this the case with this weapon?

  • The magic word is zoom. The default zoom of Shayura’s is 17.
  • Additionally, the range is 63 and the stability is 50 out of 100 – without perks or sights.
  • The recoil direction in the hidden stats convinces with an enormous 95 out of 100.
Looks inconspicuous, but deals hard damage at long distances

That’s why you need a lot of zoom: Especially the zoom, which is the magnification when looking through the sight, is extremely important. This value serves as the key multiplier for range. Bungie has kept the zoom of SMGs in check for a long time; it usually lies around 13. This ensures that SMGs are really only strong in close range.

With good range, the damage drop-off and aim-assist with Shayura’s are even better than they ever were with Antiope-D: 26 to 28 meters are easily achievable before you feel drawbacks – with the Antiope, it was “only” 25 meters with the famous roll. You can still make the new weapon even deadlier with perks.

Pros like Aztecross now say: “Shayura’s Wrath is nastier than the unnerfed Inquisitor Spider” (via YouTube). The precise SMGs, including Shayura’s Wrath, offer a good TTK of 0.80 seconds. Aggressive SMGs have a better optimal TTK value of 0.67 seconds, but are harder to control. As a reminder: the currently popular 120 RPM hand cannons have a TTK of 1.0 seconds.

What does TTK mean? The “TTK” is the “Time to kill”, which is the time it takes to bring an opponent from full health to 0. In Destiny 2, primary weapons typically range between 0.8 to just over a second if you hit the optimal number of headshots.

Finding the God Roll for Shayura’s Wrath

How to get Shayura’s Wrath: In Season 14, the Trials of Osiris introduced the SMG to Destiny 2. You can only obtain Shayura’s Wrath in this PvP mode when the weapon is included in the weekly rotating loot pool. So far, the weapon has been quite rare. Until June 8th, you have the chance to obtain Shayura’s Wrath just for participating.

If Saint-14 offers the weapon as a reward for “surviving” (bounty for participation), make sure to grab it. The great thing about Shayura’s Wrath is that almost all perks are good; it’s hard to get a truly bad roll. But what would be the God Roll?

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This is the PvP God Roll:

  • Hammer-Forged Rifling (+10 range) or Smallbore (+7 range and stability)
  • Enhanced Rounds (+10 range)
  • Slot 1: Snapshot Sights (Reloading after defeating a target greatly improves aim assist and aim down sights speed for a short duration)
  • Slot 2: Kill Clip (Reloading after a kill grants increased damage)

This way, you can squeeze a lot of range out of the SMG without sacrificing stability or handling. After securing a kill, you reload, and bam – the weapon essentially aims itself. The follow-up kill should fall easily thanks to the TTK of now 0.6 seconds. The synergy between Snapshot Sights and Kill Clip is indeed powerful – both perks activate simultaneously and last the same amount of time.

The God Roll for PvP – Source: Light.gg

Alternatively, you can also fully focus on the performance of Shayura’s Wrath. Then you don’t need a kill but instead always have a stable SMG in your hands. The range and magazine remain the same, but use these perks:

  • Slot 1: Dynamic Sway Reduction (The longer you hold down the trigger, the more accurate the weapon becomes)
  • Slot 2: Opening Shot (The first shot fired from the weapon is more accurate)
  • Every shot from the weapon becomes more accurate and recoil is virtually nonexistent.

Since the SMG performs excellently as is and most Guardians shouldn’t have issues handling the gun, it is advisable to focus on lethality with the first roll.

The SMG has strong competition in PvE

Thanks to its excellent stats, Shayura’s Wrath also performs flawlessly in PvE. However, as a killing tool against monsters and time-traveling robots, there are two strong competitors that have already established themselves.

The Ikelos-SMG in the energy slot can create Warmind Cells and is therefore a go-to choice for many. In the kinetic slot, the Cabal-SMG Extraordinary Rendition grants continuous fire with increased damage thanks to Rampage and Outlaw. Shayura’s Wrath can’t quite keep up with these two weapons.

This Roll is for PvE:

  • Murderous Wind
  • Kill Clip
  • Players running a grenade build alternatively use Adrenaline Junkie

This way, you can transform the Trials weapon into a good option for PvE. After a kill, you increase your range and move faster to deliver bonus damage more effectively to the aliens.

Also interesting:

Have you managed to secure an example of the rare SMG and confirmed that Shayura’s Wrath plays excellently and is truly so deadly? Or have you not even had the Trials weapon on your radar and are now waiting patiently for Saint-14 to bring it back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Light.gg
  2. Aztecross
  3. Drewskkys auf YouTube

ARK is temporarily free on Steam – Who should check it out?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The survival game ARK: Survival Evolved recently received its latest DLC: Genesis Part 2. Just in time for the update, the game is available for free on Steam, but only for a limited time.

What is ARK? In ARK, you land on a strange world inhabited by dinosaurs and other creatures. You start more or less naked and must survive, taming the giant prehistoric lizards and researching technologies to ultimately face tough bosses with sci-fi weapons.

Along the way, you build a base either alone or with friends and explore the world and its various biomes from there. With different food, you secure your survival. You have several maps available in different DLCs.

ARK is one of the best survival games for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and is currently available for free on Steam.

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The official trailer for ARK.

When and where can I play ARK for free? Until June 7, ARK can still be played for free on PC via Steam. During the same period, you can purchase ARK for a reduced price of €10.99, which is an 80% discount – or in a bundle with all DLCs for €40.80.

Genesis Part 2 brings a ton of new content

What kind of DLC is this? Since June 3, Genesis Part 2 has been available for ARK, the last DLC of the game. With this, a multitude of content and features come to the game, such as:

  • new creatures, including a space dolphin
  • 2 additional biomes
  • a new starter zone, the Eden Zone with all necessary resources
  • new weapons, tools, structures, and cosmetics

Even though Genesis Part 2 is the last DLC of ARK, the game will still receive updates throughout 2022. However, those who want to play Genesis Part 1 and 2 need to purchase a season pass. The DLCs are not included in the free version.

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The trailer for ARK Genesis Part 2.

Who is ARK worth it for? Anyone interested in dinosaurs, sandbox games, and survival games in general should check out ARK. Currently, ARK is the second largest survival game on Steam after Rust (via steamcharts.com). So there is also no shortage of players.

In terms of the actual mechanics, ARK does not differ significantly from the competition, but the features are unique. Some of the dinosaurs are large enough that you can even build your base on them – even on flying reptiles. In our guide, you will learn how to tame dinosaurs in ARK.

In addition, ARK offers an interesting story revolving around the slightly insane scientist Edmund Rockwell, who more or less controls the world you are on. On your journey to uncover the secrets, you repeatedly face powerful bosses and unique opponents.

More about ARK on MeinMMO:

However, there is ongoing criticism that bugs or performance issues detract from the gameplay experience. Therefore, you should have some tolerance for frustration if you consider ARK. Problems do not always occur, but when they do, they can be very annoying.

ARK is currently in the process of developing a sequel. So now is also a good time to prepare for the second part, which even features Hollywood legends:

Hollywood star Vin Diesel plays in ARK 2 – Everything you need to know about his role Santiago

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

CS:GO expels Free2Play players from the ranking, thousands find that great

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The popular shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is free to play on Steam, but optionally offers a Prime status for a fee. However, with a new change, developer and publisher Valve has now decided: Free2Play players lose many features.

What features are those? Since December 2018, CS:GO has been free for everyone to play – previously there was a one-time fee. Free2Play players had access to all the game’s content, but “Prime” players received special matchmaking and rewards.

Now, however, the content for players of the free version has been cut. Those who have not purchased CS:GO can now:

  • no longer rank up
  • receive no drops (rewards) anymore
  • will not be assigned to any skill group anymore
  • and no longer have the opportunity to earn the Prime path.

Especially ranked matches and rank are important for many players who want to showcase their skills. Ranked is one of the most popular modes.

Previously, it was possible to earn Prime benefits by reaching rank 21 in CS:GO. That is no longer possible either. The change went live with an update on June 3 and takes effect immediately.

CSGO Ranks
If you want to climb to the Global Elite, you now have to pay for CS:GO.

What can Free2Play players still do? All Free2Play players can continue to participate in any game mode, but receive neither experience points nor ranks. These features are now exclusive to Prime players.

Additionally, Valve has introduced a new “Unrated” game mode with the update, where skill-based matchmaking still occurs, but no ranks are counted. Prime players can also play here according to ranked rules without ranking up or down.

Those who purchase CS:GO in the next two weeks, until June 17, will retain their earned rank. The change also does not affect players who have already earned Prime status before the update.

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Those who want more accurate statistics from CS:GO must pay now – But players advise against it
von Tarek Zehrer

Change combats cheaters and trolls, players like it

Why was the change made? According to Valve, the Free2Play option was exploited too often to “cloud the experience of new and existing players” (via counter-strike.net). Apparently, there were too many toxic players, trolls, and cheaters who harassed other players.

This step is apparently intended to prevent honest players from being harassed further. However, since players who have previously earned Prime retain their status, it may take a while before the change actually shows an effect.

More about CS:GO on MeinMMO:

This is how players are reacting: The action is surprisingly well received by the CS:GO community. On Reddit, there is a thread with over 7,600 upvotes, where players discuss the decision (via reddit.com).

As user DeanGillBerry states: “This is just like Prime matchmaking used to be and how it should have always been. I wish there was another level of authentication through phone numbers, but that’s just a dream” (via reddit.com).

Apparently, cheaters were indeed such a big problem that this drastic step is well received. In the CS:GO Community Hub, for example, one user jokes: “Thanks, Valve, for making the cheaters and farmers cry. The whole forum is full of people crying” (via steamcommunity.com).

However, cheaters are not the only difficulty that CS:GO currently faces. Fraudsters are also becoming widespread in the now 9-year-old game. They are now so organized that even large US authorities assist Valve in the fight:

The FBI is now investigating CS:GO – Fraudsters are now “significantly more organized”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Valve
  2. Kotaku
  3. PCGamer