A dataminer has found possible hints about a horror series as the next crossover for Fortnite.
This horror series is: According to dataminer Hipex, it is Five Nights at Freddy’s. This is a point-and-click adventure series that serves the survival horror theme. FNaF’s would thereby be in a list with other well-known games like God Of War or .
What indicates this? HYPEX, a well-known Fortnite leaker, has dug into the game files and found some clues pointing to Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Possible skin and sound files
This is what HYPEX found: First, he identified a skin named FrenchFry in the encrypted files. According to the dataminer, the first letter of each previously found skin also corresponds to the first letter of the character it represents.
For example, Tyler Blevkin’s skin was called Tourbus. Therefore, HYPEX believes that this skin either represents Fezbear or Foxy from Five Nights at Freddy’s.
In HYPEX’s video, you can listen to it yourself:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How does he conclude a connection? In addition to the skin, the dataminer has found sound files that he believes originate from Five Nights at Freddy’s. For instance, you can hear the same footsteps that you recognize from the point-and-click adventure featuring the creature Foxy.
Whether it actually is Foxy from Five Nights at Freddy’s remains uncertain. The possibility exists. If you want to test your hearing with a (at least somewhat good) comparison, you can check out the gameplay from DarkTaurus. Be warned, there is a jumpscare moment in the scene:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What would the skins look like? If the found hints are correct, Foxy and Fazbear could be candidates for a skin. Both would definitely translate well as skins in Fortnite.
Fazbear is a huge teddy bear with a top hat and microphone.
Foxy is a fox with a hook hand. Both appear cute and friendly during the day but turn into absolute psychos at night.
Foxy
Fazbear
What else supports a crossover? In the summer, an animated film of Five Nights at Freddy’s is set to hit theaters. Perhaps there will be a crossover event with Fortnite on July 23 to coincide?
This is Five Nights at Freddy’s: In the point-and-click adventure, you can take the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. From your office, you must keep an eye on the store with cameras.
But you only have limited power for the cameras and security doors, as the company wants to save money. You must keep an eye on the animatronic figures of Fazbear’s Pizza, as they come to life at night. The goal is to survive the night.
What do you think of the leak? Would you be excited about such a crossover? Or would you prefer another candidate?
The German streamer Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler has once again opened old Pokémon boosters. This time, he found a rare card that he probably didn’t expect.
The rush for the opening was huge again. At its peak, over 260,000 viewers watched simultaneously. On average, the stream had over 167,000 concurrent viewers.
In the stream, he opened a Team Rocket display from the year 2000. The cards are therefore over 20 years old. Trymacs had a lot of luck, and especially one card made the streamer scream with joy.
“The best card I have ever pulled”
What did Trymacs pull? From a booster, the streamer pulled a Holo Raichu in Secret Rare. A Secret Rare actually does not belong to the collection of the display and is then counted as, for example, 101/100. Raichu was the very first Secret Rare ever in Pokémon trading cards.
We will embed the clip here, where he pulls the Raichu:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How valuable is this card? Of course, it has collector value, as this Raichu marked the beginning of the Secret Rares.
This Raichu in good condition (PSA 8 or 9) sells for about 300 euros. However, there is currently no Raichu that has a PSA 10, which is the best possible condition. Therefore, the price for this Raichu in PSA 10 is likely to be significantly above 300 euros.
What does Trymacs say about the card? The streamer can hardly believe his luck. It took him a short time to realize what he had just pulled. A little later, Trymacs says: “This is the best card I have ever pulled.”
This is a strong statement, as the streamer has spent a lot of time lately opening Pokémon boosters. He has already spent several thousand euros opening boosters – this is well received by the many viewers.
Trymacs has also spent a lot of money on FIFA 21. The background is different, though. He wants to prove that the chances of getting a good player in the packs of the football simulation are quite poor:
Many enthusiasts are waiting for Nvidia’s official announcement of the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. MeinMMO presents what we know about the graphics card so far. However, please note that Nvidia has not yet officially announced the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
Here’s what it’s about: In 2020, Nvidia released several new graphics cards on the hardware market, including the GeForce RTX 3080 and the GeForce RTX 3090, which are aimed at the high-end segment.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021, Nvidia officially announced only the RTX 3060, with no sign of an RTX 3080 Ti.
What is the RTX 3080 Ti? Ti models are gaming graphics cards that are supposed to fit between the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 in this case. The abbreviation Ti stands for “Titanium” and indicates a more powerful variant of the original version without the Ti designation. A current example is the RTX 3060 Ti, which is positioned above the RTX 3060 without Ti.
What speaks for an RTX 3080 Ti? Basically, it should be made clear once again that Nvidia has not yet made any official announcement regarding the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
With the RTX 3080, there was primarily criticism regarding the too small video memory. It is only 10 GB in size. The competition at AMD offers 16 GB of video memory. Shortly after the release of the RTX 3080, there were rumors that the RTX 3080 would receive a memory upgrade. This has not been confirmed so far.
You can find this in our article: MeinMMO explains the current rumors and what is true about the RTX 3080 Ti. We analyze the sources and provide you with all known information and rumors.
If there are official information or data, we will update the article for you. So, it’s worth checking back regularly.
In the title image: Founder’s Edition of the GeForce RTX 3080
Do we know a release date? So far, there is no official release date for the RTX 3080 Ti.
According to independent sources cited by igorslab.de, the RTX 3080 Ti is expected to appear at the earliest after the Chinese New Year holidays, likely at the end of February. Our colleagues from GameStar suspect a release date somewhat later in 2021.
What supports the date? Nvidia had waited for the launch of AMD’s new RX-6000 series and presumably drew its own conclusions from the new market situation. Since the RTX 3080 mostly outperforms or is on par with the RX 6800 (XT) in Ultra HD, Nvidia has other priorities than a refined version of the RTX 3080.
According to an entry at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC, via Videocardz), manufacturer Palit is allegedly preparing several RTX 3080 Ti models. However, these entries do not guarantee a potential release.
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Price
How much does the RTX 3080 Ti cost? So far, there is no official price for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
According to various sources, which for example PCWelt cites, the price should be between 7,999 and 8,999 Chinese Yuan. Converted, this is between about 1,000 and 1,150 Euros. Officially, however, this is not confirmed.
What supports the price? The mentioned price is based on other RTX 3000 graphics cards and here on the Founder’s Editions, which come from Nvidia:
The RTX 3080 has a recommended retail price of 699 Euros.
The RTX 3090 had a launch price of 1,499 Euros.
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs 3090
What do we know about the performance of the RTX 3080 Ti? Here too, official information from Nvidia regarding the new graphics card is missing. However, a few days ago, user Harukaze5719 shared several images on Twitter with alleged benchmarks and performance data of the 3080 Ti:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The RTX 3080 Ti vs RTX 3090 comparison: The leak shows various extensive insights into the performance data of Nvidia’s new GPU. You should also treat this information with caution, as they are not yet official:
Allegedly, a GA102-250-KD-A1 chip is used in the RTX 3080 Ti. This offers comparable performance to the RTX 3090.
In 3D Mark, the RTX 3080 Ti with 20 GB RAM is said to be about 5 percent behind the RTX 3090.
The 20 GB GDDR6X memory of the RTX 3080 Ti is said to be slower at 19 Gb/s instead of 19.5 Gb/s than that of the RTX 3090.
The RTX 3090 offers 936 GB/s with its 384-bit interface; the new RTX 3080 Ti with 20 GB is said to reach only 760 GB/s.
Nvidia lists the official data for the GeForce RTX 3090 with a base clock of 1400 Mhz and a boost clock of 1700 Mhz. The provided data for the RTX 3080 Ti is at a similar level.
The GeForce RTX 3090 is still expected to remain the fastest graphics card in 2021. However, a YouTuber has now shown that this card can also be put to the test. While playing Minecraft, the graphics card achieves only 5 FPS:
What about the RTX 3080 Ti? We currently assume that the number of “RTX 3080 Ti” graphics cards will also be limited in availability. Nvidia wants to counter bot buyers, but we do not know if this will be successful in the long term. Therefore, do not expect to directly have a graphics card in hand at the release.
By now, we even know how much money scalpers have made with the RTX-3000 series. According to an analysis, it amounts to over 15 million US dollars that scalpers have earned from buyers. Due to the high demand for graphics cards, you can currently also make money again with old graphics cards.
Are other manufacturers also facing problems? Not only Nvidia is struggling with the availability of new graphics cards. AMD is also facing significant interest in the new RX-6000 series. Many users want to buy an RX 6800 XT, but the demand has been enormous.
When will availability improve in 2021? Currently, it does not look like the graphics card market will improve in the coming months. There are several reasons for this:
On the one hand, availability is severely restricted due to the Corona pandemic and less production is taking place.
On the other hand, crypto-mining is becoming interesting for many users again, which also requires graphics cards.
In Destiny 2, the Season of the Chosen has officially been announced. Watch the cool trailer for Season 13 and get info about loot and new activities here.
Here are the new updates: Bungie has finally revealed details about the next Season of Destiny 2 after a long period of secrecy. The next chapter is called the Season of the Chosen and brings the Cabal and their nasty leader into play.
In addition to the changes already announced, solid info about the new content has finally emerged:
This is how the seasonal story continues
The new activity Battlegrounds is introduced
3 Strikes are announced for Season 13
More info about Exotics and the number of weapons
Watch the trailer here: As you would expect from Destiny 2, it is packed into a spectacularly staged trailer. Here we have embedded the German announcement trailer for the Season of the Chosen for you:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The Season of the Chosen starts on February 9, probably traditionally with the Weekly Reset at 6 PM German time. Season 13 will then end on May 11, 2021.
You have the standard 3 months before it continues with Season 14. Season 15 and the autumn DLC “Witch Queen” will also be released in 2021. More about the plans for Destiny until 2022 can be found here on MeinMMO.
These contents await you in the Season of the Chosen
This is the seasonal story: While the Guardians struggle with the Darkness after years of silence, even experimenting with the dark Stasis powers, a new danger looms, threatening the solar system: Cabal Lady Caiatl (in the title image).
She is the daughter of the exiled Emperor Calus, whom we know as a raid boss from the early days of Destiny 2. She was significantly involved in the revolt against her father and now suddenly wants to ally with us and Zavala. This doesn’t go quite as planned, and once again it’s: “Whether wanted or not – we are at war with the Cabal.”
The charming Caiatl
What are Battlegrounds? The seasonal activity of Season 13 is called Battlegrounds. Here you will face the Cabal and wield the new fire trial hammer.
The activity offers matchmaking, meaning automatic player search.
Battlegrounds are designed for a fireteam of 3 Guardians.
Bungie describes the activity as: “You face Caiatl’s chosen warriors in ritual combat.”
“Proving Grounds” pits the Guardians against Cabal beasts and a moving fortress.
“Fallen S.A.B.E.R.” sends the Guardians into an underground lab against a massive Shank.
“The Devil’s Lair” is the hideout of a Fallen Servitor.
It was already known that the Cosmodrome will be expanded in Season 13. What is new is that along with the two Strikes from Destiny 1, a brand new one will join. However, “Proving Grounds” will not be available right at the start of the season on February 9.
Bungie states that in Season 13, you can hunt over 25 exotics, legendary guns, and ritual weapons. Some of the special weapons we have known for a while. Destiny 2 is now supposed to get more fresh loot than it retires.
This is the seasonal exotic: The flagship weapon of the new season is the exotic bow “Ticuus’s Divination”. It fires multiple solar arrows simultaneously that then track the target.
The exotic is included with the seasonal perfect armor sets in the season pass.
Paying owners of the season pass receive the package immediately at level 1.
The weapon and armor will also be available in the free track for free-to-play Guardians, but only at a later rank.
The new exotic bow
What do you think about the announcement of the new Season 13? Are you excited to jump into battle against the Cabal after the trailer and welcome all the changes that will come into the game on February 9? Or are you more skeptical? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
In the latest update 15.30 for Fortnite three new exotic weapons were introduced: the Burst Quad Launcher, the Chug Cannon, and the Frozen SMG. MeinMMO reveals what the weapons can do and where to find them.
What are these weapons? The three new exotic weapons are one of the most important changes in the latest update 15.30 from February 2, 2021 in Fortnite. The weapons are:
the Burst Quad Launcher, a powerful but slow rocket launcher
the Chug Cannon, which allows you to heal yourself and friends
the Frozen SMG, a submachine gun that is not yet available in the game
This is what the launcher can do: The rocket launcher holds four rockets in its magazine, which you can fire with it. The Quad Launcher fires two rockets in quick succession per shot.
With 42 damage to players, it hits hard, but takes a long 5.4 seconds to reload. Use it best to start a fight or break structures, and then switch to faster weapons for the encounter.
The values of the rocket launcher. Image source: HYPEX on Twitter.
Where can I find it? To get the Quad Launcher, you need to talk to the NPC Fishstick and buy the rocket launcher from him. The weapon costs 600 gold bars. So make sure to have the required amount in your inventory beforehand. Fishstick can spawn in two locations on the map:
at Craggy Cliffs Hotel
or in Choral Castle
If you have no luck at the first location, you’ll need to head to the second. Fortunately, they are quite close to each other. Look for Fishstick there and talk to him. Select the option for the rocket launcher, confirm the selection, and you’ll hold the Burst Quad Launcher in your hands.
The locations of the Quad Launcher. Image source: Dexerto.
Chug Cannon in Fortnite
This is what the cannon can do: The Chug Cannon works similarly to the Bandage Bazooka from Chapter 2 of Fortnite. With it, you can shoot friends or yourself to heal for 18 hit points. The weapon does not consume regular ammunition (it can automatically recharge after a cooldown) and reloads relatively quickly, making it a valuable tool in longer fights, especially in squads.
Where can I find it? The Chug Cannon can be purchased from the NPC healing. Like the Burst Quad Launcher, it also costs 600 gold bars – so bring enough with you. Healing can also spawn in two locations on the map:
in Craggy Cliffs
and in Hilltop House
These positions are even closer together than Craggy Cliffs and Choral Castle, so you only need to walk a short distance if you don’t find Healing immediately. Talk to her and choose the option to buy from her to obtain the Chug Cannon.
The locations of the Chug Cannon. Image source: Dexerto.
Frozen SMG in Fortnite
This is what the SMG can do: The Frozen SMG has a damage of 20 per shot, a high rate of fire, and a magazine size of 35, making it a solid option for fighting against players. It uses light ammunition and can be reloaded in 2.1 seconds. If you are somewhat accurate, you should be able to take down one or even multiple opponents with one magazine.
Where can I find it? The submachine gun was found in the game data and came with the patch, but is not yet available in the game. We will add its location here as soon as it becomes available.
Have you already acquired the weapons? Do you find them too strong or too weak, useful or unnecessary? Which one do you like best? Let us know in the comments!
In Pokémon GO, the Spotlight Hour with Ekans starts today, February 2nd. Is this event worth it with this Gen-1 Pokémon? And if so, why?
What is a Spotlight Hour? This event takes place every Tuesday in Pokémon GO. For one hour, a special Pokémon is highlighted and appears everywhere. A suitable bonus rounds off the event.
This week is all about Ekans. It is a Poison-type Pokémon from Generation 1.
Spotlight Hour with Ekans – All Information
When does it start? The event starts as usual at 6:00 PM local time and lasts for about an hour. It should end around 7:00 PM and the spawns in the wild will turn into other Pokémon than Ekans.
What bonuses are there? For one hour, the spawns will be significantly increased again. You will encounter Ekans everywhere and generally discover more Pokémon than usual.
As an additional bonus, you will receive double experience points for evolving Pokémon. So if you have a few specimens saved up for evolution, today is a good time for that during the event. On your journey from Level 41 to 50 in Pokémon GO, you need to gather a lot of XP.
At Team GO Rocket, there was even the Crypto-Shiny-Ekans
Is it worth it? Neither Ekans nor Arbok play an important role in Pokémon GO. As a Poison attacker, there are far better species you can use for your battles. What they are, you can find out here: The best attackers, sorted by type, in Pokémon GO.
And the bonus? If you’re desperately looking for experience points, then you can take advantage of the Spotlight Hour for the evolution bonus. However, players are generally more interested in rewards that revolve around candies or more stardust.
For shiny hunters, the Spotlight Hour is a nice appointment. Because those who have not yet caught a shiny Ekans could snag one today with the increased spawns.
If you are interested in more about Pokémon GO, you might also be interested in this:
What events are coming up next? In February 2021, there are still several events that will keep you busy in Pokémon GO. The Community Day with Roselia, a Love Cup in PvP, and the big Kanto Tour are among the highlights.
Today, on February 2, The Division 2 will receive the new Title Update 12.1. Learn all about the maintenance procedures on all platforms (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, Stadia, PC) and what to expect in the game after the long server downtime.
Update 5:33 PM: The servers should now be online again on all platforms; maintenance is complete. Have fun and good loot, Agents.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Update 12:30 PM: As Massive just announced, maintenance will be extended by 3 hours. No reasons were given. The servers are expected to remain offline until 3:30 PM.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Why the maintenance? Even though Massive and Ubisoft are currently tight-lipped about the specific future of The Division 2, work is still being done on the game. Today, the shooter receives the new Title Update 12.1.
Today, after TU12.1, the clothing event Codename: Nightmares starts
This is how maintenance goes today
These times are important today: Massive has traditionally published the official schedule in advance. Here it is:
Maintenance starts at 9:30 AM German time
The downtime also starts immediately; the servers of The Division 2 will go offline
Today’s maintenance is scheduled for 3 hours. During this time, you will not be able to log in or play The Division 2
If everything goes smoothly during the maintenance, the Division 2 servers should be back online no later than 12:30 PM German time
With the downtime, today’s maintenance will also end
Please note: This schedule may change during maintenance – especially the time for the end of maintenance work. It often happens that the developers finish a bit earlier or take longer. If there are any changes to the schedule today, we will update it here as soon as possible.
What changes today? We will brief you
The download size:
PC: ~5.1GB
PS4/PS5: ~4.3GB
Xbox One, Series X, and S: ~5.2GB
What changes today with TU12.1
What to expect today after maintenance: Here are the main changes from Title Update 12.1 at a glance:
Codename: Nightmares – the crossover clothing event with Resident Evil starts
The graphic update for next-gen consoles comes into play. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, The Division 2 can be played in 4K and 60 FPS
Balance changes for the optimization station will go live
The patch notes: The official patch notes have also already been published in advance by Massive. If you want to see the changes in detail, here you can find the original change log for TU12.1:
What about you? Have you given up on the game? Are you eagerly waiting for what happens next after Year 2? Are you checking back in with TU12.1? Or have you always been diligently involved?
The YouTuber Vikkstar132 is reducing his content on Call of Duty: Warzone. In his video, he explains that hackers are the reason for this. He caught one streaming his cheat rounds live on Facebook.
Who is it about? You could read a lot about the CoD expert Vikram Singh “Vikkstar” Barn on MeinMMO. His YouTube channel has over 7 million subscribers who regularly watch videos on Geoguessr, Among Us, Black Ops: Cold War, or even Warzone.
His latest video on Warzone is titled “Why I am quitting Warzone …” In the 18-minute VoD, he addresses the current state of cheaters/hackers in Warzone.
“Warzone is in its worst state”
This is what Vikkstar says: Right at the beginning of the video, he makes it clear why he hasn’t released any Warzone videos lately and only occasionally streams Warzone. The last streamed video on Warzone is already over a month old on Vikkstar’s channel.
“The simple explanation for this is hackers. The game is in its worst state ever […].” He then mentions that he encountered a hacker during his stream who was cheating while streaming live.
He adds:
The hacker would be ranked Prestige-2, have accumulated many hours of gameplay, and still was not banned
Vikkstar doesn’t even report the hackers anymore because it feels like they don’t decrease by doing so
This is sad for Vikkstar because he had a lot of success with Warzone videos and won important tournaments
The Warzone community is filled with hackers that can be seen in every single lobby
Activision needs to do something now, otherwise it would be “the death of the game”
He then shows in the video the gameplay footage with the hacker who streamed his cheating in front of hundreds of players on Facebook Gaming:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Vikkstar is not the first major YouTuber to take such a step. In July 2020, Drift0r explained that he is tired of the hackers in Warzone. He might have to quit. At that time he had 1.48 million subscribers on YouTube. The problem for Drift0r was also hackers and cheaters. He kept encountering players that played impossibly well or made no noises.
If you are interested in more about Warzone, you might also find this appealing:
YouTuber in talks with Activision: Apparently, Vikkstar’s video created the desired attention in the right places. Because on Twitter, he writes on February 1:
Thank you all for your support regarding my recent concerns about the current state of cheating in Warzone.
As an update: I currently have a direct line with Activision regarding this issue. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some positive changes.
Facebook takes action: On Twitter, esports insider Rod Breslau announces that he has received information from Facebook Gaming. They have removed the streamer from Vikkstar’s videos and many others from their Level-Up program. Cheating is not welcome on Facebook Gaming, they say. You can see the statement in the embedded tweet:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Now it’s a waiting game to see what comes from the talks between Activision and Vikkstar. Will Warzone finally provide the solution against cheaters/hackers that you have all been waiting for?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The BlizzConline 2021 will take place later in February. However, you can already acquire the official mount for World of Warcraft, the ice bear Stormsnow. Although you don’t need a ticket, the mount is not entirely free.
What kind of mount is this? Stormsnow is an ice bear that somewhat resembles the first mount ever featured at BlizzCon – just without the Murloc on its head. Instead, it has pockets full of snow and icy spikes in its fur.
The mount is currently available for BlizzConline 2021 as a mount for Blizzard’s 30th anniversary. Many WoW players are already excited about Stormsnow and are chatting about the mount on reddit and in the forums. Even the price bothers very few.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How do I get it? Stormsnow is part of Blizzard’s anniversary collection that you can purchase this year. It is somewhat of a substitute for the BlizzCon ticket that existed in previous years, which gifted you with digital goodies. The collection comes in three tiers:
Essentials for €19.99
Heroic for €39.99
Epic for €59.99
To get Stormsnow, you need to purchase at least the Heroic edition; the Essentials do not include the mount. In our article, you can find out what you get in the anniversary collections. After purchase, you will find Stormsnow in your collection. The mount is only valid for the Retail version of WoW; Classic players will not receive it.
Since BlizzCon 2021 is completely digital and free, there is no ticket available this year, which would have otherwise cost €39.99. Everyone can watch from home, and if they wish, they can purchase the goodies additionally.
If you’re interested in more about BlizzCon and Blizzard, you might also find this appealing:
BlizzCon without a ticket, Stormsnow mount in the collection
This is what makes the mount so special: Stormsnow not only looks pretty cool but also brings at least three special features. Firstly, it has a unique summon animation. When you summon the mount, a snowstorm forms around you from which the ice bear appears.
Secondly, small snow piles occasionally fall out of the pockets on its sides. Other players or you can pick them up and receive a snowball that you can then throw.
Additionally, it has a special /mountspecial animation where it observes a small frostball that then bursts on its nose.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This video showcases some of Stormsnow’s features.
When is BlizzCon? This year’s BlizzConline 2021 will take place on February 19 and 20 (Friday and Saturday). You can watch via various streams representing the different stages that are usually seen at BlizzCon.
There is still no information about which games will be presented, but we have already speculated for you what you might expect at BlizzCon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The data specialist “truegamedata” analyzes the weapons of Call of Duty: Warzone in detail. He found a piece that he now considers the best alternative starting at 40 meters and is not a sniper rifle – the M16.
Update April 28: The M16 remains strong in Season 3 and is a top alternative for long distances. We have updated the setup in the article and now recommend the large special forces barrel.
What is it about? The DMR 14 caused quite a bit of terror in Call of Duty: Warzone for a while and was brought back on track with 2 nerfs. However, according to the Warzone analyst and weapon stats expert “truegamedata”, there is a weapon in the game that can nearly keep up with the former OP weapon – the M16.
MeinMMO shows why “truegamedata” considers the tactical rifle an extremely strong weapon and presents his meta build that you can use to get the most out of the gun. If you want to watch the English YouTube video on the topic, we embed it here for you. “truegamedata” also shows a lot of gameplay with his new meta setup:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
truegamedata justifies himself for clickbait – M16 just that strong
When “truegamedata” shared the video on Twitter, he received the comment “nice clickbait” right away. However, the Warzone stats analyst is not exactly known for his exaggerated titles and he did not want to leave it at that:
First comment was “nice clickbait,” nah fam – I genuinely think this gun is insanely good and nothing touches it once you get used to it.
“First comment was ‘Nice clickbait’, but no guys – I really think this weapon is insanely good and nothing comes close once you get used to it.”
Recoil is king in Warzone – M16 claims the throne
What makes the M16 so strong? For the expert, the M16 is now the best rifle for distances from 40 to 200 meters that is not a sniper rifle. Usually, popular assault rifles like the Grau 5.56 or the M4A1 are found here. However, the all-round weapons with range have temporarily run out of steam for “truegamedata” in this area and the M16 beats the assault rifles by a long shot. There are several reasons for this:
The recoil is almost perfectly vertical and therefore very easy to control
Gets a very high bullet velocity through attachments, making hitting easier
The M16 has an “infinite” range – the bullets never lose damage
Damage is equal across all body parts, except headshot (40 – body / 72 – headshot)
With just one headshot, you lower the time-to-kill since you only need 2 shots
If you aim at the chest, shots often hit as headshots due to the subtle recoil
If the weapon is “mounted”, even hits over 200 meters are not a problem
The Axis 3x scope has magnification like the sniper scope of the Kar 98k
Very good aim-down-sights values (ADS) – you get on target quickly
Uses ammunition from the assault rifle pool
Due to its characteristics, it is almost as good as the DMR 14 before the nerf, says “truegamedata”.
Disadvantages in close combat – must be paired with SMG or shotgun
What can the M16 not do well? Like all all-round weapons that tend to favor range, the M16 struggles at shorter distances. The time-to-kill of 770 milliseconds is too high here, and even 500 milliseconds, if you can land a headshot, are often not enough when you have to fight against an MP5 or CR-56 AMAX.
The M16 shines starting at around 40 meters with its high stability and wins duels because you can easily place your shots while the AMAX tends to miss a bullet or two at this distance.
“truegamedata” also states that the M16 requires a bit of adaptation time. Try to play with it a bit for a few hours and once the recoil is burned into your muscle memory, you will hardly notice the burst recoil and will celebrate the easy hits at long distances.
Pros and cons of the M16
Pros
High accuracy and easy hits
Almost perfect vertical recoil
Only 1 headshot needed to lower TTK
High ADS speed
Cons
Without headshot the TTK is rather poor
A bit of getting used to
Often at a disadvantage under 40 meters
Warzone: M16 Setup – This is what the best build looks like
The M16 is already playable without attachments and therefore benefits from every attachment that specializes it further for mid to long distances. However, you don’t need a range barrel, as it already provides an “infinite” range and only has a damage range in which it always inflicts the same damage. Here, you can fully focus on bullet velocity.
Warzone M16 Meta Build
Muzzle: Agency Suppressor
Barrel: 20.5″ Special Forces
Scope: Axial Arms 3x
Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip
Magazine: STANAG 60-Round
What does the setup provide? The Special Forces barrel gives you the necessary boost in bullet velocity, making the weapon feel like a gun from CoD MW. If you attach the Agency Suppressor, you will have incredibly fast projectiles, making it very easy to hit. The suppressor also conceals your position on the mini-map when shooting.
The “Axial Arms 3x” scope also helps with hits at greater distances. According to “truegamedata”, the zoom is exactly the same as that of the sniper scope on the Kar 98k. You can therefore zoom in really deep and fully utilize the controllable recoil.
The Field Agent Grip further reduces recoil and the magazine increases your bullet capacity to 60 shots. While the larger magazine slightly slows your ADS time, it remains strong for an all-around weapon with range.
The Axial scope has an intense zoom. Source: YouTube
What else could I try? “truegamedata” states that the Field Agent Grip is not strictly necessary, as the M16 is already very stable on its own.
He recommends instead to use the SAS Combat Stock or the Looting Pad to improve your ADS movements. Due to the functioning of the “Cold War” attachments in Warzone, you can make unusually fast sideways movements when aiming and trick your opponents with it.
The AUG from Cold War offers very similar properties to the M16, but has a clear disadvantage – its unpredictable recoil. “truegamedata” has directly compared the recoil patterns of both weapons, highlighting the issue with the AUG:
The recoil patterns from about 45 meters with the meta build. Source: YouTube
The image clearly shows how accurate the M16 actually is. In contrast, some bullets from the AUG jump in random directions. Especially the second bullet of a burst seems to do whatever it wants. Even when you have the weapon mounted, you still won’t reach the accuracy close to that of the M16. The M16, however, has some bullets that are so close together that the bullet holes are not simulated.
Even when mounted, some AUG bullets jump. Source: YouTube
Since both weapons, due to their characteristics as all-round weapons with long-range focus, must shine primarily at range, the M16 sets itself apart from the AUG. The bullet that jumps with the AUG could be the one that hits the enemy as a headshot, making it a 2-shot kill.
For Genshin Impact, the next big update is just around the corner. It will be released in early February and brings new events, characters, and rewards. We at MeinMMO reveal what is included in Patch 1.3.
The new update comes on February 3, 2021, and is expected to be released around 4:00 AM our time.
How long is the downtime?
The patch will be deployed on February 2 at 11:00 PM. The downtime is expected to be 5 hours.
Is there compensation?
Yes, as compensation for the downtime, there will be 300 Intertwined Fates.
New Characters, Equipment, and Wishes
What is changing with the characters? With Patch 1.3, Xiao, the protective Yaksha, will be released. He is a 5-star character who comes with the new wish “Spectacular Invitation”. This will remain until February 17.
What else is happening with the banners? Following Xiao, there will be a banner for Keqing, an Electro character that has been in the game for a long time. The wish “Dance of Lanterns” is supposed to remain in the game from February 17 to March 2.
Currently, there are also rumors that a third banner will appear during Patch 1.3. It is said to contain Hu Tao, who was already found in the datamining. However, this has not yet been confirmed.
What new equipment is there? Along with the new area “Divine Work”, new weapons will be introduced:
One-handed – Moss Green Rock (5 stars)
Polearm – Homa Staff (5 stars)
Polearm – Millelith Spear (4 stars)
Two-handed – Ancient Millelith Sword (4 stars)
These Events come with Patch 1.3
What events are there? The new update 1.3 brings a large event and 4 smaller events. The large event is called “Lantern Rites”.
In this, you will raise lanterns together with Xiao and earn rewards. The event will be divided into several sections, all of which will run until February 28:
On February 10, the first part “Chasing the Lights” begins
From February 14, you can play the second part “Deep Waters Under the Lanterns”
On February 18, “The Lantern in the Sea” starts.
What happens in the mini-events? Besides the main event, there will be several side events that will partially run in parallel:
We Stand Together: In this event, you can secure a 4-star character from Liyue: This includes Chongyun, Beidou, Ningguang, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Xinyan. It runs from February 10 to March 7
Joy in Five Colors: This will be an event focused on Genshin Impact’s photo mode. It runs from February 3 to February 10.
Emerging from the River of Elements: A boost for the amount of EXP items you receive from Elemental Growth. It runs from February 26 to March 5.
May Fortune Be With You: In this event, you will receive rewards for logging in. The event runs from February 11 to February 26.
Changes to the Game Content
What’s new: Patch 1.3 brings many small new features that could be interesting for long-term players:
There is a new tab called “Creatures” in the handbook. Here you can find all defeated and discovered creatures and also see how often you have defeated a certain type.
A parameter converter will be introduced to convert enhancement materials.
Zhongli is considered too weak and will now receive a buff.
Those who also play Genshin Impact on iOS can look forward to support for certain controllers, including Xbox Wireless Controller (Bluetooth), Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, and various Bluetooth gamepads for iOS.
Are there balance changes? Yes, and some of them have already been announced by the developer miHoYo. You can find them in the official patch overview. The Geo element is affected, among others.
What do you think about Patch 1.3? Do you find the announced content interesting? Or do you miss a larger content update like a new area?
Genshin Impact was released in September 2020 and has been very popular ever since. But how has the game developed since its release? MeinMMO editor Irina Moritz reveals it to you here:
In GTA Online, there are always issues with glitches. Now, thanks to a bug, it is possible to impersonate an admin.
This is what happened: In the subreddit specifically created for GTA glitches, the user TheLostCarp revealed a glitch that allows players to manipulate their company name in GTA Online. This bug allows one to impersonate an employee of Rockstar Games.
So far, this “fun” was reserved for modders who could do all sorts of crazy things. But with this glitch, it’s now possible for anyone on PC to deceive other players. The number of alleged “admins” could therefore rise significantly, as no special tools are needed to pose as a supposed developer or similar.
Bear in mind: There will not be a detailed guide here. We only warn you in case you encounter such pranksters yourself. Especially for new and inexperienced players, this can be confusing, so you should be cautious.
Maybe glitchers also pretend to be FBI agents?
“Pseudo-Admins” are relatively easy to spot
Here’s how you can recognize glitch users: It is relatively easy to identify users of this bug. If you encounter a player who has the red-tagged “Rockstar verified […]” in their company name, they are likely not an official employee of Rockstar.
So don’t fall for it when you see such things in the game. Most who use this glitch are likely to be easily recognizable. Many will likely use crazy names. TheLostCarp cites the example “R* verified meth addicts” as a name for the company – Rockstar verified meth addicts.
According to TheLostCarp, it is also quite unlikely that there will be consequences for exploiting this glitch. The bug seems to have existed for a while, and so far, no one has been punished for it.
Some reddit users are already making plans to troll other users with this glitch. For example, skyshark124 writes:
“I can now troll 9-year-olds by claiming I’m a developer from Rockstar, thank you, sir.”
Are admins even present on the servers? If so, they are probably doing so invisibly to other players. It is not even known if admins would show themselves with a “Verified” tag.
So if suddenly an “admin” appears in front of you who starts playing crazy pranks and making strange remarks in the chat, it is very likely a modder or a user of the discovered glitch.
Have you had such encounters yourself? What do you think of such bugs? Are they funny pranks or just annoying trolling?
The 15.30 update in Fortnite is here and brings3 new weapons, a map change, and a new limited-time mode. MeinMMO shows you what has changed in the game now.
What’s going on in Fortnite: Today, on February 2nd, the 15.30 update has been deployed. The patch brings several new features. We have summarized the most important changes in our own patch notes in English.
Data miner HYPEX posted the images and stats of the weapons on Twitter. The Chug Cannon is not supposed to serve as a “weapon,” but to help players refill their shields.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
It is still not entirely clear which NPC characters the weapons will be available from. However, we will inform you as soon as we have more information about it.
New Mandalorian LTM
What’s new? The patch also brings a new limited-time mode: Mando’s Bounty. In this mode, you will make a hunt, eliminate targets, collect credits, and secure the lead. The mode is available for Solos, Duos, Trios, and Squads.
But beware, the Mandalorian himself also comes to the map and will hunt the player with the highest score. So you can push to the top, but you also have to defend the title.
In the new LTM, the Mandalorian himself can hunt you down
If you win in the Mando mode (i.e., Solo, Duo, Trio, or Squads), there is a special reward for you. Additionally, there is another Victory Umbrella in this season. You will get the Beskar Umbrella only from this limited mode, which will be available until February 9th.
The Beskar Umbrella is a reward in the new Mando mode
New Location – Kits Cantina
What’s new? The patch also brought a map change, as Kits Cantina is now located in the Crystal Desert. There you will also find the hologram that was already seen in the Star Wars live event.
If you want to see the place from the inside, a data miner posted a tour of the building on Twitter. You can also see details that can be found in the new location:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Epic had already announced that after the 15.30 update it would no longer be possible to combine the colors white/white and black/black. Work should also be done on the lighting indoors. Now it seems that these changes have taken effect.
Players who are no longer satisfied with the superhero skins can refund them for free (without using a refund ticket) until March 4, 2021.
This message appears when you have purchased the superhero skins and start the game after the 15.30 update
We will update the patch notes for you as soon as we have more information about the new exotic weapons. The servers are available again, and you can dive back into the battle and discover and try out the new features. But be careful where you land, because these are the deadliest places in Fortnite.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Recently,Sony presented the PS Plus free games for February 2021. These are now available for download. In addition to the already known Destruction AllStars (PS5), PlayStation Plus subscribers can look forward to 2 more free monthly games in the new lineup – one for PlayStation 4 and one for both console generations.
Here are the 3 PS Plus games for February 2021: If you have an active PS Plus subscription, you can now look forward to up to 3 fresh free titles in February as part of PlayStation Plus. Depending on whether you own a PS4 or a PlayStation 5, you will receive:
Concrete Genie (PS4, base game) – an action-adventure
Control: Ultimate Edition (PS4, including PS5 version) – a third-person shooter
Destruction AllStars (PS5 only, base game) – a vehicle combat game
By the way, you can play Concrete Genie as a pure PS4 title on your PS5 without any issues thanks to the backward compatibility feature.
When does the free download start in the PS Store? You can download these 3 new PS Plus games as a subscriber starting now (February 2, 2021) from the PlayStation Store – at least on the PlayStation console. They have not yet appeared in the web version of the store.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is Concrete Genie? It is a picturesque action-adventure exclusive to the PS4.
You assume the role of the boy Ash. His home, the coastal town of Denska, has been afflicted by a mysterious darkness and has since fallen largely into decay and abandonment. This changes when Ash finds a magical paintbrush.
Thus begins a great adventure where the boy brings new life to his homeland piece by piece in a mix of exploration, painting, puzzles, and riddles, saving it from the darkness.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
You should check out Concrete Genieif you enjoy great, heartwarming stories, like to explore unusual places, enjoy puzzles, and also like to express your creativity. And by the way, there is fighting in Concrete Genie as well.
What is Control: Ultimate Edition? Control is basically a mix of a third-person shooter and an action-adventure. The Ultimate Edition includes the base game as well as all previously released expansions.
The game revolves around the fictional agency “Federal Bureau of Control” and the main character Jesse Faden. This titular agency has been afflicted by a corrupt presence, and an isolation has failed. Now it’s up to you to stop this supernatural, malevolent force, regain control, and uncover the dark secrets of the agency.
In doing so, Jesse relies on firearms as well as telekinetic abilities, and can essentially turn anything in her environment into a deadly weapon.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
You should check out Control: Ultimate Editionif you enjoy exciting and well-executed mystery stories, but also like varied, action-packed fights and aren’t afraid of the occasional puzzle.
What is Destruction AllStars? Destruction AllStars is basically a kind of combat game with cars focusing on multiplayer. By the way, the title has not been released yet and will celebrate its launch only with the release on PS Plus.
The game features 16 characters, the titular Destruction AllStars, along with their flashy vehicles. The stars compete in a spectacularly staged sports event in an arena. There, they use their vehicles as well as skills, tactics, and timing to destroy their opponents. It’s not just about taking out opponents but also mastering the parkour elements of the arena.
The special thing about it: If you are “ejected” from your vehicle or it is destroyed, you can continue the competition on foot and even grab a new car – provided you survive until then.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
You should check out Destruction AllStarsif you enjoy fast-paced and brutal action in the style of Destruction Derby or Carmageddon, but also enjoy competitive atmosphere akin to Rocket League in arcade racing games. Especially if you also like to measure yourself against others, you could definitely have fun with Destruction AllStars.
This is what you need: Basically, it’s just one thing – an active PS Plus subscription.
For about 60 € per year (varies depending on the subscription duration), you will normally receive 2 PS Plus games monthly and now also extra PS5 titles. The whole thing is available as a digital download in the PS Store and without any additional costs. Additionally, as a member of PlayStation Plus, you enjoy some extra benefits.
Access to free trials, where you can try some full titles for free
What do you think of the new February lineup from PlayStation Plus? Are you satisfied so far? Is there any title you are particularly looking forward to? Or can you not get excited about any of the free games this time? Let us and other readers know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Tanks in World of Warcraft should no longer have to run away cowardly. New nerfs ensure that tanks can soon remain steadfast again.
Since the launch of WoW: Shadowlands, tanks have been complaining that they can no longer properly tank in many dungeons, but are just running away. Not surprising, as from around level M+12, enemies hit so hard that even well-equipped tanks can go down after just a few hits. Blizzard has listened to the tanks’ criticism and is now responding. A total of 7 out of the 8 dungeons will receive nerfs, and even one of the affixes will be weakened.
What will change? All dungeons except the Hall of Atonement will receive nerfs. The main focus is to weaken the attacks of particularly nasty enemies. Here are the changes in detail.
Affix for Mythic Dungeons
Tyrannical now increases the health points of bosses by only 30% (previously 40%).
The Other Side
Headless Client now deals 40% less damage in melee and Detonation deals 33% less damage.
W4U-W4U now deals 33% less damage with Metal Jaw and now prefers non-tanks.
Deathwalker of the Atal’ai now deals 25% less damage in melee and casts Gaping Wound less frequently.
Helping the old Bwonsamdi will now be easier.
The Mists of Tirna Scithe
Drustseelenspalter now deals 40% less damage with Soul Splitting.
Plaguefall
Rotting Slimeclaw now deals 50% less damage with Rusted Claw.
Theater of Pain
The Unyielding Champion now deals 20% less damage with Treacherous Strike.
Bone-Chilling Recruit casts Ruthless Slayer less frequently.
When do the adjustments go live? The changes will go live with the next maintenance. This should already be tomorrow, on February 3rd. Then the promised buffs for a total of 10 specializations, which have been considered too weak so far, will also arrive.
If you want to know more about WoW: Shadowlands, check here:
Nerfs add up: There have been a whole series of nerfs now. Just a few days ago, some dungeons were massively weakened – although some significant weakening was already done several weeks prior. Blizzard seems to be gradually approaching a tolerable level and has started with dungeons that were too hard. Bit by bit, tanking should now become manageable again – at least at levels up to Mythic+15. After that, wild kite action cannot be avoided.
What do you think of the adjustments? Was it about time? Or is Blizzard nerfing too much into the ground?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The availability of the RX 6800 XT and RX 6900 continues to be scarce. A leak now suggests that the RX 6700 XT could soon expand AMD’s portfolio with another graphics card.
What’s it about? The year 2020 offered many innovations in the hardware sector for gamers. And with the GeForce RTX 3060, Nvidia introduced a mid-range graphics card. A leak now indicates that AMD also plans a release for the mid-range with the RX 6700 XT. Now there are a few more details.
In the title image: AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 XT
Radeon RX 6700 XT leak provides details on the new graphics card
What kind of leak is this? On Twitter, Andreas Schilling, a hardware author at Hardwareluxx, reported. Along with a short teaser image and a time frame for the first quarter of 2021, he also mentioned two numbers: 1440p gaming and 12 GB GDDR6.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What does this mean? That AMD’s new mid-range graphics card is supposed to come with 12 GB of video memory has not yet been confirmed by any other source. AMD has so far withheld information regarding the new mid-range.
The indication that the RX 6700 XT is aimed at gamers who want to play in WQHD (1440p) is not surprising, as the predecessor, the RX 5700 XT, was also aimed at these gamers.
How credible is the leak? Rumors about a release of the RX 6700 XT in spring 2021 have been circulating for a while. AMD itself stated at CES 2021 that it plans to hold another press conference in spring 2021.
The information mentioned in the tweet partially aligns with other hints. However, you should take the leak with caution, as none of it has been officially confirmed. The “leaker” is also not someone well-known like HardwareLeaks/_rogame (via Twitter.com)
RX-5700-XT graphics cards are currently also hardly available. (In the picture: RX 5700 XT Red Devil by PowerColor)
RX 6700 XT: Here’s why many are waiting for the successor to the RX 5700 XT
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is considered by many to be one of the best graphics cards in the mid-range. Websites like GameStar continue to list the RX 5700 XT as the best alternative for gamers who want to play in WQHD or Full HD with more than 60 FPS. The only other alternative at a similar price-performance level was the RTX 2060 Super from Nvidia.
As of now, the RX 5700 XT, like all other gaming graphics cards, is in strong limited availability.
At least at the beginning, it seemed that gamers could thank AMD’s success for the fact that graphics card prices were lower at launch than other high-end models. But bots and scalpers have driven prices up and spoiled the joy for many interested buyers.
Will the RX 5700 (XT) still be produced? AMD has already stated (via Hardwaretimes.com) that the RX 5700 XT will continue to be produced and has not yet reached its end. However, the possible release of the RX 6700 XT may change this, as the new graphics chips are significantly more efficient than the previous models.
What about availability? The RX 6800 XT was extremely quickly sold out and in the USA, people had already lined up in the morning hours before major electronics stores. Also, with a possible release of the RX 6700 XT, AMD and other manufacturers are unlikely to be in a better position regarding availability.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
SMITE (PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S as well as Nintendo Switch) has been flying a bit under the radar for a long time, actually unjustly. Player numbers on Steam are currently rising sharply. MeinMMO takes a look at what makes this action MOBA so interesting.
What is SMITE? Essentially, it is a MOBA, but it is played a bit differently than you know from League of Legends (LoL) or Heroes of the Storm. Because you don’t see the action from the genre-typical isometric perspective, but play from the third-person perspective. This makes SMITE feel more like an action game.
In SMITE, you take on the role of gods you know from mythologies and religions around the world. This includes, for example, Zeus or Loki. Each god has their own skills as well as strengths and weaknesses. You must exploit the strategic possibilities of the gods and maps in teams in order to eliminate the opposing team in a MOBA match. To do this, you usually need to destroy their Titan, which sits on the other side of the battlefield, and prevent being overrun by the opposing team.
However, SMITE plays out a bit more action-packed. You control the hero directly and fight as in a third-person action game, which distinguishes the title from other MOBAs. We are embedding the trailer for the highlights from Season 8 here:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Season 8 of SMITE brought a new map and additional content.
SMITE sets a new record
What is the current state of the game? SMITE has set a new player record on Steam in the past 30 days according to Steamcharts. 31,169 players played the action MOBA simultaneously, the most ever on Steam.
The ratings on Steam in the last 30 days are at 81% positive. The total of 79,254 ratings also amounts to 81%.
What is the reason for the game’s success? There are several reasons why SMITE is successful. One reason is that it doesn’t play like a typical MOBA and its action-packed gameplay appeals to players who feel more at home in such games.
In addition, regular updates bring new content like additional gods or maps, as well as balance adjustments. For example, the new god Danzaburou was introduced last November. Especially new, crazy skins are well received. For example, in collaborations such as with the Ninja Turtles.
Recently, many such skins have come into the game, and on January 26, Season 8 also started. This brought the following:
A new conquest map that shines in a golden look with Babylonian architecture
A new tutorial
Balance adjustments
New starting items
A revamp of healing mechanics
There is a lot happening in the game, and the developers regularly deliver new content or adjustments and optimizations. This is very well received in the community. Players feel well cared for.
What are players saying about SMITE? We summarize some of the current voices from the community for you:
Slim_1231 says (via Steam): “It really is the only MOBA where skill matters.”
RezzyCraft writes (via Steam): “This game is really fun to play. There are so many different options with gods and teams to play with or against each other. I highly recommend playing SMITE. The worst part is the toxic community and minor balancing issues with the gods.”
CyberNeuromancer explains (via Steam): “There’s a steep learning curve in the game. I would suggest looking up player Incon on YouTube or Twitch to figure out the meta. Season 8 is interesting. There are many new starting items. I’ve played hundreds of hours on console, but you should definitely experience SMITE on PC. The community can be really toxic, but there are also great moments. It’s probably my most played multiplayer game. I can’t recommend it enough.”
viking kong however has a problem (viaSteam): “Good game but matchmaking is poor. New players have to fight against experienced ones. This makes it hard for them to enjoy the game.”
Do you know SMITE? Can you understand why it is currently so popular?
In 2019, Google launched its streaming service Stadia. Accordingly, it was supposed to develop its own games to appear on the platform. However, Google has now announced that it will close the studio. So far, it has not produced any games.
What happened? In a blog post, Google announced that its in-house studio SG&E (Stadia Games & Entertainment) is closing. This affects both the location in Montreal and in Los Angeles.
The employees are to be accommodated in other teams at Google, while the head of the studio, Jade Raymond, has left the company. Raymond previously worked at EA and Ubisoft and was involved in the development of Assassin’s Creed.
Why is the studio closing? According to Google, the main reason is that the development of games takes a lot of time. They say:
To develop top-notch games from scratch, it requires many years and substantial investments, and the costs increase exponentially. As we focus on building on the proven technology of Stadia and deepening our business partnerships, we have decided that we will not invest further in providing exclusive content from our internal development team SG&E beyond the short-term planned games.
The last paragraph mentions “short-term planned games,” but which ones those are remains unknown. So far, the studio has neither announced any games nor released any.
Stadia allows you to play games on any device thanks to streaming.
Stadia continues, focusing on external games
What’s next for Stadia? In the blog post, it was repeatedly emphasized that they believe in cloud gaming and see it as the future. Users of Stadia will continue to have access to the games. The service will not be discontinued.
How is Stadia doing in general? In 2019, Google’s project gained attention. There was a promise that well-known titles like ESO, Destiny 2, or Borderlands 3 would be playable on low-end machines and even with smartphones.
Additionally, Stadia is not “Netflix for Gamers”. Many games must be purchased separately on the platform, even if you have a Pro subscription. This made it less appealing for players who had already bought the titles on other platforms like PC or consoles.
What do you think of Stadia? Have you tried the service and are you still using it? More about the streaming service, the costs, and the available games can be found in our Stadia hub.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
How much does the helm cost? In the US store of Blizzard, the helm will cost $299.99. A price in euros has not yet been confirmed, but it usually is quite close to the dollar price. So expect that the helm will probably cost between €250 and €300. We will surely find out the exact price at BlizzCon.
Can you wear the helm? No, probably not. For one, it’s not entirely clear whether the helm is even intended to be removed from the pedestal. On the other hand, the dimensions are a bit smaller than what the helm would likely be. Thus, it should not be possible to wear the helm with an average standard-sized head.
How big is the helm? According to information available to Wowhead, the helm measures just under 39 cm in height, 15 cm in width, and just under 22 cm in depth. When fixed on the pedestal, it reaches a total height of about 43 cm, making it a nice decorative piece for aspiring Lich Kings and Queens. The helm is mostly made of resin, specifically polyresin.
Will you get the Helm of Domination? Or is the price too high for a helm that you can’t even put on?
The stock of the Xbox Series X is currently tight. Now Microsoft has spoken about when the situation might improve and gives fans little hope for the time being.
When will new Xbox Series X come? In an interview with the New York Times, Mike Spencer, the Head of Investor Relations at Microsoft, commented on the stock of the Xbox Series X.
The new model remains tight and is expected to stay that way at least until June. Spencer suggests: “supply will likely be constrained at least until June.” He assures that they have sold every Xbox Series X that has been produced so far.
Here’s the status of the new Xbox
What could this mean for customers? Constrained does not necessarily mean that the consoles will be completely sold out. However, it remains questionable whether large quantities will be available in stores again.
Anyone hoping to get one of the sought-after consoles by summer will need luck.
What alternatives are there? The Xbox Series X remains tight, but the smaller model, the Xbox Series S, is still available at many retailers. So, if you absolutely want the new Xbox, you might consider switching to the smaller version.
Anyone hoping to grab the PlayStation 5 instead of the Xbox Series X will need to act quickly. A larger wave of orders for the PS5 is expected around mid-February:
What else did Microsoft reveal? Mike Spencer gave the New York Times a glimpse into Microsoft’s sales figures in the interview. The company is expected to have made 5 billion dollars in a quarter solely in the gaming sector through Xbox sales for the first time. This indicates a successful launch of the new Xbox series.