Hearthstone will bring some new cards on January 21. We will tell you which ones you should pay special attention to – and which ones promise fun.
Hearthstone has conjured up a small “mini-set” and released 35 new cards to bring a bit more excitement to the “Darkmoon Madness” expansion and at the same time shake up the meta a bit. We have already shown you all 35 new cards here in a summary.
Here we want to introduce our 5 favorites of the new cards and explain why they will be so much fun – or could seriously ruin your game when they come into play.
5 Crazy Cards from the Darkmoon Race
The neutral minion Moonfang is likely to find a permanent place in many decks soon. For 5 mana, it has values of 6/3, but it has a powerful passive effect. Any damage that Moonfang would receive is reduced to 1.
Things get even worse when you equip Moonfang with various buffs for additional health points. Then only “hard removals” that destroy a minion instantly will help – or you might have to sacrifice your own board just to get rid of this wolf. Especially for arena matches, this seems to be a new “instant pick”. Area spells like Flame Strike, Hellfire, or even a Pounce will make Moonfang merely yawn.
Also neutral but no less devastating is the Deathwatcher for 3 mana with values of 2/5. It is not a big threat itself, but its effect is certainly dangerous. As long as the Deathwatcher is in play, deathrattle effects of both players will not trigger.
This makes the Deathwatcher a perfect “combo breaker” card. Many current Hearthstone cards aim to trigger their deathrattle. Especially the powerful prime cards only come into play after a weaker minion’s deathrattle has been triggered. If this effect is nipped in the bud, the Deathwatcher can decisively swing matches on its own and throw many decks that specialize in deathrattle effects into despair.
The spell Conjure Mana Cookies may seem unremarkable at first glance. It is of common rarity and a 2 mana spell that gives the mage a cookie that restores 2 mana when used. Essentially, you gain nothing from the card, as 2 mana and one card are used to create a card and 2 mana.
However, it gives the mage significant combo potential, especially in the late game. When a mage suddenly can spend not just 10 mana but even 12 in one turn, it can become a real “game changer.”
This is particularly useful, as many current mage decks aim to win the game in the late game. In the early rounds, mages use their mana increasingly rarely and if they do, it’s to use their hero power to deal 1 damage to the opposing hero. Mana that can now be saved more effectively to unleash devastating combos later on.
Illidari Studies is a new spell for demon hunters that will surely instill fear in all enemies. For 1 mana, the demon hunter can discover an outsider card. In addition, the next played outsider card costs 1 mana less – so the card’s costs amortize immediately.
The trick is that the discovered outsider card automatically fulfills the conditions to benefit from the outsider bonus. After all, a newly discovered card goes directly to the far right position in the demon hunter’s hand, activating the outsider bonus. This allows the demon hunter to unleash powerful combos and drain life points from their opponent faster through massive rush mechanics.
Judgment’s Binding is a new card for paladins. For 7 mana, you get a weapon with 5/3, which also has a corruption effect that gives it lifesteal.
What at first glance sounds like a comparatively expensive weapon is not the case upon closer inspection. The costs of binding cards can be drastically reduced for the paladin, making the weapon only cost 3 or 4 mana later on. This also makes it much easier to trigger the corruption effect. This, in turn, transforms Judgment’s Binding into a devastating weapon that not only deals 15 damage but also restores 15 health points. As if paladins weren’t already sturdy enough.
When will the new cards be available? You can get these 5 and the remaining 30 cards starting January 21 in Hearthstone, presumably in the evening (around 8:00 PM).
For the first time, you can not only get the cards from card packs but also buy the entire mini-set for €15 or 2,000 gold coins. This is an affordable price even for free-to-play players.
Today, January 20, 2021, there is a raid hour in Pokémon GO. Featured are Groudon and Kyogre. We will show you the best counters and what your teams should look like.
What kind of event is this? Every week on Wednesday there is a raid hour. For one hour, there will be a legendary raid at almost all gyms.
Today, Wednesday, the focus is on the Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre. We will show you the most important information in an overview, so you can make the most of the event.
All information about the raid hour with Groudon and Kyogre
When does the raid hour start? As always, the event begins at 6:00 PM local time. Before that, the eggs will appear at the gyms, so they can hatch right at 6:00 PM. You have until 7:00 PM to participate. Some raids may still be active after 7:00 PM.
You can also find Groudon as Shiny
The best counters for Groudon: To know which attackers to equip your teams with, we will show you the overview of the best counters against Groudon. The Pokémon shows its weaknesses against the types Water, Grass, and Ice.
Pokémon
Attacks
(Mega-)Venusaur
Vine Whip + Solar Beam
Gyarados
Waterfall + Hydro Pump
Swampert
Water Gun + Hydro Cannon
Mewtwo
Confusion + Ice Beam
Salamence
Dragon Tail + Hydro Pump
Kyogre
Waterfall + Surf
Shiftry
Vine Whip + Leaf Tornado
Leafeon
Razor Leaf + Solar Beam
Mamoswine
Powder Snow + Avalanche
Kingler
Bubble + Crabhammer
You can also find Kyogre as Shiny
The best counters for Kyogre: In the table below, you will see the strongest counters against the Pokémon Kyogre. For Kyogre, attackers of Electric and Grass types are recommended.
Pokémon
Attacks
(Mega-)Venusaur
Vine Whip + Solar Beam
Mewtwo
Psycho Cut + Thunderbolt
Zapdos
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
Electivire
Thunder Shock + Thunder Punch
Magnezone
Spark + Thunder Punch
Raikou
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
Shiftry
Vine Whip + Leaf Tornado
Zekrom
Charge Beam + Thunder Shock
Jolteon
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
Exeggutor
Bullet Seed + Solar Beam
How many trainers should you take with you? If you have the ideal counters and also Shadow or Mega Pokémon, then the bosses can be done with three players. However, we recommend groups of at least 4 players, so that the battles can be completed quickly and you can make the most of the raid hour.
Are you participating in the raid hour with Groudon and Kyogre today? Then let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments what attackers your team consists of and why you chose them.
Also, exchange ideas with other trainers about the best Pokémon to use at today’s event.
While there is no official announcement regarding GTA 6, there are still ongoing rumors. Possible clues have surfaced in the form of two patents acquired by publisher Take Two. These could mean a better and more realistic Open World.
Where does the information come from? The patents were filed by Take Two, the publisher behind GTA developer Rockstar Games, and are publicly accessible.
One patent dates back to 2017 and was shared by Big Jon Cosimo on Twitter on January 16 via Twitter.
The other was recently discovered by fans and discussed on reddit. It was filed in April 2019 and made public in October 2020.
More possibilities for the Open World of GTA 6 through new technologies?
These are the patents in question: One patent mainly revolves around the calculation and generation of objects in the game world. This could make AI behavior more realistic and result in significantly smarter NPCs. It is titled ‘System and Method for Virtual Navigation in a Game World’.
The other patent describes how players can actively change and influence the Open World. Many worlds of previous games hardly change due to player actions, which could change in the future.
Overall, these methods could lead to a significantly more realistic and extensive Open World in GTA 6.
Improved Navigation System for NPCs
What exactly is meant by this? The existing navigation of NPCs in a vast Open World has always been one of the biggest challenges for developers. The most recent example is the massive RPG Cyberpunk 2077, which has massive problems with NPCs. This often manifests in odd behaviors, such as in traffic.
In GTA 5, cars are usually assigned a certain ‘wandering behavior’ without taking external factors like traffic or weather into account. Numerous cars also drive around without a ‘destination’ in the world or simply park on the street (via upsto.report).
You can watch some examples of this from GTA 5 in this video by whatever57010:
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The patent emphasizes the need to overcome conventional methods and improve such systems.
Here’s how the AI behavior is to be revised: By offloading the calculations for NPCs onto cloud servers, AI behavior could be significantly improved.
This allows the game world to be computed on the respective hardware while all other processes take place on the servers. The limitation posed by hardware has previously been a factor as to why NPCs occasionally behave rather stupidly in many Open World games.
The patent states:
“The system includes a server for managing the virtual navigation of one or more non-player characters and one or more game consoles in communication with the server over a network, wherein each game console comprises a gaming platform for executing the game environment […]”
In GTA 5, players had to rely on mods to improve traffic.
Many associated improvements may lie in the details, but collectively, these changes could lead to more realism, particularly in large, complex Open Worlds.
For example, major roads might be busier than side streets.
If a car turns onto the main road, it affects the surrounding traffic.
In general, NPCs could respond much more quickly to external influences, obstacles, and dangerous situations.
Similar improvements are likely to affect the overall simulation of the game world. But not only AI behavior is expected to improve in the future (this should also have a positive impact on the server connection). The Open World itself is also expected to become more changeable and respond to player actions as described in another patent.
Open World Responds to Player Actions
Here’s how it is supposed to work: In the future, the Open World could react to what players do within it. For example, one could ‘upgrade’ a rundown neighborhood through good actions and make it shine with new glory.
Assets like ‘old’, ‘worn’, ‘rusty’ would be replaced by new assets like ‘new’, ‘renovated’, or ‘Hipster’, which would ultimately depend on the actions of the players, as Big Jon Colosimo discovered on Twitter:
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A similar feature already existed in Red Dead Redemption 2. There, cities grow, forests are logged, and generally, especially inhabited parts of the game world are in constant flux. However, this happens independently of players’ actions or decisions.
So far, every change in the game world has been added by Rockstar itself, as seen in the casino release. Days before the announcement, construction works were carried out at the casino, which had been inaccessible until then. Now it is one of the most important places in GTA Online.
Keep in mind: None of the patents mention specific games. It thus remains open whether these will find application in a potential GTA 5 successor or at all.
Nevertheless, they provide an interesting insight and possibly also a first glimpse of what may be possible in upcoming Open World games. Perhaps already in the next Grand Theft Auto that fans are eagerly awaiting.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The medieval game Life is Feudal: MMO is officially dead. The survival MMO actually aimed to make a comeback in 2020. However, a legal dispute led to the end of the MMO. Let’s look back.
Although the game is still available for download on Steam, nothing happens if you try to start it now. The client just closes again.
What caused the game to fail? The reason for the discontinuation was cited by the developers as a legal dispute with the publisher, which was newly established in 2016 and was supposed to distribute Life is Feudal: MMO. However, this company apparently did a poor job, leading the developers from Bitbox to market themselves. However, there seemed to have still been a contract with the publisher.
After the developers declined a renewed deal with the publisher, he reportedly refused to share their revenues from Life is Feudal.
The financial pressure is said to have led to the shutdown of the game.
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What is affected by the discontinuation? Only the MMO version of Life is Feudal is affected by the shutdown. The games Life is Feudal: Your Own and Life is Feudal: Forest Village remain playable.
The Chinese version of Life is Feudal: MMO will also continue. Only Western players can no longer play.
Are there refunds? All purchases made since November 1, including currency for real money or the premium account, have been refunded by the developers via Xsolla.
Life is Feudal was too realistic and demanding for many
What kind of game was it? The MMO Life is Feudal was described by the developers as “difficult and realistic”. You could dive into a medieval world that offered a great challenge and a lot of grind:
Basically, it was a survival game where you had to search for resources and could build entire cities with other players.
However, it took an extremely long time to build something up in the game.
You were constantly exposed to danger from other players and NPC races.
When you died, you lost everything.
On Steam, the game only had a 43% positive rating. Life is Feudal: MMO was mainly criticized for appealing only to those who had an enormous amount of time, a lot of patience, and wanted to play in large guilds.
Alone, you couldn’t achieve anything in Life is Feudal. At least ten players are needed for a guild, and only in a large guild do you have the chance to build something up very slowly. You also need to be very frustration-resistant, as everything you have built up over months can be lost in a battle or a raid.
However, there is still the “Your Own” version. This is a standalone version of the game, where you can host your own servers and play with friends or strangers. However, you need to pay 19.99 Euros for that.
Life is Feudal: Forest Village remains active as well. This is a city-building simulation. You play a group of settlers with whom you build a town. It essentially picks up the building aspect of the MMO, but does not offer a playable character that you control and equip.
Life is Feudal: MMO is the first MMO that died in 2021. However, the deaths of two other online games have already been announced for this year. We have included them in this article:
The Predator can now be found in Fortnite: Battle Royale. You can find and defeat him on the map. We will show you his location and a few tricks.
What is happening in Fortnite right now? The new update 15.21 has been released and brought a new NPC boss to the Fortnite map. He can now be found and fought. By eliminating him, players can obtain a cool mythical item.
Finding the Predator – Location
Where do you need to go? If you want to confront the boss, you must head to the jungle near Stealthy Stronghold. There, the Predator is well hidden and waiting for you.
At Stealthy Stronghold, you will encounter the Predator
Now you know where the Predator is located on the Season 5 map, but finding him is not so easy. With his mythical device, he can turn invisible and blend with the environment.
This means that you need to keep your eyes open and listen for his sounds. If he is nearby, you will hear screams – which can cause a few scares!
If you don’t want to get scared or want to shorten your search, you can enable “Visualize Sound Effects” in the settings. This will show you footsteps on the screen and you can immediately see from which direction the Predator is coming.
The Predator is an enemy from the cult film of the same name
Defeating the Predator – Best Tips
How can you confront the Predator in battle? The boss is not too hard to defeat, as he doesn’t have many hit points. However, his ability to turn invisible makes the fight more challenging and prolongs it.
If you have already enabled the “Visualize Steps” feature, the battle shouldn’t take too long. But make sure to equip yourself with weapons and ammunition before engaging in the fight.
Once you start the chase, be careful not to stand too close to the Predator, as he will attack you with his claws. So grab some weapons and pursue him while keeping a bit of distance.
Once you have defeated him, you will be rewarded with the mythical item “Predator’s Cloaking Device.” This device allows you to become invisible for a short time, giving you an advantage in battle.
This is what the item looks like that you receive from the Predator
If you prefer to play as the Predator yourself, you should soon have the opportunity to do so. With challenges, you can unlock various items and cosmetics, and then later also the Predator himself, the secret skin of Season 5.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The survival MMO Rust offers an extensive crafting and building system. However, for your own house, you first need walls – and those can be tricky. Once you set them, they cannot be easily removed. MeinMMO will show you how to succeed anyway.
This is the problem: When you build your base in Rust, you need walls. However, you should be careful because walls are fixed once you place them. They can only be removed shortly after placement with a hammer.
This can surprise especially new players who want to build their first house. If they’re not careful, suddenly a building stands where they don’t want it, and the materials are gone.
However, there are several tricks to tear down placed walls, some even completely free and without much effort.
Tearing down walls in Rust – Here’s how
Tearing down walls with the hammer: Once you’ve set a wall, you can remove it with the hammer for about 10 minutes. Stand with the hammer in front of the wall and hold down the right mouse button. A “Destroy” option should appear.
Once the time has elapsed, the wall becomes fixed on an official server and can only be destroyed through other means from that point. If you own your own server or are playing on a friend’s, you can utilize mods. The mod “Hammer Time” for example allows you to adjust the time after building (via umod.org).
In our guide, you can learn how to rent and set up your own server for Rust. There you will also find useful admin commands. With the command “global.ent kill”, for instance, you can also destroy a wall.
A nice base in Rust is great – but a wrongly placed wall can quickly ruin it.
Tearing down walls through upgrades: One trick to tear down a wall is to upgrade it first. If you’ve placed a wall in an inconvenient spot, you can simply upgrade it to a higher material, like metal.
Then take all materials of that type out of your tool cupboard and the wall will slowly decay. While this doesn’t cost you anything, it does have two downsides:
it takes a long time
and you cannot have other building parts made from this material, otherwise they will decay as well
During a “Force Wipe” with the next server update, your wall will also disappear because the entire server will then be reset. If that’s not an option for you, all that’s left is raw force.
Tearing down walls with explosives and weapons: The fastest and simultaneously most expensive method to tear down a wall is C4. This is a high-quality explosive that allows you to specifically tear down walls. Alternatively, the following also work:
satchel charges
other explosives
melee weapons
Attack the wall with the weapons from the side. However, this can take time and will consume a lot of durability from the weapon. In our item guide, we show you how to get C4 and other useful items.
With C4, walls can be quickly torn down.
However, you will need quite a bit of the weapons and explosives – depending on what material your wall is made of. Crafting can become quite expensive, and as a new player, you are better advised to use the tool cupboard method or to set up your storage elsewhere.
Placing a wall incorrectly is annoying in any case, and it is labor-intensive to remove it again. Keep this in mind during construction, just like the mistakes you should avoid in Rust.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Tanking in WoW has become frustrating for many players. Tanks often just run in circles and kite the enemies behind them. Does it have to be like this?
Tanking in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft is often a thankless job. Not only do you need to know the dungeon perfectly, but you also bear much of the responsibility within the group, deciding the pace and the exact approach. It is all the more frustrating when tanking itself becomes less enjoyable. This is the exact problem that tanks are currently facing in “Mythic+” dungeons. Because there, actual “tanking” is becoming increasingly rare, and kiting is happening much more often.
What is the problem? Mythic+ dungeon difficulty belongs to the most challenging content that players can currently experience in WoW. With increasing levels, enemies become stronger, and the mechanics become more complex. Around level 12 and up (slightly varying depending on tank class), enemies become so powerful that they can no longer be fought in melee in a conventional way. Even tank classes are taken down in just a few seconds.
This is a topic that is frequently discussed in the WoW subreddit.
Tanks are running for their lives – is this still ‘tanking’?
How are tanks tanking then? Usually by kiting. They dash into the enemy group briefly to build enough threat. Then the enemies are slowed down, and the tank just runs away from them. Occasionally, a ranged attack or a stun is introduced. However, this has little to do with traditional tanking, where the warrior stands against the enemies in melee with shield and sword.
Damage is no longer avoided through the skillful use of mitigation abilities, but rather by the enemies not being able to reach the tank and the tank leading the enemies in circles.
Tanks say about the topic: In the WoW subreddit, some tanks have voiced their opinions.
The paladin metalicgrenade writes:
It pains me to be a paladin in full plate with poor mobility, only to have to kite. It ruins the fantasy of being an ‘immovable object.’
Another player, goodydoobie, sees kiting as one of many options – or at least hopes so:
As several have noted: Kiting should be a tool for tanks, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. Sure, if the difficulty of the keystones increases or you make big pulls, it should be used more prominently. But at levels 14 or 15, movement should revolve more around properly positioning individual mob groups rather than kiting.
What is even worse is the fact that itemization is the obvious culprit here. Because the scaling of DPS classes is not on par with the resilience of tanks. What DPS players can kill easily can still wreck a tank in no time. That’s bad.
Also, the player Ni_Too sees the problem and writes:
I completely agree with you – I don’t tank in this addon, but when I look at tanks in ‘Mythic+’ groups, it mainly consists of them being shot the aggro of a hunter and then running away as fast as they can – I pity them.
This has nothing to do with the ‘tank fantasy.’
It’s okay if there are different tank styles, like one that kites and another that works with sword and shield, and so on. But if even the ‘sword and shield’ tanks have to run away all the time, it just feels wrong.
Even healers are annoyed by the current playstyle of tanks and criticize it, like Stonebear:
As a healer, it’s damn annoying to chase the demon hunter who jumps from pillar to pillar and from corner to wherever just to heal him. The kiting meta is trash and has become too extreme.
Demon hunters are particularly mobile and therefore currently make a good impression as tanks – players are still annoyed, though.
This problem is not new: The issue is not entirely new. That this method of tanking is the most effective, has already crystallized in Battle for Azeroth. Although this approach only became truly necessary at level 17 and above, it disturbed many players back then.
More news about WoW: Shadowlands can be found here:
The concern now is that this rather atypical playstyle for tanks makes tanking even less attractive. After all, many players likely began tanking to bind enemies in melee and protect the group. The fact that this playstyle is transforming in the endgame to one where they just bounce around like a rubber ball could frighten many tank players – and make this important role even less appealing.
What do you think? Do you enjoy tanking under the current conditions? Or do you understand the criticism from warriors, paladins, and others?
The new season in Fortnite eSports brings several changes. Among other things, there are better prize pools – but the competition will also become tougher.
This is what the new season of the FNCS brings in terms of money: As described by the “Fortnite Competitive Team” in a blog post, more money will be invested in the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) in 2021. This series is the most important Fortnite competition, held over a total of 4 seasons.
In the new year, there is expected to be a prize pool of 20 million dollars, which means three million more than in 2020 – when it was still 17. This prize money will be distributed as follows: Each season a total of 3 million will be distributed across different regions and awarded in the finals. As of now, it is expected to look like this:
Depending on the region, there are different prize pools (via Epic Games)
So already with 4 seasons, one can reach 12 million dollars. In addition, there will be competitions in the middle and end of the year where the best FNCS players can compete for the remaining 8 million. Further information on this will be provided at a later date.
Recently, there was criticism of Fortnite eSports, also regarding the prize pools. Epic will likely have to address this a bit – however, there are also further changes that may not all be received positively.
The Fortnite pro Benjyfishy recently expressed criticism regarding the direction of Fortnite eSports
A player pool for all platforms
This is changing: The new FNCS season will be held in trios – and these can be formed across platforms. This means that PC players can team up with console or mobile competitors. However, all platforms will now also compete against each other: There will only be one common, cross-platform group.
Thus, competition is increasing, and the technical difference is also likely to become noticeable. While console and PC were previously separate, one must now prove oneself against each other in the battle for the prize money – which is not well received everywhere. On Twitter, for example, some players react angrily to the announcement, criticizing that console players, especially on older models, might be at a disadvantage compared to PC.
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The announcement on Twitter sparked a lively discussion
However, the blog post also emphasizes that there will still be some console-exclusive tournaments: “We will also hold more console tournaments in 2021 that will have their own prize pool.” However, the extent to which these will take place has not yet been described in detail. In addition, there are other overarching competitions such as the “Solo Saturdays”.
What changes in the game itself? There are also a few changes in the competitive game modes. For example, the new lever shotgun is involved, while the Rift Fish and Shockwave Grenades will be removed. This will likely make it more difficult to move quickly across the map. Another point regarding mobility: Quick movement in sand is available as long as it is active in the main modes – but even there this feature is sometimes inactive. Additionally, the IO guards will be removed in competition.
Light machine guns bring you huge magazines and pleasant handling in Call of Duty: Warzone. The Stoner 63 is currently considered the best LMG and MeinMMO shows you the suitable setup for it.
Update April 28, 2021 – Cold War Season 3: The Stoner remains a strong range alternative in Warzone. The setup in the article is current and effective.
What kind of weapon is this? The Stoner 63 is an American modular rifle that was particularly used during the Vietnam War. It cannot be directly assigned to any weapon class, as it was designed as a modular rifle and only minor adjustments are needed to turn the Stoner into an assault rifle, carbine, or a light or medium machine gun (via Wikipedia).
However, the most well-known version is the configuration as a light machine gun, and this variant has also made it into Call of Duty: Warzone. The weapon from Black Ops Cold War shines with its stability and performs particularly well at medium distances. It is also usable at longer ranges, thanks to its pleasant recoil. A prominent CoD expert ranks the LMG among the top 6 “Cold War” weapons for Warzone.
MeinMMO shows you some details of the LMG masterpiece, a tested setup, and the strengths and weaknesses of the Stoner 63 that every LMG lover should take on a romantic city tour through Verdansk.
CoD Warzone: Stoner 63 Build for painful and easy hits
What does a strong setup look like? The Stoner is stable, deals decent damage, and comes with an above-average magazine of 75 rounds right out of the box. However, LMGs are often significantly slower than their assault rifle counterparts and are therefore usually only competitive at medium to long distances.
One value is therefore very important: the bullet velocity. The attachments “Muzzle” and “Barrel” should be equipped in a way that maximizes this value to achieve better hits. A suitable sight will also help.
Warzone: Stoner 63 Setup
Muzzle: Agency Suppressor
Barrel: 21.8″ Special Operations
Sight: Visiontech 2x
Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip
Ammo: 120 rounds
Stoner 63 – High bullet velocity makes the difference
What does this setup provide? The Agency Suppressor is the “Cold War” counterpart to the Monolithic Suppressor and is thus a standard for many weapons. This muzzle gives you the suppressor effect, slightly increased range, and more bullet velocity. Additionally, you can equip the Stoner 63 with the “20.3” Special Operations” barrel. This provides the largest boost to bullet velocity.
As a third “base attachment,” which makes the weapon a strong support in Warzone, choose one of the medium-size sights. Depending on your preferences, the “Visiontech 2x” or the “Axial Arms 3x” are good options.
To improve handling and enhance ammunition flow, equip the “Field Agent Undergrip” and expand your magazine to 120 rounds.
More about the Stoner 63 can be found in an English video from the CoD YouTuber “JGOD.” However, the part about the Cavalry/MP5 barrel is no longer current – the barrels now actually deal more damage to vehicles. We will embed the video here for you:
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What else could I adjust? When it comes to the magazine, you have the choice – do you prefer a few more rounds or better reloading speed? The attachments “120 rounds” and “Fast Reload” give you both without penalties to your already sluggish ADS speed. Choose one of the two. For all others, the disadvantages are noticeable.
When it comes to the underbarrel, it depends on your preferences. JGOD recommends three variants:
Field Agent Grip: Reduces horizontal recoil significantly, vertical recoil a little
Ramp Grip: Reduces vertical recoil significantly
SAS Combat Stock: Provides bonuses to mobility
Experiment a little and find out which setup works best for you. However, the base attachments for the Stoner 63 are crucial: Agency Muzzle, MP5 Barrel, and medium sight.
In close combat with problems – otherwise a top weapon
Where does the Stoner 63 have its strengths and weaknesses? This light machine gun offers you an incredibly strong time-to-kill of only 568 milliseconds up to nearly 50 meters with this barrel. 500 ms is considered outstanding in Warzone. For an LMG, this is an absolute top value and only the MG34 is slightly better in this regard.
However, you can hardly benefit from this strong number in close combat. Its biggest weakness is its mobility. Whether it’s movement speed, ADS speed, or sprint-to-fire speed – compared to smaller weapons like assault rifles or submachine guns, you are at a significant disadvantage in close combat. Before you finish aiming, an MP5 has already fired several rounds at you.
As soon as the distance is a bit greater, though, you are in control. At around 50 meters, the TTK rises to 735 milliseconds, which is still a strong value at that range. Thanks to the pleasant recoil behavior, you can fully benefit from the low TTK and, with a little practice, wipe out everything that doesn’t quickly run out of your crosshairs. That’s why it stands out as an all-around weapon alternative on our list of the best weapons in Warzone.
Pro
Really strong at medium distances
Large magazines
Pleasant recoil behavior
Contra
Very sluggish
Usually inferior in close combat
Use SMGs in close combat and rock everything else with the Stoner
How should I play the Stoner 63? Use the LMG as your primary weapon and pair it with an SMG in your secondary hand. The Stoner is particularly effective at medium ranges and tears your enemies apart in no time. If you have a good place to position your weapon, you can even counter snipers when you spot the flash of their sight.
Always switch to your SMG in houses or areas with short combat distances and use the LMG for your excursions outdoors. When you run away from the gas circle, switch back to your SMG to maintain higher movement speed. Good options here include the MAC-10 from Cold War or the MP5 from Modern Warfare.
LMGs in Warzone are an exciting weapon class that, while often outperformed by pure stats, pose a significant threat to rushing enemies due to their high stability and large magazines. If you want even more stability, try the FiNN LMG in Battle Royale. You can find a detailed guide to the FiNN here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The custom retailer CMP Shells previously offered alternative, colorful side plates for the PS5, but had to give up after trouble with Sony. Now the provider is back with a new offer and promises that this time there will be no problems.
What is the restart about? Currently, the new PS5 is only available in white. However, it seems that the white side covers of the console, the so-called faceplates or sideplates, are quite easy to replace.
Some custom providers wanted to take advantage of this and offered alternative side covers for the PlayStation 5. This included the third-party retailer “Customize my Plates,” who attracted customers with a colorful offer of custom plates.
This is what the offer from Customize my Plates originally looked like
But now Customize my Plates is back under the slightly modified name CMP Shells and offers new side covers for the PS5. The provider promises that this time everything will go smoothly and there will be no more trouble.
Retailer with custom side plates for the PS5 is back – but caution
This is currently offered by CMP Shells: At the moment, CMP Shell is running two different offers:
2 matte black side plates for the PS5 – $55.00
A bundle of 2 matte black side plates, a matte black central part (vinyl), and a black vinyl set for the PS5 DualSense controller – $75.00
This hits the nerve of many PS5 owners, as some wish to have the PlayStation 5 completely in black. According to the shop, 1,000 pieces are initially to be sold, with only about 100 still available at the current time (January 20, 2021, 12:00 PM German time). Delivery is to be expected by the end of February 2021 – and worldwide.
That’s why everything is supposed to go smoothly this time: Apparently, the patent for the side plates has already been applied for, but is still pending, so the approval has not yet occurred. And before this happens, sales are apparently unassailable according to CMP.
The provider stated that they did not know this before and know it now, in an additional explanation with each product description. Furthermore, they claim to have copied no design. The side plates offered by CMP Shells reportedly differ from the original, as they should improve the air circulation of the console according to the description. Therefore, they should also be able to continue to be sold even after the patent has been approved by Sony.
Will it work this time? This is currently at least questionable. There has been no reaction from Sony so far, and the provider’s shop is still online. However, there have already been some changes there.
On January 20, there were still 3 offers available. In addition to the two listed above, there was also the Kratos bundle, where the black side plates and the controller set featured a design from “God of War: Ragnarok”.
This is no longer carried in the shop. Instead, there is now a Ragnarok sticker added at no additional cost with the lowest offer. The prices have also changed. The products were originally listed at $49.00 and $69.00. There are currently no proper photos of the final products available, and you can only cancel an order after the goods have been shipped and received.
In general, Sony has so far been consistent in opposing such offers – successfully. It is currently unclear whether a legal loophole has indeed been found or if someone might be trying to make quick money off unsuspecting interested parties. However, we still advise caution and rather recommend avoiding such offers – at least until there is really official clarity from Sony or sufficient reliable reports of experience are available.
What do you think? Will the shop be able to sustain itself this time with its offer? Does it seem serious to you? Or does someone just want to make quick money off trusting interested parties? Have you already had your own experiences with such custom providers for the PS5?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In January 2021, some customers are still waiting for the delivery of their PS5. There is good news for pre-order customers at Saturn and MediaMarkt. A new wave of shipments seems to be going out. But how does it look for the PlayStation 5 in general this year?
What is happening with the orders? Already before the release date of the PS5 on November 19, MediaMarkt announced that some orders would not arrive on time. At the end of November, there was then a larger number of deliveries – but this hardly served all pre-order customers.
Even 2 months later, there are still customers who have not received a console.
As the website Gameswirtschaft reports, some of the buyers at Saturn received a shipping or pickup confirmation on the night of January 20 and throughout the day. Things are also moving at MediaMarkt.
Saturn is sending out consoles, MediaMarkt is charging credit cards
Which order numbers have been shipped? During the night, shipping confirmations for the order numbers 9179x and 9180x are said to have been sent out. These are obviously for the digital edition of the PS5.
One of the lucky ones is also one of our authors at MeinMMO, who has shared his pickup confirmation.
At MediaMarkt, on the other hand, credit cards are said to have been charged with €399.99 or €499.99. From this, Gameswirtschaft concludes that a new wave of shipments is also imminent here.
New consoles could be available from next week
What is the status of new consoles? While some pre-order customers are still waiting for their consoles to be delivered, many didn’t even get the chance to order a PS5 at all.
New sales are expected to begin next week, starting January 25.
The PlayStation 5 is available with and without a disc drive. Both are in short supply.
Where can you get them? If you want a new PS5, you should rather ignore retail. Typically, the consoles are available from online retailers like Amazon or Otto, GameStop, and large electronics retailers like Expert, Euronics, or Medimax.
However, you will need to act quickly and need a bit of luck. However, the outlook for the entire year looks somewhat better:
Genshin Impact announces some adjustments to the resin consumption for update 1.3. Some events will no longer require resin in the future, and the Battle Pass will provide more Fragile Resin starting from 1.3.
What was announced? In a Q&A, the developer miHoYo addressed some user questions related to the gameplay of Genshin Impact.
One of the questions revolved around many players desiring more Original Resin. The developers responded to this to some extent, and with the update 1.3 in February, the following changes to the resin consumption and the experience pass (Battle Pass) will be implemented:
In 1.3, all major events that do not contain Elemental Mastery or secret Domains will not consume Original Resin.
A significant portion of the major events in updates after 1.3 will also not require Original Resin.
The Battle Pass will provide additional Fragile Resin starting from update 1.3. Both the Wanderer and the Qiqing experience passes will give 1 x Fragile Resin every 10 levels.
Fragile Resin will replace the materials used to enhance weapons in the passes. They will be redistributed to other levels, so the total amount of materials from the passes will not change.
What happened to the “Resin Pass”? Some time ago, a new pass for Genshin Impact appeared in the Chinese PlayStation Store. Players were able to take screenshots of it and noted that it resembled a sort of “Moon Blessing” for resin.
The pass was quickly removed from the store and miHoYo did not comment on it in the Q&A.
This is what the “Resin Pass” looked like, which briefly appeared in the Chinese PSN.
Just a drop in the bucket?
This is what the comments say: In the official forums and on reddit, the Q&A is being discussed extensively. The respective threads have about 1,600 to 1,700 comments each.
Opinions on the changes to resin consumption and the Battle Pass vary somewhat. Some users in the comments feel that it’s just a drop in the bucket.
The changes to the Battle Pass would only provide players about 50 additional resin per week. According to some comments, significant steps in the right direction would look like this:
Make it so that weekly bosses no longer consume resin!
How about changing the recharge time for each Original Resin from 8 minutes to 5 minutes, please? It would be so much better. Thank you for taking the step forward, but this change would permanently solve the problem.
Additionally, some players fear that the rewards for events that do not require resin will now be worse. For example, Fischl’s event was mentioned as having better rewards compared to Albedo’s event (via reddit).
Another part of the users is glad that changes are happening with resin and that miHoYo is responding to player criticism. Although the adjustments are not very impressive, if the developers continue to make concessions step by step, the resin system could improve significantly in the future.
[…] My prediction is that we will see more and more “relaxations” of the limit as the game continues to develop and they [miHoYo] are satisfied with the amount of content. But they will not give us a ton of resin after just one patch.
When is 1.3 coming? The exact release date for update 1.3 has not yet been officially announced. miHoYo has only stated that it should be released in February.
Based on the update cycle of about 6 weeks, early February, around the 3rd of February, could be a possible date.
The German company Gamigo acquires the studio KingIsle, known for the MMORPGs Wizard 101 and Pirate 101 – for 126 million US dollars. Behind this is a strategy: The company aims to buy and further develop successful MMORPGs rather than create new ones.
What kind of purchase is this? Gamigo is a German publisher based in Hamburg. They have already attracted attention in recent years by acquiring larger development studios:
Wizard 101 is a very successful MMORPG for younger players.
Gamigo adds child-friendly MMORPGs to its portfolio
What is KingIsle known for? KingIsle develops MMORPGs aimed at children and teenagers. The most well-known and successful game is Wizard 101, which resembles Harry Potter a bit and puts players in the role of wizards.
The players are wizard students who explore multiple worlds full of adventures and use their magical skills in tactical turn-based battles. Over time, players become more powerful by defeating enemies, collecting equipment, and learning more spells.
Pirate 101 was intended to go in a similar direction, but here the players are pirates searching for treasures. Pirate 101 was not quite as successful. The MMORPG hasn’t received any updates for quite some time.
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Pirate 101 could not match the success of Wizard 101.
How much money does Gamigo pay? The purchase price was stated as 126 million US dollars. However, that’s not all. An additional 84 million dollars are expected to flow if the revenue targets set for the company are met. In the fiscal year 2021, KingIsle is expected to achieve a revenue of 25 million euros, as well as a sustainable operational cash flow before tax of 17 million euros.
What impact does the acquisition have on the games? According to KingIsle, Gamigo aims to ensure that at least Wizard 101 can continue for another 10 years and be further developed. However, Pirate 101 is not mentioned. At this current time, at least the wizard MMORPG continues as planned.
On the studio’s blog, it is stated:
Gamigo and the team talked about the long-term perspective, about how we want to keep the game alive over the next ten years and beyond, and we are both committed to achieving that. We are determined to continue releasing updates and… there could be some exciting possibilities beyond what you expect. Stay tuned.
Investor buys MMORPGs as a strategy
What does this purchase bring Gamigo? Behind Gamigo is the investor Remco Westermann and his group “Media and Game Invest”, who landed in the video game industry rather by chance. He initially just wanted to buy, rehabilitate, and resell Gamigo. However, he then recognized the potential in the computer game market.
Now it’s about growth for him. Westermann believes that most game companies are too small to make an impact. Therefore, he is essentially collecting MMORPGs and relying on synergies to reduce technical costs. He currently has more than 30 online role-playing games in his portfolio. The strategy is not to develop large new titles, but to buy and further expand successful games.
In addition to the gaming arm, Westermann has also acquired media companies to have everything under one roof. In 2017, he purchased the multi-channel network Mediakraft.
In the summer of 2020, Gamigo CEO Remco Westermann stated (via OMR) that growth cannot be bought forever: “We have now acquired over 30 companies. Now we want to grow more organically.” However, it was further stated that three to five additional companies from a list of 65 possible candidates should still follow. This probably included KingIsle.
With the MMORPGs of the company, Gamigo has now added games to its portfolio that are aimed at a younger audience and are well received by this audience – at least when it comes to Wizard 101.
An original set of booster cards from the first generation of the Pokémon trading card game was sold for a record price of $408,000 (approximately €336,275). The buyer does not even know exactly which cards he is getting. Nevertheless, his investment could be worthwhile.
What kind of cards are those? It is a “booster display”, meaning a complete set with 36 booster packs, each containing 11 cards. In total, the display contains 396 cards.
The sale took place via the American auction website Heritage Auctions. The display itself and all boosters are still factory sealed and come from 1999, from the first generation of Pokémon cards printed and distributed by Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The Gathering).
Since the box and the packs have never been opened, the buyer does not even know for sure which cards he will receive. However, he could make a profit if he does not want to keep the box for himself.
Trading cards are very valuable
Here’s why buying is worth it: One of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards could be in the box, a first edition Charizard. According to Heritage Auctions, this card is worth up to $350,000, nearly as much as the whole set itself.
The entire first generation offered only 102 different cards. While it is not guaranteed that a Charizard or even several are in the display, the probability is relatively high.
A Charizard card is particularly valuable. Image source: Heritage Auctions.
Since all cards are still factory sealed, it can be assumed that they are in “Gem Mint” condition. This is the best possible condition a trading card can be in; it is virtually perfectly preserved (via PSA).
This condition further increases the value of the cards. Even if the buyer does not sell the cards individually to collectors, he could still make a profit. Currently, Heritage Auctions offers the opportunity for the owner to receive an offer for the box – currently $530,400.
There, a “Black Lotus” was sold in 2019. The card is considered an absolute rarity and was extremely popular at the beginning of the card game. Its powerful effect is unique, and the card itself is today banned in many formats. The sold version is even rarer because it comes from the “Alpha version” of Magic. A collector paid over $166,000 for this Black Lotus.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Update 15.21 in Fortnite is here and bringsa new NPC boss, a new weapon, and a small map change. MeinMMO shows you what has changed in the game.
This is what’s happening in Fortnite: Today, on January 20, the Update 15.21 is being rolled out. The focus of the patch is the arrival of the Predator in Fortnite. We have summarized the most important changes in our own patch notes in German.
The Predator is here
What’s new? As revealed in the announcement for the update, there is now a new NPC character on the Fortnite map. This is the Predator, which can be found near its ship at Stealthy Stronghold.
Finding him could be difficult, as he has the ability to become invisible for 15 seconds. However, anyone who hits him should beware of his claws, as they will inflict damage. The data miner HYPEX has posted how much damage he causes:
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What’s new? With the arrival of the Predator, there is also a new mythical item that can be obtained from the NPC. Although it’s not a “weapon”, it can still be useful in combat.
This item is the “Predator’s Cloaking Device”, which makes you invisible for 30 seconds. However, the effect is interrupted if you switch items in your inventory or perform an action such as swimming (via Twitter).
According to data miner HYPEX, there are 3 different items that the Predator can drop (via Twitter):
A flopper fish
Ammunition
His mythical item
Map Changes
What’s new? With Update 15.21, there was only a small change to the map of Season 5, also here in connection with the Predator. In Hunter’s Haven, the new character is supposed to have a small home with a base. Players discovered this and shared it on Twitter with a clip:
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If you want to learn more secrets about the Predator, you should stop by his hideout during a round. Maybe you will find even more exciting things there.
If you prefer to play as the Predator yourself, you should soon have the chance. With challenges, you can unlock various items and cosmetics and later also the Predator himself, the secret skin of Season 5.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, MMORPG expert Joe Blackburn is the new strong man who is supposed to lead Destiny into the future. He now says: “The best days of Destiny are yet to come.” The problem: Hardly anyone believes him at the moment.
Who is speaking?
Blackburn worked at Zenimax for three years on the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, designing the big boss fights – including the epic battle against Molag Bal, at the end of the single-player campaign.
In 2015, he joined Bungie, became a raid designer, and later the chief designer of the raids of Destiny. He succeeded Luke Smith, who had gradually been promoted to the top boss of the game series after the success of the 1st raid “The Vault of Glass.”.
It all seemed to indicate that Blackburn would be the boss for PvE at Destiny.
Joe Blackburn is now somewhat like “the new strong man” at Destiny. He is apparently supposed to follow in Luke Smith’s footsteps. This was made clear in Bungie’s latest major video documentation, where there was a passing of the torch. Luke Smith expressed how exciting it is to see new leaders stepping up for Destiny. Then Joe Blackburn was shown, proudly announcing: “The best days of Destiny lie ahead of us.”
And this sentence is what it’s all about now.
Luke Smith, the head of Destiny 2.
This is what Blackburn is saying now: Blackburn has now spoken up over Twitter and said:
“Last year I said that the best days of Destiny lie ahead of us. Looking at what’s coming, I believe that more than ever before.
But we have a lot of work to do to get there. 2021 will be something different for Destiny. We will need some time to solidify our plans, but expect a “State of Destiny 2021″ in the next season.”
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This is the reaction to it: At the moment, the mood at Destiny is very low. The PvP problems with Stasis, the removal of content and items due to sunsetting, and the grind-heavy content of the seasons are harsh issues that Guardians are upset about.
Therefore, many comments are negative. A vague promise for the future has already been heard many times at Destiny. Guardians can’t relate to that. One says: “You’ve been telling us the same thing for years, but Destiny is only good for two weeks after a new expansion.”
Others mention that Destiny is a great game, they had a lot of fun and met great people, but in year 7, it seems that Bungie makes the same mistakes each year.
“I remain hopeful, man. Things are not always the way we want them to be, but we have seen what you are capable of. Many of us miss the magical feeling that Destiny used to give us, and we want it back. May the light shine bright in the future! Show us what you’ve got.”
GladdX
The general tenor of most posts is, however: People, we love your game, but you’ve been telling us the same stuff for years and nothing changes.
GladdX, he still believes in the good in Destiny.
What speaks against Blackburn’s statement is a confession from his boss, Luke Smith. He admitted in November 2020 that the possibilities at Bungie for Destiny are now limited without Activision Blizzard behind them:
In Pokémon GO there is a Smoke Day with Electric and Dragon Pokémon on January 24, 2021. We show you the spawns and what to consider during the event.
The next event for January 2021 has been announced by Niantic. There will be another Smoke Day. Events of this kind have occurred more frequently in Pokémon GO in the past. The special feature is the selected Pokémon that appear after igniting a smoke module.
Smoke Day in January 2021 with Mareep and Dragons
When does it start? The Smoke Day takes place on Sunday, January 24. The kick-off is at 11:00 AM local time. Like on a Community Day, you have 6 hours to make use of the bonuses during this event. It ends at 5:00 PM local time.
The special bonuses: Niantic has come up with a few bonuses for the Smoke Day.
You will receive a package in the shop with three smoke modules for only one Pokécoin
During the event, Mareep will be attracted by smoke
The event is divided into Electric and Dragon hours, which will attract different Pokémon
If you evolve an Ampharos during the event, it can learn the move Dragon Pulse
Hour divisions:
When?
What?
From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Electric Pokémon
From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Dragon Pokémon + Pokémon that evolve into Dragons
From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Electric Pokémon
From 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Dragon Pokémon Pokémon that evolve into Dragons
What will spawn? Niantic has already given players an outlook on the contents of the hours.
Electric Hour: Pikachu, Magnemite, Voltorb, Electrike, Mareep, Plusle, Minun, and Swalot
Dragon Hour: Seadra, Dratini, Mareep, Bagon, Vibrava, and Swablu. If you’re lucky, you might encounter Trapinch
Will you participate in the Smoke Day, or is this an event you would prefer to skip? Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and discuss it with other trainers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
2021 will be a very exciting year for all fans of the MMORPG Black Desert Online. Because the developers have announced a very interesting roadmap.
What has been announced? The developer studio Pearl Abyss has explained in the roadmap what new content the MMORPG BDO will receive this year after the separation from publisher Kakao Games. This has now been clarified again.
However, the plans currently only refer to Korea. It may happen that not all of this content will be available to us in 2021.
Nevertheless, the plans give a good outlook on the future of Black Desert. Getting into the MMORPG is worth it in 2021 as well.
The MMORPG Black Desert Online will launch server wars in 2021.
A very extensive roadmap for BDO
A lot of extensive new features and changes have been announced. We list them here:
Revision of the Node Wars: The Node Wars are part of the endgame in PvP. You will expand your territory through conquest and then protect it, which is associated with more action-packed fights and better rewards.
Main Server: By designating a main server, you enjoy some advantages, including server wars, which are an extension of the conquest wars. It will also be possible to switch between servers as before.
10 vs 10: The new 10 vs 10 system is aimed at players who enjoy battling in teams against other squads. 10 players enter the battle, 3 remain as reserves on the bench. Fights will take place in an arena in traditional game modes such as Capture the Flag and also in small conquest wars.
Balancing adjustments: The significant gap between the gear levels of adventurers is to be addressed through further enhancement levels for Blackstar armor pieces. The demand for Caphras stones will also be optimized, as it varies significantly in different game regions such as Russia, Europe, and Korea.
The Blackstar Raid introduces a new world boss.
Blackstar Raid: In the new raid, you will uncover what the meteor hovering over the fall of stars is really about and must confront a new world boss. If you hit the meteor in battle, it will spawn incarnations of corruption.
Home of the Gardia: A new winter-themed zone brings survival elements with it. You must seek shelter and need fire to protect yourself from freezing.
In this area, you will fight against the Okjinsini, a new type of enemy, at the Mountain of Eternal Winter in two new monster areas. Additionally, you will explore the dark Murrowak Labyrinth, inspired by an anthill. Also, a golden dragon lurks on the mountain waiting for you.
The Terror of the Deep will become new hardcore content for BDO.
Terror of the Deep: This new location introduces a new gameplay mechanic, hardcore monster areas. These are particularly challenging zones that are intended to pose a challenge even for the best BDO players.
You should not die in this area, as you will lose half of your loot if you do.
The Villa: You can acquire a plot of land in one of the cities and buy and expand a villa there. Even trees and a private garden should be possible, which expands the housing aspect of the game with several components.
Ataraxion: The new coop dungeon is not an instance, but takes place in the open world. You will encounter other adventurers there, but then have to cooperate in groups of three, four, or five to master the challenges.
The Land of Dragons: With the Land of Twilight, a new game area reminiscent of Far Eastern countries is added. Here you will experience the stories of the classes Musa, Maehwa, and Lahn, which originate from this land.
When will this content come? No exact release dates have been given yet. It may also be the case that not all content will make it to Europe this year.
As you can see, the developers have very big plans regarding the future of Black Desert Online.
The MMO New World has released new patch notes from the alpha. In January, several adjustments were made, primarily affecting the crafting and combat systems. A new weapon is also included.
What is happening currently in New World? The MMO from Amazon is in an alpha phase. However, this is under NDA, so testers cannot report on the progress.
About once a month, there is a developer update that presents the current development. This was again the case in January 2021. We present you with the most important new features from it.
Anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with New World in general and has an overview of the game content can find our opinion after the first public test here:
Is there anything new about the release? No, officially “Spring 2021” is still considered the official statement. Amazon still lists May 25 as the date.
1. Revision of the Crafting System
What is new in crafting? The January update focuses primarily on adjustments to the crafting system:
A number of new and rare resources have been introduced.
There are over 100 new named weapons and 50 new named armor pieces in crafting.
Many recipes have been adjusted so that general ingredients also work. For example, a general vegetable will suffice instead of carrots to prepare the corresponding food.
More flexibility has been introduced into the system. Players can decide whether to invest more or less Azoth to have a higher chance of bonuses. You should be able to decide exactly how much of rare materials you invest to have a chance for a higher armor value.
Unlocking plans has been revised.
Equipment will no longer become useless and discarded automatically when durability drops to 0.
An example of the new named weapons in New World.
What changes with buff food? Together with crafting, the buff food has also been revised. From now on, there are two categories that are clearly separated:
Bonus food that improves your attributes
Recovery food that quickly restores health
Additionally, the food bonuses now also persist beyond death.
What had changed previously in crafting? Already with the update in November 2020, adjustments were made that allow for better sorting of the inventory and the crafting stations to adapt their appearance with the growth of the settlement.
The crafting stations in settlements grow with the expansion and thereby look more distinctive – here as an example of the cooking station.
2. New Weapon Rapier
What type of weapon is this? The January update introduced the rapier. The new melee weapon focuses on stabbing and comes with two weapon trees:
The blood tree focuses on stacking the bleeding status effect on enemies and then bursting the stack with a final swing for massive damage.
The elegance tree focuses on dodging, countering, and skillfully wielding the blade.
The rapier as a new weapon.
The rapier is now the third new weapon since the test in August:
3. Adjustments to the Combat System and Only 2 Weapon Slots
What changes in combat? Besides the rapier, there was another change to the weapons. From now on, there will be only 2 weapon slots that can be swapped between in combat. Previously, there were 3. However, the second slot will still be unlocked at level 5.
Additionally, the developers have revised the ranged weapons so that players can now move during animations.
What changes regarding enemies? There were already adjustments to the AI in December, which are now being further expanded. Named enemies from level 15 will use a new elite system, giving them additional attacks and an adjusted characteristic.
Additionally, the difficulty of enemies has been increased, which are significantly above the player’s level:
There are increased armor and damage bonuses on enemies that are 3-5 levels higher.
From 6 levels higher, players are killed directly, instead of being brought to the brink of death. They also have a 10-meter increased perception.
Enemies that are 10 levels higher can no longer be affected by CC.
The Spriggan is the boss from the instanced 5-player arenas. In the August test, it was one of the strongest enemies in the game.
4. Adjustments to Quests and Groups
Quests were probably the biggest point of criticism during the open test in August. Since then, there have been numerous adjustments and promises that quests will be improved all the way to the endgame.
With the January update, new quest dialogues have been introduced to better characterize NPCs and expand quest instructions. Furthermore, the generic loot has been replaced by “interactive objects.” What this precisely means, we will probably only see in a new test.
Along with these adjustments, group gameplay has also been revised. In the future, it will be sufficient for the group as a whole to deal 15% damage to an enemy for everyone to receive XP, loot, and quest progress. However, the XP will now be divided among all players, instead of granting everyone the full XP as before.
New World is one of the most exciting MMORPGs currently in development and is set to be released in 2021. Generally, it looks like this year will be a good one for MMORPG fans:
Genre: Asymmetrical Survival Horror | Developer: Behaviour Interactive | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch | Release: 14.06.2016
Even in 2021, Dead by Daylight thrives, while other asymmetrical games are fading away. But why does Dead by Daylight continue to survive?
About 6 years ago, the genre of asymmetrical games began to experience a surge. The basic concept is quite similar. There is a “Power Role” that is alone and extremely powerful. The opposing team consists of several players, all of whom are significantly weaker but enjoy the numerical advantage.
Major representatives of this genre came and quickly disappeared:
After a gigantic hype, the monster game Evolve disappeared ignominiously a few months after release. It went free-to-play and shut down completely a few months later.
Due to a bitter copyright debacle, Friday the 13th: The Game had to shut down its operations a while ago. No more updates are available, and development has ceased. The game is practically dead.
Predator: Hunting Grounds is technically still alive and is receiving patches, but it seems to have disappeared into obscurity. There are no official figures on active players, and early reviews were extremely negative—many people have forgotten about the game.
However, one game has survived this “genre death.” Specifically, the game that promotes itself with the slogan “Death is no refuge”—Dead by Daylight.
Dead by Daylight continues to live on – and it is constantly growing.
But what makes Dead by Daylight so much better than its genre counterparts, all of which have faded into obscurity? Why does Dead by Daylight thrive even nearly 5 years after release and continue to grow year after year?
Let’s look at why Dead by Daylight is likely a hot candidate for your “next game” in 2021.
What is Dead by Daylight?
In its basic outlines, Dead by Daylight is quickly explained. Four players take on the role of “Survivors” against a Killer, who is also controlled by a player. The Survivors must repair several generators on the map to then open the exit gates and escape. The Killer, on the other hand, wants to prevent this and kill the Survivors by knocking them down and then hanging them on hooks.
What may sound monotonous at first presents new challenges each round. With 22 different Killers and numerous perks, each match is different. While some Killers set bear traps, others can become invisible, throw hatchets, or appear from nightmares like Freddy Krueger.
These two horror icons also kill in Dead by Daylight.
While the Killer relentlessly pursues a single goal – to kill the Survivors swiftly – the Survivors must make larger decisions more frequently:
Do I try to rescue another Survivor from the hook, risking my own life?
Do I sacrifice valuable time searching for small totems on the map that empower the Killer as long as they haven’t been found yet?
Do I confront the Killer myself to distract them from an already injured ally?
These and many other decisions, which must often be made in Dead by Daylight within a second, provide constant variety.
Everything important for newcomers to Dead by Daylight:
But let’s return to the question of why Dead by Daylight thrives while other genre representatives have met with an ignominious end. There are plenty of reasons for this. Although Dead by Daylight often receives criticism for its patch policy, which is often not tested sufficiently, the developers are doing a lot of things right.
Strong licenses: No other horror game has secured as many rights to well-known figures as Dead by Daylight. In addition to Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Amanda Young (SAW), creatures like the Demogorgon (Stranger Things), Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and Ghost Face (Scream) are also present. For fans of classic and modern horror figures, Dead by Daylight is a must.
Even Silent Hill is now present in Dead by Daylight.
Aggressive update policy: Dead by Daylight follows an aggressive patch policy. Basically, a major patch is released every 6 weeks. Here, “Chapter” patches alternate with smaller patches. While a Chapter (almost always) brings new Killers and Survivors, the interim patches provide balancing and map revisions, meaningful innovations, or cosmetic expansions.
Next Gen in focus: For about a year, Dead by Daylight has been working to bring all maps, objects, and animations up to date and massively overhaul the graphics. No wonder, as some graphical details date back to the beta of 2015. To ensure that Dead by Daylight looks good on modern computers and the new console generation, they started early to polish everything visually for “Next Gen.”
The success of this strategy can also be seen in the numbers. Alone on Steam, Dead by Daylight has remained in the top 20 most-played games for months, even coming close to the top 10 with the release of new Killers. From an initial nearly 11,200 concurrent players in June 2016, the number has gradually climbed to 35,600 concurrent players in December 2020 (via Steamcharts)—there have been some fluctuations up and down in between, but those were mostly related to major releases.
Over the years, Dead by Daylight has grown and has also objectively improved. Unfair mechanics like “infinite escape opportunities” (“Infinites”) have been removed. Killers who like to camp are punished by the game with fewer victory points. The endgame collapse provides an adrenaline rush in the final moments of a match and forces both sides to wrap up the match as quickly as possible.
On the streaming platform Twitch, Dead by Daylight has a staggering 9 million followers (as of January 19, 2021). This is not surprising – after all, matches are exciting to watch, and streamers can provide many tricks or tips or show a cool combination of perks.
How a round with the standard Killer Trapper can unfold is shown by the well-known DbD streamer “not Ozdarva” here:
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Those looking at the prices for Dead by Daylight on Steam or the various console stores will be surprised. In addition to the base costs of around €20 for the base game, there is a whole range of DLCs. Excluding purely cosmetic DLCs and fully focusing on characters, i.e. Killers and Survivors, the total price amounts to about €145 (base game plus 18 DLCs). It’s clear that this price can be off-putting. After all, it sounds like an investment that overshadows even a new blockbuster AAA title.
A glance at the DLC list can be shocking – but it shouldn’t be.
However, let me reassure you: You don’t need all the DLCs to have fun in Dead by Daylight. The base game is sufficient for beginners.
Incidentally, 10 out of 18 DLCs can be fully unlocked with in-game currency earned. So if you don’t want immediate access to all Killers and Survivors – which might be overwhelming for newcomers anyway – you can gradually unlock different characters without spending an additional euro. Only the DLCs for licensed characters and franchises, like Ghost Face, Stranger Things, or Halloween, can only be unlocked with real money.
If you want all the content, you should wait for a special sale. During major events like the Summer Sale on Steam or comparable sales in the PS or Xbox Store, the DLCs are often discounted by 40% to 60%.
If you have four other friends and are looking for a game to play together, you can unreservedly recommend Dead by Daylight. In “Custom Matches” with four friends, Dead by Daylight is a ton of fun – as not much is more enjoyable than hanging your friends, scaring them with Michael Myers, or devouring their intestines as a vicious witch.
However, Dead by Daylight has a steep learning curve. The first 20 hours in the game are mostly experienced from the spectator’s perspective. As a rule, you die first and don’t quite understand what you did wrong or why the Killer keeps finding you. But if you fight through the tough learning phase – which is much easier with friends in tow – Dead by Daylight is a game that can captivate you for months and years.
Dead by Daylight is not recommended for players who lack patience. The game has grown significantly over the years, and unlocking all perks and characters can take a while. The harsh entry phase may scare away some players early on.
Moreover, the community in Dead by Daylight has a notorious reputation at the highest ranks. In almost every match, there’s an angry Survivor (or the Killer) who insults their teammates in the chat and considers themselves the crown of creation, who of course makes no mistakes. If you don’t have thick skin and get quickly discouraged by this, at least disable the chat – which thankfully can be done with a click.
Pro
Over 20 Killers with cool abilities
Many play styles thanks to dozens of perks
Graphic updates keep the game modern
Playable solo and with up to four friends
Matches are exciting until the last second
Contra
Survivors differ only visually
Many perks and abilities make the entry confusing
Large number of DLCs can be off-putting
Parts of the community have a very toxic reputation – rightly so
Conclusion: No end in sight for Dead by Daylight – for good reason
Dead by Daylight is still getting better
Even after almost 5 years, not everything in Dead by Daylight is perfect yet. But when you look at the development year by year, this asymmetrical horror game has become better little by little. There are still small bugs and balancing problems that disrupt the fun at some points, but the list of issues is gradually getting shorter.
In summary, Dead by Daylight is the last “big” survivor of the asymmetrical horror games and the only candidate that has grown over the years and combines truly strong licenses with world-famous Killers in a game world. Horror fans who enjoy the thrill on both sides – both as the Killer and (hopefully) the surviving victim – can’t miss Dead by Daylight. Those who survive the tough entry will find a game they can invest hundreds of hours into and always return to.
Cortyn Nightshade Asymmetrical killer demon from MeinMMO
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
