The latest updates in Guild Wars 2 disappointed many players. They offered hardly any new content and recycled boring missions. In a livestream, the Narrative Director explained why the updates were so weak.
What’s going on in GW2? When the ongoing Icebrood Saga was announced in the summer of 2019, the developers promised content worthy of an expansion. However, such content has not been present in the previous updates.
The last two episodes were particularly disappointing:
The story was shorter than before
No new areas were introduced
They mainly focused on new “Dragon Assistance Missions.” These are instanced missions that always follow the same pattern and are not challenging for many.
Why are the updates so disappointing? In the latest Guild Chat, a livestream of the “Guild Wars 2” developers, Narrative Director Bobby Stein talked about the development of the Icebrood Saga.
He explained that normally plans for the future are established early on. However, the upcoming expansion “End of Dragons” was only decided during the development of the Icebrood Saga. And that led to changes in the plans.
How did the developers learn about the expansion? Before the announcement at PAX West in the summer of 2019, the developers stated that they knew where they wanted to go with the Icebrood Saga.
Thus, the beginning and end of the story were set, as well as the fundamental innovations.
However, in the middle of the development, plans for an expansion were made. And that surprised the developers:
At one point in the development of the Icebrood Saga, we were gifted with the opportunity to work on a new expansion, which, quite frankly, most or all of us wanted to do.
But it was a bit of a surprise.
Adjustments to the story: Thereupon, the developers had to make adjustments so that the Icebrood Saga could be implemented according to the old plans while simultaneously working on the expansion:
What we had to do then was say: “Okay, how do we deliver a satisfying ending while also working on an expansion? How can we get these things right?”
It was a big challenge to bring the people together and solve the problem as a group. It took time, but we reworked the story, we reworked the way it was told. […]
We had to see which plots stayed in and which we had to cut. It was quite a big change, but I think we have reached a point where we are quite happy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2N9zyLotQc
Why were these changes made? 2019 was a complicated year for Guild Wars 2 and developer ArenaNet:
Especially the last point is interesting from the community’s perspective. They suspect that the new director decided on the expansion in November 2019, necessitating the adjustments described by Bobby Stein.
Developers seem excited about the expansion
How is the community reacting to the statements? On reddit, many users feel confirmed in their suspicion that the expansion is the reason for the weak episodes of the Icebrood Saga. Thus, the user Keruli_ writes:
This is confirmation that everyone’s suspicions were completely correct. […]. They could have saved a lot of ridicule if they had been more open about all of this earlier, because proper communication is surprisingly important.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t undo the fact that someone from the top thought a simple new saga with a fancy and meaningless name would be enough to keep the ball rolling, and he was bold enough to continue, wasting a lot of resources and time.
However, some users react positively to the fact that the developers are eager for a new expansion. Thus, the user DiogoALS writes:
The team wanted to work on an expansion earlier, but they couldn’t until they were “gifted” with this opportunity in the middle of Icebrood Saga production.
The second part was easy to guess, but it’s interesting to see that most/all in the team WANTED to work on an expansion. Sometimes it feels from the outside that ANet doesn’t care much about this game anymore, and, well, the top management obviously doesn’t either […].
But still, it’s interesting to get some insight into the developers’ opinions and see that many of them really wanted a third expansion for GW2.
The new expansion End of Dragons must also be successful if Guild Wars 2 is to survive long-term. Because the Icebrood Saga ruined the concept of the Living World for many. How important the expansion really is, we have already summarized from MeinMMO:
Project Zomboid is one of the most realistic zombie simulations on Steam and a true gem for some hardcore survival fans. MeinMMO presents the infected title as part of “Find your next Game”.
Genre: Zombie Survival RPG | Developer: The Indie Stone | Platform: PC | Release: November 8, 2013 (Early Access)
What kind of game is this? Project Zomboid is a nasty survival title with RPG elements and a cooperative hidden gem on Steam. Just like the well-known TV series “The Walking Dead”, the modern world was surprised and overrun by a zombie apocalypse. Food, weapons, and safety are scarce – water and electricity will only flow through the pipes for a few more days. Project Zomboid wants to know – “How would you survive in a zombie apocalypse?”.
For this, the game places you in isometric view in an area that has been completely taken over by zombies. You and your optional teammates are the only ones lucky enough to have survived the undead apocalypse and now have the chance to survive in this harsh world. The game shines with a high simulation component and every small, wrong decision or carelessness can mean the end. It is one of those indie games that define themselves by the depth of their gameplay and offer you many details and mechanics. However, it makes significant sacrifices in graphics.
You can play on a private or public server, and there is even a local split-screen mode that supports Steam Remote Play. Large servers can support high player numbers, and there could be more than 100 survivors in a game competing for the best loot.
If you are not deterred by the appearance and are fans of zombie games or series like “The Walking Dead”, then take a good look at the following English fan trailer. What you see in it could consume your free time for the next few weeks, like a hungry zombie feasting on warm human brains:
https://youtu.be/4eBy0woHWjA
The trailer is in English, but you can play the game entirely in German.
Project Zomboid – “This is how you died”
How does the game work? You create a character in the character editor, which you can equip with skills and a profession. Here, the game shows its depth for the first time and offers you 41 positive and 36 negative traits, which either give you skill points if you choose something bad or deduct points for good traits.
In addition, there are 21 professions that, while also costing points, often provide an efficient mix of skills. For example, you can enter the game as a farmer with bonuses to “Fitness”, “Farming”, and “Strength” or play as a former burglar who brings advantages with the traits “Quick”, “Light-footed”, and “Sneaking”.
You create your own doomed character.
You create a character, choose a spawn point on the map, and the terror begins. To prepare you for the entry, the game then gives you the motivating lines “This is how you died” at the start. If your character dies in the game, you have to start with a “fresh” survivor to rejoin the game world.
Like many survival games, you are stressed at the beginning. On the “normal” difficulty, you have hardly any supplies, no weapon, and no idea at first. There is a tutorial, but that only scratches the surface of what you have to consider in the zombie simulation. You only know one thing: It’s about survival.
Comprehensive crafting & survival mechanics meet deep zombie gameplay
The zombie simulation uses many typical survival mechanics and offers extensive crafting options to make the adventure more exciting:
Day and night rhythm
Comprehensive RPG system – you level up and gain skill points for your passive abilities
You usually have to take risks for good loot
Zombies have swarm mechanics, which influence each other
Your character gets hungry, thirsty, sick, bored, and depressed
Piece by piece, the mechanics open up to you and you somewhat understand how survival works in the new world. Project Zomboid keeps surprising you with original gameplay ideas that make the game a real apocalypse simulator. There are mini-mechanics everywhere that make the zombie adventure feel deeper and more realistic. A few examples:
Areas you cannot see due to obstacles remain black – your line of sight also decides whether you see the zombies
You have to carry backpacks on your back, and they have their own inventory – taking something out of the backpack takes a moment
Bags can also be used for storage – but you have to carry them in one of your hands to use them
If you crawl through a broken window without removing the glass from the frame, you have a high chance of getting injured
If a character dies with a zombie infection, they also turn into a zombie afterwards
Your characters get panicked and develop mental issues during zombie attacks, resulting in penalties to your abilities
In the first few days of gameplay, there is still electricity and running water – for as long as you can learn skills on the TV and stock up on supplies
You should hang fabric in front of your windows so that zombies cannot see inside
Do not use firearms – otherwise they will come
In this hostile environment, it’s important to find a safer place for a shelter and expand your base. In towns, you will find countless more or less useful items, but also most of the zombies. You grow food, craft new tools, constantly fight off the undead, stay vigilant, and experience firsthand how a zombie apocalypse would impact your life. No other zombie game comes as close to being a “The Walking Dead” simulator as this one.
Why the Walking Dead comparison? On Steam, there is a review from user “.Samson” from January 2021 about Project Zomboid that says: “This is the “Walking Dead” simulator, but only the first good seasons.” And depending on your opinion on the series, he might be kind of right.
Every action poses a risk and you must try to keep your group together. Especially at the start of the game, you feel overwhelmed by the situation, and the danger of a zombie bite is ever-present. And zombie bites are deadly – always.
You build up your base, go on looting tours in zombie-infested cities, and constantly fight at the brink of a nervous breakdown to survive. Just like the group led by former sheriff Rick, where you sometimes don’t know if zombies or depression pose a greater danger to the protagonists of the series.
However, while “The Walking Dead” lost its momentum somewhere between Terminus and Alexandria for the author of this text, Project Zomboid unfolds even further with increasing playtime. And instead of becoming tedious, you can have zombie action anytime you want.
Theoretically, you even have the unpredictable element of “Human” in populated servers, which includes PvP in the game rules. However, there is currently no active PvP server that would allow role-playing like in the survival hit Rust.
A somewhat zombie-proof home – the dream of every survivor. Source: Project Zomboid
Find out if you are strong enough for the apocalypse
What makes Project Zomboid special? If you’ve ever wondered if you would survive after a zombie apocalypse, you can find out with this insidious game.
Project Zomboid calls itself “the ultimate zombie survival RPG” and provides you with a huge sandbox in which you can experience your own apocalypse. Death lurks around every corner, but so do good loot and plenty of adventures. Maintaining your character’s body and mind keeps you as busy as a horde of undead in front of your base.
With mouse and keyboard, the controls resemble point-and-click adventures. You can move your character with the keyboard, but you check with your mouse which actions are possible at which point. Project Zomboid also offers complete controller support, which is well implemented.
Additionally, the graphics should be classified as “special”. Here, the simulation has its limits. Even though many gameplay mechanics support immersion and create a suffocating apocalyptic feeling – the graphics quickly remind you that you are fortunately sitting at home in your gaming chair and can reach into a bag of chips. Unlike the slowly starving character.
At some point, there are just too many zombies! Source: Project Zomboid
Top ratings on Steam – But slow development annoys
Players praise especially the high simulation aspect, and some share their outrageous experiences. For instance, one of the characters of user “_Clip_” had a heart attack when it got scared (via Steam). “SymmoT” mentions that he lost his character while cooking – because he was deaf and couldn’t hear the breaking windows of the invading zombies (via Steam).
The fascination that the game can trigger is best shown in the comment from user “djvirus” (via Steam):
I started playing this game when I was 13. Now I’m 17, have 1,000 hours, create community content, and love the game and its community so much. There really is no better survival game where you can customize your hardcore zombie apocalypse like here. The developers might be slow, but the content is gold every time. Plus, there’s always more content in the workshop.
Negative reviews often revolve around the big elephant in the room – the long development time. Project Zomboid has been in early access on Steam for more than 7 years and has already been one of the games that spent the longest in this pre-release mode as of 2017 (via GameStar).
Especially one criticism appears repeatedly in negative reviews: the lack of surviving NPCs that would bring more motivation and story to the game. They already existed in an early version but were “temporarily” removed and have not returned since. And that was years ago. Although mods can currently bring NPCs into the game, the developers have not fulfilled the NPC promise to this day. Also, negative reviewers feel that the endgame is too small if you manage to get your character there.
Another point of criticism is the graphics: The style itself is usually not the problem, but the lack of smaller animations to make actions more realistic. At the moment, many actions only show a progress bar filling up. A somewhat higher level of detail in the animations would give the simulation another boost.
Who is this for? Fans of grind-heavy cooperative survival adventures with a high crafting share like Minecraft, 7 Days to Die, or Conan Exiles should keep an eye on the title. The open world is huge and offers enough to do for days of looting tours followed by upgrading the base to the next level.
Those who are very fond of the zombie genre can also have a lot of fun with Project Zomboid. If after a season of “The Walking Dead” you feel the urge to experience the thrill of a zombie adventure yourself – give Project Zomboid a try.
Players of hardcore games that require strict resource management and thoughtful decisions for survival will also get their money’s worth. If you liked “Rimworld”, “This War of Mine” or “Frostpunk”, you can add Project Zomboid as the next fun time sink to your Steam library.
At €13.99, the price is also at a level where you can’t go too wrong. A 4-pack costs €45.99, reducing the price per copy to just under €11.50. There’s also a demo version on Steam to try out.
Pros
Unique hardcore zombie simulation
Deep gameplay
Huge open world
Appropriate old-school graphics
Weekly community updates from the developers
Strong as a coop game
Cons
Very long development time
Animation-poor graphics
Difficult to get started
No real story content
Rather weak for solo players
Project Zomboid brings the biggest update ever with Build 41
What can we expect from Project Zomboid in the future? A still rather slow development speed, but a steady one. The developers are, however, still very active and keep the community updated with weekly updates on “projectzomboid.com”.
Currently, a beta phase is running for the next Build 41, which the developers state is the biggest update of Project Zomboid ever. However, the beta is currently only available as a solo adventure.
New features of Build 41 include, among other things:
Reworked character creation & customization system
New combat options with fresh weapons – Change the difficulty of the fights
Zombies receive new behavioral patterns
Damage model for clothing
A armor system that protects against zombie attacks at different levels
Improvement of vehicle mechanics
Fresh audio effects
Expanded weather system
More types of broken glass and corresponding injuries
More realistic loot system – the loot should fit more to the environment in which you find the loot
The new build will be so extensive that old save files cannot be transferred. The developers mention on a Project Zomboid website that they are creating a foundation with the upcoming update to make the game world even more lively and realistic, and tease with Build 42 wildlife that will populate the vast forests.
But even without the major innovations coming in future updates, Project Zomboid is a strong zombie simulation and a great hardcore survival game that you can still expand through mods.
Conclusion: Don’t get bitten by your friends!
Project Zomboid was one of those small games that kept being suggested to me on Steam for years. At some point, I had a chat with a gaming colleague about it, and suddenly it ended up in the shopping cart. And I haven’t regretted it.
Because this hardcore survival adventure is once again such a deep indie game that it continues to surprise with newly discovered mechanics even after several sessions. The graphics are not more than “serviceable”, but the game simply convinces with its gameplay mechanics.
There is always something to do, and the undead are a constant threat while searching for loot. Over many hours of gameplay, you will discover new items and crafting options that open up a new loot loop and keep the motivation going.
This can also work solo, but it’s a lot more fun in a group. Or to put it in the form of a Steam review: “I starved to death in the woods with my girlfriend at night. She went down just before me, turned into a zombie, and I was shredded by her: 10/10”.
In Pokémon GO the first trainers have reached level 48. Now we finally know how leveling continues and how difficult the requirements for level 49 are.
This has now happened: It took 9 weeks, but now the first players are at level 48 in Pokémon GO. Trainers from Australia have achieved this – there, the new levels were tested in advance. So the Australian trainers had an advantage over all other players.
Now we know what tasks are required for level 49. Here, especially trades will be important.
Tasks for Level 49 in Pokémon GO
What needs to be done for level 49: There are again 4 tasks that trainers must master. This time it’s about trading Pokémon and sending gifts:
Trade 10 Pokémon that were caught at least 300 kilometers apart
Receive 50 lucky Pokémon through trades
Send 500 gifts to friends
Receive 35 platinum medals
How challenging are the new tasks? Receiving lucky Pokémon could become quite tricky. 50 lucky friends will be open for very few trainers, so you have to rely on lucky Pokémon within normal trades. The probability varies depending on the age of the Pokémon. The older the monsters, the more likely the chance of lucky Pokémon.
35 platinum medals are also not to be underestimated. Here you need some exotic medals to achieve this goal.
Why did level 47 take so long? For level 47, trainers must have received a 25-kilometer reward from Adventure Sync 8 times. However, this reward is only available once a week. So, you have to wait at least 8 weeks to solve this task.
In the end, the level in Australia actually took 9 weeks. This was due to the fact that in the first week, the Adventure Sync reward was not counted for the level. This was a mistake that was fixed the following week.
When will it continue in Germany? German trainers have reduced the gap due to the error in the first week in Australia. Here, too, the first trainers have likely reached level 48. Now it’s a race to see who will be the first player to reach level 50.
It remains to be seen when the first trainer will reach level 49 and what tasks await the players at level 50.
The MMORPG Neverwinter (PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S) has received a major update that has revamped the combat. However, not everyone is happy about it, raising a significant question around MMORPGs in general.
What kind of update is this? Extensive changes have been made to the combat system, which affect the scaling of player levels in the various adventure areas, the item levels of gear, micromanagement, and more. This is intended to make Neverwinter more understandable and interesting.
Neverwinter has become more interesting for groups due to the recent changes.
Neverwinter becomes more interesting and challenging for groups
What is the problem? The changes have led to controversial discussions. Not everyone likes them. Player MotelKhon summarizes the changes as follows (via reddit):
Previously, Neverwinter played out like this:
Enter dungeon
Max-level guy rushes ahead with a 150% speed buff while you’re still at the beginning and can’t catch up
Max-level guy takes out all enemies with just one hit
You toil away and occasionally join the group to reach the tough checkpoints, essentially doing nothing else.
Overworld content was basically “cookie clicker” meaning “click wildly on the monster and it dies immediately”.
You mostly log in just to let some max-level guy drag you through the daily quests and then log out.
With the combat update, things are now different:
You actually need to play your roles in the dungeon
Fight together or die alone
Mechanics matter; dodging area-of-effect attacks, using the block button…
The equipment makes a noticeable difference
Fights feel more direct; you actually have to think about the combat strategy
Now you log in to play a co-op MMO with your buddies, where cooperation actually matters
However, not everyone agrees with him here:
Radian-Yam-1285 writes (via reddit): “People are just mad that they have spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours building their characters to be able to handle higher level content. And then Cryptic just comes along and introduces a combat overhaul that forces players to reinvest the time and money they have spent to tackle higher level content.”
Shoziku agrees (via reddit): “That’s the problem. They keep making drastic changes, and every time you invest time, effort, or money, everything gets nerfed or removed.”
RikRakJones agrees with MotelKhon but points out a problem (via reddit): “I agree with everything you said, but as a long-time Neverwinter player, the problem is not that the content is “hard” or that the content is no longer “easy one-shot”. The content is damn near impossible to do solo because the developers ADVERTISE solo content in-game with a companion.”
Going solo in Neverwinter is no longer a good idea since the update.
So what exactly are players complaining about? It’s about the fact that many of Neverwinter’s contents could previously be mastered alone, and many players enjoyed the MMORPG this way. In the tips displayed on loading screens, it even mentions that you can play the content solo with a companion in co-op. And that is no longer the case since the overhaul of the combat system.
For those wanting to play Neverwinter solo with a companion, they now face nearly insurmountable obstacles. A group is basically required now.
This bothers MotelKhon: The player understands the criticism of the solo content, but also explains that in his opinion, players represent the problem in the development of MMORPGs. He writes:
I just thought it was an interesting observation about the “modern MMO player base” and how you have to take care of them. It seems they don’t really want to play a game, but would rather be hooked up to a dopamine drip and let the game play itself while the numbers go up.
And this is not just true for Neverwinter. This post is an observation of what the lowest common denominator is nowadays.
MotelKhon is fundamentally saying that Neverwinter has become more challenging and is returning more towards being an MMORPG as group play has become more important. Yet, it seems that some players do not want that. They complain that they can no longer do the content alone and demand that the changes be reverted.
Therefore, MotelKhon wonders if it is the players with their expectations and playing styles that are contributing to the decline of the entire MMORPG genre.
On January 27, FIFA 21 will release TOTW 18 (Team of the Week). Here on MeinMMO, you can find out who might secure a spot in the next Team of the Week.
What is the Team of the Week? Every week, EA Sports assembles a new TOTW. This team consists of 23 players who have performed strongly in the last week.
For this, they receive a spot in the Team of the Week as well as upgraded Inform cards, which can then be found in packs for one week.
These are TOTW Predictions: Every week, the FUT community tries to guess which players could make it into the TOTW. The performances of the players are analyzed closely, and predictions are made.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the predictions are not guarantees and may differ from the actual TOTW.
They provide a good overview and can also be excellent for earning some coins in FUT 21. Here we reveal how you can do that:
Keep in mind with the current Team of the Week that players represented in the TOTY (Team of the Year) cannot receive TOTW cards. Therefore, Kimmich will not be in the next TOTW despite his 3 assists in the 4:0 victory against Schalke 04.
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.
These Bundesliga players could receive new Inform cards: The predictions this week might particularly please FUT players with Bundesliga teams. There are plenty of players who have stood out with strong performances in the last two Bundesliga match days.
David Alaba could secure a spot in the next TOTW since Kimmich and Müller already have current special cards. However, he also impressed with a strong performance against Schalke and scored a beautiful goal, winning the match without conceding.
This could be what Alaba’s first Inform card looks like
Jiri Pavlenka may not have kept a clean sheet in the 4:1 win of Bremen against Hertha BSC, but he prevented a total of 9 shots on goal from the Berlin side. A TOTW card would certainly be deserved for the Bremen goalkeeper.
Nico Elvedi is a center-back, but that did not stop him from scoring 2 goals against Borussia Dortmund, leading to a 4:2 victory.
Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen had a strong game against BVB. He scored one goal and assisted another. A performance that definitely calls for an Inform card.
Filip Kostic had a strong game against Arminia Bielefeld, contributing with precise passes as well as one goal and one assist for the final score of 5:1. Whether he will make it into the TOTW remains to be seen on Wednesday.
Andrej Kramaric has impressed in the last two match days. In both matches, the forward scored 2 goals each, which speaks volumes. If he does not receive an Inform card, it would be a surprise.
Thanks to the reduction of spell batching, many things will soon be more reliable in WoW Classic. Statements like “The heal was actually through” will come to an end.
Not much is happening currently in World of Warcraft Classic. Many players eagerly await the BlizzConline in February, hoping for the announcement of “The Burning Crusade Classic.” However, a small change is coming. As reported by MeinMMO, the duration of spell batching is being reduced. Currently, WoW Classic “collects” all requests for spells and abilities from players and processes them in intervals of 0.4 seconds simultaneously.
How long has it been like that in retail WoW? The massive spell batching of 400ms was actually active in World of Warcraft much longer than many players think. Originally, it was not removed with The Burning Crusade, but only in 2014 with the expansion Warlords of Draenor. This is evident from an old post from that year in which Blizzard employee Celestalon explained what all the changes affected. The statements also apply to the reduction of spell batching in Classic, of course.
Only with Warlords of Draenor was the value eliminated from 400ms in spell batching.
What does this have to do with healing? Anyone playing a healer or tank in WoW Classic surely knows the situation. The tank’s health points drop dramatically, and the healer starts sweating. From the healer’s perspective, the spell is cast, and the tank is healed in time. However, the small delay of up to 400ms means that the tank dies, but the healing is still considered completed. Because during the delay, the mob simply dealt another blow and ended the fight prematurely.
With a shorter interval of 10ms, this can still happen, but it’s significantly rarer and hardly noticeable. Thus, “The heal was actually through” will truly just be an excuse.
Healing that goes through – soon a regular occurrence, even in tight situations.
What else will improve? The adjustments to spell batching from 400ms to 10ms bring a number of other improvements as well. Many processes in the game will then work faster and can be completed almost “instantly.” These include:
Looting items from a corpse
Opening letters and retrieving their contents
Selling items to an NPC vendor
But there are also several improvements for combat situations due to the change:
Tank taunts are now almost instantly active and not delayed
Warriors can use “Execute” more frequently as the game recognizes the current HP value of the enemy faster
Mages and other crowd control effects are hardly able to be used simultaneously by two players against each other (for example, two mages turning each other into sheep at the same time)
Rogues can enter stealth without being immediately pulled out by an instant cast spell
There are many changes being made to WoW Classic as a result. While some players do not like this as it changes the “Classic” feel, PvP and PvE should play out much smoother because of it.
In WoW Classic, the spell batching of 400ms comes to an end. Because if the current PTR test runs positively, Blizzard will likely release patch 1.13.7 soon. Players hope that this will coincide with the announcement of “The Burning Crusade Classic”.
What do you think of the change?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With luck, the PlayStation 5 might be available for order again this week. However, the quantities are likely to be very limited. Significant restocks are probably not expected until February.
Current availability status of the PS5: The PS4 could last be ordered in small quantities in Germany on December 3, 2020. Since then, the PlayStation 5 has been sold out again. Those still waiting for a chance to buy Sony’s new console might get lucky this week. Otherwise, it seems one would have to wait at least until the second half of February.
Although German retailers received new stock since the end of last week, large portions of it seem to be reserved to cover outstanding orders. So if new orders are indeed taken this week, you will have to be quick and very lucky.
Whether the PS5 should be lying down or standing up, many are still unable to ask themselves
If you want to try your luck, pay attention to the following retailers from now on:
Amazon
Alternate
Expert
Otto
GameStop
Conrad
Medimax
Müller
MediaMarkt
Saturn
Spielegrotte
It is currently unclear who among them might offer the PS5 again this week (especially whether they will and in what quantity), but if they do, you have the best chances here.
And if you are wondering: According to Gameswirtschaft MediaMarkt and Saturn are also likely to rejoin the sale.
If it actually comes to sale this week, we will quickly provide an update on the specific retailers involved here on MeinMMO.
The PlayStation 5
What if it doesn’t work out this week? If it doesn’t go on sale this week or you have no luck, you will likely have to wait a few more weeks.
According to Gameswirtschaft, which is considered a reliable source, well-known suppliers are not expecting significant replenishments until the second half of February. At the earliest (from February 15), a larger order wave is expected again.
Good news for already waiting customers: If you have already (pre)ordered a PS5 and are still waiting for the console, you might soon have it in your hands. Last week, Saturn resumed delivery, and it seems there is finally movement at MediaMarkt too. More on this can be found here: MediaMarkt and Saturn are delivering PS5 again – When will there be more?
If you notice that new PS5s are offered by regular retailers this week, please let us and others know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, the tyranny of the Stasis Hunter in the Crucible should come to an end with a harsh nerf. However, the Shatterdive combo still kills almost everything in one hit. An expert suspects a bug, as a super receives ridiculous damage.
This is what should happen: At the end of last year, the Stasis Hunter evolved into the tyrant of PvP. With his combo of Shatterdive, Glacier Grenade, and suitable fragments, he could instantly kill enemy Guardians from great distances with just one attack – even in an active super, one was not safe.
The whole thing left the victims no time to react and could be used very regularly in matches.
Bungie responded and returned after the winter break with a harsh nerf for the Revenant and the Shatterdive. In Patch 3.0.2 on January 19, it was supposed to be the case.
Even the changes to Shatterdive and the aspect “Whispers of the Rift” were agreed upon by Hunter mains.
Thus, the balance in the Crucible should be restored. But as an expert has now discovered, the Hunter seems unwilling to be nerfed.
What has been found now? Fallout Plays has made a name for himself in the community with his detailed test videos. He shows on January 23 that the Stasis Hunter with his combo is still able to knock out almost everything instantly.
Despite – according to the patch notes – reduced range and significant damage loss, the Hunter can still smash just like before the patch.
Check out the video from Fallout Plays 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.
Was the patch faulty or does Bungie want an OP Hunter?
This is strange: The only super that actually has reduced damage from the killer combo is the Colossus Titan. Here, the damage numbers from the shatter explosion are even absurdly low and barely scratch the Titan’s health bar in his super.
All other supers show significantly higher values and take so much damage that they can easily be one-shotted. With the exception of the Spectral Blade in the invisible state – which barely survives the combo (the reason is the enormous damage reduction during invisibility, not the reduced Shatterdive damage).
The Colossus takes the Shatterdive masterfully, while all other supers do not.
One might now think that the Colossus itself is a Stasis super and receives less damage from Stasis skills. That is not the case: The other Stasis super, the Shadebinder Warlock, is reliably smashed out of his super – with nicely high damage numbers.
Our MeinMMO reader Chris has discovered in his tests that the maximum range of the Shatterdive combo is now significantly lower than before the patch.
This is what the expert thinks: Fallout believes that the nerf for Hunters has somehow not been delivered correctly. The only super that now receives “proper” damage from Shatterdive and the Glacier Grenade is the Colossus Titan. For all other supers, the planned nerf seems not to be working at the moment.
Developer Bungie has not yet officially commented on the discovery. MeinMMO will keep you informed about this.
What do you think? Does the nerf not work properly and was the patch faulty, or should the Hunter continue to smash everything in one blow? Let us know in the comments.
In FIFA 21, the ratings of the midfield players of the TOTY have been released today. You can now get them for a short time.
This is the TOTY: Since Friday evening, the Team-of-the-Year event in Ultimate Team has been running. As every year, it brings extremely strong cards, which players could vote on beforehand.
At the start of the event, the values of the attackers were already revealed before they entered the packs. Now, the midfield players are following, while the defenders are still missing.
The TOTY midfield ratings are so strong
These cards are included: In total, there are three cards in the midfield of the Team of the Year. The members were already known, and now we also know their values:
Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United has fantastic offensive stats on his new 97-rated card. Especially in passing, the Portuguese stands out, but dribbling and shooting are also extremely strong. Currently, this is one of the best cards in the game.
Kevin de Bruyne has also received a strong card with a 96 rating. The midfielder from Manchester City is very strong in all offensive areas and is likely to shine as both a playmaker and a finisher in attack.
Joshua Kimmich is participating as a Bundesliga representative and has received a very good 96-rated card. The Bayern player is particularly equipped with strong defensive stats and is likely to be the perfect link between your defense and offense.
How to get TOTY cards? Unfortunately, the chances of getting cards from the TOTY are very low. You need a lot of luck to pull the TOTY members from packs – especially since currently only the midfielders are available in packs. In a few days, the defenders will follow before the team is once again expected to be fully available in packs.
Free2Play games are very popular. We present to you 28 top games that you can play for free and that are currently also recommended.
This is the idea behind the list: So that you are well informed about Free2Play games in 2021, we have compiled a list of 28 currently worthwhile free games.
Our list includes not only classic MMORPGs but also mobile titles, shooters, and action RPGs. It also considers different platforms such as Steam, PC, iOS, Android, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S. The list follows no particular sorting.
[toc]
Fortnite
Genre: Battle Royale | Developer: Epic Games | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Switch, iOS, Android | Release Date: September 26, 2017 | Model: Free2Play
What is Fortnite?Fortnite: Battle Royale is the BR version of the PvE game Fortnite. The spinoff has now overshadowed the original game in popularity and is one of the most popular games with millions of players worldwide.
As is common in the BR genre, you jump with 99 other players over an island, looking for weapons and ensuring that either you or your team remains at the end.
The gameplay of Fortnite is quite simple; the weapons have only one firing mode each, and the inventory is also kept manageable.
The big feature of Fortnite, however, is building. You can dismantle almost the entire game world and craft fortifications and other structures from it.
The developers demonstrate an enormous pace with updates and regularly expand the game with new features, bring fresh weapons, remove old ones, or change the balance.
Challenges motivate players to provide themselves with variety in gameplay by focusing on certain weapons or completing tasks in the world.
The Free2Play Model of Fortnite
How free is it really? The Battle Royale mode of Fortnite is free to play and can be played without restrictions. There is an item shop that exclusively sells cosmetic items, including skins and emotes.
About every 10 weeks, a new Battle Pass is released. This is a progression system that allows you to unlock items during the validity period. The pass costs 9.50 euros but does not provide any gameplay advantages and can even be purchased with in-game currency that you could unlock in the previous pass.
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.
With the many updates, occasionally poorly thought-out features are introduced
Who is Fortnite suitable for? If you like shooters and also enjoy games like Minecraft, then Fortnite is for you. Here, you first build cover when being shot at, and then try to trick the opponent and lure them out of their cover.
Additionally, there are plenty of cool events and crazy new features. The funny comic graphics add to the experience.
What is Pokémon GO?Pokémon GO is an augmented reality app for mobile devices that allows you to find and catch small, cute monsters in the real world.
These “Pokémon” appear in specific locations in the real world. If you find one, you can hit it with a virtual ball to catch it.
The caught monsters can then be leveled up and made to fight against other players in arenas or participate in raids to hunt particularly powerful and even legendary Pokémon.
Those who play Pokémon GO must move a lot. New items, like balls or berries, are obtained at fixed locations, known as PokéStops.
The Free2Play Model of Pokémon GO
How free is it really? The app is free, and you can play all the content in Pokémon GO without spending money. You can complete one free raid per day. You can catch an unlimited number of monsters until your pockets are full.
You can also earn 50 coins of in-game currency per day by defending gyms. This is equivalent to about 50 cents.
If you save the daily coins, you can purchase many items in the in-game shop, such as raid passes, incubators, or lucky eggs. There are also special boxes with discounts available.
If you don’t like to save, you can buy items faster with real money. This way, you can do multiple raids in one day and level up faster with lucky eggs. However, this can also be done without real money and just through the coins earned in the game.
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.
Thanks to the app, one gets fresh air and stays active
Regular events make the game sweeter for trainers
The target audience is huge. From young to old, anyone can enjoy Pokémon GO.
Contra
In the countryside, there is less to do, as fewer Pokémon spawn. Gyms and PokéStops are rarer to find.
Some bugs disrupt the game. These occur in many places, such as in raids or when catching Pokémon.
Who is Pokémon GO suitable for? If you enjoy playing virtual games but want to be outdoors, Pokémon GO provides an interesting way to combine both.
The game continuously lures you outside, and while searching for special Pokémon and remote PokéStops or gyms, you may discover regions of your home that you didn’t know about.
And if you’ve been a fan of the adorable little creatures since the 90s, you will likely make joyful noises at every Pikachu or Snorlax you find.
Keep in mind that there is currently a risk of contracting the coronavirus for yourself and others. The Federal Center for Health Education recommends staying home as much as possible, maintaining distance from others, and avoiding crowds. Niantic has implemented various measures so you can play Pokémon GO from home.
League of Legends (LoL)
Genre: MOBA | Developer: Riot Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: October 27, 2009 | Model: Free2Play
What is League of Legends?League of Legends, short LoL, is one of the most successful MOBAs in the world.
The popular competitive game has millions of active players who regularly engage in exciting battles for victory.
In LoL, you can expect typical MOBA gameplay. You choose a champion from a vast selection of characters with unique attributes and skills. Along with up to four other players on your team, you then engage in combat against other champions.
With the help of AI-controlled “minions” and clever use of skills, you must destroy the opponents’ fortifications, level up quickly, and ultimately capture the enemy’s base before they do the same to you.
Each match begins with your champion at level 1, and as the game progresses, your character becomes stronger, gaining additional abilities and levels. Want to get started in LoL? Then check out our comprehensive guide for beginners in League of Legends.
The Free2Play model of League of Legends
How free is it really? The download and playing of League of Legends are fundamentally free. However, you only have a small portion of the available champions to choose from. The free selection rotates every week, offering new heroes regularly.
However, if you want to permanently have a champion, you must unlock it or purchase it with real money. Additionally, there are alternative skins for the champions available for real money, which are purely cosmetic. Through special events, you can also earn free skins from time to time.
You can also purchase additional runepages with real money (and in-game currency), which provide a slight advantage in the game.
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.
LoL draws players “right in”, absorbing their attention because high concentration is necessary
Contra
Lots of grind needed to unlock everything
The community has a reputation for being toxic
Entry is difficult for MOBA beginners
Who is League of Legends for? Fans of flashy fantasy and action-packed MOBA gameplay will not go wrong here. Anyone who can relate to the gameplay of MOBAs should definitely check out LoL and play a few rounds.
But get yourself a thick skin because the comments from your teammates and opponents can be quite nasty.
Apex Legends
Genre: Battle Royale | Developer: Respawn Entertainment | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S | Release Date: February 4, 2019 | Model: Free2Play
What is Apex Legends?Apex Legends is a fun battle royale game by the Titanfall developers. The game launched in 2019 unexpectedly out of nowhere and there was no hype beforehand. Apex quickly became a hit nonetheless or perhaps because of that.
However, the developer Respawn must have thoroughly examined the mechanics of BR games and seriously thought, “How can we do this better?”.
The result is a game that gave the genre a solid boost of cool features, including a fantastic gunplay and plenty of comfort features that have since been eagerly adopted by the competition. This also includes the brilliant “ping system”.
Essentially, Apex Legends is a typical battle royale game where you jump onto an island with 2 teammates and must survive as long as possible. To do this, you collect weapons and gear and fend off opponents.
As a special feature, Apex Legends also has various characters that you choose as an avatar before the game. Each of these “Legends” has its own skills, making teamwork and clever use of skills very important.
The Free2Play Model of Apex Legends
How free is it really? You can download Apex Legends completely for free and play without restrictions. However, there is a real money currency and a shop. There, you can only purchase cosmetic items such as weapon and character skins.
You can unlock new characters or purchase them with real money. However, six characters are free for every player.
Additionally, there is a Battle Pass, which you can level up over a certain period of time. You also have to purchase it with real money currency, but those who play a lot can get the in-game currency back in the pass. Some of the rewards in the Battle Pass are free and can be obtained by everyone.
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.
Numerous comfort features like ping and community drop
Different characters with skills
Excellent gunplay
Contra
Only one active map
Second map mostly active only during events
No solo mode
Who is Apex Legends suitable for? If you enjoy Battle Royale games but can’t stand overly colorful comic graphics and building, then Apex Legends is your game!
The title impresses with its wonderful gunplay and fast pace. The game is extremely accessible and even offers exciting and fun rounds with random players.
What is Call of Duty: Warzone? CoD: Warzone is a free battle royale spin-off of the popular Call of Duty series. Up to 150 players can compete against each other either solo or in teams.
Call of Duty: Warzone does a few things differently than its genre counterparts. You can call in your custom-made loadouts via supply drops, and death isn’t as final as with many other representatives of the genre. You have the chance to return to the warzone if you emerge victorious from a duel in the gulag.
In the warzone, you are not just on foot but can also grab one of the various vehicles. Cars, trucks, quads, and even a helicopter.
The Free2Play Model of Call of Duty: Warzone
How free is it really? Call of Duty: Warzone is free to play. Through an in-game shop, you can buy operator or weapon skins, as well as charms and emblems in bundles, which are purely cosmetic.
The more you play, the higher your rank rises, which in turn unlocks new weapons, gear, and skins. If you frequently use the same weapon, it will also level up, allowing you to unlock useful attachments.
Those who own Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can also unlock additional cosmetic items in Warzone.
You don’t have to spend money to enjoy Warzone and unlock more skins and weapons. If you want to give your weapon a specific look, you can purchase the skins in the shop.
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 Advantages and Disadvantages of Call of Duty: Warzone
Pro
Good and polished CoD gunplay meets Battle Royale
Fast-paced gameplay without complicated inventories
Cool ways to respawn after death
Contra
Only one map
Newcomers have a disadvantage as the good weapons need to be unlocked
The playlist changes regularly and not all “squad sizes” are always available
Who is Call of Duty: Warzone suitable for? If you enjoy battle royale games and are a big fan of the Call of Duty series, you can go ahead with confidence.
The mechanics, the fast-paced combat, and also the vehicles make Call of Duty: Warzone a great BR title, where it won’t get boring quickly. Even beginners will warm up after a few rounds and can reach the top.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
In Destiny 2, you can now earn the title “Guardian”. Here you will find tips on the Triumphs for the Fallen-Spawn Hunts from Season 12 and all necessary weapon kills.
This is how seasonal titles work: Particularly diligent Guardians can earn cool titles in Destiny 2. Those who complete all of the tough challenges or time-consuming requirements unlock a name addition. Other Guardians will see this title and immediately know what a tough cookie you are.
You can earn special titles in raids or PvP, but each season also introduces a so-called seasonal title. In Season 12, it is called “Guardian” (Eng. Warden) and revolves around the Fallen-Spawn Hunt, Crow, and the mystery surrounding Hawkmoon.
Starting from Season 13, a new title system will be introduced, reminiscent of the popular Prestige from Call of Duty:
All Triumphs for the Guardian Seal: To unlock a title, you must complete a handful of Triumphs. You can view the individual tasks and their progress at any time in the Triumphs tab in the menu.
MeinMMO shows you all 11 Triumphs needed for the Guardian title in a clear table
Afterwards, we will show you tips that can save you time and more details about the tough challenges.
Keep in mind that the game states you should master 19 Triumphs, but there are only 11, as some give you progress multiple times.
Triumph
Requirement
Hive-Made Monster
Acquire all 7 upgrades for the Cryptolith Lure
Wrathbreaker
Complete the mission “Coup de Grâce”
Stalk and Trap (Wyrm’s Bane)
Defeat Level 2 Fallen-Spawns (Savek / HKD-1)
Stalk and Trap (Dreaming City)
Defeat Level 2 Fallen-Spawns (Dul Arath / Xilox)
Hunt Gear
Defeat Fallen-Spawns in seasonal armor
Hunt Tools
Defeat enemies with seasonal weapons
The True Selection
Defeat fighters with Season Pass weapons
Renaissance Hunter
Improve your skills with seasonal weapons
Claw of Light
Complete the exotic quest “Open Your Claws” (Hawkmoon)
The Omen
Complete the activity “Omen”
Like and Like
Complete “Omen” while all 3 Guardians have equipped Hawkmoon
This is how you become a Guardian in the Season of the Hunt in Destiny 2
How much time do I have? You can only complete the Guardian title of Season 12 since January 19 (or for some due to bugs from January 22). The next Season 13 starts on February 9 and brings a new seasonal title.
However, Bungie is now reducing FOMO in Destiny. Almost all activities relevant for the Guardian title will remain in the game until Fall 2021. Therefore, we strongly assume that you can still earn the Guardian title later if you prepare some things now.
The required Triumphs are divided into 3 categories
Fallen-Spawn Hunts
Seasonal Missions/Quests
Weapon Kills
Most of the Triumphs here are quite self-explanatory but time-consuming. Others have hidden details.
Tips for Fallen-Spawn Hunts and Missions for the Guardian title
To provide your lure all necessary upgrades, you only need to complete regular Fallen-Spawn Hunts. Each time you collect reconnaissance data, and accordingly, you will automatically and directly reach Level 7. All information about the Cryptolith Lure can be found here.
It is somewhat tricky to find the 4 mentioned bosses. To fight Savek, HKD-1, Dul Arath, and Xilox at Level 2, you first have to set the corresponding boss in the first slot of your lure as prey. Afterwards, ensure that a “Strong Mutation Mod” is still in the 3rd slot of the lure. The bosses rotate through with loot variations after each lure use.
Equip the lure with a strong mutation mod
In the “Coup de Grâce” mission, you must also pay attention to not deal too much damage to the High Celebrant at once after a patch. Otherwise, he may sometimes become immune and you cannot complete the mission.
For the Omen activity, it is advisable to team up. The power level is quite high at 1,270. You can also start the mission from orbit (EDZ) after your first visit. Make sure to bring elemental damage, as “Match Game” is active and otherwise you could hardly break the enemies’ shields. More about the mission can be found here on MeinMMO: Destiny 2: How to get Hawkmoon with random rolls and their catalyst
The triumph for completing the Omen activity with 3 Guardians, each using Hawkmoon, was fixed by Bungie on January 22 (Twitter).
If you equip all 5 armor pieces of the “Wild Hunt” set, you receive 5 points for the multi-stage triumph for each Fallen-Spawn. Keep in mind that you defeat 2 bosses in each hunt, so do not equip the armor only at the end. Furthermore, only the legendary armor itself gives fast progress; the ornaments from the season pass do not count.
The “Wild Hunt” set is available multiple times in the season pass, at Crow, and after Fallen-Spawn hunts
How many kills you need to make with the weapons from Season 12
You can complete the required kills basically in all activities, not just in Fallen-Spawn Hunts. If you have a favorite farming spot, you can target them there or simply work through them over time.
Hailstorm (Submachine Gun): This weapon is available from Crow or as hunt loot.
400 kills
200 kills from close range (feel free to fire from the hip; you really need to get close to the enemy)
Thunderous Whisper (Grenade Launcher): This weapon is available from Crow or as hunt loot.
200 kills
50 quick multi-kills (just shoot into a group of adds; the AoE damage will decimate the whole horde)
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Royal Hunt (Scout Rifle): You will first obtain this weapon at level 30 in the season pass.
400 kills
Explosive Pursuit (Grenade Launcher): You will first obtain this weapon at level 45 in the season pass
200 kills
Almost all Triumphs for the Guardian Seal completed
This is how you equip the Guardian title: After completing all 11 Triumphs, you must check them off in the Triumphs tab. A message “Seal Completed” will then appear at the bottom left. Click on the purple field, and the title is equipped.
Now, all other players can see that you are the Grandmaster of the Hunt.
Warcraft III: Reforged was a flop. There were many reasons for this – Blizzard knows that too. Internal documents have now reportedly revealed what led to this.
In recent years, the once-glorious image of Blizzard has suffered significantly. The low point was undoubtedly the release of Warcraft III: Reforged. This was a game that fans were eagerly awaiting. Numerous bugs, removed features, and in many cases even a deterioration of functionality caused Reforged to fail spectacularly.
Nothing remains of the cool cutscene from BlizzCon.
What does the report say? In an article by Jason Schreier, it discusses what is currently happening at Blizzard. They apparently integrated the 200 employees from Vicarious Visions into the Blizzard team. They are primarily supposed to focus on the remake and remaster games.
In this context, the “Team 1” at Blizzard was also restructured and assigned to other tasks. Team 1 had been primarily responsible for developing remake and remaster titles at Blizzard in recent years. Previously, they worked on Heroes of the Storm and StarCraft II. Both are games whose development has significantly slowed down or has even been halted.
Heroes of the Storm “is still alive” and receives regular balance patches and new heroes, but the number of these updates has decreased significantly.
No new content is being produced for StarCraft II.
Heroes of the Storm is not dead, but development has been heavily scaled back.
Why did Warcraft III: Reforged fail? Bloomberg reports on internal documents where Blizzard analyzed what went wrong with Warcraft III: Reforged. Several mistakes came together, such as poor planning, poor communication, and a rushed release due to financial pressure from management.
For example, Blizzard announced the game in late 2018 and already offered pre-order sales in 2019 without informing a large part of the development team in advance.
This aligns with the opinion of many players and gaming journalists. Warcraft III: Reforged could have easily used another six months of development time to satisfy the wishes and hopes of fans. Although most bugs have now been fixed and the game runs smoothly, the damage done is essentially irreversible.
Warcraft III: Reforged will be remembered by players for a long time as a major flop.
Even in StarCraft II, the lights are out – no new content is being produced anymore.
Were employees also laid off? According to the report, yes. Team 1 employees had the opportunity to apply for other positions at Blizzard. Employees for whom there were no suitable positions were reportedly laid off. Some of them also moved to other companies founded by former Blizzard employees, such as Frost Giant or DreamHaven under Mike Morhaime.
Please note that the information comes from Bloomberg and has not been officially confirmed by Blizzard. The author Jason Schreier is known for having good contacts with individual companies like Blizzard.
The upcoming PvEvP shooter Scavengers promises a completely new approach to the genre. Co-founder and CEO of Midwinter Entertainment, Josh Holmes, talks in an interview with MeinMMO about the strengths of the new shooter and reveals when you can try it yourself.
Genre: Shooter | Developer: Midwinter Entertainment| Platform: PC; later PS4 and Xbox One| Release: 2021
What is Scavengers? Scavengers is built around a gameplay model that is still relatively unexplored: PvEvP. Up to 60 players engage in rounds of about 30 minutes length in teams of three, against and with each other.
Scavengers combines elements from classic shooters, Battle Royale, survival games, and coop gameplay into a whole new type of game. While you fight against other players, you can’t win a round alone.
As part of Find Your Next Game we asked the head Josh Holmes a few questions about Scavengers. He spoke with us about what makes Scavengers so special, what you can expect in the game, and when you can play 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.
Battle Royale, Survival, Coop – A bit of everything
What is Scavengers about? The new shooter takes place in a post-apocalyptic scenario where the moon has been destroyed. The earth is hardly habitable and an AI named “Mother” now collects resources and data from the orbit of the earth.
You play the clone of one of the “Explorers” sent to earth to gather this data. Where this all leads has not yet been revealed.
What makes Scavengers so special? A round starts as usual in a Battle Royale, where you land and first search for weapons and supplies. However, you do not hunt other players, but NPCs.
Scavengers offers a points system for which you have to complete certain tasks, such as cleaning an area of NPC enemies and collecting crystals. Additionally, Scavengers offers:
a cold mechanic that you must survive
stamina that is regained through food
crafting and leveling in a round to create special weapons and gear
playable heroes with unique abilities and weapons to cater to every playstyle and allow for different team combinations
The survival aspect makes Scavengers special and adds more depth to the game.
When I played Scavengers, it felt like a “Fortnite for older people” – slower and more strategic than the classic Battle Royale. Pleasant for players whose reflexes can no longer keep up with those of youth, but who still want to win.
Through the various mechanics, players are not only dependent on handling their weapon but also on proper planning and timing. The survival aspect adds an exciting component that requires survival against the world itself.
Scavengers in Interview – Early Access starts in 2021
MeinMMO: First of all: When will we be able to play Scavengers ourselves and on which platforms?
Josh Holmes: We recently announced a new playtest that will take place in March on PC. Our initial developer focus is on PC – which is why it was also our preferred platform for previous playtests – but Scavengers will also come to consoles: Xbox One and PlayStation 4, at a later time. We look forward to inviting console players into our world.
MeinMMO: How long will the Early Access last and how can I participate?
Josh Holmes: We do not have a fixed date yet for when Scavengers will go into Early Access or how long it will last, but we aim to start early this year [2021]. Players who have registered on playscavengers.com will get access to Early Access. Keep an eye out for more info about Early Access.
Josh Holmes is the CEO and co-founder of Midwinter Entertainment, the studio behind Scavengers. He worked as Creative Director on Halo 4 as well as Studio Head on Halo 5: Guardians and Executive Producer on Halo Reach from Microsoft before the new PvEvP shooter. He was also a designer for the fighting game Def Jam at EA. Holmes has been working in the gaming industry for over 20 years.
Explorers and Gameplay – What makes Scavengers special
MeinMMO: Scavengers already looks really good. From the tests to release, which mechanics and features will change the most and how?
Josh Holmes: One of the most interesting aspects is the match flow, which has developed significantly since we began testing the game. Our match structure has always been built around escalating tension, pulling players toward the endpoint. In the case of Scavengers, this endpoint is a landing ship, where PvP, PvE, and a race to victory unite into a massive, electrifying crescendo.
We’ve studied player behavior during our many tests and discovered that many of the playstyles and strategies that players show are not supported in the way we envisioned the final moments of a match.
Players were either forced to rush to the ship to secure their escape, or they had to dive into wild PvP. That seemed contrary to what we aimed to encourage players to do and how to approach the rest of the match. To remedy this, we opened up the landing ship and transformed it into a medium-sized arena, allowing PvP players to fight each other. At the same time, PvP-averse players can use their strengths to safely evacuate without unnecessarily engaging with rival groups that are fighting it out for the result.
We found that this creates a somewhat more balanced endpoint without sacrificing any of the tension or the feeling of fulfillment from those final moments. For the upcoming playtests, we will refine this and other aspects through player feedback.
PvP is one of the contents, but not the only one.
MeinMMO: The unique explorers are a great feature. How many playable characters do you have planned? Can you describe one in more detail?
Josh Holmes: The design of our explorers is another aspect that has evolved significantly over the last few years, both in terms of appearance and gameplay. We are a small studio, and our team embodies a wide range of different backgrounds, interests, and preferred playstyles. We try to reflect that in how we create each of the explorers – not only to be distinguishable and have their own personality on the battlefield, but also to represent a more global perspective.
As for new explorers, these details are currently a closely guarded secret. But we will have new explorers that we will periodically introduce. In fact, observant viewers may have already spotted a significant hint that we showcased in the past.
MeinMMO: Will you continue to expand the explorer feature, perhaps by giving them additional unique abilities?
Josh Holmes: We developed Scavengers as a strategic survival sandbox. Staying true to that vision means giving players the tools to adopt a variety of different approaches when facing the challenges of the frozen wasteland.
In addition to the variety of weapons and items you find through looting, each explorer comes with their own weapon, abilities, and talents. These differences are key to unlocking more strategic depth in gameplay, both for individual players and teams.
Their unique abilities make the explorers so special.
“Everything is unlockable without spending money”
MeinMMO: You mentioned earlier that you would have a season model. What content will be in the season pass and how much will it cost?
Josh Holmes: We are still working on monetization, but we have made it very clear that Scavengers will be Free2Play and that everything in the game is unlockable without spending money. We want all players to have the opportunity to achieve everything that Scavengers offers.
The secret to success: “Substance and depth”
MeinMMO: What game modes do you have planned? Are there different group or lobby sizes, different maps or quests?
Josh Holmes: We are very focused on our core mode that we have been testing for over a year now. However, we are always discussing how different team compositions and player modes can contribute interesting dynamics to the experience. But we know that a selection of different modes does not guarantee longevity in an online multiplayer environment.
It is important that we ensure substance and depth in our gameplay so that we can engage players for more than just a few matches. We will build on that. That is why our tests – with gradually increasing player counts – have been so vital over the past year in helping us refine our vision for Scavengers.
MeinMMO: Will there be skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) or even a ranked mode?
Josh Holmes: We want to provide players with a variety of ways to measure, track, and show their skill and ability with the game. We will soon share more information about this with the community, so stay tuned.
MeinMMO: How will the weapon balancing look? Battle Royales like Warzone are currently struggling with OP weapons – what will you do about it?
Josh Holmes: Well, we have the advantage of not having to pack multiple game titles and their unique weapons with their balancing into one multiplayer experience. But that is a serious issue and something we pay constant attention to. Playtests have also been key here. We analyze player data, take community feedback into account, and we iterate and adjust to deliver a balanced player experience. We will continue to do this as we introduce new characters, weapons, and abilities in the future to ensure that our community is never caught off guard by changes to their experience.
MeinMMO: What kind of anti-cheat mechanics will you have?
Josh Holmes: We use many approaches in Scavengers to detect and prevent cheating. There is no magic bullet or easy solution. This is an ongoing battle that requires continuous effort to identify new patterns and exploits. As developers, we will respond quickly and patch any known vulnerabilities. We will take every opportunity to remove cheaters from our community.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the conversation.
Promising, but still unpolished
As I already mentioned in my first playtest of Scavengers, I believe that the game has strong potential. The gameplay is unique and fun, but it will probably only appeal to a certain group of players, not the general masses.
Explorers, crafting, and survival are cool elements that enhance the basic battle royale framework and make it more exciting for me than most competitors.
What Josh Holmes has planned for the future sounds good already, but also suggests a lot of work. Apparently, Scavengers is not as finished as it looks, and a lot could still change – hopefully for the better.
If the monetization goes well and the developers build on the strengths of the game, I see strong chances that Scavengers will hold its ground for a long time, even with a smaller player base (compared to titans like Warzone). Overall: an interesting alternative to established shooters with charming quirks.
Benedict Grothaus Freelance author at MeinMMO
The developers released a summary of the last beta on January 19 (via playscavengers). They mention that Scavengers has been very well received by testers and announce the next beta for March 2021.
If you like the setting and are looking for other games with a similar setting, you can find a selection of other post-apocalyptic games in our list of the best post-apocalyptic games 2021 for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox that can satisfy your hunger until the release of Scavengers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MeinMMO Podcast is back from its break. In the new news show, you’ll hear about the currently biggest topics that the editorial team discusses and analyzes.
What’s new with the podcast? We took a longer winter break with our podcast and reflected on it. Although the podcast has steadily grown since our launch in October 2020, we still weren’t fully satisfied. It was often too focused on a single topic, and we produced more of a chat podcast about individual topics.
However, we want to cover and discuss more exciting, current topics in our podcast. News plays a significant role on the site itself, and we want to convey this in our podcast.
Therefore, we have adjusted our format, which will now return to a weekly basis.
What the new news show offers you
In summary:
Current news explored and analyzed in depth
More from our daily lives and some statistics on our most clicked news
A colorful mix of different online multiplayer topics
A preview of the upcoming week, should you monitor a specific topic
A bit longer:
We review our news from the past week and compile some of our most clicked news for you. You will also get insights into our working methods and statistics.
Have you always wanted to know how many clicks a Twitch news article gets compared to a strong MMORPG news article? We will give you the numbers.
We ensure that we compile a colorful mix of topics here. You will hear, for example, what’s currently happening with MMORPGs, multiplayer shooters, or gaming personalities. Are there new expansions? Major updates? These will also be covered. We do not only pay attention to the pure, strong click numbers. Otherwise, the healthy mix would suffer.
Since we are of course obligated to report about news neutrally, you will hear our personal perspective on current events in the podcast. A bit of a chat podcast should still remain.
We will integrate iTunes as soon as the podcast has been uploaded there. It usually takes a bit longer to get through the waiting line.
Feedback? Suggestions?
Here’s how you can participate: We are naturally delighted about constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement regarding our new news show! Write us your opinion in the comments below the article or in our Discord and tell us what you think about the new format. You can also reach us via email at [email protected]
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Speed plays a big role in FIFA 21. Defenders need to keep up too – here you will find 5 options for your team.
That’s why speed is so important: Of course, all values on a card matter. A striker with weak shooting stats is not helpful, nor is a defender without defending skills. But for nearly all players, the rule is: if the speed is too low, the card is fundamentally hard to use. Such a problem exists with the current Bundesliga POTM in FIFA 21.
This is because much in the match ultimately depends on speed. The best defensive value of your defender is useless if the striker is already ten meters away from you and you can’t catch up to him.
However, fast center-backs are extremely expensive. Here are a few examples:
The fastest center-back in the game, Kyle Walker, costs a whopping 800,000 coins – which is probably due to his 93 pace rating.
The Icon Paolo Maldini costs a staggering 5.7 million coins with a pace of 86.
The Inform variant of Joe Gomez has 84 pace and costs over 500,000 coins.
These 3 examples are extremely high, as they not only have speed but also other very strong stats. They are among the best center-backs in the game.
In this list, we will take a look at a few more players with strong speed stats who are also playable but not excessively expensive.
Ike Opara
Opara is currently very strong as a Rulebreaker
Opara has two interesting cards in the game: His regular gold card and a Rulebreakers version. His gold card is already well equipped with 84 pace and costs only 950 coins. His Halloween card has a whopping 88 pace – and also strong stats overall. It currently costs 38,000 coins.
This is still quite reasonable for the values, as comparable players are significantly more expensive. This is probably due to the fact that Opara, being an American from the MLS, is hard to fit into teams: If Opara were in the Premier League, he would certainly be even more expensive. He belongs to a series of special cards that are worth their price.
Lukas Klostermann
The Leipzig defender was in many teams at the game’s release, as hardly any center-back brought as much speed (84) as he did. His price has now shrunk to 1,900 coins, making him a real bargain. Even today, the defender is still playable. By the way: His RTTF card also has a lot of pace and overall great stats. But it’s priced at a hefty half a million.
Jeremiah St. Juste
Even faster than Klostermann is Jeremiah St. Juste, who, as a silver player, may fly under the radar for many. However, the defender costs quite a lot for a silver card: a total of 14,000 coins. This is partly because this year there are many goals that can be completed with silver players. For a silver team, St. Juste is an absolute asset.
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez has a pace value of 82, which you can easily boost with an Anchor or Shadow chemistry style. Then Gomez not only has a very good speed but is also overall a very strong center-back who can still hold his own in difficult matches. He is probably the best defender on this list. He currently costs you 17,000 coins – a bargain, considering that for a long time, he cost well over 100,000 coins.
Kostas Manolas
Manolas also has a pace rating of 82, which you can boost with Anchor. He also has ideal defensive stats, apart from slightly lacking stamina. Still, Manolas is a reliable support – as long as you play a team with Serie A players. Otherwise, Manolas is hard to integrate, which also explains his low price of 6,000 coins.
Pokémon GO still fascinates thousands of people in 2021. For many players, the fitness aspect behind the app is particularly exciting. We reveal how Pokémon GO can keep you fit.
Genre: Augmented Reality| Developer: Niantic| Platform: iOS and Android| Release: July 6, 2016
What’s happening in Pokémon GO? The AR game is already over 4 years old and yet it recorded record revenues in 2020. Millions of players worldwide are playing, and even during the coronavirus times, when being outside is restricted, Pokémon GO is incredibly popular.
One reason for this is the fitness aspect in the game. You only become really successful if you move. If you’re missing the closed gyms or your jogging meetups, you should check out Pokémon GO. The app moves thousands of people and does so very successfully.
Playing Pokémon GO outside – Even during corona times
How you can play actively: To stay fit, you can play Pokémon GO especially well on the go. Walks in the fresh air can be really effective in Pokémon GO, and the federal government even recommends such walks (via Bundesregierung.de) – at least under the circumstances decided in the respective districts.
You can actually catch Pokémon in every place. Whether deep in the forest or right in the city center. However, there are also some features that reward you for actual movement:
Eggs only hatch if you cover a few kilometers
Adventure Sync rewards you with a lot of items each week if you have walked 5, 25, or 50 kilometers beforehand
Your buddy finds candies when you have walked kilometers
Some quests require you to cover kilometers or hatch eggs (and thus also walk kilometers)
So you get numerous incentives to actively play Pokémon GO and move while doing so. If you stay active, you also catch more Pokémon. This is because each spawn point of a Pokémon is only active once per hour. If you stand still, you will quickly run out of Pokémon.
Adventure Sync rewards you for kilometers walked.
How you can play passively: Even if you’re not openly walking around with your phone in hand, Pokémon GO rewards you. This works through Adventure Sync. This feature runs even when the app is closed.
If you’re shopping and have the phone in your pocket, every step counts. So you can hatch eggs or kilometers for the Adventure Sync reward without really playing actively.
You have thus also an incentive to have Pokémon GO on your phone besides classic playing. You are rewarded for every step, even if you don’t have the phone in your hand.
That’s why playing works so well currently: Due to the corona crisis, Pokémon GO has activated numerous bonuses in the game, which have been ongoing since then. For example, general spawns have increased. So you will find Pokémon in more places. As a result, you have much more to do in the game and rarely run past places where there are hardly any Pokémon.
There are also numerous bonuses that make playing from home easier, but we’ll discuss that further down in the article.
How to combine sports and Pokémon GO: Jogging has become popular during corona times, and Pokémon GO could be an incentive for you to regularly go for your runs. Even if you have the phone in your pocket, the kilometers while jogging also count for the app.
As already mentioned above, you can jog or even bike while collecting kilometers without having the app open.
If you want to make progress even faster, you can get a Pokémon GO Plus. This gadget catches Pokémon at the press of a button, and you can also keep your phone in your pocket.
How playing from home works: Here, it’s mainly about the bonuses that Pokémon GO activated during the corona crisis. You can do a lot of things in Pokémon GO without leaving the house:
Remote raids work from home
Your buddy brings you gifts so you can supply other trainers with items
The item Incense has been improved so that you can attract a lot of Pokémon even without movement
These things are mainly features where you don’t have to move. However, you still make progress in the game because of them.
How to combine sports and Pokémon GO: You can also combine sports from home with Pokémon GO. A treadmill or an exercise bike that you use in the apartment can also advance you in Pokémon GO.
Pokémon GO measures the steps and compiles the kilometers from it. If, for example, you have walked 5 kilometers on your treadmill, then you have similar progress in Pokémon GO as well.
If you don’t have sports equipment at home, other means are also enough. Just running up and down the stairs will also earn you kilometers.
Pokémon GO as motivation – This works really well
I have been fascinated by Pokémon GO since its release in 2016, and especially the movement aspect is great. There are weeks where I walk over 100 kilometers through my small town – without Pokémon GO, it certainly wouldn’t be nearly as much.
Especially now during the corona times, the game motivates me. Gyms are closed, and my only exercise during the day is usually my round with Pokémon GO. I keep noticing that without the app, I probably wouldn’t have gone outside at all. For me, it’s still important to take the corona restrictions seriously. I no longer leave the house without a mask, and if I don’t play alone, I have at most one fellow player. However, that has been working smoothly since the beginning of the year, and the sporting motivation is huge thanks to Pokémon GO – if the app had existed during my sports graduation, I certainly would have finished better.
Noah Struthoff Editor at MeinMMO
So if you are looking for motivation to exercise, you should check out Pokémon GO. Do apps or games like Pokémon GO help you get more exercise and sport? Let us know in the comments!
But always remember to observe the curfew when playing outside. Otherwise, you may end up like an English trainer:
How Twink-Friendly is WoW: Shadowlands? Cortyn reveals what Shadowlands has done well – and what not so much.
If you have upgraded your legendary item with your main character in WoW: Shadowlands, played through the Covenant campaign, and achieved all current goals, you might be considering a second character. But how “good” is it to play alt characters in Shadowlands? How twink-friendly is the expansion actually? I want to explain that here.
A few days ago, I read an article on wowhead that stated WoW: Shadowlands is not a good expansion for alt characters (“Twinks” or “Alts”). I have now leveled two Twinks myself and do not share wowhead’s opinion in this case.
Leveling up Twinks has never been easier than it is now.
Multiple characters in Shadowlands – can it work well? Or is it too much effort?
Equipping Alt Characters
It is often said that equipping alt characters is exhausting, primarily due to the reduced drop rates in dungeons and raids. I can only very limitedly understand this criticism because I think it has never been easier to equip an alt character decently.
The reason for this is the Covenant campaign with its rewards. Alt characters can play through their Covenant’s campaign virtually “in one go,” as all chapters are unlocked. Since the reputation system has some solid catch-up mechanics, alt characters can complete all story chapters within 2-3 days.
Each chapter rewards with 1-2 items from the Covenant set. This starts at item level 155 but goes up to item level 197.
These set items should be equipped or at least kept. Because after the campaign is fully completed, all set pieces can be upgraded to item level 197. This is more than enough to then dive directly into “Mythic+” dungeons and strive for better gear that main characters also desire.
Shadowlands has a lot to offer – for some things, however, you will have to wait or work for a while.
Of course – for those who want to fully upgrade the entire set, it takes about 3,000 to 4,000 Anima. That sounds like quite a lot – but it really isn’t much if you’re playing a fresh character. Several dungeon quests grant 750 Anima upon completion, and defeating the current world boss gives 250 Anima. A somewhat hidden daily mission even grants Anima every day.
Players who plan ahead can complete world quests that grant Anima while leveling the Twink, which can be redeemed at level 60.
Additionally, at the end, there is even a weapon at item level 187 – so LFR-level. This is more than sufficient to be well-equipped for further adventures in the endgame.
Legendary Items for Twinks
But here too, one must weigh what one actually wants. For an alt character, it would be completely sufficient in the first weeks to have a legendary item at level 1 or 2. Because with increasing item level, only the attributes of the legendary item improve, not the legendary effect. If one is only interested in the pure effect, one can also simply equip an item at level 190 and then gradually upgrade it.
Legendary items are in demand – but they’re not that hard to obtain.
The only drawback here is that new characters have to fight through the lower levels in Torghast to unlock the higher ones. This often feels like wasted time when you know you could easily handle level 7 or 8 but are still stuck at 2 or 3.
An account-wide unlocking of the different levels would make sense here and ease a lot of things.
At least the upgrades from Ve’nari for Torghast are account-wide. So if upgrades for the vendors in Torghast have already been unlocked on the main character, they also apply to your alt characters.
Media, Soulbinds and Co
Another power factor for characters is the soulbinds and the associated media that can be invested in the small soulbind talent tree.
Soulbinds and their rows are unlocked quite incidentally while playing through the Covenant campaign and increasing the reputation level with the Covenant. For latecomers, this often happens automatically, for example, upon completing a dungeon or defeating a world boss.
The potential power gain through a soulbind is therefore quite quickly caught up and at the latest after 3-4 days, you are at the same level as all other players, provided you play content like dungeons, world bosses, or callings.
The soulbinds with the covenants are quickly unlocked, along with the story.
Yes, getting the media to the highest rank takes a while. But the differences between the individual ranks of the media are extremely small. In most cases, it is about an increase in a very small percentage of a single ability.
Pact Hall Makes for Long Faces
A major criticism is the expansion of the Pact Hall, which progresses only slowly for Twinks. This is mainly due to the Anima reserves, which are rather thin for alt characters. The main reason for this is likely the upgrading of the Covenant set.
It should be noted here that the Pact Hall is basically only necessary for cosmetic things. The respective Pact feature (Necrolord, Conservatory, etc.), the transport network, and the Anima conductor are primarily intended for cosmetic items like mounts, toys, or transmogs. It is absolutely not necessary for these features to be greatly expanded in order to “quickly” progress on the character.
Fully upgrading the Pact Hall takes time and Anima. But most of it is cosmetic anyway.
These cosmetic rewards are long-term goals that should not be thrown at the players but are interesting for collectors. They are not necessary to make the character playable.
Find more current news about WoW: Shadowlands here:
Conclusion: Leveling Up Second Characters is Easy, but …
Overall, I conclude that leveling up Twinks in Shadowlands is quite easy. There are some minor hurdles, but none of them hold the character back for long in order to be effective in PvE or PvP. I think this has been well done and makes playing alt characters a lot of fun.
Only those who want cosmetic rewards from the Covenants must invest a lot of time in addition. But that is exactly what is intended and is no different for the main character.
But what do you think? Do you enjoy playing your Twinks or does it feel like torturous work?
From a GameStar interview with the developers of the fantasy game Crimson Desert, some interesting information can be derived regarding multiplayer. We can apparently expect a kind of Red Dead Online.
What is Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert was announced as an MMORPG by the developer studio Pearl Abyss at the end of 2019, but was then referred to as an open-world action-adventure at the Game Awards in early December 2020 .
The developers now want to offer a story in which you play MacDuff, the leader of a mercenary group. You will experience this story in single-player mode. Nevertheless, there will also be a multiplayer part.
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.
In 2019, Crimson Desert was still referred to as an MMORPG.
A multiplayer similar to Red Dead Redemption 2
How do the developers explain the multiplayer? HwanKyoung Jung, producer of Crimson Desert, said in an interview with our colleagues from Gamestar Plus:
We have thought about the genre of Crimson Desert for a long time. When we considered what we should focus on in Crimson Desert, we wanted to do a good job with the storytelling structure and storyline rather than the elements that one expects from an existing MMORPG.
Additionally, we want to provide solid action battles and combat mechanics, but also give players the option to play together with their friends in a multiplayer environment. We did not want to limit the game to simply having an ending like other single-player titles. We wanted to create a game that offers a strong storytelling structure but also has an open world where players can form communities with other players.
Regarding the risk that less successful titles like Anthem or Marvel’s Avengers show with a mix of single-player and multiplayer, HwanKyoung Jung remarked:
I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about other games here. We are focused on delivering a gameplay experience that is unique to Crimson Desert. We envision a game that not only offers a good storyline but also allows players to enjoy it with their friends. Therefore, it will be possible to build communities between players in the game.
So how could this mix of single-player and online play look? We know that in the single-player story, you will play the hero MacDuff. This is a predefined character whose appearance is also fixed. You can only customize him through armor and clothing.
However, the developers have already explained that you will also be allowed to create another character. You can design this character however you like during creation. This is very reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption 2. In the single-player part, you embody Arthur Morgan, while in multiplayer you create your own hero.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that single-player and multiplayer will seamlessly transition into each other. This suggests that you will likely switch between MacDuff and your own character in the game. It could be possible that your self-created hero is a member of MacDuff’s mercenary group and you then make the switch at the camp.
If you play as MacDuff, you will experience the story where you even make decisions that are supposed to have an impact on the further course of the storyline.
If you play as your self-created hero, you will encounter other players and can embark on adventures together with them or perhaps even compete in PvP.
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 new trailer shows how strongly Crimson Desert focuses on storytelling.
There are still open questions
What is still unclear? It is still unclear whether the game switches to a single-player instance when you embody MacDuff and play the single-player story, or whether other players are also visible in this mode. If that is the case, it would be interesting to know whether and how you can interact with these players while you are pursuing the story.
Another possibility could be a mode like in Red Dead Online that takes place independently of the single-player part. However, this would then make the developers’ statement that single and multiplayer are supposed to transition seamlessly into each other somewhat nonsensical.
So there are still several questions left open regarding how exactly the multiplayer will work in Crimson Desert. Whether it is a separate mode or whether you will also encounter other players in MacDuff’s story.
In any case, Crimson Desert promises to be a very exciting game, especially because of this mix of single-player and multiplayer. In this way, Pearl Abyss does not create competition for themselves with the MMORPG Black Desert Online. The game is likely to appeal to both fans of single-player and online games due to this unusual principle.
What will happen after the release regarding additional content? The team explained in the interview that additional content after the release of Crimson Desert is very important and regular updates are also planned.
However, there will be more information on this at a later date.
When will Crimson Desert be released? The release was stated as the end of 2021. A specific date will follow. Crimson Desert is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A release for PS4 and Xbox One is also possible.
In League of Legends, the champion Maokai is currently incredibly strong. However, he is not played in the top lane or jungle, but as a support. One reason for his strength lies in the new mythic items.
Why is Maokai so popular right now? According to the statistics, Maokai is currently one of the most successful support champions in the game, as shown by the website OP.gg:
From January 6 to January 21, he had a win rate of 53.08% making him the most successful support champion in LoL.
During that same period, he was played in an average of 15.47% of matches, making him the third most popular support.
Recently, he has been banned more frequently, with a ban rate exceeding 20% in January.
What does the mythic item do? Imperial Mandate ensures that enemies affected by CC take damage and are marked. When allies hit a marked target, they deal bonus damage and grant themselves and the supporter movement speed:
These are the values of the support item.
Why does this work so well with Maokai? The entire ability kit of Maokai relies on slowing or controlling enemies:
His “Q” has a slow
His “W” briefly holds the opponent
His “E”, the sapling, slows on impact
His ultimate immobilizes enemies
Each of these abilities thus deals bonus damage with Imperial Mandate and causes the mark. This is limited only by the 6-second cooldown per enemy.
That is also the reason why Maokai is so strong as a support but not in other lanes. He needs a teammate to activate the mark again.
Will this remain strong for long? Riot Games has already reacted and made changes. With patch 11.2, which was released on January 21, the mana for the saplings has been increased. However, there is currently no indication that further changes are planned.
Is the popularity really coming suddenly? Partially yes, as Maokai was not very popular in the West during the summer and autumn. In July, he was ranked 28th among all supports with a pick rate of just under 1.2%.
In Korea, however, Maokai has been played and successfully utilized as a support for a longer time.
This is how you play Maokai as a support
What should you consider? Maokai is indeed a strong champion, but especially in the initial laning phase he is rather weak because he is a melee champion. Only with Imperial Mandate will you become really challenging for your enemies.
A detailed guide on support Maokai can be found at OP.gg. We summarize the most important points for you.
For runes, you should choose Aftershock to withstand some damage. As a summoner spell, Hexflash is useful to surprise enemies with a combo of Hexflash and the ultimate.
The rune build for support Maokai.
You start with the saplings as your first ability because they grant you vision and still deal good damage. Afterwards, you unlock “Q” Thornlash. You buy the support item Relic Shield to secure last hits for you and your ADC.
After Imperial Mandate, build AP items like Demonic Embrace, Boots, and possible tank items. Depending on the situation, you should then see whether you are more responsible for dealing damage or prefer to tank.
With the latest patch 11.2, there were not only slight changes to Maokai but also the release of the new champion Viego:
You want to start with GTA 5 Online again in 2021 but are unsure if it’s worth it? We will show you what has changed and for whom it is definitely worth starting.
Genre: Action / Third-Person Shooter | Developer: Rockstar North | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | Release: October 1, 2013
What can you expect? There are a ton of content to explore for new players. This ranges from group activities with friends, to duo content and solo play with unknown players or alone.
But GTA 5 Online is turning eight years old this year. Is it still worth starting now? And what can returning players expect?
Is GTA 5 Online worth it for new players?
This attracts new players: New players start in the online world with hardly anything for a big adventure. At first, you secure a cheap or even free car for your trips in Los Santos. Then you dive into one of the countless game modes and earn your first money. And here comes the first advantage. Grand Theft Auto has always been about mixing racing with violence.
In the game modes, you can choose between various races with bicycles, boats, airplanes, cars, monster trucks, or motorcycles.
How about stunt races high above the streets of Los Santos?
If you are not in the mood for races, you can jump into one of the many modes that revolve around gun violence. There are deathmatches, capture series, team games, and series where everyone fights against everyone.
Additionally, new content comes regularly to keep the online world alive. The casino opened with a handful of missions, plenty of mini-games, and a rewarding wheel of fortune. Even newcomers can win expensive supercars without spending money.
For all players, there are various contents right from the start catering to different player types. Even complete beginners can quickly earn important money with content like the casino or time trials.
This deters new players: Like in every other online game, not everything is great in GTA 5 Online. Foremost are the high prices.
If you want to buy a fancy supercar, you first have to invest several hours into grinding. As a newbie, that can be discouraging, because to efficiently earn money in GTA Online, you should acquire a few things that make future grinding easier. So first invest in real estate before you build your supercar collection.
Additionally, depending on the lobby, there are toxic players. This manifests itself through insulting messages in chat and also through griefing players in the lobbies. Yes, online lobbies are PvP areas in GTA Online, and you have to expect to be attacked. However, it can be annoying when someone arrives with their tricked-out flying motorcycle and mows you down when you are just trying to earn money.
The way out is the passive mode, which protects you from such situations. But it also restricts you. Many actions that earn you money are not possible in passive mode or in solo lobbies.
Another phenomenon is, at least in PC sessions, hackers. Although they appear much less frequently, they can easily ruin your fun and make you seek a new lobby. They can use hacks to make your character constantly explode or spawn ridiculously large transformers in the world to run you over.
Bonus: The story is something everyone should experience
What is it about? The Grand Theft Auto series is known for its twisted stories with unmistakable protagonists. The single-player mode of GTA 5 also manages to tell a wonderful story while offering plenty of WTF moments.
In GTA 5, you control three protagonists, switching between them throughout the story. The family man and former bank robber Michael meets Franklin, who wants to take his boring life to the next level. The two encounter Trevor, whom Michael knows from a failed bank heist.
Trevor, Franklin, and Michael – You’ll get to know them with all their flaws and complex characters.
The three guys have great chemistry that runs throughout the various story missions. During the campaign, all your skills with weapons, vehicles, in water, and in the air are put to the test. You can even expect different endings, triggered by your decisions.
Conclusion: Is it worth it for new beginners? Pros and Cons
Pros
Low threshold for entry
A variety of content in game modes catering to various player types
Large selection of cars, from muscle cars to supercars
Group and solo content
Tactical gameplay and casual grinding while “watching Netflix”
Engaging story in single-player
Good graphics despite the “old” game
Cons
Much grinding
Toxic players
Hackers can be a problem on PC
Long loading screens can be annoying in online sessions
Is GTA 5 Online worth it for returning players?
What has changed? Since the release of GTA Online, the developers have regularly released new DLCs. The good part: They are all free. The content can all be earned with in-game currency.
We provide you with an overview of the content that has been released in GTA Online. Just check when you roughly stopped playing to see what has improved since then.
Since 2014, there’s the flight school in GTA Online, where you can improve your skills as a pilot.
Since 2015, there’s the heist update, which players consider one of the most important updates for GTA Online. It introduced the challenging heists that reward you with millions of dollars if you are successful.
The new mechanic Benny is in town, who converts your cars into lowriders.
2015 also brought the “Executives and Other Criminals” DLC. You can establish organizations and hire other players as bodyguards.
2016 also saw the release of the Cunning Stunts Update, which players celebrated for the many new racing and building options as well as cars.
The Biker DLC started in 2016 – Now you can form gangs and build a biker business to earn passive income. You gather resources, your employees process the stuff, and you sell cocaine or similar goods on a large scale.
In the same year as the Biker DLC, the Import/Export DLC started, which still offers one of the most lucrative ways to earn money.
Through the Gunrunning DLC came bunkers in 2017 as a new way to earn money and a method for weapon upgrades.
Smugglers Run introduced access to hangars and cool planes in 2017 along with a new method of earning money through collecting deliveries.
At the end of 2017, the new Doomsday Heist made waves, which also introduced a flying car.
The big highlight in 2020 was the massive Cayo Perico update. This introduced new cars and the first heist that can even be played solo.
As you can see, quite a lot has happened in GTA Online over the past few years. Many new vehicles and content are now available. Players who left the game due to lack of content should definitely give it another try.
El Rubio is the drug lord residing on the new island Cayo Perico.
Players who left due to too much grinding: You still don’t earn money in GTA Online in the blink of an eye. Grinding continues to be part of the routine if you want to belong to the rich. However, there are now many different ways to earn money. So there’s variety. If you stopped before 2018, you’ll now see many new ways to get rich.
If you are generally against grinding to unlock new content, then GTA is not for you unless you want to spend real money.
Players who left due to a lack of group content: When thinking about group content in GTA Online, you can’t overlook heists. These are cooperative robberies carried out with up to 4 players against NPCs. The brand new Cayo Perico Heist rewards you with a few million dollars and offers you much freedom in execution. Also, the Casino Heist is another approach to a robbery. There are three ways to complete it: “loud,” “quiet,” or “stealthy.” Grab your squad and try out the new heists.
Players who left due to a lack of roleplay: Since 2017, roleplay on GTA servers has grown significantly. On Twitch, it has increasingly come to the forefront and has given the “old” GTA Online top ratings on the streaming platform. A look into this community is worthwhile if you enjoy roleplay in the world of GTA 5.
What’s new: In December 2020, Rockstar Games released one of the most important updates for the community: the Cayo Perico Heist, which takes place in a completely new location in GTA Online.
For this, they built a new island on the map where the heist takes place. That’s where the drug lord El Rubio has set up his empire and throws wild techno parties.
For you as a player, this means there’s now a new way to earn money. Your task is clear: El Rubio has a lot of valuable stuff lying around, drugs, money, and art pieces. These need to be stolen.
You can take three more players with you to complete the heist in cooperative mode. So you can all fill your pockets with loot and determine who gets how much of it.
What makes the heist even more special is the number of players. Because for the first time, you can also complete a heist in GTA Online completely solo. A feature that the community often requested. Because when friends are not online, you otherwise have to rely on randoms. And as it often goes in multiplayer games, that can lead to chaos and frustration. Perhaps the players are unmotivated, or communication fails.
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.
When your friends are not online, you can clear Cayo Perico alone. And you have to prove all your skill. That’s difficult when the weight lies solely on your shoulders. Also, you carry fewer bags of loot. Overall, there is not as much loot as with a group. But in the end, you also don’t have to share earnings with teammates.
As evident by the many DLCs and good performance, the game is not going to be shut down anytime soon. We expect that the developers will continue to supply the online mode of GTA 5 with content until the release of GTA 6 and beyond.
There’s therefore no reason to worry that this content will soon cease.
We can recommend GTA 5 Online for most players even in 2021.
Who do I recommend GTA Online to?
According to my game time clock, I have spent about 800 hours in GTA Online. I regularly log into the online world and play the new content like the crazy Cayo Perico heist. Tactical robberies are a lot of fun, especially with friends. The solo content is also worth it for earning money.
However, I do not recommend GTA Online for “everyone.”
Be prepared for a lot of grinding in GTA Online if you do not want to invest additional money. This is the only way to get the latest cars, tuning, and properties. Those playing on PC must also prepare for lobbies with modders. These can be “friendly” and just show off their crazy cars, or they can be very annoying and ruin your session.
If everything goes smoothly, GTA Online provides a nice gaming experience for solo players and especially for group players. Together, you drive in a convoy through the cities and speed down the highways, participate in tuner meetings with other players, or shoot each other in PvP modes. The variety in game modes is a significant strength of GTA Online. They range from classic circuits to rallies in car races. Armed modes include deathmatches, king of the hill matches, and battle royale-style matches.
If you enjoy trying out all content and are not averse to grinding, you should definitely check out GTA Online. Grab some friends and try out the many cooperative options.
Patrick Freese Editor at MeinMMO
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
