In week 8 of Season 4 – Chapter 2 in Fortnite: Battle Royale, you should drive a car or truck through a rift. Therefore, we have collected all the locations where rifts are currently located on the map.
What is this task? In week 8 of Season 4, you will be sent to the map and are supposed to drive a car through a rift. If you do this, you will be launched into the air again and can continue from there.
In Season 4, there are various rifts, and new ones keep appearing. However, we have put together the current overview of the locations in week 8 for you.
Locations on the map:
In the red circles, there is a rift
There are 10 places where there are 2 rifts each. Here they are:
At a hill climb, northwest of Steamy Stacks
At a bridge, northwest of Dirty Docks
In a meadow near Risky Reels and northeast of The Authority
At a bridge, west of Dooms Domain
In a small residential area between Loki’s Lighthouse and Dooms Domain
This is what you need to do: Rifts are not only practical for movement, but this week they will be part of the challenges. To complete this task, you need to grab a car and drive through a rift. On the map, since the update 13.40 almost all vehicles are drivable.
In some locations, the task should be no problem, as the rifts are located close to the ground. However, some float a little higher in the air.
The rifts are not always at ground level
If you encounter a rift that isn’t easily reachable, you need to build a staircase first to reach the same height. Once you have done this, you can simply drive through with the car. Once you have been teleported through the rift, the task is considered complete.
If you also want to earn more experience points for the Battle Pass, you should definitely complete the secret mission from Season 4 before it ends. You will be rewarded with some XP if you prevent the dwarves from blowing up the map.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Destiny looked like a promise of a glorious future in 2014. By 2020, that dream has suffered scratches, dents, and deep wounds. In the coming weeks, Destiny 2: Beyond Light will determine whether the idea of “loot shooters” has a future at all.
What made Destiny so special in 2014: The exciting part about Destiny was never “What it was,” but always “What it would become.”
From day one, Destiny was a game of promises and superlatives. This began with the big announcement from Activision Blizzard back then:
“Destiny will be a game for 10 years” (via theguardian).
The vast dimensions of Destiny were described. It was shown under what conditions the new game Destiny was created. It was said that Bungie had bought a “multiplex cinema” to accommodate all staff.
Photos circulated of the studio, where apparently work was still being done on the game at night with dozens of workstations and illuminated monitors. Even the image seemed to show only a fraction of the capacity that Bungie dedicated to Destiny.
Such photos from Bungie made players dream back then. Source: GamesIndustry.Biz
The promise lingered: surely hundreds of employees would be working around the clock on new content to create a sort of “WoW, just as a shooter”: a universe that grows, breathes, trembles, and keeps getting better.
Anyone who played Destiny could envision it blooming in the coming years before their inner eye.
The whole game looked like it was set to grow for 10 years. They didn’t even have to promise that to players; they pictured themselves what the next 10 years would be like:
There would always be new zones, new equipment, new enemies, new classes – just more and better of what was already there and what everyone could play.
Thanks to the innovative and fantastic gunplay, Destiny felt great, and now everyone was waiting for the promised follow-up.
The first raid, the Vault of Glass, was an experience for many. Online shooters got a taste of WoW raids. What would that look like in a few years?
The final boss of the first Destiny raid, Atheon. What would come next?
The world invited players to immerse themselves. Everywhere, puzzles hinted. Who was the Traveler? Where did the Hive come from? What was going on with the Queen of the Awoken?
And there were so many ideas swirling around about how it could continue: Guardians could have their own spaceship, where they live, or a small apartment on the moon, maybe a pet or a crafting profession. With “Sparrow Racing,” Bungie gave players a taste of what was possible.
Sparrow Racing came in 2015 and felt like a promise that Destiny could be more than “just” a shooter.
Players want new content – Bungie keeps spinning around itself
So it really was: The reality of the last 6 years has been sobering. Players developed a huge appetite for new content. Bungie could never satisfy that hunger.
The developers used tricks to create the appearance that new content was coming, which was not actually new. The “recycling” of content became an art form over the years. The Prison of Elders became the “Challenge of Elders,” numerous exotics returned over the years, a raid boss in Destiny 1 was actually just a recycled tank.
Quickly, the expectations of players and what Bungie really delivered diverged:
Players expected a “big, new update” with a raid, new story, new exotics, and gear every 4 months – as it was once intended.
But instead, there was emptiness and only sporadically brief, new content. Long content droughts and months without real new content; much frustration and boredom ruled the daily lives of the Guardians.
In the “good” years of 2015 and 2018, Bungie at least managed to generate a major hype in the fall of the year for about 6 weeks by releasing a good expansion that satisfied players, but most of the time their stomachs growled.
Considered the highlight of Destiny so far: The Taken King (2015).
Where do the problems come from? Bungie realized early on that they were too naïve at the beginning. The content plans were too optimistic, the studio was not structured to produce so many contents in parallel as thought and planned. The tight schedule could only be maintained in 2014/2015 because the teams had already produced content before the launch of Destiny.
Because when players just started playing Destiny 1, Luke Smith’s team was in the middle of the Year 1 expansion “The Taken King.” But by late 2015, the reserves were empty, and Destiny 2 had to be pushed back by a year.
In times of crisis, he was supposed to fundamentally save Destiny: Luke Smith.
Actually, Bungie needed several teams working in parallel to develop content, and they had to always stay on schedule – delays could not be afforded.
But even if all content teams had worked flawlessly in parallel, it would still have been too little. Bungie quickly realized that they needed another team, a “live service” team to maintain the currently running game, providing patches, minor updates, and events. In April 2016, Bungie celebrated, “the evolution” of the company: A live team was there and brought updates.
Big appearance in March 2016 – since then missing.
Even in 2016, it seemed that Destiny 2 would revolve primarily around the Queen of the Awoken, Mara Sov, who spectacularly vanished in “The Taken King.”
“Change of plans” was apparently a core theme at Bungie for years.
The structures for teams and processes at Bungie changed mid-development: It was an operation during ongoing business that seemingly caused a lot of trouble and friction.
Harold Ryan was the head of Bungie until 2016. He took some people with him to his new studio.
No year at Destiny without a crisis that sets the studio back
These constant directional changes and adjustments in Bungie’s structure led to a turbulent development with many issues. Whenever everything was set and running, something went wrong at Bungie, and they lost momentum and time:
Even before the release of Destiny 1, there was a reboot – the story author left, which set the development of Destiny back and caused a strange narrative flow.
In 2015, it became apparent that the content plan was insufficient – the publisher Activision promised help, and the internal structures of the company were restructured. The DLCs planned for 2016 were canceled; instead, free updates were to come – which would be financed through a cash shop.
In 2016, there was a reboot of Destiny 2 – the head, Harold Ryan, left the company and founded his own studio, which other employees joined. It was around this time that Luke Smith began to rise, to whom Bungie entrusted the leadership of Destiny 2 and later the entire franchise.
Considered the low point of the franchise so far: Destiny 2. But what’s the dog doing there?
In 2018, the support studio from Activision Blizzard finally arrived, and there was a bit of a boost. However, the relationship with Activision was strained. They were dissatisfied with the sales figures of Forsaken – Smith, however, emphasized how satisfied Bungie was with Forsaken.
In 2019, Bungie separated from Activision Blizzard. Now, Bungie had to carry the monumental project Destiny on its own, replace the support studios, and there was another setback.
In 2020, they struggled with the “season model” they had introduced to save content and promised changes. Additionally, Corona interfered.
All this led to the fact that the promise of how Destiny would grow from 2014 never truly materialized.
That’s why Beyond Light is now the last chance
Why does Destiny 2 need to deliver now? The whole situation of Destiny has changed, the market has become much less friendly:
In 2014, Destiny was somewhat unique and one of the first “games-as-a-service” games for consoles. While most games were only briefly important upon release, Destiny remained interesting year-round and was discussed.
In 2020, the environment around Destiny and the gaming market had totally changed: Games-as-a-Service games are no longer an exception but the norm.
Nowadays, many games promise to continue to grow and remain relevant. However, these are not loot shooters like Destiny, but games like CoD Warzone or Fortnite. These games actually only have one map that is constantly expanded and updated.
These games manage to stay relevant for a long time because they are not as maintenance-intensive as Destiny, and players are satisfied with relatively smaller updates.
Furthermore, these games are designed from day one to grow steadily. They have learned from Bungie’s mistakes and go into it with a clear plan. The tools and the engine are designed for fast content creation.
Bungie’s problem is that there is “no easy way” for Destiny to keep up. Their players expect hard work, new quests, new boss battles, new content – Bungie cannot cheat, but actually needs a lot of manpower constantly to satisfy players’ hunger. This has not been successful in recent years or only in exceptions.
Destiny tries to make good use of its streamers, but it doesn’t always work.
Moreover, it has become increasingly important for games to be present on Twitch and to be part of the conversation.
To stay relevant, it is necessary for games to create stories, events, and innovations that can be talked about. This is how games like Fortnite or CoD Warzone stay in the conversation.
The current zeitgeist has overtaken Destiny. In 2014, Destiny had little competition for attention; today, Bungie seems a bit behind when trying to get back into the conversation with ideas like “Trials” or “Hardcore PvE.”
If Destiny delivers only standard fare with the new expansion “Beyond Light,” it will be difficult for the series to survive in the coming years.
We see that Destiny 2 has become somewhat irrelevant over the last few years:
Ideas like the “season model” could not take hold.
Stunts like the partnership with Google Stadia didn’t pay off.
Even the free-to-play approach seemed unsustainable – in light of the strong free-to-play competition in the market.
The many setbacks and small defeats have developed over the last 6 years into a huge burden that Destiny carries on its back, threatening to crush it: People feel that they have been promised too much over the years that has not been delivered.
Destiny has not received enough significant changes and wanted to see too much money over the years. Much trust and goodwill have eroded over time – especially among veterans.
Bungie puts all its chips on “Destiny 2 Beyond Light”
What points to Destiny 2 being good now: In fact, all changes and lessons learned over the last 6 years are now converging on Destiny 2: Beyond Light:
It will be the first major release that Bungie will make on its own, without Activision Blizzard, meaning no compromises.
It will be the first release that Luke Smith will be solely responsible for, without a reboot occurring beforehand.
Bungie is going all-in with Beyond Light like a poker player pushing all their chips into the center of the table.
Moreover, a “hit” is long overdue. Because “Beyond Light” is basically Destiny 3 or at least a replacement for it: This is the project Bungie has been working towards since 2017.
In a few weeks, the future of Destiny 2 will be determined.
How good will Beyond Light be? There is no beta or anything similar for Destiny 2: Beyond Light, so everyone will be surprised again. The question is, between which 3 circles Destiny 2 Beyond Light will move:
Will 2020 be the year with another weak expansion that seals the fate of Destiny 2?
Will 2020 be a “good” year like The Taken King and Forsaken, where it remains relevant for 6 weeks and excites players? Especially with the new consoles on the horizon.
Or will 2020 even be the year when Destiny 2 finally fulfills its 6-year-old promises? Will we really see a significant change and improvement in 2020?
I believe: Beyond Light will be a good to very good expansion, similar to The Taken King.
The special thing could be that Bungie succeeds in delivering more good expansions in 2021 and 2022. Then we could have “proper Destiny” that captivates and entertains us for at least 6 weeks each year. However, Bungie is far from making the game constantly grow and keep players engaged throughout the year.
I don’t see how this could be possible in a PvE game without innovative ideas that go beyond a content vault and a coherent, logically consistent story.
Beyond Light determines the future of Destiny 2.
In any case, we are approaching the most exciting point in Destiny since 2017, since Destiny 2 was released and was so bitterly disappointing.
Destiny 2 Beyond Light will be released on November 10, 2020.
The expansion will decide how Destiny and perhaps the entire shooter market will continue in the coming years.
Destiny 2 is a constant topic that can be discussed endlessly.
The last 2 years, since the highlight “Forsaken,” have been bitter for fans of Destiny 2. There were highlights and ideas, but also a lot of downtime as Bungie regrouped. The tipping point was the separation from publisher Activision Blizzard in January 2019.
In Genshin Impact, you have a variety of characters to choose from to explore the world and defeat enemies. We at MeinMMO wanted to know which characters are the best, and you have created a ranking.
How was the ranking created? In a survey, we asked our readers to select the 6 most popular characters from Genshin Impact. You were free to decide why you ranked the characters as you did.
The lower ranks mainly consist of characters that did not perform well in the tier list either. Only Xiao comes from the A-tier and is ranked quite low:
Sucrose – 0.46%
Bennett – 0.84%
Xingqui – 0.90%
Klee – 0.99%
Aether – 1.18%
Ningguang – 1.39%
Xiao – 1.73%
Lumine – 1.76%
Beidou – 1.89%
Kaeya – 2.88%
Chongyun – 3.03%
Mona – 3.16%
Lisa – 3.22%
Jean – 3.47%
Rank 10 to 6
Rank 10 goes to Noelle, a 4-star character. She received 3.47% of the votes in the survey. Noelle belongs to the Geo element and wields a claymore.
Rank 9 goes to Amber, which may be a surprise from the tier list perspective. There, the Pyro archer is last. However, Amber enjoys great popularity among you, possibly due to her direct and not always knightly nature. It might also be because you get her right at the start.
In the survey, she received 3.78% of the votes.
Amber, not overly strong, but very popular with you.
Rank 8 goes to Qiqi, a strong 5-star character with the Cryo element who wields a sword. Qiqi received 4.46% of the votes. Although she is in the S-tier, she did not make it to the top 5 in your voting.
Keqing landed in 7th place with 5.45% of all votes. Keqing is associated with the Electro element and uses a sword as a weapon. She is a no-nonsense character who does what needs to be done, which seems to resonate well with you.
Rank 6 goes to Razor, a young man who wields a claymore and has the Electro element. With 6.72%, he narrowly missed the top 5 ranking.
We will introduce the top 5 in more detail on page 2 of the article.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In FIFA 21, the first Weekend League starts this weekend. How can you participate in the toughest competition in Ultimate Team?
Update, October 16: As EA Sports announced, the first Weekend League has been postponed by 24 hours. It will now start on Saturday, October 17, at 09:00 AM and will run until Tuesday morning at 09:00 AM. Here you will find everything about the rescheduling of the Weekend League.
Here is the original announcement
When does the Weekend League start? The first Weekend League in FIFA 21 is scheduled to start on Friday, October 16, at 09:00 AM (See update above: The Weekend League has been postponed).
How does the Weekend League work? During this time, you have a total of 30 matches available, in which you need to collect as many wins as possible. Depending on how well your record ends up, you will reach a rank that determines the rewards you receive. The higher the rank, the better the rewards. There are coins, packs, and player picks that include TOTW players to win. The following ranks are available:
The Top 200. Here you will find the 200 best players of the Weekend League, who receive varying rewards based on their placement.
Elite 1 (27 wins)
Elite 2 (25 wins)
Elite 3 (23 wins)
Gold 1 (20 wins)
Gold 2 (17 wins)
Gold 3 (14 wins)
Silver 1 (11 wins)
Silver 2 (8 wins)
Silver 3 (6 wins)
Bronze 1 (4 wins)
Bronze 2 (2 wins)
Bronze 3 (0 to 1 win)
The Weekend League is the hardest mode in Ultimate Team but offers the best rewards overall. How can you participate?
A countdown is running in the game towards the start
How to qualify for the Weekend League
How do you get into the Weekend League? To get into the Weekend League, you need a total of 2,000 FUT Champions points. You can earn these in Division Rivals: every single match you play in Rivals earns you points for Weekend League qualification. There are also additional points in the weekly rewards.
The higher your division, the more FUT Champions points you earn per game. This means: If you want to qualify for the Weekend League quickly, you should try to play as high as possible – even if the opponents in higher divisions are strong.
Where do I redeem the points? Once you have the points, you can select the Weekend League in the “Play” menu of Ultimate Team and complete your qualification by redeeming the points. You can also redeem the points simply in the Web App or the Companion App. They will remain with you until you redeem them. You can use them again on another weekend.
This is how qualification looks in the Web App
Until when can I qualify? In the past, one could always qualify up to 24 hours after the Weekend League starts. This means that the last time would be Saturday at 09:00 AM. (Update: After the postponement, it is now possible to qualify for the first Weekend League 24hours later)
Until that point, you still have time to secure the necessary points in Division Rivals. So, if you want to participate in the Weekend League, you should focus on this mode if you still lack points for qualification.
By the way: You also earn FUT Champs points in the Weekend League. In FIFA 20, 11 wins in the Weekend League guaranteed re-qualification.
The new update 1.28 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and CoD: Warzone brought a new JAK-12 shotgun into the game without much fanfare. And now it is spreading fear and terror in multiplayer. We explain how you can get the new weapon.
What is the new shotgun about? Recently, Modern Warfare and the Battle Royale Warzone received the new update 1.28. This not only brought various changes and is especially praised by PC players – with the new patch, a new weapon came into play as well.
What can the new shotgun do? The shotgun is fully automatic, has a high rate of fire, but features a controllable recoil. What many especially celebrate or fear: The weapon can use incendiary and explosive ammunition and, when properly modified, has almost outrageous range.
First impressions say: In Warzone and also in traditional multiplayer, the JAK-12 is already spreading fear and terror.
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Many are already calling it overpowered, the new meta, and that it surely won’t stay that way for long. All in all, the shotgun is received very well and apparently brings a lot of fun to many.
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How do you get the new JAK-12? The new weapon is available through a challenge that is relatively easy. You need to get 3 hipfire kills with shotguns in 7 different matches. Then the new weapon is yours.
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Alternatively, you can get the new “Lakedaimon” bundle in the store. However, it will cost you 1,100 CoD points.
It remains exciting whether the weapon will stay in the game as it is or if there will be adjustments soon. Have you already had first experiences with the JAK-12? What do you think of the weapon? Much ado about nothing, or could it soon find itself among the best weapons of Season 6?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A handful of changes in the WoW patch 9.0 have been secretly introduced by Blizzard. We reveal what was not included in the patch notes.
Patch 9.0.1 has been live in World of Warcraft for just over a day now. It brought major changes that will later lead to the Shadowlands expansion. The extensive patch notes list pages of new features – but not everything. There are some details and “secret” adjustments that are not mentioned in the patch notes. However, these undocumented changes have not gone unnoticed by the players. We have summarized the most important of them.
Changes to Transmogrification: It is now possible to use all artifact weapons of a class for transmogrification. For example, as a Frost Mage, you can use the blade Felo’melorn of the Fire Mage if you wish. These rules have generally been relaxed for all classes and specializations. The prerequisite is, of course, that you have unlocked the corresponding appearances.
Potions become useless: A very large part of the potions have no effect beyond level 50. This primarily affects “useful” potions, such as invisibility potions or those that increase movement speed. This does not only concern BfA potions but also potions from Legion and even the Vanilla time. Therefore, these potions can no longer be used in Shadowlands content. New potions must be used, or these effects must be entirely waived.
Many alchemy products will soon have no effect anymore.
More pets for Hunters: Hunters not only have an expanded stable size, but they can also tame a range of new pets. Hunters can tame cloud serpents and even defeat world bosses like Nalak if they have unlocked the corresponding ability.
Undead Hunters receive a special update: They can now tame a variety of undead animals! This ability can also be unlocked by all other hunters in Shadowlands, but for now, it remains exclusive to undead.
Druids have to spend cash: Just a small detail, but Druids will now also have to spend gold if they want to fly. The ability “Expert Riding” will no longer be taught for free but must be unlocked with the riding instructor. Previously, Druids received this skill for free with their flying travel form.
Pre-Made Groups available only from level 50: There have also been some changes to the group finder. From now on, it is no longer possible to use the function to create your own groups below level 50. The normal functions – such as the group finder for dungeons – are still available.
The multiplayer shooter ArmA 3 has received a new update and thus reached version 2.00 after 7 years. We explain what is included in this patch.
What kind of update is this? Version 1.00 of ArmA 3 launched in 2013 by the creators of DayZ. Since then, there have been several patches released, but these were rather small updates. Now, after seven years, the first major update has arrived, elevating the game to version 2.00.
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What does this new update offer? Update 2.00 introduces some new elements into the multiplayer shooter. These include:
New Firing Drill “Course of Fire: Gray” – You face a challenge in an exciting course where you receive a gold medal if you complete the challenge in less than 2 minutes. The course provides you with some surprises.
Steam Workshop – You can now share your self-created content (Compositions) directly via Steam Workshop with other players.
CTRG Special Forces Gear – A new variant of this gear, consisting of a stealth uniform and helmet, is available to you, including a black version of the P07 pistol.
Plenty of additional adjustments
How are players reacting to this update? Some are glad that there are finally new contents. Others feel that the content is too little to justify a version 2.00 of ArmA 3. Here are some opinions from the community:
Arbore says on Steam: “Okay… So they just added the new firing drill and now call it ArmA 2.00?”
TehFocus agrees: “Pretty disappointing for a version 2.00.”
D. Jankovic jokes: “So it took 7 years to get to version 2.00. That means ArmA 4 will come in 14 years…”
★★★.Ragnar.★★★ is happy: “The best game of all time. Thanks for the update!”
DMNKLR writes: “Excellent, thank you! Now I’m just waiting for ArmA 4.”
ArmA 3 version 2.00 is thus dividing the community a bit, which had hoped for more. What do you think of this update? Do you like it? Is it still too little for you? Let us know in the comments.
The new update 8.00 on the PlayStation 4 has fans angry. Because voice chats can now be recorded. Even by other players. Sony says this is for moderation purposes.
What’s new in PS4? On October 14, Sony released the new firmware update 8.00 for the consoles. One of the changes indicated by the new update concerns party chats.
Players are greeted with the message that voice chats from other users can be recorded. It is explained that by participating in these party chats, you automatically agree to have your voice recorded.
However, the recorded voices are only used for security and moderation purposes, Sony explains.
This message greets you after the update 8.00 on the PS4
Fans are venting their frustration on social media about this announcement.
This is what makes PS4 players so angry
Sony has always moderated messages on the PS4, this is nothing new for players. However, the wording that other users can now simply record you bothers players.
A popup in the party chat reminding you that your voice is being recorded
Additionally, private events and communities have been removed. This is also one of the reasons why the update is so criticized.
This is what players are saying: On Twitter, user @Gtamen writes: “The PS4 update 8.00 is a terrible setback. Private groups and communities are dead and you are practically no longer allowed to be alone or private with friends. Hot garbage. Give us our features back, PlayStation.”
In a later tweet he adds: “Oh, and did I mention that they are now recording party chats for moderation purposes? What a terrible update.”
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What else is going wrong? The party changes are not the only criticism users have about the new update. Some say their console has been running slower since the update.
What is being well received? Despite this criticism, the update is also praised. The expansion of two-factor authentication is well received. The quick mute of all microphones is also highlighted positively.
Sony does not automatically record your conversations
This is what Sony says: The Twitter account Ask PlayStation UK responded to the fans’ outrage. They write, “Hello. The notification lets you know that other users may record your spoken conversation. We do not record party chats.”
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Additionally, the blog post (via PlayStation Blog.com) for update 8.00 has now been updated to highlight this message and explain it.
“With this update, users will see a notification about party safety and that voice chats in parties may be recorded. The voice chat recording serves moderation and is a feature that will be available at the launch of the PS5. This allows users to record their voice chats on PS5 and send them for review to moderation. The pop-up you currently see on PS4 is meant to inform you that when participating in a voice chat with a PS5 player (after the launch), that chat could be recorded and sent by the PS5 player from their PS5 console to YOU.“
For users who are so outraged about the new update, this may be good news.
What has your experience been with the new update 8.00 so far? Is everything running smoothly for you or are you experiencing problems on your console?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today, the 2nd beta weekend for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War begins. In addition to all interested players on PS4, players on PC and Xbox One can finally join in. Here are the key details at a glance.
The 2nd beta weekend starts: Before the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, all players have the opportunity to get their first experience of the multiplayer mode.
PS4 players already had the chance during the exclusive alpha and the first phase of the beta, and now interested players on Xbox One and PC can finally join.
Below you will find the most important information about the 2nd beta weekend and the open beta in a compact overview.
CoD Cold War – Open Beta on PS4
PlayStation 4 pre-order customers had early access during the first beta weekend, and all PS4 players could already test the new CoD. Now the open beta on PS4 is entering its second round:
When does the beta run on PS? The open beta runs from October 15 to October 19. All PS4 players can participate. The start and end are at 7:00 PM German time.
Where can you download the beta for PS4? If you played the beta during the first weekend, you do not need a new download. All other PS4 players can search for the beta in the PS Store on their console or directly reach it via this link in the PlayStation Store:
Black Ops Cold War – Early Access on Xbox One and PC
Players on PC and Xbox One who pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War digitally will be able to start earlier.
When does the pre-order beta run on Xbox One and PC? Pre-order customers on both platforms can exclusively play the new CoD from October 15 to October 16. The start and end are also at 7:00 PM German time.
Where can you download the beta for Xbox One? Look for the download on your console by searching for the Cold War beta or follow this link:
Where can you download the beta for PC? All PC players – regardless of pre-orders – can already download the Cold War beta. You need a Blizzard Battle.net account for this. Then you should search for Cold War Beta in the launcher under “Partner Games”.
The download is approximately 42.2 GB in size.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Open Beta on Xbox One and PC
If you did not pre-order the new CoD 2020, you can still try it out on PC and Xbox One this weekend. The open beta for all players starts on both platforms on October 17 at 7:00 PM German time. You can play until 7:00 PM on October 19 – including pre-order customers on PC and Xbox One.
The download for players on Xbox who have not yet pre-ordered should go online in the next few days. On PC, you can preload the open beta already.
Also Important for the CoD Cold War Beta
There are still some additional things to consider if you want to dive into the Cold War beta:
On PS4, you need PS Plus (even if the PS Store says otherwise). Xbox Live is required on Xbox One.
A pre-order customer is only considered if they have pre-ordered a version of Black Ops Cold War digitally. If you ordered a disc version, you are not automatically part of the beta.
By the way, there was recently a new trailer for CoD Cold War. The new mode “Fireteam – Dirty Bomb” was introduced there, which can also be played in the beta. And there you apparently get the first glimpse of the new Warzone map: This could be the first glimpse of the new battle royale map
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PlayStation 5 is the largest next-gen console. Now Sony has stated that it basically comes down to a single component. This is the large fan built into the PS5. And if the console had been smaller, it would have also cost more.
Where does the information come from? In the official PS5 teardown, Japanese engineer Yasuhiro Ootori demonstrated how the PS5 is constructed. He fully disassembled the console into its individual parts.
Who is speaking? Ootori is the General Manager of the Mechanical Design Department at Sony. He has been with the company since 1998 and is now responsible for the Hardware Design Department.
In an interview with the Japanese tech site Nikkei Xtech, the engineer explained that the PS5 is only so large due to a single component. We are talking about the large fan built into the PS5.
The large fan is the reason why the console is so big.
That is why the console is so big: The thickness of the fan also determines the thickness of the console. The dual-sided air intake fan that Sony chose for the PS5 has a diameter of 120 millimeters and a width of 45 millimeters. This makes the PS5 larger than the PS4 Pro.
PS5
PS4 Pro
390 mm x 260 mm x 104 mm
327 mm x 295 mm x 55 mm
PS5 Size: A smaller PS5 would have been more expensive
Yasuhiro Ootori also explained that there were indeed options to make the PS5 smaller: Instead of a large fan, they would have had to install two small fans.
However, this would have also been more expensive, as it is more difficult to control two fans and expel the heat than it is to manage a single large fan.
When opening the PS5, there were also several other interesting things to see. We now know what Sony came up with to combat dust issues inside the PS5.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Have you ever heard of the survival game Raft? The title is currently skyrocketing on Steam after a major update has been released.
What is Raft? In the co-op survival game Raft, you sail across the ocean on a self-built raft. Your goal is to survive. To do this, you navigate to islands to search for resources or dive in the sea for usable items.
Along the way, you will encounter many enemies who want to get you. By building equipment, you can defend yourself against these opponents.
Important in all of this is your hook. Because it allows you to fish for food or retrieve debris from the sea. Over time, you unlock new technologies that provide you with useful items, which you then have to craft, of course.
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What does the new update bring? The update “The Second Chapter” introduces a whole range of interesting innovations. These include:
New locations you can visit
Tangaroe, an abandoned city full of secrets
Caravan Town with the new desert biome
Smaller islands
Mudhogs and Butler Bots as new enemies
New items like a metal detector and a water purification system
The zipline to quickly rappel down
New decorative items for your raft
What effect did the update have on the game? According to Steamcharts, the player numbers have risen sharply. Before the update, around 2,455 players were playing simultaneously in September, with a peak of 4,681. After the update, the peak now stands at 41,946 players!
What do players say about Raft? Raft has an average rating of 90% positive reviews on Steam, even 93% in the past 30 days. The survival game is therefore very well received. We summarize some opinions for you:
ShizuKahotic writes on Steam: “Relaxing and simple, story-based beginner survival game. The beautiful graphics and slight mystery make it so entertaining. I recommend it 100%!”
Jonttu says: “Have you ever thought about what it would be like if the whole world suddenly flooded? Or have you ever thought about what it’s like to live on a raft? Then Raft is the perfect game for you.”
Doctor Weird explains: “A unique survival game. There’s so much more to it than people realize, myself included.”
SamFringo is not so enthusiastic: “It could have been great, but there are too many issues. First of all, every time I load a save game, I land with zero health in the water and need to respawn. That’s just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended). When I’m online, it’s incredibly buggy, almost unplayable.”
Raft is therefore very well received by players, apart from some technical problems, and the new update as well.
In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the beta for PC starts this weekend. However, if you have some time and patience, you can get in 2 days earlier. Here at MeinMMO, you will learn how to do this and how to access the beta for free.
When is the beta release on PC? The new Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will launch into the beta on PC on October 17, 2020. So, that’s this weekend. However, there is another method to get into the beta faster and you don’t even have to pay for it.
The developers at Treyarch have prepared an early access for the PC beta. This starts on October 15, 2020. You can find tips for the beta here:
Earlier beta release via Twitch – Here’s how it works
How do you get in? There are 2 methods to participate in the earlier beta of Cold War:
You have pre-ordered Black Ops Cold War
You watch streams of the game on Twitch with a linked account
Starting at 7:00 PM our time on October 15, 2020, you can get beta access if you watch selected streamers on Twitch while they play Cold War. It is important that the streamers have “Drops Enabled” because your beta key for PC will be awarded via Twitch Drops.
What do I need to set up beforehand? To be eligible for the Twitch drop as a viewer, you must link your Twitch account with your Activision/Blizzard account. You do this by logging into Twitch and linking the accounts there. If you don’t have a Twitch account yet, you can create one for free here. After that, log in to Battle.net and verify your registration.
In the beta, you will also go to Miami.
How long do you need to watch the stream? Once you’ve found a streamer that has Drops Enabled, you need to watch the stream for a total of four hours. But don’t worry, you don’t have to sit in front of the screen the whole time. It’s enough if the stream simply plays on your computer. You also don’t have to interact with the chat. Once you have accumulated four hours, a notification will appear right now in the Twitch window informing you about the Twitch drop with the beta access.
What happens next? Next, you need to download the beta via the Battle.net launcher. Just make sure you clear 42.2 gigabytes of storage beforehand. If you are unsure whether the beta will run on your PC, you can check our article. Here you will find the system requirements for the PC beta of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
ArenaNet, the company behind Guild Wars 2, laid off several employees on October 9. It appears that mainly developers of a new, still unknown project were affected. There are apparently no consequences for Guild Wars 2, but ArenaNet is having major problems with a successor game.
What is happening at ArenaNet? As game designer Jennifer Scheurle announced on Twitter, she was unexpectedly and without prior notice laid off by ArenaNet.
How many employees are affected? It is currently unclear how many employees are affected by this reorganization and possible layoffs.
However, several other developers have spoken out on Twitter, such as Mitch Dyer, writer for Star Wars: Squadrons. He expressed his sympathy for those laid off on Twitter and shared links to companies looking for new developers.
Although Guild Wars 2 does not seem to be affected by the new layoffs at first glance, they again cast a bad light on the developer’s situation. ArenaNet simply cannot manage to release a new game.
ArenaNet repeatedly cancels new projects – lives solely off GW2
What happened in 2019? As former employee Jessica Price stated after the layoffs in early 2019, Guild Wars 2 was said to be running only on low flame. The layoffs primarily affected employees from two new, unannounced projects.
At that time, many speculated that ArenaNet was working on up to 3 other projects alongside GW2, including a mobile game (via Guildnews). It is unknown what the status of these projects is following the layoffs in 2019 and now in 2020.
However, it is striking that the entire management of the company has been crumbling since the layoffs in 2019:
Shortly thereafter, his successor, Mike Zadorojny, followed. He took over as game director running operations and then quietly disappeared in November – heading to Amazon Games.
Who is currently in charge of ArenaNet is also not quite clear. The colleagues from MassivelyOP assume it is a John Taylor, of whom little is known. Some authors from Massively have a very good connection to ArenaNet, and therefore the statement is quite trustworthy.
Mike Zadorojny was supposed to lead ArenaNet but disappeared after a short time.
What’s next for GW2? While ArenaNet is struggling with many issues, Guild Wars 2 itself is doing quite well. The Living World Season 5 provides regular content, and just in September, the first new fractal since January 2019 was released.
New bugs in World of Warcraft are causing bizarre moments. Mages are wondering why their mirror images suddenly look like drag queens …
In World of Warcraft, the big Patch 9.0 has gone live, bringing a lot of changes. In particular, the numerous new character customizations stand out, which players can get at the barber. The possibility to change the gender of one’s character is especially popular. However, this sometimes has curious consequences.
What kind of bugs are these? The gender transformation can lead to several possible bugs. For one, it can happen that the character’s voice doesn’t change. For example, if you play a male elf, he may still use a female voice. Also, quest givers in the German version may not immediately address you with the correct gender.
Some bugs are currently causing a lot of laughs.
However, it is particularly funny for mages. They now have the spell “Mirror Image” in all three specializations, which allows them to summon three copies of themselves. But if the mage has changed their gender at the barber shortly before, a strange bug occurs.
The mirror images are summoned, but they still have the model of the old gender while using the textures of the new gender. In one example on Reddit, this leads to a now-female mage summoning three male colleagues, whose appearance might be quite surprising.
According to the appearance of the “mirror images”, one concludes that the copies are drag queen variants of one’s character. Some players also joke that these would be “the typical background dancers”.
Is this permanent? No. Usually, it is sufficient to log out briefly after a visit to the barber and log back in. After that, both the voice and the mage spell Mirror Images work correctly. However, the bug can be easily reproduced. The process can simply be repeated with the next login to create strange mirror images again.
The player count of Marvel’s Avengers has drastically dropped since its release. Players are demanding more content and are now getting just that.
What is the current status of Marvel’s Avengers? The MMO was released on September 4th for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Steamcharts shows that player numbers on Steam have drastically dropped in the past 30 days. They currently stand at 3,218 concurrent players, with a peak of 9,077. Marvel’s Avengers started with 28,145 players.
The reason is partly the technical state of the game. There are still some bugs. Additionally, players are complaining about the almost non-existent loot in the game. It is also criticized that there is too little endgame content.
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What is changing now? On yesterday, October 14th, Patch 1.3.3 was released. This brought, like the previous update, a series of bug fixes. Additionally, new content is included, which was not immediately available.
This content involves a new outpost of the SHIELD organization. The Substation Zero investigates temporal anomalies around the world. You can find the outpost on the War Table in the Northwest Pacific.
The outpost features new Tachyon Rift missions, aimed at experienced players with at least Power Level 140. The missions rotate daily. During these assignments, you will encounter new characters and experience further stories surrounding the Avengers.
You can find the new outpost via the War Table in Marvel’s Avengers.
The missions have a timer and it is your task to reach the objective within the given time. Along the way, you can extend the timer by passing certain objects. During the assignments, your hero takes constant damage, but heroic energy is increased.
When will the new content be available? Although the patch was released yesterday, you can only play the new content starting today, October 15th. They should be unlocked throughout the day.
What about loot? In this area as well, the developers are adding with the new patch. Because through the Tachyon Rift missions, you now have a chance to acquire the valuable and powerful Cosmic Gear.
However, it is still unknown how many new items you can find.
In Call of Duty: Warzone it became quieter on the cheater front after extensive actions by publisher Activision. However, about 2 weeks later, cheaters and hackers seem to be back again and have found other ways to obtain “ammunition”.
What is the situation? CoD Warzone is an extremely popular battle royale game and therefore many cheaters are drawn here, who prefer to win a round through dishonest cheating rather than hard work.
After a period of relative peace of about 2 weeks due to extensive countermeasures by publisher Activision, the cheaters seem to be back and happily continue to cheat. This is reported by various well-known streamers and YouTubers, such as FaZe Pamaj, SypherPK, or Symfuhny – but also by numerous other players.
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Thus, Pamaj has discovered several indications of cheaters, including rounds where only 37 players could be present by the 2nd circle. A cheater was likely at work, who had significantly thinned out the herd.
Where do the cheaters come from now? However, each site is said to be back online again according to former pro-gamer MerK, selling Warzone cheats. A similar statement also comes from Twitter user Redrxk, who interviewed a cheater live. The cheater also stated that the cheats from EngineOwning would be back since October 12.
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This would likely be the reason for the perceived sudden increase in cheaters in Warzone. However, it contradicts reports from the community that all cheats from EngineOwning would automatically be blocked by the game if a user tries to use them.
Therefore, other previously unknown cheat providers could be behind the new “wave”. In any case, many cheaters seem to be back and the fight against them starts anew. That cheaters are extremely creative and spend a ton of time and energy on cheating instead of just getting good at the game is illustrated by this case: a cheater cowardly glitched under the map to ambush players there.
How about you? Do you also feel like you are encountering cheaters more frequently again? Or do you think that not much has really changed in recent weeks?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The beta test of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War started last week for players on PS4. Starting today, October 15, players on Xbox One and PC can finally join. MeinMMO shows you the most important info you should know before the start of the 2nd beta phase.
This year’s Call of Duty is a Black Ops and is called Cold War. For pre-order customers on PlayStation 4, the battle begins today, but other platforms and non-pre-order customers will still have a chance to check out this new first-person shooter before its release on November 13.
To keep you up to date on what has happened so far and what to expect in the beta, here are 5 of the most important things to know about the beta.
The 4 phases of the beta – time, preload, release on PS4, Xbox One & PC
When can I play? That depends on 2 factors: pre-order and platform. Players on PlayStation 4 can generally benefit from a longer testing phase than gamers on Xbox & PC. If you are not playing on the Sony console, it won’t start for you until next week. Here are the important times:
October 8 – 9 – Start and end at 7 PM
Only PS4 pre-order customers have access
October 10 – 12 – Start and end at 7 PM
Only PS4, but all players with PS Plus have access
October 15 – 16– Start and end at 7 PM
Access for PS4 players with PS Plus and pre-order customers on PC and Xbox (Xbox Live required)
October 17 – 19 – Start and end at 7 PM
This is the open beta phase for everyone – players on all platforms have access (PS Plus or Xbox Live required on consoles)
If you just want to take a peek, join phases 2 and 4. From October 10 – 12, you can test for free on PS4 and from October 17 – 19 on all platforms – PlayStation, Xbox & PC. You’ll find the download in your respective store (and also here in the article), the one for PS4 here:
Important: As a pre-order customer, only players who have purchased their Cold War version digitally in advance count for the beta. If you ordered a disc version, you are not automatically included in the beta.
There was already an open alpha on PlayStation
In mid-September, a first public testing phase for players on PlayStation 4 already took place. Tony Flame, the lead game designer at Treyarch, told us in an interview that an alpha for players at home was completely new territory for them. The reactions to the early test were rather negative. The following aspects were particularly criticized:
Every year a new CoD comes out, and with each generation, the developers want to deliver something new to you. This is also the case in Cold War, which does quite a few things differently than its predecessor, Modern Warfare:
Movement – Jumping/sliding is different, you can swim, the tactical sprint is gone
Loadouts – There are now wildcards. These are strong bonuses for your loadouts
Scorestreak – Instead of collecting killstreaks through kills, you will now collect them through points
Map layout – The maps in Cold War are more oriented towards the 3-lane system
Time-to-kill – Moves more towards Black Ops 4, but with a headshot multiplier like in CoD MW
In the alpha, only 2 modes were available: a 6vs6 moshpit with changing modes on 3 different maps and the 12vs12 mode Combined Arms on 2 maps. With the beta, there is a lot added:
Traditional modes: Domination, Control, TDM, Kill Confirmed
New 6vs6 mode: VIP Escort – Defenders must protect a VIP in the team, attackers must eliminate
12vs12 Combined Arms as Domination & Assault: Mode with vehicles – capture fixed or moving points
If you play the beta diligently, you will directly unlock your first weapon blueprint for the finished game. The SMG Type 821 fires rather slowly and has a high range – an atypical submachine gun. If you reach level 10 in the beta, you will get this item for your arsenal as soon as Cold War celebrates its full release on November 13.
This is what the blueprint “Mutual Animosity” looks like:
Bonus: Get Cold War cosmetics for Warzone now
Since the reveal of the new CoD in Warzone, some streamers and puzzle solvers have been chasing the secrets of the new title. Cold War set up a crazy website and hid a few tricky quests on the page. Like spies in the Cold War, players solved encrypted messages and even found the way to the reveal of the zombie mode.
Along the way, they have already unlocked two cool vehicle skins for Warzone that you can also get:
The battle royale is supposed to evolve with Cold War and even share content with the new Black Ops Cold War. However, how exactly this will look is still not conclusively clarified. Check out how Warzone might continue with Cold War: The future of Warzone with CoD Cold War: Here’s how it could continue
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PvP scaling from World of Warcraft is history. The pre-patch has almost completely removed the system.
The new Patch 9.0 in World of Warcraft went live yesterday. Besides the major changes to character customization and the level squish, there are also many things that have changed “quietly and secretly”. One of them allows PvP players to breathe a sigh of relief. The PvP scaling with all its pitfalls and bugs has been removed.
What was the PvP scaling? PvP scaling was introduced in WoW to create a bit more fairness among players. Characters with poor equipment received a small boost, while heroes with stronger gear were slightly weakened. This was supposed to make PvP feel fairer and ensure that battles at least lasted a few seconds.
What is it like now? With the pre-patch 9.0, the PvP scaling has been abolished. Abilities now deal the same amount of damage on both players’ screens. The corresponding values are adjusted by equipment and then not further modified. It is therefore always worthwhile to wear good gear and improve.
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An exception seems to be made for trinkets and certain proccs, as Rextroy shows in his video. He should actually receive over 150 strength from a trinket, but he only gets just over 90 – presumably because he is otherwise not wearing any gear and the trinket scales with the item level of the whole character.
And what is Rextroy doing now? Without the strange PvP scaling, the player Rextroy probably has to turn to new methods to achieve bizarre or fantastic feats. He will likely return to soloing bosses or see if he can find another kind of exploit suitable for funny videos. In the upcoming expansion Shadowlands, we will surely see more of him.
Are you happy about the abolition of PvP scaling?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has released a new trailer for its “Fireteam – Dirty Bomb” mode. There we could get our first look at parts of the new Warzone map. What’s going on?
What is the trailer about? Treyarch and Activision have introduced their large-scale mode “Fireteam – Dirty Bomb” in a new trailer. This is a new mode for 40 players, played on large maps, and is also featured in the CoD Cold War Beta.
And this trailer might now show the first images of the new map for the Battle Royale Warzone, which has been speculated about for quite some time. You can watch the video here:
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Where can the new map be seen? It specifically concerns a short sequence where a transport plane is visible, from which players jump out in the style of Warzone and glide to the ground shortly thereafter. There is also the following image visible:
Below are missile silos – soon also in Warzone?
Here, numerous fans, players, and experts like TheXclusiveAce are assuming that this is the first glimpse of at least a part of the new Warzone map.
What speaks for a new Warzone map: The new Fireteam mode is similar to the large-scale Ground War mode from Modern Warfare, where the maps are also gigantic. And already, the Ground War maps (and many small multiplayer maps) were mostly excerpts from the current Warzone map.
But there is more. Data miners found a video in the Cold War Beta data that shows a kind of slideshow of two large Fireteam maps before they were even released.
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The file was called “wz_startscreen,” where wz is likely an abbreviation for Warzone. Many interpret this as a clear indication that the Fireteam maps could be parts of the new Warzone map. Additionally, there were already some leaks hinting at battles in Russia and dense forests. So the chances are not all that bad that we might have caught a first glimpse of the upcoming Warzone map in the new trailer.
However, this is not officially confirmed, so take it with the appropriate grain of caution.
The role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently in Early Access and already offers the possibility to play the story in co-op with up to four players. MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus played together with editor Leya Jankowski and author Benedikt Schlotmann, and all are thrilled with the experience.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently in Early Access, the third part of a legendary series that has been around since the 90s and has a loyal fanbase. Following the announcement of Baldur’s Gate 3 in June 2019, these fans are now looking forward to a new installment and apparently have infected many more gamers with their hype.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is developed by Larian, a Belgian studio known primarily for its Divinity series. This has caused skepticism among fans of Baldur’s Gate, as there were concerns that the third installment could resemble Divinity: Original Sin too closely. However, the first 2000 reviews on Steam are “very positive”.
In fact, the games play very similarly – which does not detract from the fun. Leya, Benedikt, and I have all played solo and then dived into the adventure together. The joint session of nearly 4 hours was already full of funny situations, and we have resolved to play together more often.
A group photo of our characters. Whose blood is that? Well, sometimes mages should better remain silent…
What is Baldur’s Gate 3 about?
Here is what the game is about: The “Baldur’s Gate” series is a video game adaptation of the famous pen-and-paper ruleset Dungeons and Dragons. It takes place on the Sword Coast, one of the regions of the world, and tells the story of the eponymous city of Baldur’s Gate.
The players assume the role of an adventurer. In the third installment, we become victims of an attack by the Mind Flayers, who abduct us to implant their larvae in our heads. This is their way of reproduction, as the larvae are supposed to transform us into a Mind Flayer after a few days.
The story is divided into several acts, with the first act currently playable in Early Access. More acts will follow. The game will be developed for at least another year (approximately until October 2021).
How does it play? The game is played from an isometric perspective, meaning “diagonally from above,” with the camera able to zoom close in on the action at any time. The main content of the game is the extensive story with many unique characters, each with personal histories and corresponding depth.
Currently, there are six classes to choose from, with six more to come. Battles proceed in turn-based manner, just like in the underlying tabletop game. The character with the highest initiative starts with their actions and then it continues in order until one side is eliminated. In the review of the Early Access by GameStar, you’ll get a deeper insight into Baldur’s Gate 3:
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How does co-op work? Baldur’s Gate 3 is a group-based role-playing game and can be played either solo with three additional NPCs or in a group of up to four players. In both cases, you are playing through the story, just alone or with friends.
To start co-op, simply select the “Multiplayer” option in the main menu. There you can browse the lobbies and join either open ones, those of your friends, or create your own. Alternatively, you can send friends the server ID so they can join directly.
In the menu, you can set how many players can join and who is allowed to join.
Once the lobby is open, you start the game as usual. Each player creates their character with their preferred class, race, and abilities, and once everyone is ready, the story starts with the same sequences as the solo game offers.
You can even invite friends to join your solo game. They will then be assigned one of the NPCs that accompany you and can control that character. This way, you can also pick up saved co-op rounds again.
Things to watch out for: When playing together, you have separate inventories, but you can trade items back and forth at any time. Everyone has their own weight limits, but everyone has access to and insight into the loot of others. Simply stealing or ninjalooting isn’t an option.
In the inventory, you can humorously trade items back and forth. Why not annoy the mage with a 100-pound chest?
The co-op mode also requires significantly more coordination than solo play. In battles, you should communicate well about who takes which enemies or clearly communicate when you need help.
A function to mark enemies or positions on the map does not exist (yet). The option for that, or more precisely: the hotkey, is already integrated but apparently doesn’t work at the moment.
So be mindful of your fellow players when choosing your partners, ensuring that you’re all about equally chaotic, meaning none causes significantly more (or less) trouble than others. Otherwise, it can get truly exhausting.
… and then she threw cheese in my face
What I think belongs to such games and especially to D&D is the fun you have while playing. Whether it’s jokes or any funny situations that arise from the dynamics of the group.
Solo, Baldur’s Gate 3 is more serious, follows a dark story, and as a player, I try to behave accordingly to my character. In co-op, it can sometimes happen that players become … more creative.
We experimented a bit with the functions that we normally wouldn’t use. For example, throwing, which rarely occurs in the game. When would you ever throw something from your inventory and spend actions?
Even chests and corpses can be thrown if you have enough strength.
During a short break, however, Leya had the idea to throw cheese. Our conclusion: Yes, it works and yes, it does damage. Not too little, by the way. We threw various items at each other for about 10 minutes until one of us was almost killed by a huge chest before we decided to continue “normally” instead.
Pranks are not without cost!
One of the reasons why you rarely try such things solo is the limited availability of spells. Most spells cost spell slots. These are available in limited quantity and refill only after a long rest. You need to manage them wisely and think carefully about which spells to use when.
Since you don’t want to rest constantly, you tend to experiment less with what happens when you cast spells on allies or combine them. In co-op, we did that more often, sometimes even by accident.
A “long rest” is done in camp and ends the day. It also replenishes your spell slots.
This mechanic also serves as a good limit: Since you don’t have unlimited options for mischief, such antics don’t necessarily disrupt the dynamics. After all, no one wants to spend all their spell slots just to cast rain on their friends and then stumble into a fight completely “naked,” right?
How does co-op differ from solo play?
What’s different: The biggest difference between co-op and solo play is that only one player leads the dialogues. Once they speak with an NPC, the others can only listen and observe the scene.
For the responses given, the listeners can vote for their favorite, but ultimately, the speaking player decides alone what they will say.
Everyone has a say, but one decides.
The game itself becomes somewhat easier at the beginning because you have a full party earlier. However, the difficulty level does not adjust according to the number of players. The number and strength of enemies are identical in both solo and co-op play.
In battles, you have less control over the situation in co-op because you are not commanding four of your soldiers, but only yourself. This requires more coordination and a bit more tactical skill, but it is at least equally interesting.
What’s better: From my perspective, the battles are even more exciting this way. Because you can’t command which character does what, you must trust that a pre-discussed plan will work.
Battles are neither harder nor easier, just different. And visually stunning up close.
However, this also means that you must adapt quickly to unexpected situations. Such a situation occurred due to a small mishap while playing.
Benedikt and I each play a melee character, while Leya plays a mage. During an attack, she targeted an enemy near us melee characters, which led to mild chaos. It went something like this:
Leya: “Oops! Sorry!” Benedikt: “What?” A frost ray hits the enemy, creating an ice surface around them. The enemy, Benedict, and Benedikt must make a saving throw. Benedikt and the enemy fail, slip out, and are stunned for the round. Benedikt: “Great…” Benedict: “Haha!”
This ice surface almost ended in disaster.
What’s worse: As mentioned, there are (yet) no pings or they are well hidden. This means you need to communicate using descriptions like: “The goblin here in front of me” or “The little devil up on the hill to the right of the stairs”.
This is authentic but a bit cumbersome, and those who are not on voice chat with others have real problems communicating.
Additively, the story generally comes off shorter than in solo. Only one person speaks with key characters and makes the decisions. If you’re doing something else in the meantime or if the speaker skips all scenes, a lot is lost.
Baldur’s Gate is like a chaotic D&D session in co-op
Essentially, the co-op mode plays like a round of D&D with the same rules as the 5th Edition and the same entertainment value as a game at the table with friends. Even the tomfoolery is implemented, just without a game master who asks you: “Do you really want to do that?”
Both the characters themselves and how you interact with the world and each other are very close to actual pen-and-paper. This makes Baldur’s Gate 3 an ideal experience for D&D fans who cannot play with their group due to current circumstances or newcomers who want to get a look at the system.
The game is excellently suited for those new to D&D. The character creation guides you through the essential values and abilities of your character.
This “W20”, the twenty-sided die, is an important tool in the game. However, you will see it in this form quite rarely in multiplayer.
A significant drawback: There is currently no “game master” mode like in Divinity: Original Sin 2. In that, it was possible for a game master to narrate the story for their group and present them with battles accordingly. Whether such a mode will also come to Baldur’s Gate 3 is still unknown.
So in principle, you have fewer limits, as there is no “god” dictating the story. You just need to ensure that the level of chaos does not get out of hand; otherwise, the game can become unplayable or your group may get bored.
Pros and cons of playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in a group:
Pros
more tactical battles than in solo mode
true D&D feel in the group
more options for team composition
shared inventory allows for a “pack mule” player and prevents thievery
Cons
the story gets a bit overshadowed
currently missing convenience features like pings
no personal stories possible at the moment
Baldur’s Gate is worth it in co-op if your group is right
In conclusion, it should be said that you best play Baldur’s Gate 3 with a group where everyone agrees on their goals. For instance, you should:
be interested in the story and make decisions together
or enjoy the gameplay and communicate as tactically as possible to master fights optimally
How important the respective content is to you is less relevant than the homogeneity within the group. As long as everyone places roughly equal importance on story and gameplay, fun sessions are guaranteed – just like in pen-and-paper.
Finally, it should be noted that Baldur’s Gate 3 is still in development and is a full-price title. Therefore, if you want the complete gaming experience, you should definitely wait until release.
However, if you want to test how D&D feels as a video game with your friends right now, you can safely go for it, as the game will not be more expensive at release. You just have to wait for bug fixes and additional acts.
A must for D&D fans
As a die-hard D&D fan, Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently the game I look forward to the most. Although I haven’t played the predecessors, I am a fan of Dragon Age and Divinity. The turn-based system of Baldur’s Gate 3 is therefore optimal for me.
Especially the co-op reminds me of the D&D evenings with my friends, which I currently can hardly have due to Corona. Group dynamics and character quirks can be wonderfully transferred, even if in a video game, it feels somewhat less intense than in a tabletop role-playing game.
My biggest critique is the lack of a game master mode. Pen and paper is my biggest hobby, and I strongly hope that Baldur’s Gate will offer a way to create and play your own stories in the future.
Benedict Grothaus Freelance author at MeinMMO and a huge D&D fan
I’ve rarely had this much fun in multiplayer
I have played Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2 for over 600 hours now, but I’ve rarely had this much fun with multiplayer. What was dry and outdated in Baldur’s Gate 1&2 is cleverly solved here: The design is successful; much feels familiar to veterans, and the Illithids still seem incredibly powerful. Larian has created a great foundation for a good game. The multiplayer runs smoothly and is a lot of fun with friends.
However, there are differences. While Baldur’s Gate 1&2 featured 6 heroes, part 3 only offers 4. In multiplayer, this limitation to four characters is not an issue; how it will look long-term in single-player is another question. It’s a shame that there is only a turn-based system. Games like Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Neverwinter Nights 2 show that there are other options.
I don’t really miss a genuine game master mode like Benedict does. Even in Sword Coast Legends, I found this feature to feel very forced. Rather, what I would wish for is good mod support. With the Infinity Engine, great fan content has emerged, which is one reason why I still play the old games today.
Benedikt Schlotmann Freelance author at MeinMMO and supporter of “Baldur’s Gate”
Much cooler in a group than alone
About two years ago, I moved from Holland to Munich for my current job. My D&D group, with whom I adventured through tabletop for over five years, stayed back in Holland. Since then, I have not played Dungeons and Dragons at all. When I cleared a dungeon with Benedict and Benedikt, I realized how much I missed it.
Baldur’s Gate 3 definitely gives me the feel of D&D in which I experience a big adventure with a crazy bunch. The course of the adventure often depends on just one die roll. Larian really implemented this well and adheres to the rules of the die in both combat and the game world. Before our joint session, I played Baldur’s Gate 3 alone for several hours – and yes, alone you get more of the story. But my adventure lacks something without other people. After all, they lead me on paths I wouldn’t have taken alone, and that is always exciting, leads to laughter, discussions, and makes everything a bit livelier.
Leya Jankowski Editor-in-chief
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
