In Pokémon GO, the Spotlight Hour starts tonight, on October 6th, featuring a special Hat Pikachu. It looks like this will be one of the rarest Shinies in the game.
What is a Spotlight Hour? Such an event takes place every Tuesday in Pokémon GO. It highlights a special Pokémon for one hour. A bonus completes the event.
This week, a special Hat Pikachu is in the spotlight. It wears a cap that it has never had before.
All info about the Spotlight Hour with Pikachu
When does it start? The event starts at 6:00 PM local time and runs for exactly one hour until 7:00 PM.
What bonuses are there? During the hour, Pikachu wearing the World Cup cap will appear everywhere. In addition, there will be double XP for catching Pokémon.
Is the Pikachu available as shiny? Yes! Some trainers from New Zealand and Australia report that you can catch Pikachu with this cap as shiny.
How rare will the new shiny be: This Pikachu is likely to be one of the rarest shinies in Pokémon GO. So far, the Pikachu with the World Cup cap does not exist, and it looks like it will only appear for this one hour.
The shiny will be available to each trainer for exactly one hour. Since it is time-restricted, the shiny will be extremely rare later on.
It remains to be seen whether Pikachu with this cap will return. Until then, the shiny will be very rare.
What’s next? In October, there are still some exciting spotlight hours waiting for you. Next week, the next Hat Pikachu will follow.
Additionally, there are many events awaiting you in October. The highlight is probably the Halloween event at the end of the month. A new raid boss and other exciting bonuses are in store for you.
There is still a lot to do in October!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, considers the PS5 and Xbox Series X to be the most significant leap in console history. However, he also explains why buyers might not notice it immediately, as the real next-gen games will come later.
Who is speaking? Randy Pitchford is the head of Gearbox Software. Gearbox Software has developed games such as the shooter Borderlands 3, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, and Duke Nukem 3D.
What he says: Pitchford spoke with Gamespot in an interview about Borderlands 3 and the next-gen consoles. He also mentioned that the Xbox Series X and PS5 represent a tremendous leap for gaming:
The leap with the PS5 and Xbox Series X is the biggest leap I have ever seen in the history of console generations. I mean the leap from 2D to 3D as well. It will change the way we think about every one of our experiences.
Randy Pitchford, Head of Gearbox
However, he stated that this might not be immediately apparent at the launch of the new consoles, as there are many old games that will also be available for the new consoles upon the release of the Xbox Series X and PS5:
To be honest, there are a lot of ports and games that are already [available] on existing platforms that are being redeveloped for these new platforms.
Randy Pitchford, Head of Gearbox
All the important launch titles for the Xbox Series X and PS5 can be found here:
When were the first 3D games? With the release of the PlayStation 1 (September 29, 1995 in Europe) and the later Nintendo 64 (March 1, 1997 in Europe), real 3D graphics made their way to consoles for the first time.
Before that, consoles required a special graphics chip to bring comparable 3D graphics to the screen. This was relatively expensive for players. For game consoles, this 3D technology was a tremendous innovation that benefited the devices and players in the long term (via Heise.de).
What supports a big leap? For Pitchford, the leap of the Xbox Series X and PS5 is even greater than the leap to the 3D technology at that time.
However, we may only truly feel this in the coming years.
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
Will other games receive an upgrade? By the way, Borderlands 3 is not the only game that is getting a free upgrade for the PS5. Here we list the games that are getting a free upgrade to the PS5.
And not just the PS5 offers such upgrades. The Xbox Series X does as well. Here, the free upgrade is called “Smart Delivery”. This way, you can play the games you purchase on the latest generation. Because no matter which version of the game you buy, you always have access to the best version of that game, regardless of the hardware.
The featured image is from the official website of Gearbox Software.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The operator Ghost has been trying to clarify the events before the evacuation of Verdansk since the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone and sends you on Intel missions with Season 6. Here are the locations of the intel for the mission “Secret Paths”.
What are Intel missions? These are small story missions that you can check in the Challenges tab of the menu in Call of Duty: Warzone. Under the “Missions” section, you can find the “Intel” tab on the far right. With the start of Season 6, there is also a “Secret Mission” for you.
Ghost sends you on a scavenger hunt through the Warzone city of Verdansk to clarify the events before the evacuation and to understand the schemes of the bad guys.
For the tasks of Season 6 Part 1, you need to collect a total of 6 Intels and can quickly earn 37,500 experience points. To help you not search for the Intels of the “Secret Paths” mission alone, here are the locations and tips to assist you in completing the tasks. You can find the solutions to the other Intel missions here:
Ghost sends you on a small story mission through Verdansk.
This is how you complete the 7 steps of the Intel mission in CoD Warzone
Tips: Before you start, check the notes in the tasks. There are reports that the mission only counts correctly once you have taken a look at the note.
You can only complete one Intel from the mission per match and can only finish the next step in a new round. However, it is possible to collect data from other Intel missions in one round. For example, if you have not yet completed Season 5 Part 3, you can also check off a data package from that mission.
It’s best to complete the mission in the “Plunder” mode or “Blood Money”. Here you can respawn repeatedly and have many more attempts per match. If you are in a team, each of you must collect the data on your own.
Attention Bug: There are frequent reports that players cannot pick up some Intels. If you are affected, currently there is nothing you can do and you have to hope for a patch.
1. Find the location from Ghost’s message
Reward: 2,500 experience points
This is how you solve the task: Land north of the hospital and head towards the train tracks. Here, the loot train goes into a tunnel, and to the left at the entrance, you will find Ghost’s gold coin on some wooden boards, along with the first intel.
This is how you solve the task: The next Intel data can be found in the subway station “Barakett Shopping District,” which you will find southwest of the fairground. West of Downtown, you will see 2 canal bridges, and the southern of the two is very close to the fairground including the Ferris wheel.
Enter the station through the main entrance and take the passage immediately to the left. Follow the stairs down and go straight ahead. At the bottom, you will see a door opposite your position. Go into the room with the door, and at the terminal there, you can take the 2nd intel.
This is how you solve the task: This time you are going back to the subway, this time to the station “Verdansk Center” east of the stadium. Follow the same path as in the last point: Passage left, down, through the door opposite and in the corner on the right, you will find the intel on a desk.
4. A delivery from the radiological laboratory has arrived
Reward: 5,000 experience points
This is how you solve the task: Now, you go back to the area near the hospital. Fly to the clinic from the north and past the large hospital. Below the heliport, you will see a ledge with some windows. Land on the ledge and jump through the far left window. You will see a trash can in front of you. Suppress your disgust and dig out the 4th intel from the trash.
This is how you solve the task: Number 5 can be found in Korvnik Farmland. Look in the northern part of the farm, southeast of the stadium. Enter from the south into the largest barn here, and on the ground floor, you can operate a keypad quite precisely in the middle of the building. The code is provided by the note of the intel:
49 28 51 63
Step in, and the penultimate intel is waiting for you on the lamp on the left.
This is how you solve the task: The last data is hidden in the vault of the bank of Verdansk. Run from the northeast into the money house, which is found south of the parliament. Stick to the right and take the door opposite the entrance. After one staircase, you will be in front of the large vault door. Behind the left at the lockers, you will find the last intel.
This is how you solve the task: For the last task, you do not need to do anything more. Ghost is so satisfied with you that he rewards you with the final 5,000 XP without further tasks, and the Intel mission “Secret Paths” is completed.
If you want to watch it all again in videos, check out the German YouTuber “Saesh”. In less than 4 minutes, he shows you all the Intels in a fast-paced manner. We are embedding the video here for you:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The small “story campaign” of the Warzone provides insights into the events surrounding the attack on Verdansk and brings a lot of experience points. It can be a nice change from the sweaty battle royale where you hunt with the best weapons of the Warzone for enemies. Sometimes, that feels good.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Bots are a problem in MMORPGs and are usually not allowed. Nevertheless, the tools are booming. Jagex has taken very strict measures against the developers of the two largest bots in RuneScape .
Which bots are involved? In RuneScape, quite a few players are using RSBot and Powerbot. Through these bots, players can bypass grinding and farm a lot of gold, for example. At the next level, some sell this gold. This naturally affects the economy of the MMORPG.
Using or offering bots, as well as selling gold, is prohibited in RuneScape.
Bots ruin the gaming experience for others in RuneScape.
A blow against botters in RuneScape
How did Jagex take action against the bot developers? Instead of pursuing every single violation by players, which would certainly have taken an extremely long time and likely been a fight against windmills, Jagex hired a lawyer.
In a court case, the developers of RSBot and Powerbot were sued. The websites must be taken offline permanently. Essentially, it is no longer possible to officially offer the bots.
We are pleased to inform you that following a court case, RSBot and the Powerbot website will be permanently closed from midnight on October 3, 2020. We are taking a zero-tolerance approach, both in and out of the game, toward bot users, developers, and gold sellers. Simply put, we will never tolerate cheating in our games.
Developers of RuneScape
This shows the team how important RuneScape is to them, even though work is already being done on a new next-gen MMORPG.
What does this mean for MMORPGs? You can tell that developers of online games are undergoing a rethink. Instead of going after users of bots or cheats, studios are striking against the developers of these tools.
How do players respond to this? The honest players of the MMORPG RuneScape, one of the oldest online role-playing games ever, are pleased with this step. However, there are also concerns that the actual reason for using bots is still present in the game, and therefore further such tools may follow.
Transcendent writes in the official RuneScape forum: “If Jagex could just make the game less grindy… I’m glad they’re closing bot sites and I’ve never understood why bots are used by anyone, but I don’t have the time or patience to grind like I used to. So I haven’t played much in the last few months. Lately, I prefer games where I don’t have to grind levels anymore.”
Corder says: “Reading this made my day. I’m glad action is being taken against the providers.”
Aussie Nanny explains that the problem is bigger: “You just have to visit Arc-Cache sites, you’ll find a lot of bots there. I see them everywhere in my world. But I’m glad that something is being done about it. Thank you, Jagex.”
What do you think about studios like Jagex taking action against bot developers? Do you believe this is an effective method?
On October 2, Star Wars: Squadrons was released and some gaming websites have since published their reviews. On Metacritic, the game currently has a score of 81/100. But what exactly do the reviews praise and criticize? We at MeinMMO provide you with an overview.
What is Star Wars: Squadrons? The new game focuses on space battles from a first-person perspective, which can also be played in VR. There is a single-player mode with a lot of politics and story, as well as a multiplayer mode where you can fight in fast-paced 5v5 battles.
The battles take place after Episode 6, Return of the Jedi. You can choose to fight for the Rebels or the slowly decaying Galactic Empire. Additionally, you are supposed to build your own starfighters, improve them with engines and weapons, and change their appearance with paint jobs.
What do the reviews on Metacritic say? Three days after release, there are 21 critic reviews for the PC version. They lead to a score of 81, with the best review giving a 90 and the worst a 70.
For the console version, there are separate reviews. On PS4, there are 12 tests, resulting in a score of 78. On Xbox One, there is also a score of 81 from 5 reviews.
All reviews for Star Wars: Squadrons at a glance
We have compiled the PC reviews from the 10 most well-known sites for you:
PCGamesN – 9/10 (90 points on Metacritic)
Windows Central – 4.5/5 (90 points on Metacritic)
IGN Italia – 8.8/10 (88 points on Metacritic)
PCGamer – 83/100
Game Informer – 8.25/10 (83 points on Metacritic)
Eurogamer Italy – 8/10 (80 points on Metacritic)
Jeuxvideo – 16/20 (80 points on Metacritic)
VG247 – 4/5 stars (80 points on Metacritic)
USGamer – 4/5 (80 points on Metacritic)
Gamerevolution – 3.5/5 (70 points on Metacritic)
How do the ratings look in Germany? In Germany, only a few publications have published a review including a rating so far:
Playfront – 8.5/10
GameStar – 83/100
However, Golem stated that the impression was very positive
GIGA also describes the game as good but refrains from a rating until the multiplayer has been thoroughly tested
You pilot a spaceship in the war between Empire and Rebels.
What do critics say about the game?
Here’s what the ratings on Metacritic say: We summarize some of the ratings for you here. The strong and complex gameplay, the spaceships, and the reasonable price, after all, you only pay between 30 and 40 Euros, are praised.
However, criticism is directed at the boring and predictable campaign, as well as the graphics of the game. The (still) lack of variety in multiplayer is also seen as a negative aspect by some reviews.
Ultimately, it is exactly what defines this game. The online gameplay has always been at the center since the moment it was first advertised. It is an exciting space combat game that rivals many experiences I’ve had in Elite Dangerous – with the bonus of being played in one of the most iconic science fiction franchises of all time.
If space combat is your thing, you must own this game.
“Excellently staged space action with a surprisingly fun single-player campaign and somewhat thin multiplayer” – GameStar
Instead, I still get to fiddle with my energy levels here, switch the components of large ships, and target attacks, get to customize my ship’s loadouts, and I even get a cool new powerslide maneuver.
Star Wars: Tokyo Drift! What surprises me the most, however, is the single-player campaign. Okay, the beginning is a bit lame, there’s a bit too much pausing, explaining, and guiding, but when it really gets going, it plays much better than I had hoped!
The multiplayer, on the other hand, is okay, but for me, it’s not a revelation […]. At least, I think the dogfights are great, even if I’ll probably play them only occasionally in a few quick rounds in between […].
I want this game to be critically successful! Squadrons is great, looks fantastic, and is a lot of fun, but I want more! More ships, more variety, more multiplayer modes, campaign expansions! Please do more with it!
“Multiplayer delivers great thrills, while single-player misses its mark” – Gameinformer
The single-player of Squadrons may fizzle out like a faulty hyperdrive motivator, but the multiplayer mode impresses time and time again and is worth the price alone.
Flying in formation with a group of friends put a smile on my face, and that was just the calm before the storm. When the lasers start flying, the multiplayer squad is nothing less than an exciting and great skill test that challenges players to be clever in the cockpit to outsmart opponents.
Considering how enjoyable it is to fly an X-Wing or TIE Fighter, this is a multiplayer experience I will keep coming back to, even if EA does not support it with new content. It’s simply fun to play and offers something different compared to most competitive games today.
Star Wars: Squadrons is already playable for everyone. What are your experiences with the title? And how do you see the multiplayer in the long run?
In Pokémon GO, a mysterious raid boss is set to appear for the Halloween event 2020. We present to you 5 candidates who could fit this role.
This has been announced: The Halloween event 2020 has already been announced, but no details have been provided. Concerning the legendary Pokémon, it was only stated that information about the special raid boss that can be challenged over Halloween will be available soon.
We’ve taken a peek into the crystal ball and present to you 5 monsters that could appear as a raid boss for Halloween.
5 Raid Bosses that Fit Halloween
What is taken into consideration here? In recent years, there have been special raid bosses on Halloween. They were always of the Ghost or Dark type. This is fitting, as creepy Pokémon also appeared otherwise.
This is what we’ve also considered in the outlook. You will find older monsters here, but also Pokémon that have never existed before.
Additionally, the altered form can also be Shiny. It would thus be an interesting Pokémon for Shiny hunters.
What speaks against it? Starting Friday, we will find the original form of Giratina in raids. It is the better form for raids and gym battles and is more popular among many trainers. While experiencing a highlight already before Halloween, there would then be the “worse” form for Halloween.
It is also questionable whether Niantic would then release both Giratina forms consecutively.
Darkrai
What speaks for it? Darkrai first appeared in raids for Halloween in 2019. The monster was the first mysterious Pokémon in Level 5 raids at that time. It could make its comeback this Halloween.
What speaks against it? Here, too, Niantic would just be rehashing old content. Many players already have Shiny Darkrai, and some trainers expect a new raid boss for Halloween.
Darkrai would thus not fit into this role. If Niantic really aims for something new, Darkrai would be out.
Arceus
What speaks for it? Arceus is a mysterious Pokémon from the 4th generation and has not been in the game yet. Therefore, it would be a completely new Pokémon.
Additionally, Arceus can assume the Ghost or Dark types. It could thus be introduced as a “creepy” Pokémon for Halloween.
What speaks against it? Arceus is not inherently a suitable Pokémon for Halloween. While it can assume the Ghost and Dark types, it can also take on other types. If one is searching for a creepy Pokémon, Arceus might not be the right choice.
Yveltal
What speaks for it? Yveltal could be the first legendary Pokémon from the 6th generation. It is of the Dark and Flying types. According to the Pokémon story, Yveltal drains the energy from other living beings – that sounds creepy and thus perfect for Halloween.
Additionally, Niantic announced Gen 6 last summer, but nothing has happened yet. Halloween has always brought new Ghost and Dark Pokémon into the game over the last years. Yveltal would thus fit perfectly.
What speaks against it? After all, it is a new Pokémon, and one must always wonder whether Niantic truly plans to release Gen 6 so soon. After all, there are still missing Pokémon from Gen 5. They would effectively be skipped.
Hoopa
What speaks for it? Hoopa is a similar case to Darkrai in 2019. It is a mysterious Pokémon of the Ghost and Psychic types and is from the 6th generation. This year, a mysterious boss could again be introduced for Halloween – as it worked well with Darkrai.
Moreover, it seems to fit the type best. Ghost Pokémon are the heart of the Halloween event. Hoopa would fit perfectly.
What speaks against it? So far, only Darkrai has been a mysterious Pokémon directly in the raids. Deoxys, for example, appeared months earlier as an EX raid boss, and other mysterious Pokémon were only available through special research.
For Hoopa, Niantic would again have to make an exception. It remains questionable whether that will actually happen.
Today, the Halloween event Festival of the Lost 2020 starts in Destiny 2, marking the last new content before the Fall expansion Beyond Light. Are you in, or is there nothing left that excites you before Beyond Light?
Here’s what’s happening in Destiny 2 starting today: Today, October 6, a new event begins in Destiny 2 after the Weekly Reset at 7:00 PM – the Festival of the Lost.
This is the last major content for Guardians in the context of the extended Season of Arrivals. Other than possibly a climax of the seasonal story and a transition to Season 12 or Beyond Light (maybe again in the form of a live event), Season 11 probably won’t have any more new content to offer.
In short: This is the last content drop designed to keep you entertained over the next 4 weeks. Whether it will succeed is unclear, as players have mixed feelings about the event.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What exactly is the Festival of the Lost? This festival is the traditional Halloween celebration held annually in Destiny 2.
The Festival of the Lost has its roots in Destiny 1 and is held in honor of fallen Guardians. Survivors gather in the Tower to remember their loved ones, friends, and comrades who gave their lives in the great fight. The festival serves to reflect and remember what one is actually fighting for and standing up for as a Guardian.
Aside from a festively decorated Tower with candles, pumpkins, and colorful lanterns, special quests, a spooky activity, and various thematically inspired rewards await you during the event.
What’s next for Destiny 2? The Festival of the Lost ends on November 3. Exactly one week later, on October 10, 2020, the next big chapter of Destiny 2 launches – the new expansion Beyond Light.
What are players saying about the Halloween event 2020? The Festival of the Lost is currently being discussed by some Guardians.
On one side, there are many players who say: Reheated, old stuff. Nothing new for years. Should this event seriously provide entertainment until Beyond Light?
On the other hand, there are also players who are looking forward to the event. For some, it’s the first Halloween celebration in Destiny. Others find the associated atmosphere cool. Again, others are particularly looking forward to the armor ornaments and other cosmetics this year. Because they really look quite appealing this time.
Are you participating in the Festival of the Lost 2020? But what do you think? What do you think so far of the Halloween event of Destiny 2 in 2020? Are you definitely in or has the festival (by now) left you completely cold? Let us know in our poll.
Keep in mind, you only have one answer option. Thank you for participating and your time.
By the way, feel free to share your opinion on the Festival of the Lost 2020 with us and other readers in the comments as well. And here’s what you should get done today before the event starts: You should grab the Halloween weapons now – Here’s how it works
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Even some Blizzard employees want the 2nd Warcraft movie – featuring “Witcher” Henry Cavill in the lead role. Will it happen?
Since the release of the Warcraft movie, a few years have passed. Although fans enjoyed the film, it wasn’t a major financial success. Many believed that the Arthas story would have fit much better into a movie than the first Horde attack on Azeroth. However, some dream of an adaptation of Arthas – and long for “Witcher” actor Henry Cavill in this role.
This image is a topic of discussion: The image shows one of the most famous poses of Arthas, from the opening cinematic of “Wrath of the Lich King”. Arthas raises the blade Frostmourne and prepares to free an undead dragon from the ice. Instead of the crown of the Lich King, however, Henry Cavill’s head is visible, edited into the scene.
The image was created by Claymore and then shared on the WoW Reddit. It aims to illustrate how well Henry Cavill would look in the role of Arthas Menethil. Apparently, many players were quite enthusiastic about it, as the post received more than 17,000 upvotes.
Cavill not only looks good for the role. He is also an avid Warcraft fan who nearly missed his role as Superman because he was in a WoW raid at the time his agent called.
This is how Blizzard responds: In the meantime, the image and the associated idea have also reached some Blizzard employees. They are also quite enthusiastic and discuss it on Twitter.
Anne Stickney, one of the associate narrative designers of WoW, spoke on Twitter about Henry Cavill in new images for the 2nd season of “The Witcher”. She jokingly asked if it was “a bit warm in here”. Later, she added that she could easily imagine Cavill saying, “This whole city must be purged” – one of Arthas’ most famous lines.
Christie Golden was long “just” the author of several Warcraft novels, but now works permanently at Blizzard. She responded and stated that she was “on the Arthas train” – a clear reference to the above Arthas image.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Chris Metzen may not hold a high position at Blizzard anymore, but he was responsible for story development in the past. He still keeps in touch with Blizzard, as he lends his voice to the orc Thrall in the English original. He also stated that Cavill would be a pretty fitting casting for Arthas.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Will there be another movie? Whether another Warcraft movie will be released remains uncertain. At the time, the chances seemed rather slim. However, new rumors keep surfacing that Blizzard wants to take another shot. Especially the Arthas story is desired by fans – and such reactions from Blizzard only fuel the rumors further.
Whether such a movie will really ever become a reality remains to be seen. It would certainly be exciting to see if the “Witcher” could also shine as Arthas Menethil on his journey to the Lich King.
EVE Online is referred to by some as “Excel in space.” With an update, this is even true, as the 3D graphics can now be completely removed.
What does this update bring? It is now possible to turn off the 3D component of the game. This means you will only see the text and the user interface. Where the game usually takes place and you see the spaceships flying in space, there is now a black area.
This is what EVE Online looks like with 3D graphics turned off.
What exactly does it bring? EVE Online particularly struggles with severe performance issues during large battles like in the current World War Bee 2. To ensure the game remains playable in extreme situations, there is something called “time dilation.” Firing weapons or the movements of ships occur at a slower pace to ensure that the server does not crash under the load. The fights, therefore, essentially unfold in slow motion.
However, this does not always help. There are battles involving thousands of players that are so massive that essentially only a slideshow is visible. The number of ships and explosions naturally affects not only the servers of EVE Online but also the players’ PCs. Additionally, new records with even more ships are always being attempted. This is where the new “tables in space” mode comes into play.
As there are no 3D graphics visible, one does not have to worry about the performance of the game anymore.
This is what EVE Online usually looks like.
A game without graphics
How does it work? If you notice that EVE Online’s performance is tanking – perhaps during a large fight – you simply turn off the 3D graphics. The screen will mostly be black, and you will operate solely through the UI and the text. This way, the space MMO can be played smoothly again.
Essentially, the text and UI provide you with everything you need to know. The 3D graphics are only for visualization. They are not truly necessary. Hence, EVE Online has the reputation of being “Excel in space.”
Who uses this? The new mode is especially intended for those who play more than one account in EVE Online via multiboxing and run multiple game clients on one PC.
How do the developers explain the mode? EVE’s Brand Director, CCP Goodfella, writes about the UI-Only mode:
As the war in EVE has reached a turning point, now is a good time to add the ultimate performance boost option – a feature often requested by our hardcore players. Of course, this option is only intended for the most extreme situations. But as we all know, EVE is all about extreme situations, and with the war raging, every frame counts. We look forward to being surprised by the creative ways this feature will be utilized by our community!
CCP Goodfella, Brand Director CCP Games
What do you think of this new mode? Would you play EVE Online like this?
Zenimax Online, the developer studio behind the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (PC, PS4, Xbox One), is working on a new game. And job postings reveal that it is likely an MMO.
What do the job postings reveal? Several employees are currently being sought at Zenimax Online. Each job posting for the new project states that applicants must either have experience with MMOs and RPGs, enjoy playing MMOs, or have experience developing “Games as a Service” games.
This indicates that the new game from the developer studio will likely be an MMO.
In addition to ESO, Zenimax Online is working on another MMO(RPG).
What kind of game can we expect?
What else do we know about this game?Last year, Matt Firor from Zenimax Online revealed that it is a AAA title of a new brand. So it is not The Elder Scrolls Online 2, and the project is also not set in the Fallout universe.
Is it Starfield? While Starfield is a new brand, it is being developed by Bethesda and not by Zenimax Online. Additionally, Bethesda stated that Starfield is a single-player RPG.
This does not rule out a multiplayer mode, but Bethesda announced Starfield at E3 2018 to reassure single-player fans after the reveal of the multiplayer game Fallout 76 and to assure them that something is still coming for them.
However, it is conceivable that Zenimax Online is developing an MMO spin-off of Starfield. So an additional game in the same universe, similar to what is the case with The Elder Scrolls Online.
Starfield as a science fiction scenario offers not only something new, which deviates from the fantasy world of ESO and the post-apocalyptic setting of Fallout 76, the scenario is quite untapped in the MMO genre and opens up many possibilities.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What else could it be? We know from the job postings that an MMO is likely expected. Furthermore, it is conceivable that it will be an MMORPG since employees with experience in the RPG sector are being sought.
That we will get another fantasy MMORPG is rather unlikely, as that would put Zenimax Online in competition with the still very successful ESO.
Therefore, a science fiction scenario makes sense. Perhaps we can expect a kind of loot shooter in the style of Destiny. A contemporary setting like in The Division would also be conceivable.
The fact is, Zenimax Online is currently looking for new employees for a large game in a new brand that will apparently be an MMO(RPG).
What type of game would you like? Do you think it will be an MMORPG in a science fiction scenario?
In Call of Duty: Warzone a player pulled off an extreme lucky shot taking out an entire enemy team. They were so confused about their sudden demise that they reported the shooter as a cheater. However, a detailed analysis revealed what really happened. Read it here on MeinMMO.
What happened? In Season 6 of Call of Duty: Warzone, the sniper-weapons are the big hit. It is therefore even more common to be killed from a long distance. For instance, a player with the nickname MegasHvalur demonstrated in a clip on reddit how he lays in wait with the HDR in Warzone and targets a group of enemies.
His view was obstructed by trees, yet he attempted to take a sniper shot at the enemies. He shot and was quite surprised, as suddenly his HUD was flooded with success messages like “One Shot, One Kill”, “Quad Feed”, and “Bloodthirsty”. And indeed, he suddenly had 4 new kills on his account.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
So MegasHvalur eliminated 4 heavily armed foes with a single shot. How is that possible and was it done fairly?
4-man kill with one shot was a lucky shot, not cheating
Here is the background: The victims of the action were initially shocked. One of the slain immediately sent a report due to suspected cheating. No one can be that good at shooting that all 4 squad members go down at the same time.
However, one of the users re-checked everything using Nvidia Shadowplay and discovered the truth. The player commented in the reddit thread and shared the story from his perspective.
There was no cheat or hack at work. Rather, it was a soulless ammo crate that was to blame. It was deployed just as the bullet was fired by MegasHvalur.
When you let ammo crates explode, sniping becomes even more rewarding.
The projectile hit the crate and caused the ammunition to detonate. Since the entire team had already greedily gathered around the crate with munition, it blew everyone up and killed the whole team. Instead of continuing to insult the shooter as a cheater, they paid him respect. It was simply a mix of extreme luck on the shooter’s part and terrible luck for the victims.
So now you know: ammo crates are not your friends; they can bite you hard in the back when they explode. You can find more tips for snipers and sneaky snipers here with us on MeinMMO. Just follow our eight tips for dealing with sniper rifles.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What is it about? Through the Battle.net shop, it is possible to make players on the friends list happy. Those who are generous can gift games like WoW: Shadowlands to friends. They then receive the game as a gift credited to their account.
Shadowlands could be gifted – and is now reclaimable.
The problem: The gifting friends can now, weeks or even months after the gifting, undo it. The purchased Shadowlands can be canceled, causing the friend to lose the game again.
Why is this? The reason for this is likely due to the legal provisions in some countries. Making a refund not possible after a promoted release date has not been met is likely to cause problems especially in Europe. Since the “gifters” in this scenario are also the buyers, they must be granted the opportunity for a return – even if they digitally handed over the game directly as a gift.
An absurd situation that only works in the digital space. That this is the case was confirmed by a Game Master. A player had Shadowlands taken away in exactly this way.
A GM confirmed that the “givers” can reclaim their gift – without the recipient knowing about it. Image source: reddit.com/r/wow
What are the consequences? The consequences for the recipient are obvious. On the one hand, they no longer have a copy of Shadowlands and will not be able to play the expansion at release. If the gifted version also included a character boost or other bonuses, these will also be removed. A boosted character can thus become unplayable and requires a new boost to be usable again.
Not to mention that you will appear as a bad friend if you “reclaim” once gifted games in this way. But you probably already know that.
In FIFA 21, the release of the Champions Edition and Ultimate Edition is approaching. When can you start? Here you will find everything about the launch.
What FIFA 21 release is coming up now? Since October 1, the Early Access via EA Play has already started, allowing players to secure a 10-hour trial and get a taste of the game.
Today, on October 6, the release of the Champions Edition and the Ultimate Edition is taking place. These are special editions that grant 3 days of early access along with some bonuses. The release of the Standard Edition will take place on Friday, October 9.
When is the release of the FIFA 21 Champions Edition and Ultimate Edition?
The start time of the early access: In previous years, the special editions started at 00:00 local time. This was also the case this year. For example, in the Microsoft Store, the FIFA 21 Champions Edition was listed as “Available on October 6, 2020, at 00:00”.
So those who stayed up late could theoretically have played in the night leading into Tuesday, October 6.
Start time for FIFA 21 Champions Edition – Source: Microsoft Store
Those who purchase the version for PS4 and Xbox Series X also have a free entitlement to the next-gen versions of FIFA 21. Here you will learn how the upgrade from FIFA 21 to the new generation works.
What’s included in the editions? Both versions are not time-limited trial versions, but the full game without time restrictions. This means: Anyone who has one of the two editions can fully dive into FIFA 21. Additionally, both offer some bonuses that you can find in our overview of the special editions.
What’s going on in FIFA 21 at launch? If you start in FIFA 21 tomorrow, you will have access to all game modes. For example, you can build a strong Bundesliga team in Ultimate Team. Alternatively, you can see how the VOLTA mode has improved and whether it deserves a second chance.
What else has changed in the game compared to FIFA 20 can be found in the overview of the innovations in FIFA 21. Among other things, there is a new type of dribbling, improved runs, and more options in career mode. All these features can now be tried out by players of the Champions and Ultimate Edition.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Ghost of Tsushima is a successful game by developer Sucker Punch for the PS4. Originally released as a singleplayer, it will receive a multiplayer update. The release is set for October. In the multiplayer, you can team up with your friends to play through new missions and story content.
In August, the mode was roughly introduced. You will team up with up to 3 other players to complete various missions in multiplayer. These missions will increase in difficulty.
Instead of playing the main character Jin or one of his companions, you will have access to 4 different classes that we will introduce to you in the course of the article.
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 will the multiplayer be released? As revealed in a blog post, the new mode is set to be released on October 16.
Update 1.1 brings the following in addition to the multiplayer:
New Game+, a mode that allows you to replay the game with existing equipment but at a new difficulty level.
New masks, armor, and emotes
Loadouts for equipment.
If you haven’t purchased Ghost of Tsushima yet, the game and 5 other PS4 hits are currently on sale in the PS Store. You can save 21% on Ghost of Tsushima:
What does the multiplayer offer? In the Ghost of Tsushima multiplayer, you can experience different types of missions:
Story missions (For 2 players) – Here, you can play various story experiences together with a friend at different difficulty levels.
Survival missions (For up to 4 players) – In these missions, you must defend locations against waves of enemies. The longer you survive, the greater the rewards.
Raids (For 4 players) – For these missions, you need the best equipment and a lot of teamwork. You’ll face tough challenges. The raids will only be released a few weeks after the update goes live.
As rewards, you can expect new cosmetics, new and powerful equipment, and new techniques for your classes.
The Hunter is one of 4 classes in Ghost of Tsushima: Legends.
What classes are available? In co-op, you do not play a known character but one of four classes. Each has its own skills and specialties. After a tutorial introducing the classes, you will need to choose one of them. However, you should also be able to unlock the other classes as you progress through the game.
The options are:
The Samurai charges into battle and can easily dispatch enemies left and right. He rarely has trouble with health loss.
The Hunter stays at the edge of the battle and dispatches enemies with explosive arrows and shoots multiple arrows at enemies with his ultimate.
The Rōnin can revive allies and support other players. Additionally, this character can summon a ghost dog and even pet it.
Assassins deal a lot of damage in a short time but can take significantly less punishment than the Samurai.
If you’re now excited about the multiplayer but can’t wait until the release of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, you can find the best free games for PS4 here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Here you will find current trading tips for the transfer market in FIFA 21. We show you how to quickly earn coins in FUT to improve your team with strong players.
What is the FIFA 21 transfer market? On the Ultimate Team transfer market, you will find everything you need for your club. There are the best players, contracts, chemistry styles, and club items. This year, you can also buy cosmetics for your own stadium on the market – after all, FUT is becoming even more of a fantasy mode this year.
Trading is done with FUT coins, not FIFA points. Also important: The real money currency is used for packs and as draft currency, but not on the transfer market. You can also trade with the web app and the companion app even before the release of FIFA 21.
[toc]
Ultimate Team: Trading Guide for Quick Coins on the Transfer Market
What to consider when trading? The various trading methods can funnel the necessary coins into your FUT account. However, you should realize that there is basically never guaranteed profit. The market fluctuates, and promising trades can lose value in a very short time. In short: Just because a certain operation brought you a lot of coins, doesn’t mean it will do so again the next time.
Many player values depend not only on their pure values but also on circumstances like events or their usefulness in SBCs. There are also meta players who are better and worth more than their actual values suggest. Prices can even vary from platform to platform.
The market in Ultimate Team is always changing. So if you want to trade successfully, you need to keep a close eye on the transfer market. The following methods can then bring you a decent coin profit.
Important: Don’t forget the “EA fee”. When trading, you always have to calculate with 5% less. This deduction comes from the prices of all cards you sell on the transfer market. So if you sell a card for 10,000 coins, you will only receive 9,500. You should keep this in mind with the following methods as well.
Trading with the TOTW in FIFA 21
This is how trading with TOTW cards works: Trading with the Team of the Week has proven to be quite reliable in recent years. These cards are only available in packs for one week, after which they disappear from the pack pool.
TOTW cards are usually very valuable shortly after their release. The TOTW always comes out on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM – often they are most expensive then, and prices decrease a bit in the following days. However, once they are replaced by the next TOTW, they can rise again. Because now they are only available on the transfer market.
If you pull a good TOTW card from the packs when the initial rush is over, it may be worth holding the card back a bit and releasing it to the market later.
The TOTW can bring you a lot of coins
TOTW trading with gold cards: The gold card method is based on speculation and is therefore somewhat uncertain. But it can yield you a nice profit if it works out.
It works like this: If a real player performs well on the weekend, the likelihood of him making it into the TOTW increases. The trick: If he gets a special card, his normal card disappears from packs for that period and cannot be pulled anymore.
This means: If you notice a TOTW-worthy performance, it may be worth grabbing the card. You keep it and watch whether the player makes it into the TOTW. If so, his gold card will also increase in value, and you can sell it for more than you bought it.
If you keep an eye on real football, you will have an advantage here. The footballer Wissam Ben Yedder, for example, scored a brace and even announced he would make it into the TOTW. Anyone who bought the card during the game would likely be considered an absolute trading pro.
But even the TOTW predictions can show you who is likely to get a TOTW card. We keep you updated on this weekly.
What is the risk? Overall, the risk is manageable. If you got the card at a low price, you won’t incur any loss if you have to sell it at a similarly low price. It’s different if you already bought a card at an inflated price and can’t get rid of it at that price anymore. So be careful not to accidentally invest too much money in a card.
Trading with SBCs and Events
This is how SBC trading works: Just like TOTW trading, SBC trading is also based on speculation. However, you don’t need to follow real football here; instead, you need to know the game and the community.
SBCs are challenges in which you can exchange teams for rewards. These can be packs, but also coins or strong player cards. This year, for example, the popular icon SBCs are back, where you can exchange teams for legends.
Some of these SBCs require very specific player cards. A good example are the league SBCs in which you have to exchange entire teams from specific leagues. These are the SBCs that can earn you money.
For example: In FIFA 20, there was the Paderborn SBC as part of the Bundesliga challenges. SC Paderborn consisted of many rare silver players – cards that are rarely pulled. Who opens silver packs? However, since you needed the Paderborn players for the SBC, they became extremely expensive on the transfer market, even though they didn’t have that great stats.
So if you had a Paderborn player in your club, you could sell him for a good price. If you don’t know this, there is a risk of just selling him for the minimum price. It is worth keeping an eye on the SBCs in FIFA 21!
What are events good for? Many SBCs only appear during specific events. The Premier League POTM, for example, is released monthly and usually requires Premier League players. If you keep that in mind, you can stock up on well-rated players from that league while they are still affordable. When the POTM SBC is out, the chances are good that you will be able to sell your cards for a high price.
If a Bayern player is the Bundesliga POTM, it may be worth acquiring Bayern players, as they will likely be needed for the SBC. Special event SBCs can also require specific leagues and nationalities. Events usually start on Fridays at 7:00 PM. So it’s worth keeping an eye on this and picking up players at low prices before they spike shortly thereafter.
If the POTM vote is coming up, the corresponding players can be valuable
Sniping and Flipping
This is how you get players cheaply: “Sniping” in FIFA refers to the targeted purchase of players whose prices are unusually low. The good thing: You basically don’t need any prior knowledge from real football or the community.
An example of a successful snipe: Let’s say a player you want typically costs 50,000 coins. You set your search filters on the market so you can find the player below that price – for example, for 45,000 coins. The lower you go, the less likely you are to find the player at that price.
The catch is that you are probably not the only one looking for that player at a low price. If a corresponding offer appears, it can be gone within seconds. To be the first to grab the player at the lowest price, the following approach has proven effective:
Set your filter, then press search.
Close the message that pops up if no card appears.
If you get no card: Increase the maximum (bid) price with the shoulder buttons. This updates the market offer, and without this step, the method won’t work. Keep the buy now price the same. Then continue searching.
Repeat these steps until a card appears. If it absolutely doesn’t work, try again at another time or with another card. Alternatively, you can slightly raise the buy now price – just be careful not to exceed a profitable value.
What is flipping? “Flipping” refers to the sale of well-sniped cards. For example, if you bought a Robert Lewandowski significantly below market value, you can at least sell him for the “normal value” again – thus making a decent profit. Even better is if you can sell him for a little above normal price.
What is the risk? Since you are explicitly looking for low-priced cards, there is basically no risk involved. The challenge is rather that you have a lot of competition. In the worst case, you simply won’t get the card or someone snatches it right under your nose.
Mass Bidding Instead of Sniping
This is mass bidding: Sniping targets low buy now prices that lead to success with a single bid. Mass bidding is basically the opposite.
Here, you first choose a suitable time when your player is cheap. If you want to mass bid on TOTW cards, for example, it’s definitely not on the Wednesday evening of their release, but rather one of the following days when the price drops slightly.
Now you start bidding on cheap examples of the player – and on as many as possible. Only a few of these bids will likely go through, but it may happen that a player slips through – landing in your club at a particularly low price.
If the servers are not reachable, the market continues
When is mass bidding most lucrative? Mass bidding is most effective when few other players are bidding. This means: Unpopular players can be more promising but will also sell for a lower price.
A trick is to take advantage of maintenance work. During a season, it happens more often that FIFA servers go offline. If these are planned works, you can use these periods to place bids en masse just before – because the market continues. Ideally, you can snatch a lot of bargains this way – provided other traders don’t take advantage of the same timeframe.
Of course, there are many other trading techniques that can earn you a lot of coins in your club. But don’t forget: Trading is not everything in FIFA 21. First and foremost, the game should be fun on the pitch. Here we have put together a good team for you that can hold its own in FUT right at the start. And you can put together this team without huge amounts of coins.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you want to bring your Exotic collection in Destiny 2 to 100%, you need to start in the next 2 weeks – otherwise, it will be too late. You only have a limited time left to unlock all the Masterwork Catalysts.
This is the deadline: In Destiny 2, Guardians can collect 70 different Exotic weapons. Many of the unique guns only reach their final form through their Masterwork Catalyst.
If you start a week later, it will be impossible. No matter whether you grind Destiny 2 day and night. Because both Catalysts require several weeks to be leveled up.
This is why there is time pressure: On November 10, Beyond Light will finally be released. Along with the release of the major expansion, Destiny 2 will also vault a lot of content into the Destiny Content Vault.
Beyond Light leads Guardians to the icy moon Europa
This means for you that entire planets, numerous quests, and also Catalysts will temporarily disappear from the game. The Catalysts for the Whisper and Perfected Outbreak are among the best Exotic Masterworks in Destiny 2, but they are quite difficult to obtain.
This is what the two Exotics can do as a Masterwork with Catalyst:
Whisper of the Worm receives a higher reload speed and the perk “Breath Control” – aiming through the scope without firing grants bonus range and precision damage for a moment
Perfected Outbreak receives improved nanite damage. Enemies eliminated while nanites are attached to them generate additional nanites
This is what you need to do for the two top Catalysts in Season 11
Make Whisper of the Worm a Masterwork: To find the Catalyst for the Whisper, you must complete the mission “The Whisper” (Io) heroically once.
Whisper of the Worm
You can level your Catalyst by a maximum of 36% per week. In the best case, you will need 3 weeks to unlock the Masterwork to 100%. And that only if you regularly complete the heroic version under time pressure and solve all the hidden music puzzles at the Oracles – you can also split this into 2 runs per week.
How this works in detail can be found in this article on MeinMMO:
Make Perfected Outbreak a Masterwork: You will find this Catalyst as soon as you master the mission “Hour Zero” (EDZ – at the Farm) heroically.
Perfected Outbreak
You can level the Catalyst by 20% per week by redoing the mission. Additionally, you can crack an elemental vault puzzle each week and add another 13% on top.
The Belgian trainer Jeroen026 has achieved an incredible goal in Pokémon GO: He has reached 100% IV for every Pokémon from the 1st generation and leveled them all to the maximum level. MeinMMO spoke with him about this.
This is what Jeroen shows: He posted his milestone on Twitter. Every Pokémon from the first generation, whether it’s Caterpie or Dragonite, has the perfect 100% IV. Additionally, they are all at the maximum level of 40. So it is the perfect collection of the first generation.
Jeroen is known for his extreme playstyle. He himself says: “Pokémon GO is a lifestyle” and likes to catch over 50,000 Pokémon monthly. Overall, he has caught over 900,000 monsters.
The only Pokémon from the 1st generation that he does not have at 100% IV is Mew. Each trainer had only one chance through the special research. So far, more specimens could not be obtained, and it is not tradable either.
How did he achieve this? Here Jeroen tells us that he caught or traded all 100s himself. Many of them he caught with the help of a map. This is a radar that scans your city and informs you when rare Pokémon or monsters with 100% IV appear somewhere.
However, it also works well with the trading feature. This is also seen in his Twitter post. There are at least 15 lucky Pokémon among the monsters. They have an increased chance of being a 100% when traded. They are also significantly cheaper to level up.
Why is it so difficult? The first generation has quite a few monsters that are hard to obtain. This starts with the legendary Pokémon. You have to do a lot of raids or be quite lucky to get them all to 100% IV.
Then there are the regional Pokémon. Kangaskhan was only available to catch in Safari zones in Europe. Tauros is not available at all. You can either get them via trade or, with luck, as a 100% from special eggs. They are occasionally available for a short time through hatching.
Regional Pokémon make this task particularly difficult.
Why did Jeroen do this? Jeroen has a very simple explanation for this: “When I started playing Pokémon GO, I discovered early on that a Pokémon’s CP increases the higher the IV, so I started collecting Pokémon with high IV instead of those with high CP.”
This eventually developed into this remarkable total. He also says that it is part of his end goal in Pokémon GO. He wants to have every Pokémon, in all forms and with every costume, at 100% IV and the maximum level.
Jeroen also has a special connection to the first 3 generations. He explains: “I definitely have a special connection to the first three generations because those were the ones I knew from the games on the Game Boy and the series on television when I was still a child.”
What’s next for Jeroen? With this first milestone, it’s far from over. He told us that he is almost done with the 2nd and 3rd generation.
For the 2nd generation, he still needs Donphan, Scizor, and Celebi (here, there is the same problem as mentioned above with Mew).
For the 3rd generation, he is currently diligently trading the legendary Pokémon to get specimens with 100% IV.
His next goal looks very different: he wants to break the 1 million catches mark. At the beginning of October, he was at over 912,000 catches. So it can’t be long until he achieves his goal. After all, he has had several months where he caught over 50,000 Pokémon.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What drives him through all of this? Jeroen plays Pokémon GO in a way that is clearly more extreme than many other trainers. He sums it up like this: “Pokémon GO is a lifestyle. I like to maintain a certain routine to continue pushing the numbers forward. With the current events that Niantic introduces almost every week or every weekend, it has become easier now.”
By the way, when it comes to catches, Jeroen is on a similar level as Brandon Tan. The player from Singapore is the trainer with the most experience points in Pokémon GO:
EA Play users currently do not have access to FIFA 21, the Early Access is failing. They see the message “The content cannot be used.” What is going on?
What is this FIFA error on PS4? Although EA Play members on PlayStation 4 should currently have 10-hour access to the game, even before the release of FIFA 21, there are problems. The game simply cannot be started.
Players have a lock in front of their FIFA 21 icon and are greeted with the message
“The content cannot be used”
or “A server connection could not be established for license verification”
After that, nothing happens – FIFA 21 simply does not start.
Other FIFA players report that the Early Access has simply disappeared. The PlayStation only shows the countdown until the release of FIFA 21, and starting is not possible here either.
How can the problem be solved?
Here are some steps to try: For some players, restoring the licenses seems to resolve the problem.
To do this, follow these steps:
Go to “Settings” on your PlayStation 4
Then to “Account Management”
And then at the bottom click on “Restore Licenses”
Finally, click on “Restore”
A restart of the console is recommended
Your PS4 licenses will now be reloaded, and with a bit of luck, FIFA 21 can be started again. However, there is no guarantee that this solution will work for every user.
How about you? Are you also having problems and cannot start your EA Play version of FIFA 21?
There are many similarities between Blizzard (WoW, Overwatch, Diablo) and Bungie (Destiny). Both had a glorious past until Activision came along. Both later faced criticism and in both companies, the long-standing leaders left. These two former leaders, Mike Morhaime and Harold Ryan, are now each building their own company with a new approach.
Blizzard and Bungie are two of the most well-known names in gaming, whose luster has faded somewhat in recent years. Now the former heads of the two companies are behind the most exciting startups in gaming in the last 5 years.
Who are the former heads?
Mike Morhaime (52) was something like “the good soul of Blizzard.” He founded the company that later became Blizzard in 1991, led the studio for almost three decades, and stepped down as president and CEO of Blizzard in October 2018.
Harold Ryan started at Bungie as a “Test Manager” before 2001, rose through the ranks over the years, until he became the head of Bungie in 2008. In January 2016, he left Bungie after more than 15 years without a grand farewell. Compared to Morhaime, Ryan is much more reserved when it comes to the public.
This is Harold Ryan. He founded “Probably Monsters”.
Why did they leave their jobs? It’s not quite clear. No one spoke openly about it. Morhaime’s departure was accompanied by pleasant words, while Ryan left Bungie quietly. Later Ryan said that the team was on a good path and for him, it was a good time to do something else. The kids were out of the house and he was considering what his future would look like (via venturebeat).
However, there are rumors and speculations: The major publisher Activision might have played a role in both heads leaving their respective paths. Because the financially strong publisher came on board with both companies and evidently changed the corporate culture:
Activision merged with Blizzard in 2008
the deal with Bungie for “10 years of Destiny” was concluded by Activision around 2012
Ryan left Bungie in 2016. Destiny was just undergoing a transformation. At that time, it was clear that Destiny 2 had to be rebooted, and that they would not be able to meet the tight schedule set by Activision Blizzard. Destiny 2 had to be postponed by a year, creating a gaping content gap that was particularly huge at the beginning of 2016.
The director of Destiny 2, CJ Cowan, left Bungie along with Harold Ryan and currently works at his company. Whether Ryan’s departure was connected to the reboot of Destiny 2 is unknown. Bungie is known for being chronically closed off – hardly any internal matters come to light.
Morhaime was seen as a bastion who upheld the old Blizzard, where quality was paramount and things came “when it’s done”, when it was ready, and not when the fiscal year dictated.
Mike Morhaime, he stepped down as president of Blizzard in October 2018.
The “Indie-AAA Company” as a New Model
This is what the two are doing now:
Both are doing practically the same thing. They have founded a parent company that employs developer teams. Probably Monsters states that they want to develop AAA titles. Dreamhaven at least has developers with plenty of AAA experience on board.
It is a new kind of company: no longer a classic studio, but several independent development teams under one roof. The teams are then supposed to develop their own games:
Harold Ryan founded “Probably Monsters” in 2016 – in a funding round, they raised $18.8 million in 2019. The studio in Issaquah, Washington has since grown to over 100 employees.
Morhaime founded “Dreamhaven” a few weeks ago, together with his wife Amy Morhaime. It is reportedly self-financed, and they have 27 employees.
In April 2020, Probably Monsters reached 100 employees.
Both essentially opened companies that then have “in-house” studios associated with them. There are two differences:
Morhaime’s Dreamhaven wants to publish the games themselves as a publisher. Here, they are taking a more conservative approach. Morhaime emphasizes the family atmosphere and that they want to be “unabridged” and show how they can treat the “gaming” business and players better than others do.
At Probably Monsters, Harold Ryan’s 2 studios already have publishing contracts with “major external publishers”, as stated back in 2016 (via Businesswire). Ryan frequently talks about the “AAA” games that are being developed there, referring to the truly expensive blockbuster titles.
Leaders Bringing in Top Employees from the Past
Both rely on veterans they have previously worked with for their plans. Morhaime has brought in some top names from Blizzard to his team at “Dreamhaven” like Dustin Browder, the lead designer of StarCraft II and Heroes of the Storm, or Eric Dodds, the lead designer of Hearthstone.
These are all experienced individuals who have been “missing from Blizzard” for years. Dustin Browder had, for instance, worked on the canceled StarCraft shooter “Ares” and left after the project was canceled.
Blizzard admitted in October 2019 that 3 top individuals left – they are all now with Morhaime.
At “Probably Monsters”, Ryan’s project currently employs many who were previously at Bungie. For example, he has CJ Cowan, who was supposed to lead Destiny 2. Additionally, Jon Weisnewski, the longtime weapons chief is also involved.
What are they doing concretely?
At Probably Monsters, they have 3 studios building “next-gen AAA franchises”. Recently, they brought on board the creators of Torchlight. It sounds like big online multiplayer games are being developed at Probably Monsters.
Morhaime’s Dreamhaven has 2 studios that are supposed to develop their own games. Given the teams’ experience, it seems likely that online games will develop here as well.
So far, no project from the studios has been announced. The teams are still in the process of building and conception. What the studio heads say sounds exactly like what players want to hear.
Morhaime says: “We are trying almost to create a heaven for developers that values the product, is developer-friendly, and prioritizes the player experience over short-term financial gain.” (via venturebeat)
Ryan also has similar plans. The company is a mix of studio and publisher: a new kind of company for a new era. He emphasizes how important it is for developers to feel comfortable in the company, to feel trust, and to enjoy a safe environment.
Like a Big Publisher – Without the Downsides
This is the idea: When listening to the people who work at Dreamhaven, one thing comes out:
They want to work with the financial resources they are used to from AAA studios, which can only a major publisher provide
The artistic vision should be at the forefront. The game developers want artistic freedom without making compromises
The theme is very similar at Probably Monsters:
they want to create an environment that has a culture like a “small studio” but then produces big games
hence they rely on values like trust and respect for one another
One can be curious whether the new approach of Ryan and Morhaime can bring us the games we want in the future. Apparently, they want to build big, high-quality games while retaining the atmosphere of a “small team” where everyone knows each other and they ensure that everyone is doing well.
These seem to be exactly the criticisms that AAA developers have towards their employers: It’s only about profit and financial reports. The games and the visions behind them are losing focus.
Perhaps one of the “new projects” will be able to capture the magic of the past. We will probably have to wait a long time for Dreamhaven’s games, but those from Probably Monsters might not be so far off.
Since Activision took more control at Blizzard, things have declined – this is the sentiment of some employees as well as many players.
The cultural shift at Blizzard is something that has been talked about for years and became more evident in recent years with some incidents and departures. Open discussions about Blizzard’s condition are rarely held, but an insider report from January 2020 paints an intriguing picture of what is happening at Activision Blizzard:
The unusual battle royale game Spellbreak lets you fight wild battles as a wizard with magical gloves and runes. The game started far more successfully than the developers had anticipated. MeinMMO author Jürgen Horn also finds the game much better now than in the beta. Moreover, the developers explained in an interview how the launch went and what they still want to bring.
What is Spellbreak? Spellbreak is an unusual battle royale game. You play as a wizard who unexpectedly finds himself in the “Hollow Lands”, a devastated fantasy world. There, you must master magic and take down other wizards. Only then can you become the “Ultimate Spellcaster”.
The special features of Spellbreak are:
Each of your heroes can fly and hover
You choose a class before the game starts, including Ice Mage, Fire Mage, or Lightning Wizard
Depending on the class, you start with a glove that gives you access to special attacks and skills. You are therefore never defenseless.
In the game, you can find a second magic glove and combine the effects.
Additionally, there are runes that act as utility skills, making you invisible or enabling teleports.
Otherwise, the usual battle royale concept applies. Collect loot, get stronger, kill opponents, and be the last one standing. The game world constantly shrinks due to a magical storm, ensuring you can’t hide forever. Here you can see the launch trailer:
https://youtu.be/n6MRg-D3T-w
Spellbreak – From “meh” to “Wow, this is really fun!”
My first experience with Spellbreak: Just before the end of the Spellbreak beta, my MeinMMO colleague Noah Struthoff and I played Spellbreak. In the end, we were somewhat puzzled. The game had good ideas. We liked the idea of magic and combos. The setting was original, and flying was also cool.
But on the other hand, the game was not particularly beginner-friendly. We often didn’t know what to do with the magic gloves, and then either there were no opponents for ages, or we were immediately taken out by some completely superior pros. Our conclusion was therefore, “Yes, this could work, but something needs to change and there should be more rewarding moments.”
In the beta, Noah and I were still completely overwhelmed.
Mixed feelings about the launch: Since my first sessions in Spellbreak were so frustrating, I wasn’t particularly excited to play the game again at release. “Oh well, what could have changed?” I sighed fatalistically and dutifully installed it. Someone has to do it. And who knows, maybe the devs really improved something. I actually liked the idea of Spellbreak and the graphics style reminiscent of the anime series Avatar.
It was so awesome right from the first game after release: And what can I say? The gameplay felt completely different after the release. As soon as I landed, the action started off big, and I quickly got into the game. I had chosen a lightning mage. She fires off the lightning bolts in rapid succession and feels a bit like a magical submachine gun.
Since many of the noobs who had just started were probably playing the cool-looking fire mage, I quickly took out several opponents shortly after landing. The fireballs do much more damage per hit than my little tickling lightning bolts. But they are very visible, slow, and can only be thrown with observable delay.
The opponent is dead, now it’s time to loot!
I, on the other hand, ran and hovered around the opponents and zapped them repeatedly until they all lay in the dust. I snatched their loot and followed a wild raid through the rest of the map.
I took out opponents with lightning strikes or dissolved them in close combat with my newly found acid glove. It works like a shotgun and is super dangerous in close combat. Combined with an invisibility rune, I could melt some opponents from ambush.
In the end, the last opponent fell under my magical power, and I had won! A complete victory right in the first game. Yeah, that’s what motivating gameplay looks like!
First round won, that doesn’t happen often in battle royale games.
So instead of uninstalling the game angrily after three frustrating rounds, I played nothing else for the rest of the evening and was totally excited.
That’s why Spellbreak is so much fun: Whatever the developers did, the release build of Spellbreak is incredibly fun, and the magic gloves (the weapons in the game) feel much more intuitive to play than in the beta.
Once you figure out how a specific spell works and connect it with a typical shooter weapon, the rest comes naturally. The lightning bolts are rapid-fire weapons, the ice glove is a kind of sniper rifle, and the poison gloves are like a toxic shotgun due to their spread.
Since you can move very quickly with the flying ability and some runes, the game flows quickly, and the fights are a lot of fun thanks to the many effects and the cool cel-shading graphic style. A round goes quickly, and if you lose, you quickly get back into the fray and can continue in a new round.
Developers reveal details about the future:
Who did we talk to? After the awesome first round in Spellbreak, there was also an opportunity to conduct another interview with the developers. Executive Producer Cardell Kerr from Studio Proletariat was available to me again.
How did the launch go? In response to my question about the launch of the game and how it went, Cardell was very satisfied and gave me the following answer:
The launch exceeded all our expectations! It is very difficult to release on so many platforms and in so many regions, and we anticipated all kinds of problems. We thought we would spend the first week just trying to keep the game running. But everything went almost smoothly. We were also really surprised by the initial high demand.
Only a few bugs in region selection and various cheaters caused problems at launch. Otherwise, everything went surprisingly well.
The cel-shading style reminiscent of the series Avatar is also well received by fans.
Influencers as a success factor: According to Cardell, the strong start and the lively interest in Spellbreak also stem from the fact that some streamers and influencers had played the game out of curiosity in the alpha back then. Some returned to the release of their own accord and, thanks to their prior experience, showcased strong gameplay right away. This attracted even more players and kept them engaged.
How do the developers want to proceed? After the strong launch of the game, the developers want to build on this. A new content release is planned every week. This will include changes to the map, events, new runes, or even new gloves, i.e., weapons. After launch, runes for Shadow Step and Time Mastery were reintroduced. They were initially removed because they are quite complex and the game is already not easy to grasp.
What are the Hollow Lands? This will be revealed in later chapters.
In October, the popular mode “Clash,” known from the beta, is also set to return. This is not a battle royale but a 9vs9 deathmatch. In the beta, it was still in a 3vs3 format, but according to Cardell, Clash with 9vs9 players will be even more fun.
Additionally, there will be a Halloween event in October, featuring special costumes and events.
Later in the year, the so-called Chapter system will launch. This will include quests that you complete in the game world. Additionally, the complex story of Spellbreak will play a role here. “What are the Hollow Lands and what are you doing there anyway?” This will be gradually explained in these chapters.
What about PvE? I also asked Cardell in our interview if he plans to include PvE elements in the game. This remains a topic, but not for the near future:
This is not something we expect in the near future. The game is already quite complex, and we don’t want to overwhelm players with even more game elements. We first want to deepen the PvP mode before introducing entirely new elements like PvE.
But even without a PvE mode, Spellbreak is immensely fun, and I can only recommend the game to every battle royale fan. You can get it for free on the Epic Store. If you’re looking for more interesting battle royale games, you can find them here in our large MeinMMO list of the best battle royale games 2020.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
