CoD Modern Warfare: These are the best weapons 2020 (Season 5)

Sven Galitzki Sven Galitzki Reading time 10 minutes

What is currently the best assault rifle? Which submachine gun is strong right now? What are the best weapons in their respective categories? We show you which firearms dominate their classes in the traditional multiplayer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in 2020 and therefore currently represent the best choice. These are the best weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in Season 5.

CoD Modern Warfare – Best Weapons in Season 5: After the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, there have already been numerous updates that adjusted the weapon balance in multiplayer. Many new weapons have been added to the game by now up to and including Season 5.

Therefore, we took another look at all the weapons in Season 5 and updated the list a bit.

What’s the deal with the selection? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has a lot of weapons to offer. Especially in multiplayer, it is anything but easy for some players to decide on a specific firearm.

However, some specimens have stood out particularly and are very popular among many players.

How were the weapons selected? Keep in mind that the selection was made based on feedback, reviews, and opinions from the community, but the personal opinion of the author also played a significant role in the selection.

The weapons discussed here are aimed at players who specifically search for the strongest weapons of a class for their playstyle or specific challenges. Here we show you:

  • The strongest assault rifle
  • The strongest submachine gun (SMG)
  • The strongest shotgun
  • The strongest light machine gun (LMG)
  • The strongest DMR
  • The strongest sniper rifle
  • The strongest pistol
  • The strongest launcher

We exclude the riot shield and the combat knife or melee weapons, as they are either the only item in their category or the differences are marginal.

This article was created in January 2020 and was updated on August 19.

Keep in mind that the best weapons in the traditional multiplayer differ from the best weapons in Warzone, as different criteria may be more important there.

Are you looking for a good class setup to get started? Then check this out: This setup still works perfectly in Season 5: CoD Modern Warfare: The best class setup for getting into multiplayer

cod modern warfare warzone weapons ram-7

RAM-7 – The best assault rifle in Modern Warfare

The RAM-7 has replaced the M4A1 as the best assault rifle in traditional multiplayer some time ago. Statistically, they are almost identical, but with certain attachments and setups, the RAM-7 can be made significantly stronger than the M4.

Originally, the RAM-7 is a battle pass weapon from Season 1, but it can be unlocked through a challenge since the end of that season. Similar to the M4A1, it has precise shots and can be easily controlled, but is somewhat less stable. It has a higher fire rate and a slightly lower TTK than its competitor, making it the stronger of the two weapons ultimately.

In short: If you previously played the M4A1 and are now looking for a new, even stronger assault rifle, play the RAM-7 instead. However, also consider that assault rifles are much closer in their performance now, which means there are currently numerous alternatives available. Ultimately, personal preference for the handling of the weapon often determines the choice.

Pro
  • Strong at all distances
  • Low TTK
  • Highly customizable
Contra
  • Can do many things well, but is not outstanding anywhere
  • Must be unlocked first

Possible Alternatives:

More on the topic
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MP5 – The best submachine gun (SMG) in Modern Warfare

This MP was outstanding even in the beta. Although it has been nerfed multiple times since the release of Modern Warfare, this does not prevent it from claiming the throne of submachine guns – albeit just ahead of the MP7 (Perfect for run & gun playstyle) and the AUG. As with the SMGs, the top favorites have gradually come closer over time.

Even though the MP5 is classified as an SMG, its still decent range and precision make it behave almost like an assault rifle. Moreover, it has the same fire rate as the M4A1, has comparatively low recoil for SMGs, and is practically unbeatable among SMGs at medium to long ranges, while also mowing everything down in close quarters.

If you enjoy playing with submachine guns and prefer more than just a pure run & gun style, then the MP5 should be your first choice among submachine guns.

Here you can find a detailed guide to this top weapon: CoD Modern Warfare: MP5 Guide – The best setups and attachments

Pro
  • Balanced stats
  • Useful for most areas
  • Higher fire rate than assault rifles
Contra
  • Outclassed by most assault rifles at medium distances
  • Inaccurate at long distances during sustained fire, vulnerable to snipers

Possible Alternatives:

  • MP7 – higher fire rate, but less damage and range
  • PP-19 Bizon – slightly weaker stats, but significantly larger magazine and a beast with the right attachments
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725 – Still the best shotgun in Modern Warfare despite nerfs

There have been long debates in the community about the 725. Many players felt it was simply too strong – that’s why the shotgun has already been nerfed 3 times.

However, in the shotgun category, it remains the strongest choice – even in Season 5. At close range, no one can match it; the shots are deadly and easy to hit, and it can still clear out opponents at medium range. The 725 is now quite balanced and has found its place.

If you play cautiously and pay attention to your movements, you can easily rack up a lot of kills with this weapon. The only downside to this powerful weapon is that it only holds 2 shots, which you can fire one after the other.

If you enjoy shotguns, you should definitely try this weapon.

Pro
  • Effective even at medium distances
  • Highly customizable
  • Kills at 12 meters with one shot
Contra
  • Only two shots – if you miss, you usually die
  • Significant spread and recoil lead to inconsistency

Possible Alternatives:

  • R9-0 – comparably strong stats, weaker at distance, a bit stronger and faster in close combat
  • Origin 12 – semi-automatic, forgiving on misses, strong for short range
  • Model 680 – a strong alternative with damage over time thanks to incendiary ammunition as an attachment

PKM – The best light machine gun (LMG) in Modern Warfare

Light MGs are a very strong weapon class in Modern Warfare (and in Warzone). Particularly as a mounted weapon and especially in objective-based modes of traditional multiplayer, where you can put objects under heavy fire at critical moments, they make an impact. Although the Bruen dominates in Warzone, the best weapon in this category remains the Russian PKM even in Season 5.

The LMG is a balanced weapon with decent handling and damage stats. The fire rate is also good, allowing you some leeway in direct duels if a shot goes astray.

Furthermore, the PKM is very precise and has 100 rounds in the magazine, which you can even push to 200 without any significant drawbacks. Positioned and planted in the right lane, you can shred entire teams in seconds. If you have neglected this MG until now, you should definitely try it out.

How you can further optimize the best LMG, you can find out here: Strongest LMG in CoD Modern Warfare – Best attachments and setups for the PKM

Pro
  • Huge magazine allows for action without reloading
  • When mounted, almost as strong as a shield turret
  • Extremely effective against killstreaks like VTOL Jets
Contra
  • Long reload time makes you vulnerable for a while
  • Compared to assault rifles, relatively poor mobility

Possible Alternatives:

  • MG34 – smaller magazine, but easier to control, better for hits at medium distance and has high damage
  • SAR-87 – smaller magazine, but significantly faster to reload, behaves more like an assault rifle
  • Bruen Mk9 – can combine the strength of an MG with the agility of an assault rifle with the right setup

MK2 Carbine – The best DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) in Modern Warfare

DMRs are a kind of middle ground between assault rifles and sniper rifles. The best weapon of this kind in traditional multiplayer is the MK2 Carbine.

This weapon is very precise and can take down an enemy with just one shot to the upper body. At medium to long distances, you can drive the enemy to despair from the right position before they can actually spot you. The MK2 also has a relatively high fire rate and handles better than the other DMRs – albeit at the cost of range.

So if you want to try your hand as a sniper but don’t quite get along with proper sniper rifles, you should definitely give this weapon a try. This weapon is really fun to use and plays more like an assault rifle than a sniper, allowing less skilled or aspiring snipers to achieve some success.

Pro
  • Deadly at almost any distance with one shot
  • High rate of fire, if one shot is not enough
  • Accurate from the hip, similar to a shotgun
Contra
  • Usually outclassed by many assault rifles, SMGs, and shotguns due to longer aim time
  • Often outclassed by sniper rifles at long distances

Possible Alternatives:

  • Kar 98k – significantly lower rate of fire, but higher damage, especially stronger at distance. Plays almost like a sniper.

If DMRs are your thing, you can also try the SCAR-17 assault rifle in DMR version.

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AX-50 – The best sniper rifle in Modern Warfare

When it comes to sniper rifles, it heavily depends on the situation and the mode you are playing. In the end, you have to decide which of the three rifles works for you.

The AX-50, however, offers a solid foundation for all modes of traditional multiplayer and is so customizable that it can compete with the other two weapons in every category.

If you don’t want to adjust to a new weapon each time but love playing a sniper, you should go for the AX-50. Its great strength lies in modes with small areas and a lot of action, such as Free-for-All, Headquarters, or Team Deathmatch.

Pro
  • Customizable for almost any situation
  • Strong at long and medium ranges
  • Ideal for “quickscoping”
Contra
  • Bolt action, shots need to count or you are vulnerable
  • Requires some weapon levels to unlock important attachments (like muzzle brake and optics)

Possible Alternatives:

  • Dragunov – semi-automatic, especially suited for medium-sized modes with important points like Domination
  • HDR – “the” sniper rifle, extremely strong at long distances and in large modes like Ground War
  • Rytec AMR – semi-automatic, high fire rate, high ADS speed, good at medium distance, plays more like a DMR
More on the topic
7 Tips to Excel as a Sniper in CoD Modern Warfare
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cod-modern-warfare-warzone-weapons-season-3-renetti-attachments

Renetti – The best handgun in Modern Warfare

Handguns are relatively rarely used and primarily serve as a backup, but if you are looking for a reliable pistol, the Renetti is a very good choice.

Even though this pistol looks a bit tame compared to the .357 revolver or the .50 GS, it outperforms these examples, especially at close range, with its high rate of fire, excellent handling, and its three-round burst you can add with attachments. A missed shot with the Renetti in the heat of a close combat is much more forgivable than with the aforementioned heavy guns.

The Renetti is practically the perfect all-rounder among pistols. It is easy to handle, reliable, accurate, fires relatively fast, and its burst fire deals significant damage. Thus, it represents the best choice for this slot.

Pro
  • Larger magazine forgives missed shots
  • Easy handling for hectic, close distances
  • Burst fire inflicts significant damage with its three-round burst
Contra
  • It remains a handgun, which is inferior to most other weapons

Possible Alternatives:

  • .50 GS – “Hand cannon” with enormous damage and optional high stopping power (Slowdown) but high recoil
  • .357 – Similar damage and stopping power as the .50 GS, lethal even at medium distances, but long reload time
  • X16 – also very fast, accurate, and easy to control, but with lower damage
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PILA – The best launcher in Modern Warfare

Launchers are good against barricaded players, but they can also take down annoying drones and other aircraft. The all-around weapon and the best choice in this category is the PILA rocket launcher.

First of all, this is the first launcher you get your hands on. With it, you can already take down air-based killstreaks like helicopters or the VTOL jet early on and deny your enemies potential kills. Your team will thank you. Additionally, this launcher has the option to be fired freely, which allows it to take out entrenched enemies through windows or other openings.

While the PILA is not very effective against vehicles, it is the best choice against infantry and air targets. In Ground War, another launcher may be worthwhile, but in almost all other modes, you should stick with the PILA if you want to take a launcher with you.

Pro
  • Available early
  • Useful for air and infantry defense
  • Strong ground control to deny opponents advances or flush out campers
Contra
  • Little ammunition
  • Weak against tanks

Possible Alternatives:

  • JOKR – targets and follows targets, stronger against tanks and killstreaks, useless against infantry
  • RPG – large effect radius, but inaccurate and slower rockets, no automatic targeting system
  • Strela – small effect radius, but very fast and precise rockets, no automatic targeting system
More on the topic
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Which weapons are worth considering?

Many weapons offer you blueprints, with which you can equip pre-furnished and equipped weapons. These weapons are often especially useful for beginners or for players who struggle with the gunsmith feature.

However, those who know the subject a bit better or simply like to try new things can build up to 19 secret weapons in Modern Warfare. Some of them are quite powerful and change a weapon’s characteristics so much that it actually falls into a completely different category – like an AK-47 modified into a light machine gun that can compete very effectively with the PKM.

Are you looking for general tips to improve your gameplay? Then check out these articles:

What do you think of this selection? Do you have other preferences and would you rank other weapons at the top of certain categories? Or does this list align with your experiences? By the way, another new weapon will be added during the ongoing Season 5. Will it possibly be able to rise to the top of its class? Leak and roadmap for CoD MW & Warzone show: The next new weapon will be an MG

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Dexerto
  2. TheXclusiveAce auf YouTube

Playlist update for CoD MW brings popular Warzone action to multiplayer

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 3 minutes

Tuesday is Update Day! Expected this evening, playlists will change at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare & Battle Royale Warzone, bringing fresh game modes. This week, CoD focuses on action in smaller formats.

Update – 8:22 PM: The update is now live, after some players experienced queue issues in Modern Warfare and Warzone.

According to the post on Twitter, the playlist changes are as follows:

Modern Warfare

  • Cyber Attack Pro
  • Confrontation (“Face-Off”, Mosh-Pit modes on 3v3 gunfight maps)
  • Gunfight Maps
  • Season 5 Moshpit

Warzone

  • Cash Drop Quads and Solo Buyback removed
  • Blood Money (Trios) added
  • BR Solos added

Original Message – What’s Coming This Week in CoD? To keep things fresh for its players, CoD not only brings new content regularly but also introduces rotating modes weekly into the playlists of both shooters, Modern Warfare and Warzone.

New game modes are always added, as well as classics from older CoDs or popular 24/7 playlists where revamped soldiers take a little break to their brains.

Through a blog post on the Activision website, the CoD creators already tell us in advance which modes you can expect this week. This includes those mentioned above, as well as:

Modern Warfare

  • Mid-Range Mayhem

Warzone

  • Gulag Weapons: Assault Rifles & SMGs

These new modes will likely become active later in the week or during the weekend.

Call of Duty: Playlist Update today, on 18.08.

When will the update come? Since 8:22 PM, the playlist update is active.

What can the MW modes do this week? The people responsible for traditional multiplayer seem to have taken a little inspiration from the popular “Mini Royale” from Warzone and are bringing a small mode that allows you to play 6vs6 rules in smaller 3vs3 battles. In “Faceoff”, you are on gunfight maps as a trio, playing the normal modes, like “Domination” or “Delivered”. Some modes are likely to ensure real action, creating Shipment-like conditions, just like the Mini Royale in Warzone.

In “Mid-Range Mayhem”, you play only the new maps from the last months in a moshpit with changing modes – no flashbacks, no reworks, just the newest maps:

  • Oil Rig
  • Suldal Harbor
  • Chesshire Park
  • Hovec Sawmill
  • Khandor Hideout

As a third treat, there is “Cyber Attack Pro”. Like in the regular “Cyber Attack”, both teams must try to blow up the target with their bombs. But in the Pro variant, you don’t stay down after a death and potentially have to wait for a revive from a buddy, but respawns are activated and you can almost immediately start the next attack.

cod modern warfare warzone soldiers bomb target
In Cyber Attack Pro, you need to place your bomb, but you shouldn’t be as careful as in the normal version.

What can the Warzone modes do this week? There were only small changes here. The “Buyback Solo” mode (formerly Stimulus) has been replaced with the regular BR Singles.

The crazy “Mini Royale” will stay in the rotation for another week. Here, you start with fewer players in the Warzone, but the map is also smaller at the start and the gas circle is more impatient. Here’s more about the rules of the Chaos BR.

Since the start of the Season 5, Gulag weapons change weekly. In the regular BR modes, you will find machine pistols and assault rifles after the update within the apparently poorly secured respawn prison.

A lot happened last week – Meta weapon nerfs and CoD 2020 cause a stir

What happened during the week at CoD? Just before last week’s playlist update, Call of Duty made some weapon balancing changes and nerfed two of the strongest weapons in Warzone. The Bruen Mk9 and the FAL received some new stats and especially the LMG Bruen has lost its strength. It’s not broken, but it’s significantly weaker at longer ranges than before.

In Warzone, 3 OP items have been found that secretly came into the game with the stadium. Especially the “Specialist Bonus” offers strong advantages and more perks for your match, making you somewhat of a super soldier.

Also, the bugs in the game were a hot topic last week. A glitch sometimes turned your guns in hand into “demon guns”, blocking your view. However, after the fix, 3 new graphical bugs have appeared – here the developers hopefully follow up quickly.

Apart from the current titles, there is currently a hunt for information about the new CoD 2020 – Cold War. The CoD creators are almost making players work like spies and decode cryptic hints, which somehow provide a clue for the next riddle. All of this is happening on the map of the Battle Royale Warzone and is keeping some soldiers quite busy at the moment.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Activision Blog

WoW: Item from Legion is easy to get, ideal for leveling in Shadowlands

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Currently, you can easily get the trinket “Hunger of the Pack” in World of Warcraft. This is a trinket from the old expansion Legion, which can be very useful for you in the upcoming Shadowlands due to its effect.

What kind of trinket is this? Hunger of the Pack is a trinket from the Hall of Valor, a dungeon in Legion. It has the following properties and effects:

  • Item level 182
  • + 47 Strength/Agi
  • + 46 Critical Strike
  • Effect: When you kill a target that grants experience or honor, your movement speed is increased by 30% for 10 seconds.

Where can I get it? Currently, there is a world quest in Legion where you can guarantee obtaining this trinket, “Hall of Valor: A Worthy Challenge” in Stormheim. However, it is only available until Thursday, August 20 at 9:00 AM. While the trinket is always available, you are guaranteed to get it from the world quest and do not need to farm it actively.

WOW Hunger of the Pack in Legion Map 2
In the Hall of Valor, you can currently guarantee the trinket.

However, the Hunger of the Pack is only available for classes that use or can use strength or agility as their main attribute. Cloth wearers are left out.

Level Faster in Shadowlands with Items from Legion

Why should I get this trinket? By itself, the trinket is not necessarily strong. However, the effect is extremely useful. This still works in the content of Battle for Azeroth and will most likely also work in the upcoming expansion Shadowlands.

There, you will have to do without flying mounts when leveling at first and will therefore be significantly slower. More movement speed helps you a lot, especially when you run from enemy to enemy for some quests or if you are playing a slower class like Paladin or Death Knight.

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Aren’t other trinkets more useful? With Shadowlands, the maximum level is reduced to 60, which also comes with a decrease in item level. The Legion trinket will then have an item level of 50. Here are some numbers for comparison:

  • A character template for level 50 in the beta starts with item level 75
  • Mythic dungeons from BfA grant item level 72 in Shadowlands
  • Ny’alotha (normal) grants item level 100
  • Ny’alotha (mythic) grants item level 130
WOW Hunger of the Pack Comparison Shadowlands Beta 2
The Hunger of the Pack compared to mythic trinkets from Ny’alotha in the beta of Shadowlands.

The Hunger of the Pack is still clearly below other items, but the stats themselves are not significantly worse. Additionally, trinkets are not as crucial when leveling as they are in endgame, so you can forgo a bit of damage in favor of faster movement.

Previously, for the preparation for BfA, we recommended Bear Tartare, which makes you faster. The trinket has a similar effect, and those who run faster can quest faster. Only if you have trouble defeating enemies or are in dungeons should you switch it out.

A release date for Shadowlands is not yet known, but it will surely take several weeks. If you want to level a new character up until then and prepare for the new addon, you can find our guide to leveling quickly in World of Warcraft here. There is still plenty of time – just the trinket you will probably not be able to obtain with the world quest if you only start now.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The game with the goose that everyone celebrated is coming to Steam – with coop

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

In 2019, the studio “House House” achieved a surprising huge hit with “Untitled Goose Game”. Now the game is getting a two-player update – and is coming to Steam.

When does Untitled Goose Game launch on Steam? The game will be available on September 23 on Steam. So, users have to wait a little less than a month until Steam players can access the surprise hit from 2019.

untitled goose game gardener
Now, Steam players can also torment unsuspecting villagers

Previously, the self-proclaimed “slapstick stealth sandbox game” was already available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and the Epic Games Store. But even goose fans who have already completed the game on these platforms can be excited: Because on September 23, a new free update will be released, allowing the game to be played in local multiplayer mode on all platforms.

Finally honking together – What is the goose game all about?

This is how the coop mode works: During the “Nintendo Indie World Showcase” event, developer “House House” showed a trailer that featured the new coop mode. Here you can see what it looks like:

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The principle is quite simple. Instead of one terribly cute but also quite nasty goose, now two birds are wandering through an English village causing chaos. You can for example steal from residents, set nasty traps for them, break into garages, or create a ruckus at the electronics store. Or whatever else you can think of.

You can now complete the entire game together and drive even more villagers to madness in the goose duo. It is possible that this crazy game will join the best couch coop games of 2020 in September.

The developers state regarding the goose reinforcement: “New goose, new honk, still horrible” – with “honk” referring to the sound that the goose makes, which has become quite iconic by now.

A world-famous goose: When the unconventional indie game was released in 2019, the “honk”-making goose took the gaming world by storm. It appeared in the form of memes, circulated as an insider joke on social media channels, or was graphically integrated into other games by fans. In short: The goose was suddenly everywhere.

The humor of the game struck a chord, which was evident in January with high sales figures of over a million copies sold, as well as in terms of awards. The goose received many prizes – it also performed well at the GameStars, finishing second place in the best indie games.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Football star is now giving away controllers because he is simply OP in FIFA 20

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

The name “Wissam Ben Yedder” strikes fear into many players in FIFA 20. And the fact that the real player apparently knows exactly how OP he is in FIFA 20 is demonstrated by a recent contest he launched.

What has the footballer done? On his Instagram profile, the striker Wissam Ben Yedder celebrated a post about reaching 500,000 followers. As a thank you, he also started a small contest. With this, he proved that he knows exactly that FIFA 20 played a certain role in his popularity.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_tAvuJlgK/

Because in addition to 5 signed shirts, the attacker also raffled off five controllers signed by him. And indeed with the phrase: “[…] to replace those you destroyed because of me.”

A clear reference to FIFA 20 – because there, Wissam Ben Yedder is a feared name. But not because he himself is such a good FIFA player on the controller, but because his own card in the game is damn OP.

Ben Yedder knows exactly that he tortures FIFA players

Here’s the thing with Ben Yedder: In the FIFA community, Ben Yedder has basically become a meme. He is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the game. This applies even to his gold card, whose overall rating of 83 isn’t all that high. But something about Ben Yedder consistently makes him unstoppable.

In real life, he also knows where the goal is: In 26 games, he scored 18 goals and provided 7 assists. The consequence: In FIFA 20, there were a flood of special cards for the striker and his ratings kept getting better.

Currently, there are a total of 8 versions of Ben Yedder in FUT. For example, these 3.

So he has become one of the absolute nightmare players you can meet in the Weekend League. It got even worse with his TOTSSF card, which had a massive overall rating of 97. As soon as it was released, Ben Yedder commented on it with an amused “How many broken controllers does this one account for?”

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However, players generally have a good impression of Ben Yedder. In the subreddit for FIFA 20 and on Twitter, players humorously respond to the footballer’s comments.

Whether Ben Yedder will also be as overpowered in FIFA 21 as in FIFA 20 remains to be seen. So far, no ratings for the upcoming game are known. But we already took a look at some Bundesliga players who need to improve at MeinMMO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Destiny 2: Weekly Reset on 18.08. – New Activities and Challenges

Julian Schröder Julian Schröder Reading time 3 minutes

The Weekly Reset brings players in Destiny 2 today, on 18.08., new weekly activities, fresh Nightfall strikes, and a new Flashpoint. But what else can the Guardians accomplish?

What is happening in Destiny 2? Currently, the summer event “Solstice of Heroes 2020” is running in Destiny, for which we have a few tips for you:

And if you are wondering how the world of Destiny 2 would look in Minecraft, you can check out what industrious Guardians have created.

Even weapons have been recreated

But today, Destiny 2 is being played again, and we are looking at what the new week has to offer.

The key information about weekly activities from 18.08. to 25.08.

These Nightfall strikes are available: In the regular Nightfall (Power level 820), you can choose from these Nightfalls:

  • Exodus Crash
  • Savathun’s Song
  • Guardians of Nothing

In Nightfall: The Ordeal the strike

  • The Wretched Eye

is ready.

In strikes and story missions these modifiers are active:

  • Void Singe
  • Iron
  • Heavyweight

But keep in mind that the Singe modifier remains the same for the entire week. The other modifiers rotate daily.

Crucible: These playlists and modes are available in PvP:

  • Private Match (Core Playlist)
  • Rumble (Core Playlist)
  • Control (Core Playlist)
  • Conflict (Rotational Playlist)
  • Lockdown (Rotational Playlist)
  • Elimination (Core Playlist)
  • Survival (Core Playlist)
  • Survival: Freelance (Core Playlist)
  • Classic Mix (Core Playlist)

Fate: The Drifter activates these modifiers for you:

  • Solar Singe
  • Grenadier

Escalation Protocol: You can earn the weapons of the Escalation Protocol in Season 11 from the Contact event and the Prophecy dungeon in its current version with additional perks and mod slots. The armor is still only obtainable through the activity on Mars, but for some time now also in the “Armor 2.0” variant.

The current Flashpoint can be found on Nessus.

Petra Venj can currently be found in the Rheasilvia area of the Dreaming City. Here, the maximum curse level (3) is in effect. Additionally, the 1st Ascendant Challenge is active.

These are the sources for powerful loot in Season 11 of Destiny 2

This is how powerful loot is structured in Destiny 2: Powerful loot is available in several tiers, granting you various power boosts. Accordingly, higher tiers grant you higher power boosts as well.

  • Tier 1 (up to +3 over the current power level)
  • Tier 2 (up to +4 over the current power level)
  • Tier 3 (up to +5 over the current power level)
  • Exotic gear (+5 or more over the power level. The only gear that goes over 1050 and up to a maximum of 1060)

For your information: Power levels gained through the new artifact “Seed of Silver Wings” are not considered for the calculation of your drops’ power levels. The average of armor and weapons is what counts here.

Sources for powerful loot in Season 11: 

Tier 1:

  • Weekly Flashpoint
  • Prismatic Engrams
  • Gunsmith bounties – Complete 8 of his bounties
  • Weekly story mission: Luna’s Call from Eris
  • Complete 3 Nightmare Hunts
  • Zavala’s Vanguard bounties – Complete 8 of his bounties
  • Complete 5 Nightfall: The Ordeal. Higher difficulty levels grant greater progress
  • Crucible for 4 matches in a rotating playlist
  • Shaxx’s Crucible bounties – Complete 8 of his bounties
  • Gambit bounties from the Drifter – Complete 8 of his bounties
  • Every full rank up in Gambit or the Crucible

Tier 2:

Tier 3:

  • Trials of Osiris

Exotic gear:

  • Raid “Garden of Salvation”
  • Nightfall: The Ordeal with a team score of 100,000 or more
  • Nightmare Hunt (Grandmaster)
  • Dungeon “Pit of Heresy”
  • Dungeon “Prophecy”
  • Trials of Osiris
  • Seasonal quest “Means to an End”

Since the update 2.8.1 previously powerful rewards have been promoted to exotic gear. These include:

  • Crucible for 4 matches in a core playlist (Power boost of +1)
  • Complete 3 Vanguard strikes (Power boost of +1)
  • Complete 3 games in Gambit or Gambit Prime (Power boost of +1)
  • Clan reward from Hawthorne (Power boost of +2)
Destiny 2 tess everis

Bright Dust Highlights of the Eververses

These are the Bright Dust highlights of this week:

  • The exotic Ghost shell “Backspin Shell”
  • The exotic Ghost shell “Shadow Shell”
  • The exotic emote “Inhale”
  • The exotic emote “Playground Pleasures”
  • The exotic Sparrow “On Golden Wings”
  • The exotic weapon ornament for Trinity Ghoul “Tangled Vanguards”
  • The exotic weapon ornament for Borealis “Ultraviolet”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Queues in CoD MW & Warzone – Are the servers down on August 18?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Today, on the evening of August 18, 2020, many players are complaining about queues in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and CoD Warzone and are wondering whether the servers are currently being maintained or are down. By now, the issue should have been resolved.

Update – 19:05: According to Activision, the servers have already been stabilized. If further problems arise, players should contact support:

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What is the problem? Anyone trying to log into CoD on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, encounters queues. Since around 6:00 PM, there have apparently been issues on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. Players are reporting on Twitter and Reddit that they cannot get into the games.

However, the problem does not seem to affect all players. In our tests on PC and PS4, we were able to log in without any issues.

According to Activision, the issue has already been identified and the developers are working on a solution. On Twitter, it is stated that the queues are currently being investigated and updates on the current situation will follow:

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We will keep you updated here as soon as there is news about the current status.

Last week, on August 11, there were similar issues around the same time. The first patch for Season 5 was deployed, which included nerfs to the Bruen Mk9. Even then, players complained about queues and being unable to play.

Update today on August 18

This is what players are waiting for: Today, a new update for Modern Warfare and Warzone was supposed to come, which brings popular Warzone action to multiplayer. However, the update seems to be delayed due to connection issues.

Moreover, around the same time when the issues started, the fifth day of the “Pawn Takes Pawn” event was supposed to begin, a series of puzzles that are currently engaging the community. On Twitter, the CoD Tracker account is now asking whether the disruption could also cause a delay:

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Since the errors are now resolved, at least the event should continue as usual. However, there is still no concrete start time for the new playlist update. We expect that around 8:00-8:30 PM, the update can be expected, as it usually goes online at that time.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Pokémon GO: All legendary and mysterious Pokémon that are currently missing

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 3 minutes

In Pokémon GO there are already a number of legendary and mysterious Pokémon. We look at the Pokémon world and reveal which legendary and mysterious monsters are still waiting for us.

Here’s the status of legendary Pokémon: Currently, there are 35 legendary Pokémon from generations 1 to 5. However, in the upcoming generations 6 to 8, there are still numerous other legendary monsters.

Here’s the status of the mysterious Pokémon: These monsters were often introduced through EX Raids or special research. Currently, we have 9 mysterious Pokémon from generations 1-5 and with Meltan and Melmetal, even two from Gen 7.

Especially here, some Pokémon are still missing. Even from the 4th generation, not all mysterious Pokémon have been released yet.

All Missing Legendary Pokémon

Here’s the list: We show you all 20 missing Legendary Pokémon here. Additionally, we will list the types of the Pokémon so you have a rough idea of the monsters:

  • Xerneas of Fairy type (6th Generation)
  • Yveltal of Dark and Flying type (6th Generation)
  • Zygarde of Dragon and Ground type (6th Generation)
  • Type: Null of Normal type (7th Generation)
  • Amigento of Normal type (7th Generation)
  • Kapu-Riki of Electric and Fairy type (7th Generation)
  • Kapu-Fala of Psychic and Fairy type (7th Generation)
  • Kapu-Toro of Grass and Fairy type (7th Generation)
  • Kapu-Kime of Water and Fairy type (7th Generation)
  • Cosmog of Psychic type (7th Generation)
  • Cosmovum of Psychic type (7th Generation)
  • Solgaleo of Psychic and Steel type (7th Generation)
  • Lunala of Psychic and Ghost type (7th Generation)
  • Necrozma of Psychic and depending on the form also of Steel/Ghost/Dragon type (7th Generation)
  • Zacian of Fairy type and in one form additionally of Steel type (8th Generation)
  • Zamazenta of Fighting type and in one form additionally of Steel type (8th Generation)
  • Endynalos of Poison and Dragon type (8th Generation)
  • Dakuma of Fighting type (8th Generation)
  • Wulaosu of Fighting type and depending on the form also of Water or Dark type (8th Generation)
  • Coronospa of Psychic and Grass type (8th Generation)
Solgaleo
Solgaleo is one of the missing legendary Pokémon

What stands out here? Especially the 7th generation has quite a few legendary Pokémon. You can look forward to a lot of releases here.

The 7th generation also introduced the first legendary Pokémon that can evolve. Type: Null evolves into Amigento, and the Pokémon Cosmog, Cosmovum, Solgaleo, and Lunala are also a family that can evolve.

When will the Pokémon come into play? So far, Niantic has been following a schedule of one generation per year. The first Pokémon from Gen 6 have also been briefly shown and may come as soon as this fall.

If it continues like this, we should have all current generations represented in Pokémon GO by 2022.

All Missing Mysterious Pokémon

Here’s the list: For the mysterious Pokémon, there are 13 monsters that cannot yet be found in Pokémon GO. These include:

  • Manaphy of Water type (4th Generation)
  • Phione of Water type (4th Generation)
  • Shaymin of Grass type and in one form additionally of Flying type (4th Generation)
  • Arceus of Normal type, but can assume any of the 18 types (4th Generation)
  • Keldeo of Water and Fighting type (5th Generation)
  • Meloetta of Normal type and depending on the form additionally of Fighting or Psychic type (5th Generation)
  • Diancie of Rock and Fairy type (6th Generation)
  • Hoopa of Psychic and Ghost type (6th Generation)
  • Volcanion of Fire and Water type (6th Generation)
  • Magearna of Fairy and Steel type (7th Generation)
  • Marshadow of Fighting and Ghost type (7th Generation)
  • Zeraora of Electric type (7th Generation)
  • Zarude of Dark and Grass type (8th Generation)
Phione Manaphy
Phione and Manaphy come from Gen 4, but are still not available in Pokémon GO.

What stands out here? Although we have already been able to catch the first mysterious Pokémon of the 5th generation with Victini and Genesect , there are still 4 mysterious Pokémon from the 4th generation that are not yet in the game.

Many of the mysterious Pokémon have attack combinations that are not yet available in the game. These include Volcanion of Fire and Water type and Marshadow of Fighting and Ghost type.

When will the Pokémon come into play? Here, you may have to wait longer than with the legendary Pokémon. Mysterious Pokémon often come into play through special research, and these are only available every few months in Pokémon GO.

One of the mysterious Pokémon would be a good candidate for upcoming EX Raids, provided Niantic brings these special raids back after they were temporarily suspended due to the Corona crisis.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Gamerant

There are more and more high-quality mobile MMORPGs – But is this the future of the genre?

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 5 minutes

In recent months and years, most new releases in the MMORPGs were games for smartphones. This will surprise very few, as the mobile market is huge. But are mobile MMORPGs really the future of the genre? And what needs to change for them to be accepted by us?

What does the MMORPG market look like currently? If we look at the new releases for MMORPGs on PC and consoles since the beginning of 2019, the release list here in the West is surprisingly short:

The gap created by fewer games and especially by rarely successful PC MMORPGs is increasingly being filled by new mobile MMORPGs:

The trend towards smartphones is not surprising when looking at the entire gaming market. However, it is striking that all these mobile titles come from Asia, mostly Korea or China.

More on the topic
The new MMORPG The Ragnarok wants to be like God of War and means it seriously
von Alexander Leitsch

The mobile market is booming, not just in Asia

This is how gaming looks: As the analysis website Newzoo showed in May 2020, about 48% of the revenue in the gaming industry is generated through mobile platforms. This amounts to 77.2 billion dollars. Additionally, the mobile sector is the one that has grown the most compared to the previous year (13.3%).

Most mobile gamers are in Asia, but right behind is Europe and with a significant distance to North and South America, as a graphic from DFC Intelligence shows:

Mobile gamers by region

The same study by DFC Intelligence describes that 48% of the now 3 billion gamers worldwide are on PC. However, there is no exact number for mobile gamers because PC and console players often also use a smartphone.

Mobile has arrived in all genres: The mobile trend is not only evident in MMORPGs but also in other genres. Activision achieved with Call of Duty: Mobile the best launch of a mobile game ever, Blizzard is currently working hard on Diablo Immortal and has already revealed that it will not be the last mobile game from the company.

Even a game like League of Legends, which has been solely available on PC for 10 years, announced a mobile version called Wild Rift for 2020.

With Wild Rift comes LoL-Mobile, which is set to be released in 2020.

Why is this so? In today’s time, many more people have a smartphone than, for example, a PC or a console. This is also due to accessibility and usually lower prices. Almost everyone can get into gaming via the small device, even if it’s just with small titles like Peggle or Candy Crush.

Moreover, there are regions like India, where almost only mobile gaming occurs and where over 600 million US dollars are generated on the device (via Moneycontrol).

The better the games for smartphones and also the smartphones themselves become, the more interesting the games will be for “core gamers”. However, this has not succeeded with many of the current mobile MMORPGs, at least here in the West.

Mobile MMORPGs and their problems

Why can no mobile MMORPG actually convince? Although many mobile MMORPGs are sprouting up like mushrooms, hardly any title can convince players from PC MMORPGs.

We repeatedly report on new titles on MeinMMO, but with the word “mobile MMORPG”, many switch off. And I can understand that.

Most of the games are well-made, look visually good, and carry a big name. Yet they all struggle with similar problems:

  • Many titles rely on auto-run and auto-play. You usually do not have to play yourself to make progress.
  • Mobile MMORPGs are usually not as complex as their bigger brothers.
  • Lack of gameplay depth is often covered by intricate grind.
  • Many of the titles openly rely on pay-to-win by allowing players to buy equipment, progress, or in-game currency for real money.

I have personally tried dozens of these games and have always looked for a title that binds me long-term. I have mostly returned to RuneScape, which is also due to the fact that it is practically the PC MMORPG for on the go.

I keep returning to RuneScape, especially because there are hardly any alternatives on smartphones.

Are PC MMORPGs already dead?

What about PC MMORPGs? In recent years, although more and more mobile MMORPGs have been released, there is still something happening on PC. Several promising MMORPGs are in development, including innovative titles such as:

  • Ashes of Creation, which has a Node system as a unique feature.
  • Camelot Unchained, which aims to build on old school PvP MMORPGs.
  • Crimson Desert, which focuses on story in the form of a campaign with multiple heroes.

The problem with all these games is that they are very elaborate and thus have long development times. There is no real release date for any of the titles and already now a release in 2021 seems unlikely.

ashes of creation Town 2
In Ashes of Creation, small camps can be transformed into large metropolises.

Are mobile MMORPGs now the future?

Will there only be mobile MMORPGs soon? Although the trend is moving more toward mobile, I do not believe that games developed solely for smartphones are the future.

Rather, I could imagine that crossplay between all platforms, whether PC, console, or smartphone, will prevail.

NCSoft is currently also attempting this with their platform “Purple”. They are essentially providing the emulator for the mobile game directly, so you can play it on PC. However, for me personally, this approach seems backwards. I would prefer a game optimized for PC and then adapted for other platforms.

Lineage 2M can also be played on PC thanks to the emulator. However, it still does not meet the demands of a PC MMORPG.

The perfect mobile MMORPG? But what about a good mobile MMORPG coming from a Western developer? One that avoids problematic features like autoplay and pay-to-win and instead convinces with gameplay?

So far, no such title seems to be in development, even though some games like Albion Online can be played on Android devices.

An innovation that could make mobile MMORPGs more interesting would be utilizing features like in Pokémon GO, i.e. walking in the real world to explore and fight. ArcheAge Walk takes a step in this direction. However, here too, it is a Korean title.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Survey shows: Games have a positive impact on society during the Corona crisis

MeinMMO MeinMMO Reading time 2 minutes

A survey conducted by the Association of the German Games Industry shows that video games have helped many people during the Corona crisis.

During the digital gamescom 2020, the positive impact of video games on society is supposed to be the focus. To underline this, a survey was conducted in Germany that specifically addressed gaming during the Corona crisis.

Here are the survey results: How much games helped during the Corona crisis is shown by a representative survey by YouGov on behalf of the game – Association of the German Games Industry, presented during a gamescom press conference in Cologne.

  • Afterwards, about a quarter of all players in Germany (27%) said that they played more often with family and friends during the Corona pandemic than usual.
  • An additional 28% said that games helped them cope better with the Corona pandemic.

Overall, a large majority of Germans attribute a special role to games during the Corona pandemic:

  • About 4 out of 10 Germans (43%) say that games can help to cope with such crises better.
  • Almost two-thirds say that games have brought joy to people during the Corona pandemic.
game_Grafik_Corona was a great support for millions of people
Video games have brought joy to many people in difficult times.

More Gaming in the Classroom?

But video games are increasingly gaining ground in other areas of society as well. Such as in learning and educating children. More and more parents and children are relying on serious games, i.e., educational games. This trend has been further reinforced by school closures due to Corona. However, so far, corresponding serious games are mainly used at home and in private settings.

According to the majority of Germans, such educational games should also be used much more in schools, as well as digital skills being more firmly integrated into the curriculum overall.

  • About 6 out of 10 Germans say that the Corona pandemic has shown that Germany should already be further along in the school use of serious games.
  • 70% of Germans expect that basic programming skills should be taught early in school.
  • 77% also believe that the necessary digital competencies should be taught to students in schools to handle digital media responsibly.
game_Grafik_Games in the School
Although many Germans consider digital competence important, they do not believe that schools are well enough equipped for it.

With the theme “Playing into the Future,” gamescom 2020 aims to bring the positive effects and opinions of the surveyed Germans to the center of the debate.

Besides that, you can also expect streams of game presentations, interviews, and other shows from gamescom.

Webedia Gaming is an official partner of gamescom 2020. Therefore, we will provide you with news and information about the event here on MeinMMO, GameStar, and GamePro.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

MMORPG EVE Echoes successfully launched on Android & iOS – Here is what players are saying

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 3 minutes

The MMORPG EVE Echoes has had a successful launch on the smartphone platforms iOS and Android. We show you what early players have to say.

What is EVE Echoes? This is the smartphone version of EVE Online. You will fly through the seemingly infinite space and must engage in battles.

You can choose from 4 factions at the start and then choose between 3 bloodlines, each with 8 characters.

EVE Online has been running since 2003 and is considered very difficult for newcomers. However, in EVE Echoes, everyone starts from scratch and the entry is supposed to be significantly easier here.

Successful launch in the app stores

How did the launch go? Since August 13, EVE Echoes can now be downloaded for free from the common app stores. The download numbers speak for themselves. In the PlayStore alone, it has been downloaded over a million times. Reviews have also been actively written:

  • PlayStore by Android: Over 15,200 reviews with an average of 3.9 out of 5 stars
  • App Store by Apple: Over 1,000 reviews with an average of 4.0 out of 5 stars

So within a few days, the game has already had over a million testers. There are many positive reviews, but also some negative feedback to read.

What is well-received in EVE Echoes

The comparisons between EVE Online and the new mobile game are obvious. Many players expect a lot from EVE Echoes in the future, as they also view the development of EVE Online positively.

We summarize here some opinions:

  • “I have been playing EVE since 2009 and when I see the development of the game, I think that EVE Echoes also has a lot of potential. Graphics 5/Menus 3/Complexity 3/Fun factor 3. The market still needs to develop, structures and sovereignties too. Have some patience and it will be a lot of fun for you. Good Flight and Fight!”
  • “Clearly 5 stars! If you take some time and engage with the game, it’s really fun! There’s plenty of variety. Personally, I was looking forward to Eve Echoes and I am really excited.”
  • “I have never played EVE Online on PC before, but so far this game is fun for me. The cash shop is not so overwhelming, it’s a monthly subscription of a few dollars. Not too bad, compared to the enormous pay-to-win trend in mobile gaming. The game itself is pretty cool, there are many little things that can differentiate your character from others.”

MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has also tried EVE Echoes. He was particularly impressed by the easy entry.

EVE Echoes played
MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has already tried EVE Echoes

What is not well-received in EVE Echoes

There are some skeptical comments about EVE Echoes. Many are still talking about some bugs that are currently in the game. Here, however, some players hope and expect a prompt fix.

We show you the criticisms here:

  • “The problem is what I already feared. The EVE menu is too complex to fit on a small smartphone display. Moreover, I play the PC version and therefore do not have time to play EVE Echoes as this is by no means a casual game.”
  • “On the release day, I could play without problems, but since yesterday I can’t log in anymore. Micropatches are constantly being loaded, but they don’t help. Repairing the client doesn’t work either. Urgent improvements are needed here.”
  • “Super complex, great atmosphere, nice soundtrack. But paywall, and if you have a life, it gets hard to keep up. This is something for people who can play 18 hours a day.”

There is also a lot of criticism that positive reviews in the PlayStore seem to be bought. When reading some reviews, they seem to be written by bots as they make no sense at all.

An example of this is the following review: “It’s so much fun to be recommended by my friends, I’m addicted to it, the picture is clear, there are many gifts every day, and the five stars are well accepted. It is a bit addictive, the picture is delicate, the music is good, I will recommend more friends in the future.”

If you are looking for alternatives to EVE Echoes, take a look at the MeinMMO list of 5 mobile games that do not rely on blatant pay-to-win mechanics. There we show you particularly fair games on the mobile market.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Fortnite: Everything about the end of Season 3 and the start of Season 4

Eilyn Rapp Eilyn Rapp Reading time 3 minutes

The end of Season 3 in Fortnite is approaching. Season 4 of Chapter 2 will start soon with a new Battle Pass, changes to the map, and a new theme. We look at what is known so far about the start and end dates and what theories are circulating.

What is currently happening in Fortnite? Season 3 brought a mostly flooded map, where players not only had to prove themselves against opponents but also against sharks.

After that, the water completely receded, and now players can cruise through the Fortnite map in cars.

Now they are speculating about the end of Season 3 and the next theme of Season 4 Chapter 2. In this article, we will show you what we know so far.

We will update the article for you as soon as there is new information about the end of Season 3 or the start of Season 4.

When does Season 3 Chapter 2 in Fortnite end?

When does Season 13 end? According to the Battle Pass, Season 3 Chapter 2 is supposed to end on Thursday, August 27, 2020. However, data miners had found hints suggesting an extension.

But the dispute between Fortnite and Apple now confirms August 27 as the start date for Season 4. Epic has warned iOS players that they won’t be able to update their game to Season 4 if Apple continues to block Fortnite updates.

Theories about the end of Season 3 – Will there be a live event?

What theories are there about the end of Season 13? At the end of Season 2 Chapter 2, we received a live event, where various towers rose from the water around the agency and triggered a massive storm. But what about a live event at the end of Season 13?

Fortnite Event Title.v1
The live event of Season 2 triggered a massive storm

So far, everything indicates that there will be no live event in Season 3. Typically, changes to the map or small hints are made before the event, but this has not happened yet.

However, the biggest hint is provided by Fortnite updates, as data miners show. Update 13.40 was the last patch planned for Season 3, which means that it is unlikely that an event update will be included.

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But keep in mind that this has not been officially confirmed by Epic Games, and there could still be a live event if Epic has something planned.

When does Season 4 start?

When does Season 4 Chapter 2 come out? As mentioned earlier, Epic has already confirmed the start date for Season 14. The new season is set to start on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

So we won’t have to wait much longer for the new theme to start.

The Battle Pass of Season 4

What will the next Battle Pass likely cost? So far, the Battle Passes have always cost 950 V-Bucks, with the version that includes 25 levels costing 2,800 V-Bucks. It is unlikely that these prices will change.

We will probably only find out what the theme of the Battle Pass will be once the first teasers for Season 4 are released.

Fortnite-Season-3-Chapter-2-Skins-Title
The Battle Pass of Season 2 introduced the robot cat Kit and the inventor Jules

Will there be changes to the map for Season 4?

Could the map change again? After the map had mostly been underwater for a season, the question arises: What changes are next for the map?

Now that the water has receded and roads have finally cleared for the new cars, it might not change much. But we will probably learn more once the first teasers for Season 4 are released.

Fortnite cars title
Finally, the roads are clear, and now you can cruise in cars

So far, there isn’t much information about Season 4 and a possible live event. Soon we will likely see what is coming our way. However, there is already information about what to expect in Fortnite in November. A cool skin bundle has already been been announced.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: The Sony console is gaining popularity with you again

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 3 minutes

After the PS5 lost popularity among MeinMMO readers in March 2020, it is now rising again. Here are the results of our latest survey on the next-gen consoles.

What was it about? In recent months, the two console manufacturers Sony and Microsoft have held conferences that bombarded us with new information and games.

In a survey, we wanted to know last week how your purchasing decision stands for the two next-gen consoles. Here is what you told us.

These are the results: The survey ended today, August 18. A total of 2219 users voted.

The distribution of votes was as follows:

  • PlayStation 5: 57.37% (1273 votes)
  • Xbox Series X: 32.4% (719 votes)
  • None: 5.36% (119 votes)
  • Both: 4.87% (108 votes)
PlayStation 5 – Everything we know about Sony’s upcoming PS5
Xbox Series X – Everything about release, specs, price, games, and controller

No console is not an option

Why is this interesting? Compared to our last survey in March 2020, the PlayStation 5 has gained votes again. With 57.37%, it has risen about 8%.

One reason for this could be that there was a real drought of information regarding the PS5 in March. Not even the design of the new Sony console was known to us. However, in recent months, Sony has stepped up its information policy, released some information, and likely managed to convince some doubters among you.

Still choosing the PS5 because of the exclusive titles, since I already own a PC and Microsoft is currently releasing every game for PC ??

MeinMMO reader GeT_R3kT

The Xbox Series X has lost some percentage points at 32.4% compared to March (35%), but has remained stable overall. Microsoft also introduced its new games for the upcoming console during the summer, including gameplay material for Halo Infinite, which will even be included in the Xbox Game Pass.

Clearly the Xbox. I borrowed my brother’s Xbox One a few days ago and am totally thrilled with the services, especially the Game Pass Ultimate. I have a lot to play since I’ve never played many games that are in the Game Pass, or the ones I would like to play again.

MeinMMO reader Jerry

Another interesting aspect is the fact that only 5.36% of you will not buy either of the two next-gen consoles. Consoles are part of your gaming arsenal, and you will not miss out on the next-gen.

Similarly, very few will buy both consoles. The number stands at 4.87%. Compared to March, the votes for “Both” and “None” have changed slightly overall:

  • Votes for “Both” in March 2020: 5%
  • Votes for “None” in March 2020: 3%

The trend over the past year: We have now conducted 4 surveys on MeinMMO regarding the topic PS5 vs. Xbox Series X. Here is an overview of how your opinions on the consoles have changed over the course of a year:

SurveyXbox Series XPlayStation 5
19.08.201924%58%
28.01.202029%54%
23.03.202034%49%
17.08.202032%57%

What about other communities?

On our sister sites GameStar and GamePro, a similar survey was also conducted. Here are their results:

  • PS5: GameStar – 31.19%, GamePro – 62%
  • Xbox Series X: GameStar – 14.24%, GamePro – 25%
  • None: GameStar – 44.23%, GamePro – 8%
  • Both: GameStar – 4.35%, GamePro – 5%

In stark contrast here is GameStar and the fact that a whopping 44.23% of their readers will not buy either of the two consoles.

This difference is not very surprising in itself, as the audience of GameStar mainly consists of PC gamers, many of whom own powerful computers. The target audience of GamePro, on the other hand, consists of console players, and there are also many console fans here at MeinMMO.

The great commonality of the three surveys is that the PS5 ranks ahead of the Xbox Series X in all communities. The readers seem to be quite unanimous in their choice across communities.

While in some forums the console war rages again, the Xbox head Phil Spencer claims that Microsoft is not actually about selling more consoles than Sony.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

German top streamer in interview: “Valorant would need a counter agent”

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 4 minutes

The German top streamer Solaaaa was a guest on MeinMMO and talked to us about the advantages of Valorant and what could be improved. He had an interesting idea for a new agent.

Who is Solaaaa? Originally, Solaaaa (link to Twitch) began his streaming career with the MOBA League of Legends. He still streams that quite well on Twitch and is also active as an esports player for the club Spandauer Inferno. However, he has also been playing and streaming Valorant with great pleasure for some time now, and his over 300,000 followers are now divided into Valorant fans, LoL fans, and an intersection of both.

solaaaa
This is Solaaaa. Source: Twitter

In Valorant, he especially loves the gameplay, the visuals, the tactical gameplay, and devising elaborate attack plans. Solaaaa is therefore well acquainted with Valorant, and our author Irina Moritz met him online for an interview.

New agents and map changes – What does Valorant currently lack?

This agent is needed in Valorant: In our interview, the question arose what Solaaaa envisions after Killjoy as the next agent? Irina guessed a further healer to relieve Sage, but Solaaaa had a completely different idea:

In Counter-Strike, you can extinguish a Molotov with a smoke. You can’t really stop the terrorists from pushing through a smoke with five. In Valorant, that doesn’t work that way. There comes a Molotov, then a Raze-nade, something else, and you can’t get through.
Maybe an agent who can make that possible. One who can neutralize abilities. I think that would be quite cool. One who can extinguish a Molotov or melt the ice. That would be interesting. Whether that is viable, okay. But it would be interesting.

Valorant Killjoy Title
After Killjoy, a counter-agent should come.

An agent who specifically neutralizes other agents at least temporarily would certainly be something new in the game and would definitively shake up the meta in the pro scene. Since Riot Games wants to introduce a new agent every two months, such a concept should certainly not be ruled out.

What could be changed about the maps: Continuing in the interview, we asked Solaaaa about changes to the game that he would find meaningful. The maps caught his eye in particular. On the one hand, with 4 maps, there are almost too few. He is used to more from CS:GO.

And then the maps here in Valorant, according to Solaaaa, are all quite similar. Especially the choke points, where one has to go through, are still very prevalent in Valorant. They favor the defenders, as they can easily secure them with a molotov or a grenade, or by using a well-placed slow trap to stop an entire push.

If these choke points were a bit larger, it might change quite a bit, but Solaaaa recognizes that the gameplay with skills places different demands on map design than is the case with CS.

Solaaaa also finds it unfortunate that there are quite a few corners in Valorant where the opponent is either hiding on the right or left. So 50:50 corners. As an attacker, you often have no chance against campers.

Valorant Shooter Sentinel Sage
Sage can stop entire attacks with slow traps.

Community content would be great: One last element that Solaaaa would like to see is the community content that became popular in Counter-Strike. After all, there are tons of player-made skins in circulation, and some maps that are currently played in pro esports were once created by fans.

However, Solaaaa does not think that this will happen: “Riot likes to keep its games closed. This is our game, we give you content, you play it!”

However, he still hopes for a replay function – which is actually a must in modern competitive games.

Tips and tricks for beginners

What Solaaaa recommends to new players: When we asked Solaaaa to give us some pro tips for beginners, he advised the following:

  • Valorant is a tactical shooter, not an action FPS like CoD or Battlefield
  • Do not shoot while running!
  • Shots do not automatically hit where you aim; you need to learn the recoil and handling for each weapon
  • Place your crosshair where you expect the opponent to be in the future; do not look down
  • It’s a team game: pay attention to what your teammates are doing.
  • What is your agent’s role, where are you most useful?
  • Also pay attention to what the enemy can do with their agents.

Since Valorant requires so much tactic and strategy, Solaaaa states that 50 percent of the game takes place in the mind. Therefore, good aim is important, but once you climb into the higher ranks where everyone aims well, the right tactics become essential.

Valorant Aim Tips Title 2
Aim is not everything, but very important.

More tips from Solaaaa’s own experience: Solaaaa prefers to play the combination of the swift agent Jett and the powerful sniper operator. This allows for very special actions:

  • As Operator-Jett, you can proceed quickly and aggressively and immediately seek and win an aim duel. So quickly out, aim at the opponent, take them down, and then retreat through Dash. This way, you might create a 5:4 situation right from the start.
  • “Off angles” are very important with Jett. So positions where you are not expected. This way, you have a safe shot at the opponent, who probably will not respond in time because they do not expect an attack from that side.
  • Do not give up your position too quickly. If opponents run past you, do not immediately shoot the first one. Wait to see if more come and let one or even two enemies pass. Then you have a good chance to take all three from behind.

So much for the interview with Solaaaa about Valorant. Another article we created with well-known content creators from the community is our big Valorant hero tier list. You can find the current listing of all agents in Valorant, along with a grading system, contributed significantly by YouTuber aSmoogl.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

A WoW expert shows: Gems make you weaker in PvP, not stronger

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The famous paladin Rextroy has discovered a problem with scaling in PvP for World of Warcraft. Apparently, you deal less damage and take more when you have better stats, even though you see something different.

What is the problem? Rextroy, the guy who killed 20 players with a single attack as a warlock, explains a problem in PvP. He has tested how it affects the damage taken and dealt when you socket your armor.

To do this, he obtained a versatility gemstone. Versatility increases your damage dealt and decreases your damage taken by a percentage and always works the same way. His result: with the socket gemstone, he takes more damage and deals less.

In another test, he even replaced an Azerite item. Identical item, identical effects, different item levels (480 and 465). Again, he took less damage with the weaker item and dealt slightly more damage. You can see his test here in the video:

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The crux of the matter is that you don’t necessarily see it yourself, as you are still shown higher damage when attacking. Only the correct number appears to the opponent with the info about how strong your attack really was.

PvP Scaling in WoW as the Cause

Where does the problem come from? The whole thing is based on the mechanic of “PvP Scaling”. This applies to players between levels 110 and 120 and is meant to ensure that the strength differences between players are not so immense.

To do this, the game calculates the damage and healing a player actually receives based on their stats through a formula. Broadly speaking, scaling means that

  • Players with worse gear deal more damage to players with better gear and take less from them
  • Players with better gear deal less damage to players with worse gear and take more from them

The corresponding formula adds values from sockets, among other things, thereby determining how much damage you deal or take. By the way, you can find out your PvP item level by entering the command “/run print(GetAverageItemLevel())”. The third value is the one for PvP.

wow item level chat
The first number is the maximum possible item level, the second is the currently equipped one, and the third is the one counted for PvP.

What is this good for? The system is designed to ensure that newcomers in PvP or players who are just reaching a higher level are not immediately torn apart by PvP professionals, but have a chance.

Should I wear weaker gear now? Not necessarily. In another test, Rextroy replaced his gloves with item level 475 with those of level 310. The result: he takes significantly more damage. Scaling only works up to a certain degree.

He even shows this in another one of his videos. There, he stacks the versatility value so high that he takes down opponents with a one-shot without class abilities.

More on the topic
WoW: Crazy Death Knight discovers new “Onehit” combo in PvP
von Cortyn

Additionally, stronger equipment usually has stronger effects like better corruption or better Azerite traits. These typically offset the disadvantages you experience due to PvP scaling.

By the way, PvP will become significantly more important with the upcoming expansion Shadowlands. Because anyone who wants all legendary items will have to fight other players. Whether scaling will still be a problem in this form remains to be seen.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. wowhead

CoD MW & Warzone: Is the Perk Tracker worth it? This is what it really does

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The perk “Tracker” in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and CoD Warzone might be stronger than you think – if you use it correctly. Learn here what it is good for and how to use it best.

What is Tracker? The perk is located in the third perk slot (yellow), along with perks such as Shrapnel, Eager, or Cranked. It allows you to see the footprints of your enemies in the form of glowing red prints that disappear slowly.

Moreover, Tracker grants you the ability to see where an enemy has died. A red skull will appear on your HUD. At the same time, you do not leave white skulls for your enemies when you kill an opponent yourself.

Call fo Duty Modern Warfare Warzone Tracker
The perk in the game.

The perk shares space with the underrated perk Scout, which is stronger than many think. However, Tracker can also be really strong when used correctly.

Tracker – Functionality, Usage, and Counters

What exactly does the perk do? Tracker marks the footprints of your enemies for precisely 8 seconds. Whether the enemy walks, runs, crouches, or crawls, a trail always disappears after exactly this time.

Additionally, the footprints roughly indicate the direction in which the enemy is moving – unless they are walking backward.

Call fo Duty Modern Warfare Warzone Tracker Footprints
This is what it looks like in the game. Image source: TheXclusiveAce.

What do I do with this information? From this information, you can derive several things, such as:

  • Where your enemy has moved
  • How fast they are moving
  • Whether they are standing, crouching, or lying on the ground

The last two points can be recognized by how quickly the footprints disappear and how far apart they are. If they have larger spaces and disappear quickly in succession, the enemy is moving fast or sprinting. If they are closer together and disappear slowly, the enemy is crouching or crawling.

The CoD expert and YouTuber TheXclusiveAce has taken a closer look at the perk. We have embedded his analysis in the video here for you:

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Where is Tracker worth it? The perk is a good substitute if you cannot spot enemies despite the best sound settings for louder footsteps, or to enhance the effect further.

Basically, Tracker is a good choice if you prefer a stealthy play style or like to flank the enemy. This means:

  • In Warzone, Tracker is worthwhile for players who like to clear houses and winding areas. Even in the endgame, when the play area is very small, you can use it to track your enemies’ paths.
  • In the multiplayer mode, Tracker is suitable for players who like to attack enemies from behind, especially in modes where specific areas are contested.

The perk’s feature of not leaving skulls on kills is therefore more useful in multiplayer. This is particularly handy when you’re trying to remain undetected and equipping your weapons with silencers.

Is there a counter? Not really. If your opponent is playing with Tracker, there is nothing you can do about it. Neither Dead Silence nor any perks can obscure your footsteps. They are always visible to the enemy for 8 seconds.

Other Useful Perks in MW and Warzone

One of the most popular perks in both Modern Warfare and Warzone is EOD. It reduces the damage you take from explosions, which is especially helpful against rocket launchers and claymores. Find out how strong EOD really is here.

Otherwise, it largely depends on your loadout and how you like to play Call of Duty. Defensive players from a distance need different perks than wild rushers with fast submachine guns or tactical flankers with assault rifles. It is important to choose perks that suit your play style. In our special, you will find the best perks and equipment for your loadouts in Warzone.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. TheXclusiveAce auf YouTube

FIFA 21 – Bayern-Ratings: Predictions for the players of FC Bayern

Julian Schröder Julian Schröder Reading time 2 minutes

How strong will the players of FC Bayern be in FIFA 21? We look at the predictions and tell you how the Munich team is doing.

FC Bayern Munich had a magnificent season 2019/2020 and was also able to deliver top performances internationally. Therefore, there should definitely be some rating upgrades in FIFA 21. We look at the predictions.

What are rating predictions? Even before the official ratings of the players in FIFA 21 are known, the community tries to estimate how strong the players could be in the new FIFA installment.

Here are the community’s predictions for the ratings of FC Bayern Munich.

Forecast of new player values of Bayern in FIFA 21

Where do the predictions come from? The forecasts for these FIFA 21 ratings come from Reddit user justin4559 (via reddit). His vision of the Bayern players in the next FIFA installment is well received, seems plausible, and is hotly debated.

These new Bayern ratings are predicted: In parentheses we give the old player value from FIFA 20 so you can see the possible development:

This is how the values of the Bayern players could look
  • Manuel Neuer – 88 (88)
  • Alphonso Davies – 82 (72)
  • David Alaba – 86 (85)
  • Jerome Boateng – 84 (84)
  • Benjamin Pavard – 82 (79)
  • Joshua Kimmich – 88 (86)
  • Thiago – 87 (87)
  • Leon Goretzka – 86 (84)
  • Serge Gnabry – 86 (84)
  • Thomas Müller – 88 (86)
  • Robert Lewandowski – 91 (89)
  • Sven Ulreich – 76 (79)
  • Ivan Perisic – 83 (84)
  • Javi Martinez – 81 (84)
  • Joshua Zirkzee – 66 (62)
  • Leroy Sane – 86 (86)
  • Niklas Süle – 85 (85)
  • Corentin Tolisso – 82 (83)
  • Kingsley Coman – 84 (84)
  • Lucas Hernandez 83 (84)
  • Fiete Arp – 66 (67)
  • Adrian Fein – 72 (70)
  • Alexander Nübel – 74 (75)

It’s important to keep in mind that these are merely predictions from the FUT community. The official player values in the finished game may differ significantly from these assessments.

If you are interested in these FIFA 21 ratings, you can see which 5 Bundesliga players in FIFA 21 absolutely should receive upgrades here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit

CoD Warzone: Twitch streamer Shroud finds opponents strong – then sees him cheating

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 2 minutes

Twitch streamer Michael “Shroud” Grzsesiek encountered a nasty cheater in Call of Duty: Warzone. It even got to the point where he quit the game out of frustration.

Here was the situation: After his return to Twitch, Shroud was playing some rounds of Warzone. In one match, he was suddenly taken out by an opponent out of nowhere.

At first, he was impressed by the opponent, as they seemed to be really good. But then he quickly realized: They’re not actually that good, it’s just a cheater.

Shroud is initially impressed, but then annoyed

This is the clip: We are embedding the clip here that shows the excerpt from Shroud’s stream:

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At first, the streamer runs openly across the map and is taken out within moments. The opponent shoots from a house and can hardly see Shroud.

The streamer is impressed, as the kill requires a lot of skill. He then asks: “That guy is like a god. Can I check him out? I want to see the guy, he is incredible.”

After two more kills from his opponent, Shroud then realizes that his opponent is not that strong after all. He is simply using cheats, which makes his actions less impressive.

Shroud then comments: “Oh, forget it. He’s a damn cheater! I’m done.” After that, Shroud shuts off Warzone and looks irritated into the camera.

cod modern warfare warzone update cheater melden knopf titel
Cheaters are a big problem in CoD Warzone.

What’s the situation with cheaters in the Warzone? In the free battle royale, cheaters are a recurring problem. There have been regular ban waves against cheaters, and there was even a big security update that made many cheaters whine.

However, the problem is not solved yet. In Season 5, there are still cheaters on the loose. Even large content creators are publicly complaining about it. Despite many efforts, it seems Infinity Ward cannot get the problem under control.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Dexerto

EVE Echoes is finally a mobile MMO that convinces me and stays on my smartphone

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 6 minutes

On August 13, the mobile MMO EVE Echoes was released for iOS and Android. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch took a closer look at the game and was pleasantly surprised.

EVE Online and I do not have a great backstory. In 2014, I tried the MMO, but after just a few hours, I frustratedly put it aside. Although I found the space setting great, the entry simply overwhelmed me, and I could not get into the game.

However, with the release of EVE Echoes, I wanted to give the franchise another chance for several reasons:

  • I had been tempted to try EVE again for a while.
  • In EVE Echoes, everyone starts anew, leading to a completely different dynamic.
  • I have been waiting a long time for an MMO that I can really enjoy on my smartphone.

In recent years, I have tried many games on my smartphone, including many mobile MMORPGs, some of which have made it onto the list of the best mobile games here on MeinMMO. However, nothing kept me engaged for the long term.

However, EVE Echoes genuinely entertains me after the first hours of gameplay. I would like to tell you in this preview report how the game is structured and what I like about it.

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The screenshots shown here were taken with an Aquaris X and Android 8.1. Graphically, the game looks significantly better on newer devices and higher resolutions.

A smooth entry into EVE Echoes

What kind of game is this? EVE Echoes is a space MMO and is in its own EVE universe for technical and narrative reasons, but relies on a lot of familiar content. Those who have played EVE Online should feel right at home, while those who, like me, are complete newcomers will be very well welcomed.

The game offers plenty of tutorials and explanations with German text and English voice acting. This makes Echoes significantly better than its big brother, at least in 2014 when I tried the MMO. In the meantime, this may have changed, after all, the game was officially Free2Play in 2016 and has since received some assistance for newcomers.

The character creation: The game starts with you joining one of 4 factions:

  • Amarr
  • Gallente
  • Caldari
  • Minmatar

Each faction offers you 3 bloodlines and 8 characters, whose clones you will play. Cloning is EVE’s answer to the fact that we are resurrected after dying in the game.

EVE Echoes Races
The 3 bloodlines and 8 characters you can choose from in EVE Echoes.

The first combat: After you have created your character, you are immediately placed into a spaceship and drawn into the first battle. The fights are relatively simple:

  • You target your enemy
  • You press the “fire button”
  • You can repair your shield to withstand enemy fire. However, both repairs and firing use energy. You can only use both simultaneously for a short time.

The first battles involve little strategy. You usually take down your enemies with just a few shots without your ship being threatened. However, this changes the longer you travel in EVE Echoes and the stronger your ship becomes.

EVE Echoes Combat
This is what it looks like when you are engaged in fights in EVE Echoes. At the bottom right, you have the various weapons and equipment of your ship available, in the middle you see your shield (left) and energy level (right).

In the end, you are forced to lose the first battle, which is why you are cloned again after the first tutorial. With your own small spaceship equipped with minimal technical frills, you can then explore the universe from a space station.

Lots of auto-piloting, but also lots of fun

How does the ship’s navigation work? Both in battles and when flying to new locations or mission objectives, the spaceship is controlled automatically. Shots and repairs are also made automatically, as long as they have been activated and enough energy is available.

You take on the role of a spaceship captain who gives a command, which is then continuously carried out by the crew. However, you also need to rescind your commands. A purely automatic fight is not possible here.

What makes it so fun? In EVE Echoes, it is all about earning money at the beginning, improving your spaceship, and mastering new missions and battles.

EVE Echoes Ship Equipment
I started with a Velator as my first ship. In the overview, you can see the values of the ship and adjust the equipped upgrades.

The larger and better the ship becomes, the more options you have to earn money:

  • You can equip your ship with tools, which in turn helps with mining. This allows you to earn materials for missions and sales.
  • You can also carry better weapon systems and fight against stronger opponents in missions. Enemies also drop loot, which can then be sold.

Moreover, your character develops through battles and completed missions by learning new skills. The missions are varied. You need to fight, transport, collect, or explore.

The game offers a huge world that looks really good depending on the smartphone used.

Playing in a group: EVE Echoes can initially be experienced well alone, but there is also provision for groups. There are corporations you can join, and in some missions, you must do so. There are already many German guilds looking for casual players.

Additionally, you can form a fleet of up to 10 players. This is commanded by one player. Together, you can travel to selected locations, fight battles, and master missions.

EVE Echoes Corporation

What does the endgame look like? Like its big brother, EVE Echoes is also supposed to offer a lot of freedom in the endgame. You should be able to complete missions, farm resources, explore the world, or experience PvP with and against other players.

However, since I am still far from reaching the endgame, I cannot make any statement about the long-term motivation and the tasks there.

High battery consumption and the in-game shop

How is the battery consumption? EVE Echoes consumed quite a bit of battery in my test, at least compared to MMORPGs like RuneScape or games like Teamfight Tactics and Pokémon GO that I usually have on my smartphone.

After about 2 hours of gameplay, the battery dropped from 100% to below 15%. So for really long gaming sessions, you need a power bank or a power outlet.

How does the MMO finance itself? EVE Echoes is Free2Play, but relies on a subscription if you want to experience everything, similar to EVE Online.

EVE Echoes Login Rewards
EVE Echoes offers various login rewards. As a subscriber, you also receive bonus items.

For the mobile subscription, you pay 4.99 Euros per month to gain access to all ships and all pilot skills. Additionally, there are bonus progression rewards in the form of special login rewards if you pay 14.99 Euros per month. There is also a shop, which, however, only contains cosmetic skins.

So far, however, after around 8 hours of gameplay, I have not encountered any paywall.

An MMO that finally stays on my smartphone longer

For a long time, I have been looking for an MMO that I can play on my smartphone while on the go or lying in bed in the evening. EVE Echoes is at least after the first 8 hours of gameplay exactly what I was looking for.

The game offers a huge world, many tasks and opportunities to pass the time, and plenty of incentives to keep playing, including new ships and the progress of my clone. Especially in the tutorial, there were also some entertaining scenes, including the AI explaining to me that after so many cloning processes, I would no longer have a connection to my soul, but at least this would have no impact on my physical well-being.

The only thing I am currently uncertain about is whether I would subscribe when I reach that point.

Until then, I will definitely keep playing EVE Echoes and will publish another article about it on MeinMMO.

Alexander Leitsch

MMORPG expert at MeinMMO

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Sexism in the gaming industry: “I thought this was part of it”

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time 12 minutes

Abuse, sexual assaults, and sexism – a wave is sweeping through the gaming industry. More and more cases are coming to light, painting a grim picture of the industry. “Juicy Gnu,” one of the largest German gaming YouTubers, explained to MeinMMO editor Leya Jankowski how these assaults occur in gaming.

June 2020: The Destiny 2 streamer “SayNoToRage” was banned by Twitch and leaves behind his 168,463 followers. The reason is allegations of sexual harassment. He is accused of harassing and touching young women at events. Bungie, the developer studio behind Destiny 2, distances itself from the streamer and ended the collaboration.

This incident triggered a wave that is now crashing hard over the gaming industry. For weeks, more and more alleged victims have been speaking out on social media, sharing experiences of abuse in the industry. An excerpt:

Jasmin is one of the YouTubers and streamers who have now spoken out about the injustices in the industry. The young woman is known to her fans as “Juicy Gnu.” On her YouTube channel, Jasmin has 670,000 subscribers and on her Twitch she has over 132,000 followers. This makes her one of the largest personalities in gaming in Germany. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Jasmin shared how she was harassed at the beginning of her career in a gaming editorial office, which even led to the loss of that job.

When I read the interview, I had more questions on the topic. I asked Jasmin for a one-on-one conversation for MeinMMO.

MeinMMO: In our preliminary talk, we discussed that you wanted to start your career in the industry at a gaming editorial office and were harassed by a superior at that time. However, your complaints about it were not taken seriously.

I immediately wondered what that triggered in you? What does that do to a person?

Jasmin: Of course, it really upset me. I felt helpless in that situation. I repeatedly said that I didn’t want that. He would call me into his office again and again and wanted to test some Kung-Fu techniques on me. I made it very clear again and again that I did not want that. When I confided in the second boss and talked about the injustices, he seemed understanding at that time. He said he thought it was totally crazy and could understand that it upset me. I felt safe and understood and believed he would help me. I then drafted an email [to the boss], with the second boss in CC, in which I directly addressed the problems again. That was agreed with the second boss.

However, there was no response to that. The two had talked together without me. I think what often happens is that everything was somehow downplayed. It was said that I had completely misunderstood everything and that the harassment was not true at all. In the end, he preferred to believe his best buddy rather than some hysterical woman.

“One feels paralyzed”

MeinMMO: I believe you were a bit younger then, when one might be uncertain about how to deal with something like that?

Jasmin: I was 20 to 21 at the time and now I would certainly act differently. But I have also spoken to many other female colleagues about it. In such moments, one often convinces oneself that it cannot really be true. I have heard things from other colleagues that are so outrageous, where I also thought that they should have intervened.

But then one feels paralyzed and thinks that one is overreacting and that they probably did not mean it seriously. Exactly those are the moments in which one must critically examine oneself. One must consider whether to confide in someone and not sweep everything under the rug.

“I believe many women have come to terms with it”

MeinMMO: This is very interesting, what you are saying. We are now talking about the topic because many cases were reported on Twitter. Many women and also some young men have voiced their experiences here. I’ve often read in the comments that some wonder why someone only comes forward many years after the alleged abuse incident. Does that come from there?

Jasmin: I only started to tell these stories because I was asked. At some point, I, as a woman, resigned and thought that this was just part of it. I believe many women have come to terms with it. That’s why I find this movement very interesting and good, as it allows for discussions.

Of course, one must also be careful about which stories are true and which are not. Sometimes I’ve had the feeling that some have dug deep into the box to somehow join the conversation and make themselves interesting. But I think a lot of women are now speaking up who are now brave enough to say something. Ultimately, one thinks, as I do, that nothing will change anyway. One considers: “If I say something, I will have to leave because I won’t be believed. “

That is this helplessness, and one thinks: “It doesn’t help anyway.”

MeinMMO: I would like to go back to the interview with SPIEGEL. You mentioned there the so-called buddy culture. How do you think this buddy culture manifests itself and why is it apparently so strong in the gaming industry?

Jasmin: I can only speak from the companies I have worked for. Often, these were companies where the founders were already good friends before the establishment. Or there is the boss and the second boss who already get along well. It appears that situations arise in which men stick together and women are accused of exaggerating.

Of course, there are also women who make claims to harm men. That should not be overlooked. I think the genders then simply stick together.

Especially when one has founded a company together and has a great business partner with whom things are going well, one certainly does not want to admonish or dismiss that person just because they cannot control themselves. Perhaps a word of advice is given that the colleague should behave, but in my experience, that has never helped in the long run.

In the end, it was also the case for me that I wanted to be assertive and achieve something, and in the end, I was the one who got dismissed.

“Back then, I said nothing because I was afraid”

MeinMMO: My heart bleeds a little when I hear that. Fortunately, you were not deterred by this experience and have forged your own path. You found your home on Twitch and YouTube.

You hinted that this was not the only case when someone acted disrespectfully or lewdly toward you. How have you dealt with this throughout your career?

Jasmin: Actually, it was problematic when I did not have that much reach yet. More creators approached me with immoral offers. When I was smaller, they had no concerns that it could backfire on them because no one would have believed me.

The change came when I had more reach. Then only stupid offers from the internet came in, but not from the creators anymore. Quite the opposite, I had the impression that people respected me much more and were more in awe of the saying: “Oh god, she has made it big now, hopefully, she won’t say anything. “

Back then, I said nothing because I was afraid. I was sometimes threatened by creators with a larger reach to watch out. Today, I would speak up faster.

Rightly, people wonder why I am only talking about this now. It often has to do with being afraid and not wanting to bear the consequences of others sending hate messages. People often assume that I only want attention and fame, and then say that I should name names. Yes, why don’t you name the names? Because one is afraid of the consequences.

This is how Jasmin entered the gaming industry: Gaming is just a trend? Not for Juicy Gnu! Since childhood, she has spent a lot of time with games and has a great passion for virtual game worlds. She brought these experiences into her studies, completed her master’s degree with a focus on gaming, and made video games her profession. However, Juicy Gnu is best known for her YouTube channel, where she made her breakthrough in 2018 thanks to Fortnite Battle Royale. Since 2019, she can also be found on Twitch, taking her fans along on her adventures. Her favorite genre includes horror games.

“Many women do this voluntarily, too”

MeinMMO: I didn’t even know there was such a culture of threatening younger and smaller streamers. I am hearing this for the first time in this form.

Jasmin: I always say everyone can do what they want. One must also say that these content creators often hear a “yes.” Many women do this voluntarily. The content creators give the smaller streamers a push, and in turn, the women provide their performance, however that may look. Therefore, I must always say that it seems to work well. Otherwise, as a woman with a small reach, you probably wouldn’t get so many offers.

If these women want to do this, that’s perfectly fine. But I think one should not project this onto every woman and then say that one should be punished if she doesn’t accept these offers.

MeinMMO: So you mean that someone must be able to distinguish whether a woman is doing this as a voluntary performance or she does not want to?

Jasmin: Yes, I think it is also silly to demonize all men and say: “How can they?” It is certainly not acceptable for someone to threaten me, but it seems to have often worked. Otherwise, they wouldn’t keep trying so obviously, and now everyone is talking about it because some maybe said “no,” but comparatively, enough have said “yes.”

“But don’t bring your ugly friend”

MeinMMO: I would like to touch upon a point regarding industry events. What I have noticed in all these reports on social media is that many accounts started with: “I was at the event, and something happened.”

Now I know that you are on the road at many events for your job, much like I am. I have been to many press events where YouTubers and streamers were also present. I noticed that these events are often just big parties with many young people where a lot of alcohol is consumed. Do you believe that the culture of these industry events is problematic?

Jasmin: Yes, especially when I was smaller. More guys would approach me bragging about their reach and suggesting that we could record something together. The girls might think that this is quite cool to boost their own reach. Then they might also feel they cannot say “no” because they have put themselves in a dependency. I often observed this at events. When these women get a push, they feel somewhat indebted to the man.

I still remember an event when I was very small. A creator came up to me and stood at the bar with me, talking about how great he is. He then wanted my number so we could meet up later and said: “But don’t bring your ugly friend with you.” I just thought: “You jerk.”

What is a reach push? The market value of an influencer is largely measured by their reach. The more followers an influencer has on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or Twitch, the more valuable the brand behind the person becomes. A common way to increase one’s own reach is to appear publicly with larger influencers. This can involve being linked by a larger influencer on social media or appearing in a video/stream of the larger influencer. The followers of the influencer see that one is dealing with the idol, and usually, one gains a part of the followers for oneself. The influencers described in these experiences offer small YouTubers and streamers precisely this reach push in exchange for a (sexual) favor.

“The younger and more inexperienced, the greater the dependency can become”

MeinMMO: We have already discussed that you were intimidated more quickly when you were younger. Do you think it is a problem that so many start out so young? Most are teenagers or just in their early 20s when they start with YouTube or Twitch, and then some suddenly appear at these large events.

Jasmin: I think so, yes. That reminds me of something fitting. About four years ago, when I was still very small, I was at an event of a large company. There was a business lounge, and an influential employee of the company said: “Hey, can the pretty girl come over to us in the business lounge?” He then tried to chat me up, knowing I was young and inexperienced, and she is doing YouTube; certainly, a dependency can be established.

But I had no interest in him at all, and he kept going on about how much money he was making and was acting all big. I knew immediately that I needed to get away quickly. But of course, if someone bites, it’s the jackpot for them, and they just try. The younger and more inexperienced, the bigger the dependency can become – but also here, again emphasizing that it often seems to work.

In the entire debate, men are often portrayed as the bad guys, and of course, it is a terrible situation for women to be abused and harassed. But I know from enough conversations that it often works.

Update 29.09.2020: Jasmin released a statement on her YouTube channel after the interview, putting the topic in even more context. The statement addresses that women are not “to blame” if they are harassed. You can also learn more about the partially toxic and abusive internet comment culture towards women in gaming. Since the video thematically fits well with the interview, we decided to embed it afterwards.

Jasmin’s statement on the harassment of women in gaming:

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“It is really valuable to be able to say as a woman that you also have reach”

MeinMMO: Do you think that these young women have a problem in that they are sometimes still too naive due to their inexperience to understand what consequences such actions can have?

Jasmin: I do think that they are sometimes too naive to realize that some men are not just being nice to them. They do not yet understand what these men really want. I used to be like that, thinking: “Wow, are they all so nice to me.” and my mother would only say to me: “Wow, you’re dumb.”

I have surely kept some contacts longer than necessary because I had no ulterior motives. I was too dumb and naive to understand that all this could have put me in very uncomfortable situations. Now that I am older and have a reach, I have never been hit on poorly at events again. But now people know me, and they know it could quickly become very embarrassing for them if they approach me inappropriately.

It is really valuable when you can say as a woman that you also have reach and something to say. Maybe that’s why there is also such a desire for this reach among young women that they sometimes do things they might regret later.

It is better to issue a warning to young people than simply to condemn all men.

MeinMMO: Here, I am a bit conflicted, to be honest. One has a certain personal responsibility, and one can say that one was foolish and inexperienced. But if a young girl, maybe at the age of 18, voluntarily participated and even provided some sexual favors, then suddenly after 5 – 10 years says she was just manipulated back then, and now the other person is to blame. How do you see it?

Jasmin: I often think that too. I recently saw a great movie, Bombshell (link leads to IMDb) on Netflix. In principle, it was just like that. A presenter only got her position because she did something 15 years ago and did not dare to speak about it. But ultimately in the movie, she dealt with it by eventually opening up. However, she also said that she is partially responsible and feels ashamed today because she was foolish and naive.

I believe it’s important to admit to oneself that perhaps one acted foolishly in the past and would not do so again today. It’s better to warn young people than simply to condemn all men.

MeinMMO: We have talked a lot about how such injustices can occur and how young women or young men are confronted with abuse. What needs to change in the industry to combat this?

Jasmin: This is really a difficult question because it essentially relates to everything. No matter where I was, there were always problems with sexual harassment. Whether it was with teachers at school, in my jobs, up to YouTube or even on the street. I believe every woman knows that one has these points of contact over and over again.

I currently don’t have any solutions, I can only mention a great example. Generally, regarding insults or harassment on the internet, moderators on Twitch are setting up a network on Discord with around 70 people. If I am sexually harassed or insulted in my chat and that person is banned, they are also automatically banned from the other 70 streamers, so they cannot reach us again.

What I always find important is having a trustworthy person. For example, I had a wonderful teacher in school with whom I felt safe, which I later missed in my career. The teacher involved was, of course, very good friends with the principal, which is why this teacher greatly helped me because she herself had experienced harassment from him.

It would be great to have a neutral contact person in every company, also for men, who advocate for preventing such occurrences.

“You must not become dependent on the platforms or people”

MeinMMO: Finally, I have one more question. We know that we are not living in a perfect world and that an ideal state is still a long way off. What would you advise a young person who wants to kickstart their career as a content creator, whether male, female, or non-binary, to protect themselves from abuse?

Jasmin: Finish your education. 

It is very important that you complete your schooling or degree. Social media can quickly fade away. It is vital that you are not at a point where you feel you have to have sacrificed your education for it and now must do everything for your gaming career. This thought goes away if it doesn’t work out with YouTube or Twitch, and you can return to everyday life. You must not become dependent on the platforms or people. I have a friend who dropped out of school back then and eventually had to take on campaigns he didn’t want to. He just needed the money and was scared because he didn’t have a school diploma.

Importantly for you as men to know: I, as a woman, can send my community a heart when little girls or boys write to me. If I were a boy or a man, it would come across as strange. This means you need to be careful with how you respond to members of the community. That is something my manager taught me. If you are a man, you should not send a heart or write cutely to a 13-year-old fan because it can be interpreted differently as a man. As a woman, I have an advantage.

But most importantly, you should remain true to yourself. Viewers and clicks are not everything. Do not be afraid to go public if someone threatens you and do not accept everything. Make it public if someone makes you an immoral offer and do not listen to those who tell you not to make a fuss. Most people will listen to you and believe you if you have proof.

Never let yourself be intimidated.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.