A promotional campaign by the chip manufacturer Doritos confirms the name of the new Call of Duty 2020 and reveals a possible release. The shooter is said to be titled Black Ops Cold War and could be released as early as October.
This is what happened: A promotional campaign on the chip packaging of Doritos promotes a contest where players can win double experience points for an entire year. But not for Call of Duty Modern Warfare, but for the next title in the series: CoD Black Ops Cold War.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Thus, the name has been confirmed, which had already been established by some leakers for a while. The more interesting detail is hidden in the fine print.
Release as early as October
When will Black Ops Cold War be released? The Doritos packaging naturally states the terms and conditions, including the start and end of the campaign:
The campaign starts on October 5, 2020
The campaign ends on January 31, 2021
It is therefore likely that Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War will be released towards the end of October. Last year, there was a similar campaign by the beverage manufacturer Mountain Dew in collaboration with CoD for Call of Duty Modern Warfare, which started in the first week of October, and the title was then released on October 25, 2019. Mountain Dew and Doritos both belong to the PepsiCo corporation, so the chip manufacturer could proceed similarly with the promotion.
This could happen in CoD Black Ops Cold War: In a leak from last week, data miners found additional details about Call of Duty 2020. The story mode of the title allows us to take a small world tour, visiting regions in Russia, Germany, Vietnam, and Nicaragua. This would fit well with a “Cold War” setting.
However, these details have not been officially confirmed by Activision or Infinity Ward. Do you believe that the remaining leaks are also true and what do you wish for this setting?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard has introduced a lot of new Hearthstone cards. Among them is even the first weapon for all classes and even more annoying powers for Demon Hunters.
Currently, the Reveal Season is taking place around Hearthstone again. Here, the 135 new cards from Scholomance Academy are being revealed piece by piece. Some of them we have already introduced in the past, but now there are again some new highlights – including a way to sort the entire deck.
The Keeper of Knowledge Polkelt is quite an interesting legendary card. For 4 mana, it has stats of 4/5, but the exciting part is the Battlecry. Once played, the player’s deck is sorted according to the mana costs of the cards. Cards with the highest costs come first, and it descends from there. Especially in the late game, this should be interesting to reliably play strong, costly cards. But the combo potential is also great – after all, a sorted deck can lead to a lot of nonsense.
Ras Frostwhisper is a new Legendary for Mages and Shamans. The 5 mana minion has stats of 3/6 and a nice effect that can deal significant damage. At the end of its turn, it deals 1 damage to all enemies – increased by spell damage. This makes Ras a cool AoE option that might even make spell damage useful again in decks.
For Warlocks, demons are back in focus, along with the legendary minion High Witch Walpurga. For 9 mana, it has only 7/7 stats, but brings a lot to the board. Because with its Battlecry, it summons two additional demons – one from your hand and another from the deck. Depending on the remaining cards, this can be quite overwhelming for the opponent.
Rogues and Warriors are pleased with the legendary minion Doctor Krastinov. For 5 mana, it has only 4/4 stats, but has Rush. At the same time, each attack from Krastinov ensures that the currently equipped weapon gets +1/+1 and thus becomes stronger. If Krastinov is not defeated quickly, the Rogue or Warrior can quickly end the match in their favor.
Rarely, but no less annoying, is another minion of the Demon Hunter. The Magic Hunter for 3 mana has only 2/3 stats, but has Rush and the dark property that targets of its attack are silenced – and that already before the attack is executed. Strengthened minions are thus quickly reduced to manageable sizes.
Druids and Shamans get a new minion for 5 mana, the School Guardian. It has only 4/5 stats, but also Taunt and an interesting Battlecry: Restores 5 health if you have a spell in your hand that costs at least 5 mana.
The neutral legendary minion Vectus puts the Deathrattle mechanic back in focus and ensures that such cards will likely be more prevalent again. For 5 mana, Vectus has stats of 4/4, but also summons 2 whelps with 1/1. Each of the whelps copies a Deathrattle effect of a minion of the player that has already died in this match.
Model Student Stelina will probably be another card that will make players curse Demon Hunters. For 4 mana, this legendary card has stats of 4/3 and a nasty Outcast effect: Look at 3 of your opponent’s hand cards. Choose one and shuffle it back into your opponent’s deck. Together with the nasty card Gliding, this is likely to ramp up the frustration of opponents to a maximum.
Lastly, there’s even a brand new card type – the Sphere of Insight. This is the first neutral weapon in Hearthstone that can be included in the deck by all character classes. The sphere itself costs 1 mana and has stats of 0/4, meaning it cannot be used for attack by default. Instead, at the start of each turn, you may look at the top card of your deck and decide whether to keep it there or send it all the way to the bottom. However, if you do so, the weapon loses 1 durability.
It looks like Hearthstone with Scholomance Academy is going to shake up the game quite a bit again. Whether the cards will ultimately succeed remains to be seen – but the new cards definitely have potential.
Are you already excited about the new cards? Or can you not relate to them?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The action MMO Anthem (PC XBox One, PS4) is currently working on a major rework. Surprisingly, the studio head actually released images of new content in July 2020 that one could no longer expect from Anthem 2.0.
This is the situation:
The action MMO Anthem launched in February 2019 as a “10-year” project by EA and BioWare. But the game, where everyone is Iron Man, quickly ran out of steam – updates were lacking, and the game had significant weaknesses in core areas of an MMO such as player progression, loot mechanics, replayability, and endgame.
It was thought that the rework would mainly focus on gameplay systems and mechanics, but now for the first time, screenshots have surfaced showing new content.
4 new images of Anthem 2.0
These are the new contents: There is no new blog post or anything like that yet; the information is coming through the Twitter channel of studio director Christian Daley. This is not exactly an ideal communication channel, as some of the posts are already 3 weeks old, but they have only now truly reached a wider audience.
For instance, Dailey showed images of a new faction, the “Pirates of Blood Wind”; they are apparently space pirates. Concept art of a grenadier was visible:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This makes it strange: Such contents like “new factions” are actually not something a 30-man team would work on during a rework. Those would be more content from a big expansion, for which the team would also want to see money.
In any case, the situation with Anthem is currently difficult, as apparently only a small team is working on the reboot, while the majority of BioWare is working on Dragon Age 4. If the team is also creating new content now, it could take a long time before Anthem Next really appears.
However, Dailey mentioned that there will soon be information about the typical areas where Anthem needs to improve:
On player progression with loot and the Javelin
In the endgame
In player motivation
Or how to prevent matchmaking from being so fragmented that players cannot find groups
These are actually the classic elements of a rework that one would have expected. Space pirates would then be a bonus on top.
Anthem has always looked good.
The situation with Anthem is puzzling. The game sold well in February 2019, but it is unclear how EA wants to continue monetizing the game, as they do not want to provide DLCs but are relying on an item shop with cosmetic items. Players who function through a cash shop, however, need a large player base to be profitable.
Therefore, the question arises how EA and BioWare will now finance the reboot, but apparently Anthem is too big to simply be abandoned:
The release of New World is still delayed, but a public test is expected to take place in August. After that, however, the developers want to put the MMO back under wraps. A mistake, believes MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch.
What is happening with New World? At the beginning of July, it was officially announced that New World will not be released until spring 2021. Amazon wants to publish a “finished MMO”. Currently, mid and endgame content is particularly lacking.
On August 25, the former release date of the game, an open test is planned, in which the following individuals can participate:
For this short test, the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is also expected to be lifted temporarily. However, in a tweet, the developers already announced that an NDA will be reinstated after the test until a beta is expected to start in 2021. This is incomprehensible to me.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is an NDA? A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is about not publicly discussing contents that are part of the agreement. In the case of New World, this refers to all alpha contents.
What is the problem with the NDA? Fundamentally, there is nothing against developers of a new game or MMO not wanting to show their content to the public in an early development stage.
Presenting the contents is a double-edged sword and carries the risk that potential players may be deterred because the MMO does not present itself in the state they would expect. Discussions about the development process and pace can also have positive and negative sides.
However, in my view, this form with New World takes on very unusual traits:
At the end of 2019, New World returned with a complete overhaul. They wanted to move away from forced PvP towards more PvE and open world. There was another alpha that has been running since February 2020 and is again under NDA. There were again leaks about the game and now also new press videos.
In August, all players should be able to play and get to know New World. But then the NDA is supposed to return again, even though work is primarily being done on refinements and endgame content.
Why am I against the NDA? To me, the secrecy surrounding the game makes little sense. Every week, more players are invited to the alpha and with each additional user, there is an increased chance of leaks.
Often, those who were interested in New World already knew much more about the game than should actually be known. Conversely, many people from my circle of acquaintances who were very interested in the MMO in 2018 and 2019 have since lost that interest. And that usually because the bits of information came slowly and they themselves could see little or no gameplay of the game.
In my opinion, the NDA even creates uncertainty. Time and again, people here on MeinMMO voice their opinions in the comments and write things like: “I heard that the game is not supposed to be good” or “I can’t say why, but the MMO is still not ready for release.”
Where exactly do such cryptic statements really help New World and its fans? What exactly does Amazon want to protect with this NDA that has not already been revealed behind closed doors?
We now know so much about New World, even the appearance of many armors and weapons. What exactly is supposed to be hidden?
What would I wish for? In my opinion, game developers are at their strongest when they communicate openly and frequently with their players and fans. I side with Steven Sharif in this regard. The head of Ashes of Creation wants to show his MMORPG in an early stage to fine-tune with the fans. There was also a jab at the release delay of New World.
Through open communication, players know what they are getting into and developers can respond to feedback, make adjustments, or explain their views. It may well be that this is happening well in the alpha, but the alpha only affects a part of the fans.
Without an NDA, issues would have been pointed out early on, and the game could have been delayed not just at the last minute, but much earlier from the beginning.
I do not want to downplay New World, on the contrary. I still believe that the MMO has good chances to become exciting. This is supported by the fundamental structure of the game, the graphics, the visions, and many of the developers behind the project. However, I cannot understand the point regarding secrecy, and I have not encountered this so strongly in any other MMO before.
In addition to New World, other exciting MMOs are in development, including Crimson Desert, Crowfall, and Ashes of Creation.
Today, Sunday, July 26, kicks off Day 2 of the GO Fest 2020 in Pokémon GO. We will keep you updated with all the news, Team GO Rocket, and everything else the festival has to offer in our live ticker!
This is what’s happening here: Welcome to the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 live ticker, Day 2! We will provide you with information on special research, spawns, and everything else that might be coming up!
This year everything is a bit different – after all, the GO Fest is global and not limited to a specific venue. If you want to share your impressions with us, join us on Facebook and join the Pokémon GO Group. And now: Have fun with Pokémon GO Fest 2020!
Live Ticker for GO Fest 2020 – Sunday
8:01 PM: And that’s a wrap! The fireworks light up the Pokémon GO sky, just like yesterday when the event ended. However, Rocket grunts and balloons can still be found on the map – so you can still catch some Shadow Pokémon! We bid farewell at this point and wish you a nice evening. See you next time!
That’s it for GO Fest 2020
7:01 PM: The final phase has begun! Exactly 59 minutes are left to put an end to Team Rocket’s antics! Have you challenged Giovanni yet? If not, now is the time! Good luck!
6:02 PM: No server issues so far, have you caught some strong shinies? We’re still hoping for Shiny Bronzor! You have two hours left!
5:02 PM: Three hours left to defeat the bosses and secure your bonuses. Yesterday at this time, server issues began after the GO Fest started in America. Let’s hope for no issues today.
4:01 PM: If you’ve caught Victini, the quest isn’t quite over! Take a snapshot of the Pokémon to secure 20 Victini candies. Additionally, there’s 10 special candies and a super incubator for catching 20 different Pokémon and sending 3 gifts. To complete the quest, you’ll also receive a shirt, 2 raid passes, and 2 star pieces. So don’t miss out!
A snapshot of Victini brings extra bonuses
3:11 PM: You should think carefully about the Shadow status with Mewtwo. It does a lot of damage and is, of course, quite rare.
Mewtwo can deal a lot of damage
3:00 PM: Half-time, folks! Five hours of GO Fest are over, and five more remain to take down Team GO Rocket. By the way: Remember that you can change the moves of your Shadow Pokémon today with a Charge TM. So you don’t have to keep “Frustration” – this way your Shadows can become really strong attackers.
2:35 PM: We are approaching the halfway point of the second GO Fest day. How is your status so far? Have there been any cool shinies? And how far are you in your journey to save Victini? Here you can find our guide to Victini research!
Victini awaits at the end of the special research for GO Fest
1:38 PM: The fight against Team Rocket can consume quite a few resources. You can receive useful potions and revives from gifts. We also have a few codes for you that also provide items: All promo codes available for the GO Fest.
1:00 PM: Be careful when fighting grunts. There may be an error where you don’t receive mysterious parts for the Rocket Radar. In this case, you need to restart the app – everything should work again afterward.
Mewtwo Counters against Giovanni
12:20 PM: Are you ready to confront Giovanni? Then you should prepare to face his powerful Shadow Mewtwo. Good choices for Mewtwo counters are Dark and Ghost type Pokémon. For example, Giratina in its Altered Forme, Darkrai, or Tyranitar with the right moves are great options.
11:30 AM: After Groudon and Kyogre were in raids yesterday, today we are faced with the trio of Giratina, Dialga, and Palkia. Have you managed to secure the legendary Pokémon yet? If not, find the counters here!
10:33 AM: As evil as Team Rocket is, the hot air balloon industry is probably a big fan. Balloons are coming in one after another. The mysterious radar parts can be collected quickly here.
10:03 AM: With the appearance of the grunts, the GO Fest special research “Straight to Victory” has also begun. It’s time to send Team Rocket straight back underground. Save the mysterious Pokémon and defeat the Rocket bosses!
Team Rocket is after Victini
10:00 AM: It’s raining Rocket confetti, and the balloons are coming closer. Clearly, Team Rocket is here and apparently wants trouble. So let’s get into battle!
9:15 AM: Do you want to know what to expect today? Then be sure to check our overview of Day 2 of GO Fest! Here you will find all the info on raids, Rockets, and spawns!
8:40 AM: And now for some less pleasant news: Team Rocket has announced to disrupt the entire GO Fest. So prepare for lots of grunts, balloons, and fights against the team leaders!
8:30 AM: Good morning, trainer! Let’s start the day with some cheerful news. Overnight, the third Ultra Bonus, the Unova week, has been unlocked! This means: Some new monsters will come into the game between August 14th and 21st. Plus, you can catch Genesect!
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
8:16 PM: So, we are also slowly wrapping this up – after all, we want to catch a lot of monsters tomorrow too. Moreover, a whole different challenge awaits us. See you tomorrow!
Sunday continues with the second GO Fest day
8:00 PM: Just moments ago, the last ultra ball was thrown at a wild Blastoise, then Meowth and Eevee appear in the area. A solitary Rocket balloon comes rolling in. Alright: 10 hours and thus the first day of GO Fest is over.
7:30 PM: Half an hour left until the first day of the GO Fest comes to an end. If you throw a star piece now, you can boost your stardust yield!
7:04 PM: The global challenge requires 4.8 million great throws from the trainers. Good, you don’t need a friends list for that. As a reward, there will be triple catch stardust again. The bonus should be live soon, so catch as many Pokémon as possible.
7:00 PM: Aside from the server problems, we are now diving back into the water habitat and thus into the last hour of GO Fest Saturday. Catch Pokémon like Blastoise, Mudkip, or Corphish. Here’s the overview of all Pokémon spawns in the habitats!
6:45 PM: In another update, Niantic addressed the GO Fest disruptions. They continue to investigate the technical problems currently causing lag. “Social Actions,” such as friends list and raid invitations, may be temporarily unavailable.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
6:23 PM: Players continue to report severe lags and some even say they cannot get past the loading screen of the game. In Australia and New Zealand, similar problems occurred this morning, which are to be compensated with an additional replacement event. A similar approach might be conceivable should the problems not resolve.
6:12 PM: The global challenge is again aimed at catching 7.2 million fire-type Pokémon. The bonus gives double catch candies, and it is almost achieved. With the help of nanab berries, you can secure four times the candies again.
6:00 PM: Now, back into the fire habitat, where spawns like Alolan Marowak, Flareon, or Charizard await you. However, players continue to struggle with technical issues. Many actions, such as clicking on Pokémon or sending gifts, take noticeably longer.
5:50 PM: The lags have increased, Niantic is looking for a solution.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Pokémon GO Fest struggles with disruption: Server problems and friends list errors
5:17 PM: Some players are currently experiencing problems loading the friends list. After several attempts, it may work, but there is currently no official statement on what the problem is. Let’s hope it’s just temporary issues – otherwise, it will be tight with the gifts.
5:05 PM: By the way, the GO Fest has now started in the American region as well. Let’s see how this affects the global challenges. Many gifts were sent out here this morning.
5:00 PM: No more raids, now we’re going back to the friendship habitat. Now you can catch Chansey in the wild again! Also, the goal is to send out 3.2 million gifts. If successful, there will be a chance for special candies from gifts. So open them only when the bonus is active.
4:44 PM: The last ultra bonus is still missing. In the Unova week, new Pokémon like Sewaddle and Whirlipede will be available. Also, Genesect is enticing – will we get this bonus too?
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
4:02 PM: Now exciting spawns like Bronzor are appearing. By the way, you can also get a Bronzor if you complete the daily task where you have to do 2 raids.
4:00 PM: Have you caught many Tangela, Venusaur, and Serperior? Great! Now it’s time to continue with the battle habitat. The goal: 400,000 global raids. The reward: triple raid stardust and XP. Let’s go!
Time to raid!
3:25 PM: Don’t forget to secure snapshots of Rotom! Even if you already own one, you can catch another.
Rotom can sneak into your snapshots
3:04 PM: How are you doing with shinies so far? Currently, grass-type shinies like Oddish, Tangela, or Cherubi are strolling through the wild. In an hour, we’ll go back to the battle habitat – where you have a chance at Shiny Swablu.
3:00 PM: Half-time, trainers! Five hours of GO Fest are history, and five more await us. Next, we head back to the Grass habitat. The goal is to use 4.4 million berries while catching Pokémon. As a bonus, there’s again triple catch XP! If you missed the grass ones this morning, you can strike again now.
2:35 PM: Yes! The second week of the Ultra Bonus has been unlocked. From August 7 to 14, the Enigma week will take place, bringing more shinies to Pokémon GO – for example, Deoxys!
2:01 PM: Among the water spawns are monsters like Lotad, Magikarp, Squirtle, and Lomoloso. Also, there are new stickers to collect!
2:00 PM: We say goodbye to the fire monsters and go to the water habitat! The task is to land 3.2 million great throws and bring in triple catch stardust. So throw on your star pieces as soon as the bonus goes live.
Get even more stardust
New Promo Code and Free Remote Raids
1:58 PM: Here is a new promo code for you. The code brings 5 Nanab berries, a star piece, and stickers. It is:
9FC4 SN7K 5DAJ6
1:38 PM: Missing raid passes? Check the shop, where you can currently secure a box with 3 free remote raid passes!
Passes are currently free!
1:26 PM: A little tip: From the “Super Buddy” status onward, your buddy helps you catch monsters. This can be really helpful with some of the strong Pokémon that dodge your balls.
1:22 PM: The temporary bonus is already active, so you can secure double candies right now! Especially with Pokémon like Flareon, this can pay off: Its evolution, Flareon, is among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
1:04 PM: The spawns include Pokémon like Alolan Marowak, Ponyta, Charizard, Flareon, and Flare Blitz.
1:00 PM: Have all the gifts been sent and opened? Very well! Now we head to the fire habitat! The challenge is to catch 4,800,000 fire-type monsters. As a bonus, there are double candies when catching!
12:40 PM: After server problems, the disabled battle league is back. Let’s hope the servers hold up!
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
12:05 PM: In the friendship habitat, there is no direct Pokémon type to catch. You can catch monsters like:
Pikachu
Chansey
Snorlax
Togetic
Barboach
Jigglypuff
Electrike
And of course some more! Have you had any luck with shinies?
12:00 PM: Goodbye battle habitat, hello friendship habitat! Now is the time to send out your gifts! 3,600,000 gifts need to be sent out for the time-limited bonus to go live. This allows special candies to be included in gifts. So send as many as you can!
Send as many gifts as possible now!
11:20 AM: The current spawns don’t follow a specific type. Among others, these include:
11:10 AM: Oops, did a washing machine just jump into the picture? Take snapshots of your Pokémon and catch Rotom!
11:05 AM: The “Battle” habitat has now started! Accordingly, a new challenge is also running: 560,000 raids must be played worldwide! As a temporary bonus, there’s triple raid stardust and XP! Current raids include Pokémon like Kyogre and Groudon.
11:00 AM: The first hour is over and the plants are saying goodbye for now! Hopefully, you caught a few Venusaur, Leafeon, and Alolan Exeggutor! And have you also secured an Unown? Be sure to throw down your incense!
Catch the Unown!
10:00 AM: Let’s go! The GO Fest has started – as Professor Willow surely already told you! From now on there are hourly rotating habitats. Starting with the plant Pokémon. Remember to use your incense!
Also, the global challenge has begun, requiring all players to use 6,400,000 berries when catching Pokémon. So feed as much as you can!
Distribute as many berries as possible!
9:29 AM: The servers are apparently struggling with the event. As Niantic announced via Twitter, the battle league will temporarily be disabled to conserve server resources.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
9:20 AM: Just before the event starts in Germany, here’s a promo code!
UWJ4PFY623R5X gives you 5 Ultra Balls, 1 Lucky Egg, and stickers.
9:15 AM: The event starts in Germany at 10:00 AM. Then, there will be 10 hours of changing habitats, where over 75 different Pokémon are expected to spawn. The plan currently looks as follows:
The GO Fest Habitats Overview
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Plants
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Battles
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM – Friendship
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Fire
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Water
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Plants
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Battles
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Friendship
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Fire
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM – Water
9:11 AM: Wow, the event is not even running for us yet, and the first ultra bonus is already achieved. Players hunting for Pokémon in Australia and New Zealand have made significant progress! The Dragon week will run from July 31 to August 7.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
9:00 AM: Good morning and welcome to the GO Fest ticker! Hopefully, you’ve all organized your item bags and Pokémon storage because today there’s a lot to catch! The GO Fest starts at 10:00 AM with us. If you want to prepare until then: Here are our tips on how to make the most of GO Fest!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Niantic is distributing some promo codes for GO Fest 2020 in Pokémon GO. We list them all here and show you which items are behind them.
Why are there codes? On Saturday, July 25, 2020, the GO Fest 2020 started in Pokémon GO. It runs until the evening of July 26. During this time, trainers encounter exciting Pokémon in the wild and also engage in raids against important Pokémon.
The developers at Niantic released some promo codes for the event. You enter them in the game and receive free items that help you on your adventures.
Promo Codes in July 2020
These are the codes: As of now (status: July 26 – 12:00 PM), four promo codes are known that you can redeem once per trainer on Android or iOS.
MQE4PFNYVRM6M
Reward: 5 Ultra Balls, 1 Incense, 5 Stickers
9FC4SN7K5DAJ6
Reward: 1 Star Piece, 5 Razz Berries, 5 Stickers
UWJ4PFY623R5X
5 Hyper Balls, 1 Lucky Egg, 5 Stickers
5PTHMZ3AZM5QC
10 Hyper Balls, 10 Max Potions, 1 Sinnoh Stone
Keep in mind that the code with the Sinnoh Stone has been available in the game since July 23 and you may receive a message that you have already redeemed it – if that is the case.
How long are the codes valid? It is known that the code with the Sinnoh Stone can be redeemed until July 27. How long the other promo codes are redeemable is unclear. We advise you to redeem them as soon as possible before it’s too late.
Android users can find the option to enter the codes in the shop below
How do you redeem the code? For Android users, it’s quite easy. Just go to the in-game shop and scroll to the bottom. There you’ll find the field for the promo code. Paste the copied code there and secure the items.
If that doesn’t work or you are using an iOS device, you need to visit the Niantic website. There you can log in and enter the code. If that works, the items will be credited to you.
If you have problems entering the code, try using lowercase letters instead of uppercase letters.
Players have long been waiting for an increase in the max level in Pokémon GO. As part of the GO Fest, the developers gave a small insight into upcoming features – including leveling from level 41.
What is already known about the max level? It is certain by now that the current maximum level of 40 will not remain forever. Rumors of an increase have been around for a long time, and there has been more information on this in recent weeks.
For example, Product Manager Matt Slemon from Niantic said in June, that XP will play a role beyond level 40. He responded to a relevant question with “I say ‘yes’, but that’s all I can say about it right now”. During the GO Fest 2020, he elaborated on this.
What comes after level 40?
The new max level will be different
This is what Matt Slemon says: The Product Manager explained that they want to prevent players from suddenly reaching their new level after level 40 and that being the end. This has been the case so far, as the current maximum level was the final point for progression: “We want leveling beyond level 40 to feel different than it did up to level 40,” said Slemon.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Because although XP will probably play a role according to previous statements, it will no longer be the only factor: “Reaching level 41 and beyond will still require effort. Levels are supposed to show how much effort you have invested in the game,” said Slemon: “But it won’t be as easy as grinding XP in the way you are used to. The experience will be a bit different, and we’re looking forward to saying more about this later this year.”
He did not specify exactly how the level can be increased. It looks like we will have to wait.
In addition to the max level, Slemon also talked about Mega Evolutions. He confirmed that Pokémon that players already own can Mega Evolve. Here you can find out what Mega Evolutions are and which Pokémon can master them.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new guild emerges from the remnants of the WoW pro guild Method. Under a new name, many players want to show what they can do in Shadowlands.
In recent months, the outlook for the next race for the “World First Kills” in World of Warcraft has been rather bleak. After Method broke up, only Limit remained as the most successful guild. But now, a new guild has been formed from the ashes of Method. From now on, “Echo” will try to secure the first place.
What is Echo? Echo is a new guild and announced its formation on Twitter. Even if it is not officially called so, this appears to be the successor project of many players from the guild Method. This is also evident from the lineup of players, including many well-known names who were previously with Method – such as Deepshades, Fleks, or Fragnance.
They promoted their introduction video with the phrase “A new chapter begins”:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Why did Method break up? The pro guild Method was shaken by a major scandal in recent months. Numerous allegations were made against one of the players, Josh, that he had made advances toward underage girls. It also became clear that many members of the guild at least suspected this, but nothing was done. The guild leader Sco later apologized for not taking such concerns seriously.
After that, Method broke up, sponsors withdrew, and more and more people distanced themselves.
Are all members from Method in Echo? No. Besides Josh, it seems that Sco is also not represented in the guild Echo, as well as many other veterans. There could be many reasons why Sco is not there, even if none have been officially mentioned:
Sco is associated with the admission of guilt and would likely bring negative attention with him.
Sco is also strongly tied to the Method brand and probably cannot simply leave it behind. After all, Method is more than just a guild name; it is a whole company.
However, there are also some fans who point out that Sco did not want to play in his position in Shadowlands anyway.
In the next expansion Shadowlands, there is a new guild that you can cheer for in the races for the “World First Kills” – with many familiar faces from the past. Whether Echo can build on the successes of Method and, above all, detach itself from the more than tarnished image remains to be seen.
Are you excited that many players from Method continue in a new guild? Or would everyone have preferred to draw a line?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Factions in WoW Shadowlands are a permanent choice that will limit players. Less freedom? Cortyn from MeinMMO thinks that’s actually quite good.
Even before the release of Shadowlands, there is a lot of discussion going on around the new expansion of World of Warcraft . The factions are an important part of the player experience, if not the core feature. However, players are being pushed into a decision they actually don’t want to make. Because each faction comes with different bonuses and abilities. Many long for the freedom to switch anytime to be optimally prepared at all times. The choice of faction is already causing frustration.
I believe this compulsion to be bound to a decision is something that would benefit World of Warcraft.
These are the factions: In WoW Shadowlands, there is a faction in each of the four new zones. At max level, players must choose one of the factions and then gain access to numerous contents. These are not only story quests but also soul binds (a kind of secondary skill tree) and two exclusive abilities that only the corresponding faction can offer.
A lot is happening in Shadowlands.
What is the problem? Factions can only be switched with considerable effort. Since “Player Power” is tied to the factions, meaning actual abilities, many players fear making the wrong decision. This is accompanied by the fear of not being able to play “optimally”.
Game Director addresses design decision
In a rather lengthy conversation with streamer Preach, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas also spoke about the factions. The entire discussion is quite interesting and definitely worth a look.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In the interview, Hazzikostas defends the design of the factions and the plans to not be able to switch factions easily. He lists several points:
Factions are meant to be a fundamental decision of character identity, similar to the chosen class or race. Both cannot be changed during the course of the game. A (nearly) permanent decision is intended.
The entire story of the Shadowlands is based on the premise that players will join one of the factions and the others will not be available. Diluting that would weaken the story that is to be told.
Players can already make a lot of adjustments. Changing talents, equipping different gear, and swapping essences before each boss is already a considerable amount. They want to avoid even more such decisions “during the content”.
The Kyrian – one of the possible factions.
Preach, on the other hand, argues that a large part of the appeal for him lies in competing with other players. However, this requires a “level playing field” where all players have the same conditions. This is only possible if essential abilities, such as faction abilities, can be switched freely. Additionally, there is a danger that players may be excluded because of their faction choice:
If it turns out in professional guilds like Limit that faction X is the best for a class, such information slowly trickles down to the rest of the player base. Those who do not have the corresponding faction may not be invited to a group.
Emergency solution exists: However, Hazzikostas also mentioned in the conversation that there is indeed a possibility to make all faction abilities accessible to all players should everything go wrong. However, this is not the goal of the developers, and instead, they want to first develop and balance the system before considering such a step. Unlocking all abilities for all players would only be the absolute last resort if all other plans of the developers should fail.
I definitely do not belong to the faction of players who wish World of Warcraft was turned back 15 years and everything returned to how it was in Classic. I much prefer modern WoW. Nonetheless, I can appreciate certain aspects from the “old times” and would welcome their return.
An example is the difference between fire mages and frost mages. I was a fire mage for most of my Vanilla time and loved it. Switching specs was expensive and something one only did in the most extreme situations – similar to the factions. This created a bond to a specialization and provided exactly the feeling that Hazzikostas would like to achieve.
Fire mage in Classic – a decision to stand by.
I remember being envious when a frost mage next to me went into Ice Block to survive a deadly effect.
I also remember how envious the frost mages were of fireball crits that could achieve damage numbers they could only dream of.
Back then, switching specs also meant farming new gear. My items with “+ Fire damage” would have done little for me as a frost mage.
Was it annoying when I desperately wanted to play frost? Definitely. But at the same time, it bound me to an identity and forced me into a role I had to identify with.
Today, I can customize almost everything. I go into a rest zone, change essences, talents, and specs. All mages are somewhat alike – and if they’re not, they’re just 4-5 clicks away.
The Venthyr, the “Vampire” faction – they have a strong ability in PvP.
Yes, I might curse my faction occasionally. Maybe I’ll occasionally find that my chosen ability is not optimal in PvP or a certain dungeon. But I’m confident that there will also be many situations in which my faction will make me happy.
If that balances out at least roughly, I find the choice of a permanent faction good. Decisions with consequences make characters more interesting – total freedom, on the other hand, often makes them more boring.
Or how do you see it?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new special research with Victini, “Straight to Victory”, starts at the GO Fest 2020 in Pokémon GO. We will show you all the steps and rewards as well as the legendary Pokémon.
What kind of research is this? On the second day of the GO Fest 2020 in Pokémon GO, trainers can expect many encounters with Team GO Rocket. They have infiltrated the map and are now waiting around every corner for trainers.
In line with this, there is a special research for ticket holders called “Straight to Victory”, which can be started from 10:00 AM local time.
You can expect encounters with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres as well as Shadow Mewtwo and Victini. In this article, we will show you all the steps and rewards.
Special Research with Victini – The Quests
This special research offers you the usual 6 steps that you should solve. The quests mainly revolve around Team GO Rocket, so completing them on this Sunday should be easy in combination with the large “Team GO Rocket” event.
Victini Research – Step 1/6
Task
Reward
Take a snapshot
2x incense
Use 3x power-up on Pokémon
100 Poké Balls
Send 3 gifts to friends
2020x stardust
Stage Reward: For completing this step, you will receive: 20 Max Revives, 2,020 stardust, and an encounter with Machoke.
The Pokémon GO Fest 2020 is on Day 2. We from MeinMMO are revealing what to expect today, on Sunday. New spawns and a Rocket event are included.
This is Day 2: On Day 2 of the GO Fest, Team GO Rocket is mainly waiting for you. The villains have taken over the event and can be found all over the map.
But besides Team GO Rocket, a lot is also happening in Pokémon GO. Two old, legendary raid bosses will appear, and the spawns are particularly special.
Day 2 on Sunday with Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina
Which legendary Pokémon are coming? In the raids of Pokémon GO you can now find Dialga, Palkia, and both forms of Giratina. You can fight a total of 4 different legendary raid bosses.
Keep in mind that the altered form of Giratina can also be shiny. So you could be lucky. You can find the complete raid list here:
At the end, you will always encounter the first Pokémon as an encounter. This can also be found as shiny as usual. Arkos, Lavados, and Zapdos in the shadow version can be obtained from the special research for Victini.
Giovanni fights at the end with shadow Mewtwo. This legendary Pokémon has never been available as shadow before and is therefore something very special.
What about spawns? Even on Day 2, you will experience special spawns at the GO Fest. This will be a mix of the spawns from the previous day. So you will continue to find Pokémon like Kaumalat, Lichtel, or Icognito. A detailed list of spawns from the first day can be found in another article on MeinMMO. Check there to get an overview of possible spawns.
Use incense again today, as there are still special Pokémon in it.
Rotom is also available on Day 2. You will get this again in the washing machine form from the snapshot.
All news about the GO Fest can be found in our live ticker for the event. There we regularly report on possible news so you are always up to date.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Cheaters are a big problem in CoD Modern Warfare and Warzone. Developer Infinity Ward now announces a new wave of bans, but many players are not convinced.
What does Infinity Ward say? On Friday, the developer of CoD MW and Warzone, Infinity Ward, issued a statement on Twitter. In it, further waves of bans are announced, aimed at cheaters.
Cheating will not be tolerated. More bans will come. If you have received a ban, it was due to unauthorized manipulation of game data.
Announcement from IW
In four paragraphs, Infinity Ward explains that cheating is illegal and asks players not to use hacks or other cheating software. This includes, for example:
Aimbots
Wallhacks
Trainers
Texture Hacks
and generally any type of third-party software that alters the game in any way
When exactly the wave of bans will occur has not been communicated by Infinity Ward. However, players are warned, so there should not be any more unexpected bans that came without explanation.
The message from Infinity Ward was received with skepticism by the reddit community and on Twitter.
Users commented that such waves of bans have shown little effect in the past and that cheaters can simply create new accounts, especially in CoD Warzone, which can be downloaded for free.
Some players reacted with direct mockery. Infinity Ward would, with the message, kindly ask the cheaters to stop. The creator of a thread on reddit sarcastically remarked:
Good to know that cheating is not allowed and forbidden by Infinity Ward.
Memes like the Pikachu in the tweet are also present in the responses to the statement. Some users demanded that the developers let their actions speak and want harsher penalties for cheaters, as well as better anti-cheat software.
A great rocket spectacle awaits you on the 2nd day of the GO Fest 2020 at Pokémon GO. New cryptos and exciting encounters are in store.
What’s happening at the GO Fest? The first day of the Pokémon GO Fest started promptly on July 25, 2020, at 10:00 AM. Since then, all sorts of exciting and strong Pokémon have been roaming in the wild, refining your collection.
For the second day, the developers at Niantic have devised an event with Team GO Rocket. So make sure to upgrade your battle teams.
Update from July 26: In the meantime, there is more official information from Niantic and also player reports. We have updated the article with the new information.
GO Fest Day 2 – New Cryptos
This is happening with Team GO Rocket: Niantic announced that something will happen in Pokémon GO at midnight on July 26.
At that time, the crypto-Pokémon of Team GO Rocket members will change. This includes the rocket members Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo as well as the boss Giovanni.
However, these new Pokémon will only be available for limited times. Niantic writes:
If you defeat members of Team GO Rocket in balloons, you can catch the crypto-Pokémon for the GO Fest on Sunday, July 26, from 10 AM to 8 PM (local time). Outside of these times, you’ll encounter the regular crypto-Pokémon when you defeat Team GO Rocket members in balloons. The event-specific crypto-Pokémon that you can catch after defeating Giovanni is crypto-Snobilikat, while you normally encounter crypto-Suicune.
All day long: Crypto Snobilikat from PokéStops
Midnight to 10:00 AM: Crypto Suicune from balloons
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM: Crypto Snobilikat from balloons
8:00 PM to midnight: Crypto Suicune from balloons
The new lineups of Arlo, Sierra, Cliff, and Giovanni have been showcased in our counter guides. Be sure to save our counter guides for Team GO Rocket:
Can it be done without a ticket? Every trainer, whether with or without a ticket, encounters the same Pokémon when fighting against Team GO Rocket grunts, leaders, or Giovanni. However, players without a ticket will see fewer balloons.
What does it look like? On reddit, trainer Actinidia_Chinensis shows how the map in Pokémon GO changed. The title of the post is “Just after 12:00 AM in New Zealand and almost all PokéStops turned into Team Rocket Stops.” The user shared the following screenshot:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This is also happening (new): In the Pokémon GO blog, Niantic explains what changes for trainers during this invasion.
You can use a Charge TM to make your Pokémon learn a different move instead of Frustration. This is only possible during the invasion.
The confetti on the map will be replaced by Team Rocket confetti.
The Rocket leaders will start with new Pokémon
Sierra: Tanhel, Hundemon, and Zapdos
Cliff: Pinsir, Despotar, and Arktos
Arlo: Flunkifer, Scherox, and Lavados
Giovanni is also fighting with a new team. If you win against him, you can catch crypto-Snobilikat.
Only for Ticket Holders – Special Research and Bonuses
This is what to expect: Those who have a ticket for GO Fest 2020 and start Pokémon GO on Sunday, July 26, between 10 AM and 8 PM local time will unlock the following:
The special research “Direct Route to Victory,” where you battle Team GO Rocket.
Completing the special research will reward you with Pokémon that will help you battle Team GO Rocket leaders.
You will find more Rocket balloons in the sky, and you’ll encounter “Rocket” grunts more frequently at PokéStops.
You earn double Stardust and Mysterious Parts when defeating “Team GO Rocket” grunts at PokéStops or from balloons.
In snapshots, “uninvited guests” will appear.
The arena for the global challenge and the virtual team lounge have been devastated – guess by whom.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare there is currently a discussion about a well-known exploit. This allows players to briefly see the enemy minimap. Professionals are not thrilled about this considering the upcoming tournament.
What is this exploit? According to several professionals, there is currently an easy way to spy on the enemy minimap. In the case of a death, one should open the start menu during the kill cam, which supposedly will allow one to see the minimap of the player who killed them for a brief moment.
Information from the minimap can be relayed in voice chat to allies, who may use it to their advantage.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This bug poses a problem, especially regarding the large CoD Champs tournament, which has a prize pool of $4.6 million, the highest prize money to date. The playoffs will take place from August 19 to 23, with the final on the last weekend of August.
Accordingly, discussions among professional players are quite intense at the moment.
There is distrust among the teams
What exactly happened? The trigger for the discussions was a tweet from Austin ‘SlasheR’ Liddicoat, who placed 2nd in the World Championship in Call of Duty in 2019. In the tweet, he notes that the bug is currently a topic and has likely been present in the game for a long time.
In doing so, he poses an open and somewhat ironic question about how many teams might have already exploited this bug.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This tweet led to many ironic reactions, as players assume that most teams are likely exploiting this bug:
One should not make a fuss and just stick to the mutual agreement. After all, players in shooters are known for fair play.
Others jokingly call it a “game mechanic” that everyone uses.
Still, other users are counting on the developer Infinity Ward, who will not fix the bug but may issue threats. Austin Liddicoat only comments on this with an ironic “we are saved!”.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Exomecha is a shooter where you can fight against fire-breathing dragons and metal spiders. And of course, giant robots.
What is Exomecha? Exomecha is a new competitive online first-person shooter set on the planet Omecha. It will be released for Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles, as well as on PC, and is free to play.
Omecha is a habitable planet and is simultaneously claimed by several different species. Now they are fighting each other for access to the planet’s resources.
You can watch the gameplay trailer for Exomecha here:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
At the launch of the game, the planet will appear natural and untouched. However, as more battles occur and more species settle there, the map will change more.
These are the mechas and vehicles: A feature of Exomecha is the fact that you can not only shoot in combat but also control giant robots. Similar to Titanfall 2, which recently made a comeback. You can customize your mechs and equip them with different types of weapons.
You have the choice between ranged weapons like rifles but also melee weapons like swords and shields. The swords are the primary weapons of the mechs and deal the highest damage compared to other weapons.
However, their disadvantage is that they have only a very short range. This makes them less useful against the many vehicles that will also be present in Exomecha. The trailer shows, for example, classic helicopters, tanks, fast cars, and even the metal spider that you can see in the trailer above.
They all have their pros and cons. The spider, for example, can move faster over rough terrain and has a higher fire rate. However, the tank inflicts much more damage.
You will be able to control such giant robots in Exomecha
What is that metal dragon? Although it is very unfortunate, you cannot control the metal dragon from the trailer. The beast is controlled by AI and attacks anyone who cannot escape quickly enough.
The dragon appears at a random location during matches and starts causing chaos with its fire. Its presence is associated with much danger but also lures with cool rewards.
What modes are there? In Exomecha, you will initially be able to choose between three different game modes:
The first mode features large PvP battles
The second mode is a battle royale mode specifically designed for Exomecha
The third is a smaller mode where teams must complete various tasks
Abilities will focus on defense and movement.
To succeed in the modes, you need to customize your characters and give them new abilities. The abilities aim more at giving you a strategic advantage in combat rather than merely increasing damage or speed.
When is Exomecha coming out? After the first announcement occurred just a few days ago, it will still be a while before you can play Exomecha. The release of the shooter is planned for the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2021.
However, you can already sign up for beta tests now. You just need to go to the official Exomecha page and provide your email address there.
Players often complain about the massive storage space that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and CoD Warzone require. You should probably be glad that it’s 2020 – because a few years ago your closet would have been full of installation CDs.
How many CDs would Call of Duty need: CDs are an outdated medium and were once used for data storage. Now, however, new games are known for their size and above all players are frustrated with the storage space required for Call of Duty. We at MeinMMO wondered: How many CDs would one actually need for Modern Warfare?
Let’s start with the newer generation. DVDs (Digital Video/Versatile Disc) are probably more familiar to many of you, even though they are already largely outdated:
a modern standard DVD can store 8.5 GB
MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus currently has a CoD partition on his PC of 201 GB
201 divided by 8.5 is roughly 23.65
but since there are no half DVDs, we round up: 24 DVDs are needed for CoD
The properties of my CoD folder on PC.
However, DVDs are, as mentioned, the newer version of the CD. A standard CD (Compact Disc) holds only 650 MB – so less than one-tenth of a DVD. If you had to install Call of Duty via CD, you would need a whopping 310 CDs for the current state.
To be fair, my partition includes both Modern Warfare and Warzone, and we are calculating here completely without compressions, but still, that is an incredibly large number. Just imagine, each CD has its own case, and you would need to store 310 CD cases somewhere in your room…
A whole closet just for CoD
What the hell is a CD? Probably some of you may not know CDs anymore, but before the spread of digital downloads, CDs and their successors were the medium on which games were distributed.
Those playing on the PS4 or Xbox One might still know BluRays, but those are already significantly advanced versions of the CD and hold many times their volume. And even those have partly become obsolete, as new consoles like the PS5 come in All-Digital versions.
What use is the information to me? It’s great for parties. All jokes aside, while this is just interesting trivia, it does illustrate how large Modern Warfare really is. Approximately 200 GB sounds like a lot, but it’s somehow not really tangible on a hard drive.
Physical versions of games are still popular, but given this size, they are simply not always feasible. It’s then not so surprising if only a symbolic cardboard disk is found in the case.
This is what a DVD version of CoD could look like. Image source: PC Gamer.
But it also shows that it would be problematic to deliver new patches and content to the players in this analog way anymore. A recent update for the 200-player mode in Battle Royale required 39 GB. That alone would be another 60 CDs that developers would have to send you and that you’d need to store somewhere.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At Saturn.de, the “Smartphone Price Crash” is running until Monday at 9 a.m. with various discounted models, including the well-equipped Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro for only 186.68 euros.
What the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro offers: Released last autumn, the model combines strong hardware specifications with a comparatively low price, as is typical of Xiaomi.
The 6.53-inch IPS display with durable Gorilla Glass 5 offers a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, while the Mediatek Helio G90T octa-core chip provides more than enough power, paired with 6 GB of RAM.
The 128 GB internal storage is sufficiently sized and can be expanded by an additional 256 GB via microSD card. The latest Android 10 is also available via update.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
Among the highlights is the quad camera, consisting of a 64-megapixel main camera, a wide-angle lens, a depth sensor, and a macro lens.
In terms of connectivity and interfaces, USB-C 2.0 (OTG), a 3.5 mm headphone jack, WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, an infrared port, and a fingerprint sensor on the back are available.
Reviews, Test, and Savings
This is what users say: The smartphone on Saturn.de has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars in over 50 reviews, almost always receiving positive feedback, especially for performance, camera, and value for money.
Significant criticisms are hard to find and usually relate to the lack of features such as wireless charging.
In the test:Chip.de gave the model a grade of 1.8 (“Good”) and judges in the conclusion as follows:
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro impresses in the test with a good quad camera, capable of taking photos with up to 64 megapixels. Another highlight is the outstanding battery life. The display and performance also score well.
Only the equipment has some limitations, as the option for wireless charging is missing, among other things. Nevertheless, the competition needs to step up its game, as the Redmi Note 8 Pro is available from around 250 euros at a very low price.
Pro
Outstanding battery life
Good quad camera
Good performance
Contra
No wireless charging
No certified water protection
No HDR streaming
Savings: Saturn.de currently offers the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro shipping free for 186.68 euros instead of 233.97 euros. Mediamarkt.de also currently offers this price.
In the price comparison on Geizhals.de, the model is listed from around 207 euros with shipping.
In addition, as part of the promotion, several other smartphone models are also discounted, all of which can be found on the corresponding overview page in the online shop:
Mit einem Einkaufswagen markierte Links sind so genannte Affiliate-Links. Beim Kauf über diese Links erhalten wir je nach Anbieter eine kleine Provision – ohne Auswirkung auf den Preis.More info.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The contents will be no surprise to most veterans. As always, there will be a story, a raid, dungeons, and boss fights. The usual FFXIV update formula. Nonetheless, the past .3 patches have been something special from a storytelling perspective, and this one will be no different.
WARNING: Major story spoilers for FFXIV follow.
What was interesting about .3 patches? In the patch cycle of FFXIV, which normally consists of the expansion and 5 major updates, the .3 patches mark the “halfway point”. They conclude the story of the current expansion and lay the groundwork for the next one, even if it has not been officially announced yet.
In patch 3.3 of Heavensward, players finally defeated the dragon Nidhogg. The vengeful soul of Nidhogg had possessed Estinien, a friend of the player character, and led an attack against the nation of Ishgard.
Patch 4.3 of Stormblood marked the dramatic end of the character Yotsuyu, who was betrayed and despised by her brother and stepparents, becoming the Primae Tsukuyomi.
In both cases, the story in the patches was emotional, and much was at stake for the characters.
Why is the Exarch so popular? Through his appearance in the Shadowbringers expansion, the Crystal Exarch has gained many fans. I think he ranks among the most popular characters in FFXIV, alongside Emet-Selch and Aymeric.
One reason for this is certainly his backstory. He comes from a ruined future where an alchemical weapon of mass destruction triggered a catastrophe. Countless people died, including our player character, the Warrior of Light.
I have also grown fond of the Exarch because of his subtle rogue-like demeanor. The way he mocks his opponents with exaggerated politeness was great.
Therefore, the Exarch sacrifices everything to travel back in time and save the player character’s life. He is very caring, warm-hearted, and you can tell how important the player character is to him.
At the same time, the game has made a great effort to remind us every few cutscenes that he could die at any moment. On Reddit and in the forums, players have long speculated that the Exarch might die. A friend from my raid group directly said, “He’s got a target on his back.”
Originally, he wanted to sacrifice himself voluntarily, then he was shot and abducted, then he wanted to sacrifice himself again, and in the latest trailer, he is stabbed right before our eyes:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
It is therefore not surprising that many fans, including myself, are quite scared of the next patch. Of course, it could be a red herring. There are two main reasons for this.
It’s too obvious
In the years I have played FFXIV, I have developed a certain impression of the development team. They seem to take a sadistic pleasure in leading players like me, who enjoy speculating, around by the nose with the trailers.
The scenes appear to be randomly strung together
Quotes and dialogues are pulled out of context to sound more mysterious or confusing
Shocking situations are shown without context
The community breaks these trailers down frame by frame, trying to understand what exactly is happening.
I have often experienced that seemingly shocking scenes from the trailers turned out to be harmless or completely different. Especially regarding the deaths of important story characters:
There have been plenty of shocking moments in past trailers where a character appears to get killed.
For example, the trailer for patch 4.4 made us believe that the character Thancred was dead
The trailer for 5.2 showed Cid severely wounded and bleeding
In the launch trailer for Stormblood, Y’shtola appears to be killed
But all of these characters are still alive. The latest trailer for 5.3 would fit perfectly into this pattern. We are shown a scene in which the Exarch apparently dies to build tension.
If FFXIV has killed off a character, it has been relatively unexpected to maintain the shock effect. And it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Exarch actually dies in the next patch.
Further hints that the Exarch might survive the next patch come from director Yoshida himself. In interviews published since the last producer’s stream, he has also commented on the fate of the characters, albeit very vaguely.
To the folks at Gamespot, he mentioned that “the adventures of the Exarch are not yet over” and that “we have not yet seen where his journey goes next.” That sounds quite positive.
There will be many scenes of farewells where you say “farewell” to the people of the first shard world, and we wanted to portray that very carefully. The end of Shadowbringers is therefore slightly different from the previous expansions.
The key point here is a detail from the story. If the Exarch dies, the characters he summoned will be sent back directly to their original world. Their stay in the first shard world is tied to his life.
If he were to die in 5.3, they would have no time for grand farewell scenes.
Besides, Elidibus has already skewered someone like the Exarch in the new trailer. In patch 2.1, Minfilia was stabbed with the same purple energy sword in the chest and survived.
You meet Elidibus for the first time during the story of 2.1. He skewers Minfilia and refers to it as “self-defense.”
The new trial battle worries me
This now sounds as if everything would be fine, were it not for the new secret boss battle. In every new FFXIV patch, there is at least one trial battle that is often tied to the story.
And in 5.3, this battle is a secret. We know virtually nothing about it, as director Yoshida stated that any info would be massive spoilers.
This, of course, immediately sparked wild speculation in the community, with the Exarch at the forefront. The assumption is that during the story, something will happen that forces us to fight against him and ultimately kill him.
Emet-Selch became extremely popular due to Shadowbringers. The Japanese fans voted him into the top 10 of the best characters in the entire Final Fantasy franchise.
I also consider this possibility quite likely, which is why I await the new patch with both joy and fear. Killing popular characters is one thing. What is entirely different is being forced to kill them yourself because there is no other way.
It was already bitter that we had to eliminate Emet-Selch. Killing another great character will truly be painful.
A developer reveals new gameplay details about the multiplayer co-op game Godfall for PS5 and PC. Here’s everything we know about weapons, loot, and the special “Valorplate” armors.
How do the weapons work? The weapons in Godfall have a direct impact on how your character will play. The weapon class you have equipped determines the move set and combos you can use.
You will have a selection of 5 different weapon classes:
War Hammer
Long Sword
Great Sword
Dual Blades
Polearm
These work quite classically. With the hammer, you attack slower, but hit really hard, while the fast dual blades allow you to execute rapid combos.
The Valorplates, the mighty armors you will wear in battle, do not affect your combos. So if you use Valorplate A and then switch to C, your move sets will remain the same.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
There will be an upgrade system for the weapons. So if you find a spear that suits your playstyle, you can carry it with you throughout the game. As long as you continue to invest upgrades and increase the item level, you can use this weapon virtually indefinitely.
Valorplates are your classes in Godfall
How do the Valorplates work? The second part of the gameplay experience is made up of the Valorplates. These are mystical armors that grant your character their strength.
There will be a total of 12 different Valorplates in Godfall that you can unlock gradually. This happens in your player hub. To unlock some armors, you must reach a certain progress in the campaign first. However, with most plates, you can decide for yourself when to unlock them.
The Valorplates essentially function like classes in an RPG. Therefore, you will not be able to combine individual parts of different armors.
Depending on which mission you embark on or which boss you fight, you will need to choose the appropriate Valorplate. In multiplayer, the choice of plates will also be important, as the Archon abilities synergize with each other and have synergies that you can use to your advantage.
Hinterclaw is the newest armor introduced in Godfall (Image Source: Video by Arekkz Gaming)
What are Archon Skills? Each armor will have its own stats, a passive ability, and an “Archon” ability. The “Archon” ability functions like an ultimate in games like Destiny or Overwatch and must be charged up during the battle.
An example of an Archon skill is Valorplate Hinterclaw. This armor revolves around critical damage, and its passive ability gives it +10% critical hit chance permanently.
When Hinterclaw uses its Archon ability, this value increases to 30%. For each enemy slain during this time, you gain 20% increased critical damage up to a cap of 200%. Additionally, Hinterclaw summons 3 “shadows” to support him in battle.
How does leveling work? The armors do not need to be leveled separately. Your character will have an overall level that applies to all plates. This means you can easily switch between different plates.
However, the Valorplates can be upgraded and enhanced. For this, you will need materials that you receive from defeated enemies in combat.
So far, 4 different Valorplates have been shown. In the end, you will have a selection of 12.
“It’s not just about the higher stats”
What about the loot? Since the Valorplates do not consist of individual parts like helmets, chest plates, or boots, these parts will not appear as loot in the game.
Instead, Godfall focuses on weapons and accessories for equipment. Amulets and other types of jewelry will have a significant impact on how the character feels and play a direct role in build variety.
The team’s motto was, according to Technical Producer Richard Heyne, “Quality over quantity.” Although there are many loot items in Godfall, the main goal of the developers was to make the drops meaningful.
This means that an item with higher stats will not always be the best choice for you. Instead, the focus is on your playstyle and builds.
You will also receive resources that you will use for upgrades of your Valorplates and weapons. Some resources will be relatively rarer than others.
Loot appears on the field in the form of colorful orbs with different rarity levels.
How do I get loot in Godfall? There are several ways to get loot in Godfall, and they are all quite classic. You receive loot
from regular monsters that the game throws at you to slaughter
from mini-bosses and real boss enemies
as rewards for missions and quests
The team’s goal was to find a balance in the drops. The loot from the bosses should always feel epic and cool. But the drops from regular enemies should also be exciting and not just end up as trash items.
What is Godfall about? In Godfall, you dive into the world of Aperion, which is teetering on the brink of destruction.
Your character is one of the last Valorian knights. They are powerful warriors who gain god-like strength through the “Valor Plate” armors. These armors make you masters of melee combat and allow you to utilize powerful abilities.
Your goal is to defeat the insane god Macros and his hordes of monsters that threaten the world.
What model does Godfall use? At the core of the multiplayer game is a story campaign revolving around the insane god you must take down.
However, the campaign only shows a fraction of the world of Aperion. In the endgame, you have the option to explore all areas, farm for loot for your builds, and take on new challenges.
There are no microtransactions, and the developers do not consider Godfall a “Games-as-a-Service” game.
For a few days now, the new champion Lillia has been in the League of Legends. The new jungler did not stand out due to particular strengths. However, two video clips show what makes Lillia truly powerful.
This is the new champion: Lillia, the 149th champion in LoL, was released on July 22 and is half deer and half girl. She is played in the jungle and attacks from medium range.
She does not have particularly high health and does not deal high burst damage. Instead, her abilities are designed to deal damage over time and take a percentage of the opponent’s maximum health. Another unique aspect is that she can theoretically put the entire enemy team to sleep with her ultimate.
After her release, there have been few complaints about Lillia being too strong. On the contrary: Her current win rate is only 40% (via League of Graphs), which, while not unusual for a new champion, at least suggests that she was not released into the game too overpowered.
However, this little deer girl has great talents, as these videos show.
Lillia gains movement speed through her Q ability, and that allows her not only to be quick on the move but also to kite creatures in the jungle well.
The effectiveness of this is shown in the video by YouTuber Phylaris. He manages not only to clear his side of the jungle without help by minute 3:17 but also to keep all health potions and a Smite charge.
He also uses a trick with the item “Hunter’s Talisman,” which is why he attacks the Raptors so early. Additionally, he focuses on attack speed, ability power, and armor in the runes.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In the second video, a team fight is occurring in the middle, while Lillia is actually near the top lane. This team fight is not going well for her allies and could have ended in heavy losses.
Halfway down to the mid lane, Lillia throws her E – “Willow Seed” to mark the opponents with her passive. She times this throw perfectly and hits 4 enemies.
After that, she uses her ultimate “Gentle Lullaby” to put opponents to sleep and turn the tide of the team fight. Instead of losing 1 or 2 allies in the middle, the team suddenly defeats 4 enemies without any losses.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The opinions on Reddit regarding Lillia are divided. Some see great potential in her, while others find her rather too weak. However, these two clips show that one should not underestimate a Lillia.
