July 2020 brings Pokémon GO once again 4 spotlight hours. We will show you all the Pokémon that will appear in this context and reveal the corresponding bonuses.
What are spotlight hours? These events take place regularly on Tuesday evenings and always focus on a specific Pokémon.
In July, 4 such hours are waiting for you, and the Pokémon that will appear there are already known.
Dates for spotlight hours in July 2020
When does the spotlight hour take place? The event runs every Tuesday at 6:00 PM local time. It runs for exactly one hour each time.
Every Tuesday this month also gets a spotlight hour. So keep your Tuesday evenings free.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
What bonuses are available here? On this day, everything revolves around Swablu. Additionally, you will receive double the amount of candy when you transfer Pokémon.
What bonuses are available here? On July 14, Zubat is in the spotlight and appears more frequently everywhere. Additionally, there is double the amount of XP when you evolve Pokémon.
Zubat is also already available as Shiny in the game and is not that common. Here you have the chance of a fairly rare Shiny.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
What bonuses are available here? This spotlight hour features Myrapla. In addition, there is double Stardust when catching Pokémon.
Myrapla can be caught as Shiny, and you need 4 of them if you want to complete the family. So the spotlight hour should be worth it.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
What bonuses are available here? Here everything revolves around Bamelin. Additionally, there are double XP when catching Pokémon.
Bamelin is the only Pokémon on the list that cannot be Shiny yet. So we can only hope that the Pokémon will be introduced as Shiny before the event, as then the hour would be worthwhile.
Bamelin is currently not available as Shiny.
In July, there is also a three-week event marathon waiting for you, which is meant to prepare for the upcoming GO Fest. There you will need to solve special research tasks and can look forward to new Pokémon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Winning a duel against level 60 players at level 10? As a rogue in WoW Classic, it is possible – you just need an evasion value of 117%.
In World of Warcraft Classic, Azeroth is not yet as well-balanced as it is in later versions of the game. Even though the corruption effects in Retail allow for insane damage output, the really nasty outliers are in Classic. Like a rogue at level 10 who can win duels against level 60 characters. Because he is simply invulnerable.
What can be seen? The colleagues from Buffed have dug up a video from the player and YouTuber Exehn. On his night elf rogue, he has achieved an impressive feat. The rogue Exehnr cannot be hit anymore, as she has an evasion value of a staggering 117%. Although the rogue is only at level 10, other characters simply cannot hit her with many frontal attacks.
This was proven in several duels against rogues and druids. While Exehnr herself rarely hits for a few damage points, that is still more than her opponents – as they never land a hit.
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How is this possible? The character has extremely many items that inherently provide agility. Since agility is converted into evasion and each point of agility brings a lot of evasion at level 10, one can raise this value to unforeseen heights. Combined with the right enchantments, potions, and buffs, this results in a value of 117%. Such values cannot be achieved at higher levels.
We also reported on Exehnr a few months ago. Back then, he was in the Deadmines and defeated the final boss VanCleef solo at level 10. Because he only has melee attacks, he has no chance against the un-hittable rogue.
Untouchable – simply nasty!
Can the rogue still be defeated?
Is the rogue really immortal? No. He simply cannot be hit by melee attacks. Spells and ranged attacks still harm the rogue and have their full effect. Furthermore, evasion is only possible as long as you are looking in the direction of the enemy. If a character were to attack from behind, the entire evasion value would disappear and Exehnr would likely die after a few hits.
How this plays out in PvP, you can see here:
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Nevertheless, it is still a cool achievement that definitely shows what is possible in World of Warcraft Classic if you pursue a goal using all possible means.
Currently, the servers are down in FIFA 20, online play is not possible. Online features like Ultimate Team will be available again starting at noon.
How long are the servers down? As EA Sports announced on Twitter on Wednesday morning, there were short-term maintenance works scheduled for the servers. EA did not provide the exact reason for the maintenance.
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The maintenance works are scheduled between 08:00 and 12:00 German time. Match creation in Ultimate Team was already deactivated half an hour before. During maintenance, there may be problems reaching EA servers in FIFA 19 and FIFA 20.
Web App also unavailable
Web App and Companion App affected: The Web App and Companion App for FIFA 20 are currently also unavailable. Therefore, you cannot open packs or engage in the transfer market at this time. The SBCs of the current Summer Heat Events, which are very rewarding in total, have to wait a bit.
If you currently access the Web App, you may receive a message indicating that you need to link your EA account with a FUT-20 club. However, this is likely related to the ongoing maintenance and should resolve itself afterward.
This message may currently appear to you in the Web App
Everything should be running normally again by 12:00 noon, unless unexpected complications arise. Recently, a new update raised the spirits of FIFA fans: Title Update 19 finally brought the long-awaited card filter for the transfer market.
Many fans have wished for the card filter for years; it should now be included in FIFA 21 from the start. If you want to make use of the server downtime, you can check here which talents in FIFA 21 need to become significantly stronger than in FIFA 20.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Fortnite the summer mood has broken out. In the new event “Summer Splash”, everything revolves around vacation vibes, beach, and sun.
This is the new event: The island in Fortnite has apparently quickly come to terms with the all-consuming flood, as summer has broken out. After the new update that brought the Flare Gun and hints at Captain America, the “Summer Splash 2020” event will run until the end of Season 3.
Summer has broken out
New Skins and Game Modes for the Summer
What does Summer Splash bring? The Summer Splash mainly comes with summery skins and game modes. Among other things, there will be outfits suitable for the beach. For example, the “Cozy Biter” – a shark costume that fits perfectly with the nasty predators on the map.
Additionally, there will be outfits like:
Par Patrol
Summer Drift
Beach Bomber
But skins are not all that the Summer Splash brings.
New skins come with the event
New Limited Time Modes (LTMs): With the start of Season 3, the LTMs that kept you busy during the last agent season in the form of various operations have come to an end. Now, some classic LTMs are returning. These include:
Fog of War (formerly known as: “Sneaky Silencer”)
Close Quarters
Out of the Vault
Catch!
These are set to be expanded with new features for the Summer Splash. Additionally, upcoming updates will bring completely new LTMs.
Among them is a new version of Operation: Knockout. This mode is known from the Spy Game: You competed as a four-person team or duo in direct duels and fought your way through a tournament tree.
Moreover, the LTMs will be supplemented by a so-called “Let Them Bite” Royale and a “Game with Upgrades Driven by Eliminations” (via Epic), which will be shown in the coming weeks!
The Battle Royale mode is not the only area of Fortnite with news. “Save the World” has also seen changes: It has now left Early Access but will not be free – many players had actually expected exactly that.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, numerous players have been complaining about issues with slow downloads since the latest update. MeinMMO shows you some tips for PS4, Xbox One, and PC that can help you.
As the update itself can be up to 39 GB in size, a download would take several days. Although there are sometimes sudden spikes in speed, they only last for a short period.
MeinMMO has gathered some tips for you that can help speed up the download.
Since the update, you can unlock a cool new sniper – once you get into the game.
Problem: Slow Downloads on PS4 & Xbox One
How to solve the problem: The easiest way to fix the slow downloads is to restart the console. Once you have restarted your PS4 or Xbox One, the download should continue at normal or at least higher speed.
If you experience slower speeds again, just try restarting the console more frequently. Sometimes, pausing and restarting the download can also work.
And if that doesn’t work? If restarting doesn’t help, you might be able to use a VPN service to force a faster download.
This is a bit cumbersome, as you need to install the VPN service on your Wi-Fi router. However, if you already have the relevant software, try connecting to a server in the USA or America. This should ensure faster downloads.
Problem: Slow Downloads on PC
How to solve the problem: On the PC, you have several options to bypass or fix a slow download. The fastest and easiest way is to change your region – for example, to America or Asia, depending on your location. Pause the download, change the region, and start it again. This should increase the speed.
Also check whether the maximum download speed is limited. To do this, scroll down in the settings under “Installation & Updates” to the bottom and set the network bandwidth to 0 for both values for unlimited.
Your settings should look like this.
Alternatively, as with PS4 and Xbox One, you can use a VPN service. It’s even a bit easier to set up on the PC since you only need the software.
What Activision Blizzard itself advises: The issue is already known to Activision Blizzard, and support has its own solution ready. According to the support article from Activision Blizzard, you should follow these tips:
temporarily disable or uninstall security programs
reset routers and switches (disconnect from power for a while)
ensure that you have the required admin rights
uninstall Call of Duty and reinstall it
use another network
If none of this helps, let the download run overnight and check again the next morning. You may need to manually restart the download several times.
Sony celebrates the 10th anniversary of PS Plus. To celebrate the day, players who have not yet subscribed can also enjoy the online features.
When is the free weekend? As announced by Sony on the PlayStation Blog, all PS4 players can play online without fees next weekend.
From July 4 at 12:01 PM to July 5 at 11:59 PM German time, the free online multiplayer weekend will take place. So if you haven’t subscribed to PS Plus yet but want to get a taste of the online features of your games, this could be the right opportunity for you.
Two days of free multiplayer on PS4
What do I need for the free weekend? Basically, you need a PS4, an account on the PlayStation Network, and a suitable game for the weekend. Because free games like the monthly PS Plus games are not included in the free weekend.
Still, the weekend could be worth it for you if you’ve ignored the online features of your games so far. For example, you can play a few rounds against friends from afar in FIFA 20 instead of the career mode. Or you can compete in online modes like Division Rivals in Ultimate Team against the rest of the FIFA world.
Those who usually play alone can team up with others for free over the weekend.
In games like Borderlands 3, it can also be worthwhile to play online for a change if you’ve always gone solo. Instead of searching the galaxy alone for the best loot, you can join powerful teams for a weekend and try out challenging tasks like the new takedown for multiple players.
And if you’ve only fought through the single-player campaign in CoD: Modern Warfare, you can also try the multiplayer.
The weekend could be the perfect opportunity for solo players to leave the beaten path and try online modes with friends.
What else is there for the 10th anniversary celebration? An exclusive PS4 design celebrating the PS Plus birthday is set to arrive in the PlayStation Store later this week. Additionally, there will be new PS Plus games, even with a third game extra. However, not everyone likes the selection.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Fallout 76 have rolled out the patch for the first season of the survival game. You can now download the new update 20. MeinMMO tells you what is included.
What is this update? Today, Tuesday, June 30, 2020, Fallout 76 received update 20. This brings the first season with a free season pass for all players. Since around 4 PM, the game has been under maintenance and the patch can be downloaded.
The challenges will no longer grant atoms. Instead, you will receive S.C.O.R.E. This excludes character, world, or social challenges, which will still grant atom rewards.
There are nice new skins to unlock.
With each rank you achieve through points, you can claim new rewards. These include skins, C.A.M.P. items, armor, perk cards, and even the new currency gold bars.
The goal is to defeat the evil Dr. Zorbo on the game board of the season pass and reach the finish line before him. If you want to skip levels, you can purchase level jumps for 150 atoms per level two weeks after the start of the season (July 14).
You can access the season pass and the overview of the challenges through a new option directly in the menu.
Additionally, with update 20 come several improvements to the UI, sound, and PvP as well as numerous bug fixes. You can find the complete patch notes in German at Bethesda.
This is what future updates bring
The first season is just the beginning of the new content that is expected to arrive in 2020 and 2021. The developers have already presented a roadmap for Fallout 76, showing more seasons and a legendary faction. Since it has already been revealed that the first season will last for 10 weeks, you can expect the next new features around early September.
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In Destiny 2 today, on the 30th of June, the Weekly Reset is scheduled. The weekly activities are rotating, and there are new Nightfalls as well as a fresh Flashpoint. Additionally, the first Iron Banner of Season 11 starts. Read here what else you can do.
What’s happening right now in Destiny 2? With the Weekly Reset, the first Iron Banner of Season 11 begins today at 7:00 PM. The event lasts for a week and ends on July 7th.
For Strikes and Story Missions these modifiers are activated:
Solar Singe
Grounded
Brute
Keep in mind that the Singe modifier remains the same throughout the week. The other modifiers rotate daily.
Crucible: These modes and playlists you can play in PvP:
Private Match (Core Playlist)
Rumble (Core Playlist)
Control (Core Playlist)
Mayhem (Rotation Playlist)
Breakthrough (Rotation Playlist)
Elimination (Core Playlist)
Survival (Core Playlist)
Survival: Freelance (Core Playlist)
Classic Mix (Core Playlist)
Iron Banner
Reckoning: These modifiers are available:
Void Singe
Heavyweight
Escalation Protocol: The weapons of Escalation Protocol can be earned in Season 11 from the Contact Event and the Prophecy Dungeon in the current version with additional perks and mod slots. The armor still can only be obtained through the activity on Mars, but for some time now also in the “Armor 2.0” variant.
This week, the Flashpoint is on Nessus.
Petra Venj can be found currently (Curse Week 2) for a week right at the landing zone of the Dreaming City. Additionally, the 6th Ascendant Challenge is active.
These are the sources of 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, which grant you various power boosts. Accordingly, higher tiers also grant you higher power boosts.
Tier 1 (up to +3 above the current power level)
Tier 2 (up to +4 above the current power level)
Tier 3 (up to +5 above the current power level)
Top Gear (+5 or more above the power level. The only gear that goes above 1050 and up to a maximum of 1060)
For your information: Power levels gained through the new artifact “Seed of the Silver Wings” are not counted in the calculation of the power levels of your drops. Here, the average of the gear and weapons is crucial.
Sources of Powerful Loot in Season 11:
Tier 1:
Weekly Flashpoint
Prime Engrams
Gunsmith Bounty – Complete 8 of his bounties
Weekly Story Mission: Luna’s Call from Eris
Complete 3 Nightmare Hunts
Zavala’s Vanguard Bounty – Complete 8 of his bounties
Complete 5 Nightfall: The Crucible. Higher difficulty levels grant more progress
Crucible for 4 matches in a rotation playlist
Shaxx’s Crucible Bounty – Complete 8 of his bounties
Gambit Bounties from the Drifter – Complete 8 of his bounties
The MMORPG Neverwinter was released in 2013 and continues to receive regular updates and expansions even now, seven years later. The latest is Avernus. MeinMMO author Andreas Bertits introduces you to the online role-playing game and has also spoken with Randy Mosiondz, Bill Yeats, and Jared Sears from Cryptic Studios.
Neverwinter is fundamentally based on the father of role-playing games, Dungeons & Dragons. Epic adventures in the fantasy world of the Forgotten Realms are at the center. Neverwinter relies on typical D&D elements such as adventure modules that guide you through the story and the game world, as well as diverse classes and team play. Because in D&D it is primarily about overcoming challenges as a group of different characters.
Neverwinter may not look as modern today as perhaps Black Desert Online, but it offers a lot of content for newcomers and also endgame content for veterans. All of this should keep not only D&D fans but RPG enthusiasts engaged for a long time.
So how does Neverwinter play these days? After all, it has gone through many changes over the years.
In Neverwinter, you experience typical D&D adventures.
This is Neverwinter
What does the MMORPG offer? Neverwinter is based on the fourth edition of the pen-and-paper rulebook Dungeons & Dragons. Typically for an MMORPG, you first create a hero from eight classes and 14 races. Traditionally, you decide whether you want to be a tank, damage dealer, or healer. Each race offers you advantages and disadvantages as well as special bonuses.
Then your adventure begins in the besieged city of Neverwinter. But you will not stay there forever, as the adventures take you across the Forgotten Realms and even beyond. You will explore the icy Icewind Dale, the humid jungles of Chult, and even be taken to the horror dimension of Ravenloft. Everywhere you will face numerous challenges, exciting stories, action-packed fights against monsters, and plenty of loot.
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Basically, the MMORPG Neverwinter is based on the D&D rules of the 4th edition – with some adjustments to make the game also enjoyable as an MMORPG. This includes the combat. While it is turn-based in the pen-and-paper version, in Neverwinter, you engage in action-packed and fast-paced real-time battles against the monsters.
You have to actively dodge, aim, and strike. You don’t just click skills in the hotbar like you might in some other MMORPGs. This makes the fights dynamic and exciting. Nevertheless, there is an action bar where you can place special skills and execute them in the encounters.
Especially the fights against the many boss opponents become exciting and tactical challenges that you should only face as a group. You must recognize and exploit the weaknesses of the bosses in order to defeat them. This is often far from easy. Together as a team, victories over the boss monsters are always something very special.
Fights in Neverwinter are tactical and action-packed.
What’s the catch with Neverwinter? Neverwinter isn’t the most modern game anymore, as you can tell by the graphics and the many zones into which it is divided. There is no open world. The game areas are sometimes larger and sometimes smaller.
Furthermore, grinding is definitely to be expected. Especially those who want to face the adventures solo will have to level up their character between quests. Those who find grinding tedious will have to bite the bullet here.
In addition, Neverwinter offers PvP elements, but these are not the focus of the gaming experience despite constant improvements. So those looking for a PvP MMORPG might not be happy with Neverwinter.
However, you can expect plenty of PvE content. You will be busy for months playing through the stories of the now 19 adventure modules. Furthermore, Neverwinter simply offers that special D&D atmosphere. If you love Dungeons & Dragons and might have grown up with the pen-and-paper game and the novels, you’ll surely feel right at home.
Randy Mosiondz, Lead Designer of Neverwinter, revealed how the developers keep the game interesting even seven years after release:
It is mainly thanks to listening to our players. We wouldn’t have the long-term success we have now, if we didn’t recognize the value of the player experience. When we release updates that the players like, they will let us know, and we provide even more such experiences. If they don’t like it, we work to remove the elements they don’t like.
Randy Mosiondz, Lead Designer for Neverwinter
In Icewind Dale, there is an open PvP zone.
How does PvP work?
PvP does not take center stage in Neverwinter. Everyone should be aware of this. There are several PvP options.
Domination: On a special map, you fight in 5v5 battles for control of points that you must capture and hold.
Gauntlgrym: Gauntlgrym is a very large PvP zone where 10 players fight against 10 opponents. The goal is to achieve 2,000 team points through battles.
Fortress: Guilds receive their own fortresses that they can expand. In 20v20 battles, sieges around these “strongholds” take place.
Open PvP: In Icewind Dale, there is a special area where every player can be attacked. Anyone who enters this zone to collect the valuable resource black ice will have to compete with other players.
So there are some interesting PvP options in Neverwinter, yet the focus remains on completing quests in PvE and experiencing the story.
Neverwinter is a free-to-play MMORPG and therefore finances itself through microtransactions. The Zen marketplace allows you to purchase epic companions or additional inventory slots with the in-game currency “Zen.” You acquire this currency with real money.
However, it is actually not necessary to engage with the Zen marketplace, as you can earn almost everything and also experience the story without spending a dime. While it is possible to progress faster through real money investment, those who are not interested in becoming the best player quickly can completely avoid the Zen marketplace.
You can also buy almost any item at the auction house with collected astral diamonds. One could say that the microtransactions in Neverwinter only serve convenience and are interesting for those who want to save time or compare themselves with others by reaching certain achievements faster. If you just want to experience the story, you don’t need to worry about microtransactions.
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In Infernal Descent, you are plunged into the Nine Hells.
How has Neverwinter evolved?
In the seven years that Neverwinter has been on the market, 19 adventure modules have been released, bringing plenty of new features, improvements, and changes.
Module Name
Release Date
Contents
Fury of the Feywild
22.08.2013
New campaign, salvaging feature, upgrading companions, weapon crafting and handiwork
Shadowmantle
05.12.2013
New campaign, ranger as a class, additional paragon path for existing classes, artifacts
Curse of Icewind Dale
13.05.2014
New campaign, PvP campaigns, keys for dungeon chests, class artifacts; paragon path for rangers
Tyranny of Dragons
14.08.2014
New campaign, artifact equipment, warlock as an additional class, race change, armor enhancement
Rise of Tiamat
18.11.2014
Extension of the last campaign, paragon path for warlocks, gem cutting, artifact off-hands and cloaks
Elemental Evil
07.04.2015
Paladin as an additional class, level increase to level 70
Strongholds
11.08.2015 with PvP extension on 15.09.2015
Guild fortresses and guild PvP
Underdark
17.11.2015
New campaign, Mantol-Derith as a new area
The Maze Engine
15.03.2016
New campaign
Storm King’s Thunder
16.08.2016
Additional areas in Icewind Dale
The Cloaked Ascendancy
21.02.2017
New campaign and River District area – expanded on May 2 with the Shroud of Souls update
Tomb of Annihilation
25.07.2017
New campaign and new area Chult – expanded on 24.10.2017 with the Swords of Chult update
Lost City of Omu
27.02.2018
Completion of the last campaign with a new area Omu and powerful items
New campaign with a new area, additional equipment, balancing update for DPS classes
Avernus
30.06.2020
Continuation of the last campaign, adjustments to the scaling system
Especially regarding scaling, that is, the adjustment of the difficulty level to the players’ level, which the new expansion Avernus addresses, Jared Sears, Lead System Designer for Neverwinter, told us more:
With Undermountain, we introduced the first scaling in Neverwinter. Since the original game setup did not have a backend scaling setup that would work with our combat and evaluation system, this was quite a large undertaking. The initial results were not quite what we ideally wanted or how the players wanted it to work.
We continued to work on scaling, including building more infrastructure so we could improve and develop the system further. Avernus is the module where we felt ready to release the next step in scaling, which brought it to a proportional style that many in the community desired.
But that’s not enough, as it’s still not as seamless and precise as we’d like it to be. Work on the next development is already underway and will be another big step in scaling for Neverwinter.
Jared Sears, Lead System Designer for Neverwinter
In Avernus, you dive into battle against the dark Zariel.
What does the new expansion Avernus bring?
With Avernus, the now 19th expansion of the MMORPG Neverwinter has been released, which according to Bill Yeats, Art Director for Neverwinter, was in development for six months. Since June 30, you descend into the first layer of the Nine Hells. Avernus is one big battlefield. There, devils fight against demons in what is called the Blood War. In the D&D lore, both monster races are at odds over which form of “being evil” is the “right” one.
Already in module 18, Infernal Descent, which serves as a prehistory to the RPG Baldur’s Gate 3, you experienced the beginnings of this new story and got a taste of the Nine Hells when the estate of the Vallenhas family was drawn into this fiery dimension and you were to save hundreds of innocent souls. Now the situation is escalating.
Over the years, we have explored many different locations on the Sword Coast and beyond. Bringing experienced adventurers into the first layer of the Nine Hells seemed to us a good choice to offer players new challenges.
A lot is happening in Avernus. We conclude the Vallenhas storyline that began with Infernal Descent and move on to a confrontation with Zariel herself, the ruler of Avernus.
We have a huge new adventure zone (where you can even drive an infernal war machine) a new “Path of the Fallen” campaign, new top-tier weapon sets, and a new trial known as “Zariel’s Challenge.” As the story progresses and the follow-up episodes are released, there will be more gameplay and rewards.
Randy Mosiondz, Lead Designer for Neverwinter
With these infernal machines, you can ride across the landscape in Avernus.
You must uncover the secret of the arch-devil Zariel. To do this, you use the so-called infernal machines, vehicles that somewhat resemble Mad Max films, and with which you move from quest to quest while demons and devils pursue you.
You explore a large new game area full of dangers
You experience the continuation of the great Avernus storyline
The expansion brings a change in scaling. In this case, your item level, which determines your hero’s strength, is compared to the maximum of the map. The difference is then adjusted to character stats, damage, and hit points. This means that the difficulty level of an area is better matched to your character. Thus, even high-level players will always have a challenge, and for example, they won’t be able to farm areas that have become too easy for them.
Another reason why we decided to place players deeper into Avernus is the continuation of the storyline that we started with the Infernal Descent module (which was inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons campaign book Descent into Avernus).
Bill Yeats, Art Director for Neverwinter
Very interesting about the Avernus module is the ability to drive with the infernal machines, vehicles that seem somewhat unusual for a fantasy scenario. In this regard, Jared Sears, Lead System Designer for Neverwinter, explains:
I don’t think it’s fair to say that there’s any innovation in this module that constitutes a premiere for an MMORPG. With the majority of updates, it’s difficult for an MMO to say this. We never focus on doing something new for the sake of being new; our aim is always to find what would be a great addition for our audience and what serves them best.
For this module, it’s the first time players can drive vehicles in a zone that can also run over enemies. This wasn’t just an idea we had for something new to add to the game; it came from exploring what we could do to ensure that the hellish landscape of Avernus felt unique, vivid, and exciting. Hopefully, our players will feel the same excitement as when we first jumped into a rusty apocalyptic death machine and roared through the war-torn landscape.
Jared Sears, Lead System Designer for Neverwinter
In Avernus, there is a war between demons and devils.
Neverwinter and the future
How is Neverwinter doing approximately 7 years after release? Neverwinter has its loyal community and is playable on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The exact player count cannot be determined, as no numbers have been disclosed for the own PC launcher or the console versions. Only Steamcharts indicates that an average of 3,190 players were online at peak times over the past 30 days. The ratings on Steam for the past 30 days stand at 82%.
Neverwinter is thus basically doing well. This is also evident from the fact that the developers continue to add new content in the form of large expansions.
Neverwinter has a Steam rating of 81%, but what are the developers planning to do to increase its success?
It is really an ongoing process. We have been working to build a strong relationship with our community through initiatives like the Collaborative Development Program (CDP). This provides us with a good relationship and a closer connection to our player base. Internally, we focus on improving the quality of our releases by addressing long-standing issues and enhancing the player experience.
Randy Mosiondz
What’s next for the MMORPG? There are still many adventures to tell in the fantasy scenario of D&D. D&D consists of more than just the Forgotten Realms. With Avernus and Ravenloft, we have already received two scenarios that take place in other planes/dimensions. But there are more worlds and dimensions.
Even the Forgotten Realms themselves have more to offer. For example, the land of Maztica far to the west or the desert kingdom of Zakhara to the south. And in the east lie the realms of Kara-Tur. So you would still have plenty to explore.
Our game focuses on the Forgotten Realms, primarily Neverwinter and the Sword Coast, and the associated planes that are part of Faerûn’s cosmology. While I am a big fan of all D&D locations (especially Dark Sun), if we were to visit these other locations, we would have to discuss with Wizards of the Coast to ensure that we can do well there.
Randy Mosiondz
Avernus tells an epic story in Hell.
Regarding graphical improvements, Bill Yeats and Randy Mosiondz explain:
Bill Yeats: As for the artistic side of things, I would love to upgrade the entire game to a PBR renderer (physically based rendering). That would be amazing for both me and the players.
Randy Mosiondz: We are always looking for updates to the Cryptic engine that would provide us with new and interesting gameplay. The nice thing about a shared engine for all our games is that innovations made in one game can sometimes be transferred quite easily to another game.
Bill Yeats and Randy Mosiondz
If a player wants to return to Neverwinter after 5 years: What development would you like to talk about that you are particularly proud of and that has changed the game for the better?
I think one of the biggest things is that we are over seven years old and still going strong. We are still free-to-play, we have a great community, regular updates with a lot of content, and we are available on both PC and consoles.
As MMORPGs gained popularity and the player base grew, I believe there was a trend toward action combat games and quick engagement. Fortunately, Neverwinter has these elements, so we just had to focus on offering more of the type of content that our player base enjoys.
Randy Mosiondz
Avernus tells a very unusual story in the first layer of the Nine Hells.
For whom is Neverwinter interesting?
The MMORPG is particularly worthwhile for those who like D&D. You get the right atmosphere here, along with the Forgotten Realms providing the appropriate scenario. Furthermore, Neverwinter is interesting for those who enjoy PvE and stories in an online role-playing game.
Neverwinter is also worthwhile for console owners, as the controller controls are intuitive and work without issues. In addition, some quests can be completed in a relatively short time. So if you don’t have much time but still want to experience a mini-adventure, you will surely have fun with Neverwinter.
Is it worth getting started in 2020? Neverwinter has an enormous amount of content to offer. This may seem overwhelming at first glance. So take it easy. Start with the main story and slowly work your way through the modules. You will surely find players to support you, whether newcomers or veterans who can lend a helping hand.
In addition, there are always guilds looking for new members, which can also offer you help.
New players and those who want to check back in should take the following from Randy Mosiondz:
One of the major changes is the streamlining or simplification of much of the combat systems. The earlier systems were fine, but there were a number of balancing issues. Players could easily end up in a situation where, if they made certain decisions, they could end up having a bad player experience. After we made our combat revisions, this led to a better player experience for more players.
Randy Mosiondz
Pros
Very extensive content
Action-packed fights
Good team play
Exciting stories
Regular large expansions
Cons
Graphics are outdated
Those who want to progress quickly may not be able to avoid spending real money
PvP is just an addition
Neverwinter surely has a bright future ahead
I have been a fan of Neverwinter since 2013, but I don’t play it consistently. I usually only jump back in when a new adventure module is released.
For me, Neverwinter is simply a fantastic D&D gaming experience that I can experience online with friends. I grew up with D&D as a pen-and-paper game, and today there are hardly ever opportunities to play as we used to. That’s where Neverwinter comes in handy.
With the new module Avernus, fans are offered something new and different. The hell dimension is varied and challenging. Neverwinter feels almost like a new game due to its unusual atmosphere, and that feels great after so many classic fantasy adventures.
I am confident that the MMORPG will accompany us for many years. There are still so many adventures and possibilities in the game that I would like to experience.
Andreas Bertits Author Mein-MMO
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a series of tweets, Amazon’s MMO New World presented another weapon type: the War Hammer. However, they do not look very different from each other visually, and fans are disappointed.
In Amazon’s MMO New World, as a player you can carry various weapons, train with them, master them and unlock cool abilities. In addition to swords, bows or staffs, there are also massive War Hammers, which New World has now introduced in a series of tweets.
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These are the strengths and weaknesses of the War Hammers
These are the strengths of the massive War Hammers: The War Hammers in New World are among the most powerful melee weapons and have a longer range than, for example, swords. Their powerful strikes are excellent for breaking opponents’ blocks, and their wide-reaching attacks hit multiple targets.
These are the weaknesses of the War Hammers: As strong as the War Hammers may be, they also come with disadvantages. Due to their size, they are among the slowest melee weapons in the MMO and must be wielded with both hands. A protective shield cannot be equipped during this time. And especially agile fighters and bow or shotgun users can pose a serious threat to you as a War Hammer wielder.
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New World has already introduced three of the War Hammers in their tweets:
Buccaneer’s War Hammer: Can only be found in Deadman’s Anchor, a dangerous pirate fortress in Cutlass Keys, for groups of level 25. The combination of the “Electrified” and “Lost Bane” effects makes the weapon very strong against the Lost.
Ancient War Hammer: Obtained from ancient foes. Guarantees at least one perk, and higher-tier versions can have up to 3!
Residual Hate: Legendary hammer that can be found in the most dangerous corruption breaches in Aeternum. Particularly strong against corrupted enemies.
This is what the community says: The special War Hammers are not often found, and it takes a lot of work to acquire the legendary weapons.
Similar to what has already been the case with the swords, comments from fans wishing for the legendary weapons to have a special appearance to distinguish them from afar are accumulating under the tweet.
One Twitter user antidotcb writes: “Could you please make these hammers unique so that people can actually see the difference between these 3?”
Jorge Argota raises a valid question that New World has not yet answered: “Why do all your weapons look like color adjustments and not like different skins?”
Whether Amazon will meet the fans’ wishes before the release is unclear. The beta of New World starts on July 23, allowing more players to check out the MMO and provide their feedback to Amazon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PvE mode of Fortnite “Save the World” was supposed to be free back in 2018. However, the date has been postponed multiple times. Now, Epic has issued a final statement: The PvE part of Fortnite is now released, but remains a premium title and will thus cost money.
The statement fits, according to the developers, right with the third anniversary of Fortnite. But contrary to expectations, they announced that they had decided not to make Save the World free after all.
However, instead of offering it for free at a later date, the developers have now decided that it should remain a “premium experience” and therefore will never be offered for free.
Save the World is not going to be free
Save the World is no longer in Early Access, but “finished” and released
This is now different: Save the World is now officially no longer in Early Access. This means that the game is now “completed” and there will be no major changes to it.
According to the developer, the main story is now completed, which does not mean that there is nothing left to do in Save the World. One should continue to fight against the husks in Pine Tweaks.
Additionally, the known stamps for Early Access in the Battle Royale mode and in Creative mode will be removed.
What does this mean for Fortnite: Save the World?
That Save the World is no longer in Early Access also affects the game itself. There will be fewer updates, Epic says:
“New content will not be released as frequently after this official release, but that does not mean the end of Save the World.”
But the developer has a solution to ensure that the “replay value” is still kept. They want to:
Introduce new adventures that will take place in seasons
Implement an annual schedule that is divided into seasons
Introduce a new package system
The new system is very similar to the Battle Royale mode, in which there are seasons that affect the game. However, even though the systems are similar, the seasons will take place independently in both modes.
There is now a new package system in Save the World
What is new? On Thursday, July 2, 2020, a new package series will start in Save the World. These are intended to replace the old Founder’s packages but will provide benefits for both new and old players.
The first Metal Llama package is already known and is supposed to include the following items:
The new heroine “Metal Llama”
A weapon schematic
A back accessory
Challenges that unlock V-Bucks, X-Ray tickets, and a legendary Troll stash llama
Access to Save the World
The package is supposed to cost 19.99 euros and include all these contents.
The new Metal Llama package is the first of many
All cosmetic items included in the package can be used in Save the World, Battle Royale, and Creative mode.
Founders receive bonuses as gifts
What impact do the changes have on Founders? Founders refers to the players who have purchased a Founder package, i.e., have paid for the game.
These players are now supposed to receive a reward. All players who have purchased a Founder package now receive a free upgrade to the next package tier. This way, they benefit from the bonuses that the higher package offers.
Additionally, only Founders who purchased Save the World in Early Access can benefit from the V-Bucks advantages. Daily login rewards and missions offering V-Bucks will not be available for new players of Save the World.
For many players, this V-Bucks offer is particularly worthwhile, as it is the only way to obtain V-Bucks without spending money. Since this option will no longer be available for new players, some players will likely reconsider whether purchasing Save the World is really worth it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Now it has actually happened: The Grau 5.56 received a nerf in Call of Duty: Warzone. MeinMMO presents you with 3 assault rifles with setups that have very similar characteristics to the formerly strongest assault rifle.
High range, allowing players to skip the sniper rifle
Strong iron sight (front & rear)
Low recoil for accurate shots
Low fire rate to save ammunition
Downside: High time-to-kill
The most important point on the list is the manageable recoil combined with the highest range in its class. This is exactly where the developers focused their nerf: The assault rifle now plays much more wobbly and the damage drop (the distance at which hits deal less damage) kicks in earlier.
Which weapons can compete? To find a worthy AR counterpart, we look at the recoil and ranges of other assault rifles as well as their special features that set them apart from other ARs. Besides the popular M4A1, which is suitable for almost all tasks in Warzone due to its versatility, three stand out:
M13
Kilo 141
CR-56 AMAX
These 3 assault rifles can be equipped with attachments to become really stable weapons and can replace the Grau well. MeinMMO presents a setup for each of these weapons that will make you miss the nerfed assault rifle a bit less.
3 Setups for Assault Rifles as Gap Bridgers After the Grau Nerf
There was a reason why the Grau 5.56 was preferred over these weapons. The AMAX is still quite new, the M13 consumes ammunition endlessly, and the Kilo has a peculiar side recoil. However, the Grau also had a significant flaw with its high TTK, and with some practice and adjustment, these assault rifles play very comfortably as well.
M13 Setup – Incredibly Stable but Very Bullet-Hungry
M13 Setup for Warzone:
Muzzle: Suppressor (Monolith)
Barrel: Tempus Marksman
Underbarrel: Commando Grip
Ammunition: 60-round magazine
Grip: Grooved Grip Tape
The M13 is really stable and makes it as easy as the Grau 5.56 to keep the target on your enemies. The TTK is also very close to the usual value of the Grau.
This assault rifle would be the perfect companion for the battle royale if it weren’t for a major problem: Its insatiable hunger for bullets. The M13 fires 923 rounds per minute (RPM), while the Grau only needs 750 RPM for similar performance.
The 60 rounds of the largest magazine are used up in 3.9 seconds on the M13, compared to 4.8 seconds on the Grau. In a firefight, you will definitely feel this difference, as the damage per magazine also decreases at the same time. In terms of game feel, you are closest to the Grau 5.56 with the M13. When trying the M13, also check out our laser setup for the assault rifle.
Pro
Plays very similarly to the Grau before the nerf
Contra
Deals less damage per bullet
Drains ammunition quickly
Kilo Setup – 100 Rounds in the Magazine but Odd Recoil
Kilo 141 Setup for Warzone:
Muzzle: Suppressor (Monolith)
Barrel: Singuard Arms 19.8″ Hider
Underbarrel: Commando Grip
Ammunition: 100-round magazine
Grip: Grooved Grip Tape
The Kilo 141 is the first assault rifle available for your own loadouts in CoD MW 2019. With the nerf of the Grau, this rifle is likely to get more attention in Warzone because it is really stable when you attach the “Commando Grip.”
The recoil is somewhat unusual and tends to pull more to the left than upward. However, once you fire a few shots, the AR stabilizes and you hardly have to readjust. This is especially pleasant in conjunction with the 100-round magazine.
If assault rifles continue to make up part of the meta in Warzone, this AR has the best chances of stepping in as the direct successor of the Grau 5.56. The large magazine makes the weapon somewhat slower, but the “smaller” 50 and 60 round magazines also perform well and are worth a try.
The Kilo 141 has always been considered a strong weapon for beginners and could now earn a new, more prominent title – Best Assault Rifle of Warzone.
Pro
Recoil is hardly noticeable after the first shots
100-round magazine
Contra
Unpredictable recoil, especially with the first bullets
Somewhat sluggish with 100 rounds
CR-56 AMAX – High Damage but Slow
CR-56 AMAX Setup for Warzone:
Muzzle: Suppressor (Monolith)
Barrel: XRK Zodiac S440
Underbarrel: Merc Grip
Ammunition: 45-round magazine
Grip: Grooved Grip Tape
The AMAX was introduced with the start of Season 4 for Modern Warfare and Warzone, together with the rapid-fire SMG Fennek. It could be described as the tamer brother of the AK-47, as the AMAX sacrifices the high range of the AK for better handling.
This makes it a strong choice in Warzone as a heavy assault rifle still offers high range. However, of the 3 weapons here, it plays the most challenging. While the recoil is low, the weapon requires more horizontal control, which is somewhat more difficult than compensating for upward recoil.
Try either the “Merc Grip” or the “Commando Grip” to manage the recoil. The Commando grip is somewhat quicker but does not provide as much control with the AMAX as its Merc counterpart. Here you can find out more about which grip you should choose.
Overall, the heavy assault rifle is a bit slower but can deliver hard hits at long distances. In our extensive special on the CR-56 AMAX, you will find more information about the assault rifle.
Pro
Stable heavy assault rifle
Deals a lot of damage at high range
Contra
A bit more difficult to control
Slower than the competition
In the coming days and weeks, it will show which direction the wind blows for weapons. Perhaps ARs are out for now and we’ll see more snipers with SMGs or a completely new playstyle.
Do you already know which rifle will replace the Grau 5.56 for you? Or have you preferred to leave the “meta weapon” in the closet?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Your characters should be firmly anchored in storytelling in Diablo 4. Blizzard shows how they do this without pulling you too much out of the game world.
What does Blizzard say? Quarterly, the Diablo 4 team presents insights into the development of their hack-and-slash series Diablo. Recently, the latest update was released, in which Blizzard focused on storytelling.
Stay a while and listen.
How storytelling is changing
What’s changing: The overall tone of conversations is intended to be better represented in Diablo 4 than it was in its predecessor. In D3, they relied on UI windows that displayed the character’s portrait and name. In the new part, they are using different tools.
This is what simple conversations with NPCs in Diablo 3 look like
A mix of tool-generated and manually choreographed cameras is supposed to help in Diablo 4.
When you interact with NPCs in the world, the camera zooms closer to your characters but stays in the isometric view. For this, a library of animations is utilized to capture the tone of the conversations.
More complex conversations work similarly in terms of camera technology. However, the difference is that the “movements and animations of the characters are created manually and tailored to the conversations” here.
Why is this being done? The goal is to narrate complex moments of the story while keeping you as a player as immersed in the game world as possible. They don’t want to “pull you out” of the game world.
What does this look like? As an example, Blizzard shows a snippet of a conversation with an NPC.
Cutscenes with your “real” character
How does this work? Another method that aims to make storytelling feel more “real” is the real-time cutscenes.
The game controls the camera and aims to make the narratives feel “like in a movie.” The advantage is that your character is displayed in these cutscenes with the current gear they have equipped. So you’ll see “yourself” in action.
A demonstration of this technique was already shown during the BlizzCon demo. Since then, the team has made significant progress with the cutscenes and the engine, Blizzard explains. There will not be a BlizzCon in 2020.
The appearance of these cutscenes is shown by Blizzard in two screenshots. Don’t worry, they won’t spoil the story for you.
This technique only appears in the “most important moments of the story.” However, it seems to fit the new words of the head, who said, Diablo 4 will be really scary – “material for nightmares”. When you’re anchored in the story and the cutscenes with your character, it feels even more believable.
The ARPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem launched on Steam in February with a player peak of 127,000. It was a surprising hit. The Diablo competitor filled a gap in the genre but could not hold on for long. With a peak of currently 1000 players, the title is a flop. However, the developers are not giving up and are investing.
This is what happened: On February 13, 2020, the ARPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem was released on Steam and filled a gap in the genre. Fans of hack and slash were waiting then, as they are now, for the release of Diablo 4 or Path of Exile 2, or at least for Lost Ark. But none of these games are in sight.
Wolcen came at the right moment to sweeten the waiting time for these players. It’s no wonder that the title reached a peak of 127,000 concurrent players on Steam despite the launch issues.
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Currently, the peak according to Steamcharts has barely 1000 concurrent players. The issues are mainly bugs, weak performance, and some balance difficulties. This is also reflected in the current Steam rating of 52%.
This is what the developers plan now: The French development studio is by no means at the end. Since the release, they have continuously expanded their team and do not plan to stop. Gradually, the now 50 employees are returning to their office and even plan to move to larger premises by the end of the year.
Currently, their team is divided:
Team 1 is working on the final “Second Dawn” patch 1.0.16.0, which focuses mainly on further bug fixes and balancing. It is scheduled for release at the end of July.
Team 2 is working on the “First Chronicle” patch 1.1.0 with new content, adjustments to gameplay, and performance optimizations. The release is planned for the fall.
The developers also promise to communicate more with the community about their future plans. A support page is expected to be created soon, where players can reach out directly. Previously, this was only possible through a web form.
This is how active players help: For the upcoming “Second Dawn” patch, the developers are in contact with some active players to receive direct feedback on bugs and further “Quality of Life” improvements.
This is what the community says: The community has mixed opinions. Many comments gather under the official post on Steam:
Steam user trise says: “Too late, guys”
Steam user Dave wants more patches: “You need to bring patches faster, otherwise you will soon have no players left”
Steam user tzaeru is more positive: “Great! Hopefully, the new employees will help break the horizon. … Despite the difficult start, I think you are on the right track, good job!”
Steam user Gothicpolar is also pleased: “Thank you! <3 I look forward to the future of the game!"
Whether the developers can still save their title will have to be seen by the end of the year. Are you still playing Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem and do you think the title will pull through?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Elmo from Sesame Street plays Overwatch – or at least a player who perfectly imitates him. This leads to many funny encounters.
In online games like Overwatch, you can’t avoid using voice chat at least as a listener. However, besides insults, there are also sometimes really funny encounters. One of them is with an anonymous player who entertains his teammates as “Elmo”. He is quickly gaining popularity.
This player is the focus: Some streamers in the higher ranks of Overwatch keep reporting about a player named “Elmo” who speaks just like that in the voice chat. He is one of the popular characters from Sesame Street – kind-hearted, but often a bit cheeky. Elmo taught children, among other things, the letters of the alphabet.
Just like this, the player behaves and speaks continuously in his high, somewhat annoying voice. Almost always in a good mood and ready for fun, he usually plays Reinhardt to protect other members of his team. Like here, with the streamer TheKristenRae:
However, the funniest scenes are when Elmo lets himself go and a curse word or a somewhat double entendre comes out. This usually happens to the amusement of his teammates, who immediately scold Elmo for it and thus keep the conversation going. Elmo always over-exaggerates his apologies – apologies are now possible in Overwatch. Whether all this good mood and laughter affects the gameplay seems to bother no one.
Whenever Elmo appears in the lobby of a well-known streamer, not only does the streamer enjoy it, but the chat also celebrates it appropriately.
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Why does “Elmo” do that? In a conversation with the magazine Dexerto, the player revealed: “Elmo loves Overwatch, because even though the community is a bit difficult right now, Elmo believes that it is still a lovable community. And Elmo thinks that the game is a lot of fun.”
To lift the overall mood in the matches he participates in, he embodies Elmo – by the way, this naturally brings a little attention.
Who is behind Elmo? Who exactly the player with the Elmo voice is, is not entirely clear and is quite intentional. However, he has revealed that “Elmo has been playing Overwatch since the beta. Elmo started as a Genji player, but now Elmo is a tank main. Maybe one day Elmo will reveal who he is. For now, Elmo will only say that he is a Grandmaster and Top 500 player for a long time.”
So it wouldn’t be surprising if a bigger streamer, known to the community for a long time, is behind Elmo.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The streaming platform Twitch has banned the account of US President Donald Trump. Examples of his misconduct include political speeches in which he spoke about Mexican immigrants. The ban on Trump comes after the controversial suspension of streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm.
This is Trump on Twitch: Donald Trump’s channel on Twitch has 125,173 followers, with an average of 197 viewers watching.
The channel started in 2019. The broadcasts included Trump’s campaign appearances, the so-called “rallies.”
Why was Trump banned? Donald Trump’s channel has received a temporary suspension, as insider Rod “Slasher” Breslau knows. Trump’s channel was only temporarily suspended, not permanently like Dr Disrespect’s, as Breslau reported a few days ago.
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As Twitch informed the US site Venturebeat (via venturebeat), the channel was temporarily taken offline due to “hateful conduct.”
Twitch cites two examples of this behavior. At a campaign event in 2016, which was recently shown on Twitch, Trump spoke about Mexican immigrants:
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border patrol, and they tell me what we’re getting. And it’s also very logical. It’s absolutely logical. They’re not sending us the right people.”
Trump at a campaign speech in 2016
At a more recent campaign event, Trump spoke about “tough hombres” who break into young women’s homes when the man is away. Then you call “911”, but the emergency number is not available.
The Twitch CEO, Emmet Shear, is being called on to take a tougher stance, many demand.
Twitch seems to be under pressure to take a tougher stance
This could be behind it: Trump’s channel has been around since September 2019 and has been regularly broadcasting since April 2020; however, Twitch has yet to take any action against Trump’s speeches. The question is: why is Twitch taking action against the channel right now?
Some suspect that this “new tough hand” could also be behind the ban of Dr Disrespect, one of Twitch’s most important streamers, who had just signed an exclusive contract with the platform in March.
The fact that Twitch is being so open about Trump’s case can be seen as a sign that they wanted to set an example and take a stand.
The world is still wondering why Dr Disrespect was banned.
So far, neither Twitch nor the streamer himself has named the exact reason for Dr Disrespect’s ban. This leads to much speculation and theories. We have compiled the main theories as to why Dr Disrespect was banned from Twitch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Guild Wars 2 (GW2) is colorful and diverse. Players celebrate this every year with parades for the LGBTQ+ community, and they are a wonderful spectacle.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many “Christopher Street Day” parades or other events were canceled this year. However, this did not apply to the Tyria Pride 2020 in Guild Wars 2. The parades took place again this weekend, vibrant and spectacular.
Players in colorful costumes celebrating and dancing [Source: Tine of Nice Dreams via YouTube]
Colorful Costumes, Fireworks, and Kites
What is Tyria Pride? Tyria is the world in Guild Wars 2 and is the namesake for this event. For several years now, parades have been taking place in Guild Wars 2 in June.
They aim to support the LGBTQ+ movement, not just ideologically but also actively with donations to charitable organizations. For this purpose, players from the European and American megaservers come together for parades.
Guilds and players from the LGBTQ+ community meet, as well as those who simply want to show support.
How colorful is Tyria: Players do not gather just any old way. For the parades, colorful colors and costumes are brought out. Players often cloak themselves in rainbow colors or pastels. Outfits can also be quite extravagant for some.
During the parade, fireworks are launched. You will also find all sorts of kites and balloons there. Everything that shines and draws attention is allowed.
A colorful parade for Tyria Pride and Black Lives Matter in 2020
Marching for a Good Cause
The parades are not just a spectacle for in-game fun. A serious issue is being highlighted here, and donations should be collected for this purpose.
The invitation to the event is made through the Guild Wars 2 forum, among other places. Here, information is provided not only about the location, time, and reason for the parades, but also about the important purpose of the donations:
Residents of Tyria!
You are invited to celebrate Tyria Pride 2020 with us on June 27th and 28th at 4 PM on the EU server and at 4 PM on the NA server.
We mainly march to show our support for players of gender and sexual minorities. Some of them have discovered Guild Wars 2 as one of the few safe places where they can just be themselves and escape the problems of the real world.
In other words, we march to spread the message of positivity, acceptance, and love!
Supporters and advocates of equality for all are especially welcome, as are members of the LGBTQIA+ communities! (here the abbreviation is further extended by groups such as diverse and asexual)
In addition to the fun in the game, we also want to support charitable causes! For the third consecutive year, we are partnering with “Gamers Giving Back,” who lead the organization on the NA side. Together we are raising funds for “Rainbow Railroad,” a charitable organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ individuals who seek a safe haven away from countries where their lives are in danger—just because they are who they are.
How much was donated? For Tyria Pride 2020, a nice sum was raised again. In total, supporters donated nearly €1,800, which can now be used for those in need.
The chat is also actively used during the parades. Calls for “Tyria Pride 2020” are joined by many other declarations of tolerance. However, this year Tyria Pride stood not only for LGBTQ+. The recent events of police violence in the USA also brought “Black Lives Matter” into focus.
Therefore, the organization decided in 2020 to encourage its participants to also donate to BLM organizations. They provided links to the donation website of Tyria Pride, where supporters can get informed or split their contribution.
Why “E-Sport” does not equal “E-Sport” is explained by our guest author and expert Timo Schöber – Head of the think tank Esportionary – using a current example in politics.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group of the German Bundestag presented a position paper (via cducsu.de) on volunteer work in Germany on June 16, 2020. What may initially sound less relevant for E-Sports is associated with high significance for electronic sports. Under point 2.6 of the document, it states that E-Sports should be included in the Tax Code (§52 AO via gesetze-im-internet.de), specifically in the corresponding application decree. However, the parliamentary group qualifies this addition, stating in the document: “E-Sports falls under the term sport as long as it involves electronic sports simulations”.
Various organizations have generally welcomed this step towards E-Sports, for example, the eSport-Bund Deutschland (via gameswirtschaft.de) (ESBD), but also pointed out that the limitation to sports simulations is not productive.
Why the initiative of the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group is more of a step in the wrong direction will be outlined below.
About the author: Timo Schöber is the author of the bestseller “Screen Athletes“. In addition, he is working as a lecturer at the European University Viadrina and is the head of the think tank Esportionary.
E-Sport versus eGaming: Adaptation of the DOSB’s stance
E-Sport: Sports simulations, such as FIFA or NBA2k.
eGaming: All video games except sports simulations, such as League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
This classification has been widely criticized, not least because the DOSB does not classify E-Sports based on what happens in front of the screen, but rather according to different genres. E-Sport is defined by competitiveness, training, performance, and athletic aspects. It does not matter which genre is played. E-Sport differs from gaming by what happens in front of the screen: high APM numbers (actions per minute), multitasking, preparation for competitions and opponents, comprehensive training plans, supplementary sports, nutrition, and so on.
The CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group is clearly adapting the DOSB’s position. This weakens the position paper on E-Sports overall, as the views of the largest German E-Sports critic (DOSB) have been adopted. Apparently, the sports lobby in Berlin has done an excellent job.
But not entirely: It states that E-Sport would fall under the definition of sport when it comes to sports simulations. This means that it is acknowledged that E-Sport does not only consist of sports simulations; otherwise, the second half of the sentence would be obsolete. This makes the approach of the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group even more questionable: If one knows that E-Sport is not just sports simulations, why then adopt the DOSB’s position regarding genre classification?
The political focus on sports simulations exists in this form only in Germany. It not only hinders discussions about E-Sport but also paints a false picture of E-Sport as a whole.
Currently, there is only one sports simulation among the most important eSports titles (via Esportsobserver). However, FIFA is considered only a Tier 3 game. This means that FIFA plays only in the third league of the “big” eSports disciplines. The current Tier 1 games, i.e., the most important eSports disciplines, are the MOBAs League of Legends and Dota 2, as well as the tactical shooters Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rainbow Six Siege.
This also highlights the pure professional scene. The most successful sports simulation based on prize money is FIFA 19 with around 3.3 million US dollars in total. In comparison, the The International 2019 in Dota 2, which is a single tournament, distributed over 34 million US dollars in prize money. While this is an outlier, other games also distribute significantly more prize money at individual tournaments than FIFA 19 did in total within a year, such as League of Legends alone at previously held three tournaments.
FIFA 19, as the most successful title of the major sports simulation in E-Sport, ranks 28th among all eSports disciplines when considering the prize money distributed. Even when cumulatively considering the four most successful parts of the FIFA series, FIFA still only ranks 14th. Furthermore, in FIFA, pay-to-win aspects (via esports.com) are implemented, which further diminishes the eSports status of the game series. Sports simulations are part of eSports, but they are by no means the most important. Particularly MOBAs, tactical shooters, and real-time strategy games are much more relevant, as is the controversial Battle Royale genre, which is heavily debated in eSports.
Why the Tax Code is important
§52 of the Tax Code regulates charitable purposes. With a charitable status, various benefits are associated, such as tax advantages. In addition, it also offers many indirect advantages, particularly regarding social perception. When something is officially deemed charitable, it is often viewed very positively by the public.
Charitable status is also of great importance for political reasons. On one hand, because charitable organizations can access government funding to advance projects of societal benefit.
On the other hand, something that is charitable is perceived differently in political discourse than something that does not have this status. This means that the debate (via Zeit.de) about whether eSports is a sport or not could be revived – which would make a separate mention of eSports in the Tax Code entirely unnecessary. After all, sports is a charitable purpose (§52, paragraph 2, number 21 AO).
E-Sport is charitable
The media coverage primarily focuses on professional E-Sport: full arenas, high prize money, well-paid professionals. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. E-Sport is primarily a grassroots sport (via t3n.de). Grassroots players are usually also fans of professional organizations and players. They buy merchandise, attend events, and fund competitions, for example, through in-game purchases of game content. They bring passion and dedication to E-Sport and simultaneously create a huge base, a foundation of fans without which the comparatively small area of professional sports would not be possible.
Based on this passion, numerous grassroots clubs in E-Sport have been established across Germany in recent years. They bring the topic into society. They offer training in the areas of media competence and youth work. They create socialization points in the form of clubhouses to bring gamers out of their rooms and into the community of the club.
They educate parents, schools, and universities about E-Sport. They support students with thesis work and develop their own research projects. They organize tournaments and events for everyone, often in collaboration with, for example, youth associations. They organize charity events to support their region.
They provide training plans and support youth in E-Sport by, for example, demonstrating that supplementary sports are important and that school comes before E-Sport. They network with local and regional companies and traditional sports clubs. Many such sports clubs also recognize the opportunities of E-Sport, for instance, in attracting new talent, which is why they are creating their own E-Sport divisions.
All of this is lived charity, especially in grassroots sports, frequently for their own region or state.
The “initiative” of the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group is basically a regression because it aligns almost entirely with the DOSB. This will harden the fronts that exist between various parties in E-Sport and sports. On the other hand, the legal uncertainty for traditional sports clubs with E-Sport divisions remains: Will they lose their charitable status because they not only offer FIFA and NBA2k, but also E-Sport titles like League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive?
The recognition of E-Sport as a sport, as well as the acknowledgment of the charitable contributions of grassroots players and clubs will, in any case, not materialize. This is not only unfortunate but a slap in the face for all those who dedicate themselves day by day to E-Sport, society, and youth in this field. At this point, politics has clearly failed, especially considering that the CDU/CSU as governing parties in the coalition agreement (via Welt.de) of 2018 had previously agreed: “We acknowledge the growing importance of the eSports landscape in Germany. Since eSports teaches important skills that are significant not only in the digital world, requires training and sports structures, we will recognize eSports fully as an independent sport with club and association law and support the creation of an Olympic perspective.”
Valorant has a similar game principle to the tactical shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Since Riot launched their shooter, player numbers in CS:GO have steadily declined. But is it only because of Valorant?
At its peak in April 2020, the game had over 1.3 million players simultaneously on the servers. An average of over 850,000 players was recorded.
The numbers for CS:GO have been declining since May.
But already in May 2020, there were first dips in the stats, and the growth ended. In the following months of June, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive went downhill:
In May, player numbers fell by 10.36 percent, which corresponded to 88,809 players
June saw another loss of 12.39 percent, which is 95,278 players
Recently, the number of average players of CS:GO according to Steam Charts was 673,517. This is a loss of an average of over 180,000 players compared to April. What could be the reason for this?
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is declining, Valorant is rising?
Is Valorant responsible for the decline of CS:GO? One reason for the decline in Counter-Strike could be the success of Valorant. Riot’s tactical team shooter has adopted many successful concepts from CS:GO.
Especially the weapons and gameplay of Valorant is immediately familiar to any CS:GO expert, and the 11 agents with their supportive skills add even more tactical depth to the game. So has Valorant siphoned players from CS:GO? Some numbers serve as evidence:
The decline in CS:GO began shortly before the release of the Valorant beta. The lowest point was on April 7, when the beta started.
Shortly before the end of the Valorant beta, the numbers for CS:GO rose slightly again
With the release of Valorant on June 2, 2020, the numbers for CS:GO visibly fell again
Everything was fine until April, but then it slowly went downhill.
Additionally, some CS professionals and former professionals, including players like swag, TenZ, Freakazoid, Skadoodle, Summit1g, and shroud have temporarily or permanently switched to Valorant and established themselves there. And when great idols like shroud play a game and recommend it, it is not surprising if fans and other CS:GO players end up with Valorant.
How does it look on Twitch? On the streaming platform Twitch, Counter-Strike has also lost ground. The numbers fell in May by 17,200 average viewers from 120,643 to 103,443 users.
However, Valorant also lost significantly, namely over 400,000 average viewers since April 2020.
Currently, Valorant ranks seventh in the Top 10 Twitch charts with 76,987 average viewers, while CS:GO ranks sixth with an average of 106,535 viewers. So CS:GO still has a significant lead here. All of this data comes from Twitchtracker.
What else could explain the decline in CS:GO? Besides the success and competition from Valorant, the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic and lifting of lockdowns could also be a reason for the declining numbers in CS:GO. During the global lockdowns and restrictions, a lot of time was spent playing online games like CS:GO.
Now in the summer, as infection rates are decreasing in some countries and good weather invites outdoor activities, interest in online shooters like CS:GO might be waning.
Player numbers for CS:GO continue to decline, but with still over 600,000 average players and peak numbers of over 1.2 million gamers, Valve’s shooter is far from being done.
