Population Zero had cool ideas: Where does the MMO stand one month after Steam release?

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 4 minutes

At the end of his comment, Prayr also claims that some features that worked in testing were deliberately withheld to be sold as new innovations after release. However, whether this is actually the case or whether they were revised due to problems is speculative.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
Gameplay of Population Zero from IGN.

New updates and plenty of communication

How did the developers respond? On May 6, the developers provided a response to player criticism. They published a roadmap to address the main issues.

Additionally, they commented on some negative reviews on Steam and showed self-criticism on the platform.

What has happened since the release? Within the first 3 days, small updates were released that included:

  • a group function via the Steam interface
  • adjustments to the UI
  • a reduction in required account XP
  • new tutorial quests.

Another update on May 14 included technical optimizations and minor adjustments to mobs and the crafting system.

On May 28, the big “Play with Friends” update was released, which not only included a proper friends feature but also allowed “base building” starting at level 2 instead of level 5. Additionally, players can now teleport back to the main hub with a new item every 40 minutes.

Population Zero Roadmap Trello
The roadmap for the future of Population Zero in a Trello board (as of June 9).

What’s next? On June 5, the developers announced Twitch Drops for Population Zero. This has already attracted many viewers to the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online on the streaming platform.

A Trello board has also been created to present the future content of the survival MMO. The developers are planning in the short term:

  • custom key mappings
  • adjustments to running
  • fewer restrictions when building

and in the long term:

  • private servers
  • new biomes
  • the promised factions
  • a new type of account progression
  • leaderboards

The first impression weighs heavily

Does Population Zero have a future? The low player numbers and the fact that the survival MMO received only 45% positive reviews on Steam create a negative image of the game.

However, the developers have shown self-criticism and have consistently released a larger update for Population Zero with meaningful expansions every week.

Unfortunately, the first impression at the start of Early Access counts a lot. With the current player numbers, it is also difficult to develop enjoyment in the game, as you rarely encounter teammates or opponents.

A second chance may come at the final release of the game, which is planned for 2021.

The monotonous quests and grind for account levels have also been criticized by some other Steam users, as well as the differences between the version on Steam and the tested versions.

At the end of his comment, Prayr also claims that some features that worked in testing were deliberately withheld to be sold as new innovations after release. However, whether this is actually the case or whether they were revised due to problems is speculative.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
Gameplay of Population Zero from IGN.

New updates and plenty of communication

How did the developers respond? On May 6, the developers provided a response to player criticism. They published a roadmap to address the main issues.

Additionally, they commented on some negative reviews on Steam and showed self-criticism on the platform.

What has happened since the release? Within the first 3 days, small updates were released that included:

  • a group function via the Steam interface
  • adjustments to the UI
  • a reduction in required account XP
  • new tutorial quests.

Another update on May 14 included technical optimizations and minor adjustments to mobs and the crafting system.

On May 28, the big “Play with Friends” update was released, which not only included a proper friends feature but also allowed “base building” starting at level 2 instead of level 5. Additionally, players can now teleport back to the main hub with a new item every 40 minutes.

Population Zero Roadmap Trello
The roadmap for the future of Population Zero in a Trello board (as of June 9).

What’s next? On June 5, the developers announced Twitch Drops for Population Zero. This has already attracted many viewers to the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online on the streaming platform.

A Trello board has also been created to present the future content of the survival MMO. The developers are planning in the short term:

  • custom key mappings
  • adjustments to running
  • fewer restrictions when building

and in the long term:

  • private servers
  • new biomes
  • the promised factions
  • a new type of account progression
  • leaderboards

The first impression weighs heavily

Does Population Zero have a future? The low player numbers and the fact that the survival MMO received only 45% positive reviews on Steam create a negative image of the game.

However, the developers have shown self-criticism and have consistently released a larger update for Population Zero with meaningful expansions every week.

Unfortunately, the first impression at the start of Early Access counts a lot. With the current player numbers, it is also difficult to develop enjoyment in the game, as you rarely encounter teammates or opponents.

A second chance may come at the final release of the game, which is planned for 2021.

The monotonous quests and grind for account levels have also been criticized by some other Steam users, as well as the differences between the version on Steam and the tested versions.

At the end of his comment, Prayr also claims that some features that worked in testing were deliberately withheld to be sold as new innovations after release. However, whether this is actually the case or whether they were revised due to problems is speculative.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
Gameplay of Population Zero from IGN.

New updates and plenty of communication

How did the developers respond? On May 6, the developers provided a response to player criticism. They published a roadmap to address the main issues.

Additionally, they commented on some negative reviews on Steam and showed self-criticism on the platform.

What has happened since the release? Within the first 3 days, small updates were released that included:

  • a group function via the Steam interface
  • adjustments to the UI
  • a reduction in required account XP
  • new tutorial quests.

Another update on May 14 included technical optimizations and minor adjustments to mobs and the crafting system.

On May 28, the big “Play with Friends” update was released, which not only included a proper friends feature but also allowed “base building” starting at level 2 instead of level 5. Additionally, players can now teleport back to the main hub with a new item every 40 minutes.

Population Zero Roadmap Trello
The roadmap for the future of Population Zero in a Trello board (as of June 9).

What’s next? On June 5, the developers announced Twitch Drops for Population Zero. This has already attracted many viewers to the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online on the streaming platform.

A Trello board has also been created to present the future content of the survival MMO. The developers are planning in the short term:

  • custom key mappings
  • adjustments to running
  • fewer restrictions when building

and in the long term:

  • private servers
  • new biomes
  • the promised factions
  • a new type of account progression
  • leaderboards

The first impression weighs heavily

Does Population Zero have a future? The low player numbers and the fact that the survival MMO received only 45% positive reviews on Steam create a negative image of the game.

However, the developers have shown self-criticism and have consistently released a larger update for Population Zero with meaningful expansions every week.

Unfortunately, the first impression at the start of Early Access counts a lot. With the current player numbers, it is also difficult to develop enjoyment in the game, as you rarely encounter teammates or opponents.

A second chance may come at the final release of the game, which is planned for 2021.

On May 5, the MMO Population Zero was released in Early Access on Steam. At launch, there were some technical, as well as content issues. Now, about a month later, we take a closer look at the game.

What is Population Zero, anyway? The survival MMO is the first game from the Russian developer Enplex Games and has some cool approaches that set it apart from other titles in the genre:

Additionally, Population Zero heavily emphasizes the story aspect. Over the course of a session, NPCs and quests are supposed to reveal more about the planet. There is a main quest that you can follow, but you don’t have to.

Population Zero Gameplay Loop
The gameplay loop of Population Zero – play for 7 days, win or lose, earn rewards, and unlock innovations.

Can the game convince? At the presentation of Population Zero, the ideas and concepts for the game sounded interesting. However, about a month after its release on Steam, the outlook for the new MMO isn’t good.

Although it launched on Steam with around 554 concurrent players at peak, on June 8, only a maximum of 21 players were playing Population Zero at the same time (via Steamcharts).

But what exactly caused the game to fail, and is a turnaround possible?

Population Zero Steam player numbers June 2020
The player numbers of Population Zero on Steam do not look good.

Technical issues, missing features, and the cycles

What are players criticizing? At the release of Population Zero, there was a long list of player complaints:

  • A promised feature for factions was missing.
  • There were no social features like groups or guilds. At launch, it wasn’t even guaranteed that you would end up on the same server as friends.
  • There were technical issues that prevented some from playing at all.
  • There were inadequate settings options. For instance, at the beginning, players couldn’t customize key bindings.
  • The tutorial wasn’t thorough enough for many, and explanations for the different modes were lacking.

However, there was also criticism of the general gameplay on Steam. For example, the user Prayr stated after about 50 hours of gameplay on May 19:

[…] The game is no longer what it was during testing. Many of the gameplay mechanics are now different and no one can explain why.

Building and crafting in your own base was something you could do on day one of testing. Now you have to increase your account level to unlock things like PvP, respawn points, and T1 buildings.

To gain account experience, you have to repeat the same 10 quests over and over again to reach the next level. And the amount of experience required keeps increasing, so you could end up doing the same quests for 3 rounds or repeat one 50 times or so.

There is no team or group play, contrary to what was promised! The servers only hold 200 players, but as you can see, there are barely more than 50 players, so you are mostly alone. […].

The monotonous quests and grind for account levels have also been criticized by some other Steam users, as well as the differences between the version on Steam and the tested versions.

At the end of his comment, Prayr also claims that some features that worked in testing were deliberately withheld to be sold as new innovations after release. However, whether this is actually the case or whether they were revised due to problems is speculative.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
Gameplay of Population Zero from IGN.

New updates and plenty of communication

How did the developers respond? On May 6, the developers provided a response to player criticism. They published a roadmap to address the main issues.

Additionally, they commented on some negative reviews on Steam and showed self-criticism on the platform.

What has happened since the release? Within the first 3 days, small updates were released that included:

  • a group function via the Steam interface
  • adjustments to the UI
  • a reduction in required account XP
  • new tutorial quests.

Another update on May 14 included technical optimizations and minor adjustments to mobs and the crafting system.

On May 28, the big “Play with Friends” update was released, which not only included a proper friends feature but also allowed “base building” starting at level 2 instead of level 5. Additionally, players can now teleport back to the main hub with a new item every 40 minutes.

Population Zero Roadmap Trello
The roadmap for the future of Population Zero in a Trello board (as of June 9).

What’s next? On June 5, the developers announced Twitch Drops for Population Zero. This has already attracted many viewers to the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online on the streaming platform.

A Trello board has also been created to present the future content of the survival MMO. The developers are planning in the short term:

  • custom key mappings
  • adjustments to running
  • fewer restrictions when building

and in the long term:

  • private servers
  • new biomes
  • the promised factions
  • a new type of account progression
  • leaderboards

The first impression weighs heavily

Does Population Zero have a future? The low player numbers and the fact that the survival MMO received only 45% positive reviews on Steam create a negative image of the game.

However, the developers have shown self-criticism and have consistently released a larger update for Population Zero with meaningful expansions every week.

Unfortunately, the first impression at the start of Early Access counts a lot. With the current player numbers, it is also difficult to develop enjoyment in the game, as you rarely encounter teammates or opponents.

A second chance may come at the final release of the game, which is planned for 2021.

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

CoD MW: Player shows how he outsmarts and kills 3 enemies – with the same trick

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 2 minutes

A player proved in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare that you can also play children’s games there. He organized a game of cat and mouse with 3 opponents.

This is the situation: The reddit user TheExecutionGuy is on the map Shoot House and shows 3 execution kills that he achieved in a particularly funny way.

This whole thing somewhat resembles a game of cat and mouse because he runs in circles to catch his opponents.

Fans celebrate 3 epic melee kills

This is the clip: The video has already received over 32,000 upvotes and a ton of comments laughing about this situation:

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.
Link to the Reddit content

In the clip, he first runs after one player and then takes him out behind a container. After that, he gets shot and runs around the container to also execute the second soldier.

It gets particularly funny when he does the same again with another player. He takes some damage again, runs around the container once more, and executes his opponent from behind – again with an execution.

This is how the clip is received: The video brings many laughs, but the viewers are also amazed by the animation during the melee.

Billy_cheeseball writes: “Definitely an underrated feature in the game” referring to the animation during melee. After all, all operators in the game have unique animations they use in melee, which all look pretty cool.

Other players are astonished by the clueless opponents who did not hear the player, allowing him to come close enough for the execution without any trouble.

Here are more clips: Melee kills continue to excite the community. At the launch of Modern Warfare, streamer Shroud took out 7 opponents with melee right away. He couldn’t really believe it afterwards.

Most recently, a clip caused a stir showing the elimination of an entire camping nest. There, the player was able to quietly take out 3 opponents with melee without being seen. Tens of thousands celebrated the clip. The clip again showed that campers often sit completely clueless in their hiding place, waiting for easy kills.

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

There is a Might and Magic Heroes Online – But for how much longer?

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

Do you know Might and Magic Online? The online variant of the well-known strategy game series is still running – despite fewer players.

What is Might and Magic Online? The last game of the strategy game series Might and Magic Heroes (formerly Heroes of Might and Magic) was released in 2015. Since then, it has been quiet about the classic fantasy battles. As an auto-battler, you can still engage in battles. However, there is a way for you to experience new adventures in the classic style – with Might and Magic Online.

The online strategy game is based on the same principle as the main series:

  • With your hero, you explore a large fantasy world and build an army along the way
  • You decide whether to fight for the faction of Refuge or for Necropolis
  • You battle monsters in tactical turn-based battles
  • Moreover, you collect valuable artifact chests and resources (gold, wood, metal)
  • With the resources, you build a town where you train new units
  • You even complete quests that grant you experience points to improve your hero
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.
Link to the YouTube content
The trailer shows you what to expect in Might and Magic Heroes Online.

What about the multiplayer part? Might and Magic Heroes Online is a multiplayer game. This means you will frequently encounter other players in the game world. If they are members of your own faction, you can team up and cooperatively battle powerful monsters.

Against players from the opposing faction, you will face PvP battles.

What is the current state of the game? Might and Magic Heroes Online can be played for free via the browser or through Steam. However, the last major update was released in mid-2016 and the developers have not spoken publicly for about a year.

According to Steamcharts, the player count over Steam peaked at 24 in the past 30 days.

It seems that the game is no longer being developed. This is criticized by the players, as well as the pay-to-win elements. You can only play a certain number of missions per day. If you want to do more, you have to spend money.

Might and Magic Heroes Online World Exploration
Might and Magic Heroes Online creates the atmosphere of the well-known strategy game series.

Is the game worth it? Might and Magic Heroes Online is free, and if you just want to play casually to experience the nostalgic feeling of the game series, you can certainly have fun with the online game.

However, it is important to know that there apparently are no more updates, and that ambitious players will likely have to spend money if they want to progress quickly.

If you want to know which other strategy games are worth it for online fans, check out the MeinMMO article on the 12 best strategy games for PC with multiplayer.

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

LoL: Pro dominates Solo-Queue in the USA, although ADC is so weak

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

In the League of Legends, some professionals are currently complaining that the ADC is too weak and has too little influence on the outcome of the game in the current LoL. However, the ADC of the current US-Champion Cloud 9 proves otherwise. He dominates the Solo/Duo-Queue in the USA.

This is the dominant performance: The bot laner of the US champion Cloud 9 is the Dane Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen (22). After a dry spell at Team Solo Mid, where little went right, he suddenly has the reputation of being the absolute star in the USA.

Zven is currently playing an outstanding LoL in the Solo Queue of North America. He is ranked 1 and ranked 4:

  • With his rank 1 account, he stands at 14-6 games. Here he prefers the champion Kalista and has had much success with her (60% win rate). He is also playing with Ezreal (75% win rate) and Aphelios (100% win rate).
  • On rank 4, he stands with 11-9 victories in the last 20 games. Here too, he is only playing ADC with champions like Varus (67% win rate).

Alongside him in the rankings is his own support Vulcan and the young ADC from Team Liquid Tactical, who had briefly displaced Doublelift in the last half-season.

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.
Link to the Twitter content

ADC can do nothing in LoL right now, they say

This is the criticism of ADCs: Currently, the bot laner in LoL is considered to be rather too weak. Although Riot Games has made adjustments by strengthening the “marksmen”, the general impression is still that bot laners have too little influence compared to solo laners.

The former bot laner of Cloud 9, Zack “Sneaky” Scuderi, explains in a video that even after an optimal game, when he is “fully fed”, he still struggles to kill the opposing midlaner, even though that player has taken damage throughout the game.

Despite a high gold and item advantage, the ADC always feels weak and as if he could lose a 1v1 against the midlaner at any time.

c9-sneaky-1140x445
Sneaky is also a bot laner and has been the face of Cloud 9 for many years.

Other bot laners currently find their role rather boring. For instance, streamer Imaqtpie states that the role as ADC is like a boring office job, where he has to farm all the time to have any influence and cannot intervene elsewhere in the game.

Even one of the best ADCs in Europe, Rasmus “Caps” Winther, currently criticizes the role. Everyone else in LoL wants to kill the ADC, who just tries to stay alive.

More on the topic
The EU League of LoL brings 3 brilliant video clips at the start – Check them out here
von Schuhmann

Yes, that doesn’t count, the way you play!

Why is Zven so good then? When you read the comments on Twitter, other ADC players seem a bit grumpy that Zven is mocking how successful he is, despite the bot lane being considered so weak.

Some Twitter users think that Zven’s two strong placements are not necessarily due to Zven being that good, but rather because of his strong support partner Vulcan.

LoL-Vulcan
This is Vulcan, a top support in the US League right now.

It would be something entirely different to climb with a strong partner in the Solo/Duo-Queue than alone. In addition, Zven would be “abusing Kalista” – she is currently considered a strong champ for the bot lane.

In fact, Zven frequently plays with Vulcan, and when they are together in games, he has a 100% win rate. The key to a good ADC game seems to be, besides flawless mechanics, a strong support.

LoL Uzi Title
Uzi – legendary bot laner.

As the best ADC in League of Legends of all time, the Chinese Uzi had to end his career at just 23 years old. Uzi states that chronic stress, the life of a professional, and his bad habits have ruined his health, and he can no longer continue as a LoL professional.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. dotesports
  2. dexerto
  3. NA.op.gg - Zvennn
  4. NA.op.gg - Zven

RDR 2: A hundred thousand players celebrate this “extreme sledding ride” – Check it out

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

This crazy sled ride is an absolute highlight for cowboys from Red Dead Redemption 2. You have to see the video.

What kind of ride is this? A cowboy knocks an opponent down, who then lands in a wash basin. Lying on his back in this tub, the opponent then slides down a snowy hill and falls out during the ride.

After a few wild spins, the cowboy who initially shot the opponent also falls into this tub as he goes down the mountain. He drifts several meters down the hill until he finally crashes into a rock and, as a grand finale, gets the tub to the head again.

This is extreme sledding. The guys from Jackass probably couldn’t have staged this stunt better.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Gfycat 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.
Link to the Gfycat content

In another instance, a bathtub causes Arthur’s body to become deformed.

Hundreds of thousands celebrate this ride

How is the video received? On reddit, the thread with the video reached over 110,000 upvotes and more than 1,100 comments in just 16 hours. The community loves the clip.

A player asks whether it was just luck or if the execution was indeed a planned operation. The creator “GTA Stunting” explains that it was indeed planned that way.

“It was planned, but it ended up being 100 times cleaner with the landing than I expected. I thought I would at least bounce down the steep part a few times before I managed to get into the sled.”

How did he do it? Normally, you cannot trigger such a situation in Red Dead Redemption 2 yourself. GTAStunting writes that he used a “Drunk Mode” and let the person and the tub spawn on this hill.

He found the hill outside of the actual map. On the heavily snowed areas with thick powder snow, the tub would not slide, the creator explains (via reddit).

What is the background? In recent days, more clips have emerged showing cowboys sledding. In the video by reddit user WeebleWop24, a canoe was spawned, which a cowboy then slid down a snowy mountain. Another player used a canoe to visit Guarma.

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.
Link to the Reddit content

The new video from GTAStunting takes this trend to the next level.

Do you enjoy laughing at cowboys from Red Dead Redemption 2? Then check out this clumsy guy who accidentally tied himself up. He was probably the talk of the local saloon for weeks afterwards.

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

Bungie’s new game sounds like Destiny in the Middle Ages with something to laugh about

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

Bungie is not only continuing to work on the Destiny series, but already has another hot iron in the fire with the new project. Job postings are now giving us more insight into the new game.

What kind of game is it? Not much is known about Bungie’s new project yet. It is the new game from Bungie and is said to focus on fun characters and humor. The game is expected to be released by 2025 and will differ from Destiny 2. Allegedly, the name or at least the project title is Matter, as Bungie trademarked this name.

Bungie Investment Designer
Bungie is looking for an Investment Designer who apparently will work on a fantasy RPG.

Necromancy and Dungeons?

What new information has surfaced? Bungie is currently looking for new employees. The job postings reveal some interesting details about the new game.

In the job posting for an Investment Designer, it states:

You are the glue between the sword and the reward. You work with our sandbox and economy teams to create and distribute items to our players. Life in a huge database with hundreds of bullets, weapons, and armor is nothing new to you. Just like building a system to cleverly distribute these items in a necromancer’s dungeon.

Job posting from Bungie

This suggests that necromancy and dungeons will play a role, which could hint at a fantasy scenario. This would make sense to clearly differentiate the new game from Destiny 2.

What else is known? Apparently, we can expect RPG elements, as the job posting further states:

Experience designing, documenting, and executing single-player, investment, or other fundamental RPG game systems at any scale.

Job posting from Bungie

RPG elements should not be a surprise. After all, Destiny 2 also offers these.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Bungie wants to focus more on humor with the new game. Back then, it was mentioned in the job posting for an Incubation Art Director:

Do you want to work on something comedic, with cheerful and crazy characters?

Job posting from Bungie

Drop rates, a progression system, loot, monetization, and even PvE elements also seem to play a significant role according to further job listings.

destiny2-Iron_Banner_Dawn
Will Bungie’s new game offer a kind of fantasy Destiny?

What could all this combined mean? It seems that with Matter we are getting a kind of Destiny where you are not moving in a science fiction scenario, but in a fantasy world. Necromancy and dungeons will apparently play a role.

Besides that, you will also look for plenty of loot in Matter and improve your hero based on RPG systems. Whether all of this is true will be revealed when Bungie officially introduces the new game.

Until the official reveal of Matter, you can still engage with other shooters. Which ones we recommend, you can read in the MeinMMO list of the 11 best multiplayer online shooters 2020 for PS4, Xbox One, PC.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. TheGamePost
  2. GameRant
  3. PCGamesN
  4. Bungie

Destiny 2: A glitch in the PS Store leaks 6 details about the new season and expansion

Philipp Hansen Philipp Hansen Reading time 2 minutes

In Destiny 2 , an early released offer in the PlayStation Store reveals more info about the new Season 11 and even the supposed release date of the upcoming autumn expansion.

This is about the leak: In Destiny 2, Season 10 ends with a bang and players are curious about how the next chapter of the MMO shooter will look. The Australian PlayStation Store is now satisfying the Guardians’ thirst for knowledge: it accidentally revealed new details about the future of Destiny and even the potential release date of the major expansion.

An available package with in-game currency (“Silver Bundle”) seems to have appeared too early in the Australian PS Store. The image used in the store and the content description provide insights into the new Season 11 and even beyond – to the new autumn expansion.

Spoiler warning – read at your own risk! The article discusses possible details from the future of Destiny 2.
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.
Link to the Twitter content
Here you see the prematurely published image of the Silver Bundle

What is revealed? In the meantime, Sony has noticed the blunder and the package is no longer visible. However, players were able to secure this information:

  • The English name of Season 11 is confirmed: “Season of Arrivals”. An in-game message recently revealed the German name – “Saison der Ankunft”
  • There will likely be strange visitors – this is revealed through the description of an emote that is included as a bonus with the bundle purchase.
  • It was initially suspected that the leak shows a new enemy race – however, it seems more likely that it is a Guardian in new armor performing the new emote.
  • In the background, there are clearly Hive runes visible – this suggests the Hive as an important enemy of Season 11.
  • The date for the autumn expansion is mentioned as September 22.
  • Along with the expansion, Destiny 2 is expected to take up 105 GB on the PS4 hard drive (currently, the Shadowkeep expansion shows exactly the same required hard drive space in the PS4 store).

When will there finally be official information? Guardians won’t have to wait much longer, as Bungie is holding a big reveal stream this evening. Then we will know first-hand how Destiny 2 will proceed:

More on the topic
Today Destiny 2 reveals its future: Everything important about the big reveal
von Philipp Hansen

Right after the reveal of the future of Destiny 2, Season 11 will also start today. However, you must first download a comprehensive update. MeinMMO has summarized everything you need to know about the patch and the server downtime for you: Destiny 2: Update 2.9.0 is coming today – everything you need to know

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

Change in Pokémon GO could bring new PokéStops faster

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, there is now a new badge to earn. Additionally, there are adjustments to Niantic Wayfarer, allowing more trainers to evaluate PokéStops.

This badge is new: Trainers at level 38 and above can now work on the Wayfarer badge. For the gold badge, you must evaluate a total of 1000 suggestions in the Wayfarer portal.

Accordingly, the requirements for using Wayfarer have been revised. Now more players can gain access to it.

These changes await you in Wayfarer

What’s new: Now all trainers starting from level 38 can access Wayfarer. Previously, you had to reach the maximum level of 40 to be able to use Wayfarer.

The other requirements remain the same. You will need to pass a test first and then diligently evaluate the suggestions of other players.

Pokémon GO Niantic Wayfarer
Niantic Wayfarer can now be used by even more trainers.

Here’s why you should access Wayfarer: Every trainer starting at level 38 now has a new badge to fulfill. You should therefore process at least 1000 suggestions to get the badge to gold.

You can actually also advance the badge with the other Niantic games. Those who gain access to Wayfarer through Ingress or Wizards Unite will also level up the badge in Pokémon GO.

What the changes bring as benefits: With the adjustments, there will naturally be significantly more new trainers who can process suggestions. Your PokéStop suggestions could therefore be processed faster and possibly confirmed.

Currently, it is also the best time to suggest new PokéStops. After all, new trainers are now trying out the system and other trainers want to gold the new badge. So especially now your suggestions are likely to be processed particularly quickly.

However, keep in mind that you must consider certain guidelines when submitting new PokéStops. We have suggested some things that usually almost always become PokéStops. There you can gather inspiration for your submissions.

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

Players are appalled at how cruel a cheater in Apex Legends kills his defenseless victims

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

In Apex Legends cheaters have discovered a particularly nasty way to take down their opponents. Thanks to the newly introduced reconnect feature and a bug exploit, crafty fraudsters can incapacitate all other players, allowing them to easily and effortlessly farm kills.

What have the cheaters done? Currently, cheaters in Apex Legends are making trouble, using much sneakier methods instead of the previously common aimbots and wallhacks to ruin the fun for honest players. Apparently, it is possible to crash the game intentionally and then rejoin while the rest of the lobby stands helpless and frozen in place.

In this way, the cheater can leisurely stroll across the map and shoot a few rounds at anyone they encounter. The victims of the cheater cannot defend themselves and are kill fodder for the trickster. A video of such an exploit recently appeared on reddit. The cheater originally uploaded it nonchalantly via their Xbox account to show off.

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.
Link to the Reddit content
Here you can see how the cheater operates.

Bug exploit and new reconnect feature are to blame

How does the cheater do it? The exact procedure of the cheater is still unclear. However, we already know a few things about it:

  • There is likely a bug that causes the game to crash and all players to be kicked from the round.
  • Previously, that was the end of the match, but since Respawn introduced the widely praised reconnect feature with Season 5, players can rejoin later if they get kicked out.
  • However, as long as one is not back in the game yet, they remain standing like a frozen statue.
  • This seems to be exploited by the cheater, who somehow triggers the crash bug intentionally and logs back in earlier. Then they are the only active player and the hunting season on “sitting ducks” can begin.

What are the developers doing? Since the exploit was only recently discovered and it is still not entirely clear what actually happens, there has been no response from the developers yet. But numerous players have already reported the issue, and it is highly likely that the developers are already working on addressing this colossal exploit.

This bug exploit is definitely an annoyance that came with Season 5. The current Season 5 is actually well received by players in Apex Legends. However, an annoying bug with damage registration caused quite a stir and stress in the community right from the start of Season 5.

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

“Hero Pools” in Overwatch were so unpopular that they were removed again

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

This didn’t last long. Overwatch is already saying goodbye to “Hero Pools” – there are no longer any banned heroes.

Since the release of Overwatch, many players have wished for a feature that is otherwise mainly known from MOBAs. They wanted to ban some heroes in Overwatch. This would change the meta repeatedly and not let it become so stale. That’s exactly what Overwatch introduced some time ago with “Hero Pools” – and now it is dropping it again.

What is changing? Last evening, Molly Fender, Community Manager of Overwatch, published a post in the official forum. Accordingly, there will no longer be hero pools in the ranked game mode. All characters are once again available at any time.

Hero pools are a thing of the past.

However, this does not apply to the Overwatch League. There, hero pools will only be used in the first two weeks of a tournament cycle, namely during the qualification phase. In the last week and the respective tournament final, there will be no hero pools.

More patches should help

What is Blizzard doing instead? Instead of banning individual heroes with the “Hero Pools”, Blizzard prefers to frequently adjust the balance to create more variance. This is supposed to lead to more frequent balance patches, where other heroes who might currently be a bit too weak can shine. The developers are primarily relying on the “Experiment” mode, where larger changes to heroes can already be tested in the live environment by all players.

Players respond positively: The general feedback in the thread seems to be predominantly positive. Most players are happy that they can play all heroes at any time again in ranked mode. Although some players still demand further changes – such as the removal of the “Role Queue”.

What do you think of this adjustment? Is it good to deactivate the hero pools again? Or was it a useful feature that should have remained? There is also discussion about the new hero of the game: tank and healer shortage in Overwatch, but they are bringing a DPS hero

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

The big PS5 event is officially on June 11 – Here is what we expect

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 5 minutes

After the cancellation of the PS5 presentation, many are waiting for a new date. Because for the PlayStation 5, many questions are still unanswered and the fans are growing impatient. After a Twitter post, Sony has now officially announced a new date. We explain what we expect from the new PS5 event at MeinMMO.

Where do the new information come from? A possible new date has appeared on Twitter. User @Nibellion posted a photo of an advertisement on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1270022850490109952

The tweet shows an excerpt from an official advertisement that has already been seen on Twitch, potentially reaching thousands of viewers. So we can assume that the information is correct.

It says here: “Be there on June 11 at 10:00 PM German time.” This means that in a few days, Sony could make up for its PS5 presentation.

Update June 8, 2020: Now it’s official. Sony has confirmed June 11, 2020, as the new date for the presentation of the PlayStation 5:

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.
Link to the Twitter content

What actually happened? Originally, Sony had announced a major event for the PlayStation 5. However, after serious riots in the USA, Sony canceled the PS5 event at short notice. However, Sony has now officially confirmed the new date of June 11, 2020.

In our article, we explain what will be shown at the event and what else we are waiting for from Sony.

1. PS5 Games: What games are there and what do they look like?

Title image Godfall
Godfall is one of the first games for the PS5. The first character of Godfall has now been introduced in a trailer.

This is what we know so far: In mid-May 2020, Epic officially presented the Unreal Engine 5 in a trailer. What was special was that the scenes were shown on a PlayStation 5. The tech demo of Unreal Engine 5 on the PS5 surprised and excited many fans.

What games are coming for the PS5? Even before the actual event, 25 games for the PS5 were revealed through the official PlayStation magazine. These include titles such as Godfall, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Path of Exile 2, and Rainbow Six Quarantine.

What would we be happy about: We want to finally see how the PlayStation 5 performs in games. We would be happy about real active gameplay on the next-gen console and not just a tech demo. We want stable frame rates, even when entering large landscapes or hunting with the horse through the prairie.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
Unreal Engine 5: The presentation of the new engine on the PS5 in the official video

What else would we wish for? On the following pages, we will present three more things we expect from Sony to be at least one of the points presented. Whether this will happen on June 11, we cannot promise you.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3 4

FIFA 20 TOTS: Rest of the World Team of the Season So Far available in Packs

Julian Schröder Julian Schröder Reading time 2 minutes

The TOTS event in FIFA 20 is coming to an end and brings the last team into play today, June 8th. We show you the cards from the Rest-of-the-World-TOTSSF.

This is the “Rest of the World TOTS”: At the end of the annual TOTS event, an additional team with new TOTS cards for players from around the world is released this year as well. These are players who have performed well in the current season but whose leagues do not have their own TOTS.

Often, players from leagues like Denmark, Scotland, or the 2. Bundesliga are represented.

When will the new TOTSSF cards be released? The new TOTS cards (or TOTSSF in this FUT year) for the team from the Rest of the World will be available today, June 8th at 7:00 PM, in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team.

They will also be available in the Ultimate Team of the Season So Far in packs and replace the TOTS cards from MLS and Latin America. Thus, in the final Weekend League rewards for the TOTS event, there will be cards from the Ultimate TOTS as well as TOTS cards from the Rest of the World.

This is the Rest of the World TOTSSF

These cards of the ROW-TOTSSF: The cards with the highest ratings in the ROW-TOTS are: Orsic (95), David (94), Edouard (92), Cesinha (92), and Junior Moraes (92).

FUT players may not be very pleased with their rewards due to the many 80-rated cards. The Rest of the World TOTS includes a total of 12 cards with ratings below 90.

The Rest of the World TOTS
  • LM: Orsic (95)
  • ZOM: David (94)
  • ST: Edouard (92)
  • ZOM: Cesinha (92)
  • ST: Junior Moraes (92)
  • ST: Laba (91)
  • IV: Trauner (90)
  • ST: El Arabi (90)
  • ST: Stuani (89)
  • ZOM: Wolff Eikrem (89)
  • LV: Leibold (89)
  • TW: Kolar (89)
  • LV: Cacace (88)
  • ZDM: Jordi Quintilla (88)
  • LV: Letizia (87)
  • LF: Coman (86)
  • LM: Jozwiak (86)
  • RM: Byrne (86)
  • TW: Leroy (86)
  • RM: Nakagawa (86)

How to get the new TOTSSF cards

These are the options: As always, you have the chance to get TOTSSF cards from these packs:

However, it often requires tremendous luck. Therefore, it is better to play the Weekend League and hope for good rewards from the current strong rewards. Because with just 11 wins, you are guaranteed a TOTSSF card.

Otherwise, the FUT transfer market is a good place to look for new TOTS cards. Here, prices for new top cards, especially shortly after release, are often still very high. So it’s best to wait a few days to buy your desired card.

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

6 unpopular weapons in CoD MW & Warzone that need a buff with Season 4

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 9 minutes

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare & Warzone, many players know the most popular and strongest weapons, but how about the other side? MeinMMO shows you here 6 unpopular weapons that probably will only be played more when they receive a buff.

What is this about? The strong meta-weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare are quickly found by many players. Almost since the beta, two weapons have held the top spots:

In Warzone, some soldiers also come across the extremely stable Grau 5.56 or the strong AUG with assault rifle ammunition. Both belong to the best weapons for the BR.

But how does it look on the other side? MeinMMO shows you here weapons that are used less frequently and are usually not particularly strong. To create the list, we looked at the usage rates of the weapons on codstats.net and compared the results with our own experiences.

Here are the least popular and sometimes worst weapons in each category for primary weapons and rocket launchers in the current Call of Duty.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 5 Weapons Build Title
There are many weapons in CoD, but only a few are played a lot.

Unpopular Weapons in Call of Duty – The Flops of the Weapon Classes

First of all: This list is based on data from the game, but everyone perceives the weapons a bit differently, and a healthy dose of personal experiences has also been included. If you see other weapons at the bottom or have no problem with any of the weapons here, let us know in the comments.

Which are the least popular weapons? According to the usage rates, the following primary weapons and rocket launchers rank low in popularity among CoD MW players:

  • Submachine gun: Uzi – 1 %
  • LMG: SAR 87 – 0.5 %
  • Sniper: Dragunov – 0.5 %
  • DMR: EBR 14 – 0.6 %
  • Shotgun: Origin 12 – 0.4 %
  • Rocket launcher: Strela-P – 0.0 %

However, the list on “codstats” does not include weapons that came with the seasons, such as the SKS with Season 3 or the Season 1 weapon RAM-7.

The data refer to the multiplayer of Modern Warfare. These are different from Warzone, where comparing data is much more cumbersome and less precise, as weapons often used are those that players find early. In our assessment, we still give a brief insight into the usefulness for the battle royale.

Submachine Gun – The Quirky Uzi

Why is the weapon so unpopular? The quirky weapon cannot keep up with the strong SMGs. Neither in damage nor in handling. It feels a bit different than the other submachine guns. Looking at it, one could even say it plays strangely.

It has the lowest fire rate of the SMGs and has a unique charm when shooting due to its peculiar handling. This charm, however, is appreciated by very few players, and the low damage is not well received either.

What can it do well? Once you get used to the bumpy shooting feel, you get a well-controllable SMG with recognition value.

How does it perform in Warzone? If you have the Uzi under control, you can improve your round starts with it. The Uzi is often found as the first weapon, and with a bit of practice, you can score secure hits. Additionally, it consumes little ammunition due to its low fire rate.

Buff Potential: High – If the Uzi were to do a bit more damage with Season 4, it could become a strong alternative to the overpowering SMGs. It actually has everything it takes:

  • A recognizable name, as it has appeared in many shooters
  • Distinctive presence, as it plays uniquely
  • Good controllability, due to the low firing rate
cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons uzi
The Uzi struggles to establish itself in CoD MW 2019.

LMG – The Forgotten SAR 87

Why is the weapon so unpopular? The weapon does not feel like a real LMG, but brings the disadvantages of that weapon class.

The SAR 87 has not had a good standing since the launch of CoD MW. Largely ignored by players, it enjoys the company of every Damascus grinder who plays it for the metal skins more than 2 rounds in a row.

The weapon does not convey the powerful feel of an LMG as well as most other representatives of its class. It feels more like a hybrid of an LMG and an assault rifle, and here the Holger-26 performs significantly better, especially in the secret G36 version.

By the way, the SAR 87 shares its spot with the MG34, which also stands at 0.5 % popularity. However, the users of the MG34 have a K/D of 0.99, while the SAR players land at 0.91.

What can it do well? For an LMG, the weapon is extremely stable. Even mobile targets, like parachutists warming up in Warzone, you can hit well. Additionally, the weapon has almost as much DPS (damage per second) as the most popular LMG, the PKM.

Buff Potential: Not really – The weapon would need a significant overhaul to create a better gameplay experience. Higher damage could help here, but the weapon is actually already in a decent place. A lot would have to happen for the SAR to become more popular with Season 4.

cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons sar 87
This weapon is unknown to some players. The SAR 87 cannot compete among LMGs.

Sniper – The DMR Sniper Dragunov

Why is the weapon so unpopular? You will find the Dragunov under the sniper category in CoD 2019, but it really cannot find its place there. Somewhere between sniper and DMR, you will find better options for its application area, and in Warzone, it lacks the one-shot kill with a headshot.

Although the weapon has its fans, especially in multiplayer, this mobile single-shot weapon can hit hard. But it convinces very few people and is only half as often used in MP compared to the more popular single-shot rifles MK2 Carbine or Kar 98k.

What can it do well? It is a nimble single-shot rifle with decent damage in multiplayer. If you are looking for a semi-automatic rifle and do not want to go for the large snipers, you might want to give the Dragunov a try. As mentioned, the weapon has its fan base, and justifiably so. But it’s not for everyone.

How does it perform in Warzone? In Warzone, you have much better alternatives; the Dragunov hardly competes with the big competitors AX-50, HDR and Kar 98k.

Buff Potential: Meh – The weapon serves a small niche in Modern Warfare and will likely remain there until the end of the CoD 2019 lifecycle. It does not do a bad job, but it cannot compete against the strong competition.

A bit more headshot damage, maybe even a knockout with one hit in Warzone with full armor, and the Dragunov could land on some players’ radar with Season 4.

cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons drogunov
Is it a sniper rifle or a DMR? It’s hard to say with the Dragunov.

DMR – EBR 14 is Only for Connoisseurs

Why is the weapon so unpopular? The EBR deals relatively low damage compared to other DMRs and falls short on range as well.

The DMRs are already poorly regarded by players, and hardly anyone really plays them. The best value here is still the MK2 Carbine with 1.3 % popularity. The EBR stands at a measly 0.6 %.

The majority of players prefer to use automatic weapons, and a detour to semi-automatics usually starts with the MK2 or the strong assault rifle FAL. The carbine takes down opponents in multiplayer with a single shot to the chest – the EBR cannot keep up here. So, almost only fans of mobile single-shot rifles reach for this gun.

What can it do well? The rifle is quick to aim and fire, stable, and loads fast. If you want to dip your toe into DMRs but don’t like having to chamber every shot individually, give the EBR a try. It can be really fun.

How does it perform in Warzone? Here again: Look at the direct competitors. The DMR Kar 98k still performs really well because you can take down opponents with one headshot K.O. But the other DMRs hardly provide any advantages. Maybe the crossbow with explosive bolts.

Buff Potential: So-So – The weapon does what it was designed for – quick single shots with moderate damage. And it does that quite well. An increase in range for Warzone would be interesting, but the EBR will likely not become one of the popular weapons even with Season 4.

cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons ebr 14
The EBR does its thing. Mostly but alone.

Shotgun – Origin 12 Rumbles Across the Screen

Why is the weapon so unpopular? The Origin feels powerful, and during shots, you really get shaken. But the range is low, and the rumble when shooting is not always helpful.

Due to the mix of erratic handling and unusual range, many players leave the shotgun in the closet, unless Shipment 24/7 is on. Here, all shotguns can shine.

What can it do well? The weapon has a high fire rate for a shotgun. The shots come flying out and can take down opponents very quickly, in multiplayer and in Warzone.

How does it perform in Warzone? In battle royale, you can melt your opponents’ armor with it, but you still need to hit. The Origin 12 allows for more mistakes than the R9-0 since you can shoot again more quickly if you miss a shot. However, the TTK (Time to Kill) is more than double as high when the opponent has full armor.

Buff Potential: Phew… – Like the EBR and Dragunov, the Origin 12 fills a niche. However, this niche must still be shared with the R9-0. An even higher fire rate could put the shotgun on track, but against the heavy double shot of the R9-0, it will hardly manage, even with Season 4.

cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons origin 12
High fire rate, low fanbase. The Origin 12 often stays in the weapon closet.

Rocket Launcher – Poor Strela Can Do Everything, But Nothing Right

Why is the weapon so unpopular? It wants to be the RPG for everyone, but fails to convince with its advantages. For every plus point, there’s a but:

  • Very fast and accurate rockets, but small detonation radius
  • Fastest time from aiming to firing, but long reload time
  • Countermeasures from vehicles don’t work, but only because it has no target acquisition

As a result, many soldiers prefer the alternatives. In “codstats”, the Strela rounds down to a popularity value of exactly 0.0 %.

What can it do well? The launcher offers high accuracy. Additionally, the rockets remain predictable over greater distances, while, for example, the projectiles of the RPG sometimes fly unpredictably.

If you haven’t included it in your loadout yet, it’s definitely worth a try. It’s really strong against killstreaks in multiplayer. The countermeasures of flying objects, such as the VTOL jet, do not work against it, as the rockets do not respond to heat. This way, you save a rocket and a lot of time.

A comparison of all rocket launchers regarding multiplayer and Warzone can be found here:

More on the topic
CoD MW & Warzone: All Rocket Launchers Compared and Which One You Should Use
von Maik Schneider

Buff Potential: Limited – It’s hard to make the weapon stronger without overpowering it. Even now, there are many players who complain about an overpowered RPG. In Warzone, many are even opting for the KRD perk instead of Cold-Blooded, which would protect them from thermal sights. If the Strela were buffed, it could become an RPG that shoots bullets almost as precisely as a sniper rifle. Hardly anybody would want that.

A higher damage against vehicles could bring the weapon up to PILA level. The PILA has target acquisition and reliably takes out vehicles in Warzone, but does not destroy them. If the Strela were to completely destroy a helicopter or SUV with one shot, the device could become interesting with Season 4.

cod modern warfare warzone unpopular weapons strela
The Strela hits accurately but doesn’t appeal to the players.

Assault Rifles – A Class of Their Own

The assault rifles have been deliberately left out of this list. Hardly any of them can be said to need a buff and be unpopular.

Even the least popular AR, the single-shot FAL, is far from needing a buff and stands at 1.4 %, even ahead of the most popular DMR, the MK2 Carbine with 1.3 %.

Among the 4 most popular weapons, without season weapons, 3 assault rifles stand at the top. Only the submachine gun MP5 can keep up, which is considered one of the strongest weapons in the game.

  • M4A1 – 20.4 %
  • MP5 – 9.4 %
  • Kilo 141 – 8.5 %
  • AK-47 – 5.5 %

So far, there has been relatively little weapon balancing in CoD MW 2019, but maybe we will get some surprises in the arsenal with Season 4. So far, not much is known about the new season, but quite a bit of facts, rumors, and leaks.

Do you agree with this list? Or does your favorite weapon perhaps belong to this list completely undeservedly?

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

Diablo 3: Testers explain why Season 21 shouldn’t go live like this

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

How could this be resolved? In the comments, Diablo streamer Wudijo also weighs in. He suggests a few solutions.

“I totally agree, it’s not even hard to accumulate enough progress so the rift boss spawns within the time. And a snowball or a few well-placed meteors are all you need.” He suggests that the strength of the buff be made dependent on character strength, simply reducing the damage.

Rob2628 came up with the idea that the buff should only trigger if a certain number of enemies are killed within a 90-second time window. “That would prevent playing zDPS without negatively impacting ‘normal’ damage builds.”

What do you think could be done to change the theme for Season 21 to make it better? Or should everything stay as it is?

In the new season, you can expect 2 new sets – one for the Necromancer and one for the Demon Hunter. Here are the new sets from Season 21 in Diablo 3.

Season 21 of Diablo 3 is already being actively tested. Now testers have found that the seasonal theme is actually much stronger than expected. So strong that it shouldn’t go live in this state.

What’s going on with Diablo 3? Currently, Season 20 is still running in Diablo 3, which has been active since mid-March. Players are eagerly waiting for the start of Season 21, which has not yet been officially announced with a date.

Meanwhile, the patch for S21 is already running on the test servers, which players are supposed to extensively test before it is released on the live servers. And the seasonal theme is currently causing major discussions.

We at MeinMMO have already reported that Season 21 is spectacularly broken due to the new theme. The scaling with area damage from the season buff caused an uproar. Now a streamer has found out that the issue is not only the scaling with area damage. For solo players, the buff is generally too strong, it is said.

Why is the seasonal theme of S21 too strong?

This is what you need to consider: The seasonal theme causes your character to regularly unleash a power that is supposed to help on the battlefield. Blizzard explains it this way:

Your character will occasionally (every 2 minutes) channel an elemental power that will be unleashed on your surroundings for a limited time.

– You can rain meteors down around you.
– You can spit lightning.
– You can create a wall of flames that engulfs everything.
– You can release whirlwinds of pure energy.
– You can crush your enemies with snowballs.

Source: Diablo3.com

Season 19 had a similar theme, making the tedious leveling in Diablo 3 fun again.

This is the problem: The streamer Rob2628 initially found that the scaling with area damage makes buffs like meteors or snowballs incredibly strong. He managed to complete the highest Greater Rift with a support character that barely deals damage. He fully adjusted his gear for area damage.

It has now become known that Blizzard will remove this scaling with area damage before the release on the live servers, Rob2628 explains on reddit.

Therefore, he also tested the seasonal theme without this area damage build. He played a zBarb, which is a supporter meant to be played in groups and support other players. One shouldn’t expect damage from this build – it is simply not designed for that.

The streamer Rob2628 writes: “Here are the results, and I have to say, it is still way too strong for solo pushing. However, it feels disappointing in Torments, Bounties, Speedruns, and in group META. So in all other areas.” He shows the following video:

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.
Link to the YouTube content

In principle, you gather groups of elite opponents in the tests, wait for the buff to trigger, and let it crush everything. No matter whether the character being played causes damage or not.

For the streamer, this buff goes against the basic concept of the game: progressing and improving the character. He says, “Players want a proper Season 21, not ‘zDPS GR150 all classes’ nonsense.”

How could this be resolved? In the comments, Diablo streamer Wudijo also weighs in. He suggests a few solutions.

“I totally agree, it’s not even hard to accumulate enough progress so the rift boss spawns within the time. And a snowball or a few well-placed meteors are all you need.” He suggests that the strength of the buff be made dependent on character strength, simply reducing the damage.

Rob2628 came up with the idea that the buff should only trigger if a certain number of enemies are killed within a 90-second time window. “That would prevent playing zDPS without negatively impacting ‘normal’ damage builds.”

What do you think could be done to change the theme for Season 21 to make it better? Or should everything stay as it is?

In the new season, you can expect 2 new sets – one for the Necromancer and one for the Demon Hunter. Here are the new sets from Season 21 in Diablo 3.

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

Hearthstone: Incredible Luck – Warlock experiences a 0.000017% chance

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time < 1 minutes

This crazy Hearthstone combo happens only once. No wonder, as the chance for it is extremely low.

As is common with card games, much in Hearthstone is based on luck. However, while some cards only have an entertaining 50:50 chance, there are also more complex cards that create crazy plays with more luck. Some combo even forces the opponent to draw 48 cards.

What happened? The player xChaos-WZW posted in the Hearthstone subreddit and showed a clip of a game. He plays as Nemsy the Warlock version of Galakrond, which summons four random demons. What happens next, you can see here:

Value from r/hearthstone

Instead of summoning four different demons, Galakrond summons the same demon four times, namely “Captured Antaen”. This demon is inactive for 2 turns, but then awakens and deals 10 damage, which is randomly distributed to all enemies.

What does that mean? In this game, that means a total of 40 damage, overwhelming the opponent in 2 turns. Since the minions are still considered “inactive”, there is also no way for the Priest to remove them from the battlefield prematurely. He has essentially set a timer that the Priest still has to win the game.

According to his own statements, xChaos-WZW actually won the game and also got to see all four Antaen fire their lasers at Tyrande and her minions.

More on the topic
Hearthstone: This crazy combo defeats the enemy in the first round
von Cortyn

How likely is that? Currently, there are 49 different demons in the “Standard” game mode. Thus, the likelihood of getting a specific demon 4 times with Galakrond is super low at 0.00017% – or in other words, a chance of 1 : 5,764,801!

It is therefore extremely unlikely that player xChaos-WZW will get to see this combination again. Perhaps he should instead try his luck at the lottery…

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

Copyright strikes are causing panic – streamers are deleting clips out of fear of bans

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The streaming platform Twitch is facing copyright claims. These concern clips from the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Twitch is issuing warnings and recommends streamers to delete them. This is causing panic.

This is the trigger: As Twitch’s support writes, they were faced with a “sudden surge of copyright complaints”. Some music rights holders seem to be specifically asking Twitch to take down clips featuring songs they own the rights to. This concerns old Twitch clips that use copyrighted background music.

Twitch advises: Anyone who is unsure if they have such clips should remove them just to be safe. They know it is annoying and are working to improve the situation.

This is the first time something like this has happened, and Twitch understands how stressful this is for streamers.

Twitch clips are segments that are up to 59 seconds long and are cut by viewers from long live videos. These are “highlight videos” that can go viral, whereas hardly anyone will share a 7-hour stream.
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.
Link to the Twitter content

Streamers fear for their existence, delete clips

How dangerous this is in practice: In practice, “copyright strikes” are existentially threatening for streamers. Anyone who receives 3 warnings within a certain time will have their channel deleted, that is, permanently banned. Their Twitch channels are linked to the income and existence of streamers. They have built these channels over many years.

As streamer Fusilie writes: She received 2 copyright strikes for clips that are over a year old. If Twitch finds another clip of hers and issues a warning for it, she would be permanently banned from Twitch.

She says she feels helpless and is ready to delete all clips out of fear that there might still be one with a copyrighted song. This pains her, as there are many memories attached to the clips, but the loss of her channel would be even harder.

The practical problem, however, is: She has over 100,000 clips, and it is impossible to delete them all at once.

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.
Link to the Twitter content

The well-known Fortnite and shooter streamer Cloakzy says how crazy this is. He received a copyright strike; two more and he would be permanently banned.

The work of 5 years could be gone in 2 seconds.

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.
Link to the Twitter content

This is how streamers assess the situation: As Destiny streamer GladdX (featured image) explains, he has no idea how Twitch even envisions this. People have huge amounts of clips. There are memories attached to them. Everything is now being deleted panically just to avoid strikes.

He is very dissatisfied with Twitch and the situation. (via twitter)

More on the topic
Twitch bans body painter: “I am afraid. This is my full-time job.”
von Schuhmann

The well-known LoL streamer Nightblue wonders which music publisher is issuing strikes here. Twitch clips don’t generate money; nobody would watch Twitch clips to hear a specific song.

The background music would merely contribute to others discovering the songs (via twitter).

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.
Link to the Twitter content

What could be behind this? As a Twitter user explains, the corona situation could play a role here. Due to this, Twitch has been more in focus than ever before. Music labels could be sensing financial opportunities. Twitch has to comply with every complaint.

For the affected streamers, this is a serious situation.

Fortnite-ApoRed-Redsama-Krass
His YouTube channel was deleted due to copyright strikes.

How serious such copyright strikes are was experienced in November 2019 by YouTuber ApoRed. His YouTube channel was deleted; the company Epic issued copyright strikes against him because he apparently showed things in Fortnite that did not please the game developers.

Although ApoRed is loudly complaining, at that time one of the biggest German channels for Fortnite was deleted.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PC Gamer
  2. Forbes
  3. Dotesports

Here’s what happens next after the Nostalgia Challenge in Pokémon GO

Noah Struthoff Noah Struthoff Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO the last event around the nostalgia challenge has ended. We will show you what will happen next in Pokémon GO.

This was the nostalgia challenge: Since early May, different generations of Pokémon GO were in the spotlight each week. The finale was the event focused on the Unova region and the first Galar Pokémon.

The celebrations are now over and new events will start in June.

What’s waiting for you in June

Raid Weekend with Latias and Latios: The next known event revolves around legendary Pokémon. There will be a Raid Weekend with Latias and Latios starting on June 12, which will last until June 15.

During this time, the Eon Duo will appear in raids again. However, no additional bonuses are known.

Zekrom comes into the raids: From June 16, you will find Zekrom in the legendary raids. It will replace Reshiram.

Zekrom will then be the best Electric attacker in the game and is definitely worth it. You should save some raid passes for this legendary Pokémon.

Zekrom

Event for the Summer Solstice: On June 19, it continues with the event for the summer solstice. This will last until June 24.

Details about this are not yet known, but many trainers expect a swap of Lunatone and Solrock. We might get a different regional Pokémon.

Community Day with Hornliu: During the event for the summer solstice, there will also be the Community Day in June with Hornliu. This will take place on June 20, and further details are not yet known.

You will encounter Shiny Hornliu for the first time and Bibor will learn the move Drill Run.

Pokémon GO Shiny Hornliu Family

Bug Event: From June 26 to July 1, there will be a bug event in Pokémon GO. Numerous bug-type Pokémon will be the focus.

There are no further details yet about what exactly will happen during the event. However, data miners have already found information about a raid day with Pinsir that would fit well into this event.

These events happen regularly: Every Tuesday in June, there will be a spotlight hour. All 4 Pokémon are already known for this.

Additionally, there will be a raid hour every Wednesday. They will alternate between Reshiram and Zekrom. So you will have something to do even in weeks where there is not much going on in Pokémon GO.

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

Elite Dangerous could soon become the SciFi MMO that many wish for

Sven Galitzki Sven Galitzki Reading time 8 minutes

Elite Dangerous recently announced its next expansion, Odyssey, which could appeal to a much broader audience than its current fan base. Where does the game stand now and what is planned?

Genre: SciFi Space Simulation | Developer: Frontier Developments | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One| Release: 12/16/2014

Elite Dangerous has been one of the most popular space games on the market for years and has gathered a large, loyal fan base. However, for a long time, the game was considered “not for everyone” in the broad mass – a niche title that was too complex and difficult to access.

The developers at Frontier Developments have been working diligently on Elite since its release, continuously improving the game and adding numerous exciting features. Moreover, much has been done to make the game more accessible and understandable, especially for new pilots and interested players.

But soon, Elite Dangerous could become interesting for even more players than before – thanks to the new expansion Odyssey. This could take Elite Dangerous in a completely new direction that could also appeal to fans of other genres.

What makes Elite Dangerous special?

Elite Dangerous is currently a massive sci-fi space sim with elements of MMO and economics, focusing on life as a space pilot. You decide who you want to be and what you do there.

You can fly to unexplored spots in the galaxy as an explorer, play space taxi for filthy rich VIPs of various corporations, transport rare goods and sell them for millions of credits, or try your hand as a space pirate – the choice is yours. As you do so, you earn more money, buy better ships, and upgrade them further.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

The following aspects make Elite Dangerous special:

  • A huge persistent galaxy with nearly 400 billion star systems, all of which can be visited and explored
  • Great freedom – Do what you want, be what you want, earn your money however you want
  • Numerous ships that can be extensively customized for various roles
  • Smooth landings on planet surfaces. Exploration of planet surfaces with a rover vehicle
  • Play solo or in open multiplayer with others – including multicrew
  • By now, a good introduction that makes the game significantly more accessible
  • Mysterious Thargoid aliens which increasingly make life difficult for players
Space battle at a station in Elite Dangerous

Who is Elite Dangerous interesting for?

Anyone who can relate to space, spaceships, and life as a space pilot, and who loves great freedom, could have a lot of fun with the game – as long as they can handle some grinding. Because all the good stuff doesn’t come for free.

There is only a rough story surrounding an interstellar political conflict in the background, but essentially you write and experience your own stories.

The more you learn about it and invest (time), the more the game rewards you – sometimes with unforgettable experiences. Elite is what each individual makes of it. However, you won’t find a predetermined bombastic story or well-produced cutscenes here.

In Elite Dangerous, write your own stories

Elite has a very helpful community that not only assists with onboarding but also willingly rescues young pilots and their ships – like the player organization Fuel Rats. Also, huge events are often organized by the players.

In general, Elite Dangerous has done a lot to keep not only veterans entertained but also to introduce new players to the game and its sometimes complex fundamentals. Anyone who has tried Elite in the past and gave up due to its inaccessibility should definitely give it another try.

In short: If you like to take your fate into your own hands, enjoy great freedom in an open world, and your heart beats for space, then you could find a new passion in Elite Dangerous.

Traveling with the rover

Where does Elite Dangerous stand now?

Since the release in 2014, continuous improvements have been made to Elite Dangerous. The game has been steadily enhanced, and over the years, many new features like planet landings, passenger transport, multi-crew gameplay, character creation, and the mysterious Thargoid aliens have made their way into ED. A lot has also been done to improve accessibility – especially for new players and interested parties.

Recently, however, there have been no significant features or surprises. The developers have focused on smaller “quality of life” updates. 2020 will only see a new major feature – the massive carrier ships (release on June 9).

These extremely expensive colossi can be commanded by players and serve as a type of forward, mobile operations base where players can land and embark on new adventures even in the most remote corners of the galaxy.

A fleet carrier

The game has evolved tremendously since launch. And soon, Elite Dangerous will also become very exciting again.

What is planned for Elite Dangerous?

It is now clear why there has been less new content for Elite Dangerous lately. Recently, the developers from Frontier Developments introduced a new major expansion – Odyssey.

The next big thing for Elite Dangerous is set to be released early in 2021 and will have the largest impact on the game since its release. Odyssey will be a paid expansion.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

These are the most important core features of the Odyssey expansion known so far:

  • Space Legs: The ability to leave your spaceship or exploration vehicle and move freely on planet surfaces or inside stations
  • Along with Space Legs, there should be much to discover. Breathtaking planets, overwhelming technologies, picturesque sunrises in unforgettable places, outposts, or settlements
  • Shooter elements: The ability to customize your character with firearms and other equipment will be introduced, enabling battles in the style of a first-person shooter.

Speculation is still ongoing:

  • Whether outposts, settlements, and social hubs are procedurally generated or manually created at certain locations
  • Whether you can only enter selected buildings of an outpost
  • Whether you can finally land on planets with an atmosphere. There were hints in the Odyssey trailer, but the developers have not mentioned it yet

By the way, base building, which is suspected by some, will not be introduced with Odyssey, according to the developers.

Soon there will also be firearms and shooter gameplay

What does the Odyssey expansion mean for Elite Dangerous?

What’s coming: Since the announcement, it has been clear: Something really big is ahead for Elite Dangerous. With Odyssey, not only will some of the biggest player wishes (since release) finally be fulfilled, but the game could also take a completely new direction and become appealing to a much broader audience – a full-fledged sci-fi MMO.

With the new ability to have adventures on foot alongside others, outside of your spaceship, Elite Dangerous is moving strongly towards becoming a true MMO.

Additionally, weapons and equipment for the character, as well as shooter gameplay, come into play. This also opens up completely new possibilities that could significantly enhance and broaden the existing gaming experience. Because until now, players defined themselves solely through their ships. The character was essentially just an avatar that you saw in a picture or through the cockpit window. But soon the character and their adventures will be in focus – whether as a pilot in the ship or as a virtual alter ego on planet surfaces, in space stations, and buildings.

In general, it could be worth keeping an eye on Elite Dangerous for many players who have previously overlooked it. However, many long-time fans of the game have essentially been wishing for this for years.

From Odyssey, you will also be on foot with others

Competition for Star Citizen? Interestingly, Elite Dangerous is also moving strongly toward Star Citizen with Odyssey.

Because it’s about more than just spaceships there. The social aspects, encounters with other players, shooter gameplay, as well as adventures on planet surfaces, at stations, or in massive cities play a significant role there. Essentially, Star Citizen is a kind of space MMO – or is supposed to be when it’s completely finished.

Exactly this direction is now being taken by Elite Dangerous with Odyssey, making it potentially interesting as an alternative for fans or interested players of Star Citizen. Because Elite Dangerous is already a finished game, the new expansion is set to be released in early 2021 and offers many features that SC also presents – albeit perhaps not in the same quality. However, when Star Citizen will ultimately be finished is still uncertain.

What makes Odyssey also a lot more interesting: Elite Dangerous is available for PC and on PS4 and Xbox One. The expansion should also be released for PC and consoles (and likely for PS5 and Xbox Series X). Star Citizen, however, remains PC-exclusive. With Odyssey, Elite has no competition on consoles and would offer console players what SC cannot – namely a Star Citizen feeling.

For fans of Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous with Odyssey could be quite exciting as well.

Odyssey – The next big thing from Elite Dangerous

What we like so far about Odyssey – and what we don’t

Although we do not yet know the full extent of Odyssey and the features already presented, it is clear: It will be a major step for Elite Dangerous, undoubtedly elevating the game to a new level, but it also brings some risks.

The strengths of Elite Dangerous with Odyssey

  • Longtime fan wishes are being fulfilled, making the game more attractive to veterans
  • Meaningful additions to the game that could make it a completely new experience
  • Great step towards a full-fledged MMO
  • With the features of Odyssey, a much broader player base is addressed than the current fan base. Elite Dangerous thus also becomes appealing to fans of other genres and Star Citizen enthusiasts
  • Offers a unique experience on consoles. Star Citizen is PC-exclusive

The risks of Elite Dangerous with Odyssey

  • The exact extent of all features is not yet known. How well the Space Legs or outposts will perform remains to be seen
  • If new elements like the shooter gameplay are not implemented convincingly, Odyssey could push away more players than it attracts – especially potential interested parties outside of the current fan base. And shooters are uncharted territory for Frontier Developments
  • Ambitious project that has seen many other games fail

Hit potential with Odyssey – Good

Even if not all features of Odyssey are known yet or their full extent cannot be completely recognized – what has been shown and confirmed so far will not only fulfill some of the biggest fan wishes, but elevate Elite Dangerous to a completely different level.

The game thus takes a big step towards a full-fledged MMO and could even become serious competition for the big Star Citizen.

With the new possibilities of Space Legs and shooter elements, the focus shifts from the ship to an experience centered around the character and their adventures. This will likely make Elite Dangerous interesting for far more players than it has been so far. Shooter and MMO fans might discover an exciting new game for themselves.

If the new elements integrate seamlessly into the existing gameplay and are convincing in quality, Elite Dangerous could indeed become a real hit with Odyssey.

Asks meinmmo Sven

Sven Galitzki
Freelance writer and shooter expert at MeinMMO

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