The Division 2: Warlords expansion brings new skills – 3 are already known

The new expansion “Warlords of New York” gives The Division 2 agents new skills. Some of these are already known. Additionally, new skills can also be earned through the seasons. We summarize what is currently known.

What is the new expansion about? Just recently, the last content of Year 1, Episode 3, was launched. However, on March 3, the next new content for The Division 2 will arrive – in the form of the large expansion “Warlords of New York”.

The Warlords add-on brings numerous changes and a lot of new content to the game: including a new open world in New York and fresh toys for agents like new exotic weapons or new skills.

We took this as an opportunity to take a closer look at the new skills of the agents.

These new skills are already known

This is what we already know: So far, 3 skills are already known – along with a few variants of the respective skills.

Source: Holy_13 Gaming on YouTube

These include

  • the Trap with 2 different variations
  • the Decoy
  • as well as the Sticky Bomb with 3 different variations

In total, 6 new skill variations are currently known.

What can the new skills do? In the previously shown gameplay of the new expansion, several new skills could already be seen in action. Some details have even already been discovered that indicate the function of some modifications.

Source: Holy_13 Gaming on YouTube

The Trap:

  • The shock version of the trap can be thrown similar to the drone stock. It sends out electric shocks that shock nearby enemies and bind them with a kind of electric chain.
  • What the second version of the trap can do is not yet exactly known. However, in-game symbols suggest that it will be an explosive version.
Source: Holy_13 Gaming on YouTube

The Decoy:

  • The Decoy currently has only one known version. It can be thrown and creates a hologram of your agent that draws the attention of enemies, giving you a chance to retreat or flank.
Source: Holy_13 Gaming on YouTube

The Sticky Bomb:

  • The Sticky Bomb, known from the first part, which is fired from a handy launcher, comes with a total of 3 different variations.
  • In its base version, it is essentially a grenade that is fired, sticks to enemies, and can then be detonated remotely at the push of a button.
  • Additionally, there is a fire variant of the Sticky Bomb that sticks to the enemy and then sprays fire, igniting everything in a certain radius.
  • The Sticky Bomb is rounded off by an EMP version. This is an EMP jammer that can be fired and takes out enemy skills or, for example, the robot dogs of the “Black Tusk”.
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How can you get the new skills? You can unlock the shock trap, the decoy, as well as the regular and the fire Sticky Bomb by defeating the 4 Warlords in the campaign of the new expansion. These are essentially their skills that you can then take over.

Source: Holy_13 Gaming on YouTube

But how can you get the other skill variations? One possibility could be that the skill comes through a new specialization, as was the case with the turret or the drone. However, apparently there is also another option that has so far gone under the radar – the seasons, as in the case of the EMP Sticky Bomb.

More new skills can be earned through the seasons soon

This is interesting: The Warlords from the new expansion are apparently not the only high-value targets we will encounter in the future. The developers talked about this in a stream after the reveal of the new expansion.

Season 1, which starts on March 10, will also have its own new Warlord or a kind of boss to hunt down and eliminate. You can unlock this by taking down 4 smaller seasonal enemies that will go live every 3 weeks and remain available throughout the season. This is also intended to propel the story forward after Warlords of New York.

The roadmap for Season 1

If you are successful in this so-called seasonal Global Manhunt and take down the seasonal big bad, you will be rewarded with their unique skill – in the case of Season 1, the EMP variant of the Sticky Bomb.

However, it appears you only have a specific time window available, namely the 12-week season. After that, the skill cannot be earned again at first.

This skill is likely to come back into the game somehow later. But how and when exactly is not yet known.

This is how it might go in the future: It is conceivable and obvious that with further seasons, additional skill variations or even completely new skills will be introduced to the game in this way. But potential new specializations could continue to equip our agents with new variants in the future.

By the way, you can find more details as well as gameplay of some new skills in this YouTube video by Holy_13 Gaming:

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What do you think about the fact that some skills seem to be obtainable only through limited-time seasons? A good motivation or a burden for latecomers or players with little time?

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EA bans Twitch streamer for FIFA 20, calls it a "Ridiculous! Witch hunt!"

Electronic Arts has banned 25-year-old Kurt “Kurt0411” Fenech from all their games. They announced this publicly on Twitter. The Maltese is one of the biggest Twitch streamers for FIFA 20. He complains about the way he has been treated and feels unfairly treated. Kurt believes EA wanted to stop him because he became too successful on Twitch and YouTube.

This is what Kurt0411 says now: The 25-year-old professional player, YouTuber, and Twitch streamer addressed his fans in a statement on YouTube. He says EA has launched a “personal witch hunt” against him, which is “ridiculous.”

EA has published lies that now force him to explain to his friends and family what has happened. Kurt says EA has made it look as if he has killed someone. The statement is absolutely not okay.

Title image kurt0411

EA talks more about me than about their broken game

Does Kurt regret it? It doesn’t sound like Kurt regrets what he did. He has called a community manager a “bum,” “incompetent,” and a “waste of sperm,” but says he stands behind those statements.

A community manager is, after all, a public figure.

However, Kurt says he has realized the responsibility he carries. Because he has grown so quickly on YouTube and Twitch, many people listen to him. The last time he complained about EA, people went out and defended him or made videos asking EA to unban him. Kurt does not want that. His fans should not fight his battles for him.

Kurt also says: EA has now made more statements about him than about the state of the game (FIFA 20). That should make him proud, but it is just sad.

FIFA 20 Allison Frustration
FIFA 20 is constantly under criticism.

Kurt thinks: He is too successful, EA doesn’t like that

This is how Kurt sees the ban: Kurt believes he is the best at making FIFA 20 look good. Therefore, he has grown tremendously. EA then decided that someone like him cannot be the biggest streamer on Twitch for FIFA 20 and thus took action against him to protect their “Golden Boy” (presumably the biggest Twitch streamer for FIFA Castro_1021).

He sees his ban as unfair. He asks:

  • How can it still be allowed for people to play FIFA 20 when they have introduced children to gambling?

This is, in Kurt’s eyes, much worse than anything he has done.

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Public statement condemned the streamer’s behavior

This is the ban: On February 24, EA published a public statement on their Twitter channel, saying they have banned the player “Kurt0411” from all games and from using all their services.

Kurt allegedly sent “offensive and threatening messages” to EA employees and other eSports players via social media, encouraging others to do the same.

It says that the player crossed the line of decency. At EA, they value feedback and encourage it, but when feedback turns into threats and personal attacks, they must take action.

This makes the ban so tricky: Kurt0411 was already banned from FIFA 20 in November after he spat on the EA logo.

After that, his fans went on the warpath. They demanded his release and even hacked the Twitter account of EA employees.

The public statement from Electronic Arts regarding the ban was apparently meant to prevent reactions from angry fans, but has now led to the streamer feeling hung out to dry and slipping into a victim role.

MontanaBlack finds FIFA 20 worse than casino titles
The German streamer MontanaBlack is also successful with FIFA, but sees dangers in the game.

The German streamer MontanaBlack is also very successful with FIFA 20, especially with pack openings. MontanaBlack says: “FIFA 20 is worse than any casino.”

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

Path of Exile continues to grow – Chief explains why the MMO is becoming increasingly popular

The hack ‘n slash Path of Exile (PC, PS4, Xbox One) is a huge success and continues to grow. Chris Wilson from Grinding Gear Games has an explanation for this.

How is Path of Exile developing? PoE is very successful. The developer studio Grinding Gear Games has released a graphic showing how the number of hours played (in millions) for the action RPG has changed since 2015.

Path of Exile hours played
This many hours were played in Path of Exile in each year.

In 2015, it was just under 150 million hours. By 2019, PoE reached 500 million hours played – and that just in the West. This means the hours played by PoE fans in China and Taiwan are not counted.

I am happy about both the growth and the fact that the number of players we added between 2018 and 2019 in terms of playtime is basically equal to the number of players that played in 2015. That is quite a bit of growth, and we hope we can keep going for as long as we can.”

Chris Wilson, Grinding Gear Games to VentureBeat
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Players get what they want

How did this development come about? Grinding Gear Games regularly provides PoE players with new expansions. The team takes player feedback into account. Fans are constantly receiving something new. Furthermore, the Act structure ensures that story fans can be pleased with new Acts.

There is a recipe for Path of Exile content that has something for everyone. We have several player demographics, and we will provide each with content that they enjoy. It took us a while to work out this mix. The early expansions focused completely on adding story, character customization, or early gameplay, with not enough emphasis placed on offering something for all players. And while that really satisfied that group of players, it didn’t really lead to actual growth in player numbers, as other people felt underserved.”

Chris Wilson, Grinding Gear Games to VentureBeat

With the new expansion, they remain true to the formula: On the evening of February 25, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) announced the new expansion Delirium. With this, the team also tries to provide players with content they can enjoy again. According to Chris Wilson, they have thought long about what to introduce to ensure that the content fits with Path of Exile.

Delirium introduces new challenges and relies on one of the core principles of action RPGs: You have to take a big risk to get the best rewards.

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Old and new coexist

What does the future look like? Alongside Delirium, GGG is already working on Path of Exile 2. This is a full-fledged sequel. However, it is important to the developers that they do not only offer players a new story with seven acts, 19 new Ascendancy classes, new monsters and items, character models, animations, and more. A key aspect is the possibility for players to transfer their characters and microtransactions from Path of Exile to Path of Exile 2.

We wanted to make a true sequel that exists alongside Path of Exile 1. There is no separated community. There is a shared endgame. Regardless of which story you prefer. There will be some die-hard folks who say: “No, I prefer the original.” Those people can still play in the endgame and meet with their friends who are playing the new content. This also means that many of the improvements in Path of Exile 2, like new rigs for characters and new effects, can influence Path of Exile 1, since they are still in the same game. So it’s not like you’re leaving the old behind and working on the new. It’s an effort to keep the old alongside the new.

Chris Wilson, Grinding Gear Games to VentureBeat

Grinding Gear Games is apparently doing everything right with Path of Exile right now. The success shows that. With Delirium and PoE 2, we will see how this continues to evolve.

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The Xbox Series X takes ray tracing for the ears – And the PS5?

The Xbox Series X aims to deliver perfect sound at its release in late 2020 with ray tracing, a technology that only games use for graphics. And what sound does the PS5 offer against it? The sound of future consoles compared.

Where does the information come from? In a podcast (via Majornelson.com) titled “What can you expect from the next generation of gaming?” Larry Hryb from Xbox LIVE and Jason Ronald, Director of Product Management, spoke with each other.

The two discussed the possibilities and capabilities of the new Xbox Series X during the podcast. They talked about the newly released specs of the Xbox Series X, which is set to become the strongest console ever.

However, when Ronald explained that the new console not only offers hardware-based ray tracing but also ray tracing audio, Hryb was surprised: “I have never heard of that.”

Ronald laughs in the podcast and explains why ray tracing audio is so important for gaming. He says:

These spatial sounds are a huge leap to immerse you in the gameplay and help you understand that you are surrounded by enemies.

Jason Ronald, Source: Majornelson.com

Xbox Series X relies on ray tracing audio in 2020

Ronald now explains that the Xbox Series X should be the first to use a technology that employs ray tracing for audio.

Xbox Series X Title Bright
This is what the new Xbox Series X is supposed to look like.

What is behind ray tracing audio? Until now, ray tracing technology has provided the ability to display graphics realistically, meaning great light and realistic lighting. For players who want to immerse themselves completely in a game world, this is really cool.

The game knows where the player is located and can show the correct reflections. Now imagine that in audio:

  • You move through a building and can’t see the enemy.
  • The sound “knows” exactly where you are and can perfectly calculate the audio.
  • The user can then hear exactly where the enemy is located – for example, that the enemy is three rooms away and loading his weapon.

This would give players a whole new level of immersion in the game world, as sound plays an important role in “immersion”.

What are the prerequisites for ray tracing? However, Ronald did not explain how exactly this is supposed to work. Does ray tracing audio also work without support from games or does it require games to support ray tracing? So far, nothing concrete is known.

PlayStation 5 – With 3D audio against Xbox Series X

PlayStation VR
For example, 3D audio is already used in the PlayStation VR headset.

The PlayStation 4 currently only offers 5.1 sound. The PlayStation 5 is set to make new strides in this area and finally provide good sound as well. The solution lies in Sony’s self-developed 3D audio.

What exactly is 3D audio? According to Sony, 3D audio allows individual sounds to be precisely placed in a virtual space. The process is relatively simple:

  • Instead of distributing sound across different channels, as has been done so far, individual sound sources, such as a gun or a waterfall, are assigned a specific position in space.
  • When playing back the sound data, special software processes the sound.
  • The headset or speakers then receive the calculations of how loud certain sounds need to be or how they should be played back.
  • According to Sony, this technique also works with comparatively simple devices, meaning that no high-end hardware is required.

The advantage of this system is that the sound does not come as a package as with multiple channels. Instead, individual sounds can be precisely positioned.

Can you already use 3D audio? Yes, you can already use 3D audio. If you own a PlayStation VR headset or a regular PlayStation headset from Sony, you are already using Sony’s self-developed 3D audio technology.

Games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare rely on powerful sound effects. Ray tracing audio could elevate the effects to a whole new level.

How ray tracing works – simply explained

How does normal rendering work? The graphics card renders the graphics simply as follows:

  • First, the graphics card determines which objects are visible to the viewer.
  • Then these objects are simulated. The subsequent “shading” provides the material properties, causing surfaces to appear rougher or smoother.
  • Finally, the light is calculated. How does the light fall on the objects and are there other light sources?

What makes ray tracing different? This technique calculates how light is represented on objects. Games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare already use this technique.

When rendering, it is usually calculated how long the rays take from the eye to the object. However, ray tracing goes a step further:

  • With ray tracing, not only is the path the rays take to the object calculated. It is also calculated how long the rays take to return to the starting point.
  • This makes light and reflections appear particularly realistic, as they are perfectly adapted to the human eye and every movement is calculated.

What is the disadvantage of ray tracing?: Ray tracing requires a lot of power that the computer needs to calculate this representation. Currently, only Nvidia graphics cards offer the ability to implement ray tracing. AMD hopes to catch up with this technology sometime in 2020.

What do you think? Does audio matter to you in gaming or do you not care how realistic or accurate, for example, a firearm sounds in a game?

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CoD MW finally brings a really big mode without annoying tanks

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the “Boots on the Ground War” mode is now live and fulfills the wishes of numerous fans: a 64-player battle without tanks.

What exactly is this mode? Boots on the Ground War offers you the rules and maps of Ground War with one difference: there are no tanks.

Additionally, the realism rules are activated. You play with less health, without crosshairs and HUD, and the mini-map is only available when a teammate calls in a drone.

“Boots on the Ground War” mode is celebrated

How is the new “Ground War” version received? The mode is cheered by many fans. Numerous soldiers liked the concept of Ground War and the massive battles, but the tanks were often a thorn in their side.

Call of duty modern Warfare tank
In the new mode, tanks can only be obtained through killstreaks

This is now different and at times you have to run long distances without seeing or hearing an enemy. The 64 players on the map still provide a lot of action and excitement, which is well received by the soldiers.

Even during the release of the patch notes, reddit user Jartasm said: “Boots on the Ground War sounds fantastic, really.”

Other players agree and add that the rules could be tightened even further. For example, the use of aerial vehicles could be banned, thus curbing the killstreaks. User NeonRain111 adds: “Tanks were the reason I stopped playing Ground War.”

Here are some discussions: The realism rules in Boots on the Ground War are causing discussions. Many players find the rules good. Conversely, there are also voices against it.

However, most commentators find the realism rules good. One player even managed to defeat 12 campers in one go thanks to the low health of the soldiers. This way, players are more challenged and, due to the lack of a mini-map, have to rely more on their hearing.

As stated by DustyUK on reddit: “I love this mode. No mini-map, just realistic ground war and tanks are only killstreaks.”

cod modern warfare action close

What else does the update bring? In addition to “Boots on the Ground War”, there are also other changes. There is a new playlist around Rust, Shipment, and Shoot House, and a new Gunfight map. You can find all the new features in our article about update 1.15.

The new mode “Giant Infection” had to be taken offline already.

One map is not popular at all in Modern Warfare. Even developers want to leave it:

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MMO giant Nexon catches corrupt employee, confiscates 9 dollars, punishes him harshly

Nexon is one of the largest MMO companies in South Korea and is currently fighting against corrupt employees. One case involves leaks, while the other concerns illegally sold vouchers.

What is happening at Nexon? Nexon distributes Dungeon Fighter Online, one of the most successful PC games in the world. But mobile games are also part of the company’s portfolio.

However, in connection with the latest game Counterside, which was released in February, two incidents occurred:

  • On one hand, an employee is said to have illegally sold vouchers for the game that were actually intended for employees and promotional purposes.
  • On the other hand, details about future updates of the game were leaked in chats.

The problems became public on February 18, and on February 26 there was a final statement from Nexon regarding the incident. Further details about the punishment of the employees were mentioned therein.

MapleStory 2 - Was a hit on Steam
One of the more well-known MMORPGs from Nexon – MapleStory 2 was a Steam hit in 2018

Fines and Ethics Training

What happened with the vouchers? The Korean company confirmed that there was an incident involving the vouchers. A single employee from the development studio is said to have sold them illegally.

This employee made around 8,000 Korean won from his actions, which is approximately $9.20. This money has been secured by Nexon.

The employee was suspended during the investigation but is now allowed to return to work. However, there was a fine that was higher than a monthly income. According to Nexon, this was the maximum legally possible punishment.

Additionally, there is to be an “ethics training” for the entire department to prevent such behavior in the future.

Counterside Nexon
Counterside – The mobile game from Nexon where the incidents occurred

What about the leaks? The leaks regarding Counterside, which turned out to be false, appear to have been published not by an employee of Nexon, but by an outside person who posed as an employee.

Nevertheless, the Korean company wants to take action against such conduct and has initiated police investigations.

Nexon also promises players to implement a better communication policy regarding their games in the future to make such leaks unnecessary.

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Bribery of Lawyers and Sale in 2019

What stir has there been at Nexon? The incident with the employees is not the first controversy that Nexon has faced. In 2016, there was an indictment against Nexon’s co-founder, Kim Jung-Ju.

He is said to have bribed a prosecutor between 2005 and 2014 with Korean currency worth $800,000. However, the gaming company distanced itself from the incident as it only referred to the individual or the company NXC, which does own significant shares in Nexon.

Nexon bribery
Kim Jung-ju, co-founder of Nexon

What happened in 2019? Last year, there was the announcement that Kim Jung-Ju wants to part with his shares. At that time, he still owned 98.64% of the company.

So far, however, it seems that there is still no buyer.

Another Korean company, Pearl Abyss, decided in 2019 to really get involved in the MMO market. The developer of Black Desert has announced 4 new MMOs:

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Destiny 2: It seems that the PS5 will be released in 2020 without Destiny 3

We now know the future of Destiny 2 and we will probably have to wait a bit longer for the successor. Additionally, Bungie has spoken about further changes in the near future.

No Destiny in 2020? Those who hoped for Destiny 3 to be a launch title for the PlayStation 5 must be strong now. The next Sony console is supposed to be released by the end of this year. But the next big step in the Destiny universe will probably definitely not happen in 2020.

Where do the info come from? The information we refer to here comes directly from Bungie – even from the highest level. Luke Smith, the franchise director and “the nerd next door”, reached out to the players in a lengthy letter.

As in the previous director’s cut, he speaks very personally about the past, present, and future of the Destiny universe. He makes it clear that Destiny 2 will still experience a Year 4. Since the fall of 2019 and Shadowkeep, we are in the third year of Destiny 2.

Luke-Smith-Destiny
Luke Smith has worked his way up from a small writer to the head of Destiny

This is the focus for Destiny 2: Currently, Destiny 2 is using a so-called season model. About every three months a new season is released. In March, Season 10, the season of the worthy, is coming for the players.

The seasons deliver new activities, loot, and a season pass, among other things. All these contents thematically fit into an overarching story. The seasons are supposed to interconnect and prepare each other while leading to a larger goal.

Then we start talking about what we aim the seasons in year 4.

Luke Smith in the Director’s Cut

This year’s version of the seasons has too much of that “fear of missing out,” Smith says. Bungie does not want to invest their (somewhat limited) power in activities that disappear after a short time.

Nevertheless, Destiny 2 cannot grow endlessly, whether for technical or creative reasons. But with a better understanding of the seasons and player feedback, they can now work more specifically on lasting content.

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This is the situation regarding a major expansion: The seasons can carry some of the freshness and longevity of Destiny 2. However, the biggest and most significant changes always came from the major fall expansions like Shadowkeep or Forsaken.

Whether there will be a new expansion this fall, Smith does not explicitly say. But he mentions that the expansions are another way to “make fundamental changes to the game and its systems.” So it can be assumed that we can look forward to another expansion in Destiny 2 in the future.

Forsaken set the troubled Destiny 2 on a new course

More info from the Director’s Cut

In his Director’s Cut, Luke Smith also addressed some other themes in the near and distant future.

This is what he says about group fights and faction rallies: Group fights are not supposed to return. The activity did not go down well and does not currently fit Destiny 2. The most popular weapons and equipment will make their comeback in Season 10 but in legendary engrams.

This is what happens with bright engrams: From Season 10, you will no longer be able to buy bright engrams from Tess. Bungie wants you to know immediately what you are spending your money on and not hope for a random drop.

Bright engrams will be available, for example, as a season pass reward (free track).

destiny 2 tess everis
Tess and her Eververse are a recurring topic of debate

A new entry for New Light is supposed to come: In the future, they want to make the Guardians’ entry with Destiny 2: New Light easier. The starter experience should feel more rounded then.

The quest log will be revised: In Season 10 the overview of your quest menu will become clearer. A categorization is supposed to provide more order:

  • Exotic quests get their own category
  • Seasonal quests also get a separate category
  • Quests from older content (for example, Forsaken) will be categorized separately

What do you think about Destiny 2 getting a Year 4? Were you looking forward to Destiny 3 as a launch title for the PlayStation 5? What else we know about the near future of Destiny and Season 10, you can read here:

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Hearthstone: 18 strong cards you will encounter from today

Suddenly, Hearthstone received a whole bunch of new cards that are now in the Battlegrounds mode. Here we show you all of them.

Since its introduction at BlizzCon 2019, the “Battlegrounds” mode of Hearthstone has become quite popular. Inspired by “auto-battlers” like Dota Underlords or Teamfight Tactics, battles here happen in an automated way, and players only need to arrange and upgrade their minions accordingly. Last night (26.02.2019) there was a new update that brought 18 fresh minions into this mode. New heroes were also introduced.

Recently, there were also 35 new cards in the Hearthstone adventure.

18 new minions and 7 new heroes in Hearthstone Battlegrounds

These are the 18 new cards: A total of 18 new minions can be deployed in Battlegrounds. Among them is the new unit type “Dragon”, which allows for many new synergies. Demon fans can rejoice as well, because there is finally a rank-6 demon. Previously, there was a lack of a minion in this category.

These are the 7 new heroes: In addition to the minions, there are also 7 new heroes. Each comes with a hero ability that can significantly influence the outcome of matches. Among them are not only the major dragon aspects but also a somewhat scattered dragon named Renogos – this is the explorer Reno Jackson, who has actually turned out to be a dragon after a long fan theory from the players.

Keep in mind that all the featured cards and heroes only work in Battlegrounds mode. They are not available in other modes.

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It seems that Blizzard intends to support this game mode for a long time and continuously provide it with new minions, types, and heroes. Those who enjoy this Hearthstone game mode will likely have fun with it for a long time to come.

What do you think of the new cards and heroes? Do they freshen up the Battlegrounds mode significantly?

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That’s why ARK Genesis is currently receiving so many negative reviews on Steam

The Genesis expansion for the online survival game ARK: Survival Evolved is here – albeit with a delay. However, the initial reactions are anything but positive. What is going on?

When was Genesis released? The release had to be delayed by several hours at short notice. Originally, Genesis was supposed to launch on February 25 at 7:00 PM, but it was only available yesterday morning around 7:00 AM.

ARK-Genesis-Release-Angriff
ARK Genesis offers cool new enemies, but the small areas are not received well.

The launch did not go well

How are the players reacting? The mood among not a few players is quite low. The delay has already caused quite a bit of criticism. But fans are much more upset about the state of the expansion. MeinMMO author Sascha Asendorf has already expressed his opinion on this.

What is being criticized? The contents of Genesis do not match what some fans had hoped for.

  • Instead of a large open world, there are only six relatively small areas
  • The missions are said to distract from the actual game instead of supporting it
  • The mini-games can only be played in multiplayer
  • The story doesn’t make sense, as there shouldn’t actually be any simulations after the last expansion, yet here we are again in one
  • It is not possible to access your own TEK equipment
  • Flying reptiles can be tamed but not ridden
  • It is not possible to build in the mission zones

What is particularly noteworthy about the criticism? As you can see, the technical state of the expansion is not really criticized, which could be fixed with patches. Instead, players are disappointed with the content and the overall concept of Genesis. This makes it difficult for the developers at Studio Wildcard to work on major improvements.

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Fans have shown little enthusiasm so far

What do the fans say? There are intense discussions about the launch of Genesis on Steam. Ratings on Steam have also been dropping since the release of the expansion.

  • Roachy says on Steam: “Goodness, this expansion is TERRIBLE! I thought if it was as bad as Extinction, I would return it. But it’s much worse than Extinction!”
  • SprinkCal writes on Steam: “I’ve never seen ARK in worse condition!”
  • Zerbeiler explains on Steam: “The map takes away the feeling of freedom. I can’t get used to these constraints. I was hoping for a large open map.”
  • Steam user liberator65853 sees it somewhat differently: “I recommend it if you like the base game. The biomes are great and the new creatures are incredible. Yes, there are missions now to earn a currency called Hexagons, which you can use to buy resources. But there are great new creatures, missions, and in my opinion, the Hexagons don’t make it feel any less like a survival game.”

So Genesis did not launch very well. Studio Wildcard now has to figure out how to satisfy the fans again.

Have you played Genesis yet? What do you think of ARK’s new expansion?

More on the topic
ARK Genesis: Everything about map, quests, dinos and the season pass contents
von Sascha Asendorf
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Gamestar
  2. Steam

Last Epoch could be the next Steam hit like Wolcen

Is the next Steam hit in Hack and Slay already on the horizon with Last Epoch? We present you the action RPG that could pose a serious threat to the popular Wolcen with an exciting feature and bridge the wait until the release of Diablo 4.

What is Last Epoch? The action RPG from Eleventh Hour Games aims to expand the “Hack and Slay” genre with an interesting mechanic: time travel.

In Last Epoch, you explore a vast world that you can traverse in four different time periods, all of which are distinct from one another. In the areas, you fight numerous monsters and collect plenty of loot, typical for a “Hack and Slay.” Additionally, you improve your hero using skills for their chosen class.

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Journey Through Time

How do time travels work? Within the story of the action RPG Last Epoch, you traverse the world in four timelines. You witness how the world changes and constantly fight different enemies.

Even outside the story, time travel plays an important role. It is for example possible to hide an item. If you then travel to the future, you can find it again here. In the meantime, the item has become more powerful and thus much more useful for you.

Moreover, you use skills that allow you to send your enemies a few seconds into the future or the past. This has tactical implications for the battles. For instance, if many monsters are making your life difficult, you can send a few of them into the future to deal with them later.

Last Epoch Dragon
In the action RPG Last Epoch, intense battles await, such as against this dragon.

What features does Last Epoch offer? Although Last Epoch is fundamentally a typical “Hack and Slay,” it also takes its own path with some gameplay mechanics.

  • Unlike Wolcen, where you build characters through skills, you choose a base class at the beginning and can later ascend to master classes.
  • Your class develops through a skill tree, where each skill has its own augment tree. You can change how a skill functions through that.
  • The loot hunt is also a central element in Last Epoch. Like in other “Hack and Slays,” you find randomly generated loot, including unique items like in Wolcen, such as unique weapons and armor.
  • In the Time-Lost Colosseum, you compete in PvP battles against other players.

What state is the Hack and Slay in? Currently, Last Epoch is still in the early access phase, where you can join via Steam for 29.99 euros.

When is the planned release? The developers state that Last Epoch is officially set to release in the fourth quarter of 2020.

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The Action RPG is Well Received

How is the current version being received? There is already quite a bit of feedback for the early access version of Last Epoch. Opinions are mostly positive. On Steam, the Hack and Slay currently has a rating of 87% in the past 30 days and an overall rating of 78%.

However, the player numbers are still somewhat low. In the last 30 days, according to Steamcharts, around 155 players played simultaneously, peaking at 1,548 players.

The fluid controls, diverse areas, ample loot, and different enemies are well-received. Comparisons are even being drawn to Path of Exile because the skill system is quite complex and there is already tons of content available.

However, the balancing has been criticized. The difficulty level is said to spike significantly starting at around level 30. The graphics also cannot quite compete with those of Wolcen.

  • Perijax writes on Steam: “Can this game be recommended right now? For those aware that it is still an early beta and what that means: Yes! Everyone else might want to wait a bit longer.”
  • Ana Brays milky Tighs says on Steam: “The game is still in testing, but it is promising. I have a lot of fun playing and look forward to more updates. The graphics could use some work, and many characters and environments look outdated, but the gameplay and character development both feel great.”
  • Retromastery explains on Steam: “If everything goes well, this could become a strong competitor to Path of Exile. There is already over a hundred hours of content, and the developers are doing an amazing job.”

Have you already had the chance to try out Last Epoch? Do you believe it can compete with Wolcen and bridge the wait until Diablo 4 is released?

More on the topic
10 new hack and slays coming in 2021 while you wait for Diablo 4
von Andreas Bertits
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Steam
  2. GamingonLinux

Trainers demand in Pokémon GO: Let’s finally send Event Pokémon normally

Currently, there is an event going on for the Pokémon Day in Pokémon GO. Despite cool spawns, trainers are facing a major issue: sending event Pokémon.

This is how the current event works: There are plenty of rare spawns in the wild. Even Machomei and Dragoran can be found more frequently. Additionally, there are Evoli and Pikachu wearing party hats.

The big problem lies with the party hat Pokémon because they cannot be sent together and must be selected individually. This can take a long time, and trainers are wishing for a change.

“There is no reason for this function”

Players are now complaining about this: On reddit, the currently most popular thread addresses this issue. A user named JuggernautG1 states: “The most annoying part of event Pokémon. Let us send them in bulk. There is a reason for the favorites function…”

This resonates with many trainers. Another user adds that it has become even more pointless because there were already events where such Pokémon could be sent. On Halloween, players could send all starters in costumes in bulk, but this was no longer possible in subsequent events. According to the reddit user, that just doesn’t make sense.

Hat Pokémon
The hat Pokémon can only be sent individually

Why does Niantic keep this function? There are no official reasons for it. The game always asks twice whether you really want to send this event Pokémon.

It’s similar to legendary Pokémon or Shinys. There, you also have to agree twice. Niantic seems to consider event Pokémon as “special,” which is why they want you to be sure before sending them.

However, the problem with many event Pokémon is that they are not rare at all. In the current event, Pikachu and Evoli with party hats are everywhere. If you catch 100 Pokémon, at least 10 of these event Pokémon are included. The monsters are therefore not “special,” but actually quite common. Sorting them out then often takes several minutes because you have to confirm each event Pokémon twice.

Pokemon GO Party Hat Pikachu

Here the function also makes no sense: Currently, the clone Pokémon are available in raids. They are only available for this one week and only from level 4 raids. So, you have to invest a raid pass to get to the monster.

The problem here is: These Pokémon can be sent in bulk. In contrast, the hat Pokémon, which are everywhere, cannot. Therefore, in places where the function is really appropriate, it does not work.

Are you still looking for the perfect team for the PvP league? Then check out our tier list:

More on the topic
Tier List for the PvP League in Pokémon GO: The best Pokémon in Super, Hyper, Master League
von Noah Struthoff
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Destiny 2: Players fear the artifact could destroy the Trials – this is what Bungie says

In Destiny 2, many Guardians fear that the seasonal artifact could completely destroy the balance in the Trials of Osiris and are calling for its deactivation for the returning PvP mode. Bungie has now responded.

What are the Trials about? Many have been waiting for this. After more evidence of the return of the popular PvP format increased, it is now official – The Trials, long awaited by many, will finally return with Season 10.

This is currently causing heated debates: But one detail is now causing excitement and various discussions regarding the confirmed return of the Trials here on MeinMMO – namely the role of the seasonal artifact. It is uncertain whether this will be active during the Trials.

Thousands are already calling for it to be disabled during the returning PvP activity. Otherwise, many Guardians believe the balance of the mode could be completely destroyed in a short time.

Destiny-2-Osiris-Look
The Guardians want a fair competition

A corresponding Reddit thread, where many express their concerns and discuss the issue, received over 11,000 upvotes and nearly 3,000 comments in less than 24 hours.

More on the topic
Destiny 2 finally breaks the silence about Season 10 and the Trials – This is what we know so far
von Philipp Hansen

This is what Bungie says about the artifact: The excitement has not gone unnoticed by Bungie. Community Manager Cozmo23 spoke up on Reddit and has now clarified the matter.

And this is likely not to please many, as the artifact will also be active in the Trials.

Literally, Cozmo said: “The artifact power (-level) will be available in all activities – including Trials. We are aware of the concerns surrounding this topic and will closely monitor player data and feedback.”

What is the problem with the artifact in the Trials? The problem with the artifact relates to the level advantages. In the Trials, the power level will play a role, and the level advantages will be active there.

This means: Players with a higher power level will have an advantage over players with a lower power level, dealing more damage and taking less damage from weaker Guardians.

While most players might start the beginning of a season at roughly the same power level, Guardians who have more time can quickly earn additional power levels through the seasonal artifact. After reaching the power cap, the power level can essentially be increased infinitely with the artifact – until the end of the season.

Many now fear that players who have a lot of time to play will quickly accumulate enormous power level advantages thanks to the artifact and then dominate all others. This would quickly create a small core of hardcore PvP pros who would ruin the fun for all other players in this crucible format.

While there were also level advantages in Trials in Destiny 1, there was also a level cap that could not be exceeded. However, with an active artifact, there is no upper limit. Deactivating the artifact in the Trials would prevent players from pushing their power level infinitely, ensuring more equality and fairness.

This is how the fans react: The overwhelming majority of commenting users are angry and confused about this decision. Hardly anyone can understand how Bungie could overlook or ignore the immediate consequences of this decision. Some even asked if Cozmo was joking or trolling.

Destiny-2-Ehre
Only those who win can show off with shiny ornaments

It is still being vigorously demanded that the artifact or the level advantages be completely disabled or at least capped at a reasonable level.

Guardians who can play 8-10 hours or more daily will otherwise quickly pull ahead and can no longer be caught up due to the endless artifact levels.

If the power, for example, were to count only up to the regular cap of a season, it would not be a problem for many. But as it stands, the returning format will again be unattractive for some Guardians.

Bungie would emphasize that they do not want to bring back the Trials “half-baked,” yet so this popular PvP format would return not only half-baked but completely raw, according to numerous comments.

Destiny-Leuchtrüstung-1140x445
Who will be able to earn the Trials gear?

The user xarchangel85x sums up the current mood well. Instead of the Season of Worthy, it will likely become the Season of Streamers and the Unemployed.

What do you think about the fact that the artifact with its bonus power level will be active in the Trials? Right decision? Wait and see what happens? Or the death blow for the Trials?

More on the topic
So perfectly staged Destiny 2 the Trials: Everyone should see who won
von Schuhmann
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit

ARK Genesis: The new dinos are cool, but the map isn’t

The next expansion Genesis Part 1 for ARK: Survival Evolved was released online on February 26. New content keeps players entertained, but our author Sascha Asendorf is disappointed with the Genesis map.

I was really looking forward to Genesis. Finally new content, dinos, and a cool new map. The release on February 26 was not entirely smooth as expected from Wildcard. Nonetheless, a few hours later it was time to start, and my character entered the swamp land.

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As a long-time survival player, I have played and followed ARK since the start of Early Access. All DLCs had their strengths and weaknesses, but there is one thing that particularly bothers me about Genesis.

Oh boy – the Genesis map is really small

On a private server, I was able to use a flying command to take a closer look. What does the new map look like, where are the coolest spots to build, and what dangers are there? Questions I wanted to answer for myself.

ARK-Genesis-Map-ingame
The 5 biomes are separated from each other.

But the disillusionment came quickly. Genesis is divided into 5 biomes, each enclosed by an energy cube. The individual areas: swamp, volcano, snow, and water, as well as the moon, are beautifully designed but offer poor building opportunities for various reasons.

  • The areas are relatively small
  • No large spaces to build
  • Resources are scarce
  • There are creatures wanting to kill you at every corner
ARK-Genesis-map-mond
The moon is really pretty.

New players are likely to have problems here, so I cannot recommend starting in Genesis. Get to know the game on The Island, level up your character, and wait until you enter Genesis.

Where has the Open World gone?

ARK offers a quite open world with its otherwise large areas, but Genesis breaks with the norms. The biomes are not connected and can only be traveled through teleportation. While this is part of the new quest design, it takes away the feeling of an open world for me personally and does not encourage exploration at all. I can switch regions at any time without having to pay a penalty.

Just imagine you have set up beds everywhere on The Island, between which you can teleport. Normally you lose all your gear in the process, but not in Genesis. Thanks to the drone HNL-A, you can travel back and forth for a few hexagons.

This may seem useful for some players, but I simply find it boring.

What I would have liked

Aside from the fact that the really cool story of ARK is not continued from where it left off, I expected simply more from the map.

A large open world with different biomes that you can travel through old school. Teleportation would have been a nice addition, but not a must. Different islands, connected by the sea and with a steadily increasing level of difficulty.

After all, we were on Earth with Extinction and freed ourselves from the simulation as well as the Arks. Even the wiki stated that Genesis is largely covered by water, so it sounds like Earth. Why the hell are we now again in a simulation, trapped like lab rats? I hope Wildcard will answer this question for me in the coming months, when more notes or chronicles are added to the game.

But the dinos are really cool!

Even though the map design bothers me negatively in this regard, there are also great things in Genesis. The new creatures are all impressive and a lot of fun. Especially the Bloodstalker is versatile and makes movement through the world an action spectacle.

The biomes are beautifully designed, and I wish for natural disasters like volcanic eruptions or avalanches in the other ARKs.

I will continue to try to make my mark in Genesis, also to follow the story further. Sooner or later, I will certainly return to The Island and inhabit the beautiful beaches.

More on the topic
ARK Genesis: 5 Things You Should Know Before Buying
von Sascha Asendorf
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Psychotherapist uses Overwatch and Fortnite to help children

Through video games like Overwatch or Fortnite psychotherapy can be initiated more easily. At least that’s what a therapist says, who has already had success with it.

Video games are still often viewed negatively in public. But some people have had positive experiences with it, such as in the case of Overwatch. It can help therapists build a better connection with children and adolescents.

Who is speaking? A therapist named Grant, who is known as “Calix19” on Reddit. He works in a clinic for children and adolescents. First, he shared on Reddit and then more specifically in an interview with PCGamesN how video games have helped him establish a connection with the children he was supposed to treat. Especially Overwatch, Minecraft, and Fortnite seem to play a significant role.

Overwatch Mercy glowing title

How does Overwatch help with therapy? According to Grant, it is often particularly difficult to build a trusting relationship with children and adolescents and to get the therapy underway.

[The adolescents] do not always want to be in my office. Therapy is just another stupid thing their parents make them do, and to them, I am just the next person who doesn’t really listen to them.

It is then important to be someone “who understands” and with whom one can talk. When the children and adolescents see the signed picture of Soldier: 76 on the wall, they might ask “Do you play Overwatch?” and just like that, a conversation topic is found that makes it easier to start.

Overwatch Soldier 76

Grant also mentions some examples of how he was able to break the ice with Overwatch. For instance, he had a young girl with him who suffered from a sexual trauma. He describes the situation as follows:

The client came into my office and sat down, pulling up the collar of her sweater to hide her face. After some initial greetings and handling the paperwork, she noticed my Overwatch poster. She pulled down her collar, revealed her face, and we looked into each other’s eyes for the first time since she entered the room. Then she started telling me how she was a “Soldier: 76” main. We talked a bit about how cool that was because it was one of the rare mains.

Thus, the two got into conversation and it seemed to help.

According to Grant, Overwatch is quite popular among teenagers, but “almost every younger child talks about Fortnite or Minecraft.” But that can also drift in the other direction, as this case of a 9-year-old Fortnite player with an addiction shows.

What do you think about it? Is it good for therapists to be so familiar with the youth’s world and be able to chat about games?

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New event in Overwatch starts: Skin and rewards from Mardi Gras
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Mehr zu Overwatch: Auf unserer Overwatch-Seite auf Facebook findet Ihr auch weitere News und Specials zum Spiel. Auf der Suche nach Mitspielern? Besucht unsere Overwatch-Gruppe auf Facebook und sucht dort nach Mitspielern.

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

Riot completely changes the LoL Auto-Chess TFT in March – Brings Set 3 and Mobile

For March, the LoL Auto-Chess Teamfight Tactics has announced some new features. The latest blog post focuses on the Galaxies, a new mechanic intended to make the game more varied.

Update March 17: Meanwhile, there are new details about the champions from Set 3. We have added them below. You can also find a first guide to strong champion combos from us here.

What is happening in March? For mid-March (expected on March 18), Riot Games has already announced some innovations for Teamfight Tactics:

These changes are intended to create more variety and attract new players to TFT.

Artwork of the Galaxies in TFT
Artwork of the Galaxies in TFT

Does TFT need a new boost? The Set 2 was released in November 2019, replacing or completely overhauling almost all champions that were in the game at launch. However, the new set has also become stagnant since then.

TFT still manages to stay in the top 25 games on Twitch and has over 6.6 million watched hours in the last 30 days (sullygnome). But currently, it is at its weakest value since release.

To ensure that Auto-Chess does not become too boring and shares the fate of Dota Underlords (rank 329 on Twitch according to sullygnome), Riot is introducing not only new champions but also the Galaxies. And they are meant to present new challenges to strategy fans.

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von Alexander Leitsch

Random Galaxies with Symmetrical Bonuses

What are the Galaxies? The Galaxies are special game boards that will appear at the beginning of a match from time to time. They contain special rules that influence the gameplay.

The blog post mentioned two examples:

  • In the Neeko-verse, all players receive the item “Neeko’s Help” twice at the start, allowing them to copy champions.
  • In the 4-Gold-Champion-Galaxy, there are only 4-Gold champions in the first carousel.

Through these special rules, which are random but identical for all players, much variety is intended to arise. Additionally, it should produce different strategies regarding how to deal with the bonuses.

How many Galaxies will there be? At the beginning, there will be only one or two Galaxies. However, over time more will be released and possibly also removed, depending on how they are received.

Not every match will take place in a special Galaxy. Many rounds will simply adhere to the standard rules.

Pulsefire Shen – one of the new champs from Set 3

New Champions in Set 3

What do we know about the new champions? In a blog post, the first champions and classes were introduced.

One group is the Star Guardians: They have the following effect: Grant all other Star Guardians (3) 20 Mana; (6) 30 Mana when a Star Guardian uses its spell.

Members of the origin are:

  • Poppy – Tier 1 (Star Guardian/Vanguard): Tanky, melee
  • Zoe – Tier 1 (Star Guardian/Sorcerer): Ranged, CC
  • Ahri – Tier 2 (Star Guardian/Sorcerer): Ranged, spell damage
  • Neeko – Tier 3 (Star Guardian/Protector): AoE, CC
  • Syndra – Tier 3 (Star Guardian/Sorcerer): Ranged, spell damage
  • Soraka – Tier 4 (Star Guardian/Mystic): Team healing

Another origin is called Cybernetic. They have the following effect: Cybernetic champions equipped with an item receive (3) 300 health & 30 attack damage; (6) 800 health & 80 attack damage.

Members are:

  • Leona – Tier 1 (Cybernetic/Vanguard): Tanky, melee
  • Fiora – Tier 1 (Cybernetic/Blademaster): Fragile melee, DPS
  • Irelia – Tier 4 (Cybernetic/Mana-Reaver/Blademaster): Melee, DPS

The last introduced origin is called Mech-Pilot, and they have the special ability that all 3 Mech-Pilots unite into a Super Mech at the start of the fight.

Members are:

  • Annie – Tier 2 (Mech Pilot/Sorcerer): Melee, spell damage
  • Rumble – Tier 3 (Mech Pilot/Demolitionist): Melee, spell damage
  • Fizz – Tier 4 (Mech Pilot/Infiltrator): CC for back rows and damage

What do we know about the classes? Three of the new classes have already been introduced:

  • Blademaster Effect: Blademasters have a chance of (3) 25 percent; (6) 50 percent chance to make two additional attacks upon hitting.
  • Magician Effect: All allies receive (2) +15 percent; (4) +40 percent; (6) +120 percent increased spell damage
  • Demolitionist Effect: (2) The abilities of the Demolitionists stun for 2.5 seconds. So far, only Ziggs has been revealed as a Tier 1 champion in this class, who, moreover, is classified as a Rebel and deals spell damage from a distance.

Are you looking forward to the update in March? What do you think about the Galaxies?

More on the topic
The 12 Best Strategy Games for PC with Multiplayer 2023
von Alexander Leitsch
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. TFT Blogpost

So perfectly staged Destiny 2 the Trials: Everyone should see who won

Destiny 2 brings back its probably most important PvP activity with the Trials of Osiris. Our author Schuhmann looks at the presentation of the announcement: It is really amazing how well Bungie manages to do that.

I love Bungie’s ViDocs. At first glance, it always looks like they just want to convey information. Upon closer inspection, these videos are beautifully staged and composed.

They use Bungie’s staff like in a TV series for specific functions and to convey emotions.

Destiny-2-Luke-Smith
Take it easy, the boss is speaking.

In the beginning there was Luke Smith

This is how the video begins: The new video “Trials are coming back” starts with the Yoda of Destiny, Luke Smith.

At the beginning of the video, you can only hear his voice while the image is still black. A caption reveals: The interview was recorded back in August 2019.

Smith, the “bearded nerd next door,” talks for about a minute about how he already knew that the Trials would come back before his friends did back in Destiny 1. Although he didn’t tell them, he insisted on playing 3v3 PvP constantly with his 2 buddies.

Later he says: That became “our thing” every Friday. It was sweaty, it was stressful, it was a lot.

Smith says: “Right now, in this moment, we miss it. I know we miss it. I KNOW we miss it. We will get it right.”

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This is the purpose of this section: Smith’s job is to reflect the emotional impact of the Trials: What does it mean for the individual player? What great memories do players associate with the Trials? He emphasizes that it is not just a “one-man thing,” but rather what bonded him and his buddies together.

Activities like the Trials are the social glue from which Destiny derives its magic. Smith had already identified this as the core of Destiny back in 2015.

5 years later, in 2020, Smith has become a central figure in the “Destiny” mythos. His presence in the Osiris trailer signals: This is important. We take this seriously.

At the same time, Luke Smith is also the “bearded nerd” next door and represents, even though he is the boss, always the “hardcore” player who plays with ambition and truly understands gaming. After all, some of the best moments in Destiny come from him. Although he also had to face his share of the low points in Destiny, which makes him a controversial figure.

Destiny-2-Osiris-Look

Bungie shows skins and excitement

This is the middle part: The middle part of the video is dominated by skins. The legendary Osiris skins with the Egyptian look are shown repeatedly.

Speakers and faces switch frequently. The most work is done by Destiny 2’s main villain Lars Bakken, the “Creative Lead” and longtime PvP boss.

In January 2016, Bakken managed to single-handedly kill the PvP of Destiny 2 – which was pretty cool.

Destiny-Lars-Bakken
Lars Bakken once killed the Trials by himself.

A lot revolves around the Bungie testers who are already playing the Trials. The images show how much fun the mode is and how exciting the action is.

In this section, the employees slip into the typical “Bungie-awesome” tone:

  • Trials are something that “really is hard,” and you have to be “honestly good” at it, they say
  •  The developers emphasize how important Trials are for Destiny 2 and that they know: “We have to get this right.”

This is what the middle part accomplishes: Here, hype is mainly created.

Bungie emphasizes how great the feature is, how much time they put into it, and how much fun it is.

Trials-rüstung

If you are good, everyone will see it

This is the end: Around minute 2:50, the final part begins. Here, Lars Bakken introduces the maps where the games are played:

  • Cauldron
  • Exodus Blue
  • Anomaly

And some of the best rewards from Destiny 1 are coming back.

Bakken says: “If players play flawlessly, there are armor and weapons that glow. If you see someone in the Tower wearing that, everyone will know they were flawless in the Trials that week.”

This is what the ending accomplishes: It clearly plays with the players’ egos and presents a great reward.

Destiny-2-Ehre

Video about Trials consists of 98% emotions, almost no information

This is the interesting part of the video: The interesting thing is that except for a short section around 3 minutes when Bakken briefly presents maps and rewards, no information is conveyed at all.

Trials don’t need to be explained, there are no innovations to be described, it is enough to convey the message purely emotionally.

Bungie’s “Rising Star” makes a brief appearance

What else stands out? It is interesting how Bungie selects its staff. While most of the time two established figures are speaking, Luke Smith and Lars Bakken, whom players have known for a long time, Bonnie Burton is briefly seen at the end. She gets to say that a “top PvP activity” is coming back.

Burton is one of the interesting figures at Bungie that hasn’t been seen much. She was 12 years old when she became the first professional female gamer in Major League Gaming. She played Halo back then.

Later, Burton studied, came to Bungie, and rose through the ranks in no time. She was the Test Lead for live updates and is now the Producer for seasonal updates and events.

Burton was selected by Forbes as one of the “30 under 30” in Games. We might see her in a few more videos about Destiny 2.

Destiny-2-Bonnie-Burton

I look forward to the next ViDocs. No matter what Bungie announces – just the way it’s done is always worth a look.

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

Diablo 4 finally brings new information, shows interface and cannibals

Blizzard has released new information about Diablo IV: In a major update, the developers showcased new images and introduced the enemy class “Cannibals” in more detail.

Where do the infos come from? After a relatively quiet period following BlizzCon regarding Diablo IV, Blizzard has now provided an update on the current state of development. Such updates come quarterly from the team.

News about Interface and Controller

What Blizzard said about the interface: The first part of the update deals with how Blizzard wants to design the user interface of Diablo IV. They have taken feedback from early testers at BlizzCon into account.

The item system had already caused discussions before. According to Blizzard, gameplay should not be disturbed by complicated inventory management. Therefore, the inventory is to be designed to be clear, for example by maintaining consistently sized icons. They are also pursuing a realistic style in item representation in the menu. The color scheme has also been adjusted. 

Source: Blizzard

New control options: Surprisingly many players have wished for more flexibility in assigning keys for their primary skills. Therefore, players can now assign any skill to any slot, whose key binding can also be adjusted. 

Additionally, there is a significant innovation: Diablo IV will also support controller control on PC. Players should be able to switch between keyboard & mouse and controller as they please. This change must be supported by the user interface. At the same time, Blizzard emphasizes that controller support should not limit the complexity of the game.

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von Patrick Freese

If you prefer to play Diablo on the couch co-op, you can also be happy. In Diablo IV, the menu can be called up independently and simultaneously.

Source: Blizzard

Blizzard introduces the Cannibals

These are the Cannibals: In addition to the more technical details, fans can also look forward to the introduction of the enemy cannibals. They are introduced quite brutally:

“Corpses that are covered in bite marks. Shattered bones, from which the marrow has been scraped out. Severed tongues and gouged-out eyes. These are the bloody traces that the cannibals leave behind – if they leave anything at all.”

The cannibals should fit quite well with the brutal focus of Diablo IV. According to Blizzard, the cannibals will not include ranged classes but will challenge players with high-speed melee attacks. This means players will have little time to position – and that is precisely what one could use well against the speed of the cannibals. 

Source: Blizzard

What players say about the developer update

Here are the first reactions: On reddit, discussions about the new info are already underway. Some wished for even more information, but even the current info has already sparked the first comments:

  • “So they are adding controller support to the PC version? Then I will buy it on day one,” says user Gonzito3420
  • “Please bring back item sizes based on the types in inventory. I don’t understand why that’s a gameplay issue? Diablo 1 and 2 had ZERO problems with that. This approach gives items more “weight” and should return. Inventory space should be limited, and that contributes to decisions about which items to take along,” criticizes user emericas.

At the latest, in three months, the next update for Diablo IV will be due. While waiting for Diablo, Wolcen is celebrating successes:

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The Steam success of Wolcen shows what mega-hits Lost Ark and Diablo 4 could be
von Schuhmann
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Blizzard

Guild Wars 2 fulfills a great player wish, but they complain about the implementation

For the MMORPG Guild Wars 2, a major update was released on February 25. It also introduced a feature that players have been waiting for since 2017. However, they are not satisfied with the implementation.

What was this update about? The new Guild Wars 2 “Call to Glory” patch brought several major changes:

However, a real highlight was the new skin for the mount Warclaw. While it is not particularly beautiful or especially ugly, like the latest griffon skin, it can simply be earned in-game. This is the first skin for mounts that does not have to be purchased in the shop.

Nevertheless, players are not really satisfied with the implementation of the new “Guild Rider Warclaw”.

Image of the new Warclaw skin (Source: reddit)

Expensive Skin and Own Competition

What are the players criticizing? Players have several points of criticism regarding the new skin:

  • The price
  • The appearance
  • The latest skin in the shop

The price: To obtain the new mount skin, a reward path in WvW must be activated. However, this costs 200 Gold upfront. Many compare the skin to others from the shop.

Since players can convert in-game currency to real money in Guild Wars 2, the 200 Gold already corresponds to 500 Gems. Random mount skins can be obtained for as little as 400 Gems, selected ones for 1,200 or 2,000.

The appearance: Visually, the leopard with additional guild emblems resembles the standard skin of the Warclaw quite strongly. Therefore, many players believe that the skin is not worth the gold and time required to earn it.

The new skin in the shop: Along with the leopard skin, a new Warclaw appeared in the Gem shop. The “Wartorn Marauder” Warclaw costs 2,000 Gems, but looks like a bloodthirsty bear.

According to reddit, it also offers more color options, has better animations, and has a special summoning animation. Consequently, there are many complaints about it currently:

  • Snossi: “If you offer an “earnable” version, it should not have the value of 500 Gems. It is more than ridiculous, but exactly what Anet would do to maintain their hard-earned bad reputation.
  • Bahamut731lp: “200 Gold for a skin? Sounds like a hidden real money shop with additional tasks. 200 Gold is 500 Gems after all.”
  • Keruli_: “Don’t fool yourselves. It’s a slightly altered version of the Warclaw that has a value of about 400 Gems, which at the current exchange rate only costs about 165 Gold.”
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Anet Is Clumsy, but Players Are Exaggerating

This is what our author Alexander Leitsch says: That Guild Wars 2 is getting skins for mounts that can be earned is long overdue. That they won’t be the most visually varied is to be expected since the developers need to make money from the real money shop. Guild Wars 2 is only Buy2Play, in parts even Free2Play.

For the 200 Gold, you not only receive the mount skin in the reward path, but also a variety of useful items, including:

  • Currencies of Living World Season 4
  • Mount skin miniatures
  • Black Lion keys
  • 10 Black Lion weapon tickets
  • Supply starter
  • Access to the WvW premium hub for 2 weeks

These are all unique items or content from the real money shop. This makes the argument that the path is too expensive irrelevant.

The new reward path

The only fact that they launched a new Warclaw in the shop simultaneously with the earnable skin was very clumsy. Thus, it was almost to be expected that players would complain.

Instead of being happy now that there is an earnable mount skin, some users on reddit found yet another way to criticize the MMORPG.

I personally am looking forward to the skin and know that I am not alone in this. It is a reason to check back into the WvW – a game mode that I and the developers have grossly neglected.

Since the release of Path of Fire, a total of 8 different mounts have been introduced. We tell you in this guide how you can obtain them:

More on the topic
Guild Wars 2: Guide to Mounts 2024 – Update for Janthir Wilds
von Alexander Leitsch
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Pokémon MMO Temtem plans 2021 release for PS4, Xbox One & Switch

The developers of the MMO Temtem have commented on the future of their game. They also revealed when the game will finally be released on consoles.

When will Temtem be released on consoles? In a comprehensive blog post about the future of Temtem, the developers announced a time frame when the MMO is set to be released for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The official release is planned for Spring 2021. This also applies to the PC version, which is currently in Early Access on Steam.

The 1.0 version is scheduled to be released in Spring 2021, at which point the console ports should also be completed. One highlight is crossplay, which is planned across all platforms.

This is what the future of Temtem looks like

What Temtem has planned for 2020: This year, Temtem plans to introduce several new features. This includes the new islands Kisiwa and Cipanku, each adding 25 new Temtem to the already existing ones. It also includes the first mythical Temtem in the game.

Temtem Roadmap 2020
Source: Crema

In addition, chat functions, housing, tournaments, and achievements are planned. There will also be a matchmaking system for ranked matches. In Winter 2020, the island Arbury should be introduced, also with 30 Temtem, as well as a mythical monster and dojo challenges for clubs. 

What Temtem has planned for 2021: In 2021, Temtem aims to continue expanding. As mentioned, the 1.0 release including console ports is planned for Spring, and an end-game island will be introduced. Daily and weekly quests are planned, along with a cosmetics store. 

Temtem Roadmap 2021
Source: Crema

In Summer 2021, the game will be expanded with another mythical Temtem, a battle pass with cosmetics, and a Nuzlocke mode. This will be a kind of hardcore mode in which each of your defeated Temtem is immediately released. Additionally, you can only catch a limited number of them.

Already fully engaged in Temtem? Then check out this guide on how to level up quickly:

More on the topic
Temtem: 3 Tips for Leveling Up Quickly
von Max Handwerk
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Crema

New World talks about PvE: Areas like open-world dungeons

In Amazon’s new MMO New World, players are wondering what the online game will offer in PvE. We at MeinMMO interviewed two of the lead designers of the MMO, who spoke about areas structured like dungeons, and opponent families.

Where do the information come from? We at MeinMMO had the opportunity to speak with the leading minds behind New World in Irvine, California. Our editor Leya Jankowski was on-site.

She spoke there, among others, to Mike Willette, the “Head of World Experience,” and David Verfaille, the “Head of Player Experience” of New World.

One of the topics was the PvE in New World, the fight against monsters and other AI opponents. This area is the focus of the MMO after a shift away from “Open PvP”.

New World and Leya Jankowski from MeinMMO
Our editor Leya had the opportunity to interview the minds behind New World.

It gets increasingly dangerous in the center – like in a dungeon

This is the idea of the zones: Michael Willette explained that many “Points of Interests” in New World are designed to have different layers, like an onion. Essentially, these points are structured like “Open World Dungeons.”

“The deeper you go into the center, the harder it gets. There you will encounter pairs and groups that are difficult to combat as a solo player. You will encounter more named boss opponents that you might prefer to fight with a group.”

Michael Willette, Head of World Experience

The advantage of the system in New World is that groups can form organically. Rewards are shared, and the loot is instantiated. Even if you are not in a group, you can easily join players you see. You just can’t be at war with them.

New World Screenshot Lost Base
Leya was particularly impressed by a pirate ship. Perhaps this is one of the “Points of Interest?”

Different enemy types: From the cook to the champion

What about the bosses and tougher opponents? David Verfaillie explains how it looks with enemies. All four enemy groups in New World, that you encounter are divided into differently difficult opponent types. As an example, he mentions the “Corrupted.”

At the lowest level are the “Villagers,” who are former farmers, workers, or cooks. They carry simple weapons and are easy to defeat. But the further you progress, the more numerous and stronger the opponents become.

Among the soldiers of the Corrupted, warriors with sword and shield appear or those who carry a pistol. That would be the next level of opponents.

Even more advanced Corrupted carry a spear.

New World Bear
If you picture that creature as corrupted, it can be quite frightening.

Among the bosses (Lead Character) of the Corrupted, there is a corrupted bear: a gigantic creature that you would prefer to attack in a group.

Above it is an “oversized Corrupted Champion” carrying a flaming sword, or a “Corrupted Priest” who can summon more Corrupted.

New World Fight 1140x445
New World will focus primarily on large-scale battles.

Thus, each group of opponents has an internal hierarchy with increasingly difficult enemies ranging from simple mobs to stronger soldiers and boss enemies.

Combat and world apparently focus on the PvE of New World

This is behind it: New World will orient itself more towards sandbox MMOs like RuneScape than classic quest MMORPGs like WoW.

A central element of New World should be the combat system, which relies on positioning and action . The combat system is often compared to Dark Souls.

The world of New World is apparently designed so that players encounter demanding battles, which they are supposed to experience solo or together to enjoy PvE content.

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