A security firm discovered a security vulnerability at Electronic Arts. Hackers could have gained access to 300 million gamer accounts through the Origin platform to do malicious things. This affects games like Anthem, FIFA 19, Battlefield 5, or The Sims. EA is said to have closed the gap.
Where does this information come from? It comes from security experts, Check Point Research (Via research.checkpoint). They collaborated with CyberInt in this case.
They pretend to be hackers themselves, looking for vulnerabilities in the major infrastructures at companies. They penetrate systems and see how far hackers could get if they were serious and what resistance they would encounter.
They say: Due to a security vulnerability at Origin, attackers could hack millions of accounts. The villains would then have been able to access credit card information and make fraudulent purchases.
Through Origin, up to 300 million gamers use numerous online games from EA like FIFA 19, Madden NFL, NBA Live, Anthem, or The Sims.
This kind of vulnerability theoretically affects many people worldwide.
This is how a fake page would have looked, through which data could have been harvested, according to security experts.
This is how EA reacted: According to Check Point Research, they informed Electronic Arts about this vulnerability before making it public and helped EA close the security gaps.
The testers noticed that certain retired services at EA still exist that are no longer used but still function. Thus, they could take over the subdomain “eaplayinvite” and then see requests from “real users”.
From this foothold, the team began dismantling EA’s security measures and pushing further into the system.
Ultimately, they were able to redirect “real EA players” to fake websites and thus could have harvested the data.
In Fortnite Fortbyte number 100 is now active. Found in the top floor of the tallest building in Neo Tilted. We will show you the location.
Where is the Fortbyte? You simply need to visit the tallest building in Neo Tilted and go to the top floor. There you will find Byte 100.
Are there any requirements? No, you do not need to have any special skins or emotes unlocked for this Fortbyte.
Get Fortbyte number 100 now
This is how you can collect the byte: Travel to grid square D5 on the Fortnite map. You will find the location Neo Tilted there. There is a building that is particularly tall. It looks like this:
The Fortbyte is located there on the top floor. Not on the roof. On the map, you will find the Fortbyte at this position:
Video description: To ensure you find the Fortbyte you are looking for, we are embedding a YouTube video here.
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What are Fortbytes? These are a type of puzzle pieces that Epic Games has been hiding in Fortnite: Battle Royale since Season 9. There are 100 pieces. If you unlock them all, you will end up with a large picture. Additionally, you will unlock a special outfit.
In Fortnite the challenges of Week 8 of Season 9 are live. Here, you need to visit 3 different clocks. We will show you where to find the 3 clocks on the Fortnite map.
What is the task about? In this challenge, you have to visit 3 clocks that are scattered across the map. Once you have found all the clocks, the task is considered complete.
However, the clocks are not easy to find, which is why we will show you the locations of the 3 clocks here.
Update June 28: The large clock tower in Happy Hamlet does not count towards the Fortnite task. However, a large clock at Fatal Fields works.
3 different clocks in Fortnite – Where should I search?
Where are the clocks hidden? All 3 clocks look different. However, they are all quite large, so you can’t miss them.
These are the 3 locations where the clocks are hidden
The clocks are hidden at 3 different locations:
A broken clock in Junk Junction
A digital clock in Neo Tilted
A scrap clock at Fatal Fields
Where is the clock in Junk Junction? Here you will find the clock right at the entrance of Junk Junction. There is a broken clock on the ground, to the left of the entrance.
If this clock doesn’t count for you, just look around the corner. There is another clock here.
Where is the clock in Neo Tilted? This clock is a bit tricky. It is the digital clock that is on a tall building. It is very large, so you can’t miss it.
Where is the clock at Fatal Fields? For the last clock, you need to search southeast of Fatal Fields. There, on a mountain, stands a huge scrap clock. This one also counts towards the task.
Is there a video? So you definitely don’t miss the clocks, we have embedded a video here that shows the exact locations. This way, you can’t miss them:
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Did you love the great soccer stars back then and cheered for Tsubasa and his friends at every match? With this new AR game, you can now join in.
What kind of game is it with Tsubasa? The Japanese developer Miraire has now introduced its new mobile game. It’s called TSUBASA+ and, of course, revolves around the popular player and his friends.
As reported by MMOCulture, Miraire focuses exclusively on Augmented Reality. In its games, it merges digital content with the real world. It is the first game by the developers that revolves around the Tsubasa anime.
With their “X Reality,” the developers aim to provide a “fun motivation that encourages players to want to be more active outdoors.”
Here is the game trailer for TSUBASA+:
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What happens in the game? Tsubasa, Kojiro, and Genzo, as well as other well-known characters from the anime, await you in the game. TSUBASA+ aims to transform your surroundings into a soccer experience. Stadiums should pop up everywhere.
There will apparently also be PvP. The description on the website states that you can build and strengthen your own team. With this team, you will compete against other players worldwide.
When is the release of TSUBASA+? The release of the AR game is planned for 2020. The website offers a choice between 8 languages, including German. It is possible that the game will also be localized for these languages.
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Who is Tsubasa? Tsubasa is known from the series Captain Tsubasa (or the great soccer stars). Similar to the Kickers, it was all about the stories of young soccer players who were accompanied on their careers.
Unforgettable are the attempts to shoot at the goal, which seemed to stretch over an entire show. If a particularly powerfully kicked ball did hit the goal, it often tore through the net.
With the new Tsubasa game, you can relive the nostalgia and dive back into the universe.
Recently, Niantic released the new AR game: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. In it, you free the wizarding world in the style of the popular franchise known from books and movies. If you want to try it out, make sure to check out these tips first.
Free and paid: If you want to complete all 7 tasks from the week, you need the Season 9 Battle Pass for 950 V-Bucks (€9.50). If you don’t have the pass, only 3 free challenges from week 8 are available to you.
All Challenges from Week 8 in Season 9
The free challenges
Reward
Recharge your shields
5 stars/500 XP
Visit different clocks (3 total)
5 stars/500 XP
Eliminate opponents at Snobby Shores or Mega Mall (7 Kills)
10 stars/1,000 XP
The paid challenges
Reward
Deal damage to opponents with Assault Rifles (500 damage)
5 stars/500 XP
Stage 1: Land at Paradise Palms Stage 2: Land at Neo Tilted Stage 3: Land at Mega Mall Stage 4: Land at Pleasant Park Stage 5: Land at Junk Junction
5 stars/500 XP
Use a geyser, a fan, and a zip line during a match
10 stars/1,000 XP
Eliminations outside named locations (5 kills)
10 stars/1,000 XP
Recharge your shields
How to complete the task: This challenge should be easy to complete, as you will recharge your shields in a match anyway. You can even complete the task over multiple rounds.
You need to drink shield potions to the total of 400 shields. This would be 8 large shield potions or 16 small shield potions.
Visit different clocks
How to complete the task: There are 3 clocks hidden all over the map that you need to find. In our guide to the clocks, we show you the exact locations.
Eliminate opponents at Snobby Shores or Mega Mall
How to complete the task: Simply travel to one of the two locations and eliminate opponents. The challenge may take a bit longer, as you need a total of 7 kills. So bring some patience.
Deal damage to opponents with Assault Rifles (Battle Pass only)
How to complete the task: You need to deal a total of 500 damage to opponents with an assault rifle. This sounds doable, as assault rifles are powerful weapons and you can deal good damage.
Land at different locations (Battle Pass only)
How to complete the task: This task is already known from the weekly challenges. Just land at the 5 specified locations and you will have completed the task.
Stage 1: Land at Paradise Palms
Stage 2: Land at Neo Tilted
Stage 3: Land at Mega Mall
Stage 4: Land at Pleasant Park
Stage 5: Land at Junk Junction
Use a geyser, a fan, and a zip line during a match (Battle Pass only)
How to complete the task: All 3 items you need to use are found scattered across the map. So you shouldn’t have any problems visiting all 3 items in one round.
We recommend the “Team Rumble” mode, as you can also die in between and continue to complete the task. This is not possible in a normal match.
Eliminations outside named locations (Battle Pass only)
How to complete the task: You need a total of 5 kills for this task. This time you don’t need to be in locations, but outside. There are no restrictions there.
For this, it’s best to use an assault rifle so you can complete 2 tasks at once.
In Destiny 2 , you can now get some really good guns in the Menagerie with the Chalice of Opulence. We show you some of the best rolls for the new Menagerie weapons in PvP and PvE and explain how to get them.
For example, you can get some really good Menagerie-exclusive weapons like the sniper “Beloved”, the hand cannon “Falkner”, or the shotgun “Imperial Decree”.
These come with various random rolls and masterwork traits. But which of these are worth it in PvE and PvP? And how do you get them? Here are some of the best rolls for the exclusive Menagerie weapons that you can farm with the Chalice.
Keep in mind that the recommended rolls may not necessarily align with your personal preferences and ideals.
These rolls you should aim for with the Menagerie weapons
Here’s how you can get the exclusive weapons from the Menagerie: In the Menagerie, you can earn a total of seven exclusive weapons with the Chalice of Opulence. The weapon itself and parts of its traits depend on the rune combinations you can use in the Chalice.
Once you have assembled the correct rune combination for the respective weapon and its masterwork trait, farming can begin.
An example of possible rune combinations. Original source: Windzer408 on Reddit
After each successful completion of the activity, you will receive the corresponding weapon with random rolls and the desired masterwork trait, such as range. For the perks, you’ll usually need some luck and patience, as these are rolled randomly on the weapons.
With this trick, you can currently make farming easier: It is (still) possible to loot the last chest of the activity multiple times, thus also getting multiple loot drops that you aim for with the Chalice of Opulence. This currently makes farming for your desired roll much easier.
You don’t really have to do much for this. Once you have looted the chest right after completing the Menagerie for the first time, leave the boss room in the direction from which you entered. Run far enough until you enter a new area, which will be indicated on the left side of your screen. Then run back to the chest, equip the Chalice with new runes, and you can open the chest again. You can now repeat this until the timer ends after the activity.
Beloved is currently one of the most sought-after legendary snipers in the game. Many see it as one of the best legendary snipers, and according to numerous veterans, it feels similar to the popular LDR-5001 from the predecessor Destiny 1.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Extended Barrel
Enhanced Rounds
Snapshot Sights
Quickdraw or Breathing Control (against Super)
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Extended Barrel
Enhanced Rounds
Everything Ready or Mulligan
All Good Things Are Four
Range or Handling Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above. Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for the Handling Masterwork:
Hand Cannon “Falkner”
Just like “Beloved”, “Falkner” is a very good weapon and brings back a bit of nostalgia. This gun reminds many of the legendary Eyasluna from Destiny 1.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Extended Barrel
Enhanced Rounds
Eye of the Storm or Outlaw
Messager
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Extended Barrel
Enhanced Rounds
Outlaw
Rampage
Range Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above.
Shotgun “Imperial Decree”
Imperial Decree is similar to the Nightfall-exclusive “Pursuit of the Thought Twister”, but in the Menagerie, you have influence over the rolls of the weapon. By the way, this can also roll with the perk “Smoothbore”.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Full Choke
Enhanced Rounds
Slipping
Swashbuckler
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Cylinder
Enhanced Rounds
Feast or Grave Robber
Smoothbore
Range or Handling Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above. Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for the Handling Masterwork:
Fusion Rifle “The Gourmet”
Many players see the Erentil FR4 as the best legendary fusion rifle in the game – especially in PvP. But “The Gourmet” can certainly hold its own.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Extended Barrel
Accelerated Coils or Projection Fuse
Tap or Snapshot Sight
Last Chance
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Hammer-Forged Rifling
Liquid Coils
Feast
Swashbuckler
Range Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above.
Pistol “Drang (Baroque)”
In the Menagerie, there is now an aesthetically polished version of the Drang pistol with random rolls. While the perk Inseparable is retained, the weapon can still be paired with the exotic Sturm, but all other perks are now random.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Extended Barrel
High-Caliber Rounds
Quickdraw or Moving Target
Swashbuckler
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Corkscrew Rifling
Bouncing Rounds
Disruptor
Swashbuckler
Range Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above.
Submachine Gun “Calus Mini-Tool”
Just like with the Baroque Drang, the Calus Mini-Tool is a new version of the Mida Mini-Tool that can synergize with the exotic scout rifle Mida Multi-Tool. While it is not the best submachine gun in the game, it can still achieve a lot in PvE.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Corkscrew Rifling
High-Caliber Rounds
Moving Target
Surrounded
Range Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Corkscrew Rifling
Light Magazine
Grave Robber
Surrounded
Range or Handling Masterwork
Possible combinations for range can be seen above. Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for the Handling Masterwork:
Machine Gun “Solid Chances”
This machine gun is not among the best in the game but is still a solid option for PvE and PvP.
This is the roll you should aim for in PvP:
Polygonal Rifling
High-Caliber Rounds
Under Pressure
Messager
Stability Masterwork
Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for this:
This is the roll you should aim for in PvE:
Chambered Compensator
Extended Magazine
Feast
Rampage
Stability or Range Masterwork
Possible combinations for stability can be seen above. Set one of the following rune combinations in the Chalice for the Range Masterwork:
Which exclusive weapons from the Menagerie do you prefer to play? And with which rolls? Let us know in the comments.
A new patch for Battlefield 5 has recently been released, driving players crazy: A new mystery has been found that players are currently grappling with. They are building stairs to the sky on the practice ground. However, they do not yet know what this means.
What are these stairs? After Patch 4.0: Defying the Odds, which was deployed to the Battlefield 5 servers a few days ago, players have discovered a strange Easter egg. In this mystery, players are building stairs upwards.
The Easter egg was discovered on the practice ground. Players can build stairs at various locations that spiral higher above the map. At various points, players receive cryptic messages displayed.
A timer starts running at the top of the screen, and the current height of the stairs is also displayed.
Strange messages are displayed to players at various heights. Source: DANNYonPC YouTube
How can you build yourself? Gather with three friends at the practice ground. There are bronze plates at various locations that need to be activated in order for the mystery to appear. Your friends and you should occupy different plates.
“Challenge accepted” will be displayed to you, and then you can start building. With your building tool, you can now start constructing stairs. They go higher and higher, but some stairs lead to a dead end or back to where you came from.
You need to hurry because the stairs do not last forever. After a while, they disappear, so it’s best if all four players build simultaneously. Once you’ve reached a certain height, airplanes will also make your life difficult by firing rockets at your constructions.
What does this mean? What this mystery is pointing to or whether it is just a funny mini-game is still unknown. However, some players speculate that it is a puzzle that the community should solve together. At certain heights, players receive strange messages displayed, such as “Knowledge is Power” or “By the Skin of our Teeth”.
Additionally, headphones can be found at a height, with which players can receive a code at a morse station. But here too, players are still at a standstill.
In July, there will be a new event for World vs. World in the MMORPG Guild Wars 2. You can defeat your opponents and then take on parts of their class. At the same time, there will be additional rewards for one week.
How does the new “Class Swap” event work? During the one-week WvW event, defeated opponents leave a glowing orb above their corpse that you can collect.
By collecting it, you take on a part of your opponent’s class. However, only your healing and support skills change. Your equipment, weapons, and traits remain unchanged.
When does the event take place? The event starts with the WvW reset on July 5th at 8:00 PM. It will run for exactly one week, until July 12th at 8:00 PM.
What additional rewards are there? During the event, you can look forward to additional rewards in World vs. World. You will receive:
Double World Experience Points
25% additional progress on the WvW reward track
+50% Magical Sensitivity
You only steal skills, not the playstyle
What was the idea behind the event? According to the blog post, the event is about getting to know the opponent better. Therefore, after defeating them, you can take over their class.
Many players compare the event to the secondary class system from Guild Wars 1. Some even suspect a secret test behind it to see if such a system would be well received in Guild Wars 2.
In general, ArenaNet is returning to more of the predecessor’s concepts and has already adopted the idea of regular events in April:
How does the class theft work? Once you have collected the glowing orb, you will receive the healing, support, and elite skills of the opposing class. So, it only concerns the second five skills on the right side of the health points.
However, in the theft, you do not take the five skills of the opponent, but five pre-made ones that are always the same. From a thief, you always receive:
Withdraw (Healing Skill)
Scorpion Wire
Blinding Powder
Scaled Poison
Thief Guild (Elite Skill)
How meaningful is the event? While some players look forward to the fresh wind in World vs. World, many see the event as rather pointless.
This is mainly due to the fact that you only steal five skills that have no synergy with your own class or playstyle.
Since the skills are predetermined, many players also expect that there won’t be any accidentally overpowering combinations of classes.
Some players are also eagerly waiting for the announced alliance update and now feel that this will be delayed further due to such events in WvW.
Even if the event may not be the most meaningful, our author Alexander Leitsch still finds the development of Guild Wars 2 to be positive:
A new cinematic in World of Warcraft suggests that the war between Horde and Alliance may soon come to an end. But would that even be possible?
The latest cinematic in Patch 8.2 Rise of Azshara is sparking many discussions within the community. It contains some implications that could shake the foundations of World of Warcraft. Players are currently debating whether Blizzard is removing the “war” from Warcraft and finally ending the conflict between Horde and Alliance.
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What was shown in the cinematic? In the cutscene, the players manage to rescue Baine from Orgrimmar. Thrall, Jaina, Baine, Shaw, and Saurfang find themselves on the mountains of Mulgore watching Thunder Bluff as they talk. Especially, Jaina and Thrall discuss the past and the wars that Horde and Alliance have already experienced. It is like an eternal cycle that brings the two factions together and then tears them apart.
Peace as an option for Horde and Alliance
Jaina reminds that Horde and Alliance once worked hand in hand and were unstoppable – in Warcraft 3 during the defense of the World Tree Teldrassil. In response to Thrall’s question about what has changed this time, Jaina replies with “Us two.” She only says this in the German translation. In English, she says “We are” – a possibly broader “us.”
In doing so, she speaks not only for Thrall and Jaina, but also for most members of Horde and Alliance – including the players. After all, all these people have become smarter and richer in experience. They have seen where figures like Garrosh have brought the world and what Sylvanas is currently doing.
Jaina has experienced the consequences of her cleansing of Dalaran, in which she killed and expelled the blood elves. Both sides have continually seen where the ongoing conflict leads and that the spiral of hatred turns endlessly.
It seems to become increasingly clear that Sylvanas will be removed from her position as war chief by the end of the expansion – she should already realize that it is heading that way. It is becoming increasingly likely that she will establish her own faction and exist independently of Horde and Alliance, both of which want to pursue more peaceful plans.
Sylvanas is currently filtering out the people who are not loyal to her. With those who are, she will likely form her own faction to pursue a plan that has not yet been revealed. This could be something quite positive (like protection against the void lords) or also the path of the Lich King, where everything must be undead, because then there is peace (the anime villain variant).
Some players are already dreaming that an end to the war could have gameplay consequences. Some hope that there will be mixed groups and that one can form a combined group from Horde and Alliance in dungeons. After all, the language barrier has already fallen with the introduction of a potion for roleplayers.
Thematically, a stronger cooperation would fit well within the framework. After all, the adversaries in World of Warcraft are becoming more powerful and the threats ever greater. Since even the Burning Legion could not bring about lasting peace, the only real threat left is from the void lords, who will surely be addressed in an upcoming expansion. This is the “great enemy,” which has so far only acted through the Old Gods. If this opponent fails to force Horde and Alliance into peace, then the chances for that are likely running out.
What argues against peace in WoW?
However, there are also a number of arguments against such a drastic change in World of Warcraft. After all, the conflict between Horde and Alliance is the driving force and one of the most important core aspects of the game. The “us versus them” feeling that comes with choosing Horde or Alliance is an important identification for many players. If this is trivialized because Horde and Alliance simply land in a pot of friendship, love, and cotton balls, it would alienate some players.
At the same time, there are also enough indications that at least suggest that peace would only be short-lived. After all, there are still the cryptic words of Il’gynoth, which indicate that he will “present three lies” because he is “already sitting at the master’s table.” These sayings refer to Anduin, who has always stood for peace. If he were to fall and reveal himself as a traitor in some way, the peace plans would become difficult.
What is most likely?
Most likely, Blizzard will aim for a middle ground. This means that while the war between Horde and Alliance will come to an end on paper and they will work together on major projects (like saving the world), individual groups will likely not adhere to it, if only to continue to make PvP viable and not just degrade it to a “game mechanic”.
How exactly it will come about cannot be said yet. However, it is certain that the upcoming (possible) major patch 8.3 will already lay the groundwork for what will become of Horde and Alliance in the next expansion. And that could once again be an attempt to make peace and join forces to defeat the greatest enemies together.
After that, one can still just beat each other up anyway.
Riot Games has published, at the end of the testing phase of Teamfight Tactics, who the best player was. And it is Twitch streamer Rumay “Hafu” Wang, known from Hearthstone . She appears touched that she is finally receiving recognition. Until now, she felt overlooked because she is a girl.
How do we know that Hafu is the best? A statistic from Riot has been released showing the matchmaking of players as it was on June 24 in Teamfight Tactics.
Here is “itshafu”, a 28-year-old Twitch streamer, ranked number 1 with a matchmaking rating of 2466. This is the hidden score that rises with wins and falls with losses.
Teamfight Tactics was playable on the LoL test server from June 18 for about a week, and these are the results.
Who is Hafu? Rumay “Hafu” Wang is a well-known player in Hearthstone and World of Warcraft. She has 624,347 followers on Twitch.
This makes her a big, but not huge streamer – like in the “top 200 on Twitch” range.
Better than Trump and Kripparian in Hearthstone, but no one knows
This is Hafu’s reaction: The post from Riot Gaming seems to have moved her greatly. It seems to touch her deeply that it is finally documented publicly what she is capable of.
She says it is hard for her to talk about it without crying: “It’s pretty hard for girls to get respect – in gaming and in general.”
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Every time she achieved something, it was downplayed by others:
When she won tournaments, people said, “You were carried too.”
Even though she was good in two games and won several tournaments, no one would have noticed or respected that – she received no recognition for it.
In Hearthstone, she thought she actually played better than popular competitors like Kripparrian or Trump – Blizzard would have checked and confirmed that, but then decided not to make it public.
She often read on Reddit: Hafu is bad and is only watched because she is a girl.
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An insider report on the development of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 casts a negative light on Treyarch and Activision Blizzard. Changes in plans led to massive overtime. The “Blackout” mode was supposedly put together in just 9 months. The campaign was scrapped, and the release was moved up.
Where does the information come from? It comes from the US site Kotaku. There, discussions were held with 11 former or current employees who wish to remain anonymous to avoid jeopardizing their careers.
According to sources, a campaign was actually planned and already in progress. The team worked overtime to finish the first missions before Christmas 2017 and present them to Activision.
But the plans were overturned:
First, there was to be a 2vs2 campaign in a post-apocalyptic world. You would play with a friend against 2 other people – or bots would take on the roles of the others. But there were technical issues.
Then a normal single-player campaign was planned – but there was not enough time for that.
Then the campaign was completely scrapped – and they needed a replacement, as fans expected another mode alongside PvP and zombies.
Blackout developed in just 9 months
This is why Blackout came: As a replacement, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 then assembled the Blackout mode in just 9 months.
Time was pressing because they wanted to release before Red Dead Redemption 2. Initially, the release of Black Ops 4 was planned for November 2018. To get ahead of Red Dead Redemption 2, they moved it up to October.
The Blackout mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 led to even more overtime. They chose Blackout to capitalize on the success of Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
This is the impact of the intense crunch: The cancellation of the campaign and the development of a new mode “from scratch” caused significant time pressure and massive overtime for the team.
It is said
People began to drink to cope.
Panic attacks and burnouts occurred.
Some lost their passion for what they were doing.
Who was hit the hardest? The report shows that especially the “quality assurance” testers suffered during the compressed development of the shooter. These are paid game testers and bug hunters.
They are contract workers, so they are not permanent employees and have to face several disadvantages.
It is said that testers were treated like second-class citizens at Call of Duty: Black Ops 4:
Testers work separately from the other developers and have to stay on the second floor, while most developers are on the first.
They are said not to speak with other developers.
They are generally isolated, do not participate in surveys about job satisfaction, and feel unheard.
This is the problem: Testers worked 70 hours a week.
But they do not receive bonuses because they are contract workers. Their base pay is around $13 per hour.
This was particularly nasty: At the worst times, 2 shifts of testers worked 12 hours a day. From 10 AM to 10 PM and from 10 PM to 10 AM.
What upset the testers was that the air conditioning was turned off as soon as all developers left in the evening. The night shift had to work in steamy, unpleasant temperatures, as the servers continue to give off heat.
When complaints were made, it was only said, “The air conditioning is broken,” even though it had been running all day and was always turned off at the same time.
The report then describes in detail how these working conditions affected the QA testers.
Additionally, developers are quoted stating that the quality of the game suffers when QA testers work so isolated from the team.
The Steam Summer Sale 2019 has begun and offers you a mass of games at discounted prices. But what is available for lovers of MMOs or online games? We have put together a small selection for you.
What is the Steam Summer Sale? On June 25, 2019, the Steam Summer Sale 2019 started. During this sale, you can snag a bunch of games on the platform at a discounted price. You can already recognize which games are on sale on the homepage or by a green icon in the overview, showing you by how much percentage the respective game is discounted.
The sale ends on July 9, 2019, at 7 PM. Until then, we want to present you with a small selection of the best MMOs and online games that have just been price-reduced.
How was the selection made? We list games that have all been reduced in the sale. The Steam reviews and the general interest in the games on MeinMMO contributed to the selection.
What is it about?The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO in the world of the Elder Scrolls series. Together with other players, you visit dark dungeons, fight Daedra demons, or rescue helpless villagers from nasty bandits.
Who is it suitable for? Role-playing fans who have already felt comfortable in the single-player games set in the Elder Scrolls worlds of Tamriel are also likely to enjoy Elder Scrolls Online. In addition, the game offers enough content for both solitary players and group players.
What are the reviews like? With over 37,000 ratings, The Elder Scrolls Online is classified by players as “Mostly Positive”. The setting is praised, and the game is also known to be user-friendly for new players. As a negative, some players describe the difficulty level as too easy and sometimes report issues with the launcher.
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What is it about?Black Desert Online is a sandbox MMORPG, which means less is predetermined about what you have to do. Instead, players can largely decide how they want to spend their time in the fantasy world.
Who is it suitable for? Black Desert Online is suitable for players who enjoy exploring an MMORPG but want to decide for themselves what to do with their character. Players can fight monsters, produce goods, and there is also PvP against other players. If you want, you can also catch and keep animals or befriend the many NPCs.
What are the reviews like? Nearly 14,500 ratings classify the game as “Balanced”. The combat system and the many things to do in the game are praised. Negatively, an unclear interface and a “luck-driven and grind-heavy game principle” are noted.
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What is it about?The Division 1 tells the story of an epidemic that breaks out around Christmas time in New York City. A virus spreads through banknotes, causing many people to fall ill with the “Dollar Flu”.
Players are activated as part of a special unit. They are the Division, sleeper agents who intervene when all other government institutions and measures fail. The agents are tasked with preventing the final collapse of society and restoring order as much as possible.
Who is it suitable for? The Division is suitable for players who enjoy the “Loot Shooter” genre. In this world, you will always find better equipment and gear to specialize in different play styles.
Additionally, players who have only entered the franchise with the sequel The Division 2 can also check this out. In The Division 2, players set up their camp in Washington, D.C.
What are the reviews like? Nearly 57,300 players rated the game as “Balanced”. Positive points include the various game modes and the storyline. The repeating quest principle is noted as a negative point.
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What is it about? In ARK, you start completely naked on a deserted island full of dinosaurs. ARK: Survival Evolved is a survival game, where your primary goal is to survive. For that, you research increasingly futuristic technologies, but you can also take advantage of the different dinosaurs.
Who is it suitable for? If you like Jurassic Park and have always wanted to combine that with high-tech equipment and other sci-fi stuff, ARK could be the right place for you. Survival enthusiasts and players who enjoy teaming up with others should take a close look at this game.
What are the reviews like? After nearly 170,000 ratings, ARK is rated as “Balanced”. The group play and the integration of the Steam Workshop are positively noted, allowing players to create and share their own content. Negatively, bugs and problems like freezes and instability are noted.
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What is it about?Elite Dangerous is a sandbox game, where you can travel through the universe alone or with other players in your own spaceship. How you spend your time is up to you. You might make money as a courier, mine resources, or rob other players of their savings as a pirate.
Who is it suitable for? Players who enjoy exploring the universe on their own should take a look at Elite Dangerous. The game might also be suitable for those who like to belong to a large community.
What are the reviews like? Nearly 28,400 ratings see Elite Dangerous as “Balanced”. Positive aspects are the simulation of space and the various ways to spend time in the game. However, negatively, players note that they receive little guidance and that the game can often be overwhelming for newcomers.
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What is it about? After you are left to die in the desert, Conan the Barbarian himself rescues you. From then on, you have to fight for survival in Conan Exiles, find food and water, and build yourself a shelter.
In this brutal world, everything wants to kill you: hostile players, wildlife, or NPCs. Even the weather complicates your life, so you must always adapt your clothing to the climate.
Who is it suitable for? Adult players who are looking for truly challenging survival experiences will find Conan Exiles to be just right. The world aims to be more realistic and does not shy away from brutality. The entry is not easy and requires quite a bit of brainpower. Roleplayers will also find plenty to enjoy on RP servers.
What are the reviews like? All together, around 24,700 ratings see Conan Exiles as “Balanced”. The crafting is highlighted positively, where almost everything in the game world can be processed. Players also praise teamwork and the combat system. Negatively, poor performance and bugs in the game are noted.
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What is it about? In Monster Hunter World, you take on the role of a monster hunter, gradually facing off against increasingly stronger beasts. You can choose from 14 different weapon types, which can be enhanced and built with the right materials. You gather the materials for weapons and armor from the monsters themselves.
There are no levels that your character can gain to become stronger. Instead, you rely entirely on your skill and crafting better weapons and armor.
Who is it suitable for? Monster Hunter World is suitable for players who enjoy facing gigantic monsters, either alone or in a team of up to four players. A tactical element is also necessary: simply hacking away usually does not lead to victory. Instead, you want to recognize attack patterns and skillfully avoid the monsters’ blows.
What are the reviews like? Overall, Monster Hunter World receives “Balanced” from nearly 62,300 ratings. The game is perfect for players who want a mix of challenge, action, and deep RPG elements. As negatives, the PC controls and issues with multiplayer are highlighted.
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What is it about? In SCUM, you play as a sentenced criminal who participates in a virtual game show for the entertainment of the viewers. The game itself is a mix of survival and simulation, as your inmate must pay attention to his energy and nutrient balance.
The more you exert yourself in the game, the more your character has to eat. However, if you eat poorly and move little, you will be at a disadvantage against other players.
Who is it suitable for? SCUM is a multiplayer open-world survival game that places great emphasis on team play. Solo players will find it much harder. Additionally, the survival element is a significant factor: surviving is tough because there is not much food to find. Here, players who enjoy challenges will feel comfortable.
What are the reviews like? Around 22,500 players have rated SCUM as “Balanced”. The realistic survival aspect and the high learning curve are described positively. However, for some players, this high learning curve is a negative point, along with the physics and fighting against military robots.
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What is it about? The setting of the game is the post-Soviet state of Chernarus, which is plagued by an unknown virus that turns most of the population into raging infected. DayZ is an open-world online sandbox game where you fight for survival and gather resources to build weapons or shelters.
Not only do zombies want to harm you, but also dangerous animals or other players.
The title has been playable in Early Access since 2013 and was released on December 13, 2018.
Team up with other players…
Who is it suitable for? Players looking for a survival adventure in a large zombie sandbox will be happy with DayZ. Players who enjoy collecting and crafting in games and want to collaborate with their teammates should also keep an eye on this title.
What are the reviews like? With over 167,200 ratings, DayZ is rated “Balanced”. Players see the survival aspect and the interaction with other players positively. Negatively, bugs and crashes as well as the scarce content are noted.
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What content is available? In the Summer Sale 2019, several contents for free-to-play games were also reduced. Such as packs for Warframe, War Thunder, World of Warships, or Brawlhalla.
In The Division 2 big changes are coming. In the new State of the Game, Massive promises significant improvements in loot and skills. Title Update 5 is set to bring 2 new Exotics and 2 new weapons, and the vendor Cassie will also become more useful.
This is the announcement: Massive clearly states that they have listened to fan feedback and believe that the loot is currently in a bad state. They want to overhaul the current gear system.
The goal is to have satisfactory ways to obtain loot. The gear should feel good.
For example, they want to work on the Gear Brands and ensure that each set has six pieces – instead of just three. This will come in a later Title Update.
It is now a top priority to improve the way equipment is obtained in The Division 2. This will be addressed.
With Episode 1, new content is coming – not just improvements.
Yellow builds should be as strong as Red ones
This is how they plan to increase build diversity: Episode 1 and Title Update 5 will be available on the test servers on Monday. You will already see a “skill overhaul” there.
Massive is still struggling with “skill mods” and will take another shot at fixing these with Title Update 5.
The goal is for players not to focus only on weapon damage (Red), but also on skills (Yellow).
To achieve this balance, they do not want to weaken the weapons, but rather strengthen the skills. If players can achieve 3 million DPS with a red assault rifle build, they should be able to do the same with a yellow build:
For example, a 3k skill power mod that currently increases the turret’s damage by 25-30% will do so by about 150% with the next update.
Additionally, Massive will change and strengthen the stat “Cooldown Reduction” in The Division 2. It will become “Skill Haste” and will increase with skill power. There will be an additional 33% bonus.
The shield skills will also become significantly stronger.
Two new weapons are planned, the “TU5-Carbine-7 assault rifle” and the “Stoner LMG” – both weapons will receive new talents.
The exotic gloves “BTSU Gloves” will allow players to create a hybrid build. The exotic lever-action rifle “Diamondback” will also be introduced.
The two new Exotics
When is all of this coming? The test server for Episode 1 and Title Update 5 starts on July 1. It looks like most of it is already in there. They plan to gradually unlock the game content, allowing each aspect to be tested individually.
For PC, PS4, and Xbox One, we can expect the patch by the end of July.
We will take a closer look at the various aspects in the coming days on MeinMMO.
Teamfight Tactics, the Auto Chess of League of Legends, is here and can now be played for free by you. We will tell you how to start the download and get started.
How do I download Teamfight Tactics? Riot Games has released its own Auto Chess as an additional game mode for League of Legends.
You first need to create an account on the official website of LoL. When registering, select Western Europe as the region and German as the language if necessary.
On the website, you can also directly download League of Legends.
How do I start Teamfight Tactics? Once you have installed the client, you will probably need to download a patch or two.
Once that is done, you can simply log in, click on “Play” in the game, and select the game mode Teamfight Tactics.
There are no restrictions on the level or time since the creation of your account.
No Teamfight Tactics for iOS and Android yet
Can I also play Teamfight Tactics with Mac or Mobile? There is a special Mac client for the game League of Legends. This can also be used for Teamfight Tactics and downloaded from the official site.
Currently, there is no mobile version available for either LoL or TFT. However, rumors surfaced in May 2019 that a LoL Mobile is in the works.
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How do I navigate in Teamfight Tactics? If you have already played an Auto Chess game, you will quickly familiarize yourself with the new mechanics.
The major differences are only the carousel, which appears at the start and is later considered a comeback mechanic, and of course the champions, who have different skills, classes, and origins.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. We are also planning a tier list and a guide to all items, so that you will quickly find your way around the game.
What’s going on with Anthem right now? BioWare is still having players test the upcoming Cataclysm event on the test server. Now some improvements have been made based on player feedback.
Before the event goes live, it is currently being tested by players on the test server. The test servers are open to all players who own the game Anthem or are subscribed to Origin Access Premier. However, this is only on PC – console players currently have no chance to participate in the tests.
Yesterday, BioWare deployed a new patch to the test servers that makes several improvements based on player feedback. Additionally, the new shop can be tested, where players can exchange currency from the Cataclysm and other events for new rewards.
What has been improved? Based on player feedback, creatures now spawn during the Shaper Storm events while waiting for the timer to run out. There are now notifications about when a new level of the events starts.
The boss fight against Vara has been revamped. It now includes all phases as well as updated gameplay, effects, and cinematics.
Additionally, there are some bug fixes, including for the leaderboards and the Cataclysm score, which now adjusts to the difficulty level.
What do the players say? In the EA forum, many players are happy that the loot has been adjusted. According to some players, it is now easier to get good, high-level loot. However, when and if these changes will come to the live servers is still unknown.
Additionally, freelancers praise BioWare for increasingly providing numbers and percentages regarding changes to Javelins and their damage.
In the Anthem subreddit, players seem bored by the event. User DisManBeWhat writes: “Nothing about this screams ‘This is what Anthem needs’ when I play on the PTS. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun. But it gets boring quickly compared to the contents of other games releasing new content.”
User KGrahnn praises that BioWare is testing the content being developed. He will definitely play when the next patch is released. But he doesn’t believe it will keep him engaged for more than a day or two in Anthem.
Update 0.147.1 of Pokémon GO brings big news! The hints surrounding Team Rocket and Crypto-Pokémon are intensifying, and soon there may be a new major feature coming.
What was found? The data miners found a whole lot of news in this update. Mainly, details regarding encounters with Team Rocket and Crypto-Pokémon were discovered.
This could indicate that we will soon receive a major feature and will be able to battle Team Rocket.
Update 0.147.1 – What Data Miners Found
This points to Team Rocket: There are not only hints about Team Rocket, but the evil grunts are explicitly mentioned. A medal was found that counts the defeated Team Rocket grunts for you.
The Rocket grunts will probably be battled soon. Source: PokéWiki
In addition, PokéStop invasions were found in the update. It seems the villains are lurking around certain PokéStops, and you must battle them there.
The code also included male and female characters found, each assigned to a type. So they will probably fight primarily with Pokémon of that type.
What does this mean for the game? These battles might run similarly to the battles against the team leaders in the PvP mode. After all, a rival also faces you there. However, whether the battles will run exactly like in PvP is not known.
The most famous Crypto-Pokémon, Lugia, has not been found yet.
These monsters apparently have a connection to Team Rocket and are likely controlled by these NPCs. A total of 21 Crypto-Pokémon were found, including Charizard, Snorlax, or Dragonite.
It seems you can cleanse these Crypto-Pokémon with stardust and candies. Accordingly, a medal was also found in the game.
What are Crypto-Pokémon? These monsters have had their hearts locked away. Thus, they are evil and significantly more aggressive. They are known from the console games Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
What does this mean for the game? This could actually bring a whole new story our way. It appears Team Rocket controls these Crypto-Pokémon. Our task will probably be to defeat the villains and then cleanse and catch the Crypto-Pokémon.
When will the features come? This update contained quite a bundle of data about these features. Currently, it’s still unclear whether there is missing data or if it can be released as is.
The update is definitely a significant step toward the new feature. So it could come this summer. However, there is no date yet.
Niantic also officially announced the Community Day in July:
In Destiny 2, there are long maintenance works today, on June 27th. There will be a 12-hour server downtime. Here you can find everything about the maintenance process and why you can’t play for so long.
What is the maintenance about today? Today, on June 27th, unusually long maintenance works are scheduled for Destiny and Destiny 2.
There will be no update for either of the two games; it is merely maintenance on the Destiny servers. However, this will last a proud 12 hours. During this time, you will not be able to play Destiny.
When exactly will the Destiny 2 servers go offline and when can you play again? The official schedule for the maintenance on June 27th is as follows:
Thursday, 27.06., 16:00:
Planned start of the maintenance
Destiny and Destiny 2 go offline
Features of the companion app and Bungie.net will be disabled – on the web, on mobile devices, and with third-party services
Friday, 28.06., 04:00:
Estimated end of the maintenance works
The Destiny and Destiny 2 servers will come back online
Features of the companion app and Bungie.net can be fully utilized again
Why do we have to take such a long break today? The reason for today’s forced break in Destiny is curiously a feature that is supposed to come into the game with the Shadowkeep expansion.
As Bungie has revealed, the long maintenance serves to pave the way for the implementation of the Cross-Save feature in the fall.
What is the Cross-Save feature? Cross-Save will make it possible to use the save data of one account across platforms. For example, you will then be able to transfer your PS4 Guardians to the PC, Xbox One, or Google Stadia.
This is how the Cross-Save feature works:
You choose a main account on a specific platform (where, for example, your Guardians are most progressed)
This progress or save will then be shared with all other platforms where you play Destiny 2
You will play this save on all platforms you are using.
The challenges of week 8 in season 9 of Fortnite: Battle Royale have been leaked. Here we present to you the tasks found by the dataminers.
What’s new: In Fortnite, the developers are currently on vacation and taking it easy for about 2 weeks. The weekly tasks for season 9 have already been prepared. Dataminers have been able to extract them from the code.
The tasks are now live, and we have a guide to all challenges for you here:
Task 3: Eliminate opponents at Snobby Shores or Mega Mall (7)
Paid:
Task 4: Deal damage to opponents with assault rifles (500)
Task 5: Phase 1 – Land at Paradise Palms, Phase 2 – Land at Neo Tilted, Phase 3 – Land at Mega Mall, Phase 4 – Land at Pleasant Park, Phase 5 – Land at Junk Junction
Task 6: Use a geyser, a fan, and a zip line in one game
Task 7: Achieve eliminations outside of named locations
How credible is the leak? The collected data comes from dataminer Lucas7yoshi. He has shown accurate leaks in the past, which is why the community trusts him.
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So if no spontaneous update appears in Fortnite today before the start of week 8, these leaked challenges will likely go live as shown.
What’s else going on in Fortnite? These tasks from week 8 are not particularly exciting, as there are no major puzzles involved. The 14-day challenge could provide more fun. Fortnite launched the 14-Days-of-Summer event, which gives you a new challenge every day for the next two weeks.
With this, you can earn cool cosmetic content. If you complete all tasks, you will receive the Schali Smoothie as a reward.
All the tasks that are coming your way have already been leaked:
We now know what the Community Day in July is about in Pokémon GO. The starter Pokémon Mudkip is coming. We will tell you everything about Shinies, date, and the bonuses.
Not surprisingly, but now confirmed: The Community Day in July is about Mudkip. The Water Pokémon is the last starter from Generation 3 to receive a Community Day.
In addition to the increased appearance of Mudkip, there will also be numerous bonuses again. We provide you with an overview.
Community Day in July – Everything about date and bonuses
When is the community event? The Community Day was already planned before. It will start on July 21, which is quite late this year. It is a Sunday, and the event runs from 4 PM to 7 PM. The times have changed.
What bonuses are there? The event offers numerous bonuses again. The highlight will likely be the triple experience points:
Triple XP when catching Pokémon
Three-hour Lures
Mudkip appears more frequently in the wild
An exclusive move (probably for Swampert) will be announced
Will there be Shiny Mudkip? The Water Pokémon will also appear as Shiny. This was confirmed by Niantic in their notification. The chance of getting Shiny Mudkip will also be higher than with other Shinies. One can expect about 1 in 25.
How do the Shinies look? You will easily recognize Shiny Mudkip, because it is pink instead of blue. The evolutions will also be pink.
In July, the Community Day with Bunnelby will also be repeated for us Europeans:
Spoiler warning: If you don’t want to know how the story of Jaina, Thrall, Baine, and Saurfang continues, you should not read further. You have been warned.
When does the cinematic take place? The video is played at the end of the current war campaign. After the players, along with Jaina, Thrall, Saurfang, and Shaw, conducted the rescue of the Tauren Baine, they flee from Orgrimmar and find themselves on the hills of Mulgore. There, a longer conversation takes place.
What can be seen in the cinematic? In the video, mainly Thrall and Jaina discuss the next steps. They fear that Sylvanas will now take revenge and burn down Thunder Bluff just as she did with Teldrassil, like she did with Teldrassil.
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Jaina then reminds Thrall that they have fought together before to defend Hyjal – that was in Warcraft 3 when the Burning Legion attacked. No one got past them there.
Thrall then becomes somewhat angry and explains that the Horde and Alliance have come to this crossroads several times. They have repeatedly tried to work together, only for it to fall apart again. When asked what is “different this time,” Jaina replies: “We.”
What does that mean? The video currently allows for many possible interpretations. However, it seems that Thrall and Jaina (and thus also Baine and Saurfang) are considering putting an end to the war between the Horde and Alliance once and for all. However, Sylvanas must be removed, and a peaceful war chief must be appointed. Both Baine and Thrall would be suitable for this role.
Whether any of this will happen will likely be revealed towards the end of the expansion, perhaps even with Patch 9.0.
