Tester buys loot boxes for $100 in Black Ops 4 – result is disappointing

What do you get when you buy loot boxes for $100 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4? Apparently not much, as a tester has now found out.

Since their introduction, loot boxes in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 have been regularly controversial. Some fans condemn them as a rip-off, while others accept or defend them as purely optional cosmetic content, leading to ongoing debates on Reddit and other discussion platforms.

After Treyarch recently made adjustments to the loot boxes, the US site Charlie Intel conducted an experiment. They wanted to see for themselves if the $100 on the black market was really worth it and stocked up on plenty of loot boxes.

blops blackjack

The loot box experiment went as follows: Tester Jeffrey Mizrahi, an author for Charlie Intel, acquired virtual currency “Call of Duty” points worth $100.

For a total of 13,000 points (including bonuses for the purchased amount), he was able to purchase 65 so-called reserve crates. These are the purchasable version of the loot boxes, which can each contain three reserve cases, meaning three different cosmetic items and weapons as well as specialists from past seasons.

Alternatively, these loot boxes can be earned in the form of individual reserve cases through Blackout and the regular multiplayer. Even there, you get one item from a case.

cod black ops 4 cosmetic

Loot Boxes for $100 – What’s Inside

This is what the tester got from the crates: By opening these reserve crates, Mizrahi received a total of 195 items.

What particularly frustrated him: 62 of them were duplicates – items he had already obtained.

Since every third duplicate is rolled into an item he does not yet possess, he ended up with 41 items remaining as duplicates. Thus, ultimately 21% of the $100 were a waste for him personally, according to Mizrahi. He actually started the shopping spree with two duplicates.

But even the content of the reserve crates shocked the tester, according to his own words. Almost 80% of all received items were common or rare. The majority consisted of outfits for the specialists.

black ops 4 lootbox daemon
Source: Charlie Intel

Items with the rarest and most coveted quality level, Ultra, came to him with a probability of about 0.1%. Yet these are the ones most buyers are after.

Among the coveted signature weapons, special cosmetic variations of common firearms, he received only one single one – and that with 195 items.

So if you manage to pull an Ultra item from the crates, you can consider yourself very lucky, according to the author.

This is the tester’s conclusion: The conclusion of the experiment is disappointing. The biggest problem the tester had with the contents of the loot boxes: most of it is simply useless.

cod blops 4 zero 2

He understands that there must also be items of lower quality, so that the rarer items feel special and desired. But with numerous cosmetics, he simply feels cheated.

For example, with many epic weapon skins, where the same paint job is simply unlocked for other weapons. This means you get some skins for weapons you never use.

The same applies to many specialist outfits. Numerous “different” outfits for the individual characters look so similar that they could almost pass for duplicates.

However, the biggest realization of the experiment is that $100 will definitely not unlock everything the reserves have to offer – not even close.

This applies especially to the rarest and most coveted items. Even if some crates were worth their money – most simply feel like a pure waste of money. Such a high investment is therefore not really worthwhile – even if the results may vary individually.

More on the topic
Black Ops 4 gets a mode that many fans have wished for
von Sven Galitzki

What do you think? Would you have expected more rewards of the highest quality level with such an investment?

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

Does Gjallarhorn return in Destiny 2? This item presents Guardians with a riddle

In Destiny 2, an item was discovered in the databases that undoubtedly refers to the exotic rocket launcher Gjallarhorn. What is it all about?

What was discovered? With the launch of Season 6, the databases for Destiny 2 were updated. Resourceful Guardians can now search through them and find items that are already in the game or that will be activated at some point during the season.

Among these items that are not yet in the game is “The Midnight Special.” It initially sounds relatively uninteresting, but the icon for the object makes it much more exciting:

destiny-2-gjallarhorn-nachbildung

What kind of item is this? The icon unmistakably shows the Gjallarhorn from Destiny 1. This was an exotic rocket launcher that dominated the entire game in its first year and gained cult status.

The description of the Midnight Special emphasizes that the item must have something to do with the Gjallarhorn. It is described as “a convincing (but non-functional) copy of a famous weapon.”

The “famous weapon” likely proves that Bungie did not simply make a mistake with the icon, but that it was intentionally chosen.

So is the Gjallarhorn coming back?

That’s why a “real” return is unlikely: The database entry indicates that it is an exotic item, but it cannot be equipped. This is stated clearly in the details (“Introduced in Season 6, cannot be equipped”).

Also, the item description clearly states that it is a non-functional copy. In other words, the Midnight Special is a replica of the Gjallarhorn that cannot be used as a weapon.

A return of the real, working Gjallarhorn as the Guardians know it is therefore neither confirmed nor likely. Bungie might even just be trolling the Guardians with this item in the databases, and it might never find its way into the game.

destiny_rise_of_iron_new_weapons_gjallarhorn
Everyone wanted Gjallarhorn in Destiny 1!

Is there hope for a return? However, a return cannot be completely ruled out. The Midnight Special might serve as a future item that triggers a quest leading to the Gjallarhorn.

However, currently, only speculation can be made about this. Right now, it seems that this Gjallarhorn replica will leave very little room for use.

What is the Gjallarhorn, anyway? For the entirety of the first Destiny year, the Guardians were in a Gjallarhorn frenzy because the exotic rocket launcher was so powerful that it was the best choice for any challenge. A genuine cult emerged around the weapon. Everyone wanted to have it. Those who didn’t have it begged Xur to bring it. And the Gjallarhorn is the only weapon that established its own holiday within the Guardians.

Here you can find the exotic weapons that can definitely be obtained in Season 6:

More on the topic
Destiny 2: Here are the 5 new Exotics in the Season of the Vagabond
von Micha Deckert
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. light.gg

The Division 2: Server start, time, download, Day-1 patch

All information about the release of The Division 2 is known. Here’s what you need to know about the server launch, the exact launch time in Germany, and the day-one patch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The release date of The Division 2:

  • The official release is on March 15, 2019 (Friday) for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
  • If you have pre-ordered special editions of The Division 2 (like the Gold or Ultimate Edition), you will receive 3 days of early access. You can start playing on March 12, 2019 (Tuesday).

Some players, mainly owners of the disc versions for Xbox One and PS4, were able to start playing before the official launch.

Everything you need to know about buying The Division 2 can be read in our special:

More on the topic
What you should know before buying The Division 2 – PS4, Xbox One, PC
von Sven Galitzki

Important times for the server launch: The servers start in each country on March 12 at midnight local time. This means here in Germany:

  • On the night of March 11 to March 12 at 0:01, you can start on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Uplay) if you have early access.
  • For everyone else, it starts in Germany on March 15 at 0:01. Owners of the standard edition will have to wait exactly three days.
the division 2 server-start-uhrzeit
Start times for those who own special editions

Do some countries get a head start? Yes, players in Australia and New Zealand will be the first to access The Division 2. Massive is therefore issuing a spoiler warning, as streams and videos are expected to be available from that point.

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These tips should not only be known by beginners starting The Division 2
von Tom Rothstein

The day-one patch is huge

This is the size of the download on day one (disc version): If you purchased a physical copy of the game (a disc), you should insert the disc and start the installation. A download for title update 1 will now begin:

  • On Xbox One and PC, you need to download approximately 50 GB. That’s how much storage space The Division 2 will ultimately take up.
  • On PS4, title update 1 is also about 50 GB in size. Regardless of whether the game was purchased digitally or as a disc, The Division 2 will ultimately take up between 90 and 100 GB of storage space.

This means that even if you buy the disc version, you will essentially download the entire game.

Update 1.5 comes before the release: Starting March 11, even before the release, update 1.5 will be available. This will be around 2 GB in size. It addresses some issues that arose in the open beta, especially sound issues.

What you need to know about preload: Players who have purchased the digital version can start the pre-download on PS4, PC, and Xbox One already.

the division 2 black tusk 2
This faction waits for you after the story

Important information shortly before release

This is The Division 2: The Division 2 is an online shooter with RPG elements that you can play solo or co-op with up to 3 other friends.

In addition to a story campaign, you can expect a large open world, a comprehensive endgame, the Dark Zone as a PvEvP mode, and standalone PvP modes.

The setting is a replica of Washington D.C. in a post-apocalypse, where Division agents try to save the city and the nation from chaos following a virus outbreak.

Here we summarize the most important new features and content:

More on the topic
How The Division 2 differs from The Division 1
von Tarek Zehrer
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. ubisoft

Fans believe this image reveals the next new items in Fortnite

The loading screen from Season 8 of Fortnite is full of small features. A few of them have already been announced. Fans are now sure that more gadgets will follow.

This is the image in question: When Season 8 in Fortnite started, there was also a new loading screen for the players. Exactly in this image, fans have now discovered something interesting.

This is what the fans found: The image shows many small details. Among them are also two features that will soon be implemented in the game. They have already been shown in this image and will be implemented later.

Therefore, some players took a closer look. They also found 2 weapons in the image that are still missing. They are now sure that these devices will be coming to the game soon.

This is what the players found in the image

These gadgets are already known: In the image, one of the skins is holding the treasure map. This map is already in the game and delights many fans.

Additionally, in the background, there is the strange vehicle that Epic has already announced. So here too, Fortnite has hidden an item that will be coming to the game soon.

These weapons could be coming soon

Some players have now taken it a step further and believe that the weapons seen in the image will also soon be found in the game. We present the weapons:

The bow: One of the skins on the right is holding a bow. So it is quite possible that this weapon will soon be introduced in the game. So far, there has only been a crossbow in Fortnite; a bow would therefore be something completely new.

Fortnite bow
This bow can be seen in the image.

The pirate pistol: The Blackheart skin on the left in the image is holding a pirate pistol. Thus, there has already been an old-school revolver in the game, which could be reintroduced here. But a completely new weapon cannot be ruled out either.

Pirate pistol Fortnite
Blackheart is holding the pirate pistol

How likely is this theory? Of course, Epic has confirmed nothing. It is only the assembly of some events so far, but it is quite conceivable that Epic wants to give small hints with it.

What do you think? Can we look forward to such weapons soon?

Fortnite dominated YouTube significantly in 2018. We show you how strong it was:

More on the topic
Statistics show how shockingly strong Fortnite dominated YouTube in 2018
von Schuhmann
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Forbes
  2. Reddit

Has the latest patch resolved the crash issues of the PS4 with Anthem ?

After the crash problems that many PS4 players faced in Anthem, Patch 1.0.3 was released a few days ago. Has the update fixed the issues?

What’s in the update: With Patch 1.0.3 Anthem released a comprehensive update on March 9, addressing numerous bugs and issues.

The feedback is somewhat overshadowed by the heated discussion about loot. However, the question remains: What is the status of the PS4 crashes, one of the biggest problems Anthem has faced so far?

The situation regarding the PS4 crashes is unclear

In recent weeks, the biggest topic surrounding Anthem has been the problem with the numerous crashes that plagued Xbox and especially PS4 players.

But what about the crashes? It’s very difficult to determine, as many reports of new bugs and errors have surfaced since the update.

Since the patch, there seem to be no new reports of severe PS4 crashes. Amid all the feedback and especially the criticism of the last update and changes to loot, nothing concrete can be found regarding the PS4 crashes.

However, since there hasn’t been a major outcry, one can at least assume that it is not occurring on a large scale anymore.
The situation needs to be monitored further to see if new hard crashes can occur.

These were the problems on the PS4: Since the VIP demo, the PS4 version of Anthem has experienced massive console crashes. Players complained not only about “normal” crashes.

The PS4 reacted more as if the power had been cut during a crash. After the crash, the console was temporarily unresponsive, even the controllers did not respond.

Some players had to start the console in safe mode and reset it to get it working again.

Individual fans even reported that Sony supposedly refunded the game. However, more serious were reports that claimed that PS4 consoles had even been destroyed. Bioware and EA responded and requested data from the affected players.

Electronic Arts eventually denied the rumor that consoles were destroyed. They stated that not a single case of an irreparably damaged PS4 was reported.

Anthem Colossus Title

Patch potentially brings new problems

These problems exist after the update: In the Anthem subreddit, many players are complaining about new annoyances:

  • Longer loading screens than before
  • Crashes on all platforms
  • Walls blocking missions and not progressing to the next section
  • Error messages
  • Connection loss during missions

This list is still much longer and shows that Bioware has a lot of work ahead.

However, the feedback is not all negative. Many praise the increased damage output:

More on the topic
Anthem raises power level: Players feel powerful, yet fluffy
von Micha Deckert
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Why the largest MMORPG release of 2019 comes from 2005

World of Warcraft has become the most popular MMORPG in the world and one of the most successful games overall since its release in 2005. Now, in the summer of 2019, the Classic version of WoW is making a return, bringing back everything that started it all. Our author Benedict believes that it will repeat its success and overshadow all other MMORPG releases.

I myself only played Classic towards the end. Just before I reached the then maximum level 60 with my Warlock, the first expansion The Burning Crusade was already released. My experiences in Classic are therefore largely limited to leveling, which anyway constituted a large part of the gaming experience.

Nevertheless, WoW made a milestone with Classic and enchanted players in a way that no game had achieved before. Although it was not the first MMORPG, it is the most successful, and rightly so. But where did it all come from?

[toc]

Why Players Are Excited About WoW Classic

It is hard to grasp where the fascination with “Vanilla WoW” comes from. Part of the excitement probably stems from the especially popular strategy hit Warcraft 3. Behind WoW is simply a vast world that is still not finished telling its story even in 2019.

What Made Azeroth So Great

After old MMORPGs like EverQuest, which is still being played today, paved the way, Blizzard was able to hit right into this niche with WoW. There was a wonderful world that players simply had to immerse themselves in.

Azeroth was not a world created for WoW. The lead storyteller Chris Metzen, who left Blizzard in 2016 amid great fan grief, already had the entire world in mind. He worked on the story of Warcraft 2 and on the development of Warcraft 1.

Books and stories from authors and fans developed around Warcraft, and WoW allowed players to experience these stories for themselves. How good or bad one found the world did not play a major role – it was there and it was incredibly vast.

WoW Classic title
Playing as an Orc or Tauren? The fulfillment of a dream for many fans.

Why the Gameplay Was Better

WoW has also done some things better than its predecessors. When characters died, there were hardly any disadvantages apart from going to the corpse. Players could heal themselves with food, and there were generally fewer breaks between fights. The action was more tangible.

More on the topic
7 Reasons why players are looking forward to WoW: Classic
von Cortyn

Additionally, the world felt more alive, simply more immersive. Through a huge system of quests that were mostly intertwined and told stories, leveling was simply more exciting. There was no comparison to the monotonous grind that many games had required before.

For most players, this was their first encounter with such a sophisticated world that could captivate them. They did not just have to invest hours to reach the maximum level; they wanted to. In WoW, it was not about “just one more mob,” but about “just one more quest.”

WoW Ragnaros 5 Dinge Classic
One of the most famous battles is against Ragnaros.

Why Do Players Want Classic Back?

Purists have been shouting that “everything was better in Classic” since The Burning Crusade. Personally, I disagree and think many changes in BC and also in WotLK are great. However, I can also understand the voices of the Classic fans.

More on the topic
WoW Classic: What to Expect on a Vanilla Server?
von Benedict Grothaus

If you look in the forums, many different opinions about Vanilla and the upcoming WoW Classic servers in summer 2019 emerge. Roughly speaking, several reasons for the desire for Classic can be broken down:

  • Nostalgia, players want the WoW they started with
  • some changes over the years have received little love, such as the LFR
  • The desire for more complex classes and “harder” gameplay

How much players wish for a Classic version was also shown by the number of private servers on which Classic was still running. The largest of these was Nostalrius with more than 25,000 accounts, which players sadly bid farewell to when it was shut down.

More on the topic
World of Warcraft: Die letzten Momente von “Nostalrius”
von Cortyn

Classic has even excited players who apparently have never played Classic. A forum user writes:

I had absolutely no interest. After seeing the Blizzcon demo, I can’t stop thinking about it. The fights are so deep. The whole world is so much bigger and more dangerous. […] I’ve heard that Vanilla can be addictive, but that? I feel like I’m in withdrawal and I haven’t even played it.

Gripp in the WoW forums
WoW Nostalrius Shutdown
Many players wish for Classic. Here: The farewell to Nostalrius.

What Players Want from Classic

When it comes to how players want Classic to be, opinions are divided. Many purists want WoW Classic in its original form. All bugs, all problems, the poor graphics, and all negative aspects should remain. No new features wanted.

Others welcome the polish that Blizzard wants to give to Classic. Classic is supposed to get realm sharding to properly distribute players and the loot system is also being tinkered with. These fans want to enjoy WoW Classic and not just get a pure nostalgia feeling.

Personally, I think a polished version of Classic is better. It not only helps to retain the “rose-tinted glasses” – as Classic really had many problems – but also keeps the game alive. If all bugs are carried over, hardly anyone will want to play, neither new players nor veterans for a long time.

WoW Classic Warlock Talents
Talent trees. For me, one of the best features of WoW that I still want back.

How Will WoW Classic Perform?

Although WoW Classic seems to be enjoying great popularity, it might happen that players are absent. The compromise that Blizzard is seeking between the “original Classic” and a slightly improved version may work or may not.

This Could Go Wrong

Currently, there is the biggest dispute in the community over whether WoW Classic should be “original” or “polished.” The middle path that Blizzard is taking could turn out to be a compromise for both sides or an absolute catastrophe that no one wants.

What is also hotly debated is the requirement of a subscription for WoW Classic. Comments in the forums include: “Why should I pay for such an old game?” In fact, this could become a problem, although from my perspective, not a too big one. A subscription was simply part of Classic, and it is still necessary now.

WoW Marke
Subscription: Yes. But players hope there won’t be any tokens.

This Is the Best Case

In the best case, WoW Classic will exert the same fascination on players as back then. Experienced players can indulge in nostalgia and continually experience great “Oh yes…” moments. I had already experienced seven such moments in the first ten minutes of the Classic demo at Blizzcon. (as a rogue, by the way, one shouldn’t fight more than 2 enemies at a time)

New players will get a good insight into what the Classic generation celebrated without being immediately put off by bad gameplay and old mistakes they are no longer familiar with.

Ideally, Classic will provide a new experience for everyone, allowing everyone to have fun again and feel at home in Azeroth. With Classic, WoW can show how it became so great.

WoW Kaplan Classic WoW title
WoW Classic is the hope of many players.

This Is the Worst Case

In the worst case, however, Classic will not last long. From my point of view, this is most likely to happen if Classic really comes without any changes at all.

For many players, it sounds as if they just want to “take a look again” instead of truly wanting their old Classic back. New players would not enjoy outdated and poor mechanics, and after a few months, all servers would be dead.

Giants like Nostalrius only had one server where several thousand could play. If the community splits onto multiple servers in Classic, these will only get smaller, and a chain reaction will soon wipe out the entire player base, as there are too few players on each server.

WoW Tarrens Mill Classic
Abandoned cities: The worst fate that Classic servers can face.

Conclusion: Classic Will Be Great. The Question is: How Long?

When I consider all the considerations, I still think Classic will be a success. Since I could not play all the content in Classic, I am itching to finally see Naxxramas and the Molten Core from the inside, without killing everything with one glance.

More on the topic
WoW Classic: Not all raids are available at launch
von Cortyn

Similarly, many other players, as well as those who have never played Classic, will likely feel the same way. Many acquaintances who started with WotLK or later often ask: “What was so great about Classic?” Instead of long explanations, they can simply play.

For me, the question is not whether Classic will be good, but how long it will last. The content is limited, and even though everything took longer, nothing is likely to be added. Moreover, there is a chance that players will find it boring.

WoW Hunter Classic Rhok'delar
A Tauren Hunter in Classic. Strange armor sets were often seen due to the lack of transmogrification.

On the other hand, there is a good argument from forum user Ristra about time and content:

In Vanilla and every expansion afterwards, there was only a limited time to achieve your goals before everything became obsolete. Classic will not have this problem. You can play at your own pace and still accomplish everything.

Ristra in the WoW forums

This will indeed adapt the factor that leveling and gearing took forever to the players. Those who had time back then but now need to take care of work and family can still play whenever they want. No one is pushing them.

What do you think? How will Classic perform?

WoW Classic has received numerous updates recently, but one big question remains:

More on the topic
WoW Classic has received some updates, but when is it coming out?
von Benedict Grothaus
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Wizards Unite: We were able to play the new “Harry Potter GO” – All info

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite could be played for the first time. The augmented reality mobile game is from the creators of Pokémon GO. It features some deeper RPG mechanics that set it apart.

Until now, it has been a big mystery what the creators of Pokémon GO are up to with the Harry Potter universe.

Last weekend, Niantic (Pokémon GO) and Warner Bros Games invited various media representatives to England to finally unveil Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

We from MeinMMO were also there and were able to test the new AR mobile game.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Map
This is the map of Wizards Unite. It corresponds to the “real world” in which we move for the game. Magical traces can appear here, which we pursue as wizards.

What is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite about?

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite takes place in the present, after the great battle of Hogwarts has already occurred and Voldemort has been defeated. Harry Potter and his friends are grown up but still protect the magical world and assist us in the game. The characters in the game are fully voiced and tell us more about the game’s background.

Find all further facts in detail about gameplay and features here:

More on the topic
Wizards Unite: Everything we know about “Harry Potter GO”
von Noah Struthoff

This is what the story is about: A large, mysterious catastrophe causes magical creatures and items to appear suddenly all over the world. The wizarding world could reveal itself to non-magical people.

This is our role in Wizards Unite: We, as wizards and witches, join together to find the magical traces and remove them from the Muggle world. For this purpose, spells and potions are at our disposal.

Some creatures must be freed, and other monsters must be fought. It is even possible to encounter Harry Potter himself, who is currently being attacked by evil Dementors.

The magical encounters occur in the “real world”. We see the interplay of both worlds through augmented reality technology with our smartphones.

No one knows what caused these magical anomalies. Wizards Unite is supposed to remain in development forever, and what the origin of the problems is will gradually be revealed.

When a magical apparition appears, a “threat level” is shown. This indicates how great the danger is that the apparition reveals the magical world.

There is a skill tree and jobs

In Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, we sometimes have to fight against evil creatures like werewolves, but also other wizards. However, these are AI wizards in the game. There is no PvP.

To defeat creatures and wizards, we need spells and potions. How strong we will be and which spells are available to us depends on our level and which skills we have already unlocked.

This should please MMORPG fans: There is an RPG progression system to become a stronger wizard. At launch, we can choose from three jobs, each with its own skill tree. This system gives Harry Potter: Wizards Unite an exciting depth.

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Skill-Tree
RPG fans will be pleased that Wizards Unite has a large skill tree with a progression system.

This is how the skill tree works: We choose a profession. At launch, there will be three jobs available in the game:

  • Auror
  • Professor
  • Magizoologist

The various jobs have individual advantages in combat and also their own skill trees. For example, the Auror uses aggressive spells, while the Magizoologist takes on a support role. The author took on the Magizoologist job during testing and was able to heal her teammates during battles.

As we gain experience points in the game, by freeing magical creatures or defeating monsters, we can eventually unlock new skills or bonuses in the skill tree. This includes things like more stamina points or more health.

The job can be changed at any time and skill points can be redistributed.

Fights take place in dungeons and in the open field

When we duel against monsters or witches and wizards, we summon spells to attack them.

This is how fighting and casting works: A circle appears on the screen. We need to synchronize it on the opponent’s circle. For opponents that move a lot, this can be tricky.

Now if a bar fills up in the circle, we may use a spell to attack. A specific line appears on the screen that we must trace with our finger. This can be a zigzag line, a swirl, or a combination thereof.

The better we trace the line, the stronger our spell is. If we fail to do this, our spell fails, and we must defend ourselves with a quick swipe across the screen.

With a finger, the rune is traced on the screen. The better you trace it, the stronger the spell.

How do battles in dungeons work? On the map, there are various dungeons that have multiple chambers. Here we can enter with a group of 5 wizards and witches to fight the monsters and wizards inside.

It is advisable to have wizards with different jobs, as they can provide advantages. For example, the Magizoologist is stronger against animal opponents.

Everyone in the group selects an opponent and fights against them. All opponents must be defeated within a certain time to advance to the next chamber.

This is how fights take place in the open: Evil wizards and monsters can appear everywhere. These are simply considered magical threats and are indicated on the map with a specific symbol. Here, each player fights alone. Group fights only occur in the dungeons.

What about potions? On the map, there are greenhouses where potions can be brewed. The ingredients can be found all over the map, and you can casually pick and collect them along the way.

Especially cool: The weather or even the phases of the moon influence which ingredients the player finds. Ingredients can also be earned through daily challenges.

When a magical creature or item has been found, it is brought for registration. Hagrid can also be encountered and needs to be brought back.

Everyone lives out their inner wizard

This emphasizes the RPG aspects: In Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, role-playing is emphasized. Every player should be able to live out their inner wizard or witch.

On the map, we can observe a little wizard, but that is not us. It only indicates where we are located.

We receive a wizard identification card. With our mobile camera, we take a photo of ourselves, which is shown in animated form. This is our avatar in the game.

Over our photo, we can apply filters similar to those in Snapchat or Instagram. Here we can wear hats, funny glasses, or decorate ourselves with other items from the Harry Potter universe.

On the card, we can also find our house (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw) and the wand we choose. As we progress in the game, we can also earn titles that are also found on the card.

Every player should feel that the magic is happening around them and that they are part of it.

“Harry Potter GO” could be a mobile game for MMORPG fans

Wizards Unite leans more towards the MMORPG direction. The developers at Niantic say this themselves.

The progression system, collaborative play, the skill tree, and also the roleplay are among the pillars of Wizards Unite. These elements are indeed deeper than one might expect if they know Pokémon GO.

Especially the battles in the dungeons require a certain tactical thinking as you want to optimally utilize your job advantages and complement each other within the group.

Players who enjoy these aspects in MMORPGs should take a look at Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

As we move with the game, we earn “portkeys” after a while. These appear in the form of a boot. When we use it, we walk through a portal that brings us into a room from the Harry Potter universe and we get loot here.

When is the release of Wizards Unite?

An exact release date is still unknown. However, we know that Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will be released in 2019. According to the developers, the game is nearly finished and just needs a little polish.

This release date is likely: Harry Potter’s birthday is on July 31. In summer, a release for a game played outdoors would be ideal.

What better day for a release than Harry Potter’s own birthday, which falls on July 31 in the height of summer? But this is just speculation and not confirmed.

More on the topic
What I like better about Wizards Unite than Pokémon GO
von Leya Jankowski
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

What you should know before buying The Division 2 – PS4, Xbox One, PC

The launch of The Division 2 is just around the corner. If you are still considering getting the game, you should take the following things into account before purchasing.

On March 15, 2019, it will finally happen, the official release of The Division 2. Depending on the version, there is even the possibility to start 3 days earlier and maintain order in Washington D.C.

All interested parties who are still undecided should take a look at the following information to get a better picture of The Division 2 before a potential purchase.

What is The Division 2?

What makes The Division 2 special? The Division 2 is a shared-world online shooter and the sequel to Tom Clancy’s The Division. The game is played from a third-person perspective, utilizes a cover system, and places a strong emphasis on RPG elements such as skills, character progression, or loot in the style of Diablo.

the division 2 washington

What is it about? You take on the role of agents of the Strategic Homeland Division. After a virus outbreak has plunged the world into chaos, you are to restore order in the capital of the USA.

For the United States is increasingly engulfed in civil war. Ruthless factions threaten to destroy the foundation of democracy and terrorize the suffering population. It is up to you to put an end to this madness.

How is it played? In The Division 2, you can team up with up to 4 players in a group (up to 8 in raids) to play various PvP and PvE content. There is matchmaking available for all activities.

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However, a large portion of the content can also be completed entirely alone, so solo players have plenty to do. Whether one can effectively manage alone in the endgame due to the difficulty remains to be seen.

The division 2 screenshot 2

You do not need to have played Division 1 to enjoy part 2

This is why some potential buyers are concerned: Some interested players wonder if it is even possible to connect in The Division 2 if they have not played The Division 1. After all, they have missed quite a bit of story and events.

And what about progress? Will this be carried over? Then many players would already have high-level characters.

This is why you can easily jump into The Division 2: These concerns are, however, unfounded.

Even if you did not experience the story of the predecessor in full length – in The Division 2, you will be introduced in such a way that you get a good overview of the overall events that led you to Washington.

You can find our story summary of The Division 1 here.

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Additionally, the character progression from part 1 is not carried over. In The Division 2, all players start on the same level. There are no gameplay advantages if you have extensively played Division 1.

Buy The Division 2 – With these editions, you can start earlier

The Division 2 will be released in a variety of different editions. Which version is right for you can be found in this article: The Division 2 – The contents of all editions

With these editions, you will receive early access: What is important for many with the different versions: You can start with some versions of The Division 2 already before the official launch on March 15.

division 2 ultimate-edition-2
The contents of the Ultimate Edition

If you have pre-ordered

  • the Gold Edition
  • the Ultimate Edition
  • the Dark Zone Collector’s Edition
  • or the Phoenix Shield Collector’s Edition

you can already take action in Washington D.C. for law and order three days earlier, starting March 12 at 00:01.

You can find further details about the different versions here: Play The Division 2 three days earlier – Here’s how

Division-2-Header-05

If you have digitally pre-ordered one of these special editions, The Division 2 will automatically unlock at the appropriate time.

If you ordered one of these versions from a retail store, you should receive the game there three days earlier.

By the way: If you already have a physical copy of The Division 2, you might already be able to play – at least on PS4. Because there, the servers are already online.

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Can my PC run The Division 2?

With the release of The Division 2, many interested players on PC are wondering if their system meets the minimum hardware requirements or can keep up with the recommended system requirements.

The-Division-Cityscape-Group

For this reason, the developers from Massive have presented various setups that should allow The Division 2 to run stably at different quality levels.

Minimum system requirements for The Division 2 in 1080p at 30 FPS 

  • OS: Windows 7 | 8 | 10
  • CPU: AMD FX-6350 | Intel Core i5-2500K
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • GPU: AMD Radeon R9 270 | Nvidia Geforce GTX 670
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • DirectX: DirectX 11 | 12

Those who want to get the maximum out of The Division 2 in 4K and with 60 FPS should at least have the following hardware:

  • OS: Windows 7 | 8 | 10
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | Intel Core i9-7900X
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • GPU: AMD Radeon VII | Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Ti
  • VRAM: 11 GB
  • DirectX: DirectX 11 | 12

Details on other requirement levels can be found here: The Division 2: PC specs – These system requirements you must meet

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How much storage space do you need for The Division 2: If you want to play The Division 2, you will need a lot of space on your hard drive.

  • If you bought the game as a disc version on Xbox One, you will need to install it first. Once the process is complete, the download of the day-1 update with a size of 48-52 GB will start.
  • For the disc version of PS4, the installation and download of the day-1 patch will start simultaneously, which means a download of about 90 GB.

With the digital version, you will, of course, have to download the entire game. Including installation, this will require between 90-100 GB of hard drive space.

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Do you need PS Plus / Xbox Live to play The Division 2?

A PS Plus or Xbox Live subscription is required if you want to access online multiplayer features.

If you are using matchmaking for coop or engaging in activities where matchmaking is automatically performed, such as in PvP or the Dark Zones, then a corresponding subscription is mandatory.

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This is how The Division 2 aims to motivate you in the long term

The Division 2 is designed to entertain players over the long term. The story alone is expected to take around 40 hours. However, numerous additional features should keep agents engaged far beyond the story campaign.

Among other things, the following contents are intended to keep players entertained for weeks and months:

  • Conflict, a standalone PvP
  • the Dark Zones, highly contaminated areas where PvP and PvE are mixed
  • the Invaded missions, in which a new elite faction overruns the city after the story ends and lets you experience the events with a new twist
  • various world ranks that offer increasingly tough challenges and better loot
  • specializations that provide additional weapons, talents, and tactical options in combat against enemies
  • or raids, which will be introduced shortly after release and are intended to provide a special challenge for 8 players
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The Division 2 thus unfolds its full potential in the endgame, which only emerges after completing the story and reaching the maximum level. And more content is expected to follow. Massive’s plans for the first year include

  • three new DLC episodes that are supposed to bring new story, gear, and activities
  • further raids
  • new specializations
division-2-year-1-content
The contents from the Year 1 Pass

With the Year 1 Pass, buyers get early access to new DLCs, additional new quests, or activities. More details about the Year Pass can be found here: The Division 2 reveals what contents are in the Year 1 Pass for €40

This is how The Division 2 is currently being received

Excitement among fans is high. After several testing phases, many are looking forward to The Division 2 and can hardly wait to finally dive into the first battles on the streets of Washington D.C.

Because so far, the game has received very positive feedback from the community, as evidenced by countless Reddit posts and also here on MeinMMO. Some technical difficulties do not dampen the overall mood and are said to be fixed by launch.

division-fire-agents

While the predecessor struggled with numerous substantial issues and a lack of content at launch, many fans are more optimistic after the beta tests and the currently shared information that the developers at Massive have done their homework.

They have developed the game consistently and at the right points in line with the wishes and feedback from the community. However, not only the developments. Many innovations also look very promising overall.

Many fans therefore expect The Division 2 to be a worthy successor in which veterans feel immediately at home and newcomers are welcomed with a rounded package and invited to stay.

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That’s why 21% Delirium is a beast in Destiny 2 – the new Gambit top weapon

In Destiny 2 you can get the Gambit pinnacle weapon 21% Delirium. How to obtain it and what it can do, you can find out here.

This is the pinnacle weapon: In Season 6, three new “pinnacle weapons”, as Bungie calls them, were added to the game. These are of legendary quality and have unique perks – almost like Exotics.

The new pinnacle weapon from Gambit is 21% Delirium. It is a machine gun for which you will spend many hours in the Gambit modes. But the grind is worth it!

How to get 21% Delirium in Season 6

What you need to do for 21% Delirium: First, go to the Drifter in the Tower, who is now located in the Tower annex. Speak to him and browse his inventory on page 2. There, he has the quest “Self-Help” for you. To master the quest, you must complete the Gambit triumph “Constant Sweating”. Once you have done this, the Drifter will drop 21% Delirium.

The Gambit Vendor
The Drifter is waiting with the loot for you

This is “Constant Sweating”: The triumph will cost you some hours of gameplay, but it should be easily achievable within this season if you enjoy Gambit:

  • 75 multi-kills
  • Defeat the Invaders (the witches at the Primeval) and the Primeval (until the bar is 100% filled)
  • Reset the infamy rank

You probably don’t need to tackle the first two objectives specifically. They should be completed alongside your efforts to reset the infamy rank.

You need 15,000 infamy points for the reset. You earn these through Gambit bounties and completing Gambit matches. Also, Gambit Prime and the Gambit Prime bounties grant infamy. Winning streaks increase your point gain after matches.

delirium destiny 2

What 21% Delirium can do

This is 21% Delirium: This legendary machine gun is wielded in the power slot and deals Arc damage. It has a rapid-fire frame, providing large magazine reserves and a fire rate of 900. For comparison: The Hammerhead has a fire rate of 450.

These are the perks of 21% Delirium:

  • Kill Tracker – special perk: Kills increase weapon damage until stowed or reloaded.
  • Overflow: Picking up special or heavy ammo overfills the weapon beyond its normal capacity. This is a perk that several Gambit Prime weapons can have.
  • Extended Mag: Increases magazine size, reduces reload speed.
  • Polygonal Rifling: Increases stability.

You receive the weapon as a masterwork version with fixed perks. The stability of 21% Delirium is enhanced by the masterwork version.

delirium ammo
Run over heavy or special ammo, and the weapon will be “overloaded”

In PvE, the weapon is top-notch

How 21% Delirium performs in PvE: In combat against aliens, this machine gun is really strong. There are two reasons for this:

  • The weapon has 102 rounds of ammo, but with the Overflow perk, that goes over 200 rounds! So you can keep enemies under constant fire, eliminate a lot of small enemies, and keep tough bosses in check. If you stow the weapon, the large magazine remains intact.
  • The Kill Tracker ensures that adds die even faster, and 21% Delirium also performs well against the big enemies.

How the Kill Tracker works: The Youtuber Ehroar has conducted tests on this perk. The effect can stack up to three times.

  • If you kill one enemy, damage increases by 21.5%
  • If you kill two enemies, damage increases by 43%
  • If you kill three enemies, damage increases by 65%. If the base damage is 622, you now deal 1025

The special thing about this perk is that it has no time limit (unlike Kill Clip). You can build up the buff and then carry it to a particularly nasty enemy without losing it.

You just need to be careful not to reload, stow the weapon, or pull out the Sparrow. Then the buff disappears.

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With the Overflow perk, it is relatively easy to maintain the buff. The weapon automatically reloads when you run over the appropriate ammo box. The perks complement each other well.

Is the weapon worth it in PvE? Yes, you will have a lot of fun with 21% Delirium in PvE. The weapon comes with strong perks, wipes out the adds easily, is strong against bosses with the buff, and doesn’t take up an exotic slot. Other weapons can deal more damage over time, but 21% Delirium is still a beast against hordes of enemies.

Is the weapon also worth it in PvP? It is certainly useful. At close range, it kills quickly, but it is barely usable at long range, and the Overflow perk does not come into play here. In PvP, you have 61 rounds when picking up ammo. The Kill Tracker works well in PvP.

It can also impress in Gambit.

Nexxoss Gaming shows you the weapon in the video. He also finds it “insanely strong” in PvE:

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Are you getting the Gambit pinnacle weapon?

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Anthem raises power level: Players feel powerful, yet fluffy

The latest patch for Anthem has increased the overall power level of the gear. The items are now more powerful, and this is what the community has to say about it.

What has changed? Patch 1.03 for Anthem brought several changes. Among other things, the power level of the gear has been raised.

As a result, the actual strength of an item should now better reflect its rarity. This change applies retroactively to all items, including those you have already created.

How have the items changed? All items, whether weapons, grenades, or components, have had their maximum power levels increased:

  • Epic items have been increased from Power 32 to Power 38
  • Masterwork items have been increased from Power 40 to 45 to Power 61
  • Legendary items have been increased from Power 47 to Power 75

So if you already own several Legendary items, you will notice a particularly high increase in power level.

You can find a list of all current Masterwork and Legendary items here.

Among other things, the melee damage has increased. Go, punch the Wyverns in the face!

How do the changes affect gameplay? Along with the changes to items, the scaling of overall damage has also changed. It now adjusts to the average item power. This affects:

What do the players say? Players report that the increase in power level is particularly noticeable at the difficulty level Grandmaster 1. Several freelancers say that GM 1 now plays like the Hard difficulty level. Others complain that the next higher level, Grandmaster 2, is now much harder than before the patch.

Anthem-Monitor header
Players believe that they are now taking more damage from enemies.

Further players report that although they would deal more damage now, they also feel that they must take more damage from enemies. They feel ‘squishy’ – softer than before the update.

They identify a problem with scaling: as our power level increases, the enemies also adjust to the level and consequently deal more damage as well.

Are you happy about the increase in power levels? Or do you feel that you are now taking more damage from enemies?

By the way, BioWare has addressed the loot discussion:

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I love Pokémon GO, but the many events annoy me greatly

In Pokémon GO, one event follows another. Our author Noah is “event-tired” and explains why Pokémon GO could suffer from it.

This is how I feel about Pokémon GO: I love Pokémon GO. I have been level 40 since summer 2017 and play daily. But right now, I am annoyed by all the events. They happen way too often.

Want an example? To clarify how many events there were just in February, here is a list for you:

That’s why so many events are bad

It’s not about the events themselves: I love the events in Pokémon GO. I have a lot of fun playing on such days. It’s more about the number of events. Almost every day there is one of those.

Battle event Pokémon GO
The battle event is currently ongoing with these Pokémon

This is the problem with the events: Since there are so many events in Pokémon GO, I feel like I have to play almost every day. If I skip a day, I immediately feel like I missed something.

I can’t really enjoy and take advantage of one event because the next one is coming up right away.

Is Pokémon GO still worth it without events? There is another reason why so many events harm the game. If there isn’t an event, the game becomes almost boring. Why should I play now when in 2 days I’ll get double stardust? It doesn’t seem worth it now. At least, that’s what I often think during the time when there is no event.

For me, the game was always interesting without events, but now I am slowly losing interest because I don’t see the point in it.

Pokémon GO New Year event
This is how the event for the Chinese New Year was announced.

Every type of player is affected: I report from the perspective of daily players, but not only they are affected, but also players who play occasionally.

The numerous events also distort the spawns of Pokémon. How can you find a Ditto for special research during a battle event? The spawns just don’t allow it.

Ditto Pokémon GO
How to find Ditto in all the events?

This is how it was in the past: In the early days of Pokémon GO, there was just one event a month. I was really happy when the announcement came.

This is how it is now: Nowadays, you almost expect an event almost daily. When it is a bit quieter for a few days, you quickly lose interest in the game. When an event is announced, it’s more of a “finally!” instead of being joyful about some variety.

What would benefit the game

What I would be happy about: The best event that Niantic could hold would be a “30-days-no-event-event”. This way, one could return to the normal tasks that the game offers. The variety is great, but it always gets diminished by events.

That would be enough for me: I would be okay if there was a month where there’s only the Community Day and the limited researches. That would give you two days when you definitely should play, and otherwise, you can also take a break without feeling guilty.

Field research Pokémon GO
I enjoy completing field research.

This idea I would find cool: In my opinion, Pokémon GO shouldn’t rely on big events, but rather on weekly tasks. How about weekly special researches? They wouldn’t bring a new Pokémon like the old researches for Mew or Celebi, but rather existing Pokémon.

Special research Kryppuk
The special research with Kryppuk I found brilliant. More of that instead of events!

I would find it cool if I had to complete several tasks during the week and at the end encounter a Dragonite or Tyranitar. But if I don’t manage to do it during the week, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

My conclusion: I think Pokémon GO holds too many events. I would prefer it to be a bit quieter so that one can focus back on the core tasks of the game.

What do you think?

Do you also find that there are too many events? Or do you think it’s just right? Do you even wish for more events?

Participate in our survey and write your opinions in the comments:

Are you looking for Pokémon in your inventory? Then use the search function:

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The First are already playing The Division 2 – Servers are online for some

Currently, there are many reports that some agents The Division 2 can already play. The reports mainly come from PS4 players. What’s going on?

This is what the players say: Some report that they can already access the servers of The Division 2.

On Reddit, Twitch, and in our Facebook group, fans consistently report that they can already play.

Update 17:06: The servers are definitely not accessible for digital versions yet. Officially, the servers will be available from midnight, so be patient if you can’t play yet.

The reports that one can play with digital versions likely come from streamers and others who can already play a press version.

It is currently unclear how it looks for the PC version. There are conflicting reports.

the-division-2-agent-natur

Some are already on their way in Washington

Where do the reports come from? On the Subreddit of The Division 2, u/Fischwaage reports that he can already play.

At the time this article was written (11.3. 12:07), Streamer Toxiicgaming is also active and streaming live from the game.

In our Facebook group, many also report that they can already play.

What could be the reason? Similar events happened with Anthem. Several days before the release, disc version buyers could already play as the servers went online.

On the other hand, those who bought a digital version will only be allowed on the servers on time for the official release on March 15. Buyers of the corresponding digital editions can start playing from March 12 at 0:01.

division-2-drohnenstock

However, it has not yet been officially confirmed that this “pre-launch” is related to the disc versions.

What about the PC and Xbox One? There are still no precise details on this. Several PC players report that they still cannot play.

If it really has to do with the disc version, then Xbox players will likely also be able to go online if they bought The Division 2 as a retail version.

We will keep you updated in this article as soon as we know more.

Are you also able to play already? If so, on which platform? Let us know in the comments!

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If you are new to Fallout 76, better not go into this C.A.M.P.

Appalachia is full of dangers that new players in Fallout 76 often still have to learn about. It’s especially nasty when more experienced players lure them into traps. However, it also looks a bit funny from the outside with a bit of dark humor.

What’s so bad about the C.A.M.P.? The player Korindabar has come up with something particularly nasty with his C.A.M.P. He has built a maze where he lures players in with the promise of rewards if they can make it through.

But once a player has gone through the door, it is locked firmly behind them and they are trapped. Inside the maze, a tamed Deathclaw waits, chasing the player throughout the entire labyrinth.

Korindabar himself can monitor everything from above the maze and watch as his victims wander around in despair. It’s a trap that he has already lured many players into, as a video of him proves.

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This is how he built the maze: Korindabar has built a concrete maze with many doors that lead to nowhere, using his C.A.M.P. budget. The door is locked so that players can only open it with level 3 in lockpicking.

He has utilized the taming system for wild animals in Fallout 76 to incorporate a Deathclaw. This is hostile to all other players by default.

The Deathclaw only does “slap damage”, a mechanic meant to protect PvE players from PvP and which will soon be revised. It serves more to scare than to kill, and nobody died in the video. However, nobody escaped either…

Fallout 76 Vault Boy tames a Deathclaw.

Who is Korindabar? The player, also known in the community as aswiftkickinthejunk and Vault101manguy, posted his work on reddit. It’s not the first time he has shown such traps.

While other players help newcomers with their C.A.M.P.s or build police stations, Korindabar has made it his mission to create deadly traps. Previously, he built a “killer church” and a “player oven”.

Korindabar is also hoping for further opportunities to design his C.A.M.P.s. With the upcoming update 7 for Fallout 76, several changes to C.A.M.P.s are coming, so we might soon look forward to even trickier traps.

Fallout 76 Deathclaw Maze
The maze from above. Image source: imgur.

This is how the community reacts to the maze

Korindabar’s creations are popular, and most players find his creativity amazing. More experienced players have nothing to fear from him and his maze.

Anyone wearing power armor with a jetpack or the “Packrat” mutation can easily escape the maze. It has no ceilings. Additionally, the Deathclaw is capped at level 21, making it only dangerous to new players.

Anyone who has been playing Fallout 76 for a while probably knows the name and is already suspicious when a guy in a bathrobe invites them. This was the case for the streamer General Drazz and his wife, who already knew where the invitation would lead.

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Watch The Maze! by MarriedMarks on www.twitch.tv

What do you think of the maze? Funny or mean?

The MeinMMO community can also create cool C.A.M.P.s:

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Statistics show how shockingly strong Fortnite dominated YouTube in 2018

The rise of Fortnite in 2018 had a significant impact on YouTube. The top 10 YouTubers suddenly focused almost exclusively on Fortnite. However, the leading YouTubers in gaming also change year to year.

So many games cover the 10 largest YouTubers: An analysis firm has presented statistics showing what the ten largest gaming YouTubers cover in various games on YouTube (via GamesIndustry-biz).

This shows a significant change over the last three years:

  • In 2016 there were still 383 titles
  • In 2017 there were only 326
  • In 2018 there were 28
YouTube-Nummer-SPiele
So many games covered by the 10 largest influencers on YouTube. Source: GI.biz

This means that the 10 largest gaming YouTubers only created videos for 28 different games in 2018.

What does Fortnite have to do with it? These 10 top YouTubers achieved 94% of their views with Fortnite.

Fortnite is so dominant for 8 of the 10 top YouTubers that they only made 87 videos that had nothing to do with Fortnite.

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How does it look further down? If you consider the top 100 on YouTube instead of the top 10, there is a bit more variety.

Here, Fortnite still accounts for 61% of the videos.

Fortnite-Dominanz-YouTUbe
The share of Fortnite in the views of the top influencers on YouTube in 2018. Source: GI.biz

Will that stay the same? Interestingly, analysts explain how high the fluctuation is.

  • Only half of the top 100 people from 2017 were still in the top 100 on YouTube in 2018. Therefore, there is a high fluctuation.
  • Of the ten largest YouTubers in 2018, 80% were not in the top 10 in 2017. Thus, only 2 out of 10 managed to stay at the top.

Whoever is among the top gaming YouTubers in 2018 must earn their place anew in 2019.

Moreover, while Fortnite was successful throughout 2018, a strong competitor appeared with Apex Legends in February 2019.

On Twitch, Apex Legends has already outperformed Fortnite in February 2019. This could also affect YouTube.

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Fortnite: Why the new vehicle is currently making builders nervous

In Fortnite: Battle Royale a vehicle called “Baller” is coming soon. It is basically a large ball with a toilet sucker attached. Players are currently guessing what the thing can do and whether it is overpowered.

What does the new vehicle in Fortnite look like? The “Baller” is a kind of transparent ball with a seat inside. On the outside, there is a turret with a toilet sucker attached. Such suckers have been used in Fortnite before with the sticky grenade and the grappling hook .

The whole vehicle somewhat resembles a hamster ball or the ball vehicles from the two new Jurassic Park movies.

What can the new vehicle do? In the game, the Baller is advertised in the announcement text with the words “Roll through the competition.” This raises speculations that the vehicle has an offensive function.

It might be able to break through buildings and obstacles with a similar force as the Quad Crasher with its jet boost.

Furthermore, the vehicle seems to be very mobile as it swings around using the toilet sucker as a grappling hook. Some players even suspect that the ball itself is not motorized and instead requires momentum from rolling down slopes or being pulled by the grappling hook to gain speed. This would also mean that the Baller might be difficult to control.

Players are uncertain

How is the Baller received by the community? The Fortnite fans in the comments about the Baller are divided:

  • Some find the vehicle great and affectionately call it a hamster ball
  • Others suspect that it is a kind of demolition ball. Because if you anchor the sucker at a high point and lift the ball, it would actually swing around like a gigantic wrecking ball and smash buildings to pieces.
  • Such anti-building vehicles are typically hated by everyone who loves building in Fortnite and defends it to the blood. The airplane as a flying wrecking ball was already a horror for them. The Baller likely won’t be any better.
  • Others complain that with the removal of the golf cart and the plane there would no longer be any 4-person vehicles. The Baller also looks more like it can only hold one person.

When will the Baller come? The new vehicle is expected to arrive with the next update of Fortnite. This is anticipated for March 12 or 13, 2019.

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That is why the survival game SCUM urgently needs the new update

SCUM was a huge hit after the start of the Early Access phase in the summer. What is the state of the game today, after a major update has expanded the game world with new islands and a coal mine?

How is SCUM doing today? SCUM, the survival game where you fight for your freedom as a prisoner, launched last summer with nearly 19,000 concurrent players according to Steamcharts in the Early Access phase. Since then, the player count has dropped to around 1,600. Even the reviews are currently showing a “mixed” rating with 53% on Steam.

SCUM Screenshot Mine
In SCUM, you now explore a mine.

What are the community’s criticisms? Players mainly criticize bugs but also the lack of content. At the beginning, the title was still interesting, but there was too little to do to keep players engaged. This has hardly improved over the months since the Early Access launch.

Additionally, performance and the user interface are being criticized. The developers still have a lot of work ahead of them.

A major update has been released

What has happened now? The developers have now released a major update. This expands the map of the game world.

  • 24 new islands have been added.
  • You now explore a coal mine.
  • The M1887 shotgun has been introduced as a new weapon.
  • Lock picking has been revised.
  • You can no longer store items in world containers.
  • Trucks are now available in new variants.
SCUM Islands Screenshot
The game world of SCUM has been expanded with 24 new islands.

How is the update received by the players? Fans are excited about the new content. However, there is also criticism. The new locations are still empty. So far, nothing can be found on the islands and there is currently nothing to be gained in the mine. The developers promise to quickly provide content for these locations.

What do the players wish for? Fans would like to see that especially the many bugs are fixed. For instance, some doors cannot be opened properly and ammunition cannot be picked up correctly from objects, but only from the ground.

Additionally, players would like a farming system to be able to grow food.

Fans generally see great potential in SCUM but fear that player interest may wane before the title can reach its full potential.

More on the topic
SCUM hat 1 Million Spieler, schenkt Spielern goldene Kanone, aber eklig
von Jürgen Horn
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamer
  2. Reddit
  3. Steam

Only bots play this MMO, humans must stay outside

With “Neural MMO,” bots can now play an MMO without human players. This is a test for artificial intelligences and how they react in a dynamic game world.

What is Neural MMO? Essentially, Neural MMO is an experiment. How does an AI react in an open, dynamic world? The game mechanics are reminiscent of an MMO:

Neural MMO Screenshot
  • Bots, powered by the AI OpenAI, must fight for resources in an open game world.
  • They use ranged attacks, melee combat, and spells.

This is how the AI learns: The individual bots essentially watch each other and learn from one another. Moreover, they become more effective with practice. The game also receives regular updates with new challenges that the AI must master to improve.

MMOs as a Test Scenario for Artificial Intelligences

Why is this tested in an MMO? The developers behind OpenAI explain that an MMO is an ideal test environment because it is a persistent world and thousands of characters can operate there. This essentially simulates the real world. It is about competing for the limited available resources in a large ecosystem and trying to be as effective as possible.

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What are the findings so far? The AI reacts similarly to animals in the wild. It tries to avoid conflicts and spread out as much as possible, hoping that each bot has enough “living space” and thus resources available. Only when it is unavoidable does combat occur.

This leads to bots exploring the world depending on the size of the population in search of new areas.

What is the purpose of the experiment? Neural MMO is not intended to create a new AI for games. Rather, the developers aim to create models to see how humans might react in certain situations, such as during pandemics.

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Google’s AI defeats professionals in Starcraft 2, but it has cheated
von Schuhmann
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

FIFA 19 TOTW 26 – Predictions for the Team of the Week with Kimmich

From now on, there are Predictions for TOTW 26 in FIFA 19. You can find out which players might make it into Team of the Week 26 in FUT here.

Every week, the community tries its luck predicting the new Team of the Week. Often, they succeed in accurately predicting many of the new Inform cards.

The top players of the predictions: This week, Raheem Sterling could receive his third Inform card. But Roberto Firmino, Ben Yedder, and Joshua Kimmich are also highly favored.

These Bundesliga players could make it: From the Bundesliga, Joshua Kimmich, Nico Elvedi, Milot Rashica, and Kevin Volland could make it into the Team of the Week.

previous cards of Joshua Kimmich
Previous cards of Joshua Kimmich

Joshua Kimmich already has an Inform card with an overall rating of 87. This card has decent stats and is featured in many Bundesliga teams. Only his speed ratings could be better.

Many players would certainly be pleased with another Inform card. With a potential overall rating of 88 and improved stats, there would be hardly any competition in the right-back position in the Bundesliga.

The prediction for Team of the Week 26

These are the predictions from fifauteam:

  • GK: Bernd Leno (FC Arsenal)
  • GK: Benoit Costil (Girondins de Bordeaux)
  • RB: Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern)
  • LB: Ismaily Goncalves (Shakhtar Donetsk)
  • CB: Georgiy Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow)
  • CB: Nico Elvedi (Borussia M’gladbach)
  • LB: Erik Pieters (Amiens)
  • LW: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
  • CAM: Jonathan Viera (Beijing Guoan)
  • RW: Milot Rashica (Werder Bremen)
  • CAM: Eran Zahavi (Guangzhou R&F)
  • RW: Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United)
  • RW: David Neres (Ajax Amsterdam)
  • CM: Michel Vlap (Heerenveen)
  • CAM: Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix)
  • ST: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool FC)
  • ST: Wissam Ben Yedder (FC Sevilla)
  • ST: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
  • ST: Kevin Volland (Bayer Leverkusen)
  • ST: Simon Terodde (FC Köln)
  • ST: Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC)
  • ST: Aleksandar Prijovic (Al Ittihad)
  • ST: Moise Kean (Juventus Turin)

When will TOTW 26 be released? From March 13th at 7 PM, the new Inform cards will be available. They can then be pulled from packs for one week, afterward, you can only acquire the TOTW 26 cards on the transfer market.

These are TOTW predictions: The predictions for the Team of the Week are assessments from the community. It is speculated which players might make it into the Team of the Week based on their real-life performances over the weekend.

These predictions are not 100% accurate and may differ significantly from EA’s TOTW. However, they provide a good overview of potential new Inform cards.

More on the topic
FIFA 19 Trading Tips – How to Quickly Earn Coins in FUT
von Philipp Junge
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. fifauteam

The Division 2 is about to be released, but where is the hype?

In The Division 2, Google interest is frighteningly low just before the release. The big hype has yet to materialize.

This is why there’s a lack of big hype: The Google Trends page provides a good overview of how interest in certain search terms has developed over time on Google.

For example, if you enter “The Division”, the page spits out a graph showing the search volume around The Division (in Germany over a specified period).

google-interesse-division
Interest in The Division (including The Division 2) from 2016 to today. Source: Google Trends

This is what it means: The higher the spike in the line, the more people searched for information about The Division (1 and 2).

If the search volume is already high before a release, one can speak of a “hype”. Because then, tons of people are googling the game to find out: “When does it start?”, “What can I expect in the game?” or “Are there tips for the start?” They inform themselves about the editions or look for news.

In the upper representation, you see that The Division 1 was able to generate this hype in March 2016. The highest spike (100 points) was in the release week; however, there was already solid search interest of around 30 points in the weeks prior. People were interested in this new game.

On the right, you see the current search volume for The Division 2 – and at a glance, it’s clear: the line barely spikes upwards. It sits at a low 8 to 9 points, with a small peak reached at the private beta start.

The-Division-agent
The Division 1 was fully in the hype

This should be interpreted as follows: This means that the Google interest in The Division 2 is significantly lower than that of The Division 1 at the same time prior to its release.

The mass hype has yet to materialize. Ubisoft and Massive have not succeeded in building significant hype around The Division 2, leading to a lack of players eagerly awaiting the release and longing for every new piece of information.

What reasons can be cited?

These are some reasons:

  • The Division 2 is not a new brand. Players who have played The Division 1 may see no reason to play the second part. They think they already know the brand and have seen enough.
  • Anthem, on the other hand – or also Apex Legends – sprang fresh from the ground and sparked the interest of many. Everyone wanted to know what kind of games those were.
  • The Division 1 had a plethora of issues at launch: exploits, glitches, cheaters, balance problems. In 2016, many players were already disappointed and turned away from the game after just a few weeks. They do not trust The Division developers again.
  • The Division 2 failed to clearly reposition itself and provide new reasons to buy for those who turned away from The Division 1.
the-division-2-agenten-nacht
Is it looking bleak for The Division 2?

However, this lack of pre-release hype does not mean that The Division 2 will automatically be forgotten shortly after launch. If the game convinces directly at release, delights players, and keeps them motivated for a long time, good word-of-mouth will spread like wildfire among the player base.

We can only hope that The Division 2 receives good “word-of-mouth” recommendations.

The Division 2 has its worldwide release on March 15, 2019, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Those who own a special edition can start on March 12. All info about the launch – server start, time, day-one patch – is available here.

More on the topic
These tips should not only be known by beginners starting The Division 2
von Tom Rothstein
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Google Trends

Chronicles of Elyria: What about the ambitious MMORPG?

What is the ambitious MMORPG Chronicles of Elyria actually doing? The developers have now commented on the current state of affairs.

What is happening with the MMORPG? In a letter to the community, studio co-founder Jeromy “Caspian” Walsh explains that the playable Pre-Alpha does not yet have a release date. The Pre-Alpha is supposed to provide insight into a fundamentally fully playable MMORPG that includes the following content:

  • Character Creation
  • Combat
  • Quests
  • Crafting
  • Equipment and Inventory
  • The Lifecycle of Characters
  • A Physics System
  • Interaction with NPCs
  • The Procedural Story Engine
  • Reputation and Fame
  • Skills, Survival
  • Interaction with the World

However, the development of Chronicles of Elyria is progressing somewhat differently than what is known from other MMORPGs. Work is continuously done on specific systems until something more important comes up; then it gets priority before returning to the other system.

This may seem chaotic, but according to the developers, it is an effective method to quickly respond to changes and problems. However, this means that little can be shown from the game, and the release keeps getting delayed.

The storm will break loose this year

What is coming this year? Caspian explains that they want to unleash the storm this year. As quiet as it was around the game in 2018, so much they want to tell and show this year. The beginning will be the Pre-Alpha, which is approaching rapidly but still has no launch date. Nevertheless, the developers have now shown first screenshots and videos from this version.

Notably, the graphics are quite simple, but this is intentional. The Pre-Alpha will start with little graphical details so that the developers can focus on the game systems and gameplay. The “real” graphics will follow later.

Caspian explains that the Pre-Alpha is currently about 40 percent complete and that it will take a few more months until supporters can play it. He estimates that it will be ready by summer.

However, players do not have to wait so long: Caspian gave a small hint that the Pre-Alpha will not be the first opportunity to play Chronicles of Elyria. There should be a preview of the MMORPG before that. However, he did not want to go into detail on that.

What do the fans think? Players remain skeptical. While they are pleased to finally hear more about the status of the game, the concern that Chronicles of Elyria could remain nothing more than hot air persists.

TwitchySphere53 writes on Steam: “These are just words. There is no timeline and nothing to see. I will only believe it when I see it.”

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Chronicles of Elyria will show you if a playable MMO is really being created here
von Andreas Bertits
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.