On the PTR of World of Warcraft, there are currently new headpieces at the Darkmoon Faire. These fish helmets are limited-time items and may harbor a dark secret …
These helmets are about: Anyone fishing at the Darkmoon Faire can get severed fish heads on the current PTR version of WoW, where the upcoming patch 8.1.5 is being tested. These come in two variants:
the pink Severed Purple Scale Heads
the blue Severed Azure Scale Heads
Both items are usable and last only one day before they are automatically destroyed. You can have a maximum of five of them at the same time, and when using them, you suddenly have a giant fish head on your shoulders. The effect lasts for one hour.
What is the secret? There is more to the fish heads than just a hilarious look for your character. The description of both items reads:
Something strange is happening in the waters around Darkmoon Island …
The hint sounds quite as though a large creature is lurking in the seas around the island, devouring oversized fish and apparently severing their bodies with a bite from the head that it leaves behind.
What power is behind it?
Hints about the Old God N’zoth
The colleagues from wowhead even spin these theories further. They associate the severed fish heads with the warbringer video of N’zoth and Queen Azshara which shows a fish talking to Azshara before she is devoured by the ocean.
Queen Azshara and the fish from the video. Image source: wowhead.
The entire Darkmoon Faire also has some theories connecting it to the Old Gods, particularly N’zoth. This is supported by the yellow eye logo, the location, and the generally dark figures present there.
In Fortnite many professionals are currently concerned about a topic: The matchmaking is said to have been made harder. However, there are also dissenting voices, including from streamer Ninja.
What is matchmaking? Matchmaking refers to the assembling of rounds. This means that, just because you have many playing hours or possess a good KD, you may be placed in matches with similarly strong opponents. Until now, this was not the case in Fortnite; instead, players were simply thrown together randomly.
Here’s what the professionals believe: Many professional players are now convinced that the matchmaking in Fortnite has been altered. They complain that since the Patch 7.10 in January they have had to face significantly tougher rounds.
This is why professionals suspect harder matchmaking
What the professionals have noticed: Since the patch in January, many professionals are consistently facing tougher opponents. They have lost numerous rounds, and seemingly easy opponents have been hard to find.
Players complain about very strong opponents
The professional “CLG Wish” wrote on Twitter in January: “There’s a secret matchmaking update in patch 7.10. Every solo round I played today was filled with good players!”
This is why it is still interesting: This rumor about harder matchmaking continues to arise repeatedly. To this day, these rumors persist. Fortnite has neither confirmed nor denied anything.
The view is that “random lobbies” are increasingly resembling “scrimmage lobbies”, meaning they are filled with players at a professional level.
This is Ninja’s reaction: The professional streamer Ninja has now also voiced his opinion. He thinks nothing of these claims and is firmly convinced that the player base has fundamentally improved.
He says: “I tell you, man, everyone is just really good now. I don’t think they did it. Solos have always been sweat-inducing, man. Duos and squads are for the casual players.”
Ninja has his own opinion on the topic.
This is his explanation: For Ninja, it is clear that no hard matchmaking has been implemented. The loading times in the lobby are too short for that. Moreover, solo rounds have always been difficult, and good players tend to linger there for this very reason.
What do you think? Is there now a hard matchmaking in Fortnite?
Another professional is annoyed by the defensive play in Fortnite:
The Korean developer Moai Games is working on a new mobile MMORPG and Traha is visually stunning. But other upcoming MMORPG titles on smartphones with iOS and Android are also worth seeing.
What is Traha? Traha is the next action-packed flagship MMORPG for mobile platforms from the major Korean publisher Nexon.
In the world of Traha, a war rages between two rival kingdoms, Vulcan and Naiad, each worshiping the gods of fire and water. Players will pledge allegiance to one of the two factions and fight under their banner.
In addition to battles, Traha will also include classic MMORPG elements such as resource gathering and crafting. You will be able to explore the beautiful areas shown in the screenshots.
You can watch the trailer for Traha here:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is happening currently in the mobile market? The trend of mobile MMORPGs continues in Asia. Nexon is not the only Asian publisher looking to the future with smartphones. Publishers like Kakao Games and NCSoft are also involved.
Sequels to well-known MMORPGs like Tera, Blade and Soul, and Aion will therefore no longer be published on PC, but rather on mobile platforms.
Graphically, they are not inferior to their PC predecessors, as can be seen in the gameplay trailers for Aion 2 and Blade and Soul 2:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In our survey on the topic, a strong aversion towards mobile games was expressed in the comments. Only a few of our readers were willing to give mobile MMORPGs a chance, provided the concept and packaging are right.
Our author Jürgen is, however, convinced that the new foldable phones will make mobile gaming more popular in the West.
Today Destiny 2 Season 6 begins. All you need to know about the launch is here: Server down, time, Update 1.33 / 2.2.0.
When does Season 6 start? The sixth season called “Season of the Drifter” begins today, March 5, 2019. Maintenance will take place in the late afternoon. Once the servers are back online and you have installed an update, Season 6 can begin.
Maintenance times:
At 5 PM maintenance begins. You can still play Destiny 2 at this time, but the Companion app features will be limited.
At 5:45 PM Destiny 2 will be taken offline. The servers will go down. Those in the game at this time will be removed from the activity and returned to the title screen. Update 5:45 PM: You will receive chicken error codes if you try to log in.
At 6 PM the servers will be back online. Additionally, Update 2.2.0 will be released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in all regions.
At 7 PM maintenance will be completed. However, you can already start Season 6 as soon as you have downloaded and installed the update. The Companion app features will fully return at 7 PM.
Update: 6:05 PM – The patch is live. It has version number 1.33. It is around 4.6 GB on Xbox One and 4.3 GB on PS4. For PS4 it was released with a delay.
Settlement in Season 6.
What changes with Update 2.2.0? – Patch Notes
Destiny 2 receives fresh content with Season 6, various bug fixes, and balance adjustments.
Daily Clan bounties have been removed. Weekly Clan bounties are now called “Hawthorne’s Bounties” and are categorized into PvE, PvP, and Raids. You earn Clan XP in Season 6 primarily by playing activities.
The Drifter has moved into the Tower annex. There is now a landing zone for all players.
Settlement is connected to the Drifter and Gambit.
“Unscathed” triumph: The “Unscathed” triumph is not unlocking.
“Forged in Fire” triumph: The “Forged in Fire” triumph is not unlocking.
“Master Smith” triumph: The “Master Smith” triumph is not updated by the completion of Rare Research Forms.
“Calculated Trajectory” triumph: The “Calculated Trajectory” triumph and medal are not triggered in the Iron Banner.
“The Eternal Return” badge: The badge “The Eternal Return” is not updated by any victory over Dûl Incaru in the Dreaming City.
“Pro-Recruiter” badge: The badge “Pro-Recruiter” is not updated by completed friend recommendations.
“Worshipper of the Black Armory” bounty:No progress is made on the “Worshipper of the Black Armory” bounty when using “Black Armory” weapons that do not come from weapon forms.
Black Armory key drop: Players can only obtain the Black Armory key drop from Ada-1 for their first character. More information can be found here.
“Dreaming City” chests: “Dreaming City” chests do not count towards the task of the Black Armory key drop.
Obsidian accelerator: Obsidian accelerator consumables are not returned to the mailbox when the player’s inventory is full.
“A Cold Wind Blows”: The badge “A Cold Wind Blows” cannot be recovered from the collection when it has been stored away.
“Relic Rumble”: The Relic Rumble triumph cannot currently be achieved. In Update 2.2.0, this triumph will be unlocked when players complete the Nightfall strike “The Corrupted” by defeating Sedia and using no more than two relics.
Completion rewards after character boost: Characters that receive the level 30 boost do not receive their class sword or badge if they have not already completed the “Red War” campaign.
Crucible rewards from the D2 base game: Players who only own the Destiny 2 base game can receive rewards from Lord Shaxx’s rank-up package that drop at Year 2 power level, and therefore cannot be equipped.
Collections counter: The collections badge counter incorrectly counts 10 badges instead of 11.
This is what players can expect in the new season.
Increased GUITAR errors: There are increased GUITAR error codes in the last encounter of the “Last Wish” raid.
Increased BUFFALO errors: Players see more BUFFALO errors on PC.
Player search for the Blind Well: The Blind Well in the Dreaming City has no consistent player search.
Masterwork inspection: Gear sometimes does not show as Masterwork when viewed by other players.
Repeated triumph popups: When transferring gear with the Bungie.net API, players repeatedly receive triumph notifications.
Crucible damage: Healing abilities in Crucible activities subtract from the overall damage score shown in the after-action statistics.
Hawthorne EP: Clan XP bounties do not sometimes count towards Hawthorne’s weekly challenge.
Empty Navigator: The navigator may sometimes appear empty for players playing Destiny 2 in Korean.
Antaeus armor sliding: Antaeus armor does not consistently enhance sliding.
Izanagi’s Burden: Izanagi’s Burden’s scope is sometimes obscured by visual effects when ambushing in Gambit or standing in the Well of Radiance and aiming through the scope.
“Le Monarque” damage over time: Le Monarque causes poison damage inconsistently when shooting at long distances.
Le Monarque in the Exotic collection: Le Monarque appears in the Kinetic weapon collection instead of the Energy weapon collection.
“Long Shadow” scope: The relevant scopes on Long Shadow do not mark enemies.
The Summit: The Summit cannot use the Quick Access Strap mod.
Star map chest finder: The star map shell does not find chests in the Dreaming City.
Stryker’s reliability: Some perks are not activated on Stryker’s reliability when fully Masterworked.
A new update for Red Dead Online, the multiplayer mode of Red Dead Redemption 2, is on the way. The update finally brings the Evans Repeater Rifle.
Which weapon is coming? Rockstar is finally bringing the Evans Repeater Rifle to the online game with a new update for Red Dead Online. Last week, players were already searching for this weapon, as quests required kills to be made with the rifle.
What is the Evans Repeater Rifle? The rifle is a long gun with a high ammunition capacity and fire rate that players should already know from Red Dead Redemption. In the 2010 game, the Evans Repeater Rifle was part of John Marston’s arsenal.
Players have been waiting for this: Evans Repeater Rifle.
The rifle can be customized with stocks, scopes, and leather wraps. You can find it at the gunsmith or in the catalog of “Wheeler, Rawson & Co.”.
A new event is coming: Besides the repeater rifle, the free roam event “Fool’s Gold” has also been added to Red Dead Online. In Fool’s Gold, you compete with other players to wear a golden armor. You earn points by eliminating players while wearing the armor.
Additionally, you will receive points if you eliminate an enemy player while they are wearing their armor. The armor will then be dropped and the player who reaches it first will wear it.
Fool’s Gold is one of several events that take place regularly in RDO.
In such golden armors, players will soon fight in RDO.
Players receive a care package: To support players during the beta phase of Red Dead Online, they will receive a care package this week. The package contains various items, such as different ammunition, horse medicine, and a lake bait, and can be picked up either at the camp or at a post office.
Additionally, players who complete five daily challenges by March 11 will receive a special spinner next week.
A new gameplay trailer has been released for the new Korean MMORPG Ascend: Infinite Realm (A:IR). In it, you can see the wild aerial battles in action.
What is A:IR? Ascend: Infinite Realm (A:IR) is a Korean theme park MMORPG. The setting is a colorful steampunk world where airships and mechs sail through the sky. The game features engaging combat with an action combat system.
What can be seen in the trailer? The trailer mainly showcases the colorful action that awaits you in the game. You can see the mechs firing with big cannons. You also see how the battles take place in the air.
You stand on flying ships and likely use multiple levels for combat. You can also fly through the air with wings, reminiscent of games like Aion or Revelation Online.
That’s why A:IR is compared to Bless: However, the potential audience on Reddit is not particularly enthusiastic about the game and is already comparing it to the failed MMORPG Bless. Words like “Bless 2.0” or “F:AIL” have been heard.
According to comments on Reddit, this is due to the following aspects:
The game appears unfinished in the trailer, with stutters and frame rate drops. Moreover, the aging Unreal Engine 3, which was also used in Bless, is supposed to be utilized.
Many commenters also fear that A:IR will become a typical Asian Pay2Win game that is only out to earn a lot of money through a cash shop. Here, too, negative comparisons to Bless and Black Desert Online are made. After all, the publisher Kakao Games, who placed great value on the cash shop for Black Desert, has repeatedly been accused of Pay2Win practices.
Some are also concerned that the developers are only interested in quick money and are deliberately withholding large parts of the content. These would then be released gradually to further stimulate the cash shop. There would be no interest in a long-term functioning game, as was supposedly also planned for Bless.
Bless was seen as the MMORPG hope from Korea in 2018 – It didn’t perform well
What people like about A:IR: Positive voices suggest that the developers at Bluehole have already made good games. These include the successful battle royale game PUBG or the popular MMORPG TERA.
Therefore, A:IR is likely to receive more care and attention than Bless and other unpopular Asian MMOs. Furthermore, according to the developers, the game is aimed at the western market, which should speak against excessive Pay2Win practices.
Other Reddit users suggest that the upset commenters should please be patient until the game is released. Because it is difficult to make a final judgment based solely on a trailer.
With Season 6 of Destiny 2, a new Gambit mode is also coming. A new trailer shows what to expect from Gambit Prime.
What is Gambit Prime? Gambit Prime is an evolution of the Gambit mode, which came with the Forsaken expansion of Destiny 2. In Prime, only an intense round is played, and the ancient one is much stronger. Additionally, players will choose one of four roles defined by specific perks and armor.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
When does Gambit Prime come? The new mode will be available with Season 6 on March 5. However, it is only for owners of Forsaken and the Destiny 2 Season Pass.
More about Season 6 of Destiny 2 can be found here:
PS Plus offers its subscribers a real shooter highlight with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered in March for the PS4. Our author Sven says: Anyone interested in the shooter genre should not miss this piece of video game history.
How I got into shooters: I discovered my passion for shooters back in the 90s. Games like the Doom, Quake, or Unreal Tournament series were among my absolute favorites back then.
Also Duke Nukem, Shadow Warrior, and Counter-Strike were played to the limit at private LAN parties in garages and basements or at large events.
Modern Warfare – A milestone in video game history
This game changed everything for me: But in 2007 I discovered one of my greatest shooter loves of all time with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – besides Destiny.
One of the most famous scenes: You are on the move as a sniper team near Chernobyl
Modern Warfare set completely new standards at the time and significantly shaped the first-person shooter genre. For many, the title is still considered one of the most important milestones in shooter history.
At the end of 2016, the game was released in a remastered version, which initially was not available separately. So I got the expensive bundle with Infinite Warfare just for this reason and have been regularly enjoying the entertaining multiplayer battles with friends since then.
Experience this piece of shooter history in a modern guise: By now, the remastered version is also available separately.
And from now on, since 05.03., all PS Plus members have the opportunity to get the enhanced version of this shooter classic for free.
What makes CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered special? Some might wonder what is so special about the title. After all, Modern Warfare is already several years old and has seen quite a few successors.
However, Modern Warfare Remastered has lost none of its unique charm over the years and can hold its own against more modern shooters and newer series installments in many aspects. And in some points, the game is still unsurpassed for me.
The singleplayer: With Modern Warfare, the “Call of Duty” series first got a modern setting and marks the beginning of the most exciting story for me in the entire CoD franchise. Even after more than 10 years, the campaign is still more entertaining than many more current shooter titles.
In the story, you play the role of a US Marine or a rookie in the British elite unit SAS, who is thrown into the deep end soon after his arrival.
In the Caucasus, you go against Russian separatists as an SAS elite soldier
The story runs through a multitude of well-staged missions with numerous memorable moments, some unforgettable characters, and great atmosphere. After completing the Modern Warfare series, no “Call of Duty” title has matched the quality of this storyline for me.
The story of Modern Warfare captivates me even today, so I occasionally play through its missions for what feels like the hundredth time.
Throughout the story, you combat a militant terrorist group in the Middle East as well as armed separatists in a destabilized Russia. In the end, you ultimately try to prevent a nuclear exchange between the superpowers.
A legendary character of the series and your mentor: Captain Price
The focus is on operations within the framework of modern infantry warfare, which the game implements brilliantly. You feel like you are in an action movie, eagerly wondering what happens next. In some instances, Modern Warfare also draws inspiration from well-known action films like Black Hawk Down, which further enhances immersion.
The multiplayer: Another aspect in which, in my opinion, no single successor or direct competitor can hold a candle to Modern Warfare is the once revolutionary and groundbreaking multiplayer component of the game.
As a fan of fast-paced and intense firefights without much frills, you will get your fill here. And in my opinion, hardly any game implements this as well even today.
Weapons, perks, and the iconic kill streaks are the focus, but never feel exaggerated and fit perfectly into the setting. Attachments for the weapons are kept manageable and limited in use. There are no specialists, classes, or ultimate attacks. Here, it comes down to skill, teamwork, and knowledge of the maps.
Multiplayer battles on the popular map Backlot
So if you like classic shooter gameplay without wall runs, meter-high jumps, or overly extravagant equipment and abilities, you will surely be happy here. Even those who can no longer stand battle royale or large-scale tactical battles will also have fun.
Because you fight in numerous classic modes on some of the best and prettiest maps that the franchise has seen to date. The maps are mostly asymmetrical compared to today’s maps but still thoughtfully designed.
This provides numerous tactical opportunities and constantly changing hotspots. Thus, you can also take apart entire teams as a lone wolf through clever maneuvering and positioning.
A welcome change for all who are tired of the perfect balance and resulting repetitive map concepts of recent CoD titles.
Crash – one of the most popular MP maps including Black Hawk Down feeling
That’s why you should check out Modern Warfare – Remastered: Do you have PS Plus and even a little bit of interest in first-person shooters? Or are you a fan of the “Call of Duty” series? Then you should definitely check out Modern Warfare Remastered.
After all, getting a milestone in shooter history in modern graphics for free is definitely worth it. You not only get the classic “Call of Duty” experience par excellence but also a shooter that can sometimes make even modern competition look outdated.
Veterans can relive their nostalgia here, and new players can see for themselves why Modern Warfare is seen as one of the best shooters of all time by many, despite its age. For me, Modern Warfare Remastered still embodies the best Call of Duty.
The story of Fallout 76 has an open ending. Some players are now hot on the trail of this ending and suspect that they can somehow complete Fallout 76. They even have a plan.
This is how the ending is supposed to look: Players are still uncertain about what exactly to expect. However, they are hopeful that their plan will allow them to drive the dangerous Scorchbeasts completely out of Appalachia.
The impetus for the action is a post on reddit. After one player played around with other targets besides the popular Rift Prime or the Whitespring Resort for their nuclear bombs, they noticed that other rifts close when hit.
Players suspect that they can close all rifts this way. Image source: reddit.
How do the players intend to achieve this? The fans are meticulously planning the “Operation Tourniquet.” They intend to split into three groups.
The individual groups will then each take care of activating one of the nuclear missile silos and sequentially closing the rifts. Besides the Prime rift, there are currently eight other known rifts.
This is what Fallout 76 is about: The creator of the post explains why they even came up with the idea. Fallout 76 tells a story without living NPCs, as all humans in the area besides the vault dwellers are already dead.
The main quest story leads through all the factions of the game and ends with players joining the secret enclave. However, they first learn something about a failed mission of the Steel Brotherhood. The Brotherhood attempted to eliminate the dangerous and annoying Scorchbeasts.
From the records of the Brotherhood, it appears that it is not enough just to kill the queen. A new one would always come back. As a last resort, Paladin Taggerdy considers using nuclear weapons. However, the Brotherhood did not have the chance to carry this out. Now, the players want to take on this task.
Scorchbeasts were already seen in the Fallout 76 trailer.
What happens next? What happens after the story is still uncertain. However, it is quite possible that what the players are currently doing could be the plan of the game. Because there are already big plans for Fallout 76 in 2019.
One of the upcoming features is the game mode “Nuclear Winter.” A nuclear winter refers to a winter caused by particles stirred up by nuclear weapons permanently contaminating the atmosphere and blocking out the sun.
What the players are currently planning would be the perfect kickoff. Fans also suspect this.
Additionally, more story quests are planned for fall 2019. What awaits us there remains to be seen.
What do you think? Could this be the solution?
The idea also arose because it somehow seemed that the endgame of Fallout 76 lacked an ending:
PS Plus subscribers can look forward to these new free PS Plus games in March 2019. They are now available for download and installation on your PS4.
This is what is changing with the PS Plus games: Note that there has been a change in March. From now on, the monthly games will only include PS4 titles. There will no longer be games for PS3 and PS Vita as part of PS Plus.
These PS Plus games you get in March for your PlayStation 4: As a PS Plus member, you can look forward to these two titles in March:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Remastered
The Witness
They can now be added to your library and downloaded until early April.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Remastered
What is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Remastered? The remastered version offers an enhanced version of the legendary first-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for the current Sony console.
The game introduces the series to a modern setting for the first time. In single-player, players take on the roles of a soldier in the British elite unit SAS and a U.S. Marine infantryman.
Players go against a militant terrorist group in the Middle East and armed separatists in a destabilized Russia. Modern Warfare – Remastered focuses on operations in modern infantry warfare.
However, the game became truly great with its extensive and once groundbreaking multiplayer mode. You fight in numerous classic multiplayer modes across many iconic locations from the classic game – including the famous killstreaks, popular weapons, character progression, countless customization options, and more.
For whom is Modern Warfare – Remastered suitable? If you generally have a passion for first-person shooters or if you are a fan of the “Call of Duty” series, then this remastered version is just right for you.
Anyone who loved Modern Warfare in its original form now has the opportunity to experience the classic “Call of Duty” experience on current hardware.
But fans of fast action and quick multiplayer battles should definitely have a great time with this title. This game is highly recommended for every shooter lover.
What is The Witness? The Witness is a single-player first-person adventure that offers a challenging puzzle experience. The game is inspired by the legendary adventure classic Myst.
As a player, you wake up alone on a picturesque, secluded island. You must explore it and solve numerous puzzles presented to you on a kind of puzzle board. And the game offers quite a lot.
In total, you will encounter over 500 such puzzles in The Witness, although not all of them are mandatory. However, if you want to solve them all, it may take up to 100 hours of gameplay unless you use internet help.
The game completely forgoes assistance or instructions. Instead, players are guided through a rising learning curve from simple puzzles to increasingly complex and creative tasks.
Along the way, you also discover isolated knowledge fragments in the form of audio or video logs, from which a rough background story can gradually be deduced.
For whom is The Witness suitable? In short: For anyone who enjoys tricky puzzles that become increasingly challenging. Because The Witness offers you a true puzzle marathon.
If a beautiful, explorative backdrop is important to you and you enjoy finding solutions on your own, then you will definitely have fun with The Witness.
You need a valid subscription to PlayStation Plus for this. This service costs you around €60 per year. As members, you receive several PS4 titles each month for free as digital download versions. In the PS Store, you can either download the games or add them to your library and play them later.
If your subscription expires, you cannot play the games until you renew the subscription. In the meantime, the games will remain in your library, and your progress will be saved.
Until the new PS Plus games are available for download next Tuesday, you can still secure the monthly PS Plus games from February:
Since around 2016, the “Battle Royale” trend has dominated the gaming world. Games like H1Z1, PUBG, Fortnite and now Apex Legends are taking over the world. But what comes next? Our author Schuhmann has an idea that is radically different from the current trend.
These have been the latest gaming trends: For a few years now, there has always been some genre that is in “trend.” There is a flagship game in the genre, and the rest want to emulate it, generating new games that work similarly to the market leader:
We had the era of MMORPGs, where everyone wanted to create the next WoW – until around 2011
We had the time of MOBAs, where everyone wanted a piece of the LoL pie – until around 2014
Then suddenly survival games became popular, with games like ARK Survival Evolved – that was big in 2015. We only recently experienced laggards like Fallout 76 .
A few years ago, everyone suddenly made survival games in Early Access.
At the same time, the era of team shooters began; suddenly people thought Overwatch would dominate the market – that came in 2016. But all those who followed the trend crashed horribly.
And after that, the battle royale games really took off. This phase has lasted for about two and a half to three years now.
PUBG was the trend game of the hour in 2017.
4 Games in the Battle Royale Trend
This is how the “Battle Royale Trend” went: The “Battle Royale” mode is actually an old concept and appeared as a mod early on, but it was long relegated to a modding corner away from the gaming mainstream.
2017 was the big year for PUBG, which broke all records
In 2018, Fortnite took over the world and even brought gaming into the mainstream more strongly. Battle Royale moved out of the PC corner and came to consoles and mobile.
They are games with “PvP in focus” – at least for the last 8 years
The role of streamers and influencers has become more important each year. They determine which game is trending. What the streamers play, the masses play. Every “trend game” has also been big on Twitch for the last 5 years.
Streamers like DrDisrespect influence what is played.
More Simulation, Less Action
What will be the next trend? In recent years, trend games have become more transient. While you had “calmer phases” in Overwatch and LoL that led to a conflict, anything can happen in Battle Royale. Chance and “instant action” are becoming more important.
Additionally, new games are more focused on solo or smaller groups – team play is not as essential in many modes of Fortnite or PUBG as it is in LoL or Overwatch.
Interestingly, there was virtually no way to predict a trend beforehand – they always come as a surprise.
It’s hard to imagine anything becoming faster than Fortnite.
Trends games are not likely to become faster than Fortnite and Apex Legends. There are probably limits reached.
Therefore, I could imagine a drastic reversal occurring.
My idea for the next “gaming trend” is slower, more complex games that offer players much more freedom and variety: These games would also allow streamers to showcase their personalities more prominently.
Additionally, the new games may not focus on small group fights but rather on large battles and complex situations.
Sea of Thieves looked like the next trend game for a few weeks.
So it would lean towards “online simulation.” This direction has already been taken by survival games, which have worked well on Twitch, or titles like “Sea of Thieves.”.
Both titles are currently not fully developed and playable. But both offer significant potential.
Both titles could represent some kind of “second space” next to the real world, where diverse situations arise and conflicts escalate.
We know how fascinating the stories about player conflicts in EVE Online are. If a game managed to present something like this vividly and engagingly, it would surely entertain and excite players and spectators.
New World is by Amazon itself – they own Twitch.
Games run on Amazon engine, especially designed for Twitch
This speaks for the thesis: The interesting thing is that “New World” is backed by Amazon. They own the platform “Twitch” – so one can assume that New World will be extremely tailored to Twitch.
Also, “Star Citizen” is being developed with the same engine as New World: The Lumberyard engine, a modified version of the CryEngine.
This engine is specially designed to work excellently with Twitch and to utilize Amazon’s server technology to simulate large worlds.
These games are already preparing to operate on Twitch. The question is ultimately whether the big streamers will set this trend when everyone eventually gets fed up with Battle Royale.
Overwatch: A few years ago, it looked like the new gaming trend for years.
What speaks against the trend? The titles are only for PC – the latest trend games also included consoles more strongly and focused on enormous accessibility.
Furthermore, it would be a really drastic reversal of gaming and viewing habits.
Both New World and Star Citizen are also still far from completion.
So the new trend will not come too quickly. It will probably take at least another two years.
Perhaps by 2021, something entirely different will have emerged. Because trends have always appeared surprisingly.
In 2016, hardly anyone could have imagined that the hype around Overwatch would fizzle out so quickly and be replaced by other titles.
The new raid boss Dialga reigns over the arenas of Pokémon GO and some players showcase impressively how to defeat the Pokémon with just two players.
This is the raid boss: Many players have been waiting for this and now the legendary Pokémon is here: Dialga can now be found in level 5 raids!
The Dragon and Steel-type Pokémon is actually hard to defeat, yet some players demonstrate how it can be done with just two. We will show you a selection of videos and tell you how you can achieve it, too.
How to defeat Dialga with two players
How does it work? Dialga is especially vulnerable to fighting-type Pokémon. Your best choice here is Machamp. But Pokémon like Hariyama or Conkeldurr are also good against Dialga.
This is what you need to consider: To take Dialga down with two players, weather bonuses are necessary. You can only successfully complete the raid in cloudy weather.
It can also be done differently: While Machamp is the best choice, you can also succeed with other fighting-type Pokémon and weather bonuses. There are two players who managed to defeat the legendary boss using only a team of Blaziken.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Is it worth it? Of course, it’s cool to defeat such a strong Pokémon using only Blaziken. Nonetheless, you have to weigh whether it’s worth investing that much Stardust. After all, you need six Blaziken at maximum level for that.
There are other ways to do it: Besides Machamp, you can also defeat the legendary Pokémon with Conkeldurr and Hariyama. So you can definitely try it with a mix of Pokémon.
Can I do it too? If you have enough Stardust or a strong fighting team, then you can certainly give it a try. The Pokémon should be at maximum level, so you must be at least level 38.
Especially with Machamp, you can counter Dialga well.
This is behind the challenge: For each raid boss, trainers are tasked with defeating the bosses with as few players as possible. So far, there have been:
To progress in the story of Anthem, you need Corium. We will show you how to easily obtain the material.
What is Corium? To advance in the story of Anthem, you will eventually need to craft a Dawn Shield for your Javelin. For that, you need various materials and the rare ingredient Corium.
You can find Corium from the rare Skar units called Eskari and from Titans.
However, if you complete both quests, you can drastically reduce the costs for the Shield.
Matthias is involved in the crafting of the Dawn Shield.
How to find Corium in Anthem
We have two recommended steps to obtain the rare material. Those who enjoy open-world gameplay can indulge in Freeplay, but please don’t stay too long. However, the quickest way to acquire the items is through a quest.
Corium in Freeplay
If you like exploring Anthem’s Freeplay, you can try to obtain Corium in this mode. However, you will need a lot of luck.
The Eskari from the Skar are unpredictable and do not appear in every world event. Sometimes, they bring a secret loot cave with them. Titans are more reliable, and you can track them down using this map:
Click on the map to enlarge it.
On this map from the Anthem subreddit, you will find all possible locations of world events. The yellow circles also indicate where Titans may appear.
However, Titans do not always appear in Freeplay at all times.
Corium through Quests
A quick and reliable way to obtain Corium is through the questline “Triple Threat” from Matthias. We recommend completing the quests from Dax and Matthias to reduce costs for the Shield.
However, you should first complete the series from Sentinel Dax to obtain the blueprint for the Shield, and then complete the missions from Matthias to gather Corium.
During Matthias’ quest, you will encounter several Titans that are likely to drop the desired Corium. This way, you can complete both questlines with a bit of luck and continue with the story without having to search long for the material.
You can find more tips and guides about Anthem in our overview:
In Fortnite there is currently an annoying bug causing problems. This error prevents many players from landing, resulting in lost valuable time.
This is the bug: Fortnite professionals like Ninja or Tfue are currently in an uproar. A new bug in Fortnite prevents players from flying down in the first seconds after jumping out of the bus.
This means you glide down slowly while other players can land significantly faster. This bug lasts only for 2-3 seconds, but it allows numerous other players to land quicker.
Especially many professionals see this as a problem and are complaining. We show you the bug in videos and some reactions from the players.
Watch the bug in the video
This is the bug: In the following video, you will see numerous streamers affected by this bug. Even Tfue and Ninja are getting upset about it.
The professional “CouRage” even says: “This could be the worst bug that has ever occurred in Fortnite.”
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This is why the bug is a problem for many players: In Fortnite, the perfect landing often decides the outcome of the round. If you land in a good spot first and can loot, you get more weapons and can eliminate opponents who land later.
Seconds can often be crucial. Especially in tournaments played by professionals, such errors can be decisive.
Landing can sometimes be more difficult in Fortnite.
These players are affected: Players report that especially people using Auto-Run are affected. If they turn off this feature, it works again.
If you are affected, you might be able to fix the error by doing this.
Two professional players also complained about a landing spot in a tournament:
A video shows which games on Steam had the most players from early 2015 to the end of 2018. Anyone who watches the video understands the current gaming market and why everyone is making live games. The pseudo-MMOs dominate.
The video shows: The video from the YouTube channel “The Rankings” highlights the 15 games with the most daily players on Steam.
It starts on January 1, 2015, and ends on December 31, 2018.
The games are represented as bars. The longer a bar is, the more players the game has, growing to the right.
The titles move up and down as places change.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is so fascinating about the video: The video clarifies some things.
Blockbuster games come and go – titles like XCom 2 create a stir briefly but then fall like a stone once players are done with the game
Online games that are regularly expanded have repeated high phases and are generally stable
Dota 2 and CS:GO, Valve’s own games, have been incredibly stable hits on Steam over the last 3 years that hardly anyone could threaten until the “battle royale” trend broke out
Not so prominent today, but in 2017 it was pure madness: PUBG
PUBG and to a lesser extent H1Z1 were huge Steam-changing phenomena. The “battle royale” trend hit like a bomb on Steam
ARK Survival Evolved, Rust, and Monster Hunter World play a much larger role on Steam than one thinks
Fortnite: A major factor that indirectly affects Steam
The video shows about the gaming market: The video explains why all publishers want to make “live service” games and align their strategy towards these “games as a service” titles.
They want to develop games that:
are online
and multiplayer
and can be expanded over the years
Even the huge single-player blockbusters like Witcher 3 or Fallout 4 are just outliers in this video.
Much larger than most think: Monster Hunter World
The actually smaller online games like Rocket League, Warframe, Rust, or ARK Survival Evolved hold out longer, may boom again later with a new patch, or even develop sustainably well like Warframe.
Thus, these games also keep making money for the publishers all the time.
No wonder publishers love this model so much and the gaming market is aligning towards developing more of these live games.
Anthem has been struggling with many issues since release. Therefore, they plan to release a new patch soon. In a stream, Bioware will now present what the upcoming update is supposed to fix.
Developer Bioware has released some updates like the loot patch, but players are still complaining about numerous issues. Many players reported bugs and hope for immediate responses from Bioware. Just like u/Iunarx.
Fans Demand Statement from Bioware
What do the fans want? Iunarx writes in his post: “We know that you hear our complaining and frustration, but we need something reassuring. We just want you to keep us updated with smaller updates on the situation.”
The community knows that Bioware is working hard, but when it gets too quiet, it causes nervousness.
This is how Bioware responds to the concerns: Some employees of Bioware like Jesse Anderson (Darokaz) have since commented. The community manager revealed when we can expect new, concrete information:
We are here, just working hard. I am currently compiling the patch notes for the next update, which includes some fixes for the bugs you reported.
I am also preparing a live stream for this Wednesday. The time is not yet set, but we are aiming for 3pm CT.
Jesse Anderson, Reddit
So if everything goes according to plan, there will be a live stream on Wednesday at 10 PM German time with new information about the upcoming patch.
What problems could be addressed with the patch? There is no information about this, but the list of possible fixes for occurring bugs is likely long.
Currently, the community is frustrated about
Sound bugs that have existed since the VIP demo
Issues on missions where players cannot be teleported to their teammates but get stuck behind a “fog wall”
Quests that “hang” and teleport players back to a certain spot repeatedly due to the countdown
Enemies that simply disappear
Players who lose connection to the server during missions
and numerous other problems that have been reported in megathreads on Reddit since release.
Players are still complaining about performance issues, quest bugs, glitches, and graphical errors.
A Twitter post from lead producer Ben Irving also reveals that the patch will once again focus on the inscriptions on loot.
These are still sometimes faulty, and 0% rolls on equipment are still in the game, even with the special properties of mastery components.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
When can we expect the patch? According to Ben Irving, they are aiming for March 12 as the date for the new patch. We will likely learn more on March 6, once the live stream is running. Keep in mind that this date may still change.
Will there be information about the crash problem in the stream? That is not currently known. What is certain is that EA is investigating the issue.
Which fixes do you find most important? Write in the comments.
Today marks the start of Season 6 in Destiny 2. It comes with more content than I initially thought.
Here was my expectation: Honestly, I didn’t expect much from Season 6 – the Season of the Drifter. When Bungie presented a roadmap with three upcoming seasons in November 2018, I considered Season 6 to be the weakest.
That’s why I didn’t expect much: The Season of the Drifter sounded quite lacking in content.
It was only mentioned that there would be a new “Gambit experience” as the highlight.
You would learn more about the story of the Drifter – which I thought was pretty cool as a lore fan and still do, but it doesn’t provide weeks of fun gameplay.
And otherwise, there would just be the usual stuff. A few new items, a few new bounties, more triumphs, one or two events. Done.
While Bungie announced new raids for Seasons 5 and 7, the content for Season 6 seemed sparse to me. Only for Gambit fans did it seem interesting, although it remained unclear for a long time how the new Gambit experience would be designed.
That’s why many are looking forward to Season 6: As it has recently become clear, the sixth season is not only about Gambit. Instead, several new game modes, extensive quests, and a full program until May 2019 are coming:
The “new Gambit experience” will likely be bigger than expected. It’s called Gambit-Prime and launches directly on March 5, but the mode will evolve weekly. You can assume special roles (Smasher, Collector, Guardian, and Invader). Special armor sets with unique perks enhance the role that you take on.
According to Bungie, Gambit-Prime will provide an intense player experience, where only one round (instead of 2-3 rounds like in regular Gambit) is played. In addition, the mode offers new gameplay elements that focus more on group mechanics and role distribution during boss fights. Bungie compares this to a raid. Thus, Season 6 will also deliver a raid-like experience. Read more about Gambit-Prime here.
Gambit-Prime with new armor
The Reckoning is the big surprise of Season 6. It is a completely new PvE endgame activity linked with Gambit-Prime. Through the Reckoning, you will obtain the armor sets that grant you numerous advantages in Gambit-Prime.
The Reckoning also has several “stages,” with the first one unlocking on March 5, the second on March 8, and the third on March 15. Each stage is supposed to become “more chaotic” than the previous one.
You travel through a portal into the Unknown Space of the Nine. This space seems to be located inside the large sphere that the Drifter pulls behind his ship.
According to the developers, the mode is quite fast-paced. In the Reckoning, you will initially find complete chaos. You have to move quickly, you need to kill quickly. You will be attacked from all sides. Memories of the Crota raid from Destiny 1 should arise here.
Reckoning in Season 6
The Invitations of the Nine were also surprising. You will receive the first invitation from Xur on March 15. You must complete tasks to learn more about the Nine and to receive powerful rewards. Xur will bring a new invitation every week for 9 weeks that can be completed once per character.
That the Nine would be so present in Season 6, perhaps no one expected. But according to Bungie, the Drifter has entered into a dangerous alliance with the Nine, which is why we will finally learn more about these mysterious beings.
Story-wise, Season 6 will be quite interesting. Not only the Drifter, as initially thought, is in focus, but also the Nine. Additionally, a character named “The Shadow” will appear, who wields the Thorn as a weapon and apparently has to do with the Drifter:
Bungie released press material, where the character on the left is listed as “The Shadow”
Furthermore, there will be two exotic quests – one leads to the Thorn – and a loyalty quest. In the latter, your loyalty to the Vanguard will be tested. Sounds pretty exciting; however, it remains to be seen how extensive these quests will be.
All of this is only available to Annual Pass owners
That’s why Season 6 won’t be exciting for all Guardians: However, the presented content has a catch: Only Annual Pass owners will receive them.
While all other Guardians will receive new items to chase, they will only be in the existing game modes. The cool stuff of Season 6 is exclusive to Annual Pass owners.
Enemies in Reckoning
Those without an Annual Pass will benefit from many balance adjustments, bug fixes, improvements, and new top weapons in PvP, Gambit, and Vanguard activities; ultimately, however, you can only play the old activities.
If you want to experience something new in Season 6, you will be at a loss without an Annual Pass. All major highlights have been packed into the exclusive content by Bungie.
Only the two events “Arc Week” and “The Revelry” bring hope to introduce a little variety for all Guardians. So far, it’s known that the spring event “The Revelry” will take place in the Everforest, where you can loot new items.
Here you can find an overview of the content from Season 6 that will be free for all Guardians:
In Fortnite: Battle Royale a new item is planned: The Treasure Map. But how will it work? There are already leaks and speculation online.
What is the Treasure Map about? The Treasure Map is the new item planned for the upcoming patch v.8.00 in Season 8. According to the description, you should be able to search the island for hidden loot with it.
What can the Treasure Map do? Leaks and speculation
What exactly the map does is currently unclear. However, there is already a leak revealing sound files and graphics. We know there are graphics for shovels and special chests. Sound files for digging have also surfaced.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Those who study the leaked graphic of the map see that there is a large “X” visible southeast of the Volcano. If you visit that spot in the game, you will actually see a few stones lying in an X shape. However, you cannot interact with it (yet).
How could the Treasure Map work? On the Forbes page and in comments, there is already a lively discussion about the function of the map. It could be that the map appears as an item in chests or as ground loot.
Those who use it will find out where the treasure is and can loot it. The treasure is likely to be a hefty supply of legendary weapons and items, similar to a Supply Llama or the gifts at Christmas.
The situation would be particularly exciting if the Treasure Map only existed once and revealed the location for all players in the round. This would lead to a race for the treasure, as seen in the Season 8 trailer.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Alternatively, it would also be cool if the map doesn’t show a specific location but rather a vague drawing of the treasure location. Such hints were given in past seasons weekly in the challenges.
For the past two seasons, Epic hasn’t done that anymore, but who knows if these fun treasure hunts will come back through the map.
What do you think the new Treasure Map will do? I, Jürgen, would actually like to have the concept of a treasure hunt for everyone. It would significantly change the gameplay of Fortnite from the moment the map is found and motivate some players to embark on a wild hunt for the treasure.
The MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar (SotA) had a rocky start and has not been able to recover even after switching to a Free2Play model. Now the development studio Portalarium has left the office, but they present it as a great thing.
A development studio without a “studio”
Why are the developers leaving their office? Chris Spears, technical director, and Starr Long, producer of the MMORPG SotA, announced in the last livestream that the entire team is now working from home. It is an experiment and actually a good thing.
In Shroud of the Avatar, social interaction between players is important.
The landlord apparently raised the rent significantly just a few months after the last move last year and wanted to bind the company to the new lease for four years. Since the team was not satisfied with the office anyway, they moved out.
How are the developers working now? Everyone is now working from home and logging into the system, which has been outsourced to a data center. The team communicates with each other via emails and Skype. According to Starr Long and Chris Spears, working doesn’t really feel any different than before. It’s just that they no longer share an office.
The work continues
Why does Portalarium think this is a good thing? Portalarium explains that they are now saving between $8,000 and $10,000 a month in rent. This money is now flowing into the development and marketing of the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar. Additionally, some developers are saving commuting costs and time.
Does this affect the MMORPG? According to the developers, work on SotA is continuing as usual. Every month, updates with new content, bug fixes, and other changes are released. Additionally, the release of Episode 2 with the continuation of the story and a new landmass is planned for the end of 2019.
The SotA community enjoys dance parties.
Is SotA on the decline?
How is SotA doing? The Free2Play MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar has an average of about 134 concurrent players according to Steamcharts, peaking at 234. However, this only represents about 35 percent of the total population in the game, as many play through their own launcher and not through Steam. Per month, Portalarium earns just under $100,000 from sales of in-game items and player donations.
How are players reacting? SotA has a deeply divided community. Those disappointed with the game mock the work from home situation and see it as the final nail in the coffin for the online game.
However, there are still loyal fans who are willing to spend money each month for further development. They believe that the move was the right one and that working from home offers many advantages.
MMORPGs are extensive games, which can be intimidating when trying an online role-playing game for the first time. However, there are titles that make it easy to get started. We present four MMORPGs that are particularly well-suited for newcomers to the genre.
A complex skill system, hundreds of levels, raids in challenging dungeons, guilds, PvP, sieges, and countless quests… MMORPGs can be overwhelming due to the plethora of options they offer. Especially online role-playing games that have been running for many years and have been continuously updated with new content often deter newcomers.
Therefore, many wonder which MMORPG they should play when entering the genre for the first time? We present four games to you.
Why is World of Warcraft suitable for beginners? Blizzard intentionally wanted to develop an MMORPG with WoW that targets a broader audience. Therefore, the team examined available online role-playing games at the time and built upon what worked well to create the most enjoyable gameplay possible.
You are introduced from the beginning with simple initial quests and an understandable tutorial
WoW does not overwhelm players with too many systems right from the start
Blizzard’s MMORPG features a gently escalating learning curve
World of Warcraft manages to motivate players by continually introducing new features
How do you get started in WoW? World of Warcraft can be played for free up to level 20 in a Free Trial. You can download the game and get started immediately without paying anything. If you want to continue playing, you will need to subscribe.
Beginners who enjoy story and quests in an MMORPG should try The Elder Scrolls Online.
Why is ESO suitable for beginners? Zenimax Online has created with The Elder Scrolls Online an MMORPG that is both inspired by the successful recipe of World of Warcraft and aims to simplify the entry for single-player gamers into the world of online RPGs.
ESO plays very much like a single-player role-playing game, especially at the beginning
The controls of The Elder Scrolls Online are not too complicated. The MMORPG can also be played on PC with a controller.
The story and quests guide you through the game areas, which gradually become more challenging
You can manage well alone if you don’t have friends available
How do you get started in ESO? This MMORPG is a Buy2Play title. You buy it and can play as long as you like without a subscription. Additionally, there are occasional free play days where you can try it out for free.
Guild Wars 2 is playable for free in its base version.
Why is Guild Wars 2 suitable for beginners? ArenaNet has learned a lot from Guild Wars 1 and used this experience to create Guild Wars 2, an MMORPG that anyone can quickly get into and experience many adventures.
Along with a quick start, you also progress quickly in Guild Wars 2
There is hardly any downtime in the world, as quests or events keep appearing
You level up quickly and also get good equipment relatively soon, leading to many rewarding experiences
Since Guild Wars 2 has no subscription, you can play as you like. You don’t feel pressured to play a lot for your money
How do you get started in Guild Wars 2? The MMORPG is a Free2Play title. This means you can download the base game for free from the website and start playing immediately. There is also no subscription fee.
In Final Fantasy 14, you sometimes fight against huge enemies.
Why is Final Fantasy 14 suitable for beginners? Square Enix released an initial version of the MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 in 2010 that was not well received by players. So a new version was developed that offers a better entry.
You don’t feel too pressured by many quests, especially at the beginning, as the missions are short and can be completed quickly.
You are shown exactly where to go, so you always know what to do
You can quickly find players through chat who will introduce you to the more complex mechanics
Other players often help you level up faster
How do you get started in Final Fantasy 14? You can download a free trial version for PC and PS4, in which you can level your hero up to level 35. After that, a subscription is required if you want to continue playing.
Until May 3, Twitch and Amazon Prime users can get the base version of FFXIV for PC for free, which includes 30 days of free playtime.
