As Treyarch has now announced, there will soon be numerous nerfs for equipment in the Blackout mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. We summarize the most important changes for you.
What happened? The developers of Black Ops 4 aim to address some of the most annoying issues in Blackout soon.
In this context, the Level 3 body armor, stun grenades, and cluster grenades will mainly be affected. All of these equipment items will be nerfed. However, another grenade may be introduced in Blackout in the future.
The studio design lead at Treyarch, David Vonderhaar, announced these upcoming changes on January 23 on Twitter. He did not reveal exactly when the adjustments will be made. However, fans should not have to wait too long. The changes are already being tested.
These nerfs are coming to Black Ops 4 Blackout
The amendments address the most urgent wishes of the Blackout community, some of which have existed since the release of Black Ops 4. All affected items are seen by many players as too powerful in their current form. Accordingly, the initial reactions from fans regarding the upcoming adjustments are positive.
The changes for Level 3 Armor: For Level 3 body armor, the repair process will change. To repair one health bar of the armor, players will soon need two armor plates instead of one. Currently, all three levels of body armor require one plate to restore a health bar of the armor.
Treyarch aims to continue listening to fans and find a compromise regarding this controversially discussed armor. They firmly believe that a middle ground can be found where Level 3 armor has a future in Blackout.
The changes regarding stun grenades: The currently hated stun grenades will receive a nerf in range and effect duration. Players will also be able to switch weapons, throw equipment, and perform melee attacks while affected by the effect.
This addresses the biggest complaint from fans regarding these grenades. Until now, it has often been noted as the main drawback that players were unable to fight back and defend themselves when hit by the grenade.
The changes regarding cluster grenades: The damage of cluster grenades will be reduced. Additionally, these grenades will now take one second longer to detonate. This gives players additional time to exit the damage radius. Once again, the developers are addressing the biggest criticisms from the fans.
Is a new grenade coming to Blackout?
This grenade could soon appear in the Battle Royale mode: Besides announcing the upcoming nerfs, Vonderhaar also hinted that a new grenade could soon enrich the arsenal in Blackout.
In a corresponding discussion on Reddit, the studio design lead at Treyarch stated that the EMP grenade would be an interesting addition to Blackout. It is already planned, but still a long way off and has rather low priority.
The EMP grenade is known from the specialist Zero in traditional multiplayer and can disable or completely destroy enemy equipment within a certain radius.
The premium DLC “The Black Armory” introduced some new weapon mods in Destiny 2. We take a closer look at them and tell you what they do.
With the Forsaken expansion, Bungie overhauled the mod system in Destiny 2. Since then, Guardians can equip numerous mods for their guns and adapt them to their individual needs. With the Black Armory, new weapon mods have been added. Which ones are they? And what can they do? We take a closer look.
What the new weapon mods of the Black Armory can do
Why mods? Mods give your arsenal an additional personal touch. Through these modifications, certain aspects of the weapons are enhanced. This allows you to further tailor your guns to your playstyle beyond the perks. All year 2 weapons, except for the exotics, can equip mods.
What should be considered when choosing mods? The choice depends, just like with perks, on your personal preferences. If you are a PvP player, you will likely rely on different mods than someone who tailors their weapon for combat against AI enemies. Other nuances, such as the strength of the opponents, also play an important role in the choice of mods.
What does the mod do? This mod extends the duration of the perk Toben. Toben itself increases damage with kills using the weapon. The effect can stack up to 3x and lasts for 3.4 seconds. With the new specification, this time can be extended by one second to 4.4 seconds.
Who is this mod worth it for? The perk Toben is particularly effective and popular in PvE content. This allows entire groups of enemies to be easily diminished. If you enjoy using weapons with the Toben perk, such as the auto rifle Halsbruch, you can further enhance the effectiveness and damage output of the weapon with this modification.
Libelle specification
What does the mod do? This specification increases the radius and damage of the Libelle perk. The perk itself triggers an elemental explosion on precision kills, dealing additional damage besides the hit itself.
Who is this mod suitable for? In PvP, this perk and thus the mod is hardly used. Libelle is more applicable in PvE but is also not very effective there.
The additional effect of this mod is (currently) simply too weak to justify its use over other mods. Radius and damage increase only slightly and are hardly noticeable – according to most testers. Its use is therefore not really recommended.
Radar Booster
What can the mod do? The radar booster extends the maximum range at which the radar detects enemies. The regular range is 47 meters. With the mod, this distance is increased to 55 meters.
Who is this mod suitable for? In PvE, this mod is essentially useless. In PvP, it can provide a decisive advantage – especially in competitive modes. However, the booster is very situational and cannot compete with other mods that influence weapon performance and thus provide a permanent advantage.
Surrounded specification
What can the mod do? This modification increases the bonus damage of the Surrounded perk by about 59%. Moreover, the bonus damage persists for 1.4 seconds even when you are no longer surrounded by three or more enemies.
Surrounded itself increases the damage of the corresponding weapon by about 43% if you are surrounded by three or more enemies within a radius of 15 meters. However, the effect is immediately deactivated when fewer enemies are in this radius.
Who is this mod suitable for? This mod is particularly interesting on the sword Stryker’s Reliability. The sword can roll with the Surrounded perk, making this melee weapon a true DPS monster in PvE. With the specification, you can further increase the sword’s damage.
Other weapon classes can also find the perk and mod interesting, but they fall short compared to Toben in terms of damage output and effect duration.
Sprint Grip
What can the mod do? Using this modification, you can briefly increase the weapon readiness speed after sprinting. In addition, the time until using the aiming system is reduced.
Who is this mod suitable for? In PvE, this mod has no real use and is rather used in PvP. However, even there, the mod does not perform particularly well. The readiness of the weapon is not significantly shortened. Moreover, the use of the aiming system only happens about 0.3 seconds faster.
Only on shotguns is this mod used by some players, but if you prefer to slide out of sprint and then shoot from the hip, this mod is not really a good choice for this weapon either. With mods like Icarus Grip, you are better off.
Quick Access Sling
What can the mod do? If you use this modification, you can switch your weapons faster for a short time after the magazine of the modded weapon is emptied.
Who is this mod suitable for? In PvE, this mod is not applicable. The focus is clearly on PvP.
However, even there, the mod performs rather poorly. The weapon switch is noticeably faster, but the effect is limited to exactly one switch after the magazine is emptied. To trigger the effect again, you would have to empty the magazine again. With other strong mods like Counterweight or Targeting Adjuster, the sling cannot keep up.
Patch 8.1.5 of World of Warcraft features a new cutscene. Dark truths are revealed to your characters.
While the raid “Battle of Dazar’Alor” has just launched in the live version of World of Warcraft, a new version of the upcoming patch 8.1.5 has been deployed on the PTR. This includes the questline for the hunter pet Hati, along with some new revelations regarding the Old God N’Zoth and the blade Xal’atath.
Spoiler Warning: This article discusses some important story twists from patch 8.1.5. You have been warned.
With patch 8.1.5, the former artifact weapon of shadow priests, Xal’atath, will play a larger role again. It will have its own questline, and players will assist Xal’atath in obtaining a body of its own and breaking free from the blade. However, at the end of the questline, there is a cutscene that has been previously unknown.
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This is what happens to the player: Xal’atath asks N’Zoth to free her from her chains so that she can “find her own destiny”. To achieve this, she presents the player with the words:
“Listen to me, God of the Depths! I have brought you the opener … the bringer of truths … the beacon that illuminates the way!”
For a long time, there has been speculation about what the “beacons” mentioned by the boss Il’gynoth in the Nightmare could be. The fact that players themselves are apparently one of these beacons casts a dark shadow over all the deeds our characters undertake in Battle for Azeroth.
N’Zoth has plans for the dagger: Also quite dark is the fact that N’Zoth apparently still has plans for the dagger. He says:
“Go … but the blade must remain … to serve my will.”
As we know, the blade later ends up in the hands of Sylvanas Windrunner. Whether she will be able to master the blade or will be dominated by it will only reveal itself in the coming months.
Players are manipulated by N’Zoth: The cinematic ends with a scene where N’Zoth uses powerful void magic on the players and gifts them with his “gift”.
“I have dreamed your fate, mortal. The hour approaches. What was sunk shall rise. All that was sleeping shall be awakened. Accept my gift and see all truths before you!”
From now on, one is able to see other characters with the “gift” – those who wish can have it removed by an NPC. It is conceivable that this decision will have consequences for the course of the story, similar to the decision regarding Saurfang.
Cortyn says: For me, the whole “Old Gods” thing is the most exciting plot in the current expansion, and I really hope that the story continues to be as interesting as it has begun. That “my knaifu” is now “selling me out” I do find a bit displeasing – but she is so damn cool in the process.
What do you think, how will the story with the Old Gods continue?
A new story trailer for Far Cry New Dawn has been released. And it brings a crucial twist to the story.
What’s new? Far Cry New Dawn is the next entry in the Far Cry series that Ubisoft has ready for fans. After initial teasers and gameplay videos, there is now a rough insight into the game’s story. And with this twist, hardly anyone expected.
Spoiler Warning: If you haven’t finished Far Cry 5 or don’t want to know the ending, you should not continue reading this article. However, we have many more interesting articles about New Dawn on our theme page.
How the story changes around Hope County
In Far Cry 5, it was your task to fight against the cult “New Eden” and eliminate its followers. However, it looks quite different in New Dawn:
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In New Dawn, the people of Hope County are desperate. The evil twins Mickey and Lou say that power is the new currency. And the two apparently are rich in this currency. Now the residents are looking for a solution to take on the twins. And who would have enough power for that? New Eden.
Arch-enemy acknowledges the desperation: It seems that the residents are personally asking the cult leader of New Eden, Joseph Seed, for help. He is the big villain in Far Cry 5. He seems surprised: “After all I have done. After all we have been through. You’re really asking me for help? You must be really desperate.”
For the players, it’s a big surprise to suddenly join hands with the actual opponent and fight against the twins. They truly seem powerful if one has to form such an unusual alliance.
Far Cry New Dawn will be released on February 15 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It is the sequel to Far Cry 5 and is also set in Hope County, Montana. However, it’s set 17 years after an apocalypse. You will have to do without a great companion in the new part:
Farming games like Farming Simulator 19 will soon be worth playing. The newly founded “Farming Simulator League” promises eSports enthusiasts a prize pool of 250,000 euros! However, fans are somewhat confused.
Farming games are extremely successful. Farming Simulator 19 sold 1 million copies within just 10 days after its release in November 2018.
It’s no wonder the developers want to do more with the genre, even if there is some resistance from the community.
Farming Simulator Goes eSports
What has been announced? The Swiss development studio Giants Software announced the establishment of the “Farming Simulator League”. This is an eSports league that evolves from the pilot project “Farming Simulator Championship”.
The Championship tested last year how Farming Simulator can function in the eSports sector and how well it is welcomed.
It is now a complete eSports league for Europe, featuring over ten tournaments. At the end of the season, the best teams will compete for the title of Farming Simulator Champion. This champion receives a prize of 100,000 €. As additional prizes will also be awarded at each tournament, the total prize pool for the season is 250,000 €.
How will the tournaments proceed? Giant Games states that the new Farming Simulator 19 will be played. A new 3-vs-3 mode will be implemented, in which teams compete against each other.
However, the Farming Simulator will not change through eSports. The game will remain true to its roots even in tournaments, with fieldwork remaining the focus, combined with challenging gameplay elements.
eSports League is no joke
When does it start? Giant Games plans to announce further details about the “Farming Simulator League” at a later date. This will also include how to register or qualify, and when the tournaments will take place.
How are players reacting? Even though Farming Simulator is often laughed at, this type of game has a lot of fans. However, at the moment, they are unsure of what to think about the announcement of the “Farming Simulator League”. Some are excited, while others are questioning what this is about and think it could be an early April Fool’s joke.
Because the game is also plagued by bugs, fans want the developers to put the money into improving and optimizing the title instead. The team explains that it’s no joke, and the idea came from marketing. It has nothing to do with the actual game development.
Those who are looking forward to it are skeptical about whether it can become an event that continues over a longer period. We will probably only find out after the season.
From Hero to Zero: Which weapons and abilities in Destiny were so powerful that Bungie felt compelled to intervene and weaken them? We look back at some of the strongest weapons in Destiny and Destiny 2 and highlight what has become of them.
What does Nerf actually mean? The term “Nerf” is common in the video game scene and describes the weakening of an item, weapon, or ability.
The name Nerf comes from a type of toy that is made of foam. The idea behind it: What was once a real weapon is now just a prop that no longer hurts anyone.
Such nerfs are carried out whenever certain aspects of a game prove to be too strong and thus are frequently used.
This leads to limited variety in weapon choice or (in the case of Destiny) class choice. However, “nerfs” lead to conflicts between the player base and developers because
players have fun with “overpowered” equipment and want it to remain in the game but
developers prefer a balanced player experience where all aspects of the game come into play. For every situation, there should be the right loadout, not just one for every situation.
This is why Destiny players hate nerfs: Due to this opposing viewpoint and approach, nerfs are generally not well received by the community. Specifically aimed at Destiny and its successor Destiny 2, there has almost always been potential for conflict in the past, for which developer Bungie itself was not entirely without blame:
Nerfs often led to not only a too powerful weapon becoming useless, but an entire weapon category
Many nerfs caused side effects on other weapons/abilities
Nerfs driven by PvP perspectives had significant impacts on the PvE part of the game, which frustrated many players
We want to address some examples from the history of Destiny and Destiny 2, which are considered the worst nerfs in the franchise’s history. Let’s start with a tragedy that is truly unmatched.
The Vex Mythoclast – from Myth to Joke
What the Vex Mythoclast could do at launch: The exotic primary weapon, which could only be obtained from the raid “Glass Vault,” is still considered unique. It is a fusion rifle, but under the influence of fancy Vex technology, it behaves like an automatic rifle.
The first players who managed to get this weapon and tested it in the Crucible could hardly believe their eyes. The weapon would dismantle any Guardian in a matter of seconds.
Those who never got to experience the weapon at the height of its power can get an impression from the following video:
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This is how the Vex Mythoclast was nerfed: Bungie reacted quickly and reduced the weapon’s damage. For a long time, the Vex Mythoclast remained a strong weapon in the Crucible, popular for its stability. However, soon the real drama surrounding the Vex Mythoclast unfolded.
Despite its unique firing behavior, the weapon was a fusion rifle – a weapon class Bungie struggled with in Destiny 1.
The Vex Mythoclast
Why did Bungie have problems with fusion rifles? Anyone who could handle a fusion rifle had an extremely dangerous weapon in the Crucible. Plan C and The Infinite are still among the best fusion rifles of all time. However, many legendary variants could also hit and target accurately with the right perks.
In public perception, fusion rifles were never the dominant weapon class in the Crucible. However, Bungie has access to a plethora of statistics and numbers that clearly led to a different conclusion. An odyssey of nerfs and buffs followed:
The damage was reduced,
the projectile spread was increased,
the stability was decreased,
the range was reduced,
the damage was increased again
almost all changes affected PvE and PvP, even though fusion rifles were never the first choice against aliens
When too many nerfs turn into a meme: In the community, it became a matter of course that with every patch, fusion rifles would be nerfed. However, the gallows humor of the Guardians obscured the true victim of this back-and-forth: The Vex Mythoclast.
For Bungie failed to view and address the Vex Mythoclast separately from other fusion rifles.
The reduction of fusion rifle stability meant that the Vex Mythoclast suddenly became harder to control than a cat in a bathtub. Every damage nerf caused the Vex to become weaker and weaker until it ultimately vanished – a true “nerf tragedy.”
Crytek and SpatialOS developer Improbable announce a partnership. Together, they aim to create an AAA game. The use of the “miracle technology” SpatialOS suggests that it could be an MMO, which, thanks to CryEngine, is likely to be visually impressive.
What has been announced? The two companies, Crytek and Improbable, want to develop an AAA game together that utilizes both CryEngine and SpatialOS. Not much more has been revealed so far.
However, Crytek has stated that they will release more information soon.
What is SpatialOS? The “miracle technology” SpatialOS allows developer studios to create vast and vibrant online worlds that run in the cloud. Managing these worlds is intended to be straightforward. Therefore, many smaller indie studios use the technology to develop large games.
Crytek, who are currently developing the online shooter Hunt: Showdown, are also working on a SpatialOS Game Development Kit for CryEngine, which will allow other studios to utilize the technology in their CryEngine games.
What kind of game could we expect? Crytek and Improbable have not yet revealed what exactly they are working on. Therefore, one can only speculate about what is currently being created.
Worlds Adrift – a SpatialOS game
It is expected to be an “AAA” game, which means a lot of money will flow into production, allowing the title to compete with other high-quality games on the market.
The CryEngine is in use, which continually demonstrates how beautiful games can look when utilizing this graphics engine. The game currently in development is likely to be quite visually stunning.
Thanks to SpatialOS, we can expect a large and vibrant game world, indicating it is an MMO.
It is conceivable that Improbable and Crytek are developing an open-world online shooter. Perhaps something in the direction of Anthem. Crytek is well-versed in shooters, thanks to Far Cry and Crysis.
We will just have to wait until Crytek and Improbable introduce the new game.
A new survival MMO called Last Oasis has been announced, which is set to be available on Steam in the spring. The survival game brings some unique elements that are meant to differentiate it from genre counterparts.
The developers of Last Oasis, Donkey Crew, recently announced a date for the Early Access of Last Oasis on Steam. The survival MMO set in a different post-apocalypse is described by the developers as “Woodpunk” and features interesting elements.
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What is Last Oasis? In Last Oasis, you play as one of the last nomads on Earth. The Earth has stopped rotating, and the sun mercilessly scorches every patch it shines upon.
As one of the last survivors, you are constantly fleeing from the deadly heat and the scorched wasteland left by the sun towards the horizon to escape death. You also need to secure your survival with water, carry your belongings, and assert yourself against other survivors.
These are the features: Last Oasis brings classic survival elements such as survival through food intake and weather, crafting, and building. You can build durable structures stationary or create lighter buildings “to go”. The special features:
Grappling Hook: One of your most important tools. It brings a vertical aspect to the game. With a grappling hook on a rope, you move faster, and can even climb the mobile bases of other players.
giant walkers: Buildings made of wood can be constructed on giant, wind-driven walkers that resemble constructs from the Wild Wild West. Through these, you can remain in constant motion and easily take your base with you.
Oases: If you want to log out or just need a break, there are still oases on Earth. These offer enough shelter for a pause.
Who is Last Oasis suitable for? According to the developers, Last Oasis is a game for individuals and small groups. Last Oasis is based on small clans that fight against the sun’s course as a nomadic tribe to secure their survival.
The preload for the demo of Anthem is now available for download for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. With the VIP demo, you can invite three friends and play together in early access on January 25. We will show you how to distribute the friend codes.
You can now download the demo of Anthem for all platforms. The preload applies to both the VIP demo of Anthem (Closed Beta) and the open demo (Open Beta). You can only play once the launch for the respective demo versions has started.
When does the VIP demo start? Friday, January 25, at 6:00 PM. The VIP demo ends on January 28 at 3:01 AM.
When does the open demo start? On February 1. The open demo ends on February 3.
Those who have not pre-ordered Anthem via the above methods need a code for the VIP demo. This can be received from the chosen provider. The code must then be redeemed on EA’s website.
Invite friends on PS4, Xbox One, or PC: As a pre-orderer of Anthem, you have access to the VIP demo in early access. Every owner of the VIP demo can invite up to three friends, who can also participate in the VIP demo. They do not need to be pre-orderers themselves.
Receive friendship pass: To receive and activate the invitation, you must first download the demo and start the launcher once. The preload is now available.
You will see a friendship pass link when you are logged in
copy this and send it to up to three friends
What your friends need to do: Your friends can click the link and then log in with their EA credentials. They will receive on-screen instructions to follow.
You have a friend code over? On our Discord server, we have created special channels for Anthem where you can discuss the game. There is also a channel where friend codes can be offered or requested.
System requirements for PC – This hardware you need
Older machines may have trouble with Anthem. You can now test if your PC can handle it with the demo.
The Snowfall skin, which is available at the end of the long-term challenge in Fortnite, seems to be slowly thawing in the game itself. Players are speculating whether the skin is hiding under an ice block in Polar Peaks.
What is the Snowfall skin? As in every season since Season 4, players have the chance to earn a legendary skin. To do this, you must complete a long-term challenge. In Season 7, the Snowfall skin is the reward. Its exact appearance is still unknown.
Now the ice is slowly starting to melt, and especially Polar Peak is becoming increasingly accessible. There, players also suspect the Snowfall skin, as something comparable is slowly thawing under a large ice block.
Here is where the Snowfall skin could be hidden
What players have stumbled upon: The location Polar Peak is in a constant state of change. Currently, the ice is slowly melting, and players have discovered, for example, dragon eggs lying in the castle’s basement.
But now a huge ice block becomes interesting. It stands in the middle of the castle and is gradually melting. By now, one can recognize a person who is chained up in the castle.
This is how you get this skin: To obtain the Snowfall skin, you need to successfully complete the long-term challenge “Complete 60 weekly rewards”. As a reward, you will then receive the Snowfall skin. You can earn 60 rewards starting at week 9 at the earliest.
Today marks the start of week 8, so you will have to wait at least one more week.
What is known about the Snowfall skin? Not much is known about this skin so far. However, as the ice block continues to melt, increasingly more of the skin will likely be revealed, allowing players to gradually see what the outfit is about.
A YouTube video shows the rapid decline of the ice block. If it continues at this pace, it might be possible to see the entire skin at the start of week 9. Until then, players can keep guessing happily.
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In Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, a cosmetic reticle is causing trouble again and heating up discussions around microtransactions. What is going on?
What happened? The microtransactions introduced later with the black market in Black Ops 4 have always been controversial among fans and have sparked heated discussions. Just recently, the debate gained momentum again when Treyarch sold a simple red dot (optional reticle) for $1.
Now, another cosmetic reticle has added fuel to the fire, which came to the game with the latest update. Currently, this simple smiley is being sold in the in-game store for a staggering 2 dollars. And that drives many fans up the wall.
What is the problem with the reticle? Some criticize the model in general, where a full-price title offers additional microtransactions instead of integrating them into the game. This makes sense for free-to-play games, but for games like Call of Duty, it is absolutely out of place.
Others, however, emphasize that it is quite normal these days in games as a service. It is more about how microtransactions are implemented.
What many fans, especially in the case of the smiley, find particularly annoying beyond the fundamental discussion: Most consider the price-performance ratio absolutely outrageous. How someone can charge $1 for a simple red circle or now $2 for a circle with 2 dots and a line is beyond the understanding of most players.
What annoys the fans the most is the fact that both the red dot and the smiley were previously free and integral parts of earlier titles.
Of course, everyone has a choice – the purchase is purely cosmetic, not mandatory, and brings no gameplay advantages. But here, recycled items that incur no development or production costs are sold as optional content. And apparently, this is also exclusively for real money. This is decisively going too far for many fans.
This is how fans are reacting: Reddit and social media are currently filled with comments, posts, and memes where fans express their anger. Hardly anyone understands this type of business model.
Accordingly, the reactions on Reddit, in forums, and on social media are harsh.
On reddit, a post is particularly popular and has gathered almost 10,000 upvotes in 2 days. There, fans discuss this development and mock the game.
10 Year Challenge with Black Ops
Because apparently, in the eyes of fans, Black Ops also participated in the 10 Year Challenge.
There is a new addition at Blizzard. The Creative Director of Cyberpunk 2077 has surprisingly changed employers.
In addition to all the rather negative news about Blizzard in recent months, there is now a positive one. Blizzard has hired a new employee who is a bit of a celebrity in the scene. Sebastian Stępień from CD Projekt RED is now working as Creative Director at Blizzard and no longer on Cyberpunk 2077. This is evident from his LinkedIn profile. He has been working for Blizzard since January 2019.
Who is Sebastian Stępień? Stępień worked for CD Projekt RED for almost 13 years, notably on Witcher 2 and 3, as well as the upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077. He has changed his position within the company multiple times. He has been a dialogue writer, Lead Story Designer, and also served as Creative Director and Narrative as well as Settings Director. In summary, he has done just about everything related to the story and presentation of a game world.
What does a Creative Director do? Many threads come together with a Creative Director. They oversee the work of designers and approve their designs, manage the team, and ensure that goals are met. They make sure that all staff share a common vision and can implement it. They are thus crucial for the style of a game.
What game is Stępień working on? It is still unknown what game Stępień is currently involved in. However, there have been recent job postings for a “dark, medieval fantasy game,” leading fans to speculate that he might be working on a Diablo spin-off. This would also fit, as Witcher 3 was also a very mature and dark game. However, there is no confirmation for this.
What do you think, what will Stępień work on at Blizzard? Will he perhaps join the Warcraft franchise? Or is he clearly a candidate for the Diablo universe?
Actually, there shouldn’t be a social hub for Anthem where players can see and meet each other outside of missions. In a short announcement, BioWare now declares on Twitter: “We have a social hub!”
On Twitter, Lead Producer Michael Gamble announced that Anthem is getting a social hub. This news comes as quite a surprise, as there was supposedly no social hub planned for Anthem. This had been repeatedly criticized by the community.
In a social hub, players can meet other players and observe or interact with them without immediately pulling out their weapons.
Surprising announcement: After a lot of fan feedback and a hint from BioWare, it was expected that the social hub might come at some point. However, that such an important and highly desired feature is being casually announced on Twitter is indeed a big surprise.
After a mission, you can either head to Fort Tarsis, the single player hub, or you can go to the “Launch Bay”. This will be the multiplayer hub where you can see your fellow players. Here you can:
More information about the social hub is not yet known. However, new info is expected soon.
Is the social hub already in the demo? No. You cannot access the Launch Bay in the two demos yet. However, the Launch Bay should be available at the release of Anthem. BioWare states that there must be something for players to look forward to on February 22. That is the release day.
Developer hinted at social hub already: BioWare has been asked often about such a social feature. Gamble responded to one of these inquiries with: “We hear you loud and clear.” This led to speculation that Anthem would at least add a social hub at some point.
Social hub developed at short notice: On Reddit, a BioWare employee spoke up. They did not have the social hub on the back burner. The introduction of the Launch Bay would be a reaction to a lot of community feedback.
It looks like the social hub was actually not originally planned.
How are the fans reacting? The reactions under the tweet are already massive just minutes after publication. Future players of Anthem are grateful and simply happy that they are getting this feature.
In a video, the developers of League of Legends provide a preview for 2019. Among them is a teaser for a new support champion.
What happened? The community of League of Legends is in full uproar. The developers shared a video today, on January 23rd, for the upcoming year.
The teaser for a new support champion is likely the most interesting part. It is already speculated that it will revolve around a mage.
What LoL fans can expect in 2019
This is what the video shows: In the video, which is about a minute long, the lead producer Joseph “New001” Tung gives an outlook into the year 2019. In addition to the continuation of the Marvel comic series of League of Legends and the ongoing eSport scene of the game, there is much to discover.
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The most important part is a short teaser that probably shows a new champion. The teaser lasts only a few seconds.
This hints at the champion: A magical book, with a large gemstone in the middle, indicates the new champion. Many players are sure that a mage is hiding behind it. The video mentions that the new champion is a support. Unfortunately, there are no first glimpses of the appearance or abilities.
These champions are getting a rework: Kayle and Morgana will receive an update. Recently, in August, a roadmap was presented indicating when to expect future releases. The two sisters were announced as the next.
When can we expect the new features? There is no exact schedule on when to expect the new features. It is only certain that it will happen in 2019.
The developers of League of Legends have also released a new cinematic video. Fans were excited:
The online shooter The Division 2 was announced at E3 2018 and is now set to launch in March 2019. Here you have all known information about the release date, the open world, pre-ordering, and other features at a glance.
The Division 2 is the sequel to The Division. We summarize the most important information about the upcoming shared-world shooter with RPG elements for you.
This article is continuously updated and supplemented with new information. The last update was on February 27, 2019.
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When and on which platforms will The Division 2 be released? The online shooter will be available on March 15, 2019, for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Developer and publisher: Like its predecessor, The Division 2 is being developed by the Swedish studio Massive Entertainment. Ubisoft is once again behind the publication.
What editions will there be and how much will they cost? Like its predecessor, there will also be several editions of The Division 2 with various physical and digital contents. Here are all the editions and their costs:
The Division 2 is a shared-world shooter where you can play both PvP and PvE with up to 4 players in a group.
Will The Division 2 have a story? There will be a full-fledged campaign. In part 1, it consisted of several extensive missions that took you to various locations in the open world of New York City. In D.C., the missions are even more extensive.
Even the side missions are significantly more story-driven and are almost on par with the main missions of the predecessor.
What kind of shooter is The Division 2? The Division 2 is a third-person shooter with a cover system that focuses primarily on RPG elements.
Thus, there will be
various skills,
passive talents,
many gear sets,
loot like Diablo, and
level upgrades.
Can you also play The Division 2 solo? According to Massive, they try everything, to accommodate solo players. You won’t be able to do all activities, but most of them will be playable alone.
The world has been plunged into chaos by a deadly virus. The green poison (also called dollar flu) was produced by a scientist and unleashed on humanity in New York on Black Friday. The virus spread quickly across the global airport network.
Who do you play as in The Division 2? In The Division 2, we take on the role of an agent of the Secret Homeland Division and aim to restore order.
Can you transfer your character from the predecessor? No, you will not be able to play your agent from The Division 2 .
Where does The Division 2 take place? After the first part took place immediately after the outbreak in wintry New York, the US capital Washington D.C is up next.
The plot of The Division 2 will take place over 7 months after The Division 1. D.C. will be a real-scale replica.
What are the differences to Manhattan? In addition to the change in the summer season, Washington is significantly more expansive.
Additionally, there are more diverse neighborhoods and sometimes forested, even jungle-like sections. According to Massive, D.C. offers much more variety with its 6 regions than its predecessor.
Dynamically evolving open world – conquer control points
The game world and its inhabitants are meant to be dynamic and provide a lot of variety.
There will be control points that are either under the control of civilians or occupied by enemy factions. Your task will be to defend the civilians’ control points and drive the opposing factions out of the other control points.
This is intended to be a kind of meta-game that runs independently of missions and story. Your actions are said to have a direct impact on the game world.
The new armor system equips agents with an additional bar above the health points display.
What is this armor bar? With this new system, first-aid kits are replaced by “armor/shield pieces”; loosely translated, these are armor or shield parts. When used, these restore both health and armor.
With this system, you are forced to take cover and finish the animation before you can regenerate health points.
New fire sets and equipment
What are fire sets? The fire sets are fundamentally similar to the gear sets of the first part. If you equip one piece of a fire set, the first bonus is activated.
If you have two pieces, bonuses 1 and 2 are active. By equipping 3 pieces, you unlock all bonuses. We have summarized everything about the known fire sets and their bonuses for you.
Will there again be gear sets in The Division 2?Gear sets will be back and will also benefit from the fire sets. In principle, weapons, equipment, and talents are structured similarly to the predecessor.
There are differences in the numbers, the amount of talents, and their requirements.
What are the specializations? You unlock the specializations by reaching the maximum level. Each brings its own signature weapon and skill mods. They are tailored to a specific play style.
The signature weapon requires special ammunition, and signature skills from The Division 1 are a thing of the past.
Each of these specializations represents a unique progression tree that can be further expanded. You can switch freely between specializations in The Division 2 and upgrade them all to the maximum, providing additional engagement.
These are the skills of The Division 2: There are 8 different skills in total. Players of The Division 1 should recognize some old acquaintances again.
Raid “Darkest Hour” for 8 players comes shortly after release
A raid for 8 players! A wish that has been expressed repeatedly since the release of The Division 1, is now fulfilled with the sequel.
What is known about the raids: The raids will differ significantly from everything that has been played in The Division before. Paying attention to what is happening in front of you on the battlefield will not be enough. It is about discovering how to progress best. Exploration seems to play a role here.
Will there be a raid at launch? According to Massive, there will be no raid at the launch of The Division 2. Here you can learn the reasons for this decision.
The first raid is called “Darkest Hour” and is reportedly located at Washington Ronald Reagan International Airport, one of the airports in D.C. That’s at least what the endgame trailer for The Division 2 revealed.
How many raids are planned? There will be several raids over the course of the first year, but there is no exact number. We will have to wait for more information on this.
Revised inventory, more customization
Massive wants to significantly improve the cumbersome inventory system for The Division 2. The inventory system caused constant trouble in The Division 1. No matter which platform you were on, the inventory was cumbersome to operate, sometimes faulty, and most annoyingly: it was constantly overcrowded.
Before every new patch, the calls for more space in the inventory and more storage space in the stash in The Division 1 were loud. This should come to an end in The Division 2.
One of the biggest innovations: Mods no longer take up space in your inventory.
More skins for your equipment: In gameplay snippets, slots for skins on knee pads and gloves were already seen. So far, the skin function was only available for backpacks and weapons.
In The Division 2, players will have the option to join a clan. Especially regarding the 8-player activities, this should promote communication and teamwork.
This is the extensive clan system:
Up to 50 accounts are possible per clan. This includes the 4 agents per account that each player has
Clan functions will be unlocked throughout the story
A minimum of 4 players is required to create a clan
There are emblems and titles
You can even earn rewards through a dedicated progression system.
Dark Zone also back on board – this time there are even 3
The Dark Zone, one of the hallmarks of The Division 1, will also be back.
This is how the Dark Zone was in The Division 1: This area mixed PvE and PvP elements. In the predecessor, the Dark Zone was a disconnected area of the open world with its own server. Up to 24 players were active in this area. This part of the world is considered particularly contaminated.
Any loot had to first be extracted, and the number of equipment parts in the inventory was limited to 9. So, one had to remain constantly vigilant. If you die, you lose a part of your collected loot.
Since other players are also present, there is a constant danger that they may be after your loot.
This is how the Dark Zone will be in The Division 2: In contrast to its predecessor, there will be a total of three different Dark Zones in part 2.
Dark Zone West
Dark Zone South
and Dark Zone East
In each Dark Zone, up to 12 players can be active simultaneously.
This is how they want to avoid cheaters and hackers: The Division 2 uses the Easy Anti-Cheat tool, which is also used in other major games like For Honor and Fortnite. The tool claims to be able to quickly and reliably monitor even modified versions of games.
Shield achievements in The Division with rewards for The Division 2
Shields are achievements that can unlock certain rewards for The Division 2. Unlock as many Shields as possible, and you will receive more rewards in the end.
In the Ice Storm event of Fortnite, daily challenges await you. Now you need to destroy 10 Ice Shards. We will tell you how to do that.
This is the challenge: In Fortnite, it says “Destroy 10 Ice Shards”. This way you can complete a challenge in the current Ice Storm event.
The problem with destroying the Ice Shards is the Ice Beasts that spawn from the shards. They attack you and make destruction difficult.
We will show you how to destroy the Ice Shards most effectively and successfully complete the challenge.
How to easily destroy the Ice Shards
This is the problem with the task: An Ice Shard cannot be destroyed with just a few shots; it takes some time.
During this time, more Ice Beasts spawn that attack you. The opponents will also notice you due to your shots and find you more easily.
This trick helps: To destroy the Ice Shards without drawing too much attention, use the Boombox. The sound waves from the device do not eliminate the Ice Beasts, but they attract them away from you. Additionally, the Boombox deals enormous damage to the Ice Shard.
You can then finish off the Ice Shard from a safe distance.
It gets even easier: Team up in duos and complete the task together. This way, you can eliminate the Ice Beasts while simultaneously dealing damage to the shards. Additionally, you can better defend yourselves against opponents in pairs.
Here’s what to pay attention to: The task is considered complete only when you have destroyed 10 Ice Shards in different rounds. You will need to play at least 10 rounds to complete the challenge.
Where can I find the Ice Shards? According to initial findings, there are no fixed spawn points for Ice Shards. However, you can currently find such shards everywhere on the map. So it shouldn’t be too hard to find one of the Ice Shards in each round.
Another task in the Ice Storm event requires you to destroy golden Ice Beasts:
In Destiny 2, Guardians have stumbled upon a glitch that allows players to experience the game in third-person view. Some fans are hoping to see this bug as an optional feature.
What happened? Anyone who has ever wondered how Destiny 2 would look in third-person view should check out the following video. Some Guardians recently discovered a glitch that might answer this question.
This makes it possible to experience the new raid of the Black Armory, Scourge of the Past, from the third-person perspective – even without a sword or an exotic weapon. And it looks really cool.
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What makes this glitch so special? Some may wonder what is so special about this glitch. After all, there is already the possibility to play in third-person view if you equip a sword or pick up an exotic weapon.
However, this glitch allows, for the first time in Destiny 2, to play with all other weapon classes in third-person view – including the reticle.
Moreover, the glitch opens up the possibility of playing the raid entirely from this perspective, which provides a different view of the raid itself and of Destiny 2. This is currently sparking intense debates among fans.
Fans say: Many are excited about the perspective and the way Destiny 2 plays from it. Numerous fans even wish for this glitch to become an optional feature after watching the video or reproducing the glitch themselves.
Because even though Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter, in third-person view, the game looks very good in the eyes of fans.
The fact that this wish can be implemented is supported by both the video and the sword or the exotic weapon of the Fallen, which fans say are well done and can also be played in third-person.
The pros and cons of this perspective in PvP and PvE are currently being discussed. First Guardians are already joking about when we can expect the first World First Raid Clear in third-person.
How does the glitch work? The glitch works exclusively in the new raid of the Black Armory. Considering a few factors, you can essentially play through the entire raid in third-person.
The glitch can best be reproduced with a Stormcaller Warlock.
But it’s also possible with the Chaos Reach Super or the Titan’s Barricade.
So far, Hunters have not been able to trigger this effect.
At the beginning, you will encounter a Berserker in the Botza city center. This is an elite enemy of the Fallen, capable of executing a special attack. It activates a bluish overshield that slows you down and prevents your abilities.
The Berserker
Right at that moment, you should activate your Super (or the Titan his Barricade). If it works, you will remain in third-person view until you
reactivate your Super
change your subclass
die and respawn
or leave the raid
If you take these factors into account, nothing stands in the way of a complete raid experience in third-person.
Anthem comes with various difficulties. Overall, there are 6 difficulty levels in Anthem – we explain how the levels differ and why Grandmaster 3 should be your main goal.
These difficulties are available in Anthem at the beginning: If you play Anthem, initially you can choose between three different difficulty levels:
Easy: This should be easily achievable for everyone – activities can be done solo without problems
Normal: Here it depends on what content you are playing. But if you play carefully, it shouldn’t be an issue
Hard: This difficulty requires you to play tactically with friends to complete most activities
You set the difficulty yourself before you leave Fort Tarsis. Assess the risk yourself, considering whether the potential rewards are worth it.
This is how difficulty affects enemies: The higher the difficulty, the greater the chance for rare loot. Enemies have more health points and deal more damage.
It gets really tough in Grandmaster
Later on, it continues with Grandmaster 1-3, once you have unlocked these levels. These higher difficulties are particularly rewarding for you. However, they also come with dangers.
The endgame of Anthem: After you have completed your training in Anthem, you enter the endgame. This is referred to as “Elder Game” in Anthem.
There you should equip yourself with the strongest gear and the best weapons you can find. In higher difficulty levels, you will find rarer gear. However, the enemies also hit harder and can take more damage.
Why should you play Grandmaster? As reported by IGN, you have the best chances of finding the strongest gear in Anthem in Grandmaster. However, the risk is also high. Grandmaster significantly boosts enemies, increasing their health points and damage by up to 3,100%.
This is how you prepare for Grandmaster: To be successful at the Grandmaster difficulty, you first need to equip yourself well. It’s best to coordinate your squad with loadouts and the four Javelins to ensure harmony.
The Community Day for February in Pokémon GO has been announced and this event is one you should not miss! We give you 5 reasons why you should be participating in February.
What is the Community Day about? The Community Day in February revolves around the Pokémon Quiekel. You can go hunting for Quiekel for three hours and additionally snag numerous bonuses. The event runs on February 16 from 11 AM to 2 PM.
This Community Day is special. We give you 5 reasons why you definitely should play in February.
Reason 1: The Stardust Bonus
What the Community Day offers: On this Community Day, you get the chance for triple Stardust when catching Pokémon. Just for that reason, the day is already worth it, similar to the Cyndaquil Community Day.
Why Stardust is important: During these three hours, you can collect more Stardust than in an entire week. It remains the most important resource in the game and on Community Day you almost get it for free. With the dust, you can strengthen your Pokémon and become an even better trainer.
How to get Shiny Quiekel: Admittedly, you get a chance for a Shiny on every Community Day. However, one should still intend to catch every shiny Pokémon. You will probably never have an easier time encountering a Shiny Quiekel.
How rare Shiny Quiekel is: If Niantic does not change the Shinies on Community Day, you should encounter a shiny Quiekel with a probability of 1 in 25. A normal Shiny in the wild has a probability of 1 in 450.
Reason 3: Increased Chance for the Sinnoh Stone
How to get the Sinnoh Stone: Throughout the Community Day weekend, you will receive 5 rewards from trainer battles per day. On Community Day, there are even guaranteed 5 Sinnoh Stones as a reward when you battle.
What makes the Sinnoh Stone so good: With the Sinnoh Stone, you can currently evolve 11 Pokémon. If Mamoswine is added, even 12. If you haven’t collected enough stones for the evolutions yet or want more than one of each Pokémon, you should take advantage of Community Day.
What is special about Mamoswine: Mamoswine is one of the best Pokémon of the 4th generation. The Pokémon will become the best Ice attacker in the game and among Ground-type Pokémon, it ranks quite high after Groudon. So, if you are looking for good Pokémon, you should stock up on candy during Community Day and evolve several Mamoswine.
What Mamoswine is strong against: Especially Dragon Pokémon are easily defeated by Mamoswine. Currently, Kyogre and Groudon dominate the arenas, so the return of Rayquaza is likely. Mamoswine is perfectly suited for that.
Reason 5: The Special Move
What we know about the move: The move is not yet known, but it can be assumed that it will strengthen Mamoswine. This has been the case with every Community Day so far, except for Pikachu.
Why a new move would be good: Mamoswine already has the best moves of its types. If it learns a new move, then that move must make the Pokémon even stronger. You should definitely not miss this day, because Mamoswine can become an even stronger Pokémon.
What do you think of the Community Day? Have our reasons convinced you to play?
If it gets cold in February, here are 7 tips against low temperatures:
Which heroes in Overwatch are currently trending? Who has benefited from the latest patches, and who has been nerfed? The Overwatch tier list for January 2019!
The experts from Metabomb regularly provide their assessments of various heroes from Overwatch. They take into account the current meta and recent patches – especially changes to heroes, such as buffs and nerfs. The latest game version has changed a lot, the balance has improved, and the gap between the individual “tiers” has decreased.
Especially new heroes like Brigitte and Wrecking Ball create new compositions and playstyles, making some situational heroes stronger.
The article was created in July 2017 and was adjusted in January 2019 for Season 14.
Tier 1 – The Overpowered
Ana (Support)
Moira (Support)
Reinhardt (Tank)
Zarya (Tank)
The two strongest heroes at the moment are two tanks and two healers. Reinhardt, Zarya, and Moira are particularly part of the currently dominating “GOATS” meta, which consists of three tanks and three healers. Particularly Reinhardt is one of the most popular heroes across all ranks.
Ana is already among the strongest supports in the game, even though she is harder to play compared to other healers. Together, the Tier 1 heroes create a strong synergy of protection and survivability.
Tier 2 – The Strong Elite
Brigitte (Support)
Mercy (Support)
Zenyatta (Support)
D.Va (Tank)
Winston (Tank)
Junkrat (DPS)
Hanzo (DPS)
The dive tanks D.Va and Winston are still very popular due to their mobility and useful in many compositions. D.Va is also very popular because of her position in the GOATS meta. Brigitte is also favored because of GOATS and her strength against flankers, despite her recent nerfs.
Junkrat has carved out a place as a counter to the current meta. With his high damage, he makes it tough for even shielded tanks to hold out for long.
Tier 3 – The Good All-Rounders
Lúcio (Support)
Wrecking Ball (Tank)
Ashe (DPS)
Genji (DPS)
McCree (DPS)
Pharah (DPS)
Tracer (DPS)
Widowmaker (DPS)
Tier 3 consists almost entirely of DPS heroes. Particularly hitscan characters like McCree and Widowmaker and flankers Genji and Tracer are popular and strong. They provide advantages over other heroes, such as group and area control, forcing opponents to change their tactics.
Ashe has integrated well as a new heroine into the meta and occupies a spot between Widowmaker and McCree. However, in the current meta, the role of DPS heroes has been diminished. Damage is no longer as important as survivability and control, which is why many DPS heroes are now in the upper middle.
The midfield has remained about the same as in previous seasons. The tanks in this area find very few opportunities and only in specific compositions (“Anti Dive”). Mei, Reaper, and Soldier have been replaced by more solid picks in higher tiers. Doomfist is no longer as popular due to his nerf.
Tier 5 – Too Weak or Situational
Bastion (DPS)
Torbjörn (DPS)
Sombra (DPS)
Symmetra (DPS)
Since February 2018, not much has changed here. Despite the revisions, Sombra and Symmetra are still only strong in too specific situations to be effectively utilized.
Please consider that this list is subject to constant change and upcoming patches can alter it at any time. It does not reflect how well a single player can handle a specific character. If your accuracy with Widowmaker is so high that opponents consistently have no supports, stay on the rifle!
