In the forums and social media, there is a lively debate about whether Anthem will ultimately be the nail in the coffin for Destiny 2. Our author Robert explains why this is absurd.
What is it about? Increasingly, comments have appeared recently predicting that the release of BioWare’s shooter Anthem will spell an inevitable end for Destiny 2.
That sounds familiar.
Back in 2016, many players proclaimed that The Division would be the end for Destiny.
In 2019, it is said that Anthem and The Division 2 will deliver the final blow to Destiny. Really? As in the past, I have serious doubts about this theory.
How is Destiny 2 doing currently? According to destinytracker.com, there are currently 1.1 million players engaging in PvE activities, while still 900,000 Guardians compete daily in the Crucible.
This is far from the peak numbers achieved during the release of a major expansion, but it’s still respectable.
Many players believe that these Guardians will completely switch to Anthem in February—permanently. Sounds strange? It is. It starts with the definition of “Destiny killer”.
What does “dead” mean for online games?
When is Destiny 2 truly dead? Destiny 2 would only be truly dead if the publisher Bungie announced that due to the low player population, all work on Destiny 2 would cease. Future DLCs would not be completed. Moreover, the servers would be shut down to save costs.
This (fictional) announcement should be triggered solely due to a new game? Certainly not.
This would mean that
the vast majority of Destiny 2 players suddenly only play Anthem permanently
no new players start with Destiny 2 anymore, but go directly to Anthem
This means nothing less than that the player base would have to completely collapse. After all, the servers for the predecessor Destiny 1 are still running, and Bungie has not yet announced a date for shutting down those servers.
In any case, the past has shown that Destiny is not so easily killed. The future will prove this as well.
In the short term, the release of Anthem may impact the population in Destiny 2, but the “hardcore” core, meaning the hardcore Destiny players, will continue to stay loyal to “their” game.
However, there are many more reasons why the future of Destiny 2 will not depend on Anthem.
Anthem is missing an important mode at launch
This is why competitive multiplayer mode is so important: Once all activities against AI-controlled opponents are completed and the last weapon has been farmed, a game primarily thrives on a competitive multiplayer mode.
When properly implemented, multiplayer matches always feel fresh and greatly enhance the replayability of a title. Moreover, the search for a weapon with the perfect roll for the Crucible in Destiny 2 is considered a crucial activity for Guardians.
This is completely obsolete in Anthem (at least at launch). Whether and in what form Anthem will have a competitive multiplayer mode is still uncertain. However, it is anything but excluded that many Anthem players will return to Destiny 2 after overcoming the PvE content long before Anthem has something similar in place.
Anthem will launch with significantly less content than Destiny 2
This speaks for Destiny 2: When Anthem is released, Destiny 2 will already be 17 months old. In the meantime, two smaller DLCs and one major expansion have been released, and the first content from the annual pass will also be available by then.
While the exact scope of Anthem cannot yet be quantified, there will likely be significantly less to do than in Destiny 2. The intriguing question will be whether BioWare will manage to deliver new content quickly after launch or create incentives to replay the same content over and over.
Do we even know enough about Anthem? No one can currently say that the longevity of Anthem will outlast Destiny 2, as there is simply too little known about Anthem—especially regarding endgame.
Many Destiny players have spent thousands of hours in Bungie’s work; Anthem will first need to overcome that hurdle.
Conclusion – Only one can kill Destiny 2: Destiny 2
Can Destiny 2 even be killed? Whether and how that is possible, we do not know, of course. However, it can be said with a fair degree of certainty that it will not be Anthem. Too many factors suggest that Anthem will not surpass Destiny in terms of longevity.
Substantial influence on the future of the Destiny franchise can and will come from Bungie, no more and no less. It is known that Destiny 2 has some fundamental issues. Bungie’s decisions in the near future will be crucial in determining whether Guardians will turn their backs on Destiny 2—and not Anthem.
The puzzle about the Niobe Labs in Destiny 2 is solved. But one sentence from Bungie is causing Guardians a lot of trouble: Apparently a hint for level 7 was not in the game due to a bug. Bungie says: A part of the puzzle was missing.
Here was the problem: For days, the puzzle solvers and Guardians were struggling with level 7 of the “Niobe Lab” puzzle. With a lot of trial and error, thinking, and puzzle talent, the first 6 stages of the riddle could be solved relatively quickly. But level 7 proved to be an incredibly tough nut to crack.
This brings the solution: On Friday evening, the community manager of Destiny 2 posted in the Bungie forum with this post:
Greetings Guardians
The Niobe Labs brought together some of the brightest minds in the Destiny 2 community to try and solve the puzzle.
Unfortunately, a string on level 7 was improperly removed. It would have provided more information.
As compensation for the missing part of the puzzle, we provide you with this hint to solve Niobe Labs once and for all.
Then Cozmo gives this hint to the Guardians to solve level 7.
With weapons imbued Through sights unseen Craft truth from the Hand Return the dials to the crest Stay true to the map To prove thy knowledge of the family three
With this hint, r/raidsecrets and eventually Gladd with his fireteam were finally able to solve the riddle, and there was a Ghost shell and an emblem as a reward.
These questions remain open: Unfortunately, Bungie does not provide any details on what exactly this “string” would have looked like and whether it would have provided the info Guardians needed to crack the riddle.
However, it is quite noticeable that all 6 stages were solved relatively quickly and only level 7 held up progress so much. If a part of the puzzle was indeed missing, it casts a whole different light on the problem.
The questions now are:
What was the hint?
Could the Guardians have solved the riddle with the accidentally deleted hint maybe by Tuesday evening, as planned?
Why did Bungie only notice so late that an important hint was missing?
In any case, the puzzle solvers have now been redeemed:
Since the reboot in 2013, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV have been regularly releasing new patches. However, this consistent practice is criticized within the community. Why is that?
How is FFXIV doing right now? With the amount of new content that the MMORPG from Square Enix receives regularly, other games can only dream of. The game, which launched in 2010 as a stillborn, now enjoys healthy player numbers. It is one of the few MMORPGs that require a subscription from its players, and they actually pay.
The summer of 2019 will be hot for the game. With “Shadowbringers”, Final Fantasy XIV is releasing its third expansion and preparing for a flood of new players with new servers and data centers.
However, some veterans of FFXIV feel that the core content of the MMORPG urgently needs a revamp.
How does the content system of FFXIV work? The patch system of Final Fantasy 14 is designed for consistency. Approximately every four months, players receive a major patch, always accompanied by a cool trailer and lots of hype. The contents of such a content patch typically look like this:
“Quality of Life” improvements, such as better user interface or colorblind mode
PvP adjustments or content
Minor features like new mini-games or similar
So it’s a substantial chunk of content. The patches are divided into “even” and “odd” based on their numbering:
In an “even” patch, like 4.4, new epic raids are released, and the overall item level of the equipment increases by about 30 levels.
The “odd” patches, such as the current patch 4.5, bring “catch-up content”. They provide players who do not run epic raids the opportunity to catch up in their item level with the raiders. Thus, casual players are not left behind.
Sometimes these patches are split into smaller components to evenly distribute the content over the months, so players always have something to do.
What are the benefits? In addition to the obvious advantage of a steady flow of content for players, this patch structure also provides an advantage for the developers. The director Naoki Yoshida and his team have familiar structures and workflows with each patch that they have become accustomed to.
This allows them to work more efficiently and finish the content faster. This is demonstrated, for example, in the comment of the Localization Lead Michael Koji Fox. He compared the hard work that the still young team had to put into the first expansion “Heavensward” with the second addon “Stormblood”:
Thanks to the experience [we gained in Heavensward], the development of Stormblood went smoothly. We finished a week earlier, and I had to think, “Is it okay to be finished this early?” (laughs)
When consistency becomes monotony
So where is the problem? Over time, this system of constant content flow has come under criticism from the veterans of Final Fantasy XIV. The development team has been using it since the reboot of the MMORPG, meaning it has been in use for a solid five years. Some players even talk about recycling.
The rigid and predictable structure of the content that is repeatedly used is criticized:
The dungeons are always linear, have three bosses, and some trash mobs in between.
8-man raids always have four bosses in arenas.
24-man raids always have four bosses with trash and some alliance mechanics in between.
There are always two sets of endgame gear from which players assemble their “best-in-slot” set.
The progress of upgrading gear and most other content is restricted by daily or weekly caps, so you can only receive one piece of gear per week from a raid boss.
Anyone looking for surprises here will be disappointed. With the release of the patch notes for each new update, everything about its content is practically known, which presents a stark contrast to games like Destiny 2, where players discover unexpected quests and completely unknown weapons even weeks later.
This is what the community criticizes: The cycle of patches is very similar due to this predetermined content structure. As soon as the new content is unlocked, it is farmed until the daily or weekly limit is reached.
Through the dailies and weeklies, players are prevented from rushing through the content too quickly and finishing too early or gaining a substantial advantage over others.
In a critique thread in the German section of the official forums, the player Caitlyn wrote:
Unfortunately, the age of FFXIV, especially Stormblood, is its downfall. After 4 years, the same stone farming areas, 3-boss dungeons, and class or boss mechanics are simply exhausted.
And while his article sparked many discussions in the comments, he was not alone in his opinion. The user John Artemus commented:
I can’t tell you how incredibly refreshing it is to play an MMORPG that is reliable and consistent, and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel every few years!
Time is a factor: In addition, time is a scarce resource for modern MMORPG players is aware of this fact and adjusts the content of his MMORPG accordingly.
Due to the consistent structure of the new content, players can plan the time they spend in Final Fantasy XIV precisely. They know roughly how much time a dungeon takes and how long an average raid lasts. This makes playing more convenient for them.
“Don’t fix what isn’t broken”?
Players provide improvement suggestions: In the thread “Big List of Suggestions” in the official forums, players have listed what changes they would like to see for the content. For example, the list included:
Large siege battles around cities as open-world content.
More innovation in dungeons and bosses. Bardam’s Statue was brought up as a positive example that teaches players mechanics. Other, less linear layouts of dungeons were also suggested.
Dungeons and raids for group configurations other than 4, 8, and 24.
A gear system that can be upgraded beyond just one tier and remains useful to players for a longer time.
These are primarily intended to bring more variety into the linear gameplay of FFXIV.
Will the patch system change? The development team of Final Fantasy 14 found its successful formula during its reboot five years ago. The regular updates cost players “just” their monthly subscription and continuously provide them with new content. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will change this system anytime soon.
Whether to view this structure as monotony or consistency is left to everyone’s discretion.
Okay, even I, as an obviously big advocate of the game and a “It’s not as bad as you make it sound” advocate, admit that the content is somewhat stagnant and that a few things definitely need to change.
But even in the English forums and on Reddit, you can find such threads from time to time. And it can indeed be said with high probability that the contents of the patches listed above will also return in the upcoming expansion “Shadowbringers”.
During the keynote at the Fan Festival in Las Vegas, Director Yoshida already confirmed that there will be dungeons and raids in the familiar style again.
And yet the system works
A contrast emerges at this point:
On the one hand, the patch and content system of Final Fantasy XIV has worked well for several years. The MMORPG has grown and has brought in solid revenue according to investor reports.
On the other hand, this system is criticized for its rigid and repetitive structure.
What does the other part of the community think? However, there are also plenty of players who do not mind the strict structure of the patches. On the contrary, this part of the community appreciates the consistency and reliability with which the new content patches of FFXIV are released.
I agree, FFXIV is really linear and consistent and reliable with its updates. But that is not a bad thing. It is a sign that the developers of the game know what works and how to keep delivering it consistently.
And while his article sparked many discussions in the comments, he was not alone in his opinion. The user John Artemus commented:
I can’t tell you how incredibly refreshing it is to play an MMORPG that is reliable and consistent, and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel every few years!
Time is a factor: In addition, time is a scarce resource for modern MMORPG players is aware of this fact and adjusts the content of his MMORPG accordingly.
Due to the consistent structure of the new content, players can plan the time they spend in Final Fantasy XIV precisely. They know roughly how much time a dungeon takes and how long an average raid lasts. This makes playing more convenient for them.
“Don’t fix what isn’t broken”?
Players provide improvement suggestions: In the thread “Big List of Suggestions” in the official forums, players have listed what changes they would like to see for the content. For example, the list included:
Large siege battles around cities as open-world content.
More innovation in dungeons and bosses. Bardam’s Statue was brought up as a positive example that teaches players mechanics. Other, less linear layouts of dungeons were also suggested.
Dungeons and raids for group configurations other than 4, 8, and 24.
A gear system that can be upgraded beyond just one tier and remains useful to players for a longer time.
These are primarily intended to bring more variety into the linear gameplay of FFXIV.
Will the patch system change? The development team of Final Fantasy 14 found its successful formula during its reboot five years ago. The regular updates cost players “just” their monthly subscription and continuously provide them with new content. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will change this system anytime soon.
Whether to view this structure as monotony or consistency is left to everyone’s discretion.
In the PUBG alternative Ring of Elysium, Season 2 is starting now. From the ice map, it now heads into warmer terrain.
What's new? In November 2018, Ring of Elysium was released on Steam. You can now download and play the battle royale game for free. The first season is now behind Ring of Elysium, and exciting times are ahead. A new map, vehicles, and features will be unlocked.
Europe Map for Ring of Elysium – Season 2
When does Season 2 start in Ring of Elysium? The new season starts on January 16. At the same time, the new content will make its way into the game.
What new content is there? The new gameplay update brings the Europe map, where an active volcano rages. There will also be new characters and vehicles introduced in the trailer.
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What does the trailer show? In the video, you see an overview of the Europe island. The mainland is equipped with a lighthouse and ramps for BMX bikes. New content awaits you in the water as well. Huge underwater monsters swim through the depths. You can explore the sea and move around in submarines.
New weapons and grappling hooks can also be seen. They are meant to help you get to the rescue helicopter.
These new features come with the map Europe Island:
New Equipment
BMX bikes, gliders, grappling hooks
New Weapons
MG4 and PKM
Locations
Ocean Park, Angel Church, Seafood market, The Observatory, Ancient Castle ruins, and Undersea world
Dynamic Weather
Sunny, cloudy, heavy rain, thunderstorm, dense fog, storm, intense typhoons
How is Ring of Elysium received by players?
On Steam, Ring of Elysium is rated “mostly positive.” In total, 77% of players rate it thumbs up. In the recent reviews of the last 30 days, it's even 78% positive votes. (As of: 12.01.2019)
What fans praise: Although Ring of Elysium is in Early Access, it is receiving a lot of praise. Players commend the innovative ideas, such as the helicopter escape and the possibilities for snowboarding and paragliding. Player -neVer- states that Ring of Elysium feels more rounded than PUBG in many ways.
Player Orangemorange says that Ring of Elysium feels like a mix between PUBG and H1Z1. It would contain only the best elements from PUBG and the fast gameplay of H1Z1. He enjoys it very much.
What players criticize: It is criticized that there are glitches and bugs in the game that spoil the fun. Some players have also encountered hackers.
A new video from Anthem shows the profile of Storm. The Javelin is a kind of mage among the classes. The new gameplay video explains the strengths and weaknesses of the exosuit and which builds are suitable for Storm in Anthem.
Who is Storm? The exosuit is one of the four Javelins available to you at the release of Anthem. Storm utilizes a special sigil technology that allows it to hover and unleash elemental powers.
What kind of video is this? The site IGN published a video that details Storm. You can see its strengths and weaknesses through the showcased gameplay.
This distinguishes Storm: All Javelins can hover for a limited time. However, Storm is designed to stay airborne as long as possible. Storm can hover much longer than the rest of the Javelins. Therefore, it can keep the battlefield in view.
This is special about Storm: The Javelin can be compared to a mage class: it is fragile and easily vulnerable (in MMORPG jargon: a glass cannon), but compensates with high (elemental) firepower.
These are Storm’s strengths: Storm has high utility due to its strong area attacks and hovering abilities. It can pin down enemies with its attacks and maintain a good overview of the situation.
These are Storm’s weaknesses: As seen in the video, Storm hovers clearly visible to its opponents above the battlefield.
This makes it an easy target and difficult to protect against attacks. Being aware of its position will be important for every Storm player.
Gameplay features: Storm has a kinetic shield bubble that is intended to compensate for its poor defense value. While Storm is hovering, the shield is stronger. The Javelin can also perform quick jumps in the air and teleport over short distances.
Focusing on Storm’s build
Useful builds: The video explains that Storm benefits from builds designed for its hovering advantage. Like all Javelins, Storm has gear slots that determine its build.
The loadout used in the video showcases some of its ice and fire elemental abilities. Notably, it often rains these skills down on enemies from above.
Special sigils: Storm is equipped with two sigils that unleash its elemental energy. A focus sigil and an explosion sigil.
What do you think of the showcased gameplay of Storm? Would this be a main for you?
If you want to learn more about the four Javelins, it’s best to check out our overview:
The linear fusion rifle Queenbreaker is currently very popular among Destiny 2. But why are the Guardians on PS4 and Xbox One so eager for this weapon?
The Queenbreaker is likely remembered by Destiny veterans as the Queenbreaker Bow. In Destiny 1, this weapon could become a deadly tool in the Crucible when in the right hands.
But even in Destiny 2, the weapon is enormously strong in certain activities and makes even strong competitors like the Sleeper Simulant look pale.
We will show you why the weapon is currently so sought after and in which situations it is recommended.
Queenbreaker – Why the weapon is so coveted
What is the Queenbreaker, anyway? The Queenbreaker is a linear fusion rifle that deals Arc damage and is carried in the power slot. Accordingly, the weapon also requires power ammunition. The magazine size is 3 shots.
The weapon is modeled after a Fallen rifle in both appearance and function and has already enriched the exotic arsenal of Guardians in Destiny 1.
What makes the Queenbreaker special? Thanks to its exotic perk Wire Rifle, the weapon fires a long-range precision Arc bolt that blinds enemies on impact.
Additionally, you have the choice between two scopes:
The combat scope offers a lower zoom level as well as faster reload time and better handling.
The sharpshooter scope offers a stronger zoom and higher damage, but also a slower reload time.
Aim Assist is the key on PS4 and Xbox One
What is so special about the Queenbreaker? In principle, it’s the general performance of the weapon and not a single strong perk that makes the Queenbreaker so popular. However, there are some factors that significantly set this weapon apart from the competition.
First, it should be considered that the weapon (without buffs) is lethal to Guardians with full health in PvP or Gambit with a headshot or two body shots. This is not surprising for a power weapon. But here is another aspect to consider.
The Queenbreaker has (on consoles) an above-average and noticeably strong aim assist. Many players believe that the aim assistance is much more generous than the weapon’s stats might suggest at first glance.
Many owners report that even as an untrained player, you hardly have to worry about headshots. The effect is so strong that even if the weapon aims at the chest or upper stomach area, it often still results in a headshot.
Additionally, the weapon, especially in combination with the combat scope, has a very fast reload time and a comfortable zoom level, which contributes to the excellent handling of the weapon.
The Queenbreaker also receives 5 shots of power ammunition per box without additional bonuses. The Sleeper – one of its biggest competitors – now only receives 3 shots after its nerfs in the Crucible and in Gambit.
All these factors contribute to many Guardians switching from the Sleeper or other competitors to the Queenbreaker in the Crucible or in Gambit.
Currently, it often feels in Gambit and PvP that the overwhelming majority of power weapon kills are attributed to the Queenbreaker and perhaps the Thunderlord.
What is the Queenbreaker suitable for? In PvE, you will not find happiness with the Queenbreaker. There are far better alternatives that are truly worth the coveted Exotic slot.
But in the Crucible and in Gambit mode, the Queenbreaker is an absolute powerhouse that few other exotic power weapons can currently rival.
In PvP, you can easily achieve kills at virtually all ranges. In Gambit, you spread fear, terror, and panic among your human opponents – whether in the role of the Invader or against an enemy invader. Especially in Gambit, this exotic weapon is currently feared, just like the Sleeper was before its nerfs.
If you enjoy PvP or Gambit and have neglected this weapon so far, you should definitely give the Queenbreaker a try as soon as you have the chance. You won’t regret it.
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What experiences have you had with the Queenbreaker? Do you also find the weapon strong? Or can you not see the appeal of this linear fusion rifle? Or have you not even gotten the weapon in your collection due to RNG-sus?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new update of Pokémon GO is now a few days old and players love one thing in particular: the increased visibility.
What happened? Without much announcement, Pokémon GO released a new update. At first glance, the update didn’t seem to have anything significant, but players were amazed when they started playing with the new update.
As they looked around in their game, they suddenly saw much further. More gyms and PokéStops came into view, and the map felt much larger.
That’s why players love the new update
What’s so good about more visibility? Increased visibility has several advantages. For example, you can see more gyms and thus more raids. You can also see more PokéStops and therefore good Pokémon that are nearby.
Especially gyms where EX-raids could take place can now be observed by more people. They can alert their teammates if a raid is in progress to trigger an EX-raid there.
This is what players say: Many players love this expansion. They can now see more gyms from home and inform their community when a raid starts nearby. It is also a help for players who are not in any groups and can now see lower raids more easily.
As the user “bernyjohnsen” writes on Reddit: “Can we quickly thank Niantic for increasing the visibility? I can now see six gyms instead of three. That’s so important for solo players who are not in any groups.”
The comment received over 300 likes and many players agreed. Especially the organization of raids can now take place more easily, say the players. The user “Dinkin____flicka” writes: “Oh cool, I can see another gym from home! That’s wonderful!”
However, there are also some doubts about whether Niantic really intended this step. Another user writes that it is unknown whether it was planned by Niantic or if it is a bug. So one should not celebrate just yet.
Bungie has announced that the Super abilities of Guardians in Destiny 2 will be enhanced with a patch. However, two Supers will be nerfed. The update is set to be released on January 29.
Here’s why Bungie is doing this: With patch 2.1.4, changes are expected for many Supers, and further skills of the subclasses will be modified.
This is part of the planned sandbox updates. Bungie aims to regularly adjust the balance to keep Destiny 2 fresh. Ideally, every play style should feel effective.
Therefore, they want to give some Guardians’ Supers more power, but Nova Warp and Blade Barrage will be nerfed. They were deemed too strong.
This is what changes for the Gunslinger Hunter:
Kills with the Golden Gun return bullets to the magazine – in addition, “Practice Makes Perfect” provides for a faster Super regeneration.
The Golden Gun should remain active longer by rewarding precision kills (Practice Makes Perfect).
The damage of Blade Barrage will then focus more on delayed explosions rather than knife hits. If the knives explode too close to the Hunter, they will also hurt him. Additionally, the knives should no longer track allies.
For Blade Barrage, the overall damage is lower. So, this is a nerf.
This is what changes for the Nightstalker Hunter:
The entire damage bonus is on the first hit of the Mobius Quiver. The radius and duration of the tether will be increased. It will be easier to apply multiple tethers sequentially.
Spectral Blades will be slightly weaker, but not in damage. The damage resistance while the Hunter is cloaked will be reduced. In addition, the duration of the Super will be decreased while cloaked.
This is what changes for the Arcstrider Hunter:
The damage with the Arc Staff will then focus more on heavy hits. The attack damage hasn’t been lowered, but the bonus damage is only on the heavy attack. The additional bonus damage for “Deadly Storm” has been increased.
This is what changes for the Sunbreaker Titan:
The damage caused by the burning effect of the Sunspots against enemies will be doubled.
The buff duration of Sun Warrior will be increased from 3 to 5 seconds. This will enhance all damage.
With the Hammer Strike, the impact radius and the targeting of the tornadoes will be improved.
This is what changes for the Sentinel Titan:
The damage of the Super is now focused on heavy attacks – similar to the Arc Staff. The damage has not been reduced, but most of the increased damage lies with the heavy attacks in the Destiny 2 balance update.
This is what changes for the Striker Titan:
There will now be three stages for how long Strikers remain in the air through “Landspeed.” In each stage, players should now be able to deliver four shocks instead of just three. The damage of the bonus has been significantly increased.
The idea behind this is that Strikers need a high jump point to fully benefit from Landspeed.
With Fist of Havoc, the light shoulder charge will cost 85% less of the Super. Fist of Havoc can now be used every 0.5 seconds.
With Fist of Havoc, skilled Guardians in PvE should be able to stay in the Super for a very long time.
This is what changes for the Dawnblade Warlock:
The duration of the Super will be extended.
This is what changes for the Voidwalker Warlock:
With Catastrophe, the explosion radius and the damage from Cluster Bombs will be increased. The targeting of the Cluster Bombs will also improve, but they will no longer explode each other.
Nova Warp will be weaker. While charging, the Warlock will move slower, charging will also consume more energy, and damage resistance will be reduced.
Additionally, the damage of the bomb will be lower in PvP. The bomb should not be able to blow up large groups anymore.
This is what changes for the Stormcaller Warlock:
The Chain Lightning of Stormtrance now hits one more target.
When will all this happen? The balance update for Destiny 2 is set to be released on January 29. Then the quest for an “exotic hand cannon” will go live.
Fans of Monster Hunter World are currently over the moon. One of their favorite memes has been quickly transformed into an event (PS4, Xbox One, PC).
Since hunters have been roaming the world of Monster Hunter World, they have teased and mocked him. But now he will take his revenge and his vengeance will be terrible: the Great Jagras strikes back!
The event: The new quest “The Greatest Jagras” presents hunters with a particularly hefty Great Jagras. The requirements are remarkably high and players need Hunter Rank 50 to face the monster in the Ancient Forest.
For comparison: The tempered Kirin can only be hunted from Hunter Rank 49 and is considered one of the most challenging monsters in the game. Meanwhile, the Great Jagras is actually a beginner monster.
The Great Jagras is a glutton and swallows small monsters in one gulp.
The Great Jagras and the Meme
The first big monster: The Great Jagras encounters a player right at the beginning of Monster Hunter World. It is the first large monster that one must hunt. For experienced hunters, it’s a piece of cake and not at all comparable to monsters like the Extreme Behemoth, on which players struggle.
Hunters mock him: The Great Jagras quickly became a running gag in the Monster Hunter World community. Jokes abound about how “difficult” it is to defeat the Great Jagras. After just a few hits, the monster with an endgame equipment goes down.
Monster bullying seems to be a phenomenon among hunters…
Nickname “Thicc Boy”: All the jokes about the Great Jagras caused hunters to somehow grow fond of him. He is often referred to as the “Thicc Boy”. When the Great Jagras swallows another monster, his round belly gets even bigger. He then attacks with belly flops.
Fans Celebrate Capcom for Picking up the Meme
Capcom plays with memes: On Twitter, Capcom announced the event with the words that hunters can grab “THICC rewards”. This naturally references the popular “Thicc Boy” meme.
mimmseh: “I hope he gets a cutscene where he completely devours the Deviljho. This is exactly what the Deviljho does with the Great Jagras in his introductory film.
Fall2Glory: “I want to both hate and hug the person who wrote the tweet.”
siyahlater: “I can’t wait to be crushed under this “muffin top”.”
When is the quest available? The quest “The Greatest Jagras” is active from January 26 to February 8 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Here is its description:
“The Great Jagras is the most hunted monster of the year. Understandably, he does NOT find that funny and is out for revenge, bigger and more evil than ever! Make him drop a Glowing Fairy Stone!”
Soon, a special event in Monster Hunter World will start:
Red Dead Online, the multiplayer mode of Red Dead Redemption 2, has received another PvP mode with Gun Rush. We have some tips for the new battle royale mode for you.
The Showdown playlist in Red Dead Online has been expanded with Gun Rush. In addition to Make It Count, Gun Rush is also a last-man-standing mode that may remind some of the well-known battle royale from Fortnite or PUBG.
You can select the Showdown activities in the game from the online menu or in free roam. We have some tips for you to help you do well in Gun Rush.
This is Gun Rush
Gun Rush is a last-man-standing mode for up to 32 players, where individual cowboys and groups can participate. Unlike other battle royale games, you are not dropped over the map but must fight your way in from the edge of the map.
Like in Gun Rush, the map shrinks over time and you must collect weapons, armor, and items to be able to prevail against the other players. Even horses can be found scattered across the map.
Here are some general tips you should consider on all maps:
At the edges of the maps, you will primarily find melee weapons and lesser firearms. Fight your way to the center for the good items and the best fortified positions.
Try not to engage with melee weapons if possible. Even though an axe or a knife gives you a sense of safety, there will always be a player around the corner who is better armed than you. Find yourself a better weapon as quickly as possible !
Use cover: Since all other players will also try to get to the center as quickly as possible, you should proceed slowly and use cover. In Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s possible to switch covers quickly or jump behind stones and other structures.
Like in other battle royale games, higher positions offer you the best vantage points and protection. Look for rooftops or balconies when you have the chance.
Tips for Different Maps
Gun Rush can be played on various maps, such as Fort Mercer or Rhodes. The following tips are specifically for the individual maps in Gun Rush (via IGN).
Gun Rush at Fort Mercer
The Fort Mercer map is characterized by its desert map with the fort of the same name. The fortification has several rooms and many walls behind which you can hide.
In the fort itself, you will find the best weapons and items. You should head there quickly after the match starts.
The best cover in the fort is on the second level. Find a spot where you are protected but can look both outside and into the fort.
Don’t rely on any corners, as you can get flanked and taken out faster than you’d like because you don’t have enough cover.
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The Rhodes map takes you into the city, where you can sneak through backyards and over roofs.
In Rhodes, you will find many roofs and balconies from which you can pick off your opponents and find cover. Grab a rifle with a scope to get the most out of this advantage.
Try to move through narrow alleys and under roofs and avoid open spaces.
The saloon is a good place to barricade yourself. You can see when enemies approach, and your opponents will have difficulty flanking you.
However, beware of wooden beams: Your steps will sound louder on wooden beams, making it difficult to sneak up on other players. You can, however, use this circumstance to watch for approaching enemies while sniping.
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As the name suggests, you are in Tall Trees in the middle of the woods. You will primarily find cover behind trees, rocks, and between bushes.
Rifles and other weapons with which your opponents can pick you off from a distance are particularly in demand on Tall Trees. So prepare yourself for the possibility of being sniped by other players and seek protection accordingly.
Since you primarily find cover behind trees and your enemies hunt you down with sniper rifles, horses are virtually useless on this map. They present too large a target, so you should prefer to be on foot in Tall Trees.
Look in the camps for gear and items. You can often also find treasure chests with armor there, giving you an advantage over the other players.
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The players of Fallout 76 seem to have come across a secret room and the human NPC “Wooby”. However, they advise you against searching for it yourself.
What happened? Some players of Fallout 76 seem to have stumbled upon a secret room that contains all sorts of items. Additionally, there is supposedly also a sensation: a human NPC!
What is the problem? The room is said to be a so-called developer room that not only contains the human NPC named “Wooby”, but also many unreleased items.
How the players may have reached this room is not really known. However, there were also such dev rooms in the single-player predecessors of Fallout from Bethesda as well as in Skyrim. Some players are sure that the room in Fallout 76 can only be accessed through hacks and cheats and advise other seekers against entering the room.
This is what the community says: In the Fallout 76 subreddit, the discovery of the dev room is being actively discussed. Players are speculating theories on how the room was found and why such a room is even on the live server.
Others share stories that the people who visit the room pass on the unreleased items through multiple accounts and then sell them for high amounts on Ebay.
Others consider the whole story nonsense: In their opinion, the room is the dev room from Fallout 4, into which fake Fallout 76 items have been modded.
The Death Runs in Fortnite are currently trending. In the Death Run by MontanaBlack and SteelBree, you can even win 5000 Euros.
What is a Death Run? Since you can build your own worlds in Fortnite, a particular trend has become especially popular: The Death Run. Players create a challenging parkour course, and other players must master this course as best as they can.
Both YouTubers MontanaBlack and SteelBree built such a parkour and organized a contest. The player who completes the parkour the fastest wins 5000 Euros. Anyone who has the map code can participate.
Here is the code – This is how you can join the Death Run
How can you participate? To access the map of the two YouTubers, you need to enter the following code: 1223-7348-3702
What makes this map special? The two YouTubers invested a lot of time into the map. You will only master this parkour if you are true Fortnite professionals. Hidden traps are everywhere, and you must conquer almost impossible jumps. Attention was also paid to details, and players have something to discover all around.
The two YouTubers also introduced the map themselves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxrEA0WBfWQ
The most important thing on this map is speed. MontanaBlack and SteelBree promised that the fastest player will win 5000 Euros. This will be paid out from the YouTubers’ pockets.
Can I also participate? Every Fortnite player can try their hand at the parkour and has the chance to win 5000 Euros. Players have until February 7 to set the best time.
What is the current best time? There is no leaderboard, but there are already videos on YouTube of players who have completed it in under 3:30. So, you need to put in the effort if you want to win the money.
The title image comes from Steel’s YouTube video.
We have also compiled other death runs and parkour maps in Fortnite that guarantee fun:
There will be two demos for Anthem before the game’s release. The developers have revealed new details about the test versions. You will have it a bit easier in the demo.
What will be easier in the demo? When you test Anthem in the demo, you will progress faster. According to Michael Gamble, the Lead Producer of Anthem, the XP curve in the demo is adjusted. You will level up faster and start at level 10. You will not carry over progress from the demo to the game.
The developers aim to ensure that players can earn everything faster to extensively test the demo.
Quick cash: You will also find it easier to earn money that you gain through playing. You can spend the coins on cosmetics to customize your Javelin visually. Players will receive 100 coins at the start of the demo to spend on cosmetics.
You will also see parts of Fort Tarsis. This is the single-player hub where you experience the story of Anthem. Here you can also customize your character and the Javelins.
Most can be played solo: According to Michael Gamble, most of the demo can be played solo. You can explore the world of Anthem as you wish.
It might be that the Strongholds are not suitable for solo play. The developers have already mentioned that the raids in Anthem are meant to be particularly challenging and designed for groups. There will be one Stronghold in the demo.
Matchmaking is available: You can use the matchmaking system if you are looking for specific groups. It will also be possible to turn off matchmaking.
How do you feel about the demo being a bit easier?
Everything you need to know about the two demos of Anthem can be found in our hub:
The Whisper of the Worm is a powerful sniper in Destiny 2, but its quest is only active on weekends. Soon, players may have even more opportunities to get their hands on the popular weapon.
What is it about? In the Destiny 2 subreddit, a Guardian expressed the desire for more opportunities to obtain the exotic sniper rifle, Whisper of the Worm.
The player suggested that, similar to the weekly challenges in the Shattered Realm, access to the portal for the quest on Io could be available using Queen’s Foil tincture from the Dreaming City. Another suggestion was that players could open the quest portal anytime if they have already unlocked it.
The post received many comments and support from other Guardians. This prompted Community Manager Cozmo to hint at possible changes to the quest.
The Drifter is working on a way to gain more access to the anomaly on Io. He says he’s getting closer…
What could this mean? The mention of the Drifter, who is typically responsible for Gambit, could just be a nice integration of the lore. On the other hand, it might also hint at a possible timeline for upcoming changes: After the Season of the Forge, in which we currently are, the Season of the Drifter is supposed to follow. Perhaps the Drifter will have completed his tinkering by then, and players will have more chances to access the quest for Whisper of the Worm.
How does the quest proceed? Currently, the quest for the Whisper of the Worm is only active from Friday 7 PM to Monday 7 PM each week. Players need to hope for a public event with Taken at a specific location on Io and defeat a certain enemy to open a portal.
With these great sweets, you probably have the best experience in Pokémon GO. A player made them for Community Days in Pokémon GO.
What happened? A player shared pictures of snacks she baked for Community Days in Pokémon GO on Reddit. These are not just plain muffins or cookies, but Pokémon-style sweets. And they are made with so much love for detail that every Pokémon fan’s heart surely beats faster.
Homemade Pokémon GO sweets – They look so delicious
These are the sweets: A user aryamao shared pictures of these special treats. They come in the form of the most famous Pokémon Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, but also Mareep, Dratini, or Eevee.
A special highlight: Even the shiny forms of the individual Pokémon were made. The little snacks are filled with chocolate or caramel.
How long does it take to make? The sweet Pokémon have received a lot of praise from the gaming community. “A tray with a few dozen of these Pokémon takes about 6 hours to make,” writes aryamao. “longer for the more difficult ones (especially Larvitar with the tails, agh!)”
Downside of the sweets: On Reddit, players comment that they can hardly eat these snacks. They look way too cute to put in their mouths. To this, aryamao writes: “My husband thinks the same. I have to decapitate them so they don’t look so cute anymore before he eats them. That’s kind of weird?”
This is how the snacks were distributed: The Pokémon sweets all fit the theme of the Community Days in Pokémon GO. Because each of the candy monsters had already had a Community Day in Pokémon GO. During the events, they were also distributed to fellow players.
Special feature for Halloween: Some players asked aryamao if she ever made sweets as Slowpoke tails. She did that for Halloween 2018. The “Slowpoke Tail Pops” the trainer showed along with her Team Rocket costume.
What are Community Days? These events were first launched a year ago, in January 2018. Since then, the events have taken place once a month and always revolve around a special Pokémon. For example, you could catch Pikachu with the Surf attack or Squirtle with sunglasses.
The goal of the Community Days is to bring local players together during an event. Since everyone is catching the special monsters or going for the shiny hunt, you often meet other Pokémon players. During these events, aryamao distributed the sweets in the suitable design for the event Pokémon to the trainers of the community on-site. Sweet, right?
Such cool community actions are popular in Pokémon GO. This trainer made the Community Day especially unique for Christmas:
The head of the gaming studio Gearbox (Borderlands) is involved in a legal dispute. The studio’s former lawyer accuses Randy Pitchford of having received 12 million dollars under the table. Pitchford is said to have lost a USB stick containing confidential information and his private porn collection.
Who is suing? Wade Callender is suing. He was the lawyer for Gearbox from 2010 to 2018. He filed a lawsuit against Pitchford on December 21, 2018, accusing him of various offenses. He allegedly violated contracts.
The lawsuit comes a month after Callender himself was sued by Gearbox. Gearbox accuses him of fraud. Callender allegedly misused his credit card access to cover personal expenses. He allegedly paid for a family vacation or a membership in a gun club with the company card.
There are also numerous other allegations against Callender.
This is the main point against Pitchford: In the lawsuit, Callender states that Pitchford negotiated a “secret, personal” bonus with the publisher Take-Two in 2016. This allegedly involved advance payments.
As a result, he allegedly received 12 million dollars directly for his company “Pitchford Entertainment Media Magic, LLC.” He allegedly smuggled this money past the employees of Gearbox. This is particularly tragic because this money would have otherwise gone into the development of Borderlands, according to the lawsuit.
Anecdote in the podcast about lost USB stick
This is the accusation regarding the porn: Callender also states that Pitchford lost a USB stick in Dallas, Texas, in 2014. This stick allegedly contained sensitive documents about Gearbox, 2k Games, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft.
Additionally, it also contained Randy Pitchford’s private collection of pornography.
This seems to corroborate the accusation: The website Ars Technica subsequently found a story from Pitchford, which he told on December 22 in a podcast about magic. There, he described how a camgirl fakes a female orgasm as “an impressive magic trick.”
Pitchford said in the podcast that he once saved a porn video on his USB stick, which he then lost.
Someone found the stick, took it home, and opened it. There, he saw secrets from Pitchford’s company, future games that were still in development, and of course the pornography.
This is what Gearbox says: There is a statement from Gearbox stating that Callender’s lawsuit is absurd. They will themselves sue against these allegations. Callender knows that he is lying.
He tries to secure himself with his “legal language” and the use of quotation marks because he senses that Gearbox will hold him accountable for it.
Callender uses lies to cause damage and to establish a viewpoint that he knows is false.
Pitchford shocked by accusations from his former friend
This is what Pitchford says: The CEO himself speaks up on Twitter. He says that the attacks from his former friend and colleague have no basis in reality or the legal system. He is just trying to extort money from him.
Gearbox will win. But since this is an ongoing legal dispute, Pitchford cannot comment on it as he would like. He is shocked by the lies.
Pitchford also says that he has now learned who his friends are. He will focus on work and trust that the truth and justice will prevail in the courts.
A new gameplay video of Anthem shows what players can experience in freeplay on the open world map. There will be special world events, expeditions, bosses, and even small easter eggs.
What can be seen in the video? You can observe how the two javelins Storm and Interceptor are traversing in freeplay. This means players can move freely on the open world map. During an expedition, world events can also appear and be initiated.
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This is important to note about the 8 minutes of gameplay
Freeroam expeditions are good for: You can freely explore the world of Anthem solo or in a group. During freeplay, it is possible to collect various loot. Everyone in the group collects their own loot in Anthem.
Through free expeditions, you can acquire gear and also gain experience points. You can also participate in world events.
World events change: World events appear in freeplay that differ each time you embark on a new expedition. This could involve defeating a specific boss. Likewise, delivery missions can be accepted, as seen in the video. It may also happen that certain events repeat.
Cover long distances: The video states that it can take a long time to get from point A to B in freeplay. It is said to be tricky to hover in the air for a long time.
Interaction with the environment: To maneuver better and longer with the javelins in the air, players should interact with the environment. The video shows a kind of portal through which the player flies like through a pipe.
There are also waterfalls that he flies through with the javelin to cool down the suit. Javelins need cooling to hover longer.
Finding easter eggs and lore: There are many secrets to discover in freeplay. For example, loot crates are particularly well hidden. You can learn more about the story of Anthem through codex notes. This is comparable to the grimoire cards from Destiny 1 that are also scattered throughout the world.
Elemental attacks: In the video, the javelins use ice and acid. The ice seems to slow down opponents and partially immobilize them. The acid literally eats away at the enemies. Some enemies are said to have resistance to certain elements, but are not completely immune. For example, ice attacks against a frost wolf are not very effective.
Freeroam expeditions are good for: You can freely explore the world of Anthem solo or in a group. During freeplay, it is possible to collect various loot. Everyone in the group collects their own loot in Anthem.
Through free expeditions, you can acquire gear and also gain experience points. You can also participate in world events.
World events change: World events appear in freeplay that differ each time you embark on a new expedition. This could involve defeating a specific boss. Likewise, delivery missions can be accepted, as seen in the video. It may also happen that certain events repeat.
Cover long distances: The video states that it can take a long time to get from point A to B in freeplay. It is said to be tricky to hover in the air for a long time.
Interaction with the environment: To maneuver better and longer with the javelins in the air, players should interact with the environment. The video shows a kind of portal through which the player flies like through a pipe.
There are also waterfalls that he flies through with the javelin to cool down the suit. Javelins need cooling to hover longer.
Finding easter eggs and lore: There are many secrets to discover in freeplay. For example, loot crates are particularly well hidden. You can learn more about the story of Anthem through codex notes. This is comparable to the grimoire cards from Destiny 1 that are also scattered throughout the world.
Elemental attacks: In the video, the javelins use ice and acid. The ice seems to slow down opponents and partially immobilize them. The acid literally eats away at the enemies. Some enemies are said to have resistance to certain elements, but are not completely immune. For example, ice attacks against a frost wolf are not very effective.
Freeroam expeditions are good for: You can freely explore the world of Anthem solo or in a group. During freeplay, it is possible to collect various loot. Everyone in the group collects their own loot in Anthem.
Through free expeditions, you can acquire gear and also gain experience points. You can also participate in world events.
World events change: World events appear in freeplay that differ each time you embark on a new expedition. This could involve defeating a specific boss. Likewise, delivery missions can be accepted, as seen in the video. It may also happen that certain events repeat.
Cover long distances: The video states that it can take a long time to get from point A to B in freeplay. It is said to be tricky to hover in the air for a long time.
Interaction with the environment: To maneuver better and longer with the javelins in the air, players should interact with the environment. The video shows a kind of portal through which the player flies like through a pipe.
There are also waterfalls that he flies through with the javelin to cool down the suit. Javelins need cooling to hover longer.
Finding easter eggs and lore: There are many secrets to discover in freeplay. For example, loot crates are particularly well hidden. You can learn more about the story of Anthem through codex notes. This is comparable to the grimoire cards from Destiny 1 that are also scattered throughout the world.
Elemental attacks: In the video, the javelins use ice and acid. The ice seems to slow down opponents and partially immobilize them. The acid literally eats away at the enemies. Some enemies are said to have resistance to certain elements, but are not completely immune. For example, ice attacks against a frost wolf are not very effective.
Vertical gameplay to observe: As other gameplay videos before, much happens vertically in this one too. The javelins can move flexibly in the air and attack their opponents from above or use this to dodge.
Freeplay can be tested in the demo: Anthem will hold two demos. You can either play a VIP demo in early access if you pre-order Anthem. Or you play later the free demo that will be available to everyone.
A modern classic with risqué themes is now available on Steam. If you enjoy puzzles, sex, and an adult story, you should play Catherine.
The “old” readers might remember my column from 2015, where I raved about a very special game for the PS3. Now, four years later, “Catherine” has made its way to PC, allowing even more players to experience one of the “best games of all time”.
What is Catherine about? In Catherine, you take on the role of Vincent Brooks. He leads a simple but reasonably content life in his small bachelor pad. His work is going well, his relationship with his girlfriend Katherine is good, and in the evenings he hangs out with friends at the pub. However, when Katherine hints that Vincent should finally marry her and start a family, self-doubt creeps in.
He drinks “a bit too much” and before he knows it, he’s talking to a young, attractive blonde who perfectly matches his desires. The two wake up together in Vincent’s bed the next morning after apparently having had a very interesting night.
Difficult questions form the center of the story: How should Vincent deal with the affair? Should he confess it to Katherine directly? Does he let the affair continue secretly? Or does he leave his long-term girlfriend for this “blonde adventure”?
It is up to the players to explore this – and make the corresponding decisions.
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Gameplay reminiscent of puzzle games: But the adult story is only half the game. The other half consists of Vincent’s nightmares, and here skill is required. Each night, Vincent must climb a seemingly endless wall of blocks. To progress, he must move the blocks and create new paths.
In doing so, he must avoid deadly traps and always has time against him – because slowly but surely, the wall crumbles down. And just when you think you’ve finally made it, a rather nasty boss level appears that redefines the climbing rules.
Catherine – A game of a different kind
Catherine knows how to put itself in the spotlight …
Anyone thinking that Catherine is a “typical Japanese dating game” is greatly mistaken. Even though the atmosphere of the game is quite relaxed at the beginning, the story quickly takes on dark and serious tones.
Social norms are questioned, fears are explored, and the question is repeatedly raised: What do you actually want to achieve in your life? Is it worth conforming to norms or is it okay to deviate if it makes you happier?
In Catherine, you not only learn the story of Vincent, Catherine, and Katherine, but also a lot about yourself on the side. If you want to embark on a somewhat crazy self-discovery journey for a few hours, you should jump in – plus, the game has many different endings, which makes the replay value high.
Catherine is a classic: Catherine originally released in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The anime look of the game is timeless, and the graphics are fitting for what the game wants to tell.
How much does Catherine cost? The PC port of Catherine costs around €20 on Steam. For this title with a timeless theme, it’s a reasonable price. If you’re skeptical, you should just wait for the next Steam sale; the price will surely drop again.
So if you’re still struggling with the intention to try something new in the “new year 2019”, maybe you should risk an affair – at least in the game world of Catherine.
Days later, as hoped by Bungie, Guardians have actually solved the ultra-complex puzzle of Niobe Labs in Destiny 2. The streamer Gladd managed to do it with the help of the puzzle solvers on reddit. They are finally redeemed.
He did it: Ultimately, the puzzle was solved by streamer Gladd and his fireteam. They were the ones who kept trying solutions that were often called out from the outside.
In the hour of triumph, Gladd’s thanks go to the puzzle solvers from Reddit-Raidsecrets. Gladd also thanks the entire community and everyone who helped. It was a team effort, he says.
He doesn’t want to claim a “World First” for himself. He only “inputted the ideas of others,” it says.
Gladd says:
“Yes, it’s true. My fireteam and I practically didn’t sleep for days, but so do a thousand others. Many don’t have the privilege of a fireteam and a chat.”
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You can see the sleepless hours on Gladd when he finally cracked the thing. He probably hit his limit or went beyond it several times over the last few days.
The puzzle seemed to really capture the “hardcore” players and not let them go until it was finally solved and over.
Who is the streamer? Gladd is considered an exceptional player in Destiny, someone who can really sink his teeth into things. He is usually a hardcore raider.
That was Bungie’s plan: On Tuesday evening, the Niobe Labs opened. It was supposed to be a puzzle that the Destiny community would solve together, have fun, and support each other.
Guardians were supposed to watch the most famous streamers on Twitch crack the puzzle. Once that happened, Bungie would open the fourth and final forge, Bergusia.
All clear, right? Level 6 of the puzzle with the solution from Imgur
This is how it really was: The puzzle turned out to be maddeningly complex: a 7-stage puzzle where the solutions became increasingly difficult. The streamers bit their teeth into it, and many ultimately gave up.
Why was the puzzle so hard? The difficult part was, among other things, that there were no “checkpoints” in the puzzles. If a mistake was made at stage 7, players had to go through all previous stages to get back there. It simply took time.
Also, the puzzles themselves seemed astonishingly arbitrary with wildly hidden clues. On Imgur, a user has compiled the individual puzzles and their solutions.
Players had to recognize tips in the sights of the individual weapons, cover certain things around 4 corners or who knows what else.
Bungie apparently wanted people to engage deeply with the lore of Destiny and decipher every obscure hint. The puzzle was made for the riddle cracks.
What was the reward? The reward was, as previously announced, an emblem and a ghost shell. The forge itself has been open since Wednesday evening and has revealed new exotics such as the currently overpowered Jötunn or the sniper rifle Izanagi’s Burden.
However, some players had announced that they would only enter the forge once the puzzle was solved. They can now go in. And streamer Gladd and the many puzzle solvers in Destiny 2 can finally rest.
Fallout 76 lures with the craziest items you can find and use. We present to you a particularly quirky item: The Alien Blaster.
What is the Alien Blaster? The Alien Blaster is an exotic and unique weapon in Fallout 76 that you cannot craft, only find. The blaster resembles a toy and is hidden. You must find both the blaster and the unique ammunition separately.
How to Get the Alien Blaster in Fallout 76
Where do I find the Blaster? The weapon itself is not particularly hidden. It is located in a blown-up safe in a polluted pond, west of the Philippi Soldiers Cemetery, right in the center of Toxic Valley.
The safe is not heavily guarded, only a few unpredictable RAD deers might attack you there. Just take a step into the water and grab the blaster and, very importantly, the rusty key that can also be found in the open safe.
If you have trouble getting through the water, you will find a bathtub right next to the pond in the remnants of a house. In it lies a hazard suit, some RadAway, and a toy alien. A nice hint.
How to find the ammunition: With the key, you need to head to the Mount Blair Train Yard. There, you go up some stairs and ramps to the roof of the building, where you will find a locked door.
This door requires level 2 in lockpicking. Open it and turn right. Against the wall, there are some lockers, one of which you can open with the key. Inside, you will find the “TNT Dome Key 02”.
With the new key, go to the Black Mountain Ordnance Works, a bit west of Vault 76. Around the pile, there are numerous hills that look like beehives. You will find doors with signs indicating their number.
Search until you find Dome 02. You cannot enter any of the others anyway. In Dome 02, you will find a small lab with a capsule, a corpse, and some equipment:
Chems
Hazmat suits
a jamming device
a letter
ammunition and a blueprint for a mod of the Alien Blaster
In the letter, there is something about the ammunition and how dangerous it is. The ammunition is located on the table and in the box under the table, totaling 45 rounds. This is the only “AB ammunition” that exists. However, with the mod, you can modify the Alien Blaster to run on E-cells.
By the way, you can also find the alleged former owner of the blaster in Fallout 76. The poor guy is lifeless on a garbage truck in the middle of nowhere. That would almost be a candidate for our 5 scariest places in Fallout 76.
How good is the Blaster? The blaster itself is a level 20 weapon with energy damage, somewhat high range, and good fire rate. However, the damage is rather low. A level 30 Deathclaw cannot be killed with the 45 rounds of AB ammunition. But the weapon looks really cool.
