In The Division today, on December 22, is the vendor reset. We present you the latest items from the vendors that are particularly recommended this week.
Every week on the night from Friday to Saturday, the big vendor reset takes place. All vendor items available in the game are re-rolled. We show you the best offers for the upcoming week.
Recommended Weapons since December 22.
Camp Clinton: PP-19 with Destructive, Capable and Accelerated. Strong SMG for PvE with good talents and high gear score. Instead of Capable, you should take Deadly, Receiving or Thieving.
Camp Clinton: MG5 Infantry Version with Competent, Thieving and Malevolent. After Big Alejandro probably the best LMG. With these talents, you should use the weapon in PvE. Remove Competent and take Destructive instead.
DZ Park Ave: G36C with Malevolent, Receiving and Focused. Since the G36 rarely comes with good talents, this one is not a bad buy. Replace Focused with Destructive.
The Mods after the Vendor Reset
E 46th St: Performance Mod with Pulse Crit Chance
E 42nd St: Weapon Mod (261) with Skill Haste
W 42nd St: Performance Mod with Seekermine Damage
Autumn’s Hope: Stamina Mod (260) with Health Points (2901)
Terminal: Electronics Mod (257) with Skill Power (3206)
The Grindhouse: Reflex Sight with Crit Chance (+7.5%), Headshot Damage and Stability
Madison’s Stand: Purple Electronics Mod (209) with Damage to Elites (+4%)
Autumn’s Hope: Purple Weapon Mod (198) with Damage to Elites (+3%)
Terminal: Purple Stamina Mod (185) with Damage to Elites (+3%)
The Blueprint Vendor’s Offers
The vendor at the Terminal brings blueprints for these items:
The Chinese government has set up a committee to review video games. The first 20 games were recently under examination. 9 were banned, 11 other games are to be modified.
Update 12.22: In the meantime, there was a list of the “20 games” that the Chinese ethics committee had reviewed. We reported on this on MeinMMO on December 11.
Among the 20 games were allegedly games like Fortnite, PUBG, WoW, Overwatch, and more. This list supposedly originated from a Chinese gaming forum and was then disseminated on reddit.
Reports prove false that China bans Fortnite and PUBG
However, this list seems to have turned out to be a fake. Although the committee tested 20 games, rejected 9, and requested changes to 11 others before they can be published. This was reported by Chinese state television.
However, the details are unknown regarding which games were involved (via Nikopartners).
According to analyst Daniel Ahmad, the committee is not reviewing games that are already published in China: Thus, games like Diablo, Overwatch, League of Legends, and others that were on this list are excluded. (via Twitter)
This has proven that reports suggesting China wants to ban Fortnite or PUBG are false for the time being.
A few hours ago, it became known that China is reopening the licensing of new games after a 9-month hiatus.
Original announcement (without the part about the 20 games):
This is how it has been all along in China: For years, the gaming market in China has been booming. Influential Chinese corporations like Tencent or NetEase made millions. Tencent grew even 7 times larger than Activision.
Games need a government license in China to be distributed. The criteria for granting these licenses are unclear. Some games have been specially adapted for the Chinese market. For example, Diablo 3 was not allowed to show bones.
Western games wanting to enter the Chinese market entered into deals with Chinese companies – because they had good relationships with the Chinese government. This guaranteed for a long time a license to earn money with video games in China.
Video games somehow existed in a gray area that was not really under the scrutiny of the all-powerful Communist Party of China.
China sees youth threatened by video games
What has changed: But since 2018, the stream has been halted. The attitude towards video games has changed in China and has become significantly more critical. Online games are accused of making the youth addicted. Furthermore, they are said to be responsible for the widespread nearsightedness among young people and children.
Now the government has established the “Online Games Ethics Committee” to review online games.
This information comes from the “South China Morning Post”, which obtained it from a TV news report from state-owned Chinese television. This was the first time the existence of such a committee was confirmed.
Recently, the head of GTA expressed a desire for the market to be opened, but in China, the exact opposite seems to be happening:
The release of the pirate MMO Atlas has been postponed again. But you probably won’t have to wait much longer. It is supposed to start one day later.
Update 21.12.: As Atlas announced on Twitter, the release has been postponed once more. The planned date for the start of early access is now Saturday, December 22, at 21:00 German time.
This is now the third postponement of the date.
The latest developments regarding Atlas can be found in this article:
If you were looking forward to the release of Atlas today, you will have to wait a bit longer. The release of the pirate MMO has been postponed for the second time.
But you won’t have to wait long. The release is now supposed to take place one day later.
Now, according to pcgamer.com, the developers have reported on their Discord server that the release has been postponed again. However, players will probably not have to wait much longer. After the postponement of the release date, Atlas is supposed to start tomorrow, December 21.
What is Atlas anyway? Atlas is a massive pirate MMO with fantasy elements. It comes from the creators of the survival game Ark, the WildCard Studios. What else you should know before the release can be read here.
In Pokémon GO, it will soon be possible to complete the first EX raid solo. The attack form of Deoxys can be defeated by just one trainer.
When is this possible? Niantic announced a few days ago that the DNA Pokémon Deoxys is changing its form and is transitioning from its normal form to the attack form. This attack form can indeed be defeated by just one trainer.
Invitations for this form of Deoxys have already been sent out. The EX raids will take place on December 28 and 29. Deoxys can still only be challenged in EX raids, for which you need an invitation.
We will show you how to defeat this form alone and explain why the attack form is so easy to fight.
This is how you can bring Deoxys to its knees alone
Why can the form be defeated alone? The attack form of Deoxys lives up to its name and has an extremely high attack value. The attack value is over 100 points higher than that of Mewtwo.
The downside of this form is that only its attack value is high. Its defense value is 46 and is worse than Hornliu’s. It can hardly take damage, which is why it is so much easier to defeat. A single trainer can already defeat this form.
The attack form is, like the normal form, of the Psychic type. Our counter guide to Deoxys remains current. Its weaknesses are Ghost, Bug, and Dark. If you have a team of Tyranitar, Mewtwo, and Gengar, you should have no problems and easily defeat Deoxys.
This is what the simulations say: On the page “Pokébattler“, you can already simulate a battle against the attack form of Deoxys in advance. Even if your Pokémon are at level 30, you can defeat Deoxys alone.
These are the top counters for Deoxys. Even a team of Houndoom, which don’t even have 2300 CP, can defeat a Deoxys in 233 seconds. A battle can last a maximum of 300 seconds.
Prepare your potions: If you do indeed plan to fight with such Houndoom, then you will need a total of 14 of them. So make a battle team and keep your potions ready.
But instead, rely on Tyranitar, Snibunna, or Kramshef. At higher levels, these Pokémon take significantly more hits, and you can even defeat Deoxys with six Tyranitar at level 40. This also saves potions. In the right weather, a team of Tyranitars at level 40 can even take down Deoxys in 154 seconds.
Will all raid bosses now be so easy? After defeating Heatran, Cresselia, and Giratina in pairs and now even Deoxys alone, the question arises whether the raid bosses will now become easier.
On one hand, it is due to the change to the very effective attacks, which now deal more damage. On the other hand, you are getting stronger Pokémon that also perform better than previous monsters.
Alongside Deoxys, you can now also find Heatran in level 5 raids. These are the best counters:
A new trailer for the pirate MMO Atlas has been released on YouTube. It gives further insights into the game from Studio Wildcard, which is just before launch.
What does the trailer show? It showcases further insights into the MMO. Players get a taste of most in-game situations, such as sailing, fighting, and trading.
However, many players see the trailer as a weak compensation after the release of the game was postponed twice. They want to finally play the game instead of just watching a trailer.
Watch the new trailer for Atlas here
The new trailer lasts almost 4 minutes and shows all the important actions in the pirate MMO. You get insights into epic sea battles, fighting against gigantic creatures, and even treasure hunts are possible.
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In the pirate MMO, not only sea battles are important, but also the trade of goods or the building of ships. Life in the game does not only take place on the open sea, but also on numerous islands spread throughout the game world.
A vast flora and fauna are supposed to complement the game.
When does Atlas launch? After the game has now been postponed for the second time, it is supposed to be available for purchase today, December 21, on Steam. However, we do not yet know the exact time. This could still take a few hours; perhaps Atlas will go online from a German perspective in the early morning hours of December 22.
What do players say about the trailer? Many players are disappointed about the release being postponed again. The top comment on YouTube summarizes the situation of many players: “There is no second chance for a first impression.” Over 200 people have already given the comment a thumbs up.
The first impression of many players is already negative; no new video will help with that, according to the community. The tension between the community and Studio Wildcard as game developers seems to be high.
After the launch of the game has already been postponed twice, the question arises as to where the problem lies with the developers:
In Destiny 2, Xur is coming today – For the last time before Christmas. Where can you find the Agent of the Nine? And what does he have on offer for the holidays?
What is happening in Destiny 2 just before Christmas? The ongoing Destiny week has offered quite a lot for the Guardians. The Winter Festival “The Dawning” is in full swing. Many Guardians are still diligently honing their baking skills or hunting cool event cosmetics from the Eververse.
By the way, you can try to earn the Forge Pulse Rifle Furnace. Many Guardians are already praising this new gun as the best pulse rifle in Destiny 2.
And if you haven’t participated yet, remember: We are currently giving away a big fan package of Destiny 2 – Here’s how to enter
All info about Xur in Destiny 2 on December 21 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Shortly before Christmas, Xur is also visiting. Have you already gifted him some homemade strange cookies? Maybe in return he has one of the newer Exotics for you.
When does Xur come today? – The times
The Xur time: As always, Xur stops by on Fridays – in winter precisely at 6:00 PM our time. Then he finds a quiet spot on some planet of his choice and supplies the Guardians with exotic goods from there for five days.
How long does Xur stay? You have until the next weekly reset on December 25 to stock up on everything you need from him before he packs his things and disappears again on the upcoming Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
Where is Xur? You can find him at this location today
Xur has set up his stand this time in the Tower hangar on Earth.
Xur’s current position
Xur’s inventory and his exotics from December 21 to December 25
Weapon: Merciless – fusion rifle for 29 legendary shards
Blizzard reduces its customer service staff in Europe and offers large bonuses for it. Does this have consequences for the players?
A total of 100 customer service employees at Blizzard are said to have been laid off at the Blizzard office in Ireland and are set to resign by the end of December. This is reported by colleagues from Eurogamer, citing statements from former support staff. The support is responsible for World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, or general issues with Battle.net.
Money was offered for leaving: However, the employees were not terminated and were not pressured to leave; rather, they were offered money if they resign promptly (similar to a severance payment). Over the past months, this offer has reportedly become increasingly generous and ultimately amounted to “the equivalent of a whole year’s salary.”
One of the former employees reportedly told Eurogamer that the “offer is too good to refuse.” Blizzard has repeatedly pointed out this option in recent months, and the money offered has increased every time. For the respective employee, the outlook became increasingly desperate. “When you see a large pile of money in front of you, again and again, you slowly lose hope and see no bright future situation.”
Blizzard confirms and downplays: Blizzard responded to Eurogamer and confirmed that employees had taken this voluntary offer. However, this has been a long-standing practice and Blizzard offers it worldwide. Employees have sufficient opportunities to “pursue other career options.” It is explicitly stated that no one has been encouraged to make this decision, but for those who take it, they try to be generous.
Cork remains active, support continues: Blizzard currently has no plans to close the office in Cork. They mentioned that the “player community can rely on having highly qualified customer service employees who will continue to assist players with their issues.”
Cortyn says: Honestly, I can’t imagine for the life of me that they would lose a hundred employees and not feel any impact. If 100 workers simply disappear, it will definitely have consequences – anything else would mean that the employees had been working extremely ineffectively until now. And I can’t imagine that, given what GameMasters have said about their job in the past.
What do you think about this news? Are negative impressions of Blizzard coincidentally increasing? Or is it clearly “the handwriting of Activision” as we often hear right now?
The new isometric MMORPG Lost Ark from developer Smilegate was previously only available in Korea. But now Smilegate has made a deal with the Russian publisher mail.ru to bring the game to Russia.
What has happened? Following the announcement that Smilegate is working on bringing Lost Ark to the West, the first steps are now being initiated. The Korean developer has signed a contract with the Russian publishing giant Mail.ru.
Mail.ru will be responsible for operating Lost Ark in Russia in the future. There is already a Russian website where players can register for the MMORPG.
However, to register there, you must have an email address at Mail.ru or be logged into one of their social networks.
What is Mail.ru? It is one of the largest game developers and publishers in Russia. They also own the Russian social networks like “V Kontakte,” as well as part of Facebook.
The Russian publisher Mail.ru is also the owner of My.com, which has a mixed reputation among MMORPG gamers. Part of the community believes that My.com monetizes their games too heavily, such as Revelation Online.
What does it mean for Europe? My.com, the subsidiary of Mail.ru, has previously published several MMO games in Europe and the USA. Therefore, there is a likelihood that they could also be responsible for the publishing of Lost Ark in the West.
It is not known how extensive the deal between Smilegate and Mail.ru is.
Their subsidiary My.com has not yet published any games from Smilegate. Therefore, it cannot be said at this time whether they will actually take over the distribution of the MMORPG for us and how this will affect the cash shop of Lost Ark.
The job postings from EA sound like they are diligently working on a new installment of the Titanfall series. Is Respawn working on Titanfall 3 or a Titanfall Online?
What happened? Players found entries about a Titanfall project on EA’s job site.
Many jobs for Titanfall project online – 2019?
For the Titanfall project, Respawn is looking for new talents in many areas. Senior Technical Animator, Build & Release Manager, and Game Designers are on the job listing on EA.com.
What is known about the new Titanfall? Rumors started as early as November 2018. It was stated that Titanfall 3 would be released in 2019.
Now it is clear that Respawn and EA are at least looking for people for a Titanfall project. What it will be is unclear. There is still no official announcement about the new installment.
This is how the community reacts to the job postings
For many players and shooter fans, Titanfall 2 is considered one of the most underrated games in gaming history. One of the problems was the release window between Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
In November 2017, EA acquired Respawn. According to the latest job postings, the teams are now working on the next installment of Titanfall. Possibly Titanfall 3. And this excites the fans.
This is what players hope: On Reddit, user Viet-Bong-Army writes: “Fuck yeah! I hope they release it at a good time this time, instead of placing it between a Call of Duty and a Battlefield. That caused Titanfall 2 to fail.”
These wishes exist for the release: Other players state that a new Titanfall should be released best in spring or summer. When there is space and no other major releases come.
And_You_Like_It_Too writes that Titanfall 2 would have been a massive success if players had not had to choose between the three shooters CoD, BF, or Titanfall. After all, the games all target a similar audience.
The low player counts in Titanfall 2 cause active players to be frustrated. Player k1aora_ writes that the current player counts in Titanfall 2 are poor. It is one of his favorite games, but the long wait times for online matches are very annoying. That is why he hopes that it will be better with Titanfall 3.
The Steam Winter Sale 2018 started on December 20 and brings many PC games on offer. Here you see cool titles that were newly released in 2018. Check them out.
What’s it all about? The selection is based on the personal preferences of the editorial team at MeinMMO. The number of positive reviews and current sales figures (bestsellers) were also taken into account. Feel free to expand the list and share your tips with us in the comments.
The release period is set to 2018.
Far Cry 5
What is Far Cry 5? Far Cry 5 is the latest installment in the Far Cry series. You fight solo or with two players in co-op. The goal is to stand against the cult leader Joseph Seed and his siblings. He causes havoc in the fictional Hope County with his fanatical doomsday cult “Eden’s Gate”. You will fight through the story with heavy weapons like rocket launchers and armored cars.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews of Far Cry 5 on Steam are “very positive.” The detailed graphics and varied gameplay are praised. The atmosphere in the story is said to be thrilling and consistently entertaining in co-op mode. Criticism is directed at the lack of freedom and choices in the story.
Conclusion: A great introduction to the next part of the Far Cry series, which is already in the starting blocks: This is Far Cry New Dawn
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What is Warhammer: Vermintide 2? In this first-person co-op game, 4 heroes go on missions together. You slay through hordes of Skaven and followers of the dark Chaos Gods. There are 5 different heroes that can learn one of 15 careers. Your group must survive against seemingly endless waves of attacks.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews on Steam are “very positive.” The balanced difficulty with an appropriate learning curve is praised. Animations and soundtrack are also often highlighted. A negative point is the connection issues.
What is Conan Exiles? This open-world survival game takes place in the world of Conan the Barbarian. You start out without weapons or shelters, but later build fortresses and have swords and bows at your disposal. The goal is to leave the Exiled Lands. On large PvP servers, you can destroy enemy cities in epic battles. You must withstand sandstorms and not get killed by extreme temperatures.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews on Steam are “very positive.” The many details lovingly integrated into the world are praised. The dynamic combat system and diverse building options also make a good impression. Criticism often includes frequent bugs that have been around for a while.
Conclusion: Conan Exiles is currently working hard to provide players with a lot of content. If you enjoy challenges and tough opponents in a survival game, you’ll find yourself in good hands here.
What is The Forest? In this survival game, you search for your son, who went missing after a plane crash. The plane crashed over a forest that you must now survive in. This proves difficult because mutants also inhabit it. So build walls, houses, and boats to have a safe shelter. With traps and firearms, you fend off the mutant threat or can hunt.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews on Steam are “extremely positive.” The setting in the creepy forest with frightening inhabitants makes the hearts of horror fans race. Fans praise the detailed graphics and fluid gameplay. Criticism is rare. Some players wished for more depth in the story.
Conclusion: The immersive world of The Forest is not for the faint-hearted. Play it in co-op and prepare for creepy adventures.
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What is Rust? In the survival game Rust, you build a base that initially appears rickety, but can later be upgraded with better materials. PvP is an important component of Rust. Expect that other players will want to hunt you. However, there are also dangers from hunger, thirst, and cold.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” The good foundation for a player-driven world is praised. Can you trust other players who want to ally with you, or are they up to something? The opportunities for role-playing are often positively mentioned. Players negatively note that the community is quite toxic and that one cannot trust any player.
Conclusion: If you want to prove your people skills and role-playing abilities in a survival game, the PvP in Rust offers a challenge.
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Here’s the link to Rust in the Steam Store – The game currently costs €14.99 instead of €29.99
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
What is Shadow of the Tomb Raider? In this part of Lara Croft’s story, you are to master a deadly jungle to save the world from a Maya apocalypse. You will encounter caves with tricky tunnel systems and water levels. It’s once again about exploring the vibrant history and solving hidden puzzles. You will also take out enemies with your weapons, surprising them with targeted attacks. In this installment of the series, you experience the pivotal moment that makes Lara Croft a Tomb Raider.
This is what the reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” Players praise the thrilling story and the lovingly crafted world. It is said that those who enjoyed Tomb Raider from 2013 and Rise of the Tomb Raider would also like Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Bugs leading to game crashes are mentioned negatively.
Conclusion: Many atmospheric places and challenges make up for the sometimes dumb AI. For fans of Tomb Raider, it is certainly a recommendation. By the way, there is also a free demo version on Steam if you are still undecided. You can find it on the store page.
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What is Jurassic World Evolution? With the help of biotechnologies, you create real dinosaurs. They are not stupid, but can feel and think. You have various options to customize your dinos visually and can even teach them behavioral patterns. You make profit with your dinos. With the money, you research new, undiscovered dino DNA. During the game, you encounter familiar characters from the Jurassic universe.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” Players praise the dino park manager for its beautiful landscapes. Fans of the Jurassic series will enjoy this. The gameplay is easy to understand and also appeals to casual players. It is negatively noted that the building area is too small and that the relatively fast-paced gameplay becomes repetitive. But at €13, that can be overlooked.
Conclusion: Jurassic World Evolution is easy to learn and can be fun for a long time if you enjoy building parks (like in Planet Coaster). A park simulator with dinosaurs, basically.
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What is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey? In this installment of the action-adventure series “Assassin’s Creed”, you fight in ancient Greece. On your adventures, you uncover the secrets of your past and change the fate of Greece. Your decisions affect the course of the story. You can customize equipment, ships, and abilities. Fight in large battles with hundreds of soldiers on the field or engage in naval combat with entire fleets.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” The story is said to be mysterious and offers many twists. Atmospheric music allows players to immerse themselves deeper in the story, which is told against impressive landscapes. It is noted that Odyssey differs significantly from other Assassin’s Creed titles and is more of a new experience.
Conclusion: Fans of action games can dive into a story here that offers a lot of freedom with their own choices.
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What is Monster Hunter: World? In this action RPG, you take on the role of a monster hunter. Alone or in a group of up to 4 players, you embark on a quest to hunt epic beasts. You can improve your equipment with body parts from slain monsters. If you strategically use the environment, you will become a powerful hunter.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” The co-op features and gameplay are often positively mentioned. It is fun to team up with friends and fight against the huge monsters. However, many players do not have a good opinion of the controls. You have to get used to them for a long time.
What is Kingdom Come: Deliverance? In this action role-playing game, you take on the role of Heinrich, who gets caught up in a bloody civil war. A large open world features grand castles, forests, and vast fields. To progress, you solve quests. Battles occur in melee or ranged combat. Stealth is also possible if you want your attacks to go unnoticed.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” History fans appreciate how realistic this RPG is. The combat system is a bit complicated at first but quickly becomes enjoyable once you delve into it. The sometimes long loading times are criticized.
Conclusion: Role-playing fans who prefer an authentic medieval setting will find themselves at home in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The diverse quests provide strong entertainment.
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What is Football Manager 2019? The first football manager in German with Bundesliga license in years is the only choice for hobby trainers at home. But also a good one. By the way, with the Touch version, there’s a streamlined version of the complex manager simulation, which comes closer to Kickoff or the offshoot by EA. Micromanagement is hardly present, the focus is on quick match days.
This is what the Steam reviews say: The recent reviews are “very positive.” The massive scope found in this football simulation is praised by fans. The many tactical variants that can be utilized in matches or player purchases on the transfer market allow players to delve deeply into the game and consume several hours. Graphics and motion sequences are rather poor.
Conclusion: It doesn’t always have to be FIFA if you want to play a cool football game. But be prepared to invest many hours if the feeling has you hooked.
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How long does the sale last? The Steam Winter Sale 2018 runs for the next 2 weeks. Until January 3, 2019, the sale brings cool PC titles into the store at reduced prices.
Do you have any other new releases from 2018 in the winter sale that you can recommend?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A huge discount action has started in the PlayStation Store. Over 1500 games and add-ons can be picked up at lower prices as part of the new deal – for the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. These are the January offers in the PSN Store.
What has happened? If you are looking for new games for your PS4, PS3, or PS Vita, you should take a closer look at the PSN Store. Because from now on, you can grab numerous top titles and add-ons there – and at significantly reduced prices. Sony offers discounts of up to 70% even on current AAA games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Battlefield 5, Spiderman, Red Dead Redemption 2, or FIFA 19.
When do the January offers start? Although January is still a few days away, the new discount action has been active since today, Friday, December 21.
Up to 70% off on more than 1500 games and add-ons in the PSN Store
Which titles are included in the action? A total of 1548 games or game contents are available at lower prices. There is something from almost every genre. PS Plus subscribers can additionally save on some offers.
We have also grabbed one of the highlights and are introducing Battlefield 5 in more detail. This solid shooter is underestimated by many and is definitely worth a closer look. Now you can grab it as a bargain at half price.
Battlefield 5 – What’s included
What is Battlefield 5? Battlefield V is a first-person multiplayer shooter and the 16th installment in the Battlefield series.
What is Battlefield 5 about? Battlefield V is set in World War II and lets players participate in intense battles between the Allies and the Wehrmacht. Combat takes place as infantry, but various war technologies such as tanks, anti-aircraft guns, or aircraft can also be controlled.
What makes Battlefield 5 special:
Large-scale multiplayer battles for up to 64 players, War Stories for single player
You fight as an infantry soldier, but can also use ground and air vehicles in combat
Destructible game world
There is no longer a premium pass. New content is regularly released for all players through the “Tides of War” live service
Future in-house battle royale mode Firestorm
Who is Battlefield 5 suitable for? Battlefield 5 had a somewhat rocky start and is underestimated by many. However, it is essentially a solid multiplayer shooter of the usual Battlefield quality.
Those who value good gunplay and enjoy large-scale multiplayer battles in a destructible environment and do not just like to fight as infantry should feel at home in the new shooter from DICE.
Additionally, everyone who doesn’t want to pay extra to fully enjoy a game should take a look at Battlefield 5. Because the title is set to be regularly supplied with fresh content and expanded – at no additional cost.
The new MMO Atlas is experiencing launch difficulties. Some players are already groaning: “This is off to a good start.” Let’s take a look at it: an extraordinary software studio where creative chaos is part of the business model.
Who is developing Atlas? Behind Atlas are the two main minds from ARK Survival Evolved, lead designer and lead programmer Jeremy Stieglitz and art director Jesse Rapczak.
In 2014, together with Stieglitz’s wife Susan and Doug Kennedy, they founded the studio “WildCard”, landing a massive hit with ARK Survival Evolved in the summer of 2015, and now they jointly manage the subsidiary studio Grapeshot (via GameStar). Grapeshot was specifically created for Atlas.
This is how it has gone so far: Atlas is a sort of surprise attack from the creators behind ARK Survival Evolved. The pirate MMO was presented at the “Video Game Awards” on December 7.
The joke: It was supposed to launch just a week later, on December 13.
Yet even this date is now being pushed back. The new release date is December 21.
What is the reason for this? This postponement marathon wasn’t particularly surprising. The last project of the team, “ARK Survival Evolved”, already exhibited a casual approach to deadlines.
Patches frequently received only rough release dates and were postponed multiple times.
With ARK, it was common for the lead developer, Jeremy Stieglitz, to share optimistic target dates on Twitter just before going to bed. However, he didn’t consider that console patches had yet to undergo approval from Sony and Microsoft.
This often led to delays. Even now with Atlas, it seems that extremely optimistic target dates are being thrown out without truly knowing if they can be met.
Was the postponement a PR stunt? The creators behind Atlas can certainly be credited with clever PR strategies. They launched the dino MMO ARK Survival Evolved in the wake of “Jurassic World” to capitalize on the anticipated dino hype.
The question arises whether there was ever a genuine plan to launch Atlas on December 13.
The actual “promo campaign” with screenshots on Steam only started shortly before they pushed the game to December 19. Even the first teaser trailer only came out after the postponement.
Did the team really plan to promote the release on December 13 with screenshots on Steam just starting December 10? We don’t know. The eight extra days have certainly been filled well by the team with additional promotional actions.
Wildcard – the slightly different studio
Here’s why the creators behind Atlas are different: While most software studios that distribute large MMOs maintain clear structures and control mechanisms, the creators behind ARK and now Atlas are essentially a “start-up” composed of college friends who founded a company together and have been highly successful.
ARK grew so quickly that there was no time to expand the team further, leading employees to take on entirely different roles.
In addition, their business practices are often unusual. Stieglitz behaves differently in interviews than is typical in the industry.
Stieglitz also made jabs at Sea of Thieves when announcing Atlas right away. When asked how Atlas would be better than Sea of Thieves, Stieglitz laughed and said the more accurate question was in what ways it wouldn’t be better than Sea of Thieves (via rockpapershotgun).
Legendary and mysterious is the story that Stieglitz could not identify himself as the lead developer of ARK at its release due to contractual obligations to another company.
He let his wife co-found the studio and only appeared as a “loose consultant” or under the alias “Drake”.
When this later came to light, a settlement was allegedly reached behind closed doors with Stieglitz’s former employer for 40 million US dollars.
Regarding the planned launch in a short time, Stieglitz said (via MassivelyOp): They found it pointless to let players speculate for six months or a year about what a game brings. Therefore, they believe it is better to simply announce and release games.
Does the chaos have a positive side? Even if much of this sounds like pure chaos in hindsight, the team behind ARK has often been praised for its closeness to the community, for the constant changes in the game, and for quickly implementing feedback.
Even before the launch, it looks like Atlas will be something very special again. The studio behind Atlas relies on creative chaos as a business model – turbulence can be expected.
Update December 21, 21:55: As announced on Friday evening, the studio has postponed the early access start of Atlas for the third time.
If you cannot currently see other players in Fallout 76, it does not necessarily mean that they are cheating. A curious bug is currently circulating, according to some players, which makes them invisible and invulnerable.
This is the bug: Several players are now reporting on Reddit that they are invisible to both friends and enemies. Characters completely disappear from the world. Those affected also seem to take no damage from opponents and are practically immortal.
Invisibility Bug in Fallout 76
This is how the bug became known: The Reddit user AvengedClayFoldX started a thread describing a curious incident. A player had invaded his camp and started destroying buildings.
When the player subsequently received a bounty, AvengedClayFoldX shot him down. The player returned and accused AvengedClayFoldX of being a cheater, as he was invisible.
Then a friend also chimed in and confirmed the statement of the unknown player. To avoid exploiting the bug, AvengedClayFoldX returned all of the assailant’s scrap and refunded the bounty.
The post on Reddit received several responses from other players who were also affected. Some had name tags still visible, while others were completely invisible and invulnerable.
When does the bug occur? It is still not entirely clear when and how the bug occurs. However, the user Liwanu provides a fairly precise description of when it occurs for him.
According to Liwanu, the bug occurs for him when he plays in a group with friends. If one of the players fast travels or changes zones, they become invisible. Other users report random occurrences.
This helps if you’re affected: There is currently no confirmed solution for the bug. However, the user Scorpion278 recommends using a Stealth Boy.
The Stealth Boy properly cloaks you. The cloak should overwrite any other invisibility effect. Once the effect of the Stealth Boy ends, your invisibility from the bug should no longer persist.
A form of invisibility like that from the mutation “Chameleon” does not seem to help, however. We advise against exploiting the bug if you are affected. Otherwise, there could be account penalties.
Are you also affected by the bug? What has helped you?
The new online shooter Battlefield 5 seems to be falling short of EA’s sales expectations. An analyst believes this is partly due to issues with the community.
How is Battlefield 5 selling? Although EA has not released exact numbers, there are increasing indications that Battlefield 5 is underperforming compared to the predecessor Battlefield 1, thus falling short of Electronic Arts’ expectations:
For instance, Eurogamer reports that Battlefield 5 sold less than half the amount of Battlefield 1 during its launch week
Digital sales are not looking good either: Superdata estimates that only about 1.9 million units of Battlefield 5 were sold digitally in November. This is also below the threshold set by Battlefield 1.
An analyst says: Analyst John Miller believes that Electronic Arts will continue to lower expectations for revenue. He cites the following reasons for the disappointing numbers of Battlefield 5:
This leads to: The analyst believes that EA will lose value on the stock market when hard sales numbers come out in January 2019.
A lot went wrong
What’s behind this: Battlefield 5 had a rocky start due to the massive community outrage over the first trailer, which focused on fighting women and flashy action. EA responded to the backlash with “Then just don’t buy it.” This early on caused significant backlash on social media.
Additionally, Battlefield 5 had a strange release model, where pre-order customers could jump in so early that outsiders wondered: “When is the real launch?”
Moreover, numerous features are missing in Battlefield 5 and are said to come later, leaving one to still question today: “When will Battlefield 5 actually start properly?”
In summary, there were probably quite a few reasons why it seems to be going downhill for the franchise in 2018 after a strong Battlefield 1.
In Destiny 2, the last Iron Banner of the year 2018 is approaching. Here you will learn everything about the start date, the game mode, and the gear that you can earn.
Next Tuesday, December 25th, the Iron Banner returns – for the first time in Season 5 and for the last time in the fading year 2018.
Lord Saladin returns to the snowy Tower and lets the Guardians measure their powers in the Crucible for a week. During this time, you can snag new armor pieces and improved Year 1 weapons.
What awaits the Guardians in the last Iron Banner of the year
When does the Iron Banner run? Lord Saladin arrives on Tuesday, December 25th, at 6 PM in the Tower. The first Iron Banner of Season 5 starts then. The PvP event runs until 6 PM on January 1, 2019.
How is it played? The Iron Banner is contested in a 6v6 format. Bungie did not provide details about the game mode this time. However, one can assume with a high degree of certainty that the Control mode will be active.
You can look forward to the following bonuses: As Bungie announced in the current “This Week at Bungie” blog, there will be some bonuses in the Crucible towards the end of the year:
from December 25 to December 28, there are double Valor points
from December 28 to January 1, there are triple Valor
These reputation bonuses apply to the Iron Banner, Quickplay, and the competitive playlist.
Here are the participation requirements for the Iron Banner: All Guardians who own Destiny 2 can join the Iron Banner. Year 2 rewards including random rolls and compatibility with Year 2 mods can be earned by everyone. Additional content does not play a role.
That’s why your Power Level is important: During the Iron Banner, Power Level advantages are active. For players, this means you are at an advantage over players with a lower Power Level than yourself. Against lower-level players, you deal more damage and take less damage from them. During the Iron Banner, your Guardian should wear their most powerful gear.
These rewards await you at the first Iron Banner of Season 5
That’s why the Iron Banner is great for leveling: Lord Saladin has a total of seven weekly bounties. Each of them rewards a Powerful reward upon successful completion. This means you have the chance for seven additional items that can significantly boost your level during the Iron Banner week.
Players without Forsaken will receive rewards with the highest possible Power Level for them.
You can earn this loot: If you complete Lord Saladin’s Iron Banner bounties, a specific item from his inventory will be available for direct purchase with each completion. Additionally, there are possible drops after completing an Iron Banner match. You can obtain Crucible and Iron Banner items there.
It is not entirely clear yet what weapons you can get this time. Bungie had already announced that the Iron Banner weapons of Season 4 will also be available in Season 5.
Additionally, Iron Banner weapons from the first year of Destiny 2 should also return – now with random rolls. The following items will be included in the upcoming Iron Banner:
In the latest live stream about Anthem, there were first insights into a dungeon. We present to you 4 things that the new stream reveals.
The new gameplay gives an insight into the Strongholds, the dungeons of Anthem. You can also see the Interceptor in action. What else was there to see? We have compiled four things that can be drawn from the gameplay.
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What are Strongholds? Strongholds are designed for multiple players. You enter a dungeon and are given several mission objectives to complete. You fight through many enemies until you face a boss battle at the end.
The showcased Stronghold is called “The Temple of Scar” and leads into an underground cave. Overall, the dungeon seems quite varied in design. The levels are structured so that you can fly around with your Javelin or engage in melee combat.
At the end of the shown mission, a large boss battle is actually waiting for the players. However, the developers did not show this.
Why was there no boss to see? They want to surprise the players and not show too much. This is a possible reason. It is also possible that the boss has simply not yet been integrated into the game.
Until now, only one real boss has been shown. At E3 2018 last summer, a large fight with a creature was shown for the first time.
2. The Interceptor Javelin in action
Throughout the stream, the gameplay was seen from the perspective of the Interceptor Javelin.
What is special about the Interceptor? It is the weakest Javelin of all four and has some melee moves. It can also throw things like ninja stars. In battle, its speed is an advantage. However, it was also noticeable that the Interceptor cannot take much damage.
During the gameplay, there were many situations where team members benefited from the attacks of their allies and were able to deal more damage as a result. These are the combos of Anthem.
How do combos work? Combos can be initiated with any Javelin. For example, the Storm Javelin can freeze its enemies. If an enemy is frozen, the Colossus can deal greater damage with its artillery. The Interceptor also benefits from such effects with its melee attacks.
In Anthem, there are supposed to be many different possibilities for combos.
4. More endgame activities coming shortly after release
At the end of the stream, fan questions were answered again. One of the most frequently asked questions is whether and when raids for Anthem will be coming.
Raids in Anthem? What do the developers say: First, they emphasize that there are several endgame activities that will not be in the game at launch, but are expected to come shortly after the start of Anthem. They may not be internally referred to as raids, but they will definitely go in that direction.
When can we expect these contents? Specifically, they plan to talk about it next year. The first contents should follow around the time when some players reach the endgame.
Experience shows that this will be very soon after the release of Anthem on February 22.
The next content patch 4.5 “Requiem for Heroes” of Final Fantasy XIV is coming on January 8. Check out the patch trailer from the “Producer’s Letter” stream with Naoki Yoshida.
The patch 4.5 will be exciting for FFXIV players. As the last major patch before the release of the expansion “Shadowbringers”, it slowly brings the story of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood to its conclusion. Fans can look forward to a big battle between the Grand Alliance and the Empire of Garlemald.
Other highlights of the patch include:
New trial fight against Seiryu
Final part of the 24-player raid “Return to Ivalice”
Christmas is usually celebrated big with family. Do you stay away from gaming during this time or find a way to satisfy your gaming cravings anyway?
Oh yes, Christmas. Many of you will spend time with your family, enjoy lots of treats, and slowly wind down the year.
But hold on! What about our favorite hobby, gaming? How does that fit into your Christmas plans? Does the holiday affect your gaming behavior, or do you find time for gaming despite the Christmas festivities?
How and what do you play at Christmas?
The holidays usually disrupt our usual routine quite a bit every year. While some look forward to the festivities, others are just glad when everything has passed quickly.
So also in the MeinMMO editorial team: Jürgen feels like a bouncy ball and can hardly wait for Christmas, while Robert’s suggestion for this article was: “Which game do you play to avoid your family?”
This brought us the idea to ask how much influence the holidays have on your gaming habits. Is gaming completely off-limits for you at Christmas, or do you take a few hours for your hobby?
Maybe the festivities simply change your gaming behavior? Perhaps you switch from PC or consoles to mobile just to have a few minutes of peace from the Christmas stress?
Or you do it like Benedict: He suggested using the nuances of the Nintendo Switch and simply taking the hybrid console with him to church for mass, the rascal.
Now it’s your turn: Do you play at Christmas? Does the holiday affect your gaming behavior, or do you still take some time to play? Participate in our survey and feel free to leave us a comment!
The market research institute SuperData has released new figures on the digital revenues of games for November 2018. A question arises: Where are Hearthstone, Overwatch, and WoW?
Since the figures from Superdata only account for digital sales of games, boxed versions are not included. It only refers to digital revenues from game sales, ongoing subscriptions, or microtransactions.
It gets interesting on PC
Interesting changes in the PC charts: This month brings a surprise, as there are no Blizzard games in the list.
And while Battlefield 5 and Fallout 76 are showing up in the charts, SuperData mentions that these games have not met expectations, as both sold fewer units than their predecessors.
No WoW and Hearthstone in the PC charts anymore: The PC games have seen quite a bit of change in November. Dungeon Fighter Online (2) and League of Legends (1) have swapped places compared to October, while Crossfire holds onto position 3.
Fortnite: Battle Royale moves up from rank 5 to position 4. New to the list is Battlefield 5 at rank 5. The battle royale shooter Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds pushes up from position 8 to rank 6.
The Sims 4 enter at position 7, likely due to the new expansion “Get Famous” and the Christmas pack filled with decorations.
For World of Warcraft, it seems that the phenomenon is occurring where the “veterans” have finished the content of the latest expansion “Battle for Azeroth” and put the game aside until the next expansion.
In October 2018, WoW was still at rank 7, but it had gradually slipped bit by bit in the previous months. In August it was still at 5, in September even at 2.
As for Hearthstone, the card game from Blizzard has not been found in the SuperData charts for a while. However, that could change in the upcoming list. The latest expansion “Rastakhan’s Rumble” was released on December 4th. So in the coming months, we should see how popular the card game still is and whether the expansion allows a return to the charts.
A heavily criticized game enters the console charts: In the console charts, we find Red Dead Redemption 2 at number 1, which is not surprising. FIFA 19 holds position 2, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 slips to rank 3.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is found at position 4, and despite severe criticism, Fallout 76 ranks at 5. Closely followed by Battlefield 5 at position 6.
NBA 2K19 loses a position and is at rank 7. GTA 5 returns to position 8 in the charts, just in front of the new entry Madden NFL 19 at rank 9. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey slips from position 5 to rank 10.
This is how mobile games and free-to-play games performed across all platforms
Mobile chart as usual: In mobile games, there have been some shifts in positions. However, the usual games continue to dominate the charts, maintaining their positions for months.
Pokémon GO has made a comeback after many changes and updates, currently holding the number 1 spot.
The most lucrative free-to-play games on all platforms: In the list of the most successful free-to-play games across all platforms from January to November 2018, we see Fortnite: Battle Royale at rank 1. The list is primarily filled with mobile games, but we also find League of Legends (at position 5) and Crossfire (at rank 7).
Also interesting: Destiny 2 does not perform well in the report.
Finally, it’s here: Cloud Imperium Games has announced an “approximate” release date for Squadron 42, the single-player part of Star Citizen, which is set to enter beta in summer 2020.
So, 2020 is the year. We will experience a space action game that fans of the classic Wing Commander have been wishing for years. At least, if everything goes smoothly.
Squadron 42 has a start date for the beta
What happened? Cloud Imperium Games received a cash injection of 46 million dollars from a private investor. The money comes from Clive and Keith Calder’s Snoot Entertainment. Both are well-known in England’s music business.
A large part of this money will now, according to Cloud Imperium founder Chris Roberts, go into the development of Squadron 42.
The money will now be used to increase advertising for the game, as apparently more players know about Star Citizen as an MMO, while Squadron 42 as a single-player game is somewhat overlooked.
The company did not want to bring a publisher on board for marketing, which is why it sought other investment opportunities that it has now found.
When will Squadron 42 be released? In addition to the cash injection, Chris Roberts also stated that they have now set a release date for the beta of Squadron 42. The beta is set to start in 2020.
All features and any content are supposed to be finished by the end of 2019. The first half of 2020 will be used for bug fixing and optimizing. Then, in summer, the game will enter beta. A release will follow later.
On the game’s website, a roadmap has been published that shows how far development has progressed and which things will be addressed next.
What does this mean for Star Citizen? A beta start of Squadron 42 in 2020 suggests that by this time the “core game” is sufficiently finished to provide a complete single-player experience.
This also means that controls, flight behavior, space combat, ground missions, and other important systems are in a state that can be described as “finished”.
The MMO is, of course, significantly more extensive, offering more content and additional systems such as an economic system. Nevertheless, the launch of Squadron 42 represents an important milestone for Star Citizen. It should not take long from Squadron 42 to Star Citizen.
