Although Darkshore and Arathi are both warfronts in World of Warcraft, the small details make the difference.
It has been a few weeks since the Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance for World of Warcraft was released. I have had several opportunities to play the new warfront “Darkshore” and have also dived into the “Battle of Stromgarde” a few more times.
Especially in direct comparison, it becomes clear why Darkshore is much cooler. But why is that?
Better integration into the story: The warfront of Darkshore has a backstory. Whether Horde or Alliance, one experiences a small but fine scenario that addresses the issues of Darkshore. The war feels more present and understandable here, as there are good reasons for the characters to be involved in the battle. One feels a connection to Darkshore – whether one is a member of the Alliance or a supporter of the Horde.
Tiny details create better gameplay feeling: Darkshore also feels more lovingly crafted, as both sides of the battle feel different. While Alliance players primarily gain wood with the Night Elves because Wisp cut it down from the trees (as in Warcraft 3), Horde players get their wood by taking it from enemy treants or chopping it down. Thus, while Night Elves do not “exploit” nature, the Horde focuses on destruction with shredders. This evokes memories of the campaign from the real-time strategy game.
Heroic units add flair: Another detail is the cool “heroic units”; into which players can transform when they acquire an Essence of the Storm. In Arathi, there was only a mundane “super buff” that makes the player almost unstoppable. But in Darkshore, we can take on the form of a Dryad, a Faerie Dragon, or an Elite Undead unit. This has flair; it reminds one of heroes from Warcraft 3.
Perfect sets for both factions: What particularly impressed me – and here the word is simply fitting – are the sets from the warfront, which are suitable for the Forsaken or the Night Elves depending on the faction. The set of the Moon Priestess made me think about whether I want to turn my character into a Night Elf. But even with the Horde, the sets look so stylish that one immediately thinks “Yes… that is how a Forsaken should look!” I wonder how they will top that with the “Heritage Armor.”
The atmosphere is dark: Lastly, the artistic design of Darkshore is miles better than that of Arathi Highlands, to which one has no connection anymore. The darkened moon, the oppressive surroundings of the forest with the burnt Teldrassil in the background create a much denser atmosphere than the cheerful, bright Arathi Highlands can produce.
Of course, it is still somewhat difficult to classify the state of Darkshore, and some lore questions remain unanswered. Will the various commanders and exciting NPCs like Delaryn, Sira, or Maiev really be killed there for good? Because that is what happens in the warfront, but it seems difficult to reconcile with the lore.
Nevertheless, Darkshore is much more entertaining to me than the Battle for Stromgarde, even though it does not differ much in gameplay. The whole “surroundings” are simply much more coherent this time. If Blizzard makes further small improvements to the gameplay feeling with the next warfronts, then I might still find something to appreciate in this game mode.
At least I was not as bothered by having to play the battle multiple times in Darkshore as I was in Arathi.
Do you perceive these differences in the warfronts as well? Or are all these details insignificant to you as long as it is basically “the same” gameplay?
During a special event, players had the opportunity to upload templates for the new class “Archer.” However, it seems that Black Desert publisher Kakao Games made a mistake in selecting the winner.
This is what happened: The new class Archer was eagerly anticipated by some players – by some since the release of Black Desert. To celebrate the arrival of the Archer, publisher Kakao Games held a beauty contest.
Players were to let loose in the extensive character editor of Black Desert and upload a template of their Archer. Other players then had the opportunity to use or modify this template.
Fans could win prizes in the two categories “The Best of the Best” and “Unique.”
The Dark Elf by SilverWolth.
Player wins with template of another
A winner from the North America region, SilverWolth, uploaded a picture of his Dark Elf styled Archer. With this image, he took first place in the “Unique” category. The problem: SilverWolth’s Archer was heavily based on the template of player Wilter. Only the hairstyle was changed.
On SilverWolth’s template, it is clearly visible at the bottom that the original creator is Wilter. The staff at Kakao Games apparently overlooked this despite the source attribution. Wilter is among the players who regularly win beauty contests in Black Desert.
The Dark Elf by Wilter.
Support reacts slowly: Wilter then contacted the support of Kakao Games and also spoke out on Reddit. At first, there was no response from support. However, a community manager reached out to him two days later and apologized for the long wait. Currently, Kakao Games has too few staff since many wanted to spend the Christmas time with their families.
They had started looking into the case, but around Christmas time, it would take a little longer.
On December 9, he released the video “Every Upcoming MMO and MMORPG 2019 and Beyond”. The video has since gained over 417,000 views.
In the video, the YouTuber shows brief gameplay videos of all known western MMORPGs currently in development. He also talks about their development paths and when the games are expected to release. Each game gets about a minute in the spotlight.
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It is noticeable: Most of the western games that TheLazyPeon presents are still “a long way off,” expected in 2020 or later. He also anticipates delays for many of them.
The videos of indie MMORPGs are often outdated and have been circulating for years. For example, there is video material of “Camelot Unchained” from DragonCon 2016. Chronicles of Elyria shows the “First Look”. The images are also from 2016.
However, this is not the YouTuber’s fault; there is hardly any current material available on the games.
The video also mentions games like Star Citizen or New World, which do not really fall under what people understand as “MMORPGs.” Therefore, despite their high budgets and potential, they appear in the middle of the video and are not the main focus. Indie MMORPGs have to carry the burden.
It’s almost ironic that “WoW Classic” is listed as a new MMORPG. After all, Classic is supposed to bring back WoW from 2005 as faithfully as possible.
These 18 new games are featured in the video: The order of presentation likely reflects the suspected interest of viewers on the channel.
This is how the viewers react: The special thing about the video is not the video itself, but the almost crushing reactions of the readers in the comments.
User Indeimaus says: “So many of these games look exactly the same in terms of art direction. It’s so sad that no game has its own direction.”
Dragonite says: “So basically… it looks like we’ll be waiting quite a while before we can play a new MMO.”
Captain ReddBeard laments: “Man, I love MMOs, but none of these give me any hope.”
Patryk Pankau asks: “What the hell is wrong with the MMO market? Why can’t some big publisher make a halfway decent game? There’s not a single solid MMO to sink your teeth into. It’s a disgrace.”
Ezralis says: “Here’s a prediction: Every new MMO, unless it comes from a big publisher (and even then), is going to be total garbage, just like in the last 10 years. The MMO genre is dead.”
Recently, there is a new sword available in Destiny 2 through the forge. Many guardians already consider it the best sword for PvE. We explain what makes Stryker’s Sure-Hand so special and how you can obtain it.
Since the weekly reset on December 25, guardians can earn a new weapon through the forge – the legendary sword Stryker’s Sure-Hand. The sword can come with perks that can turn this weapon into a true DPS monster. We take a closer look at this sword from the “Black Armory” DLC.
Stryker’s Sure-Hand – The best sword for PvE
Swords currently have a hard time in Destiny 2 – especially in PvE. With rocket launchers, machine guns, or weapons like the Sleeper Simulant and Whisper of the Worm, they just can’t compete. But with the new sword, this could change in some activities.
What makes the new forge sword so special? The special thing about Stryker’s Sure-Hand is the perk surrounded, with which the sword can roll. This has not been possible with any other sword so far. As a result, the sword receives bonus damage (about 40%) when three or more enemies are nearby – which is often the case when using the sword.
Moreover, the sword can then additionally be enhanced with the new weapon mod Surrounded Spec. This modification further amplifies the effect of Surrounded. Moreover, the bonus from Surrounded lasts for a while, even when you are no longer surrounded by enemies.
This allows the sword to deal tremendous damage – over 140,000 with a single heavy sword strike is easily achievable with buffs.
Warlock in the Well of Radiance with Stryker’s Sure-Hand (Source: Jarvenis, YouTube)
For example, a Warlock can place a Well of Radiance during the boss fight in the forge activity and then deal approximately 142,000 damage to the boss with a appropriately rolled and modified Sure-Hand sword. Even outside the well, the sword still deals over 100,000 damage per heavy attack.
What is Stryker’s Sure-Hand suitable for? The sword can be used anywhere you can get close enough to a boss or elite enemy surrounded by smaller enemies. In wave activities such as the new forges, the Blind Well, Escalation Protocol, but also in Vanguard strikes or Nightfall, the new forge sword melts bosses and majors with ease. The sword is also very effective against blockers in Gambit.
To see how the sword performs in the forge, you can check out this video by Jarvenis at 5:00:
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How to obtain the new sword? Stryker’s Sure-Hand is available through a new weapon frame from Ada-1, the Black Armory vendor, who has it in stock this week. The frame must be completed in several steps, just like the previous weapon plans.
You can find a compact step-by-step guide in this video by YouTuber HurleyEffect:
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The sword drops with random rolls, but since the perk pool for swords is smaller than for other weapon types, you can relatively quickly get your desired combo.
What do fans say? On Reddit and YouTube, many guardians seem to agree that Stryker’s Sure-Hand is currently the best legendary sword in the game.
In some situations, the sword even represents a viable alternative to other top weapons in the power slot like the Sleeper, Thousand Voices, or Whisper of the Worm. This even frees up the exotic slot for another good weapon.
Almost everyone who has had experience with this sword recommends it.
Shortly before Christmas, a PvP spin-off of the highly anticipated MMORPG Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was launched. However, the servers are already offline.
Silently and without much announcement, the servers went offline and apparently will remain so for now. Fans are disappointed.
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse – Almost online, already offline
What happened? On December 20, the servers for Ashes of Creation Apocalypse were launched as part of the testing phase of a PvP spin-off of the MMORPG. The first version offered a battle royale mode, with more modes expected to follow.
However, the servers were closed again on December 26. There was no major announcement regarding this, but the developers briefly stated on Discord and Reddit that the servers would be offline until January. Players were taken by surprise.
When will it continue? The testing is scheduled to resume on January 11, but only during specific “stress test weekends.”
Fans are angry
How are the players reacting? Fans are surprised and also angry – and for several reasons:
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Server down despite open cash shop: The fact that Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was only online for such a short time and will only return in January with test weekends upsets many players. The cash shop was opened with the start of the test phase. Players were able to buy items with real money, but now have little to show for it.
Status of the game is not good: Many fans are not really surprised that Apocalypse is offline. Reports suggest that the state of the game was far from good. There were plenty of bugs, lags, and many features did not work at all. The developers stated that the release was “broken”.
Forum is offline: Many players are also disappointed that the official forum of the game went offline before the beta started and has not been accessible until today. The lack of a forum to share, express opinions, and provide feedback is something players are currently dissatisfied with.
When is the official launch? It is planned that Ashes of Creation Apocalypse will officially launch in February, after several test weekends in January. Until then, patience seems to be the only option.
In 2018, there was a lot going on in the gaming community, many MMOs and multiplayer games experienced their ups and downs. Therefore, we want to know: What were your favorites in 2018?
The year 2018 is slowly coming to an end, and everywhere the annual awards and prizes are being awarded. We also want to look back at 2018 with you and briefly remember which new online and multiplayer games left the best impressions on us this year.
However, this is only about new releases, so games that first saw the light of the gaming world in 2018. We do not include expansions like Forsaken or Battle for Azeroth, as they belong to already existing games.
Which of these games from 2018 left a deep positive impression on you? Or do you perhaps have secret favorites that are not on the list? Post them in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Our author Tarek explains to you which is the best single-player game of 2018 for him and why you should play it.
The question of which single-player game is the best for me this year was not easy to answer at first. This year there were some great games.
In the end, it was very close between Red Dead Redemption 2 and the PS4 title God of War. The latter won the race. For me, God of War is the best single-player game of 2018.
God of War (2018)
Platform: Playstation 4
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release: April 20, 2018
God of War for the PS4 is the fourth main installment of the series. God of War is a large franchise with many titles, but the latest installment was the first that genuinely piqued my curiosity.
The previous installments were all hack-and-slash games, and I simply did not enjoy the gameplay. But then the first videos of the latest installment came out, clearly showing that the new God of War would not follow the old formula. Of course, this is a matter of taste, but for me, this change was ideal, and with God of War (2018), ultimately a masterpiece was created.
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What is God of War about? Primarily, the story is likely one between father and son. Kratos is a god and lives in the far north with his son Atreus in exile. His wife and Atreus’ mother died before the events of the game began. With her funeral, the story begins. Her last wish was to have her ashes scattered on a distant mountain peak. Therefore, Kratos must embark on a long journey with his son, leading him through the Nordic lands and mythology.
On this journey, numerous dangers await in the form of monsters and gods, but allies are also waiting along the way. Additionally, there is an engaging story revolving around Thor, Odin, Baldur, Freya, and many other gods and giants from this time.
With the Axe or Fists?
How is God of War played? Unlike the earlier installments, the new God of War is not a hack-and-slash but a tight action-adventure that also draws on RPG systems. You fight from a third-person perspective and control Kratos. Additionally, there is Atreus, who assists you in combat. With his bow, he is a useful ally.
There are several equipment sets that also have different skills and attributes. In addition, there are various rune skills and talismans that allow you to refine your playstyle. You have the Leviathan Axe, your main weapon, and a shield. Throughout the game, you can upgrade them, unlock new moves, and become even better in combat.
It is also not just a normal axe. Rather, it is a weapon that inflicts frost damage. It can be thrown and recalled. You can target enemies with it or freeze them in place. Alternatively, you can also fight with just your fists, which may even be necessary depending on the type of enemy.
The battles are challenging depending on the difficulty level and require thought before attacking. Some enemies require proper tactics or have a trick for how to take them down most effectively.
A Must for PS4 Owners
What makes God of War so special? The gameplay mechanics are refined and integrate seamlessly into the game. The progression system surrounding the upgradeable Leviathan Axe, various armor sets, skills, and talismans works well and is not overloaded. The game world is not a classic open world. It is more a series of linear areas that are interconnected. However, as you progress through the game, more areas become accessible, providing a lot of variety and beautifully designed settings.
For me personally, the story surrounding the complicated relationship between Kratos and Atreus is what makes the game so good. Kratos tries to fulfill his role as a father but struggles with himself, his self-hatred, and his pride. Atreus tries to gain his father’s respect and prove himself. Additionally, there is an engaging story set in Norse mythology with murder, gods, and monsters, as one knows from God of War.
The art design is outstanding. Armors, weapons, embellishments, murals, architecture—everything has been designed in detail and impressively.
The whole experience is accompanied by a soundtrack that is likely among the best the industry has ever produced. It is powerful, dark, epic, and emphasizes nearly every scene perfectly. This also applies to the (English) voice acting. The Stargate fanboy in me was thrilled that Kratos is voiced by Christopher Judge (Teal’c, SG1). Boy, everyone who has played it will surely agree with me.
In short: If you want a game with a great story, fantastic technology, strong gameplay, and incredible sound and art design, then God of War is the right game for you. Unfortunately, it is an exclusive title for the PS4, so you will need a console.
The jury of the Game Awards probably agrees with me, as God of War was chosen as the Game of the Year 2018 at the Game Awards, even ahead of Red Dead Redemption 2.
The research breakthrough for January and February in Pokémon GO is known. You have the chance to catch eight legendary Pokémon.
What is the research breakthrough? If you complete a field research task for 7 days, you will receive a research breakthrough. In it, you can receive not only a Pokémon but also items like the Sinnoh Stone.
In December, you had the chance to catch six legendary Pokémon. The Pokémon for January and February are now also known.
Little new in the research breakthrough
These Pokémon you can receive: You have the chance to catch Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Suicune, Entei, Raikou, Lugia, and Ho-Oh. The first six Pokémon were already the reward in December. You will receive one Pokémon per breakthrough, which will be determined randomly.
The changes in the research breakthrough remain minimal. With Lugia and Ho-Oh, two Pokémon are added that have often been available as raid bosses.
Chance for Shinies: As many as five of these Pokémon can also be caught as Shiny. Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Lugia, and Ho-Oh are also available in their shiny form. You can receive these in the research breakthrough.
How long is the research breakthrough available? You can receive these legendary Pokémon from the research breakthrough throughout January and February. Starting January 1st, at 10 PM, these Pokémon will be available in the breakthrough.
What else is new? Pokémon GO also announced new field research tasks for the two months. These are supposed to be popular tasks from previous months. In the December, you can solve field research tasks that were present in previous months.
A detailed list of field research tasks will not be available until January 1st. Until then, the tasks are still unknown.
2018 was a good year for Pokémon GO. We explain why the game is so successful again in the following article:
The action RPG Monster Hunter World became a global hit in 2018. Our Leya explains why monster hunting is one of the big winners in gaming in 2018.
The situation: Monster Hunter has been around since 2004. From the beginning, the franchise has been incredibly popular in Japan.
The game was primarily found on handheld consoles, such as the Nintendo 3DS. In the West, however, significant success was lacking. Monster Hunter was always a niche title for us, with a loyal but small fanbase.
However, this was supposed to change with the fifth main installment of the series. Capcom tailored Monster Hunter World to the West. A particularly important step was the transition from handheld consoles to home consoles, the PS4 and Xbox One, and to PC.
This vibrant world was already palpable in the short demo where I hunted the terrifying Anjanath in the Ancient Forest back in August 2017.
When the Anjanath encounters the Great Jagras, it digs its sharp claws into it and challenges it to a territory fight. If I face a toad, it explodes and puts the monsters to sleep or even me if I’m not careful.
Little to criticize: Players were positively surprised by Monster Hunter World, and criticisms on consoles were rare.
Objectively, the cumbersome user interface and the clumsily implemented multiplayer were criticized. However, players enjoyed the gameplay so much that they gladly overlooked these issues.
After Capcom further optimized the performance and fixed bugs, the negative reviews also decreased.
The misunderstanding: Monster Hunter World is not a classic “games-as-a-service” title like Destiny 2. The game was never designed to be developed and supported with updates over the long term.
This caused confusion among some fans, as Monster Hunter World brings regular content updates and events in the game. New monsters like the Behemoth or Lunastra were added later. Monster Hunter World draws on many aspects of an MMO, but it is not one.
Fans want more: Thus, the biggest criticism was that fans wanted more content. For a few months, the craving for Monster Hunter World was great among fans. About 6 months after the release, the hype had noticeably faded and only a core group remained.
There was a general sentiment among fans that they wanted more monsters, more story, more maps – the players loved the monster hunting so much.
If this is the biggest criticism, then Monster Hunter World must have done a lot right.
Monster Hunter World as One of the Big Winners
The surprise: Monster Hunter World came out of nowhere for many in the West. The rise of the franchise has primarily been experienced by the Japanese. The concept of monster hunting and the associated steep learning curve was something new for players here.
Capcom adapted Monster Hunter World by introducing more comfort features and removing much clumsiness. However, Monster Hunter World did not lose the core of the franchise. The MMORPG boss-like battles with monsters, the grind for new equipment, and the enhancement of one’s skills constitute the appeal.
What was already well-known in Asia was perceived as something fresh here in the West. This, along with the impressive realization of the game world, made Monster Hunter World one of the biggest winners of 2018.
In Fortnite there is now the secret banner from week 4 of season 7. The loading screen gives the hint and shows that it is not a secret star.
What is it about? The new tasks of week 4 in Fortnite: Battle Royale also include another secret banner. It is initially hidden and is only suggested by a loading screen. We show you here the loading screen with the hint and then also the location of the secret banner.
This is the requirement: To find the secret banner, you must first complete all tasks from week 4 and the previous weeks. Otherwise, you can walk to the location but won’t see the banner.
Where is the banner from week 4 in season 7? This time no star
After completing all tasks from week 4 in season 7, you unlock a new loading screen. Pay close attention, as there is a hidden clue.
What do you see in the picture? The graphic shows the character Powder performing a cool trick. But the hint for the banner is hidden in the background. Look in the lower right corner of the facade of a house.
This house gives the hint: The house on the right side of the image shows the icon of the banner. On the left half of the second floor, you will find the hint.
Here you should search: You need to go to the village Happy Hamlet, which can be found in the south of Fortnite in the ice biome. This is located at grid box D9. Travel to this location and find the house that is near a clock tower. Build a staircase to the house. The banner is waiting at the indicated place outside the house.
Video description: So you can definitely find the location you are looking for, we embed a YouTube video here that shows the location.
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In Fortnite: Battle Royale, you can now find the Quad Crasher as a new vehicle. We have discovered all the “Quad Locations” for you and are showing a map with the locations.
Update 28.12.: We have added a new map for Season 7 to the article for Christmas. It shows the locations of the Quads.
What is a Quad Crasher? The Quad Crasher is a new vehicle in Fortnite. Together with the Shopping Carts and Golf Carts, there are now three vehicles in the game.
The Quad Crasher is a mini bulldozer with a jet engine. In addition to the driver, a passenger can also hop on the back – ideal for solo and duo matches. The Crasher is quite fast and has a special feature.
The terror of all buildings: When you activate the booster, you ignite an afterburner. This accelerates the Crasher significantly and turns you into a rampaging bulldozer.
Whenever you encounter a destructible obstacle, you simply break through and smash everything into small wood chips (stone, metal). This is ideal for tearing down enemy strongholds or ruining the day of opponents hiding in buildings.
On the embedded map here, you can see all known spawn points of the Quad Crasher so far.
But there’s no Crasher! Unfortunately, the spawn points of the Quad Crashers on the map are just possibilities, not guarantees. As with all other items in the game, it is not guaranteed that you will actually find a Quad Crasher at the respective location.
So it’s better to try another location if you don’t find the desired vehicle right away.
Do you know any other spawn points of Quad Crashers on the map?
If you prefer to travel with four people, the Golf Cart might be the better choice:
This is the new weekly task: “Eliminate opponents at three Expedition Outposts” is one of the tasks for week 4 of Season 7. Once you find these locations, the task is easily doable. But where are all the Outposts?
Map shows all Expedition Outposts in Fortnite
What are Expedition Outposts? These bases are spread across the entire map of Season 7. They are red container structures that you can find a total of seven times on the map. They also bear the symbol of the battle robot A.I.M.
This is what the Outposts look like.
Here you can find the Expedition Outposts: The following map shows all the locations where such a structure stands. Stick to it, and you will find the Outposts without any trouble.
How do I complete the task? You need to go to three of the Outposts and eliminate at least one opponent per Outpost. It’s enough to be nearby; you do not have to stand right next to it.
This task is particularly easy in modes that offer respawns. Then you can play more aggressively and potentially rack up multiple Outpost kills.
Prepare for a fight: Not only do you have to complete this task. Many other opponents will be waiting for you there and are eager to attack. After all, they also need to eliminate opponents.
What else awaits you in week 4 of Season 7?
Like every week, you can expect numerous tasks in week 4 of Season 7. If you complete them all, you can secure a secret star or a secret banner. This week, for example, you need to attack an opponent with a pickaxe or play with the airplane in different rounds.
We have also provided you with an overview this week that will help you with completing the tasks. In addition, individual guides for the tasks are available:
With Planetside Arena, a new online shooter awaits us, which offers many different game modes. Here, classes are also used that you play tactically.
You can play three classes with different skills in Planetside Arena, all of which are important in battles. Even in the Battle Royale mode.
Three Classes in the Shooter
These three classes are: In the online shooter, it is important that every player plays their role, as this gives you the best chance of winning. You choose from these classes:
Assault: The fighters can quickly dive into the fray with a jetpack and equally quickly flee. Additionally, they attach a “Defensive Spike” to the ground, which heals them and allies and inflicts damage on enemies. The Assault runs about 10 to 20 percent faster than the other classes.
Medic: Medics heal allies, for example with an area-of-effect skill. They can deploy a “Shield Regeneration Totem” that replenishes their shield. Furthermore, they revive allies faster and can open boxes more quickly.
Engineer: The Engineer can use a “Spitfire Turret” that attacks enemies in the vicinity. In addition, he creates a wall for protection.
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When does it start?Steam lists January 29, 2019, as the release date for Planetside Arena.
Can you play earlier? If you purchase the Sanctuary Assault Edition for currently around 17 Euros, you get access to the beta, as well as the season pass and a special armor for the Assault.
However, you can also get the Legendary Arena Edition for currently about 33 Euros. This offers you, in addition to the previously mentioned content, additional armors and items, as well as a founder title.
When does the beta start? A date for the test phase has not yet been announced. However, it should start in the upcoming weeks, early in 2019.
In Destiny 2, you can now obtain the third of four keys for the exotic quest from the Forge. In addition, the third secret Forge emblem has been discovered. We explain how to obtain both.
At the start of the first Forge (Volundr) of the Black Armory, Guardians discovered a mysterious chest. This is a quest item that rewards Guardians with the first exotic quest of the Black Armory. Now, the third key needed to open the chest is available.
How to Get the 3rd Key for the Exotic Quest of the Mysterious Chest
To open the butterfly lock on the chest, Destiny 2 now sends you to the Izanami Forge. First, you must unlock this third Forge – just like the two before it. Once you’ve done that, you can grab the 3rd key.
Here’s how to get the third key:
Start the Izanami Forge on Nessus.
You must successfully survive the first round.
Within the first 10 seconds of the second round, 2 drones will appear, surrounded by a blue shield. They are hard to miss if you look in the right places.
Turn towards the large wall behind the Forge. On the left side, the drone will appear by the column with a bluish light.
On the right side, you need to look at the pillar with a reddish light.
You must now take out these two drones. If you get both, a message “Maximum Hardness” will appear on the left screen.
Now you need to survive the second round of the Forge activity without dying.
Now you just have to finish the Forge. You don’t need to take out the boss for this.
At the end of the third round, a chest from the Black Armory spawns, from which you will receive the butterfly key.
Activate it in your inventory and the third lock will be opened. Only one lock remains to be opened.
How to Get the Third Secret Forge Emblem
In addition to the third key for the mysterious chest, unlocking the Izanami Forge has revealed more Forge secrets. It is now known how to obtain the third secret emblem of the Forge families – Meyrin’s Vision.
To obtain this emblem, you need the new legendary Forge bow “The Malicious Ripper.” You can get it through a weapon shape in the Izanami Forge. Then you go back to the Volundr Forge on Earth.
To unlock the third emblem, you must do the following:
First, kill all enemies to have some peace.
Now you must position yourself on certain symbols and then activate specific symbols with the bow by shooting at them.
First, stand on the butterfly symbol at the entrance of the Volundr Forge.
Shoot at the symbol with the three trees on the chest directly in front of you.
Now turn 180 degrees and shoot a piece of paper on a stalagmite protruding from the ground.
Now take a few steps towards the entrance of the Volundr Forge. There you will find a kind of sun or ray symbol on the ground. Stand on it.
Shoot at the heart symbol at the edge before you – twice.
Turn back around and shoot again at the three trees.
There is a symbol with two wings on the ceiling above you. Shoot at that now.
After that, you will receive the third secret emblem.
What can I do with the emblems? With the three emblems of the Forge, you can now activate three signals in the Volundr Forge. These are technical devices that you cannot interact with without the corresponding emblems.
Once all three signals are activated, a monitor with Nordic runes will activate in the Volundr Forge. This appears to be another step in solving the massive puzzle scattered throughout the Forge.
How exactly it continues is still unknown. However, the text roughly states, “Eyes trained beyond the end of dawn, a fourth flame will rise. Bring the acquired knowledge to the Raiders of Knowledge. Prepare yourselves.” Fans suspect this refers to the fourth Forge.
Video guide for the 3rd key and the 3rd emblem: You can watch how to obtain the butterfly key step by step, unlock the third emblem, and activate all three signals in this video by Venero TV:
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The entry into Dead by Daylight is currently particularly worthwhile on PC for several reasons.
Anyone looking to start Dead by Daylight and begin their career as a ruthless killer or a clever survivor should take note of the coming days. Because during the rest of 2018, there might not be a cheaper entry opportunity than now. The reason for this is a combination of several factors:
Double Bloodpoints:The entry into Dead by Daylight is tough. This is not only due to the learning curve but also because killers and survivors initially possess very few perks and those at a low level. Unlocking new perks costs bloodpoints, which must be earned in matches. From the evening of December 27 (around 8 PM) until January 3, there are double bloodpoints, which especially helps beginners to quickly obtain good perks. But of course, all other players benefit from it as well.
The game costs only €10: Dead by Daylight is currently drastically reduced in price, like many other games in the Steam Winter Sale. The base game is only €10 in the Steam store and many bundles and DLCs are also significantly reduced in price. However, the DLCs do not have to be purchased necessarily; rather, various survivors and killers can also be unlocked gradually – with the exception of a few licensed characters (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, etc.).
Many newcomers are around: The fact that Dead by Daylight is also reduced in price at Christmas and part of the Steam Sale results in many new players. Since “good killers” can easily roll over fresh survivors, just as “good survivors” can drive a newbie killer to despair, many fresh players are a good thing. This is because it increases the chance that new killers face new survivors, creating a fair basic situation.
So if you want to take a look into Dead by Daylight (preferably with a few friends, as that makes it even more fun), you should tackle it now.
If you need more tips and tricks, our top lists of various perks provide good pointers:
In week 4 of Season 7 in Fortnite, you should search for the letters O, S, M, N, and the NOMS sign in Retail Row. We will show you the locations on this map. The task is: Find the letter O in the west of Pleasant Park.
What is it about? One of the new challenges from the Battle Pass in Fortnite: Battle Royale requires you to search for letters. In this article, we will show you where these letters are hidden on the Fortnite map. This way, you can easily complete the task and move on to the next challenges.
Finding NOMS letters in Fortnite – Week 4
The letter task in week 4 of Season 7 is divided into various sections. First, you should find four letters and then take a look at a sign.
Where should you search? In the Fortnite challenge, it says:
Phase 1: Find the letter “O” west of Pleasant Park
Phase 2: Find the letter “S” in Wailing Woods
Phase 3: Find the letter “M” in Dusty Divot
Phase 4: Find the letter “N” under a frozen lake
Final Phase: Find the NOMS sign in Retail Row
These descriptions are only rough. We have marked the locations on the map for you and will discuss them in detail below.
Phase 1: West of Pleasant Park, in grid square B4, you will find a single building south of the mountain. There is a pile of trash in front of it and behind it, under a covering, a green container. Next to the container, you will find the letter O.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 2: In Wailing Woods, you will find a house directly underneath the lettering of the place on the map, which is surrounded by hedges in a square formation. Enter the garage and drop down. Now go under the gate and turn left. Go through a door and keep left. You will find an office with a green chair and computer. Open the door and look around the corner to the left. The S is lying on the ground.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 3: The M is located in the southeast of the research base at Dusty Divot. One of the buildings on the ground, which is near the G5/G6 border, houses the letter. Enter the building and go right inside.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 4: The frozen lake can be found at the snow biome. On the map, you will see a dark spot there. Break the ground to fall one level lower. The N is leaning against a corner of the room.
Source: YouTube Hicko
The NOMS Sign in Retail Row
Final Phase: You will find the sign at Retail Row. Head north to the buildings with black roofs. Enter the large building. On the front side, you will find the lettering that is hung on the wall. There is also lettering outside the building. You probably don’t have to go inside.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Video Guide: The screenshots of the individual letters come from the video by YouTuber Hicko, who shows every location of the challenge here.
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With these tips, you should be able to quickly complete the letter task. Perhaps you will also find some of the new gifts in Fortnite along the way. Now get to the other tasks of this week.
At the beginning of 2018, we introduced the major hopefuls in MMOs and MMORPGs for the coming year on MeinMMO. Now, at the end of 2018, we look back and ask: What has become of these games?
What are the “most promising new MMOs?” Every year at MeinMMO, we present the most promising hopefuls of a year. The MMOs and MMORPGs we expect the most from this year: Usually, this means that a beta or an alpha is supposed to start and that a new online game will become playable in some form.
The article will then be updated throughout the year and will be widely read.
Today, we ask ourselves: What did people think about the games back then, and what really became of them?
Bless – Things did not go so well
This is what people thought at the beginning of 2018: We thought the fantasy MMORPG Bless could, at best, become solid genre fare that finds a niche and entertains the hungry MMORPG fans with something new.
In the worst case, Bless would not find enough fans and quickly fade away.
This is how it really went: Bless launched in early access on May 30. However, it was early overshadowed by serious technical problems.
The MMORPG generated a lot of attention and MMORPG fans flocked to Bless. However, many were disappointed.
A shitstorm raged against Bless for weeks: Developers were accused of doing too little for the Western release. Some even spoke of a sham, a last attempt to make money with a game that had failed everywhere else.
Although Bless had been around for a long time on other markets, the game felt unfinished and could not meet the high expectations of many curious MMORPG players.
The developers later said that they had miscommunicated. Bless was an early access title, but players had expected a finished MMORPG.
From a peak in June 2018 with 27,613 active players simultaneously, only 2046 remained at the peak in recent days. And that for a Free2Play title.
While Bless has loyal fans who have found a new home here, praising, for example, the taming system and the general MMORPG features, many are not around anymore by the end of 2018.
Conclusion: Bless had a huge opportunity to shine in a dried-up MMORPG market in the West. Unfortunately, Bless could not capitalize on this opportunity.
The question arises whether the MMORPG has a future in this form. A team from Bandai Maco is working in the background on an Xbox One version “Bless Unleashed.”
Bless is the big loser among our most promising MMORPGs of 2018.
In Fortnite: Battle Royale, you can now complete the tasks and challenges from Week 4 in Season 7. The challenges are listed here with further guides.
Week 7 offers a lot of variety: After many generic tasks in Season 6, Season 7 brings back more variety. Week 4 of Season 7 is a good example, as most of the challenges are more than just “Go to X and eliminate Y”.
Free and Paid: As usual, you need the Battle Pass of Season 7 for all 7 challenges. It still costs 950 V-Bucks (9.50 Euros). Without the pass, you can only complete the three free tasks.
All Challenges from Week 4 in Season 7
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
Challenge 1 – Navigate using the X-4 Stormwing in different matches
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is easy to complete if you know where the planes are located. Luckily, you can find the locations in our guide to the planes here.
So make sure to land there quickly and grab a plane before others do. In the fight for the plane, you can also eliminate opponents with pickaxes.
Challenge 2 – Launch a Firework (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is not too difficult if you know where the sought objects are located. We will possibly link a further guide to the locations of chairs, wooden pallets, and wooden masts here.
Challenge 5 – Deal damage to enemies with the Pickaxe (Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is easy to complete if you start hacking right at the beginning of the game. Or you play a mode with respawn and happily hack through. It is also possible to complete the task by attacking a downed enemy with the pickaxe.
Challenge 6 – Eliminate opponents in Happy Hamlet or Pleasant Park (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is basically the only “normal” challenge this week. You should go to Happy Hamlet or Pleasant Park and eliminate opponents there. There’s not much more to say about it.
Challenge 7 – Search for Letters (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: You need to find the four letters from the word “NOMS” at different locations and then visit the NOMS building in Retail Row at the end. Where to find the letters, you can find here in another guide.
Bonus Challenge – Find Holiday Trees and Dance in Front of Them
Although Hearthstone is an online game, only the solo mode appeals to me now. At least that’s the case for Cortyn.
Hearthstone is one of Blizzard’s games that is regularly supplied with a large amount of new content. After all, new expansions with 135 fresh cards are released roughly every 4 months. So, there’s always something new just a few weeks away. And yet, it hasn’t been the new cards that have made me log into Hearthstone regularly for a long time – it’s the solo modes like the Troll Arena or Monster Hunt.
I still remember well when Blizzard said that there would no longer be purely adventure-based content in Hearthstone. Instead, they would release several thematic expansions with many cards each year and also offer a free solo mode to support them.
The concerns within the community were significant back then. People assumed that the missions in Hearthstone would only be a small addition and would be “cheap” or “uninteresting.”
But the exact opposite has happened. The solo missions have become the best part of Hearthstone for me in the last expansions. I can play five or ten matches in a row and constantly try out a new deck, new tactics, or a new shrine.
On one hand, it’s great that the solo mode in Hearthstone gives me so much. On the other hand, it makes me sad that the rest of the game simply “doesn’t appeal to me anymore” and not even duels with friends really excite me.
“In the past,” I used to start farming quests weeks in advance, so that I would have 4000-5000 gold by the launch of an expansion to spend many hours in the arena and earn new decks. The appeal has completely disappeared now. More than 2-3 hours of arena playtime since the launch of Rastakhans Rumble, I’ve probably spent several times that in the solo mode.
If I’m not busy exploring the Troll Arena, then I play in standard mode with a random deck, where I just put Wurbelfitz the Wonderful into my deck. Because then I get one of several random decks that even correspond to current deck formulas and include cards from Rastakhans Rumble. Why spend money or arcane dust when I can play current decks with just one card from the last expansion?
I can’t even pinpoint exactly what bothers me so much. Maybe it’s the “same old” new appearance of cards, which now resembles an item spiral in MMORPGs. But just like in an MMO, the item spiral loses its appeal after a while, and you crave something fresh to shake up the whole game. Hearthstone could really use something like that right now.
I hope that eventually, a tournament mode or a “2vs2” mode that was considered years ago will be implemented. That would bring fresh air into the game, which the current expansions simply cannot deliver.
What are you currently playing in Hearthstone? Are you still climbing the ladder to become a “legendary” player? Or has your interest in the game also waned somewhat?
In Elite Dangerous, a lot has happened in 2018. Although not much concrete information about the plans for 2019 is known yet, many fans are already looking forward to the upcoming year, including our author Sven.
In addition to the Destiny series, there’s only one other big love in gaming for me – Elite Dangerous. I am particularly looking forward to the upcoming year. But what does 2019 hold?
This is why I love Elite Dangerous
Gameplay from Frontier: Elite II
This is how I got into Elite Dangerous: As a child and teenager, I spent countless hours in Frontier: Elite II and Frontier: First Encounters, exploring space. Today, there’s still hardly anything cooler for me than getting lost in the infinite expanses of the virtual universe.
Since 2014, there has been no path but the fourth installment of the Elite series for me, where I was a proud early backer. No other game allows me to unwind from daily life so effortlessly while having so much fun as Elite Dangerous.
This is what I enjoy the most in Elite Dangerous
This is how I earn my credits in Elite: I love exploring undiscovered spots in the galaxy that contain nearly 400 billion star systems.
The Beluga – one of many spaceships in Elite Dangerous
Additionally, I chauffeur wealthy VIPs from various mega-corporations on my over 200-meter-long space cruise ship, the Beluga Liner, from one interstellar sight to the next – for millions of credits.
By now, the recently revised mining has also become one of my favorite and most lucrative activities.
Overall, I love and appreciate the freedom that the game offers. You can choose to survive as a bounty hunter, trader, smuggler, merchant, or resource gatherer – Elite is what you make of it.
Exploring the universe offers unforgettable panoramas and moments
This is what makes Elite Dangerous special for me
Elite Dangerous has given me some of the most beautiful and memorable moments of my gaming life. I will never forget the feeling when the first system bears my name as the discoverer for everyone to see, my first visit to an asteroid space station, my first landing and drive on a planet, or the rescue operation by the Fuel Rats.
An encounter with the Thargoids
This is how the encounter with the Fuel Rats went: This rescue operation left a lasting impression: The Fuel Rats, a network of numerous selfless players, have made it their mission to help pilots who run out of fuel in the most remote parts of the galaxy and to rescue them from their misery – anytime and anywhere.
Some time ago, during my first steps as a discoverer in an uninhabited part of space, I ran out of fuel. There were no players around, no stations – just the infinite black void.
In panic, I searched Google for a solution and stumbled upon the aforementioned Fuel Rats. I contacted them through their website, and like an intergalactic emergency hotline, a friendly moderator accompanied me until my rescue.
The beginnings of the Fuel Rats nearly 3 years ago (Source: reddit user DerryBear)
I followed the instructions to shut down all systems, keeping only life support and my signal active. Soon after, my cockpit window froze, and the life support timer ticked down relentlessly. I had never felt such a suffocating and threatening feeling in a game before, as I did in that situation.
I truly felt alone and lost in the vastness of space. Only the moderator in the chat virtually held my sweaty hand. Just two minutes before certain death and the loss of my recently hard-earned ship, the long-awaited rescue finally arrived. A commander of the Fuel Rats had found me.
He greeted me warmly, refueled me, and guided me to the nearest space station, where he explained the basics of space exploration to me for over an hour. That night, thanks to him, I learned more about the explorer career and the game than during all my previous playtime.
This ship and I were saved by the Fuel Rats
This is why it’s worth taking a look through the VR headset: Another unforgettable moment for me was my first experience with a virtual reality headset in Elite Dangerous. It added the final touch to my great passion.
In my eyes, there’s currently nothing else on the gaming market that brings you closer to the stars than this experience. The Elite universe looks simply stunning in VR and elevates the gaming experience to a whole new level. Those who have the chance to try it in VR should definitely take advantage of it.
This experience is also the reason why a new computer with a VR headset and joystick setup is coming to my house at the beginning of 2019.
My commander at the start of his career
How Elite Dangerous changed in 2018
Here’s what has happened since the launch: Since the release in 2014, Elite Dangerous has been continuously improved and expanded over the years with numerous features such as planetary landings, passenger transport, multi-crew options, character creation, and the mysterious Thargoid aliens.
So also in the ongoing year 2018, where the now third season “Beyond” has continuously supplied the game with updates. Particularly with the last major update of the year in December, Elite Dangerous gained even more attractiveness for me and even Destiny 2 has been dethroned from my favorite games.
Multi-crew: Multiple players in one spaceship
Here are some highlights from the December update:
The game has received an overhauled lighting system. With the new light effects, the galaxy with its various planets and spaceships looks significantly better and more realistic.
Life as an explorer has become much more varied and complex thanks to new scanning and analysis modes. It now requires more than just a quick keystroke to perform a system scan and then move on.
The previously rudimentarily implemented mining, that is, resource extraction, has been significantly enhanced and has become one of my new favorite activities. There are now three new methods. For example, you can now hunt for explosives in asteroids with new tools, crack them open, and then collect the most valuable resources.
Additionally, the long-anticipated Squadron feature has come, allowing space pilots to form and organize in a sort of clan – with their own communication channels, leaderboards, and hierarchy structures.
Mining in Elite Dangerous
What can fans expect in 2019 in Elite Dangerous?
What we know about the coming year: Very little is currently known about Frontiers plans for 2019, i.e. Season 4.
However, David Braben, the head of Frontier Developments, recently stated that after the Beyond season, that is, in 2019, a lot of exciting things would be announced for Elite Dangerous. Some will be free, while others will be paid.
Frontier will transition from the current expansion model to large premium DLCs in 2019. For players, this means that instead of buying an expansion with multiple updates, they will be able to purchase individual large update packages separately.
What fans are waiting for: Planets with atmospheres and inhabited cities
Moreover, there are still some features that have already been announced or planned but have not yet made it into the game. Many fans hope that some of these will be coming in 2019.
Fans are expecting the following content for 2019:
Squadrons were supposed to receive their own large carrier ships this year, which they can use as mobile bases for their operations. However, this feature has been postponed and is expected as DLC in 2019.
Flight and landings on planets with an atmosphere have long been discussed and are eagerly requested by fans. Fans can hardly wait to land on Earth-like planets with flora and fauna and inhabited cities to explore.
The “Space Legs” are also among the most desired features and are expected by many fans in 2019. This refers to the ability to walk around your spaceship and space stations, as well as to leave your ship or exploration vehicle and move freely in space or on planet surfaces.
Concept art for Space Legs
However, please note: All these features are speculations and hopes of the fans. They have either been announced or taken up by Frontier, but there is no concrete date or further official information about them yet.
Numerous other features are planned as part of a “10-year plan” for Elite Dangerous. However, fans will likely have to wait longer than 2019 for features such as boarding other ships, first-person shooter-style combat, or procedurally generated cities on planets.
Should also come eventually: Combat in zero gravity
This is why I am looking forward to Elite Dangerous in 2019
Even if there is still little concrete information about 2019, I am very much looking forward to the upcoming year in Elite Dangerous and can hardly wait for the first official announcements.
In the past years, especially in 2018, Frontier has convinced me that they are working hard on the game and trying to implement all announced features as well as the wishes and criticisms of the fans.
If the features speculated by fans actually make it into the game, it could be a big year for Elite. With these mechanics, which all contribute to immersion, the game would take the next great step in its development and elevate the gaming experience to the next level.
Will we see scenes like this in-game in 2019?
In my opinion, Frontier has continuously managed to improve the game step by step. After numerous important milestones are in place, they still have great plans for the title, and I am very curious to see how Elite Dangerous will continue to evolve in 2019. Details shouldn’t take too long to arrive.
