Today, on July 24, there is a Weekly Reset in Destiny 2. The winner of the Faction Rally has been determined. With the weekly reset, new activities such as the Nightfall strike or the Flashpoint can now be contested. The weekly Crucible playlist is also rotating again.
A new week is dawning in the Destiny universe.
And as expected, it is now officially confirmed: The New Monarchy has won the third and final faction match of Season 3.
The winner’s weapon is the legendary rocket launcher “Broad Sword Launcher” of the New Monarchy. Supporters of the New Monarchy pay 1,000 Glimmer, while all other Guardians have to shell out 50,000 Glimmer for the weapon.
By the way: During the winner’s week, Fracture ornaments can still be unlocked, except for the helmet and leg armor, if you have already reached the necessary rank with the respective faction – for the last time in Season 3.
But let’s see what else this week has to offer.
Nightfall Strike from July 24 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
This week, the Nightfall is“Tree of Probabilities”.
Until the next reset on July 31, you have the chance to earn the following exclusive Nightfall strike reward: the legendary hand cannon T.V.O
No modifiers are active in the normal Nightfall strike!
In Prestige mode, you need to activate the modifiers using the Challenge cards. These cards drop for DLC owners in both the normal and Prestige modes of the Nightfall strike. Don’t forget that you can upgrade your Challenge cards with Xur again starting Friday.
The following challenges need to be mastered:
Unbroken: Complete the Nightfall with less than 3 deaths.
Laser Challenge: Do not get hit by more than 5 lasers in the Atlas Cove.
Heroic Strike Modifiers
The respective kindling modifier remains active until the next reset. The other two modifiers change daily. Currently, the following modifiers are active in the heroic strike playlist:
Arc Kindling: Arc damage from all sources is slightly increased
Blackout: Melee attacks are significantly strengthened and the radar is disabled
Grenadier: Grenade abilities deal more damage and recharge much faster
No Man’s Sky new update NEXT is now available on PS4, PC and Xbox One. The update is free to download if you already own the base game. With update 1.5, No Man’s Sky will finally receive features like multiplayer and a character editor with aliens. The download is substantial.
NEXT is twice as big as the base game: The download is about 10 GB in size. That’s double the size when considering the base game and the DLCs Atlas Rises, Pathfinder, and Foundation updates combined.
With NEXT, No Man’s Sky seems to finally become the game it always wanted to be. After its release in August 2016, player disappointment was high because the game couldn’t live up to the hype and the announcements. However, with NEXT everything is supposed to change:
The new Nightlife DLC “After Hours” for GTA 5 brings cool new content. We will show you what is available and how much it costs.
Nightclubs in GTA 5: Starting today, July 24, there are nightclubs available in GTA 5 Online. Gay Tony is back in the game and is also bringing new cars, trucks, and a massive party bus. We will show you here the costs of the new content.
New Vehicles in GTA 5 Online – Nightlife
Initially only 6 vehicles: The new content will be released gradually over the next few weeks. At the launch of the new DLC, you will find six new vehicles.
Ocelot Swinger for 909,000 GTA$
Dinka Jester Classic for 790,000 GTA$
Pounder Custom (regular) for 241,000 GTA$ – 320,000 GTA$
Mule Custom (regular) for 72,000 GTA$ – 95,760 GTA$
Festival Bus for 1,385,000 GTA$
Mammoth Patriot for 460,000 GTA$ – 611,800 GTA$
Thus, the update includes new sports cars, trucks, and interesting vehicles like the Hummer limousine. You will see the festival bus in one of the first missions when you buy a nightclub. The stage on the roof also appears to invite dancing.
Relatively inexpensive: Surprisingly, the new vehicles do not cost several million GTA dollars right away, as one might expect from other DLCs. They are in the mid-range. Whether the upcoming vehicles will also be in this price range will be revealed at the release.
How many nightclubs are there? On the ForeClosures website, there are 10 nightclubs available. All have different locations and prices.
These are:
Nightclub in Strawberry – From 1,525,000 GTA$
Nightclub at the Airport – From 1,135,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Vinewood West – From 1,700,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Vinewood Center – From 1,670,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Del Perro – From 1,645,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Vespucci – From 1,320,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Mission Row – From 1,440,000 GTA$
Nightclub in La Mesa – From 1,500,000 GTA$
Nightclub in Cypress Flats – From 1,370,000 GTA$
Nightclub on Elysian Island – From 1,080,000 GTA$
After purchase, you can customize these clubs further with style, lighting, nightclub name, storage, dancers, and dry ice. This increases the price of the building.
The Festival of the Four Winds returns after 4 years to Guild Wars 2. During the festival, you will encounter the Zephyrites faction and can participate in numerous minigames.
Festival of the Four Winds – Return after 4 years
Fans have waited long: When the Festival of the Four Winds took place for the first and so far only time in 2014, it combined most of the activities from the events Bazaar of the Four Winds and Queen’s Jubilee. Players could take part in a variety of activities and use special “Aspect Crystals” to jump higher, for example. However, the festival paused for four years.
Now ArenaNet brings back the Festival of the Four Winds to the delight of many players. Additionally, some changes have been made to enhance the experience. Players particularly appreciate that they can use their mounts in the event area. Some players have unlocked the Gryphon before the event to fly through the terrain.
ArenaNet is not just reviving old content but has developed new weapons and armor that you can earn during the event. In addition to the new content, the old items await you if you do not yet own them.
When does the event start? Starting from 6 PM our time, you can enjoy numerous activities.
To celebrate the arrival of the Festival of the Four Winds, ArenaNet has released a small teaser.
These new adventures the event brings to Guild Wars 2
What content does the event offer? Of course, you do not just receive the new items; you have to earn them. Therefore, you can participate in various activities during the event.
In the Boss Blitz, you must defeat all Champions in the arena as quickly as possible. The faster you are, the higher your reward will be. You can find the Boss Blitz in the lower levels of the Crown Pavilion.
In the Queen’s Gauntlet, you will have to prove yourself alone in several battles. Each battle features specific mechanics that you should keep in mind to triumph. The Gauntlet has been expanded with 5 new fights.
In the Bazaar and the Labyrinth Cliffs, you can go on exploratory tours and participate in treasure hunts or races.
There is a new meta-event based on Amnoon’s Casino Blitz. In Amnoon’s Casino Blitz, you need to collect a certain number of coins within a specific timeframe.
How do I obtain Favor of the Festival? During the event, you can receive 2 different types of favor.
You can obtain Bazaar Favor, for example, in the Aspect Arena, during the Refuge Sprint, and by completing events in the Labyrinth Cliffs.
You can obtain Pavilion Favor during the Gauntlet and from Boss Blitz chests.
If you combine both types of favor, you will receive a Festival Favor. This grants you various rewards:
Trade it with Druuburt’s Spirit for Unruly Mysterious Bags.
Receive Majestic Weapon Skins when you give them to the Majestic Weapon Merchant.
Or give it to the Festival Rewards Merchant for various rewards.
‘In Fortnite: Battle Royale, the Playground is coming back soon. However, Playground 2.0 has been significantly revamped compared to the last version. There are more loot options and team choices. We will tell you everything you need to know about the new mode.’
‘Playground 2.0: The Playground arrived towards the end of Season 4 and offered a long-awaited practice area for all players. You could join with up to 3 teammates and have fun taking each other out, testing weapons and traps. If you died, you could respawn, so you could just stand up again in another location. Plus, there was a ton of loot and resources, allowing you to build whatever you wanted.’
‘However, there were also a few annoyances that have now been addressed in version 2.0.’
‘Finally, Team Fights! You can still play the Playground alone or in a team. But in squads, you had the problem that anyone could modify each other’s buildings. This was extremely annoying when you wanted to test aggressive building.’
‘Due to this, there is now the option to set teams in the game. That way, you won’t accidentally keep changing your opponents’ buildings.’
‘Also cool: The respawn timer has been reduced from 10 to 3 seconds. So you can get back into the action faster. Additionally, the height at which the glider automatically opens has been reduced. This allows you to land into action more quickly.’
‘In order for you to be able to make even more noise, there’s more of everything in Playground V.2.0. The patch notes for update 5.1 contain a long list of items that now appear more frequently:’
‘
Ammunition boxes contain 10 times the amount of ammunition.
The gray vending machines have been removed, and the chance for higher-tier machines to spawn has been increased.
Launch pads and launch pads spawn with a higher probability.
Maximum rocket ammo has increased by 60.
More rocket ammo can be found.
100 supply drops have been added.
Chests now contain 3 weapons as well as more ammunition and consumables than usual.
Loot on the ground now contains 3 items.
Chug Jugs and Slurp Juice spawn more often, while bandages spawn less often.
Chug Jugs can now also be found on the ground.
‘
‘Furthermore, the popular golf carts are now also available in the Playground!’
‘Otherwise, the Playground remains as it was. You can play for 60 minutes as usual and have unlimited respawns. The storm starts at 55 minutes. Whoever dies in it is permanently dead. All chests and ammunition boxes are there, there are 100 loot llamas, and you gather ten times the amount of resources.’
‘When is the new Playground coming? The Playground will be available again on July 25, 2018. An exact time is not yet known. It is expected to be between 10:00 and 14:00. However, Epic has still not announced a specific launch time. We will keep you updated as soon as there is news about Playground 2.0.’
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Is video evidence used in FIFA 19 with the Video Assistant Referee? EA Sports provides a clear answer.
The video evidence has become part of everyday football. It was tested last season in the Bundesliga and is now to be permanently established. The video assistants also played an important role at the Football World Cup in Russia. The “VAR” (Video Assistant Referee) is currently being implemented in professional football.
What are the benefits of video evidence? Video evidence aims to bring more fairness to the field. Unclear situations are viewed from multiple angles to make the right decision with video evidence.
The football simulation from EA Sports claims to represent real football as realistically as possible on the virtual pitch. Therefore, we asked Samuel Rivera, the gameplay producer of FIFA, in an interview about the video assistant in FIFA 19. Will EA Sports implement this feature in FIFA 19?
“This year there are no plans,” Rivera said. “Yes, it’s now a part of football and can contribute to authenticity. We might bring video evidence in the future – but I’m not sure yet.”
Rivera explains that video evidence is not necessary from a technical perspective in a video game. “It would only be a visual thing. We know when a ball crosses the line. We know when a player is offside. In the future, we will take a look at it.”
In summary: No, video assistants will not interrupt or delay your matches in FIFA 19. What the referee whistles on the field stands.
What is your opinion on this topic? Should video evidence also be introduced in virtual football for more realism, or are you glad that this “feature” continues to be absent?
FIFA 19 features some gameplay changes compared to its predecessor. Above all, two new features ensure that virtual soccer becomes even more natural.
Every year, EA Sports tinkers a little with the gameplay of their soccer simulation to create new incentives for fans to get the current FIFA installment. Often, these involve improvements to player intelligence or new animations, making “dramatic moments” possible.
FIFA 19 significantly alters the gameplay: In FIFA 19, fans can now expect greater innovations. Players have more control over the game and leave less to chance.
The gameplay becomes more natural
We spoke with Samuel Rivera, the gameplay producer of FIFA, about the new gameplay features. He exclusively revealed in the interview that for him, the new Active Touch System combined with the 50/50 Battles represents the biggest innovation of FIFA 19.
Because these two features make the gameplay of FIFA 19 “more natural, more like soccer,” Rivera stated. The virtual players show an instinct to get to the ball that real-life footballers also demonstrate. They don’t simply give up on the tackle and let the opponent go, instead, they try to get a foot on the ball.
According to Rivera, this feels so natural that one would not want to return to FIFA 18 after a short time. The feeling of the game is simply not the same as in FIFA 19 with the innovative Active Touch System and the 50/50 Battles.
The gameplay becomes more like it should be in soccer.
Overview of the Active Touch System
What is the Active Touch System? This system influences ball reception, ball touches, and thus ball control. A variety of new animations are introduced that open up new possibilities for handling the ball.
How does the Active Touch System affect gameplay? Depending on the game situation, the best animation is selected to reach a ball, Rivera explained. For example, players now also execute flying headers to reach a ball and pass it on. Additionally, new techniques like flick-up volleys, concealed ball receptions, or skill-specific animations such as Neymar’s trap are introduced. Previous tricks like the feigned shot, volleys, and some skill moves receive new movement animations.
Are these changes really noticeable on the field? Yes! At a FIFA 19 play event, we tested especially the flick-up volleys, which work really well. One can hold the ball in the air with the right stick and lob it over opponents. Surprise moments are easily possible. One also has more options while receiving the ball.
The Active Touch System in the video:
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What are the 50/50 Battles? These involve an improvement in duels. Now, the user’s reaction speed and the players’ ratings determine who can reclaim loose balls. The players on the field show better duel intelligence and more “instinct.”
How do the 50/50 Battles affect gameplay? In FIFA 18, many duels happen where a player reaches the ball, and the opponent then simply runs past and gives up the duel. In FIFA 19, players show more fight, “more instinct,” so they always try to somehow get a foot on the ball. It can also happen that both players touch the ball in a duel, causing it to bounce uncontrollably.
Are these changes really noticeable on the field? Yes, duels feel different in FIFA 19 than in FIFA 18 and also look slightly different. There’s a sense that players are trying harder to get to the ball. New animations and movements in duels are introduced.
Further gameplay innovations
Timed Finishing: The “timed finishing” is an optional feature that one does not have to use. It allows you to make your shots more powerful and precise on goal, but you must double-tap the shoot button and have perfect timing on the second tap – otherwise, the ball simply rolls toward the goal or flies into the stands. In other words, if you master this feature, you have more control over your shots. According to Rivera, perfect timed finishing is not a guarantee of scoring – it merely increases the chances.
You can see the new shooting mechanics in this video:
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Dynamische Taktiken: In FIFA 19, you have significantly more tactical game variations at your disposal before and during the game than in FIFA 18. You can set every instruction individually. One example: If you set “very offensive” during the game, you can pre-determine how exactly your players should behave on the field – how far apart should they stand, how high or deep should they stand when “very offensive”, how many players should occupy the penalty area, etc. Tactics enthusiasts can have a field day here.
This video introduces the dynamic tactics:
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In general, it can be stated that FIFA 19 aims to become even more realistic, authentic, and natural in terms of gameplay. FIFA fans are getting more control over various aspects of the game and can put their individual stamp on each match.
You can read our detailed play report on FIFA 19 here, where we tell you what we found positive and negative about the gameplay:
A former SWTOR developer regrets that they were not bolder and focused too much on World of Warcraft. In hindsight, it would have been better to make a Knights of the Old Republic Online.
The developer James Ohlen left his game studio BioWare last month after nearly 22 years. In an interview with GameInformer, he spoke about his time at BioWare. He also mentioned a few words about Star Wars: The Old Republic. Ohlen expresses little regret – but one thing he does regret is related to World of Warcraft.
More Knights of the Old Republic Online – less Star Wars: World of Warcraft
What did Ohlen say? When asked what Ohlen would regret, he referred to SWTOR. Generally, he is satisfied with the game, but he often received feedback from fans that they would prefer a “Knights of the Old Republic Online.” A game that was closer to BioWare’s RPG roots and not so heavily driven in the direction of “Star Wars: World of Warcraft.”
Ohlen wishes in hindsight that he had pushed the game a bit more toward “Knights of the Old Republic Online.”
This would have likely meant more freedom of choice in the story and a more tactical, slower combat system. Nevertheless, he is proud of what SWTOR has become and the direction the MMORPG has taken.
Everyone wanted to be the “WoW-killer.” Back when SWTOR was released, MMORPGs were popping up like mushrooms. Many developers sought to be “the next World of Warcraft” and were heavily influenced by Blizzard’s template. Although SWTOR was certainly not a failure, the game had to switch to Free2Play after a short time. Since then, however, it has received expansions with “Knights of the Fallen Empire” and “Knights of the Eternal Throne.”
When and if there will be a new expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic remains to be seen in a galaxy far, far away.
Do you like SWTOR as it is? Or should the game have focused more on the RPG Knight of the Old Republic?
EA Sports has secured the licenses for the Champions League, the Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup for FIFA 19. These competitions take center stage in FIFA 19 – they are more than just additional licenses.
The Champions League arrives in FIFA 19: FIFA fans had to wait a long time for the Champions League and the Europa League, as the rights were exclusively held by Pro Evolution Soccer in recent years. However, as announced a few months ago, UEFA ended this partnership with Konami. Shortly thereafter, EA Sports revealed to the delight of many fans: The two top UEFA European Cup competitions will be playable in FIFA 19.
The new licenses are intended to be more than just “more licenses among many”; instead, EA Sports has big plans for them. We spoke with Samuel Rivera, the gameplay producer of FIFA, about the Champions League and the Europa League and how they will be integrated into FIFA 19.
What do the Champions League and Europa League mean for FIFA 19?
More than just additional licenses: Rivera introduced us to the two European competitions in FIFA 19 and presented in-game footage. He emphasized that the Champions League and the Europa League are not just new licenses that have been inserted into the game. Instead, they shape this year’s FIFA installment and are present almost everywhere in FIFA 19. Consequently, the motto this year is also: “FIFA 19 – Champions Rise”.
Game modes with the Champions League
In which modes can I play the Champions League in FIFA 19? EA Sports claims that the “legendary tournament […] will be integrated into all FIFA 19 modes.” The following modes have already been confirmed:
A new standalone UEFA Champions League mode
A comprehensive integration into the kickoff mode
A comprehensive integration into career mode
In FUT 19, there will be live content for the Champions League
And in the third and final part of the story mode called “The Journey: Champions”, you will also compete for the Champions League title.
What does the standalone Champions League mode in FIFA 19 look like? In this mode, you can either replay the “real” Champions League season 18/19 – from the group stage to the final at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. Or you can create your own Champions League season, leading all available European teams to the title.
Europa League game modes
What about the Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup? We know that the Europa League will be playable in the kickoff mode and in career mode, and it will also feature live content in FUT 19. Whether it will also be possible to play the Europa League in The Journey is uncertain. We do not have detailed information about the Super Cup – but it is licensed as well.
What is the UEFA Super Cup actually? The UEFA Super Cup is contested in a match between the current Champions League winner and the Europa League winner.
By the way: Rivera could not confirm that the European Cup competitions will also be playable in the “Pro Clubs” mode.
The Champions League up close: In FIFA 19, the atmosphere of the Champions League is to be depicted accurately, so fans can look forward to these features:
Official CL match presentation used in the 18/19 season
Official Champions League anthem
Official team crests, match balls, and UEFA trophies
New camera perspectives in the intro when the teams line up
New English commentary team with Derek Rae and Lee Dixon – in the German version, it is Wolff-Christoph Fuss and Frank Buschmann
Additionally, the menus are designed in the corresponding colors of the Champions League and the Europa League.
Tom says: We at Mein-MMO have been able to play FIFA 19 and get a little feel of the Champions League atmosphere. And yes, as soon as the CL anthem sounds and the camera captures the silver trophy, the Champions League spirit indeed comes alive. However, the game presentation was still a “work in progress”, leading to a bug that caused the teams’ kits to flicker unsightly as they entered the stadium – which significantly affected the atmosphere. However, Samuel Rivera promised us that this will be fixed by the release of FIFA 19.
I believe that the Champions League will definitely be an enhancement for the football simulation. Thus, FIFA 19 brings even more of real football to the virtual pitch.
FIFA 19 will be released on September 28, 2018. The Champions League, the Europa League, and the Super Cup will be available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Next week, Realm Royale will be released on PS4 and Xbox One. The Battle Royale will start with a closed beta on consoles, for which you will need a key. Registrations are now possible. Realm Royale is a Free2Play hit on PC, regarded as a fantasy alternative to Fortnite, without the building mechanics.
When is Realm Royale coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? Next week. The exact release date is still unknown.
What about Nintendo Switch? Studio HiRez has not commented on this.
How to register for the Realm Royale beta
Where do I sign up for the closed beta? To participate in the closed beta, you need a key. You can register for this on the official Realm Royale website.
How much does Realm Royale cost? Nothing. Realm Royale is free.
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What is Realm Royale? A brief explanation of the fantasy battle royale
At its core, Realm Royale is a classic Battle Royale. 100 players land on a massive island, gather weapons, and fight until only one remains, as a deadly fog closes in from the edge.
Sounds like Fortnite and PUBG? Realm Royale, however, has a special story and an unusual twist in gameplay.
Realm Royale originally stemmed from the hero shooter Paladins. Realm Royale, formerly known as Paladins: Battlegrounds was intended to be a blend of hero shooter and battle royale. The heroes from Paladins would have been playable characters there. However, the developers at Studio HiRez quickly realized that this would lead to a balance nightmare. They removed the heroes and replaced them.
Realm Royale is class-based and distinguishes itself with RPG elements: At the beginning of each match, players choose one of five classes. The classes have their own skills, which can drastically change the playstyle. There is a dynamic between the classes, similar to the rock-paper-scissors concept. The roots to Paladins are evident as players can collect weapons and skills that originate from the hero shooter.
Other features include horses, chickens, and the forge: Players can call upon a mount to explore the expansive fantasy world more quickly. There are forges scattered across the island, which are often fiercely contested, as legendary weapons can be crafted there. When a player is defeated, they first transform into a chicken, giving them a chance to escape death and be revived shortly after.
Realm Royale: Next stage of the battle royale genre, says the developer
Rory Newbrough, lead producer on the console beta release: “With a class-based combat system and cutting-edge chicken technology, Realm Royale is the next stage in the evolution of the battle royale genre. We are grateful for the millions of PC players who have already tried Realm Royale and are incredibly excited to share the game soon with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players.”
Fans have demanded a console release
According to Newbrough, the console release was especially important for the fans: “Since Realm Royale was released for PC, the three most frequently asked questions in social media have been ‘Console?’, ‘PS4?’, and ‘Xbox?’. Probably, instead of questions, one should speak of demands. We have certainly heard clearly that the community is waiting to play Realm Royale on consoles, and we are very excited to announce that the closed beta on consoles will start next week.”
Realm Royale came to PC last month: Almost 4 million players tested the new battle royale game Realm Royale in the first month of Early Access on Steam. The release was on June 5th. We previously reported at the 3 million mark about the game’s fascination:
FIFA 19 in the Pre-Review: We at Mein-MMO were able to play FIFA 19 in advance and now give you an overview of what we noticed positively and negatively about the gameplay.
In mid-July, an official press play event for FIFA 19 took place, to which we from Mein-MMO.de were invited. We were able to examine some innovations and play a few matches.
Everything we noticed about the gameplay of FIFA 19 is shown below. After all, gameplay is the most important component in FIFA because – as Adi Preißler already knew – “Gray is all theory in life – the important thing is on the pitch”.
FIFA 19 in the Pre-Review – Everything we noticed about the gameplay
What exactly did we play? My colleague Philipp and I played a total of 6 matches in the “Kickoff” mode of FIFA 19 against each other – the halftime length was 4 minutes. The developers emphasized beforehand that this play version is still a “work in progress”. It is already very close to the final game, but it still lacks refinement; a few bugs still need to be resolved.
FIFA 19 does not reinvent virtual football: Right off the bat – if you played FIFA 18 recently, switching to FIFA 19 will not be difficult for you. The basic controls remain largely the same. Passing, shooting, crossing – the tried and tested key combinations are as they have always been; you are immediately back in!
The graphics are top-notch: EA Sports has tweaked the graphics a bit again. The presentation looks flawless, and the player faces of the available teams look more realistic than ever before.
Overall, the gameplay feels slower than in FIFA 18: The slower pace was clearly noticeable in the first matches; however, one quickly gets used to it. After the fourth match, we felt that this change definitely enhances realism.
We look forward to these gameplay innovations in FIFA 19
Pace doesn’t seem to be as much in focus as in previous FIFAs: Since the game is generally a bit slower, tactics and tackling behavior come more into focus than the speed attribute of the players. A Mats Hummels was not overrun helplessly by a Cristiano Ronaldo, but was able to challenge for the ball. How important pace will be in the final game we cannot predict yet, but our first impressions have positively surprised us.
I personally loved the Active Touch System. This gives more control over ball reception and touches. It is possible to use the right stick to lift the ball and chip it over opponents. Or you can hammer the ball to the ground so that it bounces and flies over the opponent while you run past them.
Additionally, the Active Touch System features numerous new animations showing how players handle the ball and fight for it.
For example, players execute a diving header to reach the ball in midfield before the opponent and pass it to a teammate. Also, a feigned shot while sprinting is now quite effective as there is hardly any loss of speed, allowing you to easily outmaneuver opponents.
In short: You have more control and more options with the ball. This video introduces the Active Touch System:
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Tackles feel different in FIFA 19: I found it harder to win the ball with a normal tackle (circle button on PS4) than in FIFA 18. The reason is the new feature called “50/50 Battles”. This shows players having “more instinct” in tackles, always trying to get a foot to the ball somehow. Thus, tackle situations are more contested – and you can feel it on the pitch.
The tackles we executed all went very well. In FIFA 19 they are certainly an effective means to win the ball. Shielding (with L2 on PS4) had, on the other hand, almost no benefit.
Gray arrows over players: What we also liked was a grayed-out arrow over a teammate when you are the defending team. This indicates which player you will switch to when you press the player switch button. It is also the player who rushes in when you request support in a tackle. You have a bit more control as you are visually shown beforehand which player you can switch to.
What hasn’t convinced us in FIFA 19 so far
The goalkeepers! Unfortunately, the goalkeepers in our matches were a complete disaster. Every single normal long shot went in because the goalkeepers reacted far too late. Once, the ball gently flew just a few centimeters past the goalkeeper, and instead of sticking out a hand, the goalkeeper threw himself to the ground as if struck by lightning. And we’re talking about Hugo Lloris here.
Okay, Manuel Neuer made a few spectacular saves that looked really good. But we were genuinely surprised by how much the goalkeepers let in.
Long shots are too effective: While none of our chipped long shots went in, every normal shot from distance – so just pressing circle on the PS4 – found the back of the net. You can only try to block the shot with a defender as the goalkeeper certainly will not save it. While testing, I wrote down three times: “Long shots OP” in bold.
Everything else we noticed in FIFA 19
Regarding the goalkeepers: When you press the right stick inward and then move the stick, you can control the goalkeeper and possibly position him better. We tried this new feature several times: it works flawlessly, but we couldn’t prevent a goal with it. Additionally, we noticed that the goalkeepers can kick the ball much further into the opponent’s half than in FIFA 18.
Regarding free kicks: Free kicks work exactly the same as in FIFA 18.
Regarding corners: There are also no changes to the corner mechanics.
Regarding penalties: The penalties are also identical to those in FIFA 18. If the goalkeeper jumps in the right direction, he always saved the ball for us – even with half-right and half-left low shots.
Regarding the driven shot: This has been significantly toned down. We tried it from many positions, and only one from short distance went in. By the way, you perform it by holding R1 + L1 and then charging the shot strength with Circle.
Regarding the new shooting system: I tested this too little to form a first impression. I am too used to the old system, which is why I always applied this one automatically. In this video, you can see the new shooting system:
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Regarding passes and crosses: Relatively many through balls didn’t reach their target for us. Other than that, we didn’t notice anything negative. That balls from a spin don’t arrive 100% accurately to a player, we found rather positive. However, you can well combine into the opponent’s penalty area when playing quick passes.
Regarding dynamic tactics: We played around with the tactics a bit, but time did not suffice to assess their influence and utility.
Regarding the referee: The referee officiated everything correctly in our games.
Regarding goal kicks: Until now, when changing direction, the camera swung along. In FIFA 19, you can now view the entire field in width.
Celebration animations can be completely skipped.
Conclusion: FIFA 19 does quite a bit right regarding gameplay. You have more control in the game, you can combine well and create surprise moments; the action looks smoother and more realistic. We definitely had fun at the play event.
However, EA Sports still needs to work a bit on the long shots and the goalkeepers, who left us with a bad impression. If improvements are made here before the release, we look forward to the new season with FIFA 19!
How does such a play event actually take place?
Such an event can basically be imagined like a lame standing party that gets better over time. Initially, everyone stands lost somewhere in the room until some small groups form where games are extensively discussed. Some press representatives also remain alone in a corner sipping a cola, maybe nibbling on a snack.
But once the employees from EA Sports take the stage, things pick up speed. We gain insights into the development of FIFA 19, and they present us with the greatest innovations. In-game material is presented on a large screen. Anyone interested in football and the FIFA series – like me – hangs eagerly on the developers’ lips and takes notes.
But only then does such an event reach its climax: in the room, several “PS4 Pro” consoles are set up where you can play a few matches in the kickoff mode of FIFA 19 with a friend. Meanwhile, there is the opportunity to speak with the EA employees to then fully focus on the new gameplay of FIFA 19.
We will find out how the fun will go in the final version at the latest on 28.09.2018. Then FIFA 19 will be released with all innovations on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Before the upcoming Forsaken expansion for Destiny 2, Bungie has revealed some new details about the secrets that lie in the Dreaming City. There is something for both casuals and hardcore fans.
Forsaken brings more puzzles: In an exclusive article from Game Informer, the studio has revealed some information about the secrets that Guardians can expect in the Dreaming City – the home of the Awoken.
The Hidden Secrets of the Dreaming City – Something for Everyone
The home of the Awoken is not only beautiful: The Dreaming City, the new end-game hub of the Forsaken expansion, is a picturesque area that resembles Rivendell from “The Lord of the Rings” more than a typical Destiny setting.
But Guardians will quickly realize: the initial beauty is deceiving. For the home of the Awoken also has a dark side – the Ascendant Realm. This parallel existence plane houses the deities that the Hive worship and is also home to the Scorn Baron Mindbender.
New challenges: The adventures in this dark world will be among the toughest and most demanding that Forsaken has to offer. But the rewards you can earn there will be worth it.
Challenges for Everyone
Getting started: Before you can test your skills in the Ascendant Realm, you must first gain access to this parallel dimension.
By defeating enemies, participating in public events, or in the Blind Well, a new consumable item may drop occasionally in the Dreaming City. This is your key to the Ascendant Realm. When you use this item, you will be able to see numerous secrets that link the Dreaming City with the Ascendant Realm. But be aware: this ability is only temporary.
The platforms: One of the first things that will catch the Guardians’ eyes are the randomly floating platforms throughout the Dreaming City. These platforms are only visible and usable to those who have consumed the new item. The platforms will appear at certain locations in the city, but their exact position will change from week to week. And where you find one platform, you will usually find others as well. The platforms are very narrow. To follow the path to the rewards waiting at the end, a certain degree of jumping skills and practice is required.
The rewards: However, the reward at the end of this acrobatic endeavor will help you progress in the Dreaming City. These jumping passages will lead you to chests that can contain a random selection of tokens for activating the Blind Well, legendary gear, or even more. The gear from the chests may not be the strongest in the game, but it should help ease your initial progress in the Dreaming City and push you further.
By the way: Bounties from Petra Venj, the new vendor of the Dreaming City, will lead you more often to areas where these platforms appear.
Challenges for Core Fans
Gateways to the Ascendant Realm: Bounties may not only lead you to possible locations of the platforms, but they can sometimes also provide hints about another secret that may await you at the end of the platforms: gateways to the Ascendant Realm.
Only one of these portals will open weekly. So you have to think carefully about how to utilize the hints given to you and find the portal in time. Some portals will be extremely well hidden, while others will jump right at you. And while for some the jumping passages to these portals will already pose a high hurdle, that is just the beginning of the challenge to follow.
Special challenges: Because on the other side of the portals, so-called Ascendant Challenges await the Guardians. These are short, self-contained dungeons that will put your aim skills and puzzle-solving abilities to the test. The puzzles may not be as demanding as in the raid, but there will be no assistance given. It is entirely up to you to figure out how the mechanics work.
But other factors will make your life harder: If you die, you will respawn in the Dreaming City. You will have to redo the entire jumping passage to the portal. Additionally, the required consumable item is time-limited, and you can carry a maximum of five in your inventory. The clock is ticking.
The actual puzzles vary: Generally, most require a mix of combat, jumping skills, and sharp wits. For example, there is a challenge where Guardians must work their way up over tiny platforms to the top of an area. Each platform is protected by darkness traps that explode after a short time and can knock players off the platforms. Other challenges involve figuring out the correct boss-fight mechanics or mastering even more demanding jumping sections.
Best in a team – eventually also solo: While you can complete the Ascendant Challenges alone (eventually), it is recommended to tackle the challenges as part of a team at first. The enemies on the other side of the portals will be too tough for you alone if you approach them right after completing the Forsaken story. Additionally, the extra brain power is worth it for solving the puzzles. The puzzles may not be particularly long, but the first few times you will struggle quite a bit to figure out the mechanics before your elixirs run out.
The reward: At the end, a high-tier piece of gear awaits your efforts in the Ascendant Challenges, which will help you advance in power level – and that outside of the weekly milestones. With the Ascendant Challenges and the numerous, easier-to-reach chests, both casual and passionate players will receive new goals to pursue weekly – even off the beaten path.
The new Overwatch hero Wrecking Ball enters the live servers. However, many players still do not know what to do with the hamster. With our tips and tricks, you’ll immediately know how to play Wrecking Ball best or what counter works effectively against Hammond.
Wrecking Ball – a hero without a plan: In creating Hammond, aka Wrecking Ball, the developers primarily focused on his design. The idea of a hamster in a giant mech is simply cool.
Wrecking Ball is a very mobile, offensive tank. His role is to bring a fight to the enemy and to initiate a team fight. He strikes into the opposing team, forcing them to react with high damage output and powerful shields.
Wrecking Ball against Hedgehog Formation: Wrecking Ball is particularly effective against the popular anti-dive strategy seen on some maps, where the team takes cover behind Orisa at one location and tries to stop attackers with great firepower.
Wrecking Ball can strike in these situations with a swinging flank attack or even simply by charging directly into the opponents. With his ‘Collision Course’ right after using ‘Wrecking Ball,’ he spreads and disrupts the opponents gathered in one spot.
With his ‘Adaptive Shield,’ he survives long enough to deal substantial damage with his ‘Quad Cannons’ or even his ‘Minefield.’
The right composition: It is not only important against which heroes and compositions Wrecking Ball is strong, but also with which he can work well together. Wrecking Ball fits especially well into a tank-heavy dive composition.
Together with D.Va and Winston, Wrecking Ball can turn up the heat on his opponents. Through coordinated attacks, individual targets can be effectively eliminated. At the same time, the three large tanks have a lot of hit points and are very survivable together.
Counters and Strategies against Wrecking Ball
It is always important to know the strengths and weaknesses of a hero – whether you are playing him yourself or have to face him. Wrecking Ball has a lot of potential, but also some weaknesses that you can exploit against him or consider switching him out.
Shooting hamsters with sniper rifles: At the moment, snipers are very popular in the meta, with Widowmaker and Hanzo becoming increasingly seen as ranks rise. For Wrecking Ball, this becomes a problem.
Wrecking Ball has a very small critical hit zone that is only active when he is not moving fast (the hamster himself). But if two snipers spread out and pelt him from a distance, he is at their mercy. He is a large target that is hard to miss and quickly succumbs to arrows and bullets from afar.
CC against Wrecking Ball: His second major weakness is any form of crowd control, such as stuns, repositioning, or sleep effects. With CC, Wrecking Ball’s movement is restricted, which is what actually makes him strong.
To fully utilize his speed, Wrecking Ball needs a short running start. However, even a flashbang from McCree or a sleep arrow from Ana is enough to reset him back to 0 and make him start anew. He is an easy target for such attacks and then helpless in his position.
Have you gained any experience with Wrecking Ball? What is your tactic with or against the dangerous hamster? Let us know in a comment!
Fortnite: Battle Royale (PC, PS4, iOS, Switch & Xbox One) received special challenges for the game’s birthday. In these, you can earn unique birthday gifts and dance in front of a birthday cake. How to do that and how you can find the birthday cake, you’ll learn here!
Happy Birthday! A year ago Fortnite was released, at least the PvE version, which is now called “Save the World”. But the later released Battle Royale mode is also celebrating today. And since you celebrate a birthday best with gifts, there are some in PvP through your own birthday challenges. You can collect all of them if you’re diligent.
What you need to do to complete the Birthday Challenges
There are a total of four gifts: To receive all of them, you need to complete the following three challenges. Gift number four will be given once all other tasks are completed:
Play 14 matches: This task completes itself. You just need to start a round 14 times and finish it somehow. Cancelling does not count, but getting eliminated right away does. So play at your own risk! As a reward, you get 5,000 experience points. Ideal for leveling up Drift or Ragnarok.
Deal 1,000 points of damage to opponents: This task is also trivial. You don’t even need to get kills, and it doesn’t matter which weapon you use. Combine this challenge with an open kill or damage task from Season 5. For this, you will receive a Birthday Emote.
Dance in front of 10 different birthday cakes: This task is a bit tricky. The birthday cakes are spread all over the map. Here is our comprehensive guide to the birthday cakes. If you complete this task, you will receive a special spray paint.
Anyone who completes all four special tasks will receive a back bling in the shape of a birthday cake.
Attention, for a limited time only! Don’t take too long for the new birthday tasks. The new challenges are only valid until August 7, 2018.
Not everyone is celebrating their birthday yet
Help, I can’t see the challenges? If you can’t see the challenges yet, you should wait until tonight. It should work again after the reset in the middle of the night on Wednesday at 2:00 AM.
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The martial arts online game Absolver is receiving a major, free update in September. Downfall takes you underground and lets you fight like Bruce Lee.
Face new challenges
Into the mines! Deep in the mines of Adal, the sinister Arcell spreads the Gleam infection to gain power over the Lost Prospects. You must try to stop Arcell and venture into the underground Temple into the mines.
Constantly new challenges. Every time you enter the mines, new challenges and new paths await you. You fight the infected to collect Gleam. This gives you the power needed to fight Arcell. Each run offers you new dangers, different monsters, and in the end, three boss fights. You always decide whether to venture into the mines alone or together with friends.
Learn the martial art of Bruce Lee. With the upcoming September update Downfall, it is possible to learn the new fighting style Faejin, which is based on the technique Jeet Kune Do by martial artist Bruce Lee. You will need to acquire several skills and combine them, resulting in 26 new attacks.
Compete in the School Challenges. Downfall allows players who have earned the rank of Disciple in Absolver to participate in the School Challenges. In 1-on-1 duels, you battle against students from other schools to unlock rewards in Seasons.
Additionally, the update will also introduce 51 new equipment items, as well as prestige variants of existing sets. New masks and 6 additional emotes and 3 new PvP intros are also included. With the paid Adalian Forest DLC, you can even get more cosmetic items for 3 dollars.
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The beta of Fallout 76 will be released in October, about a month before the launch. To participate, you must pre-order the game. Another spicy detail is souring some fans. How are the players reacting?
Since the October timeline for the Fallout 76 beta was announced, some fans have been heatedly discussing it. This may not come as a surprise, after all, it has been commonplace since the E3. Not everyone is pleased that Fallout 76 focuses on multiplayer. The developers have found it necessary to reassure the players several times.
The newly emerged discussions currently being conducted via Reddit in the beta thread mostly revolve around the timing of the beta. The fact that the beta is tied to a pre-order is also displeasing to some. What is going on?
Players will be gradually allowed onto the servers – Fans feel deceived
The practice of tying beta access to pre-orders has upset some fans. Many find it ridiculous and feel pressured by Bethesda to purchase the game. On top of that, only certain retailers guarantee access.
You must pre-order the game from selected retailers. These include GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Bethesda.net. However, that’s not the only catch.
It seems not all pre-order customers will receive access to the servers at the same time: According to Bethesda, the servers will only be opened for a portion of the players first, with more being gradually let in over time.
Starting in October we’ll be selecting people who have pre-ordered the game from a participating retailer to enter our B.E.T.A. We’ll start small and grow over time as we prepare for launch.
Why do players have a problem with this? Many feel deceived. After all, during the beta announcement, there was never any mention that not everyone would receive access to the beta at the same time. Additionally, many fear that the announced beta period leaves too little time to play the beta if they are allowed onto the servers too late.
A possible explanation from a Reddit user: They may have underestimated the influx of players. Bethesda may not have expected so many players to pre-order to participate in the beta. With these phases, they want to prevent Fallout 76’s beta from being a failure.
Whatever the reason may be, Bethesda emphasizes: Everyone who pre-orders from relevant retailers will be able to play the beta. Players will likely have to hope to be part of one of the early waves.
The Fallout 76 beta starts in October – Too late?
No time for bug fixes before launch? Fans are also criticizing that the beta starts only a month before the release of Fallout 76. The concern: Bethesda will have to carry over any bugs found in the beta into the game, as they likely won’t have time for fixes.
But is a beta even meant for bug fixes? Some Reddit users see it differently; a beta for a multiplayer game should primarily test the server load.
Fans speculate whether the beta could actually just be a soft launch. Some even suspect that this isn’t a beta at all, but a disguised “soft launch”, a gentle start. They convey to the players that it’s a beta, but in reality, they just want to cautiously bring the game online to avoid a disaster on day one.
Either way: The players are not pleased. Some are considering canceling their pre-orders to get back at Bethesda.
What do you think about this? Are you bothered by Bethesda’s approach?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Black Desert is set to be released for Xbox One later this year. A new video showcases the game’s character editor in action.
Xbox players will have to be patient. Unfortunately, there is still no official release date for Black Desert on Xbox One. The game is expected to enter beta at the end of the year and then be released. In a video, fans can take a look at the implementation of the powerful character editor from Black Desert Online for the Xbox One version.
Powerful Tool
Limitless possibilities. The character editor of Black Desert shines with numerous customization options, allowing players to create almost anything. From beautiful characters to grotesque creatures, everything is possible. This fact has already been utilized by players who recreated famous personalities on the PC. At the time of Black Desert’s release, the editor was considered the best in the genre.
The editor in the Xbox version seems to be just as powerful as the PC version. The video shows that players can select and modify individual facial and body parts. Additionally, personal poses can be created, which your character will adopt in the game.
Will the editor be released earlier? To promote the release of Black Desert on PC, influencers were given the opportunity to have fun in the Black Desert editor. For example, YouTuber PewDiePie created various stars and a likeness of himself with the editor.
Players had the chance to experiment with the character editor before the release version, allowing them to kick off with a finished character right at launch. Whether Pearl Abyss will also release the editor earlier for the Xbox version is still unknown.
On July 31, the summer event “Solstice of Heroes” starts in Destiny 2. Now, further rewards have been revealed that you can earn as part of these festivities. You will soon be able to hunt these 10 cool Sparrows.
A summer fest is coming: In the lead-up to the Forsaken expansion, Destiny 2 is winding down its first year with large-scale seasonal celebrations. The summer event Solstice of Heroes starts on July 31, 2018, in which Guardians are supposed to celebrate their past achievements and accomplishments.
Event brings new loot: During the summer festival, you can complete the Moments of Triumph from Year 1 and earn numerous new rewards. This includes 10 new Sparrows among other things.
These sleds will soon be looking for a new owner
10 new Sparrows: Before the event, new entries for Sparrows have been found in the game data of Destiny 2, which you will be able to earn during the Solstice of Heroes. Here is what the 10 new vehicles for your Guardians look like:
Backlight Razor
Boltcrackle
Comrades in Arms
Gray Hornet
Junestinger
Memorium Sol
Orcinus Swatch
Serriform 7
Sunspear
Timberwolf
All Sparrows are earnable: With the exception of the “Comrades in Arms” Sparrow, which is unlocked by reaching a certain score in the Triumph Moments, all other companions can be earned through level-ups during the event.
For each level-up, you will receive an additional event-specific Engram along with the regular Bright Engram, from which you can obtain various event-specific rewards – including these Sparrows.
By the way: Like during the Crimson Week, a knockout system will be active. This means: You will receive new items from the event Engrams until you have collected all the Solstice event items. Only then will there be duplicates.
The German development studio Yager has made a name for itself with the space game Dreadnought and now wants to shake up the online shooter market with the game “The Cycle” (PC).
The Cycle will not be a battle royale shooter and will not follow in the footsteps of Destiny, but will aim to take the genre in a new direction. However, this could also become somewhat problematic.
The Cycle – PvP meets PvE
Treasure seekers against treasure seekers. In the distant future, you find yourselves on a space station orbiting the planet Fortuna III. On this world, valuable resources are disputed by several factions. You belong to one of these factions and are a freelancer who regularly goes to the planet to find resources and bring them back to the space station. This helps your party gain more power.
PvE meets PvP. You begin each mission alone. During the mission, you encounter other players who can join you or whom you can help. Currently, there are about 20 players per match.
However, you can’t really trust anyone. Every player is trying to complete their mission and get to the resources. This leads to a competition for the resources. Once someone has managed to snag the resources, they should watch out for the other players.
This means that PvP is possible at any time and anywhere. A firefight between players can suddenly break out. Even if you manage to secure the resources, you are still not safe. You first have to bring them back to the space station.
The developers explain that there will be a kind of race in which you try to reach the station, but other players can attack you and want to take the resources.
Open PvP with quests – Can that go well? Many players will certainly be horrified at the thought of being constantly attacked by others during quests. Games have shown too often that this potentially opens the door for players who enjoy constantly attacking others.
The developers are aware of this and want to implement some gameplay mechanics to minimize this effect:
You will not receive rewards for attacking other players
There is no leaderboard for kills of fellow players
There is a leaderboard that shows which players progress particularly effectively in the missions
Players should be encouraged to primarily want to complete their missions and only fight against other players in emergencies
You have only one life per match. If you are eliminated, you will no longer participate in the round. Therefore, everyone must proceed cautiously
A matchmaking system will group peaceful players together and let the aggressive players play among themselves
There are indications of whether you can trust a player. For example, a bounty may be placed on a player who has cheated others
Players who constantly attack others will get branded and hunted
A little bit of Battle Royale, but with more options. The Cycle does not want to completely distance itself from Battle Royale. For example, it is possible to fight on the map until only one player remains. This player would win because they are ultimately the one who can get the resources to the station. Additionally, you will be brought to the planet by dropship, which somewhat resembles the parachute jumps from Fortnite or PUBG. Still, you will have more options:
You can team up and try to advance together
It is possible to reach your goal alone
You can bypass all enemies
Gamescom and Alpha: At Gamescom in August, The Cycle will be showcased in more detail. The online shooter will even be playable. Additionally, an alpha will soon start, for which interested players can already register now on the official website. The Cycle is expected to be released at the end of 2018 for PC.
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Anthem will be an online multiplayer shooter, while BioWare is known as an RPG studio with strong stories. This shift seems strange to some fans and speculation about the studio’s motivation has arisen: even conspiracy theories.
What are the conspiracy theories? Fans accuse BioWare of being influenced by Electronic Arts. EA is said to have pressured the studio BioWare to take a different path with Anthem than what is typical for the studio. BioWare was purchased by EA in 2007.
Anthem will be different: Anthem will be a “games-as-a-service” title that will be continuously developed and supplied with new content. The game will be a cooperative multiplayer shooter where players are always online. Also, the previously shown story trailer of Anthem is quite action-packed.
This is what the studio is known for: BioWare is known for RPG games that possess a dense and well-thought-out story. Players make important decisions that influence the course of the story. A dialogue choice wheel with multiple responses and sexual romances are typical elements. At least for the release of Anthem, no romances are planned, but they could potentially make their way into the game later.
BioWare has always retained control over its games
BioWare has often taken risks and tried new things: In response to fans’ allegations, a former employee of BioWare has now spoken out. James Ohlen worked as the lead writer on Anthem and left BioWare on June 22. Ohlen says that the fans’ theories are simply untrue. It is nothing new for BioWare to take new paths.
In his opinion, BioWare has only been able to survive for as long as it has because the studio is really good at taking risks and trying new things. Ohlen refers to games like Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: The Old Republic, both of which were something new for BioWare when they were released.
Ohlen noted: Just because Anthem is a multiplayer online game, it does not mean that the studio would suddenly stop producing “classic” BioWare games.
Taking a different path with Anthem came from BioWare itself and the team: For BioWare, according to Ohlen, it would have been an opportunity to create something different than what is typical for the studio. Even though there are a lot of conspiracy theories regarding EA, Ohlen can assure that BioWare always has control over how they design games.
BioWare has undergone internal changes and also evolved
BioWare’s corporate culture has also undergone a change: Ohlen noted that a lot has changed internally at BioWare in recent years. Many older employees have left the studio, including the founders Ray Muzayka and Greg Zeschuk. Many new ones have come in, and the team has grown. The new composition of a team can also have an impact on the product.
BioWare had to evolve because the production of games is becoming increasingly expensive: The costs of game production are continually rising, which is also due to games becoming larger. This also means larger teams. For this reason, BioWare had to change to meet today’s standards and requirements.
