With the March update, the popular Rumble mode from the predecessor made its return in Destiny 2. However, there was little to celebrate – the free-for-all mode was plagued with issues, and players were dissatisfied. Now Rumble is being revised.
When Update 1.1.4 went live on March 27, a lot of PvP players dove straight into the crucible. Because as part of the March update, the popular Rumble mode from Destiny 1 also returned.
But for many, the anticipation did not last long. It quickly became apparent that the current maps were too small for 8 competing Guardians. The respawn mechanic was suboptimal. More often than not, players respawned right in front of an opponent’s gun – sometimes multiple times in a row.
Bungie has recognized the issues and aims to improve. Rumble is now being revised.
This is how Bungie intends to solve the problems of the Rumble mode
That’s why the number of players will be reduced to 6. Additionally, the respawn mechanic is being worked on behind the scenes. This way, Guardians should be better distributed in the future and not step on each other’s toes during respawn.
What do you think? Will these changes be sufficient to make the Rumble mode more appealing? Or are larger maps or other measures needed for PvP players to enjoy Rumble?
Bad news for all troll fans. The Zandalari trolls in World of Warcraft will still be a long way off.
The allied races are one of the biggest innovations of the upcoming expansion Battle for Azeroth. While Alliance and Horde are making their way through Kul Tiras and Zandalar, more and more races are joining the factions of World of Warcraft. At the announcement at BlizzCon 2017, a total of 6 allied races were introduced. Four of them are already playable if you are a pre-order customer and meet the requirements:
Lightforged Draenei (Alliance)
Void Elves (Alliance)
Highmountain Tauren (Horde)
Nightborne (Horde)
The Dark Iron Dwarves (Alliance) and Zandalari trolls (Horde) were also announced months ago. But all troll fans must now be very brave:
Zandalari trolls will not be available after the launch of Battle for Azeroth.
Zandalari trolls will come “over the course of the expansion”
By completing the “War Campaign,” the Alliance and Horde can unlock the Dark Iron Dwarves (Alliance) and the Mag’har Orcs (Horde) with Patch 8.0.
Zandalari trolls will only be unlocked “over the course of the expansion” – so presumably with Patch 8.1 or 8.2, namely then when the faction actually integrates into the Horde’s storyline.
The same goes for the humans of Kul Tiras. They will also only come in a later patch – but everyone expected that.
Troll fans are disappointed. They were very much looking forward to finally being able to play the Zandalari trolls, especially the cool druid forms had already captured the hearts of the players.
Are you also disappointed by Blizzard’s decision to push the trolls a little further back? Or can you easily do without them because the Mag’har Orcs make up for it?
Surprisingly, Epic not only introduced vending machines in Fortnite: Battle Royale with the last patch on Wednesday, but also adjusted the weapon balance. How do these changes affect the weapons? And why are the burst assault rifles particularly suffering?
All players were actually waiting for a continuation of the shooting tests – a test mode where planned weapon changes can be tested. Now Epic has already made productive changes on Wednesday that could have far-reaching consequences.
Specifically, the initial accuracy for various weapons is increased. If you do not move and crouch ideally, you will have a one hundred percent hit probability on the first shot fired if the target is aimed at.
But what does this mean specifically for the individual weapons? Is the effect noticeably felt? Do all weapons really benefit from these changes?
This is how shooting behavior works in Fortnite: Battle Royale
In general, shots fired from a weapon should land where you aim. However, in Fortnite, the so-called bloom mechanic messes with this. It adds a certain element of randomness to every fight as it is not guaranteed that you will hit your target.
Especially in chaotic fights, it can happen even at short range that you miss your opponent with your assault rifle or submachine gun, even though you obviously aimed at your opponent.
Epic implemented this system to ensure that fights do not end too quickly. Those who are shot at from behind should have a chance to react. Fights are artificially prolonged in this way.
The initial accuracy indicates how likely a hit is when you are completely still and aim steadily. With the last patch, this probability was increased to 100%. The following weapons are affected by this change:
Silenced submachine gun
Tactical submachine gun
Pistol
Silenced pistol
Revolver
Hand cannon
Assault rifle
Burst assault rifle
The first shot from any of the specified weapons will always hit exactly where you aim, provided you do not move. A significant change, especially for weapons that can inflict high damage with a single shot.
Hand cannons and revolvers are the big winners of the balance changes in Fortnite: Battle Royale
Hand cannons and revolvers deal great damage on critical hits. However, opponents with full shields will not be finished off by either type of weapon after one shot. A subsequent shot, however, no longer benefits from the initial accuracy if you pull the trigger too quickly.
The second shot can therefore miss – time for your opponent to build cover and perhaps use mini shield potions. Although the slowly firing cannons benefit the most from the change, they still do not represent a cure-all in the endgame.
At the beginning of a match, you can clear out with these cannons – opponents rarely have full shields in the early phases of the game.
In the endgame, weapons with the potential to eliminate opponents with a single shot (sniper rifles) still remain the best option. To prevent the initial accuracy from allowing you to safely eliminate distant targets, Epic made two additional changes:
The critical damage multiplier has been reduced to 2 (was 2.5)
Weapons deal less damage at greater distances
Initial accuracy at the cost of potential damage
So that you do not gain an excessive advantage with the guaranteed hit probability, all affected weapons will incur a damage reduction over distance. Depending on the distance to the target, you will now deal less damage.
While the damage reduction for submachine guns begins after 24 meters, you can fire at targets up to 50 meters away with assault rifles before you also have to accept reductions here.
Up to 35% damage loss you will have to accept over long distances, while with revolvers and hand cannons you will even lose up to 60% of the damage. The reason for the damage drop over distance lies in balance.
Weapons like revolvers are meant to shine at their intended range – and not dominate long-range combat.
Is everything great in Fortnite now? Not quite – one weapon has now ultimately been buried with these changes – the burst assault rifle!
Why the burst assault rifle does not benefit from the initial accuracy
The improved initial accuracy is also noticeable with the burst assault rifle. However, only for the first bullet of a burst – not for all three.
So if you aim directly for the head, the first hit will be critical, but the vertical deviation ensures that the other two bullets may miss the opponent. Since the fire rate of burst assault rifles is lower than that of standard assault rifles, they thus have a disadvantage.
The apparent bonus of the initial accuracy actually turns out to be a shortcoming in the game mechanics. Compounding this is the reduction of the critical hit damage multiplier, which further weakens the weapon.
How Epic will deal with this in the future is not known – at least according to data miners, templates for a legendary variant of a burst rifle already exist. The shortcomings of the standard variant could be balanced with this version.
What do you think of the weapon balance adjustments?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We have some authors in the editorial team of Mein MMO who are fond of collecting gaming merchandise. We want to know from you: Are you also tempted by gaming knickknacks?
Although you can hardly take a step in 2018 without somehow stumbling upon gaming, it is a relatively young industry. It is therefore not surprising that the trend to produce and sell gaming merchandise has only recently spread among Western companies.
In addition to the now obligatory special, collector’s, epic, and whatever else editions of the games, there is an almost endless amount of junk featuring our favorite characters and gaming logos.
Stuffed animals, art books, posters, jewelry, clothing, even desk lamps, bookends, and toilet seats: If it exists, there’s likely some gaming merchandise for it somewhere in the world.
And where there’s a supply, there’s also known to be a demand.
That’s why Mein MMO wants to know: Do you buy collector’s editions and gaming merchandise?
This is what gaming merchandise the Mein MMO authors have at home
Echo says: I have been feeling for a while that the sequence “Buy gaming merch!” is in my genetics.
At least, that would be the only logical explanation for why I love buying collector’s editions and merchandise from my favorite IPs.
The majority of my collection consists of Final Fantasy stuff, but there’s also merch from Bloodborne, Journey, Diablo, Okami, Tetris, etc.
With many of these games, I associate specific memories of the fun I had while playing, and I find it somehow cool to have a part of the game universe in “real life”.
Most of it is pretty useless stuff, but it’s my useless stuff!
Leya says: I have a big weakness for plush merchandise! The little creatures now laugh at me from almost every corner of my apartment.
They occasionally cuddle up to me on the couch, peeking out slyly from shelves or joining in on big fluffy parties up on cabinets.
It also happens from time to time that I absentmindedly pet them while passing by and think of a nice memory that I associate with the figure.
Whether from a game directly or from an event where the stuffed animal cheekily hopped into my bag and came home with me.
But other editorial members of Mein MMO also have their own merchandise. For example, Micha still has the first gaming merch he collected:
This is what it looks like at Patrick’s home; no wonder he’s a specialist in Pokémon GO and League of Legends:
And here are Kevin’s World of Warcraft plush toys:
Now it’s your turn: What do you think about collector’s editions and gaming merchandise? Cool thing or waste of money?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This trainer sends his Rattata into battle against raid bosses in Pokémon GO. The background is an annoying trainer from Pokémon Gold and Silver.
In Pokémon GO, a trainer defeats level 1 raid bosses with his Rattata. Why does he do this? Presumably because of a trauma that it has from earlier Pokémon editions. There was a trainer who was extremely proud of his little Rattata.
With Rattata against T1 raid bosses
In the Pokémon GO research community TheSilphRoad, trainers like to share special stories. So does Reddit user CuttyWoW, who reports that he has defeated Tier 1 raid bosses with a Rattata. The raid bosses in Pokémon GO are assigned different difficulty levels. Level 1 is the easiest, while level 5 with legendary Pokémon is the hardest.
Defeating the level 1 bosses solo is not particularly difficult, but using only a single Rattata is extraordinary and somewhat more challenging. The opponents consisted of:
Wailmer with a moveset of Splash and Ram
Magikarp with a moveset of Splash and Splatter
Snubbull with a moveset of Burden and Ice Storm
Swablu with a moveset of Peck and Fairy Wind
The weather was neutral during all battles and did not affect the outcome. The trainer shares his encounters in the following YouTube video. There you can also see that the battles were really close and that the Rattata almost fainted.
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But why does the trainer do this and why does he call his Rattata Top Percent?
Youngster Joey from Pokémon Silver and Gold
In the handheld editions Silver and Gold of Pokémon GO, a young NPC trainer first appears, who constantly boasts about his Rattata. His name is Youngster Joey and he claims that his Rattata belongs to the best (Top Percent) Rattatas available.
Through his constant boasting and annoying phone calls, he caught the attention of players back then and stayed in their memory.
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In the years since then, Youngster Joey has become a meme, is represented by fans on Twitter, and even serves as a template for cosplays. As a reminder or tribute to this character, the video by CuttyWoW apparently originated.
Gameforge has ended the beta of the anime MMO Soulworker. This means the game is now live.
The beauty of a soft launch is that there was no wipe at the end of the beta. Those who participated in the testing phase can now continue playing after the release.
Moreover, testers will find a small reward in their inventory. This includes a few in-game items:
1x Exclusive open beta title: ‘Active Beta Tester’
1x Exclusive open beta title: ‘Persistent Technician’
2x Darling Outfit (for two characters of your choice)
1x Grutin Akasha Card (rare version)
1x Hellanko Akasha Card (rare version)
1x Mat (Community)
1x Collected Works (1 hr)
3x Power Vitamin
5x Respawner
10x Bonus Keycard
10x HP & SF Kit
The launch of the game comes with several events:
The costs for customizing your hero are reduced
The costs for resetting your skill tree are also reduced
EP system is still being revised
The EP system, which players criticized during the beta, is still undergoing revision. EP is the energy you need to carry out daily activities. Once you consume your EP, you can no longer play. However, those who subscribe receive significantly more EP, which many players find unfair. Gameforge has not yet disclosed how this system will be changed to ensure more fairness.
If you are looking for an action-packed MMO that runs like an anime series, where you play as heroes chosen by the gods who must stop an alien invasion with their powers, then Soulworker might be for you.
What do you think will happen if the Earth really survives another world war – but is left completely devastated? If the “Fallout” series became reality, it would probably look like Will To Live Online. The post-apocalyptic MMORPG shooter with a survival system is now available on Steam Early Access.
Survival games are dead? Apparently not yet. With “Will To Live,” the indie studio AlphaSoft LLC is now releasing an MMORPG shooter that features realistic survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
In Will To Survive, you find yourself in a world after the apocalypse. Everything is destroyed, mutants and unnatural beings lurk everywhere. Your main task is to survive. Find food and water and protect yourself from lurking dangers.
You can survive alone or join groups to secure areas with large bases and survive together. In larger groups, survival becomes easier for everyone.
Besides surviving, you should also explore the world. During your exploration, you will find dungeons (mines, bunkers, and metro stations) or encounter the strongest monsters, for which you will need a raid of players to defeat. All of this helps you unravel the mystery of how the world was actually destroyed.
Two things set Will To Live apart from other games of this type:
It is an MMORPG: Unlike most survival shooters, you can create your own character in Will To Live. There are currently four unique classes that differ in appearance and possible equipment. Each class has a typical group role. Upgrades allow new weapons and character abilities.
Factions: You can join factions that fight for control over areas and are hostile to each other. With factions, you can face PvE dangers like raid bosses or engage in PvP battles against other players.
Will To Live looks like a promising shooter that does many things right. It remains to be seen whether the game will follow the path of other early access survival games, hanging in development forever and wanting ‘too much’, or if the implementation succeeds and the studio achieves a breakthrough.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Legends Return, the new update 4.5 of the MMORPG ArcheAge has launched, and players report that Pay2Win elements are creeping into the new progression servers. However, Trion Worlds is trying to calm nerves before the launch of the EU server.
The new progression servers are meant to allow for a fresh start. They are what have led many fans to re-engage with ArcheAge. The two servers – Nui for North America and Ezi for Europe – offer content that will be unlocked at certain times.
Furthermore, they include the low caps and systems from the original launch of the game. Certain advanced systems like castle sieges, hero elections, and more will be introduced gradually later, as published by Trion Worlds on a calendar.
There should actually be no unfair advantages …
The two servers continue to offer marketplace restrictions, which ensure that no player gains unfair advantages.
Additionally, progress on equipment is restricted for months. This is intended to ensure that all players have the same chances to reach the cap before the developers raise it.
… and yet they are present
And yet, there is already criticism from players. According to players, some Pay2Win elements have already found their way onto the new servers. Among them:
Dungeon Run Consumables
Leveling Consumables
Best-in-Slot Pajamas
Combat Consumables
These items can already be found in the in-game shop. They can indeed bring unfair advantages in-game. Therefore, players are calling on the developers of ArcheAge to remove these items.
Trion Worlds responds: They take player feedback seriously
In an official statement from Trion Worlds that came out last night, they said: The microtransaction items in 4.5 provide a boost, but this aligns with common practices in Free2Play games. The boost is limited, and many of the items can also be crafted in-game.
Due to player feedback, they have regulated this fresh start significantly more than before. They emphasize their efforts to find a fair compromise in monetization that keeps players happy.
After the US server went live as scheduled yesterday, Trion Worlds has postponed the launch of the EU server. It is set to go online today, Friday at 5:00 PM.
Blizzard has announced the release date for the Hearthstone expansion “The Witchwood”. It’s starting in just a few days!
Apparently, Blizzard is currently offering release dates at a discount. After the release date for WoW: Battle for Azeroth was revealed yesterday, the official release date for “The Witchwood” soon followed.
The Hearthstone expansion “The Witchwood” will be released on April 12!
As usual, the expansion will likely arrive late in the evening on April 12 due to the different time zones.
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The Witchwood adds 135 new cards to the game and also introduces two new keywords.
Echo allows a card to be played again in the turn it was played (as long as you can pay the mana cost).
Rush allows a minion to attack right after it is played – but only other minions.
Free packs at the launch of The Witchwood
All interested players should log into Hearthstone during the first days. Because then you will get 3 free card packs from The Witchwood. Additionally, there is a random legendary class card!
This is also the last chance to pre-order 70 card packs from The Witchwood for the price of €50. This offer lasts only until the release.
Additionally, Druids will receive a new hero. Those who win 10 games in Standard mode after the release of The Witchwood will unlock Lunara.
Until April 12, Blizzard will present the remaining cards that have not yet been released.
Are you already excited about The Witchwood and will you play regularly again? Or have you already finished with Hearthstone?
No matter how he managed to do it – this time Deckard Cain did not get lost in a cave, in catacombs, or ruins, but in the nexus of Heroes of the Storm. The old Horadrim and storyteller will be the new hero in Blizzard’s MOBA!
Deckard Cain is not known for being the most helpful character in Blizzard’s universes – at least not in terms of how often he needs to be rescued. Now the frail old man is making it as the next support in the ranks of heroes in Heroes of the Storm.
As a support and healer, Deckard Cain brings corresponding abilities that set him apart from most other supports:
Willpower of the Faithful (Passive): When at least 1 allied hero is nearby, Deckard receives 10 armor and his basic abilities cooldown 50% faster.
Healing Potion (Q): Throws a healing potion on the ground. The potion heals the first ally it touches and restores health. Deckard Cain can place up to 5 potions at the same time.
Horadric Cube (W): Throws the Horadric Cube, which deals damage to all enemies in its area of effect and slows them down by 40% for a short time.
Scroll of Sealing (E): Deckard Cain creates a triangular area with the scroll. Enemies standing within it after the triangle is completed take damage and are immobilized for 1.5 seconds.
Due to his passive ability, Deckard relies on staying close to allies – which makes it easier for him to oversee the situation, but also allows enemies to kill him more easily. His abilities help him prevent being easily killed and allow him to control large areas.
With the healing potion, he has the opportunity to set up fights and escape routes, making it harder for enemies to pursue or even turn a fight back in his favor. Using the healing potions requires some foresight.
The Wasteland Wanderer skin for Deckard Cain, which will be implemented with him.
Planning ahead to control the opponent
Deckard Cain’s iconic heroic abilities enhance his role as an area controller:
Stay a While… (R): Channels for 1 second and sleeps enemy heroes in the area in front of Deckard for 3 seconds. After the channel, they continue to sleep for 2 seconds. Damage wakes opponents up, and they can only be put to sleep once per application of “Stay a While…”.
Blown Away by Knowledge (R): Deckard creates a swirling Book Storm that moves in the target direction and continuously pushes back affected enemies.
After the first impression, Deckard moves between Li-Ming, Uther, and Alexstrasza. However, his focus is strongly on controlling areas and forcing opponents into fights at positions where they are outmatched. Deckard can either restrict or control the opponents’ movement and prepare areas with healing potions in advance for a fight.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Warframe, the Operation Plague Star event is taking place on PC until April 17. You must stop infected enemies that break out of a huge tumor located on the Plains. Here you can find an overview of the event and the rewards.
Shortly after the Plains of Eidolon came to Warframe, the Operation Plague Star event occurred for the first time. During the event, a massive tumor filled with infected enemies appears on the Plains. Your task is to eliminate the enemies in bounty missions before they reach the city of Cetus and its inhabitants.
Operation Plague Star is now active on PC and will last until April 17. The event is also expected to return to PS4 and Xbox One, but there is no exact date for that yet.
If you have participated in the event before, you can bring your operative supplies into the current event.
Bounty mission “Operation Plague Star” is running in 4 phases
During the event, you can accept a special bounty mission from Konzu in the city of Cetus. For fighting the Infested, you will earn reputation and can exchange it for rewards like Zaw parts and mods that you can only obtain during the event.
The event mission is repeatable and proceeds in 4 steps:
Steal the Thrax toxin from the Grineer: On the map, there is a marker in a cave where you can find the Thrax toxin. The toxin can destroy the tumor and free the Plains. You will encounter Grineer in the cave.
Thrax toxin mixing phase: Now you need to bring the toxin to a vault and defend it. During this phase, you also want to add Infested Catalyst and Eidolon Phylaxis to the toxin mixture. This can be done through your gear wheel. To achieve maximum reputation, you need to do this 4 times for both the Catalyst and the Phylaxis.
Escort the drone: Here you simply have to escort a drone along with the toxin mixture to the meteor mining site. Of course, the drone must not be destroyed during this process.
Boss fight! In the final phase, you will fight against a horde of Infested. Provided you have added 4 x Eidolon Phylaxis to the Thrax toxin mixture, an Infested Hemocyte will also appear. The Hemocyte is essentially equivalent to a Lephantis (link leads to the Warframe Wiki) from phase 2. All strategies that work against Lephantis will also be effective against the Hemocyte. Fight here
Rewards – What you are fighting for in the event
Visit Nakak, the curiosities vendor in Cetus, and exchange your event reputation here for rewards.
Eidolon Phylaxis: Equipped, you will earn more reputation and the difficulty of the event will increase.
Infested Zaw parts: Modular components that can be used to craft a Zaw.
Event emblem: An emblem inspired by the meteorites.
Infested Zaw Exodia (Arkana): Buffs to enhance your Zaw weapons.
Trophies for the clan.
These weapons and mods are returning for the event:
Ether Daggers: Not normally available.
Snipetron: A Corpus sniper rifle that gives you 3,000 mastery points. Not normally available.
Mod Fulmination / Detonation: There is no other way to obtain this mod.
Mod Sacrifice / Atonement: There is no other way to obtain this mod.
What else is worthwhile in the event?
You have the opportunity to farm rare resources like Kuva or materials from the Plains more easily.
You have the opportunity to receive finished Forma, of which one Forma already means 3,000 points.
The prestige system of World of Warcraft is being revamped. Those with many twinks can rejoice!
With Legion, the current expansion of World of Warcraft, the developers fundamentally revised the PvP system. All characters have nearly the same chance in PvP situations, and equipment has only a minor influence. PvP equipment and associated sets still exist, but they are no longer primarily tied to the earning of honor.
Furthermore, honor has become a kind of second “experience” that fills a bar, at the end of which either artifact power or gold awaits. Every 50 levels, there is the possibility of unlocking a new “prestige” rank. This comes with a special reward, such as a mount, a special pet, or a new template for the artifact weapon.
For those who only play a single character, the system was optimal. With each new prestige rank, there was a fresh reward and always something new. It was different for players with multiple characters. They constantly had to deal with the same rewards “enjoyed” – because when you receive the same pet for the 5th time, you don’t feel particularly rewarded by this system.
Prestige is expanded to the entire account
Blizzard has heard this criticism and plans drastic changes for Battle for Azeroth.
With Battle for Azeroth, the system will be revised. Players will then have a cross-account prestige rank.
But that is not the only change. The developers are taking inspiration from Overwatch and want to establish a similar level system. Whenever players level up, a random reward such as a new weapon or another piece of equipment awaits.
Whether the previously achieved prestige ranks of all your characters will be added together or simply the highest rank will be taken as the starting position is still unknown.
Please note that Blizzard has not yet provided exact details. How the system ultimately works and whether it will even be implemented in the live version remains to be seen.
What do you think of these changes to the PvP system? A good or a bad idea? Does it suit you and your playstyle?
It has already been revealed by dataminers and created a huge hype – the Raven. Now players can finally acquire it in Fortnite: Battle Royale.
Epic has a knack for releasing skins that are extremely popular. The fact that they sometimes shamelessly copy from other movies, games, etc. doesn’t seem to bother the players.
The starter pack released a few days ago is an obvious homage to Halo, the level 100 skin in the Battle Pass is clearly John Wick and the extremely popular Skull Trooper skin from Halloween originally comes from Karate Kid from 1984.
The popularity of the skins is not diminished by this. The new Raven skin has been eagerly awaited – now you can finally buy it. Any resemblance to a noodle face from Destiny is probably just a coincidence.
The skin was also released on Friday – the day when Xur always appears and offers his wares. Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend any strange coins for the skin – it won’t be cheap, though.
The actual model is likely the hero “Revenant” from Epic’s own MOBA Paragon.
Raven skin comes with its glider to Fortnite: Battle Royale
For the Raven skin, you will, however, have to reach deep into your pockets. 2,000 V-Bucks or 20 euros will be required for the skin. If you also want to buy the matching glider, you will have to spend another 800 V-Bucks.
Those who are currently short on cash can earn the V-Bucks needed for the skin in the “Save the World” mode. While this is a long-winded affair, you don’t have to spend any money for the skin. We have described in detail how to farm V-Bucks in PvE content.
Blizzard shows customer friendliness. Those who purchased a digital version of WoW: Battle for Azeroth and now want the Collector’s Edition will receive a credit.
The purchase of a Collector’s Edition of World of Warcraft has always been associated with some issues with various expansions: There are often pre-order bonuses that entice players to buy a digital copy of the next addon right after the announcement.
It was the same with Battle for Azeroth. Those who pre-ordered the new addon months ago were able to access some Allied Races and thus already play some content of the new expansion.
Collectors of the physical Collector’s Edition were frustrated. Because who would want to buy the digital version when they plan to purchase the big box with the actual goodies later?
This time Blizzard has thought of exactly these players!
Upgrade to Physical Collector’s Edition Grants Blizzard Credit
Those who redeem the code for the physical Collector’s Edition and have already purchased a digital version will receive the purchase price of the digital version as Blizzard credit!
However: Those who also performed the “Deluxe Upgrade” directly with the purchase of the digital version will also only receive the purchase price of the standard version of Battle for Azeroth as credit.
Blizzard credit can be used for all kinds of purchases in Battle.net – such as character services, purchasing mounts in the shop, or even content for other games, such as loot boxes in Overwatch or Heroes of the Storm.
This offer is only valid until December 31, 2018. Those who redeem a code for the Collector’s Edition after that will not receive a refund for the purchase price of a digital copy. But most WoW fans probably won’t hesitate to redeem in time.
Are you buying the physical version of the Collector’s Edition? Will you make use of this “refund service”?
After the release date for Patch 1.8.1 for The Division was announced, Massive announces new encrypted Mark III containers. These are supposed to contain new cosmetic clothes and a special outfit.
The State of the Game just aired on April 5th, but Massive does not have much to announce. It is already known that Patch 1.8.1 will go live next week on April 12th.
Shortly after the patch release, the new global event Blackout will also start.
Additionally, Xbox One X owners can look forward to 4k rendering and other improvements.
New cosmetic items are coming
Furthermore, Massive confirms: There will be new Mark III containers for cosmetic items. These will contain new clothes and a special outfit, about which there is no information. It is supposed to be a surprise, but it surely won’t be the bunny outfit.
Here are the (preliminary) patch notes for 1.8.1
So far, the final patch notes have not been announced. However, it is likely that they will be identical to the PTS version.
Revised chances for classified gear
Open world bosses: 6% drop chance (doubled)
Legendary missions: 20% chance upon completion
Special classified containers during upcoming global events: Each available secret set will get a special container that guarantees a piece from this set
Special container for classified gear: This costs 2500 Phoenix Credits and contains a secret set piece. You can buy these from the special equipment vendor.
Supply drops for season pass owners: They now have a 10% chance for classified gear.
Exotic weapons: The exotics sold by vendors will be removed from the normal loot pool. They will only be available from the vendors.
Further updates
The missions “Amherst’s Apartment” and “Grand Central Station” will receive the legendary difficulty
Supply drops for season pass owners provide 100 Div Tech
In the future, daily tasks will drop 25 Division Tech and weekly tasks will drop 100 Division Tech.
Open world bosses can drop all exotics
Resistance bosses will soon grant 100 GE Credits during global events.
Xbox One X update with 4k rendering and other improvements
Players of the secret FireCrest set gain immunity to their own fire damage.
More bug fixes
New containers with cosmetic outfits
New global event: Blackout
Blackout will be the first of two new global events and is set to go live shortly after the release of Patch 1.8.1.
The modifiers for Blackout:
Blackout (always active): Players receive shock ammo, which can stun opponents. By running or shooting, a charge gauge fills up. You deal more damage the higher the charge is.
Extreme Blackout (in addition to Blackout): Enemies can be killed with overload in close combat. If you miss the opponent or exceed your charge of 100%, players and allies will be stunned.
Total Blackout (in addition to Blackout and extreme Blackout): Your charge gauge empties faster when near group members.
A total of 40 new achievements will be introduced with Blackout and Onslaught.
Note: Rewards and gear sets for both events are still not known.
For some time now, players have been increasingly complaining about the seemingly inflationary use of the unfair Cronus Max. This is a device that gives one a range of unfair advantages.
We are aware of the problem, but it goes beyond Massive, as multiple parties are involved. Therefore, there is currently no solution. Massive asks players for patience. The developers want to emphasize that the problem is not being ignored.
Have you noticed this problem as well? How are you preparing for Patch 1.8.1? Let us know in the comments.
The Far Cry series has always been famous for its quirky humor and all the crazy things you could do in the game. After the first week of Far Cry 5 , Ubisoft released some remarkable statistics showing what kind of wild things players have been doing with their time.
Also, beyond the already crazy main questline around the liberation of Hope County from the disturbing cult Eden’s Gate, Far Cry 5 offers several opportunities to write your own crazy stories and do all sorts of bizarre things in the open interactive world. And you should wonder what players have already managed in the first week.
These wild facts emerged in the first week of Far Cry 5
In the first 7 days alone, 8,651 players were attacked by angry skunks. By now, even the last amateur resistance fighters should have noticed that these nasty beasts are not to be trifled with.
One of the most popular and devastating killing instruments in Far Cry 5 –the shovel – was thrown a total of more than 38.8 million meters.
Apparently, many players pass their in-game time with relaxing hobbies instead of cleaning Hope County from the cultists. More than 5.1 million fish were caught by virtual hobby anglers.
The urge to blow things up was also clearly felt among players. Over 35.1 million sticks of dynamite were thrown.
The fact that players have a heart for animals and their fellow humans was also very evident in the first week. More than 177 million civilians were rescued by resistance fighters. With the cuddly bear Cheeseburger, players have spent over 1.1 million wonderful hours together.
Some interesting statistics on the development of Far Cry 5
For Far Cry 5 98 fictional brands were developed, shaping the face of the game world.
And it’s worth noting – the shovel, which is so popular among players, was already the most popular weapon during playtests among amateur resistance fighters.
The world of Far Cry 5 is beautiful and characterized by partly picturesque nature. Therefore, corresponding wildlife must not be missing. A total of 52 animal species call Hope County home.
For those who enjoy voiced dialogues and talking NPCs, Far Cry 5 will be more than satisfying. It would take 74 hours and 44 minutes to listen to all dialogues and conversations in the game. In this context, 96 voice actors lent their voices to the game in the English original.
That fishing is a great passion for many players, not only in real life, was clearly evident during the first week of Far Cry 5. So it is not surprising that the fishing mode of the game was tested and approved by real anglers.
What do you think of these wild statistics? Did you also contribute actively or did you dedicate yourself to other things in Far Cry 5?
Capcom releases the complete list of event quests for the Spring Festival a day before the event. The festival will be available in Monster Hunter: World from April 6 to April 19.
The Spring Festival is practically around the corner, offering new rewards, outfits, and especially the Great Sword Wyvern Ignition in Monster Hunter World.
Players will also have the opportunity to catch up on special quests for Aloy and Ryu outfits if they were missed in the past.
Event Quests Galore
All event quests have a minimum hunter rank requirement as usual.
Blizzard has released a new Overwatch comic. In “Retribution”, we experience the dark side of Overwatch, which does not play by the rules.
The story of Overwatch is told only in very small parts in the game itself. More than a few voice lines or spray logos with allusions are virtually nonexistent. Instead, the developers try to spread the game’s plot through other media. Short films, small animations, or comics are used for this.
Just before the start of the “Overwatch: Archives” event, Blizzard has now released a new 10-page comic that shows the backstory of the upcoming “Retribution” mission.
The story takes place at a time when Overwatch had to face serious problems with Talon. Antonio, a high-ranking Talon leader involved in all kinds of illegal activities, cannot be easily arrested. Thanks to his contacts, he would be released directly from prison. Therefore, Gerard (Widowmaker’s husband), McCree, and Gabriel Reyes plan to proceed differently – in true Blackwatch style.
However, this does not come to pass. Talon has infiltrated a spy in Blackwatch and blows up the entire facility. Gerard is severely injured and hundreds of Overwatch members die.
Reaper and McCree have a new goal. They seek no justice; they seek revenge. If Talon does not want to play by “the rules,” then Overwatch will no longer do so either. So Reaper, McCree, Genji, and Moira go out without Commander Morrison’s (Soldier: 76) approval and embark on a retribution mission.
The MMORPG TERA has been officially available on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 since April 3rd. The PS4 EU servers seem to be offline as of April 5th – and no one knows why.
The TERA EU servers on the PlayStation 4 appear to be currently offline. The players are currently puzzled about why this is the case.
The maintenance for the EU servers scheduled for today has already been completed, and TERA was playable again on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, around 11:00 AM our time, the European PlayStation 4 servers apparently were shut down again.
On Reddit and in the official TERA forum, players are reporting that they were kicked from the game without warning. Some of them are now stuck on the PlayStation 4 in the server selection.
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An additional maintenance is scheduled for this afternoon, but it is only supposed to affect the American servers.
The operator of the console version, En Masse, is actually the US publisher of TERA on PC and has had little to do with Europe so far. Perhaps this could contribute to the problems: In the USA, it was still the middle of the night at the time of the server outage.
We will continue to monitor the issue and report as soon as we know more about the server outage.
Update 4:20 PM: It seems that all EU servers of the PlayStation 4 are back online, except for Saravash and Zyrnaxis. There is still no official information regarding the server outage.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Trion Worlds returns to its roots. The free-to-play MMORPG Rift is getting Prime servers, which are only accessible via a subscription model. Is it worth diving back into the Pay2Play version of Rift in 2018?
With the Prime servers, Trion wants to cater to players who are unhappy with the item shop and prefer a subscription model over purchasable items. Therefore, only cosmetic items and some services, like name changes, can be purchased.
Is this the opportunity to return to Rift or experience it for the first time? What are the reasons for it and what are the arguments against it?
Reasons to Play Rift Prime
Rift Prime is more than just vanilla. The server starts with an older state and will be sustained with new content over the months. Certain quality-of-life features, like group search, are already in place.
However, we experience the old content. In a state where it is still relevant. Veterans feel the nostalgia, similar to the level-stop guilds of World of Warcraft. New players benefit from a regular influx of content.
Diverse Skill System
A unique feature of Rift is the high flexibility of characters. We choose from one of 4 classes, each with numerous skill trees. Up to three of them can be active simultaneously. It is up to us whether we want to skill all three or focus on just one.
The playstyle changes fundamentally depending on the spec. The cleric can access several different healing specs. While one tree focuses on cost-effective heal-over-time spells, another uses shields or group heals.
In raids, this benefits the tactical challenge, as one can experiment a lot. When playing alone or doing instances through group search, the skill system offers variety. If we tire of one playstyle, we can simply change it.
If there are purchasable equipment or other important items in the free-to-play variant, the Prime servers mainly offer cosmetic content. There are no items for sale that provide an advantage in the game.
WoW Players Adapt Quickly
Rift shares many parallels with World of Warcraft. The combat system is identical, and the gameplay itself shows numerous similarities.
At its release in 2011, it also introduced some innovations, such as the namesake rifts. These appeared spontaneously in the open world and resembled the events in Guild Wars 2 and the invasions of the Legion in World of Warcraft.
Rift survived for about 2 years in the subscription model and even released its first expansion during that time. It has achieved more than comparable WoW clones of its time. Anyone looking for a distraction until World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth arrives will find it in Rift.
Reasons Against Rift Prime
The MMORPG also has its downsides. Among them, the publisher itself, as Trion Worlds no longer enjoys a good reputation among many players. This is partly due to the MMORPG ArcheAge, which was released in cooperation with a Korean developer that led to serious issues.
In the eyes of many, ArcheAge turned increasingly towards the pay-to-win model after its release, souring the mood.
This also affected Rift..
No Pay to Win – But Limited Lifespan
The death date of the Rift Prime server is already set. Not to the exact day, but the shutdown could occur within a year. The official FAQ from Trion Worlds states:
Will the RIFT Prime server remain online when the end of game progression is reached? No. The server will go offline shortly thereafter.
What happens to the characters then? The achievements will be transferred to the regular servers. Economically speaking, this is certainly a good idea. The player has paid for their subscription and would probably leave anyway, having seen everything. If there is new content and you return to Rift, you will suddenly be playing on the free-to-play servers, with their item shop.
Poorly Aged Graphics
At release, Rift emphasized a graphically appealing and realistic appearance. The problem with such representations is, however, that they tend to age poorly. The animations are clunky and the environment lacks many details.
Of course, graphics aren’t everything, especially since you have to make some sacrifices with a 7-year-old game. And Rift isn’t ugly. However, for those who value a fantastically looking game, it’s better to steer clear of Rift.
Alternatives to Rift?
If you want to try another game and don’t want to jump straight into the genre leader WoW: Guild Wars 2 offers an excellent leveling phase, The Elder Scrolls Online brings back the feeling of the Elder Scrolls series, and Final Fantasy XIV focuses entirely on the story.
There is a multitude of high-quality MMORPGs available.
Is Rift Worth It?
It all depends on personal preferences as to when something is worth it. Rift Prime is worth its money. For the subscription, one gets a solid game that, thanks to the skill system and regular content updates, provides a lot of variety.
But one thing is clear: the fun is temporally limited. The server will not exist forever, and then you will be dealing with free-to-play and the controversial cash shop. Anyone looking for an alternative to World of Warcraft until its expansions are released is well advised with Rift. However, those who want to experience something new and lasting should look for another game.
