PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PC, Xbox One) is getting some new features in 2018. In a roadmap, the developers present the planned innovations. Some of these resemble content from the competitor Fortnite: Battle Royale.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) will significantly add content in 2018. At the end of 2017, the official release of the game and the Xbox launch took place. Additionally, there were new weapons and even the additional map Miramar.
But it shouldn’t stop there.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds gets emotes and a 4×4 map
The developers at Bluehole have planned significant content for 2018. The highlight is a new map that is only supposed to be 4×4 kilometers in size. This means that you will experience more intense action there.
For fans of the old maps, which are 8×8 kilometers in size, there should also be a new map of that size. This would mean that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will have a total of 4 maps by the end of the year!
The other points on the roadmap for 2018 in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds are:
The graphics will be more detailed
Soon you will be able to perform funny emotes in the game, just like in Fortnite. This includes dances, outbursts of anger, and taunts. A range of emotes is coming soon, and more will be added throughout the year.
There will be a significant supply of weapons and vehicles
You will be able to customize your weapons and parachutes
There will be new outfits
In the main menu, you will be able to see achievements, your friends list, and voice chat
The parachute and melee combat system will receive more intuitive controls
The sound while driving and running with a weapon will be improved
The custom games system will be expanded, and you will be able to save predefined settings
To enhance eSport suitability, there will be a spectator mode
The PUBG developer portal will help in implementing feedback and improving eSport
According to PUBG boss Brendan Greene, this is not all that is planned. More will be revealed later. Additionally, the points mentioned on the roadmap may still change.
Will PUBG be more like Fortnite?
It is interesting to note that some of the mentioned features have already been effectively implemented in the competitor Fortnite: Battle Royale. The smaller map, funny emotes, and customizable parachutes have always been present in Epic’s battle royale game and provide a lot of joy to the players.
The shooter Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (IIII) is coming this fall for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Activision has officially announced this. The release date is October 12.
Today is announcement day. Following The Division 2 another rumor comes true: the new Call of Duty is Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 with the four-strike (IIII). This violates the usual conventions where numbers in the title are Roman numerals, which would then be IV.
The studio Treyarch will develop the title. The presentation is scheduled for May 17, 2018. They want to present the new shooter worldwide at a special event. It is still unclear whether there will be more information in the weeks leading up to it.
Call of Duty has an earlier release date than usual – Is it due to Red Dead Redemption 2?
The game is set to release on October 12 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Typically, a Call of Duty title releases in November. It could be that Activision is bringing CoD 4 forward to have an advantage over Red Dead Redemption 2. RDR2 is set to release on October 26.
Today’s reveal is preceded by a quasi-announcement from basketball star James Harden. He was seen publicly in camouflage gear with a Black Ops 4 logo. Since then, it is speculated that James Harden might somehow be connected to the new Call of Duty. Harden could play a role in the Call of Duty campaign. In any case, the bearded basketball player has already kicked off the advertising campaign.
At the moment, it is still unclear whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will also come to the Nintendo Switch. This was leaked by a Nintendo expert in February 2018. He at least was right about Black Ops 4, so it might also be true that Activision is planning a port to the Nintendo Switch.
More info on Red Dead Redemption 2, the major competitor to CoD in 2018, can be found here:
Massive officially announces the second part of The Division today! For the second anniversary, in addition to a sequel, more information about plans for The Division has also been revealed.
Just now, the State of the Game from March 8 aired, bringing some exciting news. On the second anniversary of The Division, Massive officially announced a sequel. Not much information has been released, but work on The Division 2 has been ongoing since the first part was released.
More details will be presented at E3.
The roadmap for Year 3 with 2 updates, 6 global events
Additionally, Massive presents the roadmap for Year 3 for The Division 1. Patches 1.8.1 and 1.8.2 will be released in the first half of 2018.
Patch 1.8.1 is scheduled for April. This will include changes to the drop rates as well as 2 new legendary missions and the Xbox One X patch. A 2-week PTS phase for PC starts on March 9.
At the release of the patch, a brand new global event called Blackout will also begin, including new masks and commendations. What gameplay modifications and gear sets will come with the global event is not yet known. Additionally, the two missions, Amherst and Grand Central Station, will receive a legendary difficulty.
Patch 1.8.2 will launch in June and will introduce the new feature “Shields”. These are achievements that you unlock in The Division, with effects on The Division 2. Massive did not specify what form this will take. Furthermore, there will be two more missions that will also receive legendary difficulty. One of them is said to be “very large”.
There will also be a new global event for this patch called “Onslaught”.
The plan for the coming year:
April: Patch 1.8.1 with the global event “Blackout”, changes to the drop chances, and the Xbox One X patch, Amherst and Grand Central Station receive legendary difficulty
May: Global event “Onslaught”
June: Patch 1.8.2 with the global event “Outbreak”, 2 missions receive legendary difficulty
July: Global event “Assault”
August: Global event “Strike”
September: Global event “Ambush”
Massive thanks the entire community for their support over the past years.
Are you excited about the announcement? What do you think of the plans for Year 3?
A new week has begun in Fortnite: Battle Royale! Players must complete seven weekly challenges again. With our guide, you will find all the secrets about the target locations and the treasure map from Snobby Shores.
With the start of Season 3, Epic has integrated weekly challenges for all Battle Pass buyers that allow you to level up and unlock additional goodies like skins, emotes, and gliders.
Every week, you will need to master seven of these challenges, and you can also complete challenges from previous weeks at any time – you are not bound by a time limit.
By completing four of the seven challenges, you will receive experience points as a reward. In addition to the usual challenges like getting kills with a specific weapon or opening treasure chests at a specific location, there are also tasks that are not immediately obvious.
Secret Challenges: Snobby Shores and Targets in Fortnite: Battle Royale
The challenges of Week 3 include the following two “secret” challenges:
Land on various targets (7)
Follow the treasure map from Snobby Shores (1)
We will show you where to find the targets and where the treasure map from Snobby Shore leads you!
Land on various targets in Fortnite: Battle Royale
While last week you had to perform various dance moves, this time you will try to land on targets. These are scattered across the map and easily visible after jumping from the Battle Bus.
There are more than two dozen of these targets on the map, but you only need to land on seven different ones. You can find all target locations on the following map:
You can also watch a proper target landing attempt in the following video:
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Follow the treasure map from Snobby Shores in Fortnite: Battle Royale
Already in the first week, a treasure map had to be found that shows the way to a hidden star that gives you points for the Battle Pass. However, you do not need to find the map to uncover the treasure.
You can go directly to the marked spot on the map. This week, it is located between Pleasant Park and the football arena west of Tilted Towers. The location is quite distinctive, situated between two mountains and two lonely trees:
You can also watch the entire treasure hunt in the following video.
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Another tip: If you, like many others, have not yet completed the task from last week, where you need to loot chests in Wailing Woods, you can hit two birds with one stone this week.
Land in Wailing Woods and collect the available chests. After that, you can proceed to chop down the forest. This way, you will simultaneously complete the task “Harvest building resources with a pickaxe (3,000)”.
If you haven’t completed all the tasks from previous weeks or have just now purchased the Battle Pass, you can read the solutions to all the known secrets so far:
A major event in World of Warcraft chases the next one. Is the story in Azeroth progressing too quickly?
With the upcoming expansion Battle for Azeroth, World of Warcraft once again revolves around a gigantic conflict. The Horde and Alliance are fighting on multiple fronts for dominance over new lands but also over the “old” continents. Initial hints, however, suggest that this is just the beginning and later in the expansion will increasingly revolve around old gods, Azshara, and perhaps even the Void Lords.
The signs point to conflict – and of a gigantic scale.
Too many threats in a short time
Historically speaking, Azeroth has been packed with huge threats, gigantic influences, and political alliances that have been completely broken apart every few years.
User Irethius summarized this particularly well on Reddit, imagining a conversation with an inhabitant of Kul Tiras who hasn’t had contact with the continents for 20 years. A lot has happened in the past 20 years of gameplay:
The Elemental Lord Ragnaros, one of the most powerful beings of Azeroth, was defeated – twice
Three troll empires were nearly wiped out
Three Old Gods were overcome
The kingdom of Gilneas has fallen
Deathwing has devastated the world
The Lich King Arthas and the Scourge were halted
The Dragon Aspects have lost their millennia-old power from the Titans
Two invasions of the Burning Legion were stopped (Burning Crusade and Legion)
Sargeras pierced the entire world with a sword
Oh, by the way, our world is the egg of a Titan, but don’t worry, Magni Bronzebeard is already chatting with her
Of course, this entire situation is portrayed in an exaggerated manner and the individual events have been addressed “slowly” over the course of several expansions.
In the overall context of Azeroth, however, everything is very closely intertwined. In the background story, there are nearly 10,000 years between events of such magnitude, like the shattering in the War of the Ancients and the next invasion of the Legion. Other events, such as the rise and fall of the troll empires, often took centuries or even millennia apart.
MMORPGs need a lot of story in a short time
That so much happens at once is, of course, more or less due to the medium of video games. After all, our characters are supposed to experience something exciting and a lot of time can’t pass each time, which would result in a complete overhaul of the world and the elimination of existing main characters.
From a “video game perspective,” the pace is quite sensible – but from a “story logic” perspective, it is rushed. With how often large parts of the population have already been wiped out by demons, old gods, dragons, and much more, there should soon be hardly any inhabitants left.
I think Blizzard could bring a bit more calm back into the story. Personally, I would welcome an addon in the style of Pandaria – even without world-destroying old gods or a mad war chief with genocidal thoughts. “Smaller” conflicts would be perfectly sufficient for me, as long as the story and characters are exciting and compelling. But that probably doesn’t sell well.
What do you think of the storytelling pace of World of Warcraft? Is it good that there are always large, giant conflicts with devastating effects? Or would you prefer more relaxation and calm?
This weekend, the “TAG Heuer Virtual Bundesliga” (VBL) starts with the playoff tournament. The best German FIFA-18 players compete for a spot in the final and qualification for the eWorld Cup. We show you which FUT teams the pros will use.
TimoX, Tim Latka, or Mirza Jahic – just a small selection of German FIFA professionals who will participate in the playoffs of the Virtual Bundesliga this weekend in Düsseldorf.
Their goal is to qualify for the final at the end of March. There, a total of €45,000 is at stake and the next step toward the FIFA-18-eWorld-Cup in the summer.
On Saturday, March 10, the playoff tournament kicks off, one for Xbox and one for PlayStation.
The qualification took place over four months, from November to February. During that time, 48 players per console could qualify through the “Virtual Bundesliga” mode, and 16 players per console received a starting spot through a Clubcard. Thus, a total of 128 players will compete, 64 on Xbox One and 64 on PS4.
The best eight players from the playoff tournament on each console qualify for the final tournament at the end of March.
The final on March 31 and April 1
The grand final starts on Saturday, March 31, and will be held at the German Football Museum in Dortmund.
The 16 playoff qualifiers face off against the defending champion Cihan Yasarlar from RB Leipzig as well as at least three wildcard winners. They compete for prize money of €45,000, the title of “German Champion,” and qualification for the playoff tournament of the FIFA-18 Global Series. This is the final hurdle before the FIFA-18-eWorld-Cup Grand Final.
Game mode and team restrictions: These are the rules
The qualification was held in the “Virtual Bundesliga” mode, meaning each club and player had the same strength. In the Playoff tournament and the final, however, the matches are played in Ultimate Team mode.
To prevent every pro from using the same team, primarily consisting of Bayern Munich players, rules were established beforehand. Each FUT team may have up to 3 players from the same club. Additionally, no icons are allowed and only players from the Bundesliga can be used, player special cards may be used.
This leads to players having to carefully weigh where to place their “stars” and where to use cards from smaller clubs.
An example:
In goal, there is a goalkeeper in the Bundesliga with Manuel Neuer who is far ahead in ratings compared to others. Nevertheless, many professionals play with Ralf Fährmann – why?
Fährmann excels in foot defense – a very useful trait in FIFA 18 to save low driven shots. This makes him nearly equivalent to Manuel Neuer in the eyes of many gamers despite weaker stats. Professionals prefer to use their three Bayern players for very strong cards in other positions. Arturo Vidal, Jerome Boateng, Arjen Robben, or David Alaba are very popular.
Some pros have already announced in advance with which team they have trained for the VBL. The two pros from VfL Wolfsburg and streamer and pro Mirza Jahic will likely compete like this:
Massive has confirmed that there will definitely be a The Division 2. A sequel to the MMO shooter “The Division” from 2016 has been in development for two years. However, a release date for The Division 2 is not yet known.
After a lot of speculation, it is now official. The Creative Director of The Division has confirmed: There will be a The Division 2. During today’s “State of the Game,” the news that many fans have been waiting for was announced.
They said they have so many stories to tell and so much to explore that they decided to make a sequel, according to Creative Director Justin Gerighty.
The Division 2 in development since 2016 – big announcement at E3
The Division 2 has been in development for two years. They practically started developing it right after the launch of The Division.
The Division is primarily developed by Massive Entertainment. However, there is also support from Ubisoft Annecy, Redstorm, Reflection, Ubisoft Bucharest, and Ubisoft Shanghai.
The Division 2 will run on an updated version of the Snowdrop engine. Massive says: They will take the experience they gained from The Division and put it into The Division 2. This should ensure everything works well.
There is currently not much more information. The Division 2 is expected to be presented at E3. E3 2018 will take place in mid-June 2018.
Speculations are now confirmed – Release date for The Division 2 before March 2019?
Many have suspected that Massive is working on a The Division 2. Including us. Because Massive in Malmö has not worked directly on The Division in a long time but has been actively recruiting more employees for their “The Division” team.
There are also plans to continue with the original The Division: They want to support the game with two additional updates. An update for Xbox One X is also planned, which aims to showcase New York City in 4k and 1080p.
Although there is still no release date for The Division 2, it seems very likely that the game will be released before March 2019. That’s when Ubisoft’s fiscal year ends. Out of the 4 planned AAA titles for the period, only two have been known for a long time. It could well be that The Division 2 is number three.
Now that The Division 2 is announced, the announcement of Borderlands 3 is likely to be just a formality:
On the morning of March 8, the PUBG developers conducted maintenance on the live servers. This was completed even faster than expected, and the update was made available to PC players by around 5 a.m.
However, the community is now calling for caution. The new patch is randomly kicking innocent players from the game.
PUBG bans were not mentioned in the patch notes
There were no major patch notes for the new PUBG update. On Twitter, the developers explained that there would be backend changes but did not provide any further details.
A few hours after the patch became available to players, chaos broke out in the community. Apparently, a lot of players are being kicked from the game and banned for no reason. No one knows why this is happening. Players are asserting their innocence and stating that they have never touched cheats; the game is banning them for no reason.
This could, of course, be claimed by a cheater saying they are innocent. However, there are currently many threads on Reddit with players complaining about these issues. It seems likely that something went seriously wrong on Bluehole’s side with this update.
And this is indeed the case, as the support team of the Battle Royale game has now responded on Twitter, stating:
“PC players, we are aware of the detection bug that occurs after today’s anti-cheat update and temporarily prevents players from accessing the game. We apologize. We are working to present you with a solution as quickly as possible.”
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We hope that Bluehole can resolve the issue soon. It remains open what will happen with the affected accounts and whether there will be compensation for the players who are currently being unjustly excluded from PUBG.
Update: PUBG bans reversed
According to the PUBG support team, the bug has apparently been fixed. The temporary bans caused by the error are said to have been lifted.
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From this evening you can download and play H1Z1, the alternative to PUBG, for free. This decision to go Free2Play comes surprisingly early. Here is the download link.
A well-known battle royale shooter launches tonight, March 8, into its free-to-play status. H1Z1 has spent three years in early access before the release. Just a few days later, the switch to the F2P model. This could annoy some players, as hours earlier the game costs €20 on Steam.
H1Z1 – New opportunity as a F2P game?
The announcement is no surprise to many players, as the player count for the battle royale shooter has noticeably dropped in recent months. Dominant titles like Fortnite Battle Royale or PUBG have left only a fraction of the shooter fans for the game.
However, switching to the free model so shortly after release is quite a surprise. It was only a few days ago that H1Z1 started from early access to full release. Previously, it had already spent 3 years in early access status.
On the evening of March 8 around 7:00 PM German time, H1Z1 will activate the free-to-play model. Previously, the game cost €20 on Steam.
“We are happy to announce that H1Z1 is becoming ‘Free-to-Play’ today,” says H1Z1 General Manager Anthony Castoro. “Through this decision, we can not only share our Battle Royale and Auto Royale with even more players, but we also pave the way for H1Z1 to become a ‘Must-Watch eSport.’
Players who have already purchased the game will receive an “Appreciation Pack” as a thank you for their support at launch, which includes a new hoodie, t-shirt, camo pattern, 10 victory crates, and 10,000 skulls. Hopefully, this compensates the people who bought the game at the end of February when they heard H1Z1 would finally be released after 3 years.
It is now very convenient for you to download the battle royale game. Just go to the Steam website or open your Steam software on your PC. Enter the shop there and look for H1Z1. You can then download the game and play it.
Fortnite(PC, PS4 & Xbox One) received a new batch of skins with the latest update v. 3.2.0, which are currently only found in the game files. What awaits you is once again extremely bizarre. Additionally, female characters are finally getting some cool outfits.
Fortnite thrives on cosmetic items like skins, outfits, and emotes that you can purchase with real money. These costumes and emotes are often quite bizarre. You can run around in a dinosaur costume Rex or glide down with a teddy parachute named Bear Force One.
Many players felt that the female characters were not as impressive as the guys. However, a whole bunch of magnificent skins for women has appeared in the code of the latest update V 3.2.0.
Saint Patrick’s Day, Celtic Warrior or Guitar Heroine?
The new skins and emotes in Fortnite and Fortnite: Battle Royale are currently only visible in the game files but should go online soon based on experience. Epic Games wants to make money, after all! And the new skins are certainly worth every penny for fans, especially if you like to play female heroes.
Among other things, there are the following wacky skins and emotes:
A red-haired heroine in a typical green Leprechaun outfit with a top hat. This skin is most likely coming for Saint Patrick’s Day. The day is March 17.
A kind of punk rocker girl with pink hair and a guitar. The guitar is a separate back piece!
A fantasy warrior in chainmail. She has a round shield on her back and is referred to as “Scáthach” in the file name. This refers to a legendary warrior princess from Irish mythology.
A fantasy warrior outfit for men representing a kind of wolf with a bronze mask. The rest of the outfit has a somewhat Celtic look. The file name gives more information: It is the legendary Celtic hero Cú Chulainn, the “Hound of Ulster”.
There are extremely cool pickaxes, including a diamond-encrusted axe, a clover with a pot of gold, and a kind of spear with dog decorations.
There are also 5 new emotes, including an Irish jig.
Shut up and take my Money!
The quality levels of the new skins are not yet known. The new skins look extremely good and I will certainly buy some of them. Especially the Saint Patrick’s skin and the punk rocker must absolutely be added!
The Arena mode of Hearthstone will be heavily revamped with the next update. New cards and better rules will provide more fun.
The Arena mode in Hearthstone is a double-edged sword for many players. While some gamers love this mode because of the high RNG factor and the sometimes absurd combinations of cards (8 Fireballs in the same deck), others shy away from the Arena for the same reasons.
To make the Arena even more exciting and interesting, players at BlizzCon 2017 could vote on special cards that are extremely powerful and will only appear in the Arena. With the next update (Patch 10.4), there will be 9 new Arena cards – one for each class.
The developers are aware that these cards are extremely powerful and can heavily influence gameplay in the Arena – but that was exactly the idea behind these cards.
However, these new cards will not remain active forever. With the launch of the next expansion, likely in April, the cards will be removed from the Arena again. This is apparently intended as a test to see how the cards and ideas resonate with players.
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But there are more changes to the Arena. Blizzard is revamping the card selection system offered when creating an Arena deck.
In the future, players will no longer necessarily be offered cards of the same rarity, but rather of a similar “power level”. For example, when creating a Mage deck, one may be presented with a Fireball (common) along with a Leyline Manipulator (rare) and a Ancient Dragon (epic). The decision here is not so simple and is meant to feel more significant.
One exception to this rule is the legendary cards. These will still be offered in a set of 3, but care will also be taken that the 3 legendary cards are of similar strength.
Cortyn says: Honestly, I am consistently positively surprised by the planned changes to the Arena. The Arena is my favorite mode and all too often there were “clear” decisions with the offered cards, where only one card was truly solid. The fact that the decisions are now becoming more meaningful also has another positive effect: The uncontrollable RNG decreases a bit. Because if you have three relatively equal cards to choose from, you can make a stronger decision about the deck than someone who is only offered one solid card.
What do you think of the Arena changes? A clever move by Blizzard? Or should one not tinker too much with the Arena?
The first Open Beta of the action MMORPG TERA will start soon on the consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here you will find everything you need to know about the game and the contents of the test phase.
TERA stands for “The Exiled Realm of Arborea” and has been playable on PC since 2012. The action MMORPG originally comes from South Korea. The studio behind the game is Bluehole, which is also known for the battle royale shooter PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The console version is published here by EnMasse, the publisher of the US PC version of TERA.
Why is TERA perfect for consoles?
Classic MMORPGs like World of Warcraft often only work with mouse and keyboard due to their numerous skills and rather outdated tab-targeting combat system. Tab-targeting means that you select a target and then attack it, usually with automatically hitting attacks and skills.
This works rather poorly on a console with a controller. It is different when the game has a dynamic action combat system and is played more like a beat ’em up. You must execute your attacks precisely and can dodge or block against enemies.
One of the best combat systems in the genre!
TERA belongs to the top titles in the action MMORPG subgenre. Each class has its own moves and skills, and the action-packed fighting is perfect for implementation on the gamepad. Thus, it is only right that TERA finally appears on consoles after a long development period.
Additionally, the UI has been adjusted and the controls have been thoroughly revised. You can freely arrange your skills on the gamepad and even create a separate profile for each hero! Voice chat and broadcast options are also included.
When will TERA be released on PS4 and Xbox and how can I play it?
TERA was supposed to be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2017. This has been postponed to 2018. However, it cannot take much longer, as after several closed test sessions, an open beta has finally been announced.
When does it start? On Friday, March 9, 2018, at 3:00 PM our time
When does the beta end? On Monday, March 12, 2018, at 7:59 AM our time
What are the requirements? You need an internet connection and an Xbox Live Gold subscription. On PS4, you do NOT need PlayStation Plus
Where and when can I download the client?
On Xbox One, you can already download TERA via the Microsoft page or acquire it directly on the console through the Microsoft Store.
On PS4, the download only starts on March 9. You can then download TERA just like any other PS4 game directly from the PlayStation Store.
What does TERA cost? Nothing, the game is free-to-play and has an optional microtransaction model. However, on Xbox, an additional Gold subscription for €6.99 per month is required.
What is the download size? The complete beta client is a hefty 46 gigabytes, so make sure you have space on your hard drives. If you already have a Technical Test client on Xbox, you only need to download 35 gigabytes.
What content does the Open Beta include? You can reach up to level 38 and play all dungeons (Bastion of Lok, Sinestral Manor, Saravash’s Ascent, and Cultist Refuge) and battlegrounds (Kumas Royale and Iron Battleground) within this level cap.
By the way, there will only be PvE servers. PvP servers will be added later at release.
All classes will be available except for the Moonlight Dancer, the Arcane Engineer, the Blade Dancer, the Ninja, and the new Storm Fist.
The major system software update 5.50 for the PlayStation 4 is now available. The update brings, among other things, playtime management, library updates, and personalized wallpapers via USB.
Starting today, you can download the next major system software update 5.50, which is affectionately called KEIJI internally at Sony.
The update brings some new features, such as supersampling support for the PS4 Pro, which we have already introduced to you. Anyone with a PS4 Pro but no 4k TV can improve their graphics quality this way.
Playtime Management as Parental Control
After the last update 5.00 already introduced several parental control features, playtime management follows. This allows you to check or set the daily playtime of children through the PSN main account on the console, via the web browser of the PC, or from the smartphone. You can also set the console to automatically log out after the current playtime expires.
Importing Personalized Wallpapers via USB
With update 5.50, you can import your own images via a USB stick to the PS4 and set them as wallpapers. To ensure they come out properly, zoom, crop, and preview functions are available.
After the update, team pages for tournaments can also be equipped with their own team logo and wallpapers.
Changes in the Library
With the update, two new tabs are added to the library. These tabs are meant to give a quick overview of what apps have been installed and purchased.
Under “This PS4”, all applications currently installed on the console are listed. Below your name, you will see which apps have been purchased with the PSN online ID.
Additionally, a new PS Plus tab is also available in the library. This tab contains all games that were obtained as part of the monthly free games with PS Plus.
Moreover, players have requested to hide certain apps under the “Purchased” tab. This feature is also included in update 5.50. You can hide content such as betas, demos, or trial versions under “Options”.
Additional Features
The update allows access to custom friend lists from the quick menu. Shortcuts are also available when listening to music through the console. For instance, you can adjust the volume control for apps like Spotify using the controller buttons.
Additionally, old notifications can now be permanently removed. You can select one or more notifications in the notifications section that you wish to delete.
Furthermore, songs can now be played in the background while a game is streamed via PlayStation Now.
PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) on a snow map would be the dream of many players. A fan is now presenting their concept of the “Nördheim” map.
Players in PUBG have at least two maps to choose from on PC: Erangel and Miramar. Erangel is more green and filled with many flat fields, while Miramar is the desert part of PUBG. On Xbox, players can currently only play the Erangel map.
The desire for more variety in map selection is noticeable among both Xbox and PC players. Why not a winter map with snowy houses and frozen lakes? Reddit user IamEzalor thought the same and is now presenting Nördheim.
Nördheim with Drömhack, snow, and caves
How would you like a PUBG map with snow? Instead of the dry deserts of Miramar and the barren fields of Erangel, Nördheim has snow. Just driving there must be an immense fun.
In recent months, there have been wishes and ideas for a winter map in PUBG. Together with a friend, Reddit user IamEzalor conceived the concept for this map. It is supposed to take place in Scandinavia. After several weekends and nights of hard work, an overview of the fan map is now complete.
Click to see the details of the map
The creators point out briefly what players can find on the map.
“Nördheim’s snowy landscape consists of a contrast between low-lying zones such as islands, fields, forests, and higher areas such as mountain slopes, peaks, and steep cliffs. Together, these zones create an epic battlefield that tests players’ skill, creativity, and decision-making abilities to leave this winter war zone as winners.”
The differences between the low and high areas are shown by fans in this overview:
The majority of the areas in Nördheim is low-lying, similar to the Erangel map. However, there are also areas that rise steeply. The design aims to place itself in between Erangel and Miramar.
Major hotspots and vehicles of the Nördheim map
In Nördheim, players encounter a land where ancient mythology and tradition coexist with modern culture, technology, and architecture.
The larger areas include:
An airport located in the mountains
Feskebyn, the fishing island with a small village
A hotel in the ice
The Knugen Naval Base, located underground
A port with ships full of loot
And places like “Drömhack” – An arena where famous eSports titles are played
As vehicles, you will find Hovercrafts, All-Terrain Trucks, Snowmobiles, Skis, and more. Of course, weapon skins in ice design and a matching Ghillie Suit must not be missing.
Streamer Shroud has also already noticed the map and looked at it with his viewers together on stream.
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You can access the concept of the Nördheim page on the official website. There, the developers also introduce the places that inspired the map. The designers even thought of Easter eggs.
Under one of the bridges waits a troll statue, in a forest you will find the remains of a rave party, and a church is preparing for an upcoming black metal concert. There is also a Viking rune inscribed “Regionlock Scandinavia”, which alludes to the region lock wishes towards China from the community.
The tactical shooter Rainbow Six Siege is becoming more popular after two years. It has now set a new record in concurrent players and is among the most popular games on PC. The secret to its success lies in the many operator heroes.
Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical shooter by Ubisoft. In gripping and short 5vs5 skirmishes or co-op matches against AI, you can unleash in a destructible environment and achieve victory through careful, tactical action.
The game was released on December 1, 2015, and was initially not a big success. However, Ubisoft continued to refine the game and introduced a massive number of new heroes, called operators.
Then things suddenly started to improve.
27 million players across all platforms
Due to the hard work of the developers and the consistent continuation of the game, Rainbow Six Siege had 10 million players just 6 months after launch, and after one year, it was 20 million! The game now has 27 million registered players across all platforms. While this number also includes various test accounts, it is still impressive.
On PC via Steam, Rainbow Six Siege has now reached a new peak of concurrent players. In March 2018, after the last update “Operation Chimera”, there were 176,856 gamers playing at the same time. That is about 50,000 more than in February!
Additionally, there is an unknown number of fans playing on Ubisoft’s platform Uplay and the players on consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One!
Operator heroes as a secret
The secret of success seems to be the many heroes you can play in Rainbow Six Siege. Each update brings new characters into the game. Like in hero shooters such as Overwatch, the operators each have their own story and relationship with each other. Players love these heroes, and therefore, the developers want to bring as many as possible into the game.
In doing so, the developers at Ubisoft pay attention to a colorful mix of personalities and nationalities, which is often not so easy with the military setting of the game. Nevertheless, Ubisoft plans to continue the game for a long time and to offer around 100 operators in 10 years.
The perfect “Game as a Service”
Therefore, there will be no new Rainbow Six game in the foreseeable future. The title is a prime example of a thriving “Game as a Service”, a game that keeps its fans engaged over a long period with constant updates and innovations, rather than having to reinvent itself regularly in sequels.
Do you miss the days of Asheron’s Call and Everquest? Classic MMORPGs that impressed with straightforward group content? Then you might be interested in the early access phase of Project Gorgon.
The early access phase of Project Gorgon starts next week, aiming to provide you with a classic old-school MMORPG experience. You will feel transported back to the times of Everquest 1 and Asheron’s Call 1 – and not just in terms of gameplay, but also visually. Project: Gorgon aims to offer a true retro experience.
A Classic Gaming Experience
Project Gorgon goes against many current trends in MMORPGs but also offers interesting new ideas:
There are no predefined classes
You combine your skills as you wish
You improve through skills
Necromancy lets you summon the undead – even the corpses of fallen comrades
Tame animals and train them into powerful combat companions
Program golems, become a werewolf, or mutate into a powerful being
NPCs pursue their own goals
The story is told through live events
Players can create their own quests
Establish your own market stalls to sell your goods
Guild quests
Test the Retro Experience in the Early Access Version
If you want to know how Project Gorgon plays and whether such a retro experience is still fun for you today, you can check out the early access version, which starts next week.
The exact date will be announced later, as a series of bugs need to be fixed and the Steam launch must be prepared.
Trion Worlds is currently working on Defiance 2050, a reboot of the online shooter Defiance for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The game is intended to be a new game rather than a replacement for the original.
Defiance 2050 will not only be a graphical update of the original. From a story standpoint, it is set four years later and will feature many quality-of-life improvements that modern online shooters are now accustomed to. In addition, even larger battles will be offered, and the class system will be revamped. Additionally, it will be possible to upgrade your items. The developers plan to present these and other innovations in more detail in the future.
Defiance 2050 does not replace the original
One might think that Trion Worlds wants to replace Defiance with the reboot. However, that is not the case. As the developers explain, both versions are intended to coexist side by side. So, if you prefer to play the original, you can continue to do so. The team will even continue to support the “old” version with updates that go beyond just maintenance mode. Events and a new reward system are planned.
This system, called “Valor,” allows you to carry over a portion of your progress from Defiance to the reboot. However, it will not be possible to transfer your character. Items and titles are also excluded from the transfer. This is because Defiance 2050 is essentially built as a new game.
What will remain the same is the gaming experience and also the entry point, which many players found very pleasant. You will also be able to easily jump into Defiance 2050.
Today, on March 8, there will be server maintenance in Fortnite . During this time, the game will be offline. How long will Fortnite be down on PS4, Xbox One, and PC? What’s included in update 3.2.0? One thing is clear: apart from the new 20-player team mode, the developers are keeping a big secret!
To prepare the servers for the new update, version 3.2.0, the Fortnite servers will be taken offline for an indefinite period of time.
At 10:00 AM German time, the Fortnite servers will be down.
Matchmaking for the Battle Royale mode will be disabled half an hour earlier – at 09:30 AM.
So far, it is still unknown how long the servers will be offline.
We will update this post for you when the servers come back online.
Update 12:40 PM; It looks like the maintenance works for Fortnite are taking a bit longer today. In recent weeks, the servers were back online around noon. This time, the servers are still offline at 12:40 PM. There are no statements from Epic regarding whether the maintenance will take longer or when Fortnite will be back online. We will update the article as soon as we know more.
Update 12:50 PM: Hardly written that it’s taking longer, the servers in Fortnite seem to be coming back online.
What does update 3.2.0 bring to Fortnite on PS4, Xbox One, and PC? New mode with 5 teams of 20 players!
The patch notes for 3.2.0 are expected to be released during maintenance. What exactly the update will bring is still unknown. Only the new team mode with 20 players each is confirmed.
As Epic has not made any major announcements, this update 3.2.0 will probably mainly focus on bug fixes. A larger topic in recent days has been the automatic rotation of building materials, which has frustrated some players.
Will Epic already present a solution here?
Patch 3.2.0 probably won’t bring jetpacks! But what about the new Halo skin?
Epic has not provided any details regarding the previously announced jetpack. Last week, design issues were identified that need to be addressed first.
Since the jetpack is likely also linked to a specific mode, we probably won’t see jetpacks this week!
By the end of February, players could experience the last expansion, Apocalypse, on the official servers of Battlefield 1. Our author Dennis took a closer look at Apocalypse in a preview test.
Oh Battlefield, I have been playing almost every title since 2010, starting with the second part of the series. Back then, I spent countless nights in front of my home PC, playing the map “Strike at Karkand” over and over. And the best part: It never got boring.
Of course, I am also involved in the current installment and play it as my main game. Now the last expansion “Apocalypse” was released, which, according to the developers, aims to show us the horrific side of war. I took a closer look at the weapons and maps and must say upfront: I expected a bit more from DICE.
5 new maps – Pure destruction
Let’s first take a look at the maps. A total of 5 new maps are added. The different areas feel coherent and consist partly of pure destruction.
Caporetto: On this front, the Italian army fights against Austria-Hungary. A key feature is the Livens projector, a new stationary weapon that can attack enemy areas with gas. In addition to infantry, there are also horses and light vehicles.
Passchendaele: According to the developers, the so-called “Battle of Flanders” raged in the Belgian city of Ypres, where the British and the German Empire faced each other. Debris and downed trees are scattered everywhere. Additionally, the dense smoke makes it difficult to spot enemies. You should best seek cover in the ruins.
Somme: Here, the British again fight against the German Empire. On this map, “Assault Mode” is played. The British army starts with a headquarters and must advance while the Germans hold all flags at the start. You can also find the Livens projector here.
The remaining two maps can only be played in the new mode “Air Assault“.
On the Edge: Here, air battles take place over icy mountains. You have fighter planes to choose from.
London Calls: Here, air battles take place over the British capital. You can choose any aircraft from the game, and airships are also involved. They either need to be defended or destroyed.
I particularly like the focus on infantry, which plays a significant role outside the two air maps. Unfortunately, I have a critique that I also mentioned in my last Battlefield 1 article: The maps are simply too open for my taste. One has to constantly expect to be shot from everywhere at any time. But that’s clearly a matter of taste. I’m more of a fan of tight maps like “Operation Metro” from Battlefield 3 or “Strike at Karkand” from the second part.
The new game mode – Start the planes
Two of the new maps can only be played in the new mode “Air Assault”. Ace pilots and daring aviators are at home here, as there is nothing but planes. In “On the Edge”, the team scores points through kills, similar to Team Deathmatch. The team that reaches the point limit first wins. In “London Calls”, the mode is a bit more complex. Here you must defend or destroy airships.
Air Assault is fast-paced. You can definitely have a few rounds of fun, but after a while, as an air combat fan, I prefer to switch to War Thunder or similar games.
The new weapons – Something for every class
In total, there are 6 new firearms in various versions.
The Assault Soldier gets the RSC MP, a new submachine gun. It has only a few rounds in the magazine but deals significant damage.
The Support gets the LMG 08/18, a heavy machine gun with a massive magazine. A few missed shots are tolerable.
The Medic can include the Howell in his loadout. I highly recommend unlocking the sniper version. The standard variant has the dumbest sight I have ever seen in Battlefield 1. However, this is subjective.
As a Sniper, you can try out two new weapons. One is the Ross MKE3, which resembles the SMLE, and the other is the 1917 Enfield in the infantry version.
There’s also a new revolver for all classes that, when used correctly, deals massive damage.
Unlike in previous DLCs, the weapons are relatively quick to unlock. For some calibers, you only need to make a few kills.
In addition to the new weapons, there are also various melee weapons and a new grenade. To defend against enemy aircraft, assault soldiers have access to the anti-aircraft gun. It looks like an anti-tank rifle and operates almost the same.
The new challenges – Who came up with this?
With the last DLC, several new specializations have been introduced, likely targeting professional players. With “Mortality”, you lose around 200 points after a respawn. “Paranoia” makes you wear the gas mask for the entire round.
I initially thought it was an April Fool’s joke, but it’s a bit too early for that. Some may enjoy these new challenges; however, I personally find them absolutely ridiculous. Quite honestly: The developers should have focused on other, more important features of the game instead of these specializations.
Now comes the less appetizing part of the article. I have been playing Battlefield 1 for about 600 hours and have witnessed many things. Unfortunately, some issues remain just as bad as before. For one, the server balance, which still isn’t functioning properly 1.5 years after release. How often do I join servers where there are up to five players missing on one team? In the large modes, this might not stand out, but in smaller modes, every soldier is worth their weight in gold.
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I would also appreciate a sniper limit. There are simply too many snipers running around. Since sniping has been significantly simplified compared to previous installments, almost everyone plays this class. This can make some conquest rounds relatively dull and end in pure frustration. It’s annoying to constantly get picked off by camping snipers.
Conclusion: Is “Apocalypse” worth it?
Well, I personally expected more from the last expansion. The Russia DLC was the best expansion for me because there was a lot of content compared to other DLCs. I feel that Apocalypse could have included more weapons, but that’s just my opinion. Overall, it’s a solid expansion for 15 euros. A bit more content at the end wouldn’t have been a bad thing.
I will definitely continue playing until the next Battlefield installment, maybe we’ll meet on the battlefield.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Half a year Destiny 2 – what remains in memory? What lies ahead for Bungie’s latest title? Do fans still remain loyal to the game?
Destiny 2 has closed its first 6 months. This half year has been quite turbulent for the newest installment of the series.
What remains in memory?
After a sensational start, the initially acclaimed title mainly drew attention due to negative headlines. Players quickly became disillusioned over the meager content, the lack of depth, many questionable design decisions, and the overall direction of the game. The first DLC “Curse of Osiris” fell short of expectations and could not placate the community. The initial disillusionment soon escalated into dissatisfaction and disappointment.
Bungie fell into a nightmarish cycle with Destiny 2. One blunder followed another, with numerous shitstorms arising. Countless apologies and reassurances came from the developers, overshadowed by further serious blunders. The studio presented a poor image and squandered its reputation and trust. Fans began to leave en masse. Since then, the game has been in crisis and is struggling with constantly declining player numbers. Bungie had to react.
The developers presented a plan to break this nightmare cycle and reshape the game in Spring 2018 with a wide range of changes, as per the community’s desires. Since then, they have been desperately trying to save the game through ongoing updates.
Quo vadis, Destiny?
It requires no deep detective work to see that Destiny 2 is currently in serious trouble. While Bungie is trying hard to save their latest Destiny installment, will it suffice?
The list of changes is long. Some of the most important adjustments will take a lot of time to implement. For many fans, the two updates planned for the end of March and May 2018 represent Bungie’s last chance to save the game. Although a major expansion is expected by the end of the year, which could bring about profound changes, it may be too late for many Guardians if the two upcoming updates fail. Players are already longing for alternatives.
And the competition is not sleeping. While Destiny 2 had been pretty much alone in its genre so far, this status quo is likely to change within the next year. With The Division 2, Borderlands 3, and Anthem, three promising competitors are aiming for a release by March 2019. The pressure on Bungie is increasing. The studio is backed into a corner and must deliver promptly.
We can only hope that the developers can actually manage to turn things around and get Destiny 2 back on course. The coming months will play a crucial role in this.
Will you remain loyal to Destiny 2?
In this context, we have prepared a survey here. Each of you can select only one option:
How do you view the first 6 months of Destiny 2? What stands out to you in particular? Do you remain loyal to the game despite the crisis?
