PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PC, Xbox One) will soon receive a new matchmaking system based on PINGs. This aims to group players with similarly good or bad connections together. It could also address the issue of cheating Chinese players – even without the regional lock.
In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, up to 100 players compete for victory at once. However, worse than a nasty sniper on a camping trip are players with poor ping. Their bad connection makes the game much worse for everyone else.
But a new matchmaking system will soon provide a remedy!
New matchmaking in the testing phase
In the coming days, the developers of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds plan to test a new matchmaking system.
The brilliant and simple idea: players with similar ping values are grouped together in the same matches. This means that only players with good ping will play against others with optimal values.
Those with a poor ping will only play with gamers who are similarly underperforming. This leads to better performance for everyone. However, the new matchmaking could also resolve another, much more serious issue in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Chinese players only among themselves?
Notoriously high pings are not just an issue for those with dial-up modems. Many players from far-flung regions often have bad pings when they play on servers here. This applies, among others, to Chinese players who play on servers in Europe or the USA.
However, PUBG head Brendan Greene has never wanted to handle it that way. After all, they don’t want to punish an entire nation for the misdeeds of a few countrymen. However, with the ping matchmaking, no Chinese player would be excluded due to their nationality. They would simply be placed in matches with other Chinese players.
The new system will soon be tested. If it is successful, PUBG could soon be fairer and smoother.
Performance improvements on the test server
Currently, developers are testing further methods on the test server to improve the game. Two methods are particularly interesting and could make a significant impact if they were implemented on the live servers:
Not all 100 players will be shown in the plane at the start of the game anymore. Only when someone jumps out will they be visible in the game. This should improve performance.
The reporting function from replay videos is being improved. Developers can now view a one-minute video of the incident reported. This should help in better identifying cheaters.
The games for Games with Gold in March 2018 have now been announced. Also included is the “other” first-person shooter Superhot, which is considered a hidden gem. Here we present the free games for Xbox One and Xbox 360.
In March, users of the “Games with Gold” service have four free games to choose from. This time, the collection ranges from the Disney game to crazy first-person shooters to the puzzle where you must save your uncle. As usual, two of the four games are available for Xbox One and two for Xbox 360. Thanks to backward compatibility, the 360 games can also be played on the Xbox One console.
Games with Gold March 2018 – Free Games for Xbox One and Xbox 360
The following two games are available to you in March 2018 on Xbox One:
Trials of the Blood Dragon – Available from March 1 to March 30: In this game, you take on the role of the children of the legendary Rex Power Colt as they enter the fourth Vietnam War to save the world. In this singleplayer, you will face challenges that test your skill with precise trials. Your story travels through Vietnam, Tokyo, and even into space. Oh yes, hell is also waiting for you.
Superhot – Available from March 16 to April 15: Superhot is designed in a minimalist style. In this first-person shooter, time only moves when you move. With clever tactics, you take away enemies’ weapons and shoot them with them. So plan your strategy well and don’t move too much. This singleplayer stands out from the crowd and gives you a new gaming experience. With 83% on Metacritic, Superhot is a critic’s favorite.
On Xbox 360 (and Xbox One), there are the following two games available in March 2018:
Brave: The Video Game – Available from March 1 to March 15: In this Disney fantasy game, you take on the role of Princess Merida as you fight through the landscape of a mysterious Scotland. With your bow, you combat enemies and solve quests to break a curse that lies on your family. The game is also available in co-op with split-screen, where additional characters are available to you.
Quantum Conundrum – Available from March 16 to March 31: Are you ready to use the interdimensional jump device to solve puzzles? In Quantum Conundrum, one of your tasks is to jump between dimensions with this device and solve problems. Unfortunately, this is only possible in singleplayer – there is no multiplayer mode.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In Destiny 2 today, on February 20th, is the Weekly Reset. With the weekly reset, the Crimson Week comes to an end, but it continues seamlessly with the next event – the fourth group battle begins! But also further new activities, like the Nightfall strike or the Flashpoint, are now also live.
In the world of Destiny 2, a new week begins today at 6 PM. The Crimson Week is now over, after a week of festivities of love and brief couple skirmishes in the Crucible, the flowers and all the festive decorations must make way for the proud banners of the factions. The Dead Orbit, New Monarch, and the Future War Cult call you to arms again, so that you stand up for their interests once more. The Faction Rally is live!
Let’s see what else this week brings.
Nightfall starting from February 20th on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
This week isthe Nightfall “The Twisted Spire”.
The modifiers:
Time Loop – Rings: Pass through Vex time gates to extend the mission timer.
Momentum: Health and shield regeneration stop when you are not moving. Sprint to accelerate regeneration.
The challenges:
Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
Complete the Nightfall with fewer than 3 deaths.
Don’t let your fireteam get hit by Protheon’s flaming ground attack before defeating him.
Ikora Rey offers meditations for the missions “Unbroken,” “Theft,” and “Captured.”
The Eververse Highlights
Tess Everis is currently selling the Omega Mechanos class item for 800 Glimmer. If you still need this in your collection, you now have another chance to complete it.
The emotes you can buy for Glimmer are “Stand Up” and “Disco Dance.”
The Exotics are “Caber’s Glass Aegis” (ship) and ornaments for the Rat King and the MIDA Multi-Tool.
The new League of Legends (LoL) champion “Kai’Sa” has now been presented by Riot along with her abilities. Are you ready for the risky gameplay of the new LoL champ?
The developers have already shared a few details about the “new champion” ahead of time. The play style of the new LoL champ is said to be very risky but also offers substantial rewards. Now they are presenting Kai’Sa in more detail and showing what abilities she possesses and how she becomes invisible.
Apparently, it was Riot’s partner in Southeast Asia, Garena, who revealed the new champ Kai’Sa. However, the official presentation of what is now the 140th champion in LoL is finally here.
Kai’Sa’s Abilities – What can the new champion do in League of Legends?
Passive – Second Skin
Kai’Sa’s passive is made up of two parts
Caustic Wounds adds plasma stacks on normal attacks. Once a certain value of these plasma stacks is reached, bonus damage is added based on the target’s lost health. Immobilizing attacks from nearby allies also increase the plasma stacks.
Living Weapon allows Kai’Sa to adapt to her preferred attack style. Her abilities evolve based on permanent stats (AD, attack speed, AP) that are increased through items from the shop and through leveling up.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Kai’Sa charges up and increases her movement speed. However, she loses her ability to attack during this time. Once charged, she brings out her big weapons that increase her attack speed for a few seconds. Normal attacks reduce the cooldown of Supercharger.
Living Weapon: With enough bonus attack speed, Supercharger makes Kai’Sa completely invisible during the charging time.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Kai’Sa sprints at extreme speed to a location next to an enemy champion marked by plasma. She gains a damage-absorbing shield during this attack. This ability has a long range.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
During your matches, you should always be on the lookout for enemies moving alone on the map. But also pay attention to your allies. If they are in combat and can immobilize enemies with attacks, plasma stacks are generated.
Thanks to the Living Weapon upgrades, there are power spikes that you should take advantage of.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In this Level 40 Club, the elite of Pokémon GO apparently come together. Those who meet the admission requirements can compete with other hardcore trainers in leaderboards.
Trainers in the Pokémon GO community often ask how to proceed after reaching the current maximum level of 40. One option for further motivation is this “Level 40 Club” on Facebook, which apparently only passionate trainers can join.
However, not just any trainer who has reached level 40 in the game can join. First, there’s an admission test where you need to earn points.
No points, no entry
As PokémonGOHub reports, you need to prove yourself worthy of membership first. If you manage to reach 350 KP points in the entry calculator, you qualify for membership in the Level 40 Club. After that, the verification process begins. The KP points are a method for the club to determine how high the total achievements of the respective Pokémon GO trainer are.
How is the score calculated?
First, you fill out a survey document. It explains that you must score at least 350 points in the survey, which can be collected in various categories. These categories include:
Collected experience points
Jogger medal
Number of gold arena medals
etc.
Your collected points in the various categories will then be compared with those of trainers who are already in the club. Based on the score, it will be decided whether you are ready for this Level 40 Club. You can find the calculator for your score here. Just click on “Create a copy” and fill in your respective values under the hashtag.
This club is meant to gather only the best trainers. They can then participate in various events and have new opportunities at the high level to stay motivated.
The community of this Facebook club undertakes activities around Pokémon GO together:
In monthly changing leaderboards, the top trainers are listed with their maximum KP points
The group researches together how different play styles lead to experience gain
Solo players can compete in a special leaderboard with other solo trainers and compare raids they completed alone
Here you see the ranking for January 2018, sorted by the KP point system of the club
For trainers looking for further challenges in Pokémon GO after reaching level 40, this club could be a good choice. Collected shinies also count towards the points, but Niantic is stingy with them in Pokémon GO – What do you think?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Elder Scrolls Online will receive a new chapter expansion and 2 DLCs in 2018. However, many questions remain unanswered: Where will the journey lead, and is there a new class? A data miner may have found answers to these questions!
The Elder Scrolls Online is growing larger every year. Fans expect four major updates annually, one of which is said to even be a chapter expansion similar to Morrowind from 2017.
However, the developers remain silent about the details of these expansions. Fortunately for the curious and unfortunately for the developers, there are data miners who are rummaging through the code. By now, they claim to have found hints of new locations, creatures, and even a possible new class.
But be careful! If you want to be surprised, you should not read on now! Also, all data mining hints should always be viewed with skepticism. It could all turn out differently.
Is it going to Summerset?
According to the information from data mining, this time it will head southwest of Tamriel to the Summerset Isles. There live the arrogant High Elves, and actually, the area is forbidden for non-Elves. Only the already known island of Auridon has been accessible so far.
Only a recently issued decree by Queen Ayrenn opened the islands to foreigners. Various hints from the story of the current chapter and DLC quests also point to the Summerset Isles as a new location.
Is it bigger than Morrowind?
Numerous files point to the Summerset Isles. There are said to be loading screens with clear names and a lot of graphics in the code. A new music piece reminiscent of the previous soundtracks for the nearby island Auridon has also been discovered.
Moreover, the new area is said to be quite large. According to the data mining, it is likely to have 144 map cells. In comparison: Vvardenfell from the Morrowind chapter had only 81 cells!
Death to the disgusting slug people!
Another hint of the Summerset Isles are files describing a specific creature. We are talking about the “Sload”. They are slug-like disgusting creatures with a penchant for necromancy. In the past, they caused a lot of trouble for the High Elves and are now considered exterminated.
According to the data mining files, they are expected to play an important role as enemies. Perhaps even the notorious Sload necromancer N’Gasta will appear again. You already fought him in The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard.
ESO takes place before Redguard. N’Gasta is said to have been a follower of the worm cult leader Mannimarco from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Is the great story DLC going to the realm of the Daedra?
The necro-slug N’Gasta is also said to be a servant of the Daedric Prince Clavicus Vile. And he is, along with Nocturnal and Mephala, part of the “Daedric Triad”, who have appeared as opponents in previous ESO quests.
According to some further hints, the Daedric Princess Mephala is set to play an important role in the Summerset quest. As with Morrowind and the Clockwork City, it could lead to her dark spider realm at the end of the story.
The Clockwork City in Morrowind then appeared in even more detail as the major story location of the Clockwork City DLC. Something similar is also conceivable for Mephala’s realm. Then Mephala’s Daedric realm would be the setting for an upcoming story DLC.
Will there be a new class and spell crafting?
Numerous hints about the “Psijic Order” have been discovered in the code. These are mysterious monks who, among other things, master time magic. And indeed, there are further indications of special skills of these mystics. So it may be the case that:
The Psijic mystic will become a new class with unique skills and abilities
The Psijic Order represents a new faction like the Thieves Guild or the Dark Brotherhood. You can then unlock skills there.
The abilities of the Psijic are supposed to revolve around time manipulation. A skill that – similar to Tracer in Overwatch – can briefly rewind time, heal the caster, remove effects, and possibly reset cooldowns could be conceivable.
Finally, will there be spell crafting?
Furthermore, data miners have still been searching for hints on the long-awaited spell crafting. The feature to create your own spells has been mentioned repeatedly by the developers for years. In the meantime, there are a few further hints like a spell book stand for a suitable “spell crafting workshop”.
In addition to spell crafting, there should finally be the possibility to create jewelry with significant bonuses.
The detailed explanations from the data miners can be found in these three blog entries on the “Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages”:
The community is reacting positively to the information from the data mining. Especially the anticipated spell crafting and the possible new class of the Psijic mystic are eagerly awaited.
In Warframe, the Gantulyst and Hydrolyst are powerful Eidolon beasts that roam the plains at night. They behave like raid bosses with phases and specific attack patterns. In this guide, you will receive tips, among other things, on the right Warframes and weapons to bring the giants to their knees.
According to legends, two more Eidolons fell onto the plains of Eidolon decades ago and have been slumbering since. Even larger and more terrifying than the known Teralyst, they have sparked the interest of some Tenno and Eidolon hunters to prove their skills. They now roam through the night, looking for the Shrine of Eidolon to summon these creatures.
It is said that the Gantulyst carries a gigantic rock on his arm and emits powerful beams of Sentient energy. To win his favor, the Ostron built a shrine in his honor.
The Hydrolyst is said, according to Ostron tales, to be the harbinger of an impending natural disaster. A biting odor is said to precede the arrival of the toxic Eidolon.
The Gantulyst, as he wanders through the plains of Eidolon.
Don’t rush the fight – First learn to kill the Teralyst
Are you already experienced Eidolon hunters looking to take on a new challenge? Only those who can defeat the Teralyst should face the new Eidolons.
The Gantulyst and Hydrolyst are significantly stronger than the first Eidolon! Good equipment and teamwork are more than helpful.
Don’t know yet how to take down the Teralyst? Don’t worry, we have a guide: How to kill the giant Eidolon Teralysts in the Plains – With this guide, you will learn how to basically approach an Eidolon and what you need to pay attention to.
Are you ready? Choose your Warframes and weapons!
Only those who are well-equipped will be able to hunt and bring down all 3 Eidolons in one night. The following listing should help you with your selection. In general, what works for the Teralyst is also suitable for the Gantulyst and Hydrolyst.
Work as a team – These Warframes are suitable for Eidolon hunting
Good teamwork is crucial for success in Eidolon hunting. These Warframes are recommended for team composition:
Chroma: Is still one of the best damage dealers, even after his last change. Thanks to his high armor, he is nearly invulnerable. The fact that his “Vex Armor” is now shared among allies only makes him better.
Harrow: His job is to protect the team from damage and magnetic waves, and to increase the critical chance of his allies affected by his ability Covenant.
Volt: Volt’s “Electric Shields” double the critical damage of the booster and provide a good buff to weapons. The “Shock Trooper” augment is also a good buff for the group.
Trinity: She has one of the most demanding jobs. Her task is to heal the group, as well as to fetch and keep the decoys alive.
Oberon: Can also be very useful and replace Harrow, as he also protects the group from dying.
Rhino: His “Roar” is a good damage buff for the team.
Choose the right weapon – Radiation is important
The faster you can destroy the weak points (Synovia) of the Eidolons, the better.
For the weapons, the same applies as for the Teralyst:
Pay attention to your damage type – Radiation!
All sniper rifles are well-suited to turn the fight in your favor. However, there are also some secondary weapons that you can use to quickly take the Eidolons down.
Don’t underestimate the schools and power of the Operator!
By unlocking the individual focus schools, you can grow your Operator into a strong fighter. Especially the combination of the passive, unbound abilities gives you a decisive advantage in the fight against the gigantic creatures
Likewise, individual abilities of the different schools can be very helpful:
Madurai with the Void Strike provides increased damage for the next 8 attacks
Unairu with the Unairu Illusion can provide you and your allies with a damage buff of 100%
The right amp makes a lot of noise…
… in this case, rather damage. Amps are special weapons for the Operator that enhance the Void powers. I have put together an amp for Eidolon hunting made of:
Granmu Prisma – has a high chance to deal critical hits
Pencha Scaffold – with charged shot and high damage values
Lohrin Rail – to increase the chance of critical hits and the increased chance of triggering a status
Kavats, your friend and buffer
Do you still not have enough critical damage? Then take a Kavat for reinforcement. An Adarzagives a 60% chance of critical hits every 20 seconds for 10 seconds. This can greatly boost your weapons.
Wow, well prepared! We want to fight – Here’s how to find the Eidolons
So, off to the plains and let the hunt begin, but how do I find the new Eidolons?
You can accept the contract for Eidolon hunting from Konzu. You have the following options:
As before, you can join a random group or …
assemble a group beforehand and enter the plains at night.
A new matchmaking has been added. This provides the option to join a randomly assembled group with the same interests. Here you can choose whether you want to defeat ONLY the Teralyst or if you want to face the fight against all three Eidolons.
The Eidolons only appear at night, so you should keep an eye on the day-night cycle.
An old acquaintance – Get the shiny Eidolon shard from Teralyst
After you’ve chosen one of the options, set off and take down the Teralyst first. It is essential that you obtain the shiny Eidolon shard from him. Then you must quickly go to the Great Lake Gara Toht Lake and find the “Shrine of Eidolon”.
The shiny Eidolon shards must now be sacrificed to the shrine. Only when everyone has sacrificed their shard does the Gantulyst appear – literally.
The lower image shows the “Shrine of Eidolon”. Here, everyone in the group must sacrifice the Eidolon shard.
Only then will the Gantulyst rise from the depths of the Gara Toht Lake:
Gantulyst: Bigger, faster, stronger – A tremendous battle
The battle against Gantulyst and later the Hydrolyst will demand a lot from you. These gigantic monsters are larger, faster, and stronger than the Teralyst.
The biggest difference from the Teralyst is that the Gantulyst has over 6 weak points (Synovia). Thus, you will need 3 decoys to eventually extract the Eidolon shards from them. The Synovia are located on the shoulder blades, arms, and knees. Each Eidolon decoy is needed for 2 Synovia.
After you have extracted the Eidolon shards from him, you must bring them back to Gara Tot Lake to summon the Hydrolyst.
Hydrolyst – Requires radiant Eidolon shard
Once the Gantulyst is defeated, you return to the “Shrine of Eidolon” to sacrifice the radiant Eidolon shard.
The Hydrolyst will rise from the depths of the lake and give you a battle like you have never experienced before. Be prepared for a storm of effects and a fight that demands all your skill. “Blinded by the Light” would be a fitting song here.
As with the Hydrolyst, he also has 6 weak points (Synovia) and you need 3 decoys for him. The Synovia are also located on the shoulder blades, arms, and knees.
Rewards: These are the rewards you get for killing the 3 Eidolons
As conquerors of the 3 Eidolons, you will go home with outstanding treasures.
In addition to the previous Teralyst loot, you will receive:
Shiny and radiant Eidolon shards – transformed into focus points, they help to upgrade the focus schools
Riven Transmuters – 4 random Riven mods will be transmuted into a new unopened Riven mod
Articula – small action figures that can be placed as decorations in your personal quarters
Event Mods – the 120% impact, puncture, and slash mods from previous events
Arcane Enhancements – were previously only available from the abolished raids/trials. Arcanes are special upgrade components for equipment
These rewards are truly worth the fight!
Vanthenos says: The new Eidolons are the content you wish for!
Challenging
Not too hard and not too easy
Very cool fights with lots of effects
Rewards that are impressive
Don’t be discouraged if the first runs are not successful. Once you are more familiar, 1-2 runs should also be easily doable in a public group. More than 3-4 runs per night will then be quite tough, even in a fixed team.
Did you think a 5-minute cooldown was annoying? Then wait two years for the cooldown of a Diablo 3 item.
In various video games, we encounter cooldowns repeatedly: some exist on items, others on abilities. The cooldown sets a limit on the uses within a certain timeframe. This prevents particularly powerful skills from being spammed and allows them to be used only every few minutes.
In Diablo 3, there are cooldowns on health potions to prevent players from becoming immortal by spamming the potion hotkey. Apparently, a bug caused a potion’s cooldown to last several years.
2 Years Cooldown on Diablo 3 Potion
In November 2015, Reddit user iTech1234 posted a picture on Reddit. He titled it “Hmm … crap.”.
The picture shows a legendary potion that increases the user’s armor by 19% for 5 seconds after use. The cooldown is unusually high, instead of the usual 30 seconds.
“Remaining cooldown: 1193045 minutes” – that’s approximately 2.2 years or roughly 27 months. In the Reddit thread from 2015, readers set reminders to notify them when these 27 months were up.
At the beginning of February 2018, the big day arrived: the cooldown was up. This was announced in the Diablo subreddit. There, readers set reminders again for when the next 27 months were up and when the player could use his potion again.
We hope that player iTech1234 still has this potion in his inventory and has given it a special place.
If the high cooldown is real and not “photoshopped”, it is likely a bug. Such abstractly high cooldowns are unusual even for Diablo 3.
A warlock remarkably demonstrates which class in WoW is currently the most powerful. He defeats the final boss Xavius single-handedly – and by a very narrow margin.
In the past, we reported on the warlock Lockoclock from World of Warcraft, who defeated the world-breaker of the Garothi using a rather bad tactic. Now he is back and proves that he is also ahead in “real” fights.
Actually, the fight against Xavius in the Emerald Nightmare is designed for at least 10 players – but anyone can do that! Only together with his companions does Lockoclock face the final boss of the first Legion raid and shows the satyr who’s the boss.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
High item level and special legendaries were mandatory
Anyone looking to recreate this should acquire good equipment. Lockoclock had an average item level of 958 and 79 points in his artifact weapon. The two legendaries were also crucial, namely Prydaz, Xavaric’s Magnum Opus (for an additional shield) and the ring Soul of the Netherlord. The ring allows for an additional talent, ensuring that Lockoclock can deal around 165 million damage in the last 20 seconds of the fight.
The biggest challenge in the fight against Xavius lies in the corruption mechanic. Normally, the corruption is absorbed and distributed by multiple players. Once a player reaches maximum corruption, they become very powerful for a short period and deal more damage before Xavius takes control and that player is considered lost.
However, Lockoclock takes advantage of this mechanic until the very last second. If the fight had been just 0.6 seconds longer, he would have been trapped in mind control and lost the fight.
The biggest difficulty in the fight was the corruption meteor, which deals 5 million damage. Thanks to Prydaz and Soulstealer, Lockoclock manages to easily survive this mechanic.
What do you think of this kill? A cool move that requires a lot of determination? Or a clear sign that bosses in Legion are way too easy?
Dominik “Schwenker1991” Schwenk is a professional eSports player in the FIFA 18 Ultimate Team mode. Last week, his FUT account became the victim of a hacking attack – all his players were gone.
For “normal” FIFA players, it is extremely annoying, for FIFA professionals, the worst-case scenario: their Ultimate Team gets hacked. All the hard-earned players and coins are lost. On the evening of February 10, this happened to Dominik “Schwenker1991” Schwenk from the eSports team “Origin of Power”:
Schwenk finds an empty club
On social networks, Schwenk announced that he could no longer log into FIFA Ultimate Team. He immediately called EA support to regain access to his club. However, it had already been completely emptied. In an interview with Sport1, he explained:
“I got my account back because EA didn’t even suspend it. But when I logged in with the console normally, all my players were gone. Also, my Team of the Week items from my top 100 placements”
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Despite having implemented appropriate security measures, Schwenk had previously fallen victim to a hacking attack in March of last year. However, even SMS verification did not deter the unknown hacker(s).
Player cards have been refunded
On February 17, “Schwenker1991” announced that EA Sports responded and returned most of his stolen club to him.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
According to Gamestar, he also received compensation within a month in 2017.
However, Schwenk still comes out of the attack damaged: Due to the hack over the weekend, the FIFA eWorld Cup qualification is over for him. To participate, it is necessary to perform well in all four Weekend League tournaments in February.
Dominik Schwenk is not the first FIFA professional whose FUT club has been hacked. Prior to this, major names like “Tim Latka” Schwartmann, “DrErhano” Kayman, or Cihan Yasarlar have already been affected.
EA responded accordingly. Tim Latka received his players and coins back like Schwenker. DrErhano received compensation for his stolen club content in FUT currency in January 2018: he found 23 million coins back on his Ultimate Team account, which was even enough for a better team than he previously owned.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Famous eSports players have an advantage over “normal” gamers when they get hacked and demand compensation: their reach. This allows them to put pressure on EA Sports and bring about a timely and appropriate compensation.
Schwenk also called on his followers and pro colleagues to retweet and spread awareness after the hack. Because only when EA becomes aware can one expect compensation.
On platforms like reddit, many FIFA players report their losses from hacks. The experiences vary.
“The same happened to me, I lost around 300k, got banned for coin transfer, and EA did nothing,” writes a user who had less luck. Other players, however, have received their coins back immediately after simple contact with EA support.
To start earning many coins, we recommend learning the basics of trading.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In March 2018, PS Plus members can expect the best game lineup since the launch of PlayStation Plus, a Sony employee promises.
The official free games for March 2018, which PS Plus members can download at no additional cost, will be officially revealed next week. However, a video from a Spanish YouTuber is already creating high expectations.
The free games in March are expected to be among the best since the launch of PlayStation Plus
The YouTuber Ampeterby7, who currently has over 1.5 million subscribers, had the opportunity to visit PlayStation Spain during a vlog. He was able to conduct an interview with a Sony employee, who shared some interesting information about the upcoming PS Plus games in March 2018.
While he did not want to reveal the specific game titles yet, he mentioned that the free PS Plus games in March would be among the best since the launch of the service.
What games they will ultimately be and how the Sony employee defines “the best games” will be revealed at the end of February. However, fans are already sharing their wishes on Reddit about which games they expect now. From Knack 2 to The Last of Us: Remastered, there are some big titles among the suggestions, although not all proposals may be taken seriously.
So now we ask you: Which free PS Plus games do you want in March 2018?
If you speak Spanish, you can watch the YouTuber’s video here. The interview with the employee starts at minute 7:
https://youtu.be/Zhzkw-ADI78?t=7m2s
What are the free games for PS Plus actually?
Once a month, “PS Plus” members receive a delivery of free games, which they can download from the PlayStation Store and add to their library. This game lineup is included in the subscription of the online service. PlayStation Plus costs nearly 60 euros per year (12 months).
In the past, PS Plus games were often criticized for usually only including indie titles for the PS4 that many players could or would not engage with. However, the quality has noticeably increased in recent months, with more and more top games included.
PS Plus has been around since 2010. Since 2013, there have also been free PS Plus games for the PS4.
There are two trophies that you can obtain in Monster Hunter World, which only 0.1 percent of players have achieved. This is no surprise, as they are completely based on luck! We will give you some tips on how you can get both trophies.
You may have already noticed that you can receive (golden) crowns for catching or killing a monster. They are divided into small and large crowns. Exactly, these golden crowns are the focus of two trophies in Monster Hunter World, which require a lot of grinding and patience.
So far, only 0.1 percent of hunters have managed to obtain the following trophies:
The Master of Small Crowns
Rank: Gold
Rarity: Ultra-rare 0.1%
Details: Obtain a small crown for almost all monsters in the hunting log
Note: You receive a small crown when you catch/kill the smallest specimen of a monster.
The Master of Large Crowns
Rank: Gold
Rarity: Ultra-rare 0.1%
Details: Obtain a large crown for almost all monsters in the hunting log
Note: You receive a large crown when you catch/kill the largest specimen of a monster.
Whether you receive a small or large crown is random
To receive these trophies, you must have hunted almost every monster in the game, likely multiple times. The exceptions are the Elder Dragons Xeno’jiiva and Zorah Magdaros. You will not receive a crown for them. Because it is random whether you receive a golden crown for a monster at all, and also whether it is small or large.
Even though it is random whether you receive small or large crowns for monsters, there are a few tips that can make your hunting easier.
Better start quests in low rank – It goes faster!
Whether you start a quest in low rank or high rank does not affect the size of the monster. You can also largely grind for the trophies in low rank. Here, the monsters are weaker, and you can defeat them faster until you have collected the crowns you need for the trophies.
Elder Dragons and tempered monsters can only be hunted in high rank.
Check for timed events that feature small and large monsters
Aside from the fact that it is always worthwhile to keep an eye on the event board, it is also practical for hunting crowns. Sometimes, timed events appear in which you can specifically hunt small and large monsters.
Additionally, there are events where you can catch or kill multiple monsters at the same time. If you complete these, you at least have a chance to obtain multiple crowns simultaneously.
Grinding is the way to the goal – Expeditions can help
The hunt for small and large crowns is ultimately a matter of luck. If you want to obtain these ultra-rare trophies, you must grind through numerous monsters.
You still have the option to start an optional quest and specifically search for a monster for which you still need a small or large crown. Otherwise, you can also go on expeditions, where you have no time limit and can freely explore the areas. Here, you can hunt all monsters that are present on the map and hope to obtain the needed crowns.
The team behind Warframe has the courage and confidence to fundamentally overhaul the game after more than 5 years. Instead of mostly just bringing new content, they finally want to address old issues like the Dark Sector Conquests and damage types. But is this a good thing?
Warframe started in 2013 as a fairly simple shooter. You had a handful of classes, there was only one type of enemy, and the levels were always the same corridors.
Five years have passed, and anyone who hasn’t checked back into Warframe since then might hardly recognize the game. There are now dozens of classes, hundreds of weapons, a whole solar system full of missions, an open world, a complex story, PvP, space pets, a character editor, and housing.
The developers gradually brought new things into the game, but many old issues remained unresolved. That is set to change now.
Weapons and Warframes will be adjusted
After the great success of the open-world map Plains of Eidolon, the developer studio Digital Extremes finally wants to wrap up the old issues in 2018:
Over 150 firearms have been completely reclassified into tiers and buffed or nerfed as necessary.
The weapons have already been adjusted. Ranks are experience levels that you earn in the game when you master many weapons and Warframes. However, the classification has been extremely arbitrary until now. The powerful “Grakata” shotgun is one of the strongest weapons in the game but has a rank of 0. Every newcomer can take it right away.
With the new system, it is now placed in a much more appropriate rank of 9, which can only be reached after considerable effort in the game. This way, newcomers are gently introduced to the rather complex system of weapons and upgrades and are not overwhelmed by dozens of strange firearms right away.
Competitions in the Dark Sectors are finally returning
Another old issue concerns the competitions in the Dark Sectors. This was a game mode in which clans could “conquer” certain missions and then collect taxes from other players there. Due to many exploits, the feature was disabled in 2015 and has been on hold ever since.
Three years later, this gameplay mechanic is set to return in a revised form. Clans will compete in the announced new version for relics. If you collect the most of them within a certain time, you will receive hefty rewards.
Developers are now more confident, community is somewhat skeptical
The developers at Digital Extremes stated that after 5 years, they feel bold and confident enough to finally tackle the problems of the game and settle the outstanding accounts. They are now a different studio than they were back in 2013.
Many players welcome the innovations and view the weapon classification and the new damage system positively. Many complain about the nerf of the popular frames Banshee and Ember. And that players had to wait 3 years for the rework of the Dark Sectors while the raids were removed from the game, is something many players won’t easily forgive.
The gap between beginners and professionals is widening …
Additionally, some fans fear that there will be an increasing gap between newcomers and veterans. With the new classification of weapons, many guns are no longer available to beginners.
Furthermore, some players complain that many new contents are designed specifically for the open-world map Plains of Eidolon. Those who do not like this map have little to laugh about.
Warframe is changing. There will be new players, but also old players who no longer enjoy it and will drop out. But there will be change. Stagnation does not fit into Digital Extremes’ future concept. Whether this is “good” or “bad” for the game will be seen over time.
Virtual reality could still be the next big step in gaming, even though there currently lacks games and technology in this area. However, OrbusVR shows as the first VR MMORPG what is possible in the realm of online role-playing games.
A first, simple VR MMO
Where the journey with virtual reality in MMORPGs can lead is shown by the MMO OrbusVR. The online game is currently in the early access phase and can be played through Steam with an “HTC Vive” or “Oculus Rift” headset. It should be noted: Do not expect a very profound or pretty game. Nevertheless, OrbusVR represents the first step into a possible new future for MMORPGs.
OrbusVR offers you classic MMO fare that is not really exciting from the actual game:
A simple, cartoonish graphic
Classic quests of the type “Kill 10 monsters of this type and 10 creatures of that type”
Simple fights that feel passive
Mining resources
Brewing potions
There is no class system; your weapons determine your “class”
Why is this special?
All this sounds like an MMORPG that one might not want to play nowadays. And these basic elements are not what make OrbusVR something “special” and a pioneer.
Instead, the MMORPG provides a first impression of how well such a game can work in VR. Yes, you mostly take down monsters passively and only complete typical quests, but this feels different than in an MMORPG where you sit in front of a monitor using a mouse and keyboard.
You are much closer to the action in the game due to virtual reality; it feels as if you are in this world. Just the fact that you can initiate a conversation with an NPC by actually waving elevates interaction to another level. You do not press a button; instead, you move your arm and the NPC reacts in a world without monitors or keyboards.
The first step has been taken, but the road is still long
OrbusVR shows how a VR MMORPG can unfold. Of course, this is just the first step, and it will take a while before we see MMOs with better graphics and significantly more depth in VR. But these could revolutionize the entire gaming experience.
Imagine feeling as if you are in this other world and not interacting with other players and NPCs via a keyboard and mouse on a monitor, but in a natural way. Therefore, virtual reality should not be written off too quickly. For MMOs, the technology could represent an evolution.
After ruining his good reputation through rigged CS:GO gambling and being banned from Twitch.TV, the streamer known for League of Legends is now suing the streaming platform.
James Varga, better known as “PhantomL0rd”, is now taking action against the livestreaming website “Twitch.TV”, where he once earned a lot of money. After it became known that the streamer promoted a CS:GO gambling website and concealed his partnership with it, his Twitch.TV channel was banned in 2016.
Now, nearly 600 days after this ban, Varga is suing Twitch.
Known for LoL and CS:GO, downfall due to manipulation
PhantomL0rd was a big deal between 2012 and 2016. He had over a million followers. About 16,000 of them were loyal subscribers who paid money monthly for his entertainment.
He initially gained a lot of attention for his League of Legends streams. He played champions like Karthus with then-unusual spell combinations (Teleport and Revive) and made a good name for himself in the community. He regularly entertained several thousand viewers on Twitch.
After a few years, Varga lost interest in LoL and started looking for other games. At that time, CS:GO streams were popular on Twitch.
However, viewers enjoyed not only watching gameplay of the shooter. They wanted to see streamers putting their money into loot boxes and watched them open several hundred cases within a streaming session.
Many noticed this “skin boom” and wanted to take advantage of it. So-called “gambling websites” allowed players to throw one or more skins into a “pot”. A mix of chance and calculated winning odds then determined which player would receive all the skins thrown into the pot: pure gambling.
Sometimes values of over 10,000 dollars would change hands.
It’s clear that players watched these streams. Seeing whether their favorite streamer lost or won large sums while gambling was entertaining for many viewers.
PhantomL0rd against Twitch.TV – The aftermath of the ban
On July 19, 2016, Varga’s Twitch channel was deleted after reports claimed that Varga owned a website for CS:GO skin gambling involving real money. According to leaked chat logs, Varga manipulated certain bets so that they would turn out in his favor and he would receive the skins wagered.
In his streams, PhantomL0rd promoted the website CSGOShuffle without indicating that he had a relationship with the site. This led viewers to believe that his winnings on the site were the result of gaming chance and not of a manipulated system.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Valve eventually ensured that the CSGOShuffle website had to be closed down.
The negative attention surrounding CS:GO gambling also reached the livestreaming provider Twitch.TV. There, the terms of service were revised, making it clear that streamers could not broadcast content that violated the terms of service of third-party providers. Shortly before that, Valve had announced that using the trading system of Steam on such gambling websites violated Steam’s terms of service.
This is how Twitch and Valve ended this type of CS:GO gambling.
What is Varga’s lawsuit based on?
On February 14, 2018, James Varga filed a lawsuit against Twitch Interactive Inc in the San Francisco County Superior Court. The lawsuit claims that Twitch has caused financial damages to the streamer due to the ban in 2016.
In the lawsuit, Varga states that Twitch terminated the contract with him without ever providing a proper explanation as to why his channel was removed. In the agreement that Twitch and Varga made in 2015, it supposedly stated: If Twitch wanted to terminate the contract, Varga had to receive a written explanation. According to the lawsuit, this never happened.
“Twitch only made vague and ever-changing claims about what rules were violated,” the lawsuit states.
Furthermore, the court documents state that Varga allegedly had permission to stream exactly the content for which he was ultimately banned. PhantomL0rd apparently operated in gray areas. An official from Twitch.TV wrote to Varga at the time about this issue: “Do what you think is right. Honestly, though, I wouldn’t risk it.”
Twitch informed Varga that his ban would be indefinite but did not explain which violation ultimately led to it, Varga says. Only in January 2017 did Twitch explain to him that he was amassing false subscribers (bots), which violated Twitch.TV’s terms of service.
With the lawsuit, the streamer is therefore seeking some form of damages justified by his ban. He alleges that the misrepresentation of his character and the inability to continue earning an income through livestreaming (which was his full-time job) caused irreparable damage.
Today, on 20.2., the fourth team battle of Destiny 2 starts. This time you can earn some new faction weapons.
This Tuesday at 6 PM, the fourth faction rally in the history of Destiny 2 begins. Arach Jalaal (Dead Orbit), Executor Hideo (New Monarchy), and Laskhmi-2 (Future War Cult) gather the Guardians again to fight for their cause.
By accepting the affiliation of a faction, you collect faction tokens by completing various activities. You can exchange these for faction engrams, which contain faction-specific loot – including weapons and armor pieces.
With the fourth team battle, new faction weapons of Season 2 can be obtained through engrams for the first time. Each faction brought five new weapons for the second season, from which you can now acquire two weapons each in the faction engrams. In addition, each faction introduces a new victory weapon that they will only give away if they win the team battle.
All new weapons of the New Monarchy in the 4th team battle
You can earn the first two weapons through the faction engrams, the third weapon is the exclusive victory weapon.
Loquitor IV – Auto Rifle
The legendary auto rifle Loquitor IV was the victory weapon of the third faction rally when the New Monarchy won. Now it is available through faction engrams. It is a weapon that belongs to the auto rifle archetype with the lowest rate of fire of 360. The range is excellent, but the stability is low, making it hard to control.
Stats:
Perks:
Penetrating Shell:Slow fire and high damage. The weapon is more precise when stationary and using the sight.
Penetrating Reserves:The last rounds of a magazine deal more damage.
Choice between:
Ricochet Rounds:Bullets ricochet off hard surfaces. Increases stability, slightly increases range
Extended Mag:Increases magazine size
Alloy Magazine:Faster reload speed when the magazine is empty.
The sights:
GA Beam: Short zoom, Greatly increases weapon readiness speed, slightly increases range
SD Thermal: Medium zoom, Marks enemy targets, increases range
LC Long Range: Long zoom, Greatly increases range, decreases weapon readiness speed
Ersitzung IX – Scout Rifle
The Ersitzung IX belongs to the same archetype as the powerful Midnight without a Name, with a fire rate of 180. The base stability is even a bit higher. The remaining stats are similar:
Perks:
Precision Frame:The recoil behavior is more vertical.
Mobile Target:Increased movement speed and target acquisition while moving and using the sight.
A wheelchair causes excitement in Overwatch. Is this a teaser for a new hero or a cinematic?
The developers of Overwatch are good at hiding small hints about the lore of the game world in the hero shooter. Fans are eager for new information and always want to know more about current or upcoming heroes, leading to interesting discoveries.
Some players have noticed that the “Control Center” area of the Lijiang Tower map was changed in the late summer of last year. In one of the offices, an ordinary desk chair was replaced with a wheelchair.
On Reddit, user Karahe has compiled all previous information about the wheelchair and possible connections and has come up with a few theories.
The wheelchair is suspicious in that there is actually no reason for a wheelchair for wealthy individuals in the future of Overwatch. Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to replace any part of the body with prosthetics, making a traditional wheelchair useless—unless one deliberately chooses to forgo this technology.
In the past, Blizzard has always changed such details when they later became relevant—whether in a new cinematic or a new origin story.
It is also suspicious that on Harold’s desk, there is a picture of Winston (gorilla) and Harold. Since neither Winston nor Harold could revisit this place (Harold is dead and Winston is not welcome), one wonders who placed the picture there.
Is Harold Winston still alive?
On the lunar colony: Horizon, which is connected to the Lijiang Tower (both are from the same company), there are also striking details. There is a clear blood trail that runs throughout the map. It is also noticeable that only Harold Winston’s spacesuit is missing (the scientist after whom Winston was named).
Since the gorilla Winston would not have fit into this spacesuit, fans assume that Harold is still alive. This would mean that he either managed to escape secretly or even collaborated with the angry gorillas (who possessed similar intelligence to Winston).
Fans speculate that Harold could be the next hero—or even a villain. This would also align with what Jeff Kaplan previously stated, that “you know who Hero 27 will be,” without mentioning a specific name.
Who do you think will be the next hero in Overwatch?
It’s going wild in Hearthstone: Between February 19 and March 11, the Wild Festival takes place, allowing you to choose from a pool of all cards ever available in three different modes.
The event is based on the Wild card format, which also allows the use of no longer available cards, making for exciting decks that are otherwise outdated. Both hardcore Arena players and card chaos fans will find something to enjoy.
The Wild Arena
The Wild Arena now lets you choose from the pool of Wild cards. The expanded selection aims to offer a completely different gameplay experience compared to the regular Arena.
Beloved favorites from past cards can also find their way back into your Arena deck with a bit of luck. The Wild Arena has already started and runs until March 11.
Wild Card Chaos Variants
Additionally, two new card chaos variants were created to celebrate the event.
Law of the Wild: Those who do not own enough Wild cards and have never built a truly wild deck will now be able to try it out. In the Law of the Wild, there is a ready-made wild deck for each selectable class to experiment with.
The Wild Card Coliseum: In this mix of Arena and card chaos, you compile a wild deck from your own cards after paying an entry fee in real money or gold and compete against other players. Just like in the Arena, everything ends after 3 losses or 12 wins, and you start over. The first round is free, and similar to the Arena, tiered rewards are offered based on achieved victories.
These card chaos variants are not live yet but will likely start one after another on Wednesdays over the coming weeks. The Wild Festival event runs until March 11.
Are you looking forward to the wild card battles? Do you have your own wild decks?
In the new survival game SOS, a conflict arises that is also brewing in games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or Friday: The 13th: Is there a two-class society between streaming stars and regular players?
Subtly, it has been noticeable for a long time that there is a conflict simmering in today’s gaming: Do games prefer the big streamers at the expense of regular gamers?
Twitch stars are becoming increasingly important for games to be noticed
There is no question that Twitch stars have become an important marketing tool for game companies to stand out from the crowd. Successful Twitch streamers bring large communities with them, with thousands watching them.
The success of games like Friday the 13th: The Game or PUBG can really only be explained by how well these games perform on Twitch and give the streamer a platform to entertain their fans.
Others liked to court streamers, offered partnerships, or involved them in the financial success behind the scenes – the so-called “influencers”.
Recently, developers have increasingly catered to streamers in front of the scenes: They protect them from stream sniping, ban people who supposedly disturb them in their streams, or grant them special modes.
In the new game SOS, this special treatment seems to reach a new dimension. SOS is also referred to as “Streamer vs. Player”.
The idea behind SOS is: Players are actors in front of a live audience that they must entertain while fighting for survival. The audience can theoretically give advantages to the “most entertaining player”. In practice, this “most entertaining player” will often be the one who brings the most viewers from Twitch.
In highly publicized reviews on Steam, the game is accused of:
Essentially being designed to give streamers massive advantages – they could play alongside their own fans and would also be favored by game mechanics because they have the viewers on their side.
Moreover, developers have been accused of banning those people who annoy Twitch streamers at the behest of well-known streamers.
Additionally, people who have expressed critical opinions are said to have been banned from the communities.
The developers are accused of nepotism and favoritism, particularly having a weakness for female streamers.
Such accusations are difficult to prove from the outside. The German gaming site GameStar asked the developer for a statement two weeks ago and has not received one.
In the multiplayer shooter Hunt: Showdown, you fight against horrific creatures and other players in a sandbox world. The title aims not only to be fun but also to generate a threatening atmosphere. Our author Guddy has taken a peek into the currently ongoing alpha.
The current closed alpha of Hunt: Showdown does not show a finished game yet. It is still to be revised and refined, and not all content is implemented yet. Nevertheless, in most matches, some other players are already showing up in the expansive swamp area designed after Louisiana in 1889.
Everyone is struggling with the quirks of an alpha: with long loading times, error messages, and minor glitches. However, one can assume that such problems will diminish over time.
In the alpha, it is about the impressions of the gaming experience:
Does Hunt: Showdown manage to create atmosphere?
Is the gameplay fun?
And how is the current balance?
In Hunt, you not only have to track down the boss monster, banish it to hell, and take the trophy home, but you also become a target yourself. Once you have the trophy in your backpack, all other hunters want to take you down to claim the bounty for themselves.
Alone at Night with My Girlfriend, Paranoia
But before you dive into the mud, you need to hire a hunter. They are all stylish and give a first impression of the world with their rugged looks. They come with their own inventory and individual names. If it has a name, you must protect it!
And so, for the first time, I am reminded that I need to take care of my hunters. Because later in the real game, the rule is: If you die, you’re really dead. With this thought, I dive into the game – and will soon realize that it is not as easy to keep your hunter alive.
I land somewhere in the swamp. Not only at my home is it pitch dark, but the game has also donned its darkest garb. Choosing the headset instead of the speakers in Hunt is essential and greatly supports immersion. Around me, the underbrush crackles. The swamp gurgles and splashes at irregular intervals. Is it just the environment, or is it one of those creatures that wants to make your life difficult?
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Soundscapes are Crucial for Survival in Hunt: Showdown
The soundscapes are a major plus in Hunt: Showdown. They not only provide the necessary horror atmosphere but also indicate where the enemies are located. If you step on a twig, bump against hanging chains, or scare up crows, a sound is always produced. This is not only advantageous for locating your opponents but can also become a bitter disadvantage: Because you are not just a hunter but also hunted.
This uncertainty, coupled with disgusting sounds like slurping, moaning, and the cracking of nameless horrors, can truly induce fear. More than once, I stood waiting in front of a locked door of a wooden house, behind which there was shuffling and groaning. My imagination ran wild, and under the pressure of the fabulously creepy graphics, I had to encourage myself to see what was behind the door.
Hunters and the Hunted
I hear gunshots from afar. However, who they are aimed at is not my main question. After all, it is a matter of finding and taking down the monster while also being on the lookout for rival teams. When it comes to the monster, you have the agony of choice. In the alpha, you can choose in advance whether you want to deal with a giant spider or a zombie with a pig’s head.
You go hunting equipped with archaic-looking weapons: shotgun, pistol, axe. Accuracy is not really their strong point, and the ammunition is limited.
The roaming creatures, monsters, and hunters are not necessarily easy to defeat. While many are sluggish, once you have their attention, they can show uncomfortable speed, brandishing claws, pistols, or teeth. The environment does not make it easy either: Fire, for instance, can set you ablaze and deal massive damage, and glass shards are not your friends either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocb3yTS7KkA
More Effective in a Team than Alone
While there is also a charm in wading through the swamp alone: Everything feels more threatening, and being on your own increases paranoia. However, as a pair, you can make the most of the situation and allow tactical teamwork to speak for itself. Additionally, it is possible to revive fallen comrades: if you have the necessary nerve.
That said, you never know how many opponents are still active. There is no display that would reveal this, and so it can very well be that you are all alone in the open – or nine people have gathered in the bushes next to you, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
But of course, there is one exception: If the ritual for banishing the boss monster is in progress, the location is marked on the map. Any remaining hunters can then casually head over and track the marked player. Underhanded? Absolutely! And it is incredibly fun!
Conclusion and Outlook – Our Impressions of the Hunt: Showdown Alpha So Far
Hunt: Showdown looks promising. The audio and visuals create a harmonious symbiosis that teaches you to shiver. If you immerse yourself in the mood, with all the soft and loud sounds, the world and its creatures, you can have a damn good time with this title.
Not all hunters, maps, and weapons have been integrated yet; the alpha still presents an unfinished picture – especially regarding optimizations. Loading times can make life difficult, but these are the quirks of the current phase. It is not finished yet. The important thing is that Hunt: Showdown has potential, and not just a little.
The Roadmap
The developers are currently working hard on the game, which is evident from frequent server maintenance. They also recently released a roadmap, showing what to expect in the future for Hunt. Among other things:
Many more weapons, hunter outfits, and maps.
Various difficulty levels.
A crafting system.
New sandbox features that have yet to be defined.
Overhaul of the AI.
Additionally, female characters will also be available. According to a Twitter reply, this will, however, take a while.
The alpha will run longer. You can still sign up on the official Hunt: Showdown website. Overall, the developers want to take a few more months to optimize the title. Therefore, a release before 2019 is quite unlikely.
It is also still unclear if Hunt: Showdown will be available only for PC or also for the PS4 and Xbox One consoles. Either way: It is a title to keep an eye on.
Have you played it yet? What do you think of the game?