SWTOR lures with free gameplay time, mounts, and style gear

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

SWTOR aims to generate new players and bring back old ones. We will tell you how you can grab game time and cosmetic items.

With a bit of delay, Star Wars: The Old Republic is also celebrating Valentine’s Day and wants players to “pass on the love.” Those who get other players to subscribe to SWTOR can benefit from cool rewards, such as a stylish speeder and a chic cosmetic armor set with an experience bonus.

SWTOR Chiss Speeder

The speeder and the armor set will be sent directly to the in-game mail on March 1st or 2nd.

Complete newbies and returning players can also secure an additional 30 days of game time if they sign up for a subscription or are referred by friends. To do this, they need to enter the code “SWTORSHARETHELOVE” in the account management, and – in conjunction with regularly purchased game time – they will get an additional 30 days of game time.

Who can get what?

In plain language, players can receive the following items, depending on whether they are a premium player (subscription) or not.

Existing Free-to-Play players:

  • Nothing. Too bad.

Premium players:

  • Chiss Claw Catcher
  • Force Veteran Armor Set
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Returning players (who have not been premium players for at least 90 days):

  • 30 days of additional game time if they subscribe and use the code “SWTORSHARETHELOVE”
  • Chiss Claw Catcher
  • Force Veteran Armor Set

New players

  • 30 days of additional game time if they sign up through a referral link, subscribe, and use the code “SWTORSHARETHELOVE”
  • Chiss Claw Catcher
  • Force Veteran Armor Set

This offer is valid until February 27th. After that, it is no longer possible to enter the code, and the rewards will expire.

There is currently a lot of talk about SWTOR – as the game seems to be struggling. Will development be halted soon?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. swtor.com/de/
  2. reddit.com

PUBG has over 30 million sales, but player numbers are declining

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

Meanwhile, PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) has sold over 30 million copies. But now the number of daily players is declining.

The battle royale shooter PUBG has achieved numerous successes in recent months and reached significant milestones. More than 30 million copies of the game have been sold to date. However, recent data from Steam shows that the number of daily players is decreasing.

PUBG loses players

As VG247 reported last week, the numbers of concurrent players of PUBG on Steam are decreasing. Last week, PUBG lost 2% of its peak concurrent players compared to the previous month.

Currently, the number stands at over 5% loss of concurrent players compared to the last 30 days. This is shown by an overview from Steam Charts.

PUBG player numbers Steam Charts

What does this say about the player numbers of PUBG? 

To put things into perspective, let’s compare the new numbers with known values from the past. In mid-January, PUBG set its latest player record with 3.257 million players in a day.

PUBG players per day

Since this record on January 13, the values have been declining.

  • One week later (January 20), there were 3.156 million players in a day.
  • Another week later (January 27), 3.092 million.
  • On February 6, only 2.803 million.
  • In between, there are always small spikes in player numbers, but nothing comes close to the established record.

PUBG continues to dominate Steam

The fact that PUBG’s numbers are declining is not unusual. Various factors are at play:

  • Banned cheater accounts
  • Players losing interest in PUBG
  • Battle royale alternatives like Fortnite BR
fortnite-title-video

Despite the declining numbers, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is not doing badly. The game remains one of the most played games on Steam. Even the lowest player count in a day surpasses the players of all other games in the top 10 when combined.

How about you? Are you still playing PUBG or have you found an alternative?

In PUBG, a strange naked man distributes chicken dinner

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. VG247
  2. SteamCharts
  3. SteamDB

Now you can play Sea of Thieves – Beta Registration

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

The Scale Test of Sea of Thieves has started and is looking for adventurous pirates. Here’s how to participate in Sea of Thieves without prior beta registration. You can now join the stress test as well.

Ahoy, interested pirates. This weekend you can play Sea of Thieves for free. The stress test for the pirate adventure in multiplayer mode started on the morning of February 16.

However, you should expect that issues may arise while playing. After all, the servers are being stressed and problems are being simulated during the stress test.

Sea of Thieves: Participate in the Stress Test without Beta Registration

If you want to participate in the current stress test, you only need to register in the Xbox Insider Hub. This software is available for Microsoft computers and Xbox consoles.

Once you have downloaded the software on the corresponding platform, you can register for the stress test there and then download the game. Additionally, pre-order customers have access to the stress test.

Sea of Thieves Download

However, during this beta phase, not all content available at the game’s launch on March 20 will be accessible to you. Instead, there are similar contents that were already available during the last closed beta.

You can find the official installation instructions for Sea of Thieves here.

This stress test is mainly about collecting important server data and understanding how the servers behave in problematic situations. You can find a more detailed overview of the current Sea of Thieves stress test here.

Issues with the installation? Here’s an addition from our reader Nookiezilla:

Simply pull the Xbox Insider app from the Windows Store, then search for Sea of Thieves and that’s it. It may take some time after you register for the beta before the registration is completed and the download can begin.

This is how I went through it this afternoon, and I had never had access to an alpha/beta.

I think Windows 10 is required.

The mentioned delay in registration should now be resolved. There was a problem that caused the registration through the Insider Hub to take too long.

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What do I actually do in Sea of Thieves?

In Sea of Thieves, a initially small playground opens up to you. Whether you play alone or with one or more friends is up to you. However, playing in a group is usually more fun.

Sail across the vast sea in search of hidden treasures. The quests you receive for free at the Gold Hoarder tent on the starting island provide hints for their locations. Follow the treasure map to mysterious islands, fight the undead inhabitants, and then dig at the right spot to find a chest full of gold.

Sea of Thieves Treasure Found

By solving puzzles and finding treasure chests, you earn gold that you can exchange in various shops for clothing, weapons, and other items such as musical instruments.

We explain how to start your first adventure in our beginner’s guide.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Huge indie game! 475 people are working on Star Citizen, Squadron 42

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

For an indie MMO, these are remarkably high numbers: 475 employees are currently reported to be working on Star Citizen and Squadron 42. And most of them are working in the northwest of England.

The US site Dualshockers has released new figures on Star Citizen. The workforce is now said to have grown to 475 employees. A significant step compared to the crowdfunding beginnings in 2012.

But by now, the game has raised over $178 million through crowdfunding and has almost 2 million registered users. And the money keeps flowing: In 2017, Star Citizen earned more money than all Kickstarter games combined.

How the 475 employees of Star Citizen are distributed across the 5 studios

Cloud Imperium Games now has 5 studios, with another one opened in Derby, England. The 475 employees are distributed as follows:

  • 234 work in Manchester, England
  • 75 in Los Angeles, USA
  • 71 in Austin, USA
  • 80 work in Frankfurt, Germany
  • and 15 in Derby, England
Star-Citizen-Cunningham

Large project – large workforce

So many developers are needed because Squadron 42 alone has the scale of a large AAA game, says Foundry 42 head Erin Roberts. Additionally, it takes a lot of effort to develop all the new technology. The persistent universe of Star Citizen is also a major undertaking.

Erin Roberts is optimistic about this workforce size, believing that development will progress excellently in 2018. There is confidence in delivering a lot of gameplay content to the community.

Star Citizen Vanguard

Star Citizen is developed in old industrial centers

Roberts notes that with Manchester and Derby, there is a focus on the northwest of England because excellent conditions can be found here. There are attractive tax breaks for game developers. Additionally, these are good places to hire developers, as the cost of living is relatively low. This way, you get the best value for your money in these regions.

The new studio in Derby was opened, for example, to attract local developers to the team. They are specialists in facial animation.

Manchester and Derby are actually traditionally industrial cities that have made the leap into the new era.

More about the game:

Should you play Star Citizen in 2018 or wait?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Dualshockers

Monster Hunter World: Update 1.06 is live – Patch notes for PS4 & Xbox

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time < 1 minutes

The new update for Monster Hunter World is now live and available for download. On the PS4, the patch is labeled 1.06, and on the Xbox, it is labeled 1.0.0.11. Here are the patch notes for both consoles. 

The new update for Monster Hunter World brings minor fixes and adjustments for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can now download patch 1.06 on the PS4 and patch 1.0.0.11 on the Xbox One.

Update fixes issues with slot berries and optimizes hunting parties

Patch notes for PS4 and Xbox One:

  • Slot Berry Fix: The last patch 1.05 adjusted the maximum number of portable slot berries from 60 to 30. After that, a problem occurred when hunters had more than 31 slot berries in their item pouch. Now, with the update 1.06, all excess slot berries will be correctly transferred to the item box.
  • Hunting Party Optimization: Creating hunting parties was problematic on both PS4 and Xbox. Patch 1.06/1.0.0.11 brings additional adjustments to the hunting party issue.
 Patch notes for Xbox One:
  • Player search optimized: The multiplayer is still not running smoothly on Xbox One. Therefore, with update 1.0.0.11, the algorithm for searching for another player’s session will be adjusted.
monster_hunter_world_rathalos

A special event quest is currently taking place in Monster Hunter World. Here you can find out how to earn Ryu from Street Fighter V as armor in Monster Hunter World. 

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Capcom

Diese 3 Vorurteile über das neue MMORPG Bless könnten falsch sein

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

There is new information about the MMORPG Bless. It is approaching the Early Access launch on Steam. This concerns the payment model, the release on Steam, and the direction of the game. This new information contradicts ideas that many players have had about the MMORPG so far.

We have often reported on the Korean MMORPG Bless and the difficult path the game has taken so far. With great graphics but gameplay issues, the MMORPG has not been successful. This should change with the “Rebuild” and the launch of a global version.

Currently, the creators of Bless are promoting the game and have granted interviews to some US sites. We summarize the most important new information.

3 Things that are supposed to be different about the new MMORPG Bless than many believe

What one hears might surprise some and justifies a second look at Bless. Because these 3 ideas that many surely have about Bless could turn out to be wrong:

  • “This is definitely going to be Free2Play.”
  • “There will definitely be multiple betas and wipes before it finally starts.”
  • “This is surely going to be yet another standard MMORPG like other Asian games.”
Bless-creature

Bless might not actually be Free2Play

Bless comes from Korea. Many think: “It comes from Asia, it will definitely be Free2Play.” But it no longer looks that way.

In recent interviews, it is emphasized: Bless has not yet decided on a payment model. But obviously, Bless is leaning towards the Buy2Play model, like Black Desert does. The game would therefore cost something at launch, but there would be no subscription fees.

Bless-combat

Bless will start in Early Access, but that is already the Soft Launch

Bless will launch in a global version on Steam – this could happen relatively soon.

Many MMORPG fans think about such models: It starts with the Closed Beta, then there are wipes and later another wipe and then another. By the time it really gets started, it takes forever, and until then, you level characters from the beginning three times again.

But that is not planned for Bless: They do not want to implement any wipes once it starts. The Early Access is supposed to last about 6 months.

As Bless launches on Steam, they are in a Soft Launch, and the progress is permanent: No wipes are planned.

Bless-rider

How does Bless want to distinguish itself from other MMORPGs?

Many think of a new Asian MMO and say, “It’s always the same.” Therefore, Bless has been asked more frequently: How do you want to stand out from the competition?

Bless mentions these points in various interviews.

  • A complex skill system – they are still working on further developing this. Each class should have the opportunity to implement various builds here. This should also be reflected in combat. Even if classes have the same level and equipment, they should be able to play differently.
  • Also important: Practically all monsters in Bless can be tamed and then used either as pets or as mounts.
  • Bless wants to tailor the Steam version to the needs of the West. It will be a different version than the existing ones in Japan and Korea. Some content is supposed to appear here first.
https://youtu.be/MqaVypQzZKY
  • Bless also places a lot of importance on its “Realm versus Realm”-PvP. They want large hordes of players to clash and offer a “100 versus 100 players” battleground. Naval and aerial battles should also be offered in certain PvP modes.
  • As a major goal, they see providing a massive, living world. They want to work towards that. Housing is planned, for example.

An exact release date for Bless on Steam is not yet known. However, it could be the first major launch of an MMORPG in 2018. Initially, Bless is only supposed to be released for PC, but Neowiz is interested in bringing games to consoles in the future – usually referring to PS4 and Xbox One. There’s no announcement yet.

More about Bless:

MMORPG Bless looks hot and is coming in 2018 – But will it be good?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. mmoculture
  2. 3. Quelle: MMORPG
  3. massively
  4. 4. Quelle: Wccftech

My MMO asks: Are you playing betas or waiting for the release?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Today we want to know from you whether you play games already in beta or if you always wait for the full release.

There is basically no finished MMOs released before a large number of players had the opportunity to test the game. Especially extensive games like MMORPGs rely today on extensive beta testing. Only this way can bugs in the game be reliably found or the performance of the game be checked with large player masses.

But beta tests are not for everyone. Many players do not want to be used as free guinea pigs and expect a finished product. Other players are eager to participate in the development as early as possible. After all, how great would it be if some detail in the game would be changed because of your feedback?

WoW Cathedral Assembly Header

Therefore, we want to know from you: Do you play beta versions when you have the opportunity? Or do you avoid a game until it has been officially released? Why or why not?

Cortyn says: Because of this job, it is hard for me to avoid beta versions of games when it comes to titles like World of Warcraft. But with WoW, I also enjoy being able to dive into the beta version. Due to the lower number of players on the beta servers and the lack of time pressure – after all, there is no pressing guild you need to catch up with – the beta experience often feels “purer” and more relaxed.

You can find information about the current beta of Battle for Azeroth in this post.

WoW Gallywix Grin Goblin

Above all, this helps me to already get a rough orientation about the game world – this often makes the release easier. If an area is overcrowded because players are clearly directed there by the quests, it can be helpful to know where you can alternatively complete tasks.

But enough about me, let’s talk about you! Do you accept beta invitations and play them intensively? Do you just take a quick look at the beta? Or do you completely avoid beta versions to have no prior knowledge at release? Let us know in the comments and actively discuss!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Fortnite becomes even sillier with the new teddy parachute “Bear-Force-One”

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

Fortnite: Battle Royale (PC, PS4 & Xbox One) has never taken itself too seriously, but with the latest skins from the Valentine’s update, the silliness has reached a new height. And that is with the new glider skin “Bear-Force-One”!

Fortnite: Battle Royale is just as wacky and absurd as its PvE mode. Therefore, you drop into battle with a party bus, wear crazy costumes, taunt opponents with dance moves, and disguise yourselves as bushes.

Update-Patch-Fortnite

That’s already hard to top, but the developers at Epic bravely faced the challenge on Valentine’s Day.

The full dose of silliness for the Valentine’s event

The Valentine’s Day update brought four new skins. A pickaxe with a heart, a skin for a marble love god, a somewhat shabby cuddly bear skin with the brilliant English title “Super Cuddly Officer”, and a new glider. These are the parachutes with which you jump out of the “battle bus” at the start of every match.

Fortnite-Bear-Force-One-01

The Valentine’s version of the glider isn’t just some cheesy thing with hearts and pink fluff. It’s actually a gigantic, inflatable cuddly teddy bear strapped to a pair of angel wings with steel cables. The name of this gliding monstrosity: “Bear-Force-One”!

Here you can find all skins and outfits from Fortnite: Battle Royale

You can get this thing for a proud 1,500 V-Bucks in the shop. That’s approximately 15 euros. Besides looking absurd, the glider does nothing else. It is – like all real money items in Fortnite – a purely cosmetic item.

Bear Force One has landed!

With Bear Force One (that’s the English name), you are probably the star of the battlefield. Because the colorful giant bear can definitely be seen from miles away. So if you’re a good player and want to take out a series of enemies right at the start of the game, then glide majestically to the ground with Bear-Force-One and farm the opponents as soon as they run in front of your gun.

Or you will be farmed because you arrive too late at the landing spot and can’t find any decent weapons anymore.

So be sure to consider our tips for landing faster in Fortnite!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. GameSpot

How to get Ryu from Street Fighter V for Monster Hunter World

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time 3 minutes

In Monster Hunter World the event quest “A Dark, Sludgy Path” starts – With this, you can become Ryu from Street Fighter 5 and get him as armor for your hunter. The quest is exclusive to PS4 and is not available for Xbox players.

From now on, you can get Ryu’s armor for Monster Hunter World for a limited time. Ryu is the protagonist of the Street Fighter series and made his first appearance in the first installment. He is an experienced martial artist who always strives to become stronger and maintain his focus.

With the event “A Dark, Sludgy Path”, you can give your character in Monster Hunter World the appearance of Ryu. Once you’ve completed the quest, you will be rewarded with a crafting item. At the forge, you can then craft the “Ryu Full Armor Set”.

The start of the Ryu event was today, on February 16th at 1 a.m. It ends on March 1st, also at 1 a.m. You have a total of two weeks to acquire Ryu’s armor.

Ryu-Street-Fighter-V

Quest Starter must have a save file of “Street Fighter V” – The rest can join

Only players who have a save file of “Street Fighter V” or “Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition” on their PlayStation 4 can start the quest “A Dark, Sludgy Path”. If you do not have a “Street Fighter V” save file, you can still join the quest if it is initiated by a “Street Fighter V” player.

Defeat a Barroth: Here are the quest details for “A Dark, Sludgy Path”

Quest Availability: February 16th to March 1st
Quest Level: 3★
Requirements: Hunter Rank 3 or higher
Main Objective: Defeat Barroth
Note: Challenge quests are a special type of quest where you must defeat the objective within a given time limit with specified weapons and armor.
Reward: An item with which you can craft the Ryu Full Armor Set.

You can find Barroth with its strengths and weaknesses in our comprehensive monster list of Monster Hunter World. – With loot and habitat

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Sakura from Street Fighter V will also be coming

There will be a second part of the “Street Fighter” event. Next time, the Sakura Full Armor Set will be the reward. This quest will likely play out similarly to Ryu’s.

Sakura had her first appearance in Street Fighter Alpha 2. She is a Japanese girl who admires the experienced fighter Ryu. She has learned many techniques from him and now wants to prove herself.

A full armor set is a one-piece item that you cannot combine with other armor pieces. Full armor sets also have their own defensive properties. The full armor sets are independent of the hunter’s gender and allow female characters to look and sound like Ryu.

Quest will be repeated later for all PS4 players and Xbox

At this time, the quest “A Dark, Sludgy Path” is exclusive to PS4 and for players with a “Street Fighter V” save file. However, it is expected to appear again in the event rotation at a later time.

In the later rotation, all players will be able to take on Ryu’s quest, including Xbox players and PS4 players without a save file of Street Fighter V. When that will happen is currently unknown.

If you want to know what other events are currently taking place, you can find them here: The Event Quests in February from Monster Hunter World at a glance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Capcom
  2. capcom-blog

Destiny 2 – How Bungie wants to make Exotics even more exotic

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 3 minutes

In Destiny 2, an a revision of the Exotics is planned. Bungie now reveals how the exotic items are to become even more exotic.

In early February, Bungie released a roadmap with endgame updates planned for spring 2018. This roadmap indicates that the update 1.1.4 should arrive at the end of March, which includes a revision of the exotic weapons and armor pieces. Because these are major changes, this “Exotic Tuning Pass” might only be released later.

destiny-2-hüter

Now, senior designer Jon Weisnewski speaks up in the new “This Week at Bungie” and explains what the team is currently working on to make “the exotics even more exotic”.

Gameplay Goals of the Exotic Revision

Weisnewski first looks back at Destiny 1: Back then, Exotics were released that he hoped would live up to your time and the hype. After the launch, there was a flood of feedback, allowing for fine-tuning and sandbox adjustments to the exotic weapons. This is now being repeated in Destiny 2: The exotic weapons and armor pieces will be revised based on player feedback.

Three goals are being pursued:

  • The exotic gear is being revised to provide players additional and/or increased power
  • The focus of the revisions is on the exotics that are currently rarely used. These should become more popular, while also keeping an eye on the other exotics
  • Additionally, the exotics should not lose their previous identity. Thus, there will be no complete overhauls; instead, the aim is to pick up the existing gameplay of these items and significantly improve it.
    graviton-lanze

The Graviton Lance as an Example

How does one intend to implement these goals concretely? Weisnewski cites the exotic pulse rifle Graviton Lance as an example.

What is the Graviton Lance? The Graviton Lance is a weapon that looks cool, sounds unique, and creates nice explosions. The idea behind it is that the first two shots per burst can be fired with almost no recoil, and the third shot subsequently “rips a hole into the space-time continuum” – meaning this shot deals increased damage, has no damage falloff, but does have heavy recoil.

The problem with the Graviton Lance? It’s actually an exciting concept, but the community concluded that the weapon’s usefulness is too low, which is why hardly anyone uses it now. In PvP, it’s hard to get kills with it, and in PvE, the explosion is rarely of much benefit, as it pushes the body of the enemy back too far after the kill.

graviton-lanze-destiny-2
Graviton Lance with Ornament

This is How the Graviton Lance Will Be Revised

To make the gun more effective in PvP, the following changes will be made:

  • The recoil of the burst will be reduced
  • More aim assist will be added
  • Instead of three shots per burst, the Graviton Lance will now fire only two shots. This will make the damage per burst more competitive in PvP encounters. Actually, the lance now has a small mathematical advantage over other pulse rifles.

To make the explosions more effective, the following changes will be made:

  • The body of a defeated enemy will no longer fly back violently; instead, it will float gently backward and slightly upward before exploding.
  • The explosion will be larger
  • The damage of the explosion will increase
  • Additionally, a few Void projectiles will be added that seek nearby enemies
    graviton-lanze

Which Exotic Weapons Will Be Revised?

Bungie lists a number of exotic weapons that will initially not receive a revision:

  • Merciless
  • Telesto
  • Wardcliff Coil
  • MIDA Multi-Tool
  • The Colony
  • Legend of Acrius
  • Wings of Sacred Dawn

These weapons are already performing well and, according to Bungie, do not require adjustments. Additionally, some, like the Wings of Sacred Dawn, will benefit from further sandbox adjustments planned for update 1.1.4 in March.

All other exotic weapons not mentioned here will receive an increase in their power or usefulness. Either a few stats will be increased, or more profound changes will be made.

What do you think of Bungie’s plans for the exotics?

Here we present all exotic weapons in Destiny 2:

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bungie

The release date of Shroud of the Avatar is known, starting in March

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

Publisher Travian Games has officially confirmed the release date of the upcoming MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar for March 27.

After five years of development, the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar will finally launch on March 27, aiming to be the spiritual successor to the Ultima series, including the single-player series and Ultima Online.

Shroud of the Avatar character

From Selective Multiplayer RPG to MMORPG

Shroud of the Avatar was announced in 2013 during the Kickstarter campaign as a “Selective Multiplayer RPG,” a label that the developers have since moved away from. Now SotA is officially an MMORPG, although the FAQ of the Kickstarter campaign states: “Although Shroud of the Avatar will not be a Massively Multiplayer Online RPG, it is a Multiplayer RPG.”

This was later clarified in a video by designer Richard “Lord British” Garriott: Shroud of the Avatar was intended to be a story-driven single-player RPG like the old Ultima games, but also offers the option to play online.

The (MMO)RPG offers you the following:

  • Four game modes: MMO, Friends mode, Single Player Online, and Offline
  • A sandbox world should be mixed with a story that offers a single-player narrative structure
  • Decisions with consequences
  • A player-driven economy
  • The ability to own houses, castles, and entire player towns
  • Real money trading

Shroud of the Avatar aims to take a retro approach and provide players with a more challenging gaming experience, where they are not given everything on a silver platter. Players are encouraged to discover things for themselves, without being pointed out. That’s why NPCs do not have exclamation marks above their heads that immediately identify them as quest givers, but instead have sparkling hands to wave, and they are marked on the map and compass.

Shroud of the Avatar dungeon entrance

The Criticism Continues

Shroud of the Avatar has been criticized for a long time during its early access phase. Among other things, because the quest system consists only of long conversations with NPCs in text form and there is a lot of grinding. The MMORPG also has a rather outdated visual appearance and long loading times when entering new areas. Furthermore, many criticize that newcomers can hardly compete with those who have been playing since the last wipe in July 2016.

Whether Shroud of the Avatar can establish itself in the market and find the balance between single-player RPG and MMORPG remains to be seen after the release on March 27.

Just recently, real money trading in Shroud of the Avatar has come under strong criticism.

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Cyberpunk 2077 studio about loot boxes: Happy players are the best PR

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

Loot boxes are a hot topic. Now CD Projekt Red, the developers of The Witcher 3 and the upcoming role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077, have also commented on this issue. And they are saying the things that every player wants to hear.

The loot box controversy sparked by Electronic Arts with Star Wars Battlefront 2 seems never-ending and could potentially cost EA the Star Wars license. CD Projekt Red, who are currently working on Cyberpunk 2077, have now expressed their opinion on microtransactions.

This is also because the studio’s fans were already worried about how the developers would handle this topic in the upcoming RPG. Cyberpunk 2077 is also said to offer online elements.

Cyberpunk 2077 Title 1

 

A full-price game should also offer a complete gaming experience

CD Projekt Red’s co-founder Marcin Iwiński reassures fans and explains that the most important thing is to deliver a full game at full price that provides customers with many hours of gaming enjoyment.

In The Witcher 3, that was over 60 hours, and that’s a fair deal. According to Iwiński, the best PR for a game is still when players are happy and recommend the product to their friends.

cyberpunk2077

Players do not want to be treated unfairly

He explains that in The Witcher 3, they delivered additional content in the form of addons and free DLCs. And in the card game Gwent, players have the option to play completely for free and craft new cards. However, they can also purchase them for real money if they wish.

Players would then take to the barricades if they feel that the developer is unfairly reaching into their wallets. Therefore, as a development studio, one must always ask how players might react to certain features.

What could this mean for Cyberpunk 2077?

  • Probably no loot boxes
  • Paid addons that bring a lot of content
  • Free DLCs
  • A main game that represents a complete product, providing many hours of fun
  • No additional content that makes players feel “milked”

Currently, it is still unclear when Cyberpunk 2077 will be released and what the online elements will look like. Allegedly, the RPG will be presented at E3 this year.

There may even be a playable demo at E3 (behind closed doors).

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Source(s):
  1. PCGamer
  2. PCGamesN

MMO anime Sword Art Online receives a Netflix series with real actors

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Sword Art Online with real actors? That’s exactly what Netflix is now planning to implement. Fans can look forward to an exciting series.

Anime is becoming increasingly mainstream, so it is not surprising that more and more successful anime series are also getting live-action adaptations.

The story of Sword Art Online is now taking this path. Netflix has announced the production, which will presumably be available on the streaming service in at least two years.

Sword Art Online, or short SAO, takes place in the future and primarily revolves around the boy Kirito, who enjoys spending his time in virtual worlds. Thanks to new technology, it is possible to fully immerse in the fantasy worlds, allowing bodily signals to be intercepted and transformed into digital signals.

Sword Art Online

But on the first day in the MMORPG SAO, an incident occurs: players can no longer log out. The creator of the game then reveals that players can only leave the game if they defeat the final boss. Those who die on the way lose their lives in the real world as well.

The representation is based on the anime series

Producer Laeta Kalogridis explained in an interview with Collider that they do not want to engage in “whitewashing” for SAO – Asian characters will be portrayed by Asian actors.

Sword Art Online has already received several video game adaptations, mainly JRPGs – an actual MMO is still pending. Next, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet will be released, which is based on the second season of the anime series and takes place in the MMO Gun Gale Online.

Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet Kirito

Cortyn says: After the rather disappointing adaptation of “Death Note”, I am more than critical about a live-action adaptation of Sword Art Online. It’s about time that anime and manga adaptations get higher quality live adaptations, but we have been waiting for that with video games for almost two decades. I hope for the best and fear for the worst.

Are you looking forward to the live series of Sword Art Online? Or are you satisfied with the anime and the many games?

When we can play games like Sword Art Online in “real” has been covered here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gamestar.de
  2. collider.com

How to effectively use impulse grenades in Fortnite: Battle Royale!

Robert Albrecht Robert Albrecht Reading time 3 minutes

With the latest update, the developer Epic has integrated a new grenade in Fortnite: Battle Royale: the impulse grenade. But what does it actually do? In what situations should it be used? In this guide, we show you how to get the most out of the impulse grenade!

Fortnite: Battle Royale offers many different tactics and gameplay variations. With the impulse grenade, a new tactical option has been added, which can be used in various ways. Whether in solo or in team mode with four players – the impulse grenade always shines!

Epic introduced the impulse grenade with the following short video, which gives a good overview of how the grenade works:

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But how does it work exactly? In what situations should you use the grenade?

The impulse grenade does not cause damage, but…

The impulse grenade is of rare rarity (blue) and can be obtained from all possible loot sources. Due to its rare rarity, it should be found as frequently as the Boogie Bomb, which makes hit players dance.

The impulse grenade causes no damage. Its purpose is therefore not to injure other players, at least not directly. The advantage: since the grenade does not deal damage, you can also apply it to yourself.

fortnite-impulsgranate-2

What does the grenade actually do? Once thrown, it sticks to a spot for a short time before emitting a large impulse that pushes players away from their position. This can be compared to a suddenly placed trampoline that launches players into the air, but not just vertically, but also sideways.

The functionality of the grenade opens up new possibilities – whether offensively or defensively.

Blow up enemy teams with the impulse grenade!

The right construction of forts paves the way to victory in Fortnite: Battle Royale. With the minigun, a weapon has already been introduced that can successfully level enemy forts.

With the impulse grenade, you now have another tool at your disposal to pull enemy players out of their forts. Depending on the size of the fort, a well-placed impulse grenade can ensure that enemies are forced to leave their fort involuntarily – and even scattered (if they are pushed in different directions).

But that’s not all. Enemies standing on large mountain slopes and shooting at you can be sent off the edge with an impulse grenade, as illustrated in the following video:

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No more style points to win a round of Fortnite: Battle Royale.

Has style too – our tips and tricks for an epic victory in Fortnite: Battle Royale!

Throw the impulse grenade at your feet!

But the impulse grenade is not just meant for your enemies. In fact, you can give yourself a huge speed boost by placing the grenade in front of or behind you. This way you can surprise opponents and catch them off guard.

You can also use the impulse grenade to stop an overeager friend from collecting all the loot:

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You see, the possibilities of using the impulse grenade are endless – whether offensively or defensively. Use it to blow up enemy teams or disorient individual players. Or throw the impulse grenade at your feet to quickly cover small distances and surprise your enemies!

In particular, the use against forts shows that Epic wants to create more variable gameplay options in the endgame. Whoever has a minigun and the impulse grenade in their inventory does not have to fear impressive structures anymore!

What do you think of the impulse grenade? Have you tried it yet?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. pcgamer

Does Blizzard announce a Warcraft Mobile in February?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

There are concrete indications of a new announcement from Blizzard. Is it a remake of Warcraft 3? Or a Warcraft Mobile?

Several months ago, Blizzard was looking for new developers, and the business plans indicated that the studio behind World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo wants to enter the mobile sector more strongly.

Now there are concrete indications that Blizzard will announce a new game in February.

Warcraft 3 Arthas

In the various forums of the professionals from Warcraft 3, there are increasing reports that Blizzard has invited top players of Warcraft 3 to a “secret meeting” that will take place at the end of the month. Many professionals have confirmed that they will travel to America at the end of the month, but all refuse to name a reason – which speaks for a clear confidentiality obligation. If it were just a tournament for Warcraft 3, there wouldn’t be such secrecy.

The conclusion is that Blizzard wants to present the professionals with a new project to gather various opinions.

There have also been several meetings for Hearthstone with the best players to gather their opinions on new cards or discuss general ideas.

Warcraft Mobile or a Remake?

Especially two possibilities come to mind:

A remake of Warcraft 3. The real-time strategy game Warcraft 3 captured fans by storm at its time and is still regarded as a prime example of what a near-perfect strategy game should look like. In addition to the nearly perfect balance between different races, the game also had an exciting campaign and an extremely lively modding community that created their own maps and even developed entire genres like MOBAs or Tower Defense.

Warcraft Mobile. So far, Blizzard only has Hearthstone to show in the mobile sector – there is still room for improvement. Mobile games are on the rise and particularly generate millions of dollars for developers through microtransactions. It is only a matter of time before Blizzard also becomes more involved in this market.

Warcraft Orcs & Humans
Many fans also wish for Warcraft 1 and 2. However, that is almost unlikely.

After the meeting of the professional players with Blizzard at the end of the month, more information will surely be published or leaked. Until then, you are welcome to speculate!

Would you like a remake of Warcraft 3? Or rather a mobile title for Warcraft? Or are you hoping for Warcraft 4?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit.com/r/wow/
  2. readmore.de

Destiny 2: The fourth faction rally is coming up, finally has weapons as loot

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 4 minutes

In Destiny 2, the factions are back in focus: The fourth group fight is approaching. Here are all the details and the weapons you can earn.

In mid-January, the third faction rally took place, which was also the first rally in Season 2. This event was heavily criticized: Bungie introduced new faction weapons with the second season, but players could not earn any of the new weapons during this rally.

The reason: The faction weapons of Season 2 were supposed to be gradually released throughout the season – which many Guardians did not like at all. Why should they play the group fight now when there are no new weapons to be won?

destiny-2-fraktionen-anführer

Now, in mid-February, the second rally in Season 2 is approaching, and finally, weapons are in the loot pool.

All information about the 4th group fight

  • Start: February 20 at 6 PM – The rally starts immediately after the Crimson Week ends
  • End: February 27 at 6 PM

Participation requirements:

  • Have at least character level 20
  • Complete the campaign
  • As soon as the rally starts, you must play the Fraction Rally introduction milestone
  • After that, you join a faction.

The rules of the game have not changed: Per character, you can adopt a faction (Dead Orbit, New Monarchy, Future War Cult), then collect tokens for it and earn as many reward packages as possible. The faction that releases the most reward packages after one week wins the rally. You support the faction by completing public events, strikes, and the raid, by looting Lost Sectors, or proving yourself in the Crucible.

The rewards of the faction rally

By completing activities as a faction member, you collect tokens. You exchange these for faction engrams, which contain standard rewards such as weapons and armor pieces.

These are the new Season 2 weapons that can now be earned through the engrams (2 new weapons per faction):

waffen-fraktion
waffen-fraktion-2

In Season 2, you can also earn ornaments, which you unlock by achieving predefined goals. You don’t need any “drop luck” for this. These are the ornaments:

destiny-2-orbit

Dead Orbit:

destiny-2-neue-monarchie

New Monarchy:

destiny-2-fraktion

Future War Cult:

Additionally, the factions have winner weapons for you. Only the faction that wins the group fight at the end will reward the winner weapon:

impuls-orbit

Dead Orbit – Pulse Rifle:

impuls-monarchie

New Monarchy – Pulse Rifle:

scout-kriegskult

Future War Cult – Scout Rifle: If you are a member of the winning faction, you will receive the winner weapon the following week for 1000 Glimmer. But all other Guardians can also buy this weapon – however, for 50,000 Glimmer.

Two notes:

  • The winner weapons available during the fourth faction rally will enter the loot pool of the faction engrams in the fifth faction rally.
  • The Lost Sector throttling has been lifted with the last patch. Now you no longer have a time limit to loot Lost Sectors. However, you must defeat a boss for each chest.
    destiny-2-fraktionen

We want to know from you: If you participate in the group fight, which faction will you support this time? So far, Dead Orbit has won once and New Monarchy has won the rally twice. Participate in the survey:

 

We present all new faction weapons of Season 2 here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bungie

Pokémon GO starts Lunar New Year event with Stardust bonuses and Shiny

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

A new event has started in Pokémon GO and rewards you with additional Stardust and another Shiny variant of a monster.

In the coming days, you can earn additional Stardust in Pokémon GO. Surprise announced the mini-event on the evening of February 15, 2018, by the developer team from Niantic. Therefore, you should keep an eye on the monsters in Pokémon GO that can be considered “dogs” in the next two days.

Pokémon GO event with Furfrou, Eevee and more.

A mini-event is now active for trainers in Pokémon GO. As Niantic reveals on social media, you will receive additional Stardust for two days. The event is related to the Lunar New Year 2018.

Pokémon-GO-Eevee01

This is about the Chinese New Year, which annually switches between different animals. Depending on the year, the horse, rat, rabbit, or tiger might be in focus. The designation for the New Year 2018 is “Dog.” And for this reason, there are bonuses for the following (dog-like) Pokémon:

  • Furfrou
  • Eevee
  • Snubbull
  • Rockruff
  • Furfrou

Anyone who catches one of the listed monsters between February 15 (10:00 PM German time) and February 17 (10:00 PM German time) receives extra Stardust as a reward for the catch.

Pokémon GO Shiny Rockruff
Source: Reddit user Albert83BCN

It seems there is also a special Shiny Pokémon available during this event. Trainers are reporting about Shiny Rockruff that can be caught in the wild.

Valentine’s Day event extended

In addition to the new event, you can still participate in the Valentine’s Day event. It was supposed to end on February 15 at 10:00 PM, but it has now been extended by 24 hours.

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The new end of the Valentine’s Day event in Pokémon GO is February 16 at 10:00 PM German time. Now is a good time to replenish your Stardust supply.

Have you seen this? In Pokémon GO, you can now buy this new Team Rocket outfit.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Diese kleine Fee hat’s in Black Desert richtig drauf: Sie kann sogar rezzen

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

In Black Desert Online (PC), you will soon get a new companion. The cute fairy Laila is not only adorable, but she also has a number of extremely useful skills! She can even revive you.

The fairy princess Laila is set to be introduced as a new companion in the game. She has now been revealed for the version in Korea.

back desert fee 01

Laila is not a cash shop companion but can be obtained through a multi-part quest series in the game. You will then receive a fairy with a random power level.

You can repeat the quest and get different fairies. You can only have one fairy at a time. When you register a new one, the old fairy leaves you, and you receive fairy dust. The fairy can talk to you and is said to have her own will and opinion.

Fairy Lantern or No-Consequences Revival?

The fairy is not only a nice companion, she can also learn and use skills:

  • Tickling Breath: You can hold your breath longer underwater
  • Feather Steps: You can carry more before you become slower
  • Fairy’s Tears: The fairy revives you instantly, and all without a death penalty. This skill has a cooldown of between 24 and 6 hours.
  • Eternal Well: You automatically drink tea or water when the desert debuff appears
  • Morning Star: The fairy shines and illuminates the surroundings
  • Cheer Up: You automatically drink a corresponding potion when your HP/WP/MP/SP are low.
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These skills are already great, and the fairy is celebrated by many players. The fact that you don’t have to buy her for real money delights the fans even more. Currently, the mood in Black Desert is not so bright. There is growing dissatisfaction with some developments in the EU/NA version of the game. But more on that later.

When Laila, the fairy, will flutter to us here in Europe, is currently unknown.

The fairy is currently only available in Korea, but according to the developers, they are working on a global version of Black Desert Online!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. InvenGlobal

Pantheon is the hope for a new PvE MMORPG – How is it going in 2018?

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

The first pre-alpha phase of the PvE MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is currently underway, and the developers are pleased with the progress of the game.

Although many indie MMORPGs are currently in development, most are aimed at PvP. Pantheon has a clear PvE focus in the tradition of MMORPGs like Everquest. The first pre-alpha is now running.

Only a few hundred selected players are participating in this first testing phase of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. However, as the developers state, these testers have already provided a lot of useful feedback. The team is already working on implementing this feedback. They are currently preparing the next testing phase, in which more players will be able to participate.

pantheon ruins

The team is working hard on Pantheon

Currently, the developers are working on some important game systems:

  • The Perception system will provide you with a new way to discover quests while “passing by”
  • The first major storyline is expected to be completed soon
  • The combat system is intended to be significantly deeper
  • The team is currently working on the new classes Ranger and Dire Lord, about which more will be revealed soon
  • With Halnir Cave, the first major dungeon will make its way into the MMORPG. There, you will not only encounter monsters but also NPCs
  • The AI of the NPCs will be improved so they behave more naturally. This will even affect the Perception system
  • Ongoing work is being done on the game’s balancing

The next pre-alpha phase of Pantheon is scheduled to start in March 2018. The developers have not yet announced an exact date. This phase will include many of the mentioned innovations and improvements. More players will be allowed to participate in this testing phase.

Pantheon Elves

A steady progress planned in 2018

In general, the team continues to work on expanding the world, creating new levels and zones, and improving the graphics. They are currently focusing on the race of the Elves, which will receive a very special architectural style.

From April 5 to 8, a new version of the MMORPG will be showcased at the PAX East gaming convention. The developers are excited about what this year will bring, and if all goes well, we will also experience the start of the beta in 2018.

The testers have paid a lot of money for access to the first pre-alpha phase of Pantheon.

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Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP
  2. MMORPG.com

Blizzard is looking for employees for the open Diablo future

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

Blizzard wants to expand the Diablo team and is looking for employees for future projects. Diablo 4? More DLCs?

The job postings for Blizzard’s Diablo team now have eleven open positions. A lot of creative skills are being sought here.

Are they already working on Diablo 4 and want to improve things that were criticized in Diablo 3? Perhaps expansions or smaller DLCs for Diablo 3 are also on the way. One thing is certain: More content is coming.

What’s next for Diablo?

In the Diablo community, there is often discussion about what could happen next. Recent changes in Diablo 3 received mixed feedback. The Necromancer is a cool expansion but does not bring long-term fun to many players. The same goes for other innovations like the Anniversary event or the Challenge Rifts.

Diablo 3 Challenge Rifts Title

Again and again, we hear from players who only return to the game at the start of a Diablo season, play intensively for 1-2 weeks, and then drop off and switch to another title.

The job postings for expanding the Diablo team now show that many creative minds are being sought.

Artists Wanted for the Future of Diablo

A new Associate Producer is to take over the managerial tasks of the Diablo team. Here, Blizzard counts “experience working on AAA titles” as a plus. This experience would also be beneficial for the positions of Character Artist and Senior Character Artist. These artists are responsible for creating characters, creatures, and weapons in the Diablo universe.

Additionally, Blizzard is looking for 5 Software Engineers. These will work in the areas of gameplay, graphics, and live ops.

Destiny-Diablo2

Blizzard has been looking for new people to strengthen the Diablo team for some time. As early as 2016, we reported that the Diablo team was to be expanded.

Investment in the Future?

However, the current job searches do not reveal what type of Diablo project further employees are being sought for. Here, the fans are divided – would you prefer DLCs or a new part of the series?

While some players consider Diablo 3 to be a solid foundation that could be thoroughly improved with strong DLCs, others long for a “Diablo 4.” With a completely new installment in the series, Blizzard could reconsider their decisions from the ground up and would not be bound to a Diablo 3 basis.

New Project Probably Still Has Time

However, we don’t want to hype anything and say that a new title is just around the corner. Looking at the past timeline of Diablo 3, one should give a new project some more time. After all, D3 was released in 2012. Then it took until 2014 for the expansion Reaper of Souls to be released.

Diablo3-Necro

Nearly three years later, on June 27, 2017, the add-on “The Return of the Necromancer” was released, which activated the Necromancer as a playable class in Diablo 3.

What the team is currently working on is not known.  Will the Druid perhaps make an appearance in Diablo 3?  Maybe they will also listen to the part of the community that is shouting: We want a new Diablo! Bring D4 already!”

We are looking forward to when Blizzard will announce official news about the mysterious Diablo project. Until then, let’s focus on what is certain: Season 13 of Diablo 3 rewards you with a blood-soaked teddy.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamesN