Should you play Star Citizen in 2018 or wait?

Where does the largest crowdfunding project in video game history currently stand and what can we expect from Star Citizen in 2018?

There aren’t many games that polarize like Star Citizen. Nevertheless – or perhaps because of that? – financial support is increasing daily, and the threshold of 176 million dollars has been surpassed. But what do supporters actually get for their money, how can one get in cheaply, and is it worth it?

We summarize the status of the ambitious space game and look forward to what 2018 has to offer.

Update 3.0: Foundation of a Universe

At the end of December 2017, after the broadcast of the gameplay demo for the single-player campaign Squadron 42, the Update 3.0 was released for the alpha of Star Citizen. For the first time, a small part of the first star system is included. Three moons, a planetoid, and a new landing zone already make for a gigantic space playground.

Landing on moons and walking around (or optionally driving): Now possible in Update 3.0.
Landing on moons and walking around (or optionally driving): Now possible in Update 3.0.

One moon is so large that a complete circumnavigation on a hoverbike takes two to three hours. Upcoming planets, such as the industrial planet Hurston, are even larger.

This space will not only be needed for missions, mining, and confrontations between player organizations (keyword: Tumbril Nova tank): The housing concept also includes land ownership in sizes currently of 8 or 16 km². Fun fact: All current approximately 1.9 million supporters could own land on a single planet.

star_citizen_outpost
With the industrial platform Pioneer, players can later build outposts on their own properties.

Star Citizen Alpha 3.0 is worth it for me if…

  • …I am aware of the testing nature of the persistent universe
  • …I own a computer with at least 16 GB RAM and a reasonably current CPU with as many cores as possible (at least 4, better 6)
  • …the loss of progress due to crashes doesn’t dangerously raise my blood pressure
  • …I have enough patience to learn the complex controls and game mechanics (e.g. oxygen and stamina management)
  • …I want to witness the evolution of video games and space games in particular
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Space with Obstacles

This insane size of the universe has its price, as Alpha 3.0 shows: The hardware and performance hunger is evident. Currently, hardly any optimizations have been made. This leads to the frame rate often dropping significantly, especially when players on the server are moving many objects with large ships.

Cargo transport and trading are the first professions in the game, and there are also many missions to complete. However, when the frame rate doesn’t cooperate or crashes intervene, it can be quite frustrating – even though it is still an alpha version primarily intended to test the features.

star_citizen_cargo transport and trade
Cargo transport and trade are available as professions in the current Alpha 3.0.

Nevertheless, the universe created by developer Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is already impressive. Player experiences like jumping into the asteroid belt around Yela, seamlessly diving into the atmosphere, the exhilarating flight through the canyons of Daymar, or the incredible level of detail in the landing zone Levski are rarely seen in video games today. Additionally, there is a fantastic lighting atmosphere and panoramas that no other current game offers in this quality.

Best graphics of all time – Video of Star Citizen goes viral

However, the technology needs to hold up; otherwise, the whole fancy space won’t do any good. CIG is aware of this and has focused planning for 2018 primarily on the stability of the technical framework. Updates are expected to come quarterly from now on, without waiting for features: If a feature is not ready, it will come in the next update instead.

Performance Improvements in March

In addition to one or two gameplay features that are not specified, the update in March will primarily focus on performance. Which specific issues will be addressed is not known. However, a first version of the new netcode is expected, which will regulate the communication between server and client, among other things.

star_citizen_moon daymar
In order for not only moons (here: Daymar) but also planets to be included in the game, several technical foundations still need to be laid.

Moreover, changes to the client-based update system are likely to be made, such as a batch updater that updates objects in the game collectively instead of individually. Alongside fundamental optimizations to the game world, spaceships, and stations, foundations for object container streaming are likely to be laid, a very important technology that is not expected to arrive until September.

Professions in June

So far, we can “only” do missions and trade in Alpha 3.0. This is expected to change in June with the introduction of additional professions. The first version of mining, recycling objects, refueling, and repairing is planned.

star_citizen_mining profession
Mining is expected to be introduced as a profession in June 2018.

Which ships will be added for these purposes is not yet known. However, the tanker ship Starfarer already exists in the game, so it will also be functional in June beyond transport tasks.

This is how Star Citizen works:

  • Star Citizen is the MMO; Squadron 42 is a single-player campaign featuring star actors
  • Every player needs one basic game package (for example, the Mustang package) to access Star Citizen, Squadron 42 costs extra (aside from promotions)
  • Anyone who wants to support the development additionally with financial means can purchase additional spaceships & vehicles as well as properties, some even in the concept phase
  • All spaceships, vehicles, properties, and any equipment should also be available in the game through the use of in-game currency
  • The development can be tracked through video shows, presentations, events, and info articles (e.g. monthly reports) as well as the alpha version of the game itself

Technical Milestone in September?

The third update of the year includes a – perhaps even the most important – new technology in the development of Star Citizen: Object Container Streaming. In principle, this is the technology that allows for the representation of a huge game world without loading screens, without us having to look at still images.

star_citizen_landezone levski
Detailed landing zones like Levski heavily affect performance. Object Container Streaming aims to alleviate this.

Areas and information that are far from the player (client) are completely removed from the calculation. Only when the player approaches such an area (e.g. a planet) will objects and information be streamed (assets from the client itself, status info, positions, etc. from the server). If this innovation works as CIG envisions, there will be nothing to prevent them from expanding the universe. Then they could include many more than the planned 100 star systems.

The first version of the land claim mechanic is also planned for this update. Players should then be able to test and experiment with land ownership for the first time.

December Brings New Planets

If the new technology does not work, CIG must find other ways or even significantly reduce the planned scope of the game. This would be a disaster for the entire project. However, it is hard to imagine that so many experienced developers would leave the fate of such an ambitious project to the chance of a single technology that they do not know will work. It is more likely that the technology will arrive in September as planned, but will need a few updates before it works perfectly.

star_citizen_arccorp
The city planet ArcCorp will likely be implemented in Star Citizen’s Alpha in the December update.

The Object Container Streaming is also the prerequisite for the December update. Then the Stanton system is expected to be expanded with the first real planets. Hurston and ArcCorp will likely be included, which were already showcased in the presentation at CitizenCon 2017.

Where is Squadron 42?

After the impressive demo at the end of December 2017, info updates for the game should no longer take forever. A monthly newsletter will provide regular news about the development of the single-player campaign for Star Citizen in 2018.

Furthermore, it is still unknown when the first episode of the three-part space epic will arrive. A release by the end of the year during Citizen Con is possible. However, we suspect that there will likely be no release this year. CIG wants to release Squadron 42 in the best possible condition – and therefore, there is no reason for the studio to jeopardize quality with a quick release. The loud criticism regarding the duration of development will not change that this year either.

star_citizen_squadron 42
Whether we’ll get the first episode of Squadron 42 this year is rather doubtful.

Conclusion

benjamin-danneberg

Benjamin Danneberg says: This year will probably pass for Star Citizen without spectacular new announcements. CIG evidently wants to focus on technical stability and the expansion of the universe through already announced gameplay features. This is a realistic plan and, after the release of Update 3.0, is absolutely necessary.

Supporters can expect regular releases and will be able to track the growth of the SC universe even better. However, those who prefer a finished game should keep Star Citizen off their shopping list for a while longer.

CIG faces a decisive milestone this year: Object Container Streaming is essential for the project’s ambitions. However, I am (among other reasons, based on experience with the technical capabilities of CIG) confident that the developers will succeed and that nothing will then hinder the expansion of the Star Citizen universe. I am curious to see how well Roberts’ plan for 2018 will be implemented.

10 announced MMOs we want to hear more about in 2018

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Im neuesten Troll-Deck von Hearthstone sorgt Wühlerwiesel für Chaos

If you copy a specific minion in Hearthstone often enough, current decks hardly stand a chance. Weasel Madness in the latest Priest troll deck of Hearthstone.

The current expansion Kobolds and Catacombs of Hearthstone was released a few weeks ago and the dust has slowly settled. The “usual suspects” have found their way to the top of the rankings and the meta decks of the current season are established.

Breaking out of the three to four established decks is hardly possible. Or is it?

Weasel – from junk card to superstar in the latest Priest deck

Now a streamer has developed a new deck that relies on a rather old card that no one ever thought would be powerful – the Weasel.

The Weasel (Weasel Tunnel) is basically a very simple card. For 1 mana, it has weak stats of 1/1 and the deathrattle effect: Shuffle this minion into the opponent’s deck.hs_gg_neu_epic_1

The troll deck now adds many effects that allow the Weasel to be copied and resurrected. The Man-Eating Cube kills the Weasel and creates two additional copies upon its own death. Minions like Illusionist or Herald Volazj summon additional copies of the Cube, which in turn each create two Weasels.

The goal behind this strategy is clear: To flood the opponent’s deck with so many Weasels, that the opponent can rarely play useful cards because their hand is full of Weasels.

To prevent the deck from losing in the early rounds, the quest “Awaken the Creators” is included, which allows Anduin’s health points to be reset back to 40. This allows the match to be dragged out early on until the Weasel army comes into play.

Typical of a Priest, the deck deals quickly with the opponent’s remaining cards – ideally, they are simply stolen and added to the own deck or mixed under the Weasels using Psychic Scream.

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That the deck can work even when some mistakes are made is demonstrated by the streamer and creator of the deck Savjz in a video. Although he almost conceded the match prematurely, he manages to counter the initially superior Warlock.

This is the new troll Priest deck in Hearthstone 2018

Do you want to try the deck yourself? Then simply copy the following code into Hearthstone!

[vc_toggle title=”Deck formula:”]AAECAa0GCp8D7QXgrAKKsAKJtAKWxALPxwKQ0wLq5gLD6gIKigH7AbW7AuW8AsPBAtHBAtXBAujQAovhAqniAgA=[/vc_toggle]

What do you think of such rather “silly” decks that can definitely compete against current meta decks? Will you try the Weasel madness yourself?


How chaos can be created with the Man-Eating Cube, we have already shown you here.

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Source(s):
  1. kotaku.com

Kyogre in Pokémon GO defeated with only 3 trainers and strong Raikou

This Pokémon GO trainer trio is dealing powerful electric shocks to the legendary water Pokémon Kyogre.

For a few days now, we have been encountering the legendary water Pokémon Kyogre in some gyms in Pokémon GO. The monster is sought after and is battled by trainers worldwide who encounter it as a raid boss.

A trio from Canada has assembled their strongest counter Pokémon and took down the mighty water boss solo without further assistance.

Defeated Kyogre in a trio

To make the fight against the new boss Kyogre in Pokémon GO even more exciting, trainers kieng, Scotty, and David Chang decided to tackle the match in a trio. As shown in our counter guide, the electric Raikou is an exceptionally good choice in the battle against the water Pokémon Kyogre.

In the battle, they did not utilize weather advantages to strengthen their own Pokémon. In the following video, you can watch the recorded gym fight.

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They primarily used Raikou at level 40, a few at level 38.5 with 15 attack, and one Raikou at level 35 (because they ran out of candies to power up). The showcased Raikou know Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt as movesets.

As trainer kieng explains, the raid boss had one of the simplest movesets in the battle with the Thunder attack. This contributed to the positive outcome. In the future, the trio also wants to take on Blizzard-Kyogre and Hydro Pump-Kyogre.

The first Community Day in Pokémon GO starts in a few days. Collectors among you will love this day.

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Source(s):
  1. Reddit

Destiny 2: New features for the Strikes! – The Nightfall loses the timer

In the recently released update of the Destiny 2, Bungie addressed the changes to the Strikes. Among other things, the Nightfall Strike will lose its time limit. Here’s a summary of all the new features!

How can the replay value of the Strike playlists be increased? In what ways can heroic Strikes be made more appealing? What is the deal with the unpopular time limit on Nightfall Strikes? Game Director Christopher Barrett recently provided answers to these questions.

Strike scoring instead of timer in the Nightfall Strike!

As of February 2018, the time limit in the Nightfall Strike, which always forced Guardians to rush, will be replaced by a scoring system. According to Barrett, this strike scoring will be based on what was in Destiny 1, but there will be adjustments.

As a reminder: In Destiny 1, points could be earned by eliminating enemies in Strikes. Depending on the number of enemies killed and the completion time, Guardians earned medals. At that time, there was even a dedicated reputation faction with Zavala and exclusive gear sets that could only be obtained through strike scoring.

destiny-2-hüter-kabale-strikes

Which elements of this will be found in Destiny 2 remains currently unknown. However, Barrett mentioned two new features:

  • There should be specific objectives during the Strikes worth accomplishing
  • and score modifiers that can be selected.

What we can expect from this will probably be revealed in a few weeks. After all, the scoring for the Nightfall Strike should go live in February.

destiny_2_e3_2017_ps4_exclusive_strike_lake_of_shadows_action_1

The rewards you receive will depend on how many points you earned. This is intended to increase the incentive not just to rush through the Strikes, but to proceed with a plan and structure to maximize the points yield.

Your high score can always be viewed through a new emblem that shows your high score. The higher this score is, the more or better rewards you unlock. There are also plans for clan high scores.

Less repetition in the Strike playlist

In the spring, Bungie will provide more variety in the Strike playlists. Many players have expressed their frustration that Strikes repeat too often one after the other. Bungie now wants to address this issue.

destiny-2-kampf_strike_action_05

This is likely not an easy task since the team composition changes after each completed Strike. Therefore, it must be checked separately for each Guardian which Strike was previously played.

Heroic Strikes get modifications

The introduction of heroic Strikes in December 2017 was positively received by the community. The absence of specific modifications, however, caused some frustration.

destiny-2-hüter_strike_env_02

Bungie now wants to change this. In the spring, strike-specific modifications are supposed to come that will provide more variety. However, the scoring system will not be included, as this is limited to the Nightfall Strike.

Whether Bungie will align the modifications with those of the predecessor is currently unknown. Hopefully, unpopular variants like “Trickle” will be left out.

By the way: There is no explicit mention of introducing strike-specific loot. However, according to Bungie, additional rewards will be available in the future that can only be obtained through certain activities. Perhaps the Strikes will then receive unique rewards.

What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments!


That’s not all. In the latest blog post, Bungie also addresses the following topics:

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Source(s):
  1. Bungie

Die Neverwinter-Abenteuer gehen mit dem Addon Lost City of Omu weiter

Fans of the MMORPG Neverwinter should mark February 27 in their calendars. On this day, the next expansion Lost City of Omu will be released for PC.

The story follows the events of the last adventure module Tomb of Annihilation. You have uncovered the dark plans of the arch-lich Acererak and must now stop this powerful undead. Many new adventures and challenges await you, as well as additional endgame content.

Neverwinter Lost City of Omu Screenshot 1

The story continues

In Lost City of Omu, you will explore a new adventure zone, where you even delve into a dangerous labyrinth. Monsters await you that you have not yet encountered in the game. Look forward to these new features:

  • The lost city of Omu as a major adventure zone
  • Numerous ruins and ancient temples to explore
  • A massive underground labyrinth
  • New monsters
  • Valuable treasures
  • Many new quests
  • The Tyrant, an undead T-Rex, as a boss enemy
  • A temple occupied by Yuan-Ti
  • Uncover the secrets of the trickster gods

Neverwinter Lost City of Omu Screenshot 2

Gameplay improvements are coming

In addition to these contents that expand the story of the game, Lost City of Omu also offers improvements to the game itself. These include:

  • Adjustment of class powers
  • An optimized leveling progression for higher-level adventurers
  • A new endgame trial where you will face the horrors of Acererak – and the lich himself
  • Numerous other gameplay updates

Details on the individual contents that the Lost City of Omu expansion introduces to the MMORPG Neverwinter will be released by the developers in the coming weeks. The expansion will be released on February 27 first for PC, with console versions to follow later.

Recently, the update Sword of Chult was released for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Neverwinter.

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Ab sofort ist Schluss mit Teamkills in Fortnite: Battle Royale

This is a surprise. As Epic announced on Reddit, there is no more Friendly Fire in Fortnite: Battle Royale. This puts an end to teamkilling. However, it allows for abuse!

Teamkilling in Fortnite is a real nuisance, especially on consoles. Those playing in duo or squad matches with random players risk becoming a victim of their own team.

Many teams, consisting of three members, fill the squad to then shoot the fourth member to grab their loot. There have been lively debates in numerous forums about teamkilling. Epic has not overlooked this.

No Friendly Fire – No Teamkilling

Epic has now announced on Reddit: Friendly Fire is now disabled. This change does not require an update on your consoles and is active immediately. This ensures that teamkilling is no longer possible – however, there are opportunities to trick the system.

fortnite-battly-royale-2

Friendly Fire existed for good reason, as some players warn on Reddit.

Why Friendly Fire is Generally Sensible

Epic promises to thoroughly evaluate data from upcoming matches. This is also sorely needed, as Friendly Fire was not introduced without reason. There could now be more situations where the absence of this feature is exploited.

Fortnite-50vs50-03

For example, a single player could bombard an enemy base with grenades or rockets while their teammates rush the base without having to fear for their lives.
Epic will make adjustments if the system is exploited too much now.

Active discussions are being held on Reddit about this topic. While many players reject the change due to the issues described above, others argue that disabling it is a step in the right direction.

Players agree, however: This change can be abused. Therefore, Epic needs to make further fine-tuning – just as they have announced.

Therefore, as always: Play fair! What do you think of the change? Let us know in the comments!

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Source(s):
  1. Reddit

Action-MMO Kritika Online will 2018 mit Kung-Fu-Mönch durchstarten

The action MMO Kritika Online has a lot in store for 2018. The beginning is a new class. It is a Kung-Fu monk who beats up enemies.

Kritika Online is a colorful action MMO where you can quickly jump into fast-paced battles from a lobby. The game is distributed in this country by En Masse Entertainment (responsible for the US version of TERA) and was released in 2017.

For the new year 2018, several innovations are planned to keep Kritika Online up to date.

Imprint System and 2vs2 Arena

Kritika-Monk-02

According to the folks at En Masse, a lot is supposed to change in Kritika Online in 2018. The local version is expected to get closer to the other versions of the game. This will be achieved with the Imprint System. This allows you to customize your skills and characters to your liking.

Unlike the Asian version of Kritika Online, where the Imprints were released gradually, En Masse wants to release them all at once. The big Imprint flood is supposed to happen later in January. Additionally, there will be a new 2vs2 arena mode and new pet features.

Fighting Monk as New Class

If the current classes in Kritika Online do not appeal to you, soon you can let loose with the new monk. The monk looks like a typical Kung-Fu student who has learned various obscure fighting techniques from a quirky old codger.

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Now he wants to test his fighting skills on the poor enemies and smash them dramatically to bits. We have embedded a video of the monk’s brawls here, as well as a statement from En Masse regarding Kritika Online 2017 and 2018.

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This is how Kritika Online plays in the test!

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Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP

In the shooter SOS, you survive in front of a live audience – Coming soon in Early Access

SOS is an interesting online survival game, as you play in front of a live audience that can even make you the star of the show. The title will enter Early Access on January 23.

In SOS, you find yourself on an island with 15 other players and must find a relic. Although you are all technically playing against each other, it is possible to temporarily team up. Together you can find this artifact and reach the rescue helicopter that will save you from the island. However, you only have 30 minutes for this! And there are only three available seats in the helicopter. Deadly dangers lurk everywhere that you must survive.

SOS Creepy Type

Who can you trust?

Moreover, every player wants to be the hero. Because you are in a live show, and the player who appeals to the audience the most will be chosen as the star.

The audience naturally wants to be entertained, and it is entertaining for the viewers if you betray or kill your fellow players. So you never know who you can trust. Therefore, it is quite possible that you can be stabbed in the back in an unguarded moment.

SOS Survival Building

Play yourself or become a spectator

You will learn how this plays out very soon. Because the Early Access phase of the online game SOS begins on January 23 on Steam. You can either participate in the show as a player or become a spectator and cheer for your hero. The games will be streamed via a dedicated website.

Shortly before the start of the Early Access phase, there should be more details about the title, including about the game modes.

The idea of having a survival game run in front of a live audience that can even influence the course is certainly the interesting aspect of SOS.

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  1. DualShockers
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55 inch OLED TV for 1,799 euros – Super Sunday at Saturn

During Saturn’s Super Sunday, you can get an OLED TV at a significantly lower price today. Additionally, there are some gaming offers.

With the Philips 55POS9002/12, you receive an OLED TV with a display diagonal of 55 inches for 1,799 euros. Of course, the resolution is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, which corresponds to UHD. Thanks to OLED technology, you can expect particularly beautiful colors and a very good black value.

As is customary with Philips, the TV also features a three-sided Ambilight. HDR Perfect is also among its functions, as well as Android TV. The latter is the smart TV system of the television and gives you access to the Google Play Store on the TV.

Philips 55POS9002/12 55 Inch UHD OLED TV

More Offers in Super Sunday

The offers presented here are equipped with so-called affiliate links. By making a purchase via one of these links, we receive a small commission from the respective provider. This does not affect the price.

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ArcheAge gets new Fresh-Start servers in 2018 – Not everyone is happy about that

The sandbox MMO ArcheAge by Trion is getting a wave of new fresh start servers in 2018. Not all players are pleased with this.

ArcheAge recently provided players with some new servers where they could start completely anew. Trion has now announced that these will not be the last servers. Soon, there will be more fresh start realms for ArcheAge. This brings joy to some players but also criticism.

Fresh start servers are controversial

ArcheAge-erenor-update-01

Many players love these “fresh start servers” because the initial phase of a sandbox MMO like ArcheAge is particularly enjoyable for many gamers. Everything is still new and unspoiled. No one is stronger than the others; you can still achieve everything and you are not running against highly cultivated hardcore characters who have months of advantage. Moreover, there is a chance for good housing spots, as not everything has been fully explored.

Other players find it totally ridiculous that new servers are constantly being created instead of taking care of the old realms. After all, not everyone wants to start over all the time. Furthermore, realms are repeatedly closed or merged with other servers due to the low player count.

In addition, they suspect a cheap trick from Trion behind the new servers. Because those who start anew often spend some real money to acquire a few useful items from the cash shop at the start.

New servers later in 2018

However, it seems certain that new servers are coming. One player closely examined the last live stream of the developers on the subject and edited out the relevant information. According to this, new servers are definitely part of the plan for the later part of 2018.

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Originally, they were planned for December 2017, but according to Associate Producer Seraphina Brennan, “it was not the right time yet.” In 2018, fresh start servers for ArcheAge are definitely on the plan.


ArcheAge is set to receive a remastered version in Korea.

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Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP

Will Destiny 2 get a new weapon system? – Bungie promises changes

Bungie teases changes to the weapon system in Destiny 2. The Guardians are excited.

Destiny veterans who continued the Guardian journey with Destiny 2 had to get used to a major change: Bungie completely overhauled the weapon system.

Where there was once a choice between primary weapons, secondary weapons, and heavy weapons, there are now kinetic weapons, energy weapons, and power weapons. This change especially means that Guardians now have much more playtime with what were once primary weapons. Former secondary weapons such as snipers, shotguns, or fusion rifles have been lumped together with heavy weapons, against which they are outmatched in Destiny 2. Hardly anyone plays with a sniper when they can equip a rocket launcher.

Many Guardians therefore wish for the old weapon system to return – or at least a revision of the current system. They do not want to run around with two auto rifles in two slots, but rather with one auto rifle, one sniper, and one rocket launcher. This provides greater variety in combat, enriching the player experience.

destiny-2-sunshot

There is indeed hope that Bungie will revamp the weapon system in Destiny 2.

Weapon slots and weapons will be “improved”

In a detailed blog post, Bungie recently discussed a variety of endgame innovations that are set to arrive in 2018. In doing so, the Guardians noticed a line that has sparked considerable discussion:

  • Improvements to the weapon slots and weapon archetypes are planned for Fall 2018 (or sooner).

The top comment under the post on reddit was for a long time: “Yes, Bungie has finally realized that the current weapon system is not fun. They are reworking the slots!”

What is actually meant by the improvements is still unclear. Therefore, the line has led to numerous speculations in recent hours – after all, there are some shortcomings in the current weapon system.

Now Game Director Christopher Barrett has commented via Twitter. He responded to a tweet stating that the weapon system and weapons in Destiny 1 were better. Barrett emphasizes that improvements to the weapon system in Destiny 2 and enhancements and balance adjustments to weapons and exotics are on the way. He then posted a detailed tweet on this topic:

https://twitter.com/cgbarrett/status/952041179796848640

Destiny 2 needs more meaningful weapons. The exotics should truly be exotic. And weapons like sniper rifles, shotguns, and fusion rifles should return to their former glory. That is what we are working on.

He continues that this topic was a bit under-discussed in the blog post. But the sandbox team is an extremely talented group that is working hard on these changes.

On reddit, there is now lively discussion about what Barrett’s statements could concretely mean:

  • Is the old weapon system from Destiny 1 really making a comeback? Would Bungie really take this step, which would be an admission that the current system was a mistake?
  • Are only shotguns, fusion rifles, and snipers being buffed? If so, what is meant by improvements to the weapon slots?
  • destiny-2-sniper-kabel

Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between. The mentioned three weapon types must certainly undergo some changes, as they currently play a subordinate role. Some Guardians suspect that they could be slightly nerfed and placed into the energy weapon pool.

The future will tell.

What do you hope will happen with the shotguns, fusion rifles, and snipers? Do you want the weapon system from Destiny 1 back?


Destiny 2: How Bungie is throttling the Eververse – Tess is losing significance

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  2. Twitter
  3. Bungie

The map of Fortnite: Battle Royale is changing next week!

With a teaser released by Epic, the developers of Fortnite: Battle Royale prepare players for groundbreaking innovations. The map of Fortnite will undergo extensive revisions.

Although no exact date was mentioned, the cat is out of the bag – Fortnite’s map will undergo extensive changes. A completely new city will be integrated, and other areas will be comprehensively revised.

The map of Fortnite: Battle Royale has been suffering for some time because the western part is relatively barren and therefore poorly visited. Epic aims to change this.

fortnite-1

Changes to the Landscape

Even though no specific date is known, the update is expected to be released next week between January 15th and January 21st.

Players can look forward to more interesting starting points and more pronounced landscapes. The swamp is expected to feel swampier, and the mountains more mountainous. The landscapes and locations on the map should feel more unique.

Especially with the houses, the current version has many repetitions. Here, Epic wants to bring more variety.

fortnite-5

In addition, a new city will be coming. This was already known; only the timing was unclear. The city is expected to be located south of Loot Lake.

Improvements will also come, which Lead System Designer Eric Williamson does not specifically address in the teaser.

The Christmas Trees Disappear – Along with Them the Treasure Chests

Many players wished for the large Christmas trees to remain permanently in the game. Up to three treasure chests could be found under these trees. However, Epic is putting a stop to this wish.

Eric Williamson justifies this with the new city and the other improvements that the map will offer in the future. With the new update, there will be enough places with plenty of loot that will quickly make you forget about the Christmas trees.

You can watch the teaser in detail here (you can activate German subtitles in the settings):

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We can expect more information next week! We are excited!

What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments!


For even more exciting news and curiosities, be sure to visit our Fortnite Facebook page!

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

WoW: Update 7.3.5 has a “Release Candidate” – Patch next week?

The next patch for WoW is nearly finished. Finally, there is a release candidate!

Players of World of Warcraft have been eagerly anticipating the next patch for quite some time. Patch 7.3.5 has been on the PTR for several weeks and includes some adjustments and improvements that fans have been wishing for a long time.

Since this morning (01/13/2018), a new version of Patch 7.3.5 is now available on the PTR, carrying the addition “Release Candidate” in the name. This means that the patch is basically done and only emergency changes will be made.

Thus, the soonest possible release date for Patch 7.3.5 is looking more likely to be Wednesday, 01/17/2018.

WoW Sargeras Sword Silithus

The fact that only a few details have changed in the “Release Candidate” version compared to the last version of Patch 7.3.5 also supports a timely release.

What does Patch 7.3.5 contain in terms of new content and improvements?

Although Patch 7.3.5 contains little “new” content, there are a few improvements and adjustments to already existing game content. Here are some things you can look forward to in Patch 7.3.5:

  • World scaling. All zones adjust to the character’s level, within certain limits, providing a better leveling experience.
  • Timewalking: Ulduar (active only during the Timewalking “Wrath of the Lich King”)
  • Reworked Silithus with new quests at level 110
  • Purchasable legendary items (for Awakening Essences)
WoW Character Boost

Additionally, the patch already contains some things that presumably will not be available directly at launch, such as:

  • The prerequisite quests for the allied races: Void Elves, Nightborne, Highmountain Tauren, and Lightforged Draenei
  • The final quest for Artifact weapons
  • The new battleground Seething Shore

Are you already excited for Patch 7.3.5? What will you do when the update goes live?


Have you seen our WoW Facebook page from Mein-MMO? There you won’t miss any news about World of Warcraft!

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

Sammler werden die neuen monatlichen Events in Pokémon GO lieben

The Community Day in Pokémon GO takes place once a month and brings a special collector’s Pikachu with the first event.

To bring together the trainers of the Pokémon GO community, the team at Niantic has come up with a special event: the Community Day. This event day takes place once a month and is meant to encourage trainers to play and meet other players.

Each month, Pokémon with extraordinary attacks serve as bait. Pikachu kicks things off.

Surfer-Pikachu in January

On January 20th, the first Community Day in Pokémon GO takes place and rewards trainers with a higher spawn rate of Pikachu. If you catch this special Pokémon during the event, it will know an exclusive attack. And this is where collectors of rare monsters get excited.

Pikachu that you catch during the event on January 20 will know the exclusive event attack “Surfer.” Pikachu’s moveset actually only includes:

Template for 1st Community-Pikachu probably “The Big Wave”

Pikachu with the Surf attack are therefore something very special and enhance any collection. Fans were able to see the Surfer-Pikachu in the anime episode “The Big Wave” already.

In the yellow Pokémon Edition, there is also a mini-game called Pikachu’s Beach, where you play as a surfing Pikachu.

Good feedback on the event, further special features desired

In the community, the Community Day is well received. Fans are happy about catching special monsters or conducting mass evolutions during double XP events.

Pokémon Squirtle Sunglasses

It is unclear whether the Pokémon with the exclusive attacks will also visually differ from the others. Trainers would be pleased if the Pikachu would carry a small surfboard instead of a changing head covering.

In addition, trainers are eagerly waiting for Niantic to finally introduce Squirtle with sunglasses. These special specimens of the Water Starter Pokémon are known from the anime series.

Ash’s Squirtle was the leader of the Squirtle Squad, which was equipped with these cool accessories. However, Niantic has never confirmed that these special Squirtle will ever come to Pokémon GO. Nevertheless, the wish is definitely present in the community.

Pokémon GO Com Day Title

The Community Day would be a good opportunity to incorporate such special Pokémon into the game. However, these are currently just wishes and hopes from trainers. There is currently no hope from Niantic’s side.

But even if the event monsters do not visually differ from other specimens, the special event attacks are already a reason for collectors to participate in these events. Because after the events, these special monsters will probably not be available anymore.

Will you be hunting for a special Pikachu with the Surf attack on January 20? These bonuses will be active for three hours on the first Community Day of Pokémon GO

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

5 Ways to Still Earn Real Money in Second Life

Yes, Second Life is still alive. It thrives peacefully and enjoys a loyal player base that has made itself comfortable in this virtual reality. People play, love, laugh – and somewhat playfully rake in money. So much so that some players can support their real-life living from it. We show you how to earn money with Second Life in 2018!

Second Life launched in 2003 and created a world where players could start a second life. Anything goes that pleases. The world is shaped and formed by the players. Soon, businesses sprouted from the virtual ground, and communities formed. People created game content, events, and more. And they got rich from it.

LindenDollar

Linden Dollars are the currency of choice

In Second Life, you can go to work – and earn money. The in-game currency is called Linden Dollar (L$). It can be exchanged for real money. Through these exchanges – the swapping of virtual currency for real currency – Second Life is integrated into the real economic cycle. In 2017 alone, over 60 million US dollars were reportedly earned via Second Life.

Jobs can either be found or created. Whether you work as a DJ, design clothing, or rent out land. But not everyone succeeds in “getting rich.” You need to have luck, be at the right place at the right time, and also bring the necessary know-how. But maybe all of that applies to you.

We show you five ways to make money with Second Life.

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Create Content

In essence, everything you see in Second Life is designed by users. Clothing, houses, make-up, furniture – the imagination knows no bounds. There’s no reliance on a single program; you can use your favorites like Photoshop or 3D Studio Max. The products can then be sold in your own shop or on the official marketplace.

Be a fashion designer, an architect, or a texture artist. What sounds like cheap advertising for the game is actually achievable if you invest enough time and effort into learning the necessary skills. No one becomes a master artist overnight. But you can try. Potential buyers are certainly available.

However, not everything is rosy in creator land at the moment. PC Gamer spoke with entrepreneur Oobleck Allagash, who officially and quite successfully (his company PocketGacha made several million in revenue alone since August) sells designer products from players. Through his backend system, what was already feared has now become visible: The problem of illegally copying and selling items in Second Life is not only still practiced but has also increased.

These “bad guys,” as Allagash nicely calls them, have found a way to replicate even unique items and sell them for profit. This diminishes the actual value of the product and causes significant financial damage to the creators. Although Linden Lab announced in an update that they want to address this issue, the problem has not been resolved to this day.

But despite these problems, creating content is still a way to earn real money in Second Life.

Specific information on creating and selling products can be found on the official website.

Second Life Model

Become a model or dancer

Just like in real life, appearance matters here – but here it refers to the avatar’s appearance. Both being a model and dancing in Second Life requires a certain upfront investment. Particularly beautiful skins, make-up, and poses or corresponding animations can be expensive.

However, you don’t need any special talent, as the avatar does most of the work almost by itself as long as the player guides it. Even though resourceful entrepreneurs already run model schools, they only teach the basics, such as how to create a model portfolio. The virtual models often need one too.

Then it’s vital to make an impression on fashion show organizers or club owners, build contacts, and take initial steps. It’s not enough to just stand on the street and look good – I will come back to this later. But once you have landed good gigs, your virtual modeling career can begin!

Second Life sexy

The oldest profession in the world

Strangely enough, this profession is not officially listed on the website. Yet they exist: escort ladies, porn actors, and erotic models. Cyber sex is nothing new and is commonly found in virtual worlds and chat rooms. And this is despite the fact that you must buy the genitalia for your avatar in Second Life. It’s not easy.

However, the nightlife in Second Life is less intrusive than what is said about the “Rape Tavern” in World of Warcraft. The reason is not only the apparently respectful player base, but also the strict rules that apply there. As an escort lady reported to Vice, each professional must possess an “escort card” that includes details like prices, permitted actions of clients, and safe words.

The price varies depending on the service. Despite the dirty business, the nightclubs seem to be well organized. Of course, I do not recommend this occupation, but for completeness’ sake, I must mention how some make money in Second Life.

Second Life singer with guitar

Marketing real products

Even if you have already built a small business in real life or work as a creative freelancer, you can use Second Life. Whether you use your voice to host a gig in Second Life or hold virtual readings – everything is allowed.

The community within the game may tip you, but the more important aspect is the contact with them. Through these and similar actions, you can increase your own visibility and create a stronger bond with the participants. Particularly, readings are frequently performed on virtual ground.

Second Life landscape

Land Baron

Fun fact: A land baron was the first to become a real-life millionaire through Second Life. Ailin Gräf, known in the game as Anshe Chung, skillfully bought and sold land, refurbished it, and showed a good sense of the market.

To succeed, you must know how the current market works and what is in demand. Then you can buy land with or without a house built on it and sell it for profit. The same applies to real estate. Whether you sell or rent them is up to you.

Here too, you can get creative and build houses, design gardens, and create places where people want to linger.

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Success and money are not handed to you in Second Life

You wouldn’t believe what you can earn money with in Second Life! But it requires a long thread of patience, brainpower, and commitment. Just like in real life, where not everything works immediately.

It’s exciting that you can also make real money with video games. Playfully achieving success – when you hit the right nerve at the right time.


You can also earn (virtual) money in GTA 5 Online! And we show you how.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PC Gamer
  2. Vice

According to an analyst, the PS4 Pro is just a marketing gimmick, while the Xbox One X is more.

According to an analyst, the PS4 Pro is merely a marketing gimmick, while the Xbox One X is a console of generation 8.5.

In autumn 2013, the release of the PS4 and Xbox One marked the beginning of the 8th console generation, which we are still in as of 2018.

The 8th console generation, however, has a peculiarity: For the first time, fresh consoles like the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X have been released that now sit between classic generations. They are indeed new devices with stronger performance, but all games that will be released for them must also run on the standard PS4 and standard Xbox One. They do not mark the beginning of a 9th generation, but rather represent a better 8th generation, a generation 8.5.

ps4-pro

In an interview with GamingBolt, IDC market analyst Lewis Ward cannot endorse this statement. In his opinion, only the Xbox One X is a console of generation 8.5.

PS4 Pro just a gimmick, Xbox One X a fundamental redesign

According to Ward, the PS4 Pro is primarily a marketing gimmick. In terms of performance increase, the Pro is not comparable to the Xbox One X. He explains: “Basically, it is an update of the standard console, but Sony adapted some of the internals and thus enabled a performance boost of 10% for the Pro.” Slightly dismissively, he remarks: “Great thing.”

The Xbox One X, on the other hand, represents a fundamental redesign that is at least 40% stronger than the standard consoles of the 8th generation. The Xbox One X will be able to offer VR and AR, although Microsoft will only activate these features when there is great software for them.

xbox-one-x

Ward suspects that the Xbox One X will one day play content that the Xbox One can no longer handle. He cites the timeframe “by the end of 2018, maybe 2019.” Because, and this is his conclusion: “The Xbox One X is an 8.5-gen console, the PS4 Pro is not.”

Xbox One X will last longer than the PS4 Pro

The analyst is sure that Sony must release a PS5 in the coming years. In contrast, the Xbox One X will last longer. With this console, Microsoft can still drive for a while.

What is your opinion on this? Do you have a PS4 Pro or an Xbox One X?


Interesting: When will the PS5 and the new Xbox be released? – Ubisoft’s thoughts

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

Cheap smartphone plans for Samsung Galaxy S8, iPhone 7 and more

At Saturn, you can again find new tariff offers including top-tier smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the Apple iPhone 7.

If you are currently looking for a new contract for your smartphone and perhaps want to renew it as well, you should take a look at the new tariff offers from Saturn.

Particularly interesting here might be the Samsung Galaxy S8 for 29.99 euros per month. The one-time device price is one euro and the connection fee amounts to 29.99 euros.

The O2 Blue All-In M offers unlimited voice and SMS in all German networks. Additionally, there is a monthly data volume of 5 GB. However, you should note that this contract comes with a pre-set data automation feature that automatically extends your volume at a cost when you have used it up.

Samsung Galaxy S8 O2 Blue All-In M for 29.99 euros per month

Other tariff offers including smartphone

All smartphone tariffs from Saturn

The offers presented here are equipped with so-called affiliate links. By purchasing through one of these links, we receive a small commission from the respective provider. This does not affect the price.

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The Call of Duty swatter is charged with manslaughter

In a swatting incident in Kansas, a 28-year-old man died. The swatting resulted from a bet over a Call of Duty match. The alleged swatter has now been charged.

We reported on the case of a 28-year-old man shot by police officers in Wichita, Kansas, between the years. The police action was triggered by an emergency call: The caller described a dangerous hostage situation.

Police shoot bystander after swatting call

A scenario was described that the caller had accidentally shot his father and had now taken his mother and sister hostage. The caller appeared confused. Additionally, the caller made motions as if to set the house on fire.

In the following police operation, a 28-year-old man lost his life. A police officer shot him when the man came to the door and made a movement that the officer interpreted as aggressive. Investigations against the officer who fired are still ongoing.

A day after the incident, 25-year-old Tyler Barriss was arrested. He is alleged to have made the call. Barris is now on trial in Kansas for involuntary manslaughter. He was transferred from California to Sedgwick County Jail in Kansas on Thursday. The trial against him began on Friday.

Involuntary manslaughter in Kansas means causing someone’s death without intention but through reckless behavior.

Swatters face up to 36 months in prison and a $300,000 fine

The maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter is 36 months in prison and a fine of $300,000. Barriss’s bail is set at $500,000.

The responsible prosecutor stated that Barriss cannot be charged with murder for legal reasons.

call-of-duty-ww2-01

Alleged perpetrator reportedly did the same thing in Canada just days before

Just days before the swatting in Wichita, Barriss was reportedly involved in a very similar incident in Calgary, Canada. There too, a man called the police, claiming he had shot his father and was now holding his mother and younger brother hostage.

When the police arrived at the address, they encountered an unarmed woman. She stated that she was the target of the call because of her online personality.

No one died as a result of the incident in Calgary.

The background was likely a bet over a Call of Duty match

The background of the swatting call was likely a dispute between two Call of Duty players over a bet. Barriss is considered a known swatter in the Call of Duty community, having made such or similar calls repeatedly. He is also alleged to have made bomb threats.

Barris got involved in this dispute when the two players threatened each other with swatting. However, Barriss received the wrong address and sent the Wichita police to an uninvolved person with his swatting call.

It is believed that the incident in Wichita is the first swatting incident to cost a human life.


Here we have more information about the case:

Call of Duty: Innocent shot during SWATTING [Update]

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

Destiny 2 – The third faction rally is coming, with these ornaments and weapons

The third Faction Rally in Destiny 2 is starting soon. For the first time, you can earn new ornaments. The winning weapons are already known. 

Originally, the third Faction Rally was supposed to take place in mid-December 2017. It was meant to be the first rally in Season 2, introducing stylish new ornaments as rewards. Bungie even announced it in advance.

But then the developers backtracked. They canceled the Faction Rally and postponed it indefinitely. Because: All Guardians without the “Curse of Osiris” DLC would not have been able to participate. Season 2 locked these Guardians out of many activities that were actually part of the base game of Destiny 2. This resulted in a backlash, which Bungie had to respond to and consequently admitted their mistakes.

In the meantime, an update has been deployed that makes the Faction Rally available again for all Guardians. Next week, shortly before the start of the rally, another update goes live that will remove the requirement to own “Curse of Osiris” from all seasonal content (like the Faction Rally and its rewards) completely. Then nothing will stand in the way of a rally.

destiny-2-fraktionen-anführer
The faction leaders in Destiny 2

All information about the third Faction Rally

  • The Faction Rally starts on January 16 (Tuesday) in the evening (after maintenance)
  • and ends a week later, on January 23 at 6 PM.

The game rules have not changed: For each character, you can adopt the allegiance of a faction (Dead Orbit, New Monarchy, Future War Cult), then collect tokens for them and earn as many reward packages as possible. The faction that releases the most reward packages after a 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 participation requirements:

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

The rewards:

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

Starting from this rally, you can also earn ornaments, which you unlock by achieving specific goals. So you don’t need “drop luck” for that. These are the ornaments:

destiny-2-orbit

Dead Orbit:

destiny-2-neue-monarchie

New Monarchy:

destiny-2-fraktion

Future War Cult (not in colorful look this time):

The faction that releases the most reward packages after a week wins the rally. The winning faction, and only the winning faction, will then reward a winning weapon. These are the winning weapons that you can receive at the end – they are all auto rifles:

destiny-toter-orbit

Dead Orbit:

destiny-monarchie

New Monarchy:

destiny-zukunft

Future War Cult:

If you are a member of the winning faction, you will receive the winning weapon for 1000 Glimmer. But all other Guardians can also buy this weapon – but for 50,000 Glimmer.

The first two Faction Rallies were won by Dead Orbit and New Monarchy. The winner this time will be determined cross-platform based on the number of earned reward engrams. In other words, the faction with the most members will likely win.

We already started a survey in mid-December about which faction you want to support this time. The result was quite close: 27% of the votes went to Future War Cult, 25% to New Monarchy, and 23% to Dead Orbit. The remaining participants did not commit. We are embedding a new survey here, maybe your opinion has changed:

 


Here you can find more information about the factions in Destiny 2.

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

This is how Final Fantasy XIV wants to enhance its delicate PvP plant “FEAST”

Content patch 4.2 for Final Fantasy XIV is approaching quickly. Will this make PvP tournament-ready?

The community representative Clement “Kaposhipi” Rugeri published an update on the upcoming PvP content in the official forums, which is set to arrive with patch 4.2 at the end of January for Final Fantasy XIV.

New Icons for Better Overview

The FEAST is the competitive 4vs4 PvP mode of Final Fantasy XIV, which is continually being developed by Square Enix.

The new FEAST battleground “The Crystal Tower” comes with a special feature that distinguishes it from previous maps: It will be the only map present in both solo and team ranking. The positioning of obstacles and walls in the arena will be randomly selected from four different options.

Visually, FEAST is also getting a bit of a refresh. Primarily, the new icons for jobs and status effects are meant to help players maintain a better overview of the action on the battlefield.

From patch 4.2 onwards, the jobs of individual players will be displayed directly next to their names and thanks to the new animations, important status effects like “Sleep” or “Mute” will now be visibly attached to the characters.

Picture9 (1)

With the adjustment of the medal system comes an update to the icons as well. The new icons are intended to make it clearer how many medals are dropped by a defeated opponent. The icons change in increments of 25: 1-25 medals, 26-50 medals, and so on. Additionally, an appropriate icon has been added for cases where a player can no longer pick up additional medals.

More FEAST Tournaments in the Future?

To have a good overview of what is going on in a FEAST match, one must keep an eye on the player status bars. Because from there, one can see whether someone is in a dangerous situation or whether a group is about to go on the offensive.

The purpose of the larger icons is not only to make life easier for PvP friends. The much more important function is to draw players’ and spectators’ attention away from the rather boring group list with status effects and focus it on the battlefield. Because that’s where the action is.

IMG_2166-1050×500

This appears to be another step by Square Enix to make the PvP of Final Fantasy XIV tournament-ready. The first smaller FEAST tournaments were already held during the fan festival in Frankfurt and at Gamescom 2017. Director and producer Naoki Yoshida has mentioned several times that more events of this kind are awaiting us in 2018.

Cheaters Make Life Difficult for PvP Players

A new ranking system for groups, which will be released with patch 4.2, is intended to further promote the formation of FEAST teams. The teams with the highest rankings will then receive special rewards and may even be invited to official tournaments.

This is a significant undertaking considering the problems currently plaguing the PvP system of FFXIV. Especially in FEAST, “win trading” and speed hackers distort the ranks at the top.

Win-Trading: A Problem in Final Fantasy XIV “FEAST”

Player Rinrin Heartilly, who has worked in the eSports sector at Riot Games, addressed the developers in the official forums, asking them to take a strong stand against cheaters, and received support from the community. Prominent PvP player Suhr Zarek from the US data center Aether illustrated the exact process of such a “win trader” in a graphic.

It is therefore difficult to predict how well the new team ranking system will work, as little is known about it so far. If it cannot demonstrate any internal measures that could help GMs to curb such behavior, then developers may have to make further adjustments to their PvP system.

But we know: good things take time. And the gentlemen and ladies in Japan have proven multiple times that they address the issues in FFXIV when given enough time.

What FFXIV players can expect in the future can be read in our 2018 forecast:

After player count record in 2017: What will Final Fantasy XIV achieve in 2018?

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