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

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

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

Kevin Nielsen Kevin Nielsen Reading time < 1 minutes

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.

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

The Call of Duty swatter is charged with manslaughter

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

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.
Source(s):
  1. Glixel
  2. globeandmail (Calgary-Vorfall)

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

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 4 minutes

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”

Irina Moritz Irina Moritz Reading time 4 minutes

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.
Source(s):
  1. Offizielles FFXIV Forum

Installation size of Monster Hunter World on PS4 is not monstrous

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time < 1 minutes

There was a leak about the install size of Monster Hunter World on the PlayStation 4. A photo of the Japanese CD packaging made rounds online.

Typically, various information can be found on the packaging of a game. This also includes the file size of the respective game. The install size of Monster Hunter World was leaked. A photo of the Japanese packaging for the PS4 hard disk version appeared online.

Monster Hunter World only takes up 16GB of storage space on the PS4

The packaging shows that Monster Hunter World will only take up 16GB of space. This is surprisingly small, as it usually corresponds to the size of a beta. Here is an image of the packaging.

The size could increase slightly after installation, which also applies to the digital version. However, the 16GB can still be seen as a guideline.

MHW storage space PS4

Already next week a third PS4 beta of Monster Hunter World will start, where you can also slay the Nergigante. After the full release, there will be free expansions that add new quests and monsters.

We have already gathered feedback from players: How was the beta of Monster Hunter World received by the testers?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. vg247

The Overwatch League has its first star – and he is only 18!

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The first 6 matches of the Overwatch League have been played. A “Player of the Match” was awarded for each of them – but none was celebrated as much as the star of Seoul Dynasty: Byung-sun “Fleta” Kim.

In the Overwatch League, the best players in the world compete against each other. It’s about a lot of money – and also about fame. One of the players may have received plenty of that after the first encounter: Fleta, one of the DPS players from Seoul Dynasty.

Everything about the Overwatch League, teams, tokens, skins, and schedule can be found in our overview.
Overwatch League Seoul Dynasty Byung-sun Fleta Kim

Who is Fleta?

Byung-sun “Fleta” Kim is the newest member of Seoul Dynasty. He turned 18 just before the start of the Overwatch League and can therefore play for Seoul for the full duration of the event.

Before his time in Seoul Dynasty or Lunatic-Hai, of which Dynasty is composed, Fleta played for about half a year at the lesser-known team Flash Lux. With this team, he also found moderate success, ending up with more losses than wins.

When he was finally discovered for Lunatic-Hai, it became clear very quickly that he was a perfect fit for the team. To illustrate his skills: In a tournament match, Fleta achieved 50% of all eliminations of the entire team.

His versatility and extreme strength make him so important for the team that it was joked: Fleta actually plays a 1 against 11, as his own team hampers him as much as the opponent.

The best German player was Internethulk – who passed away young and is honored by Blizzard.
Overwatch League Seoul Dynasty FLeta Pharah MVP

Why Fleta is celebrated

The opportunity to play for the best team in the world in such a big tournament allows him to fully unleash his potential. In the Overwatch League, he can show what he’s really capable of – and it’s more than impressive.

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He demonstrated his skills in the first match of the first season of the League multiple times. In a tight battle against Dallas Fuel, Fleta played 8 different heroes at an extremely high level. Something only very few people can do.

He cements Seoul Dynasty’s reputation as the team to beat. Only through his strength did Seoul Dynasty emerge victorious from the very first encounter. This ended in a draw, which went to Dynasty due to point progress.

Unfortunately, there is no German team in the Overwatch League – who are you cheering for?
 

The matches were extremely close despite Fleta almost all the time. Only through his important kills in critical moments was Seoul Dynasty able to gain the upper hand. A deserving “Player of the Match” and certainly also a deserving MVP.

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With almost 2 hours, the match Dallas Fuel against Seoul Dynasty lasted significantly longer than most others so far! A long time, but you can convince yourself of how good Fleta really is.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Blizzard
  2. invenglobal
  3. liquipedia

The Division: Dealer Reset on January 13th – The Best Offers

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In The Division, today on January 13th, is the biggest vendor reset. Which items are particularly worth it?

On January 23rd, the fourth global event in The Division will start, bringing the last secret gear sets into the game, namely: AlphaBridge, FireCrest, Hunter’s Faith, and Tactician’s Authority.

You may already be planning individual builds around these sets. And perhaps some of the current vendor offers will help you. During the night from Friday to Saturday, there was the big vendor reset, here are the recommended offers.

Recommended Weapons on January 13th

  • Special Equipment Vendor: Pakhan with Ravenous and Destructive
  • Special Equipment Vendor: ACR Tactical with Determined, Careful, and Competent
  • Special Equipment Vendor in Camp Clinton: Pakhan with Vengeful and Ravenous
  • Advanced Weapons Seller: Super 90 Marine Version with Vengeful, Malevolent, and Precise
  • E 53rd St: M4 Lightweight with Malevolent, Swift, and Prepared
  • Park Ave: M44 with Destructive, Bitter, and Vengeful
    division-super90

The Mods after the Vendor Reset

  • The Firewall Safehouse: Mod with bonus on First Aid Ally Healing
  • Weapon Vendor in the Base: Vertical Grip – Leaf Green with Optimal Range, Crit Damage, and Stability
  • Camp Hudson: Short Grip with Crit Damage, Reload Speed, and Optimal Range
  • W 46th St: Firearms Mod with Skill Power
  • E 42nd St: Mod with bonus on Support Station Healing Speed
  • E 42nd St: Loud Muzzle Brake with Crit Damage, Crit Chance, Headshot Damage, and Increased Threat
  • DZ09: Extended Magazine with Crit Damage and Fire Rate

The Offers of the Special Blueprint Vendors

The vendor in the Terminal brings blueprints of these items:

  • Short-barreled Rhino – Pistol
  • Model 700 – Sniper Rifle
  • Firearms Backpack
  • Firearms Vest
  • Small Grip – Red with Crit Damage and two additional bonuses
  • Muzzle Brake with Stability and two additional bonuses
  • Performance Equipment Mod
  • Stamina Equipment Mod

In Camp Clinton, the second blueprint vendor is ready with these items:

  • Super 90 – Shotgun
  • ACR – Assault Rifle
  • Firearms Vest
  • Firearms Backpack
  • Mk4-M5A2 Scope (15x) with Optimal Range and two additional bonuses
  • Extended Magazine
  • Performance Equipment Mod
  • Stamina Equipment Mod

You can find all offers here in the overview.

Have you discovered any other recommended vendor items?

The Division – The best weapons in PvE and PvP after Update 1.8

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

Diese neuen Pets können Jäger im WoW-Patch 7.3.5 zähmen

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Hunters will receive a range of new animals to tame in Patch 7.3.5 of WoW. We will reveal which animals are available and where to find them!

A new update will soon be released for World of Warcraft. The patch brings not only the scaling of the old world but also some treats for hunters. Hunters will get a variety of new wild animals to tame in the world in Patch 7.3.5.

Basically, these are color variations of already available species, though some models are entirely new. The colleagues at wowhead have already discovered all the new wild animals in the game world and compiled a picture list. We certainly don’t want to withhold these animals from you!

New Hunter Pets in Patch 7.3.5

WoW Hunterpets Spine Basilisk

The Crystal Spine Matriarch can be found on the Island of Yojamba in the Stranglethorn Vale. She is a level 110 rare mob and a new color of the basilisks.

WoW Hunterpets Ancient Duskcloak

The Ancient Duskcloak is a reddish panthera found in Krokuun. It is located near Naroua. Like all pantheras, you need a piece of Fresh Talbuk Meat to tame the Ancient Duskcloak. This meat drops from Talbuks on Argus.

WoW Hunterpets Albino Umbralfin

The Albino Umbralfin will be available in the northwestern part of Mac’Aree starting from the next patch. As the name suggests, its coloration is milky white.

WoW Hunterpets Silithid Sentinel Resize

The Silithid Sentinel uses a new model for the Silithids. Players can find the much nicer beetles after defeating Argus and entering the special phase of Silithus that can be accessed after the battle against Argus.

WoW Hunterpets Illusive Chitinbuck

While collecting Talbuk meat, you might come across the purple Elusive Chitinbuck in the ruins of Isolon on Mac’Aree. This Talbuk variant is just waiting for a new owner!

Which of the new hunter pets appeals to you the most? Are you going to get one of the new animals from Patch 7.3.5? Or do you have a long-time companion that you won’t change anyway?

Whether the allied races will appear in Patch 7.3.5, we are trying to clarify here.

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

Star Wars Battlefront 2 soon with Private Matches and Night Maps?

Guddy Hoffmann-Schoenborn Guddy Hoffmann-Schoenborn Reading time 2 minutes

There are many speculations about the future content of Star Wars: Battlefront 2. Currently, the developers are having fun distributing small hints that, while not shedding much light, do stir interest!

Battlefront 2 was the most successful download title of the PS4 last December. Accordingly, players are eagerly awaiting new information about planned innovations, improvements, and content. Many upcoming changes have now been hinted at via social networks.

Design Director Dennis Brännvall is one of those who is having fun with the fans’ thirst for information. He recently responded playfully nebulously on Twitter to fans’ questions.

New Skins and Heroes: What’s Coming to Battlefront 2?

Many fans are hot for new skins. Especially Clone Wars is very popular. Visual innovations are always welcome as they lighten the gaming experience and personalize the game. Brännvall promises concrete answers “very soon”.

During a spontaneous little Q&A on Twitter, Brännvall makes use of some Star Wars quotes and images. He addresses the desire for a playable Anakin Skywalker with the appropriately matched, “Be mindful of your thoughts, [Anakin], they betray you.” A hint that the desire for Anakin may be closer than one thinks?

Leak Shows Night Map

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFex4HDgqgI

Amid all the speculation, a supposed leak is of course not to be missed. The video shows a night-time Mos Eisley on Tatooine. Night walks are certainly a sight to behold on Star Wars battlefields as well!

Will Anakin Skywalker be confirmed in the same breath as a night-time sand sea? It would be a very nice, albeit tricky detail.

Additionally, it seems that private matches will be available soon.

Overall, Brännvall provides only vague answers but noticeably often refers to quotes and images from the prequel trilogy. A hint of a focus on these in the new season?

Additionally in planning:

  • The two weapons CR-2 and Blurgg will be nerfed. This will make other blasters more attractive.
  • Glitches and bugs will not be ignored but fixed, Brännvall promises.

So much for leaks and the whimsical comments of the design director. What will actually come to Battlefront 2 is questionable.

Star-Wars-Battlefront-2-Droids-01

Some Solid Info About the Next Update

Community Manager Sledgehammer70 posted an update in the forum about the upcoming patch – so here are some solid details:

  • The heroes are being revamped.
  • The Wookies are to be toned down.
  • Specialist, Heavy, and Officers will also be weakened.
  • He confirms tweaks to the weapons.
  • And ultimately, the patch will fix known bugs.

Yes, the comments are mostly quite vague here, but done with the necessary wink. We will probably find out soon what new content will come with the new season.

There is still no exact date for the upcoming patch. However, it could very well be as soon as Monday, January 15.

Guddy says: Personally, I would be very happy with a focus on Clone Wars and corresponding new skins. What do you think?

Battlefront 2 has recently established itself very strongly as a download title.

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

Pokémon GO: Community Day event brings a special Pikachu

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

The Community Day in Pokémon GO will take place regularly and brings you special monsters and unique in-game bonuses.

Trainers, there is reason to rejoice. The developers of Pokémon GO introduced a new event that will take place every month from now on. On a specific day of the month, there will be special Pokémon to catch and bonuses to take advantage of.

The Community Day strengthens the bond among trainers and also offers you Pokémon with special attacks that should enhance your collection. That’s why collectors will love the Community Day

Community Day January – Start

The monthly Community Day event makes a special Pokémon appear more frequently around the world on one day. If you catch this Pokémon during the event, it will have a special attack. Additional bonuses of the events include extra experience points or Stardust. Lures will be active for three hours.

The idea behind this event is that trainers meet with other players from the community in local parks to share their passion and play Pokémon GO together. The first event of its kind will start this month.

The first Pokémon GO Community Day will take place on January 20, 2018. The event will run that Saturday from about 11:00 AM to about 2:00 PM German time.

  • The special Pokémon you will find more often on this day is Pikachu. The mascot has already accompanied Pokémon GO trainers at many events. But at this event, it will not wear a special headgear as usual, but will have a new attack.
  • If you catch Pikachu during the event time, it will know the move “Surfer”.
  • Additional event bonuses include:
    • Double experience points
    • 3-hour lures
  • Keep in mind that these bonuses are only active from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Pokémon GO Comm-Day January

Anyone still looking for players in their area can ask in our Facebook group. Here, players from all over Germany (and Austria and Switzerland) are gathering, who would surely appreciate the company.

This month there will likely also be a new raid boss. Pokémon GO is preparing Kyogre for release

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

NPCs from Secret World Legends awaken on Twitter

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 3 minutes

Some NPCs from the mystery MMORPG Secret World Legends (SWL) have official Twitter accounts. They have been silent for a long time, but now they are suddenly back to life! Is a new update on the way?

The creepy online RPG Secret World Legends has always been able to create a grand atmosphere. One stylistic device was the close intertwining of the game with the real world. Time and again, players must solve puzzles in SWL and conduct research in real life.

Secret World Legends –  alternative reality reaches all the way to Twitter

This experience becomes even more intense in cases where the developers have created pages of characters, events, and organizations from the game in the “real” internet. Players must then visit these pages to get important clues for the game.

Secret-World-Legends05
So, can you solve the riddle?

No wonder that some of the prominent NPCs from the game also have their own accounts on Twitter. Players can interact with these NPCs on Twitter – it’s a kind of Alternate Reality Game.

The Awakening of Twitter – Is an update for SWL coming soon?

Secret-World-Legends22

Popular characters like the naive magic student Carter or the young rascal and monster hunter Danny have not been heard from on Twitter for a long time. The NPCs were silent for more than a year. But recently, their Twitter accounts have come back to life and they are chatting away.

The Twitter conversation begins with a tweet from “TheBuzzing,” the mysterious voice behind the player heroes.

“Time passes. First in seconds. Then in aeons. If time exists. Two sweetlings awaken.”

Then Danny chimes in and asks:

“This thing working? Feel weird. Like a glitch in the Matrix. @Innsmouth66 you get that?”

Innsmouth66 refers to Carter, who shortly thereafter replies:

“Yeah. LOLz. 😛 But nervous lolz. It’s like after a nap. Like lots of time passed. Or no time. Like I woke from a world that’s the same, but different. A world where Berenstain Bears is spelled ‘Berenstein.’ A world where Doc Copper didn’t have a nose ring in The Thing.”

Something is apparently about to happen soon. A long time seems to have passed, and now the world is back in motion. And the world seems to have changed. Perhaps a hint at the remake Secret World Legends, which is now finally getting new content that has never been in the game before?

#hivehum – Follow the character story on Twitter!

Under the hashtag #hivehum, you can follow the previous conversations between the NPCs. According to Funcom, future innovations in the game “could” be announced this way. This would fit well with the SWL roadmap. There, completely new content was already announced for the launch of SWL at the beginning of 2018.

Learn all about the new character customization system of Secret World Legends here.

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

GTA 5 sold more frequently in 2017 than Destiny 2 – in Europe

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

GTA 5 turns five years old this year, but still beats out newer games like Destiny 2 or Battlefront 2 in sales.

On September 17, 2013, GTA 5 was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Even then, the community celebrated the new title in the “Grand Theft Auto” series, which was later released for the next-gen Xbox One and PlayStation 4 a year later. PC players had to wait until 2015 to finally start their adventures with Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. Now, in the fifth year after its initial release, the game still attracts many new players.

In December 2017, GTA 5 Online had more players than ever before. The developers are proud and rejoice with the fans.

GTA 5 Sales Shoot Up

Although the game is already several years old, sales are not declining. As reported by Gamesindustry.biz, GTA 5 ranks third among the best-selling physical copies of a video game (excluding digital sales) of 2017.

This is based on data from 15 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and England).

GTA-5-Girlfriend

Only FIFA 18 (in first place) and Call of Duty: WWII (in second place) sold more physical copies in 2017. This means that GTA 5 sold better physically than new top games like Star Wars Battlefront II or Destiny 2. Keep in mind:

A Special Month for GTA 5 Online

In the online mode of GTA 5, success also spread. As the team explains, 2017 was one of the biggest years for online players with its new content like the Gunrunning DLC or the Doomsday Heist. By the end of the year, the numbers reflected this as December 2017 saw more players active in GTA Online than in any previous month.

For online players, there is currently a new fast car on offer, which is unusually affordable.

GTA 5 Online Weihnachten

What Contributes to the Success of GTA 5?

Last year, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick speculated at Gamesindustry.biz about the factors contributing to the success of GTA 5. He stated:

“The reason GTA 5 has sold 80 million copies and GTA Online had a record year is, in my opinion, because it stands alone in its generation. Previous generations had other titles that reached similar heights in quality as GTA. That is not the case now. If you are over 17 and have a new generation console, then you own GTA. If that weren’t the case, we wouldn’t have sold 80 million copies. Can any other title achieve that? I don’t think so.”

GTA 5 Online Panzer

Whether GTA 5 will remain so successful in 2018 is questionable. The release of Red Dead Redemption 2 is planned for spring 2018, and many members of the GTA 5 community may switch to the newer Rockstar title.

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

Destiny 2: Xur today – location and offer on January 12th.

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

Today Xur arrives in Destiny 2. Where is Xur and what items does he have for sale? Here are the location and inventory on January 12.

Normally, we use the regular Xur article to briefly summarize the events of the past week or provide an outlook on upcoming events. This time, however, a summary of the recently released information would clearly exceed the scope of this article, as Bungie finally revealed what the future of Destiny 2 looks like!

In 2018, many changes and innovations are coming to the endgame, which we have detailed in these articles – you can read them here:

destiny-2-xur

Let’s see what Xur has for us these days. Let’s welcome him together.

All Information About Xur in Destiny 2 on January 12 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC

When Does Xur Arrive? – Time

Xur arrives on Fridays at 6 PM for the Guardians. He departs on Tuesday, January 16, at 6 PM. In the meantime, you can browse his exotic wares and buy them for Legendary Shards.

Where Is Xur? You Can Find Xur Today at This Location

Xur has certain positions where he likes to stay over the weekend. This time, he is visiting us on Earth in the EDZ.

Offer and Inventory from Xur – List of Items with Prices

  • Weapon: The Colony – Grenade Launcher for 29 Shards
  • Hunter: Shinobu’s Vow – Gauntlets for 23 Shards
  • Titan: Exotic Type 44 – Leg Armor for 23 Shards
  • Warlock: The Ram – Helmet for 23 Shards
  • Fate Engram: 97 Shards
  • Three of Coins: 31 Shards

destiny-2-trials-flawless
Trials of the Nine in Destiny 2 on January 12.

The weekly PvP event Trials of the Nine also starts on Friday evening at 6 PM in Destiny 2. The Trials will end with the weekly reset on Tuesday evening at 6 PM.

Map: Burning Shrine

Game Mode: Survival

Here we present some alternatives to Destiny 2 that you can play in 2018.

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

Elite Dangerous Beyond startet bald in die Beta – mit neuen Coop-Missionen

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

The beta for the new massive update “Beyond – Chapter One” for Elite Dangerous will start soon. It features new coop missions and additional ships of the Thargoids.

Elite Dangerous already offers a vast universe where undiscovered secrets await their discovery, and players can write their own stories. Additionally, there are the mysterious aliens from the Thargoid race, who still pose a threat to all spacefarers.

Elite-Dangerous-Thargoniden

With the new update “Beyond – Chapter One”, the Elite universe will become even more complex, and you can soon try out the new features in the open beta.

Together Against the Enemy

The main highlight of Beyond is the “Wing Missions”. In these, you can face challenges as a coop team that you would never achieve alone. However, this is just the beginning, as the developers plan to introduce the “Squadrons” feature later, which will give you capital ships as a mobile base.

This is what the new Squadrons feature brings to Elite Dangerous

Prettier Planets and More Trading

For those who prefer a less warlike approach, Beyond allows you to focus on trading and making money. Better trading data will be available, enabling you to maximize your profits.

Elite-Planet-neu-01

Spacefarers who simply want to enjoy the beauty of the universe can look forward to new planetary surfaces. This will make the planets in Elite Dangerous look much nicer.

Players who try their luck as rogues will soon have to deal with a new crime mechanic.

New Ships, Aliens, and Galactic Radio

Elite-raumschiff-chieftain-01

In Beyond, there are already new ships in the beta, such as the powerful Chieftain. However, the aliens from the Thargoids have also upgraded and are now additionally flying around in scout ships. Curiously, this ship type was recently found as a wreck in September. Moreover, the story about the Thargoid conflict continues with Beyond.

Notably, the new feature from GalNet should be particularly fun. GalNet is a galactic news service that previously provided all the news from the galaxy in text form. These reports will be fully voiced with Beyond. Ideal for listening to the latest news while cruising.

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The beta for Elite Dangerous Beyond is set to start on January 25, 2018, on PC and will be open to all players there. The full release is planned for the first quarter of 2018.

In Elite Dangerous, players tell the best stories. Recently, a stranded space pilot was rescued in a spectacular action.

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

WoW: Are the Allied Races coming with Patch 7.3.5?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Many WoW fans are hoping that the Allied Races will be playable in just a few days. However, there are several reasons against this.

Patch 7.3.5 of World of Warcraft has been on the PTR for quite some time and will likely be released within the next week or the week after. In addition to the complete overhaul of the old areas, which will then scale with character levels, there are also new quest lines in Silithus to conclude the story of Legion.

There is also a lot of information in the game data about the Allied Races, which will join the Horde and Alliance.

Allied Races: Not in Patch 7.3.5?

First, the bad news. Many fans now assume that the Allied Races of Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Nightborne, and Highmountain Tauren will be made available with the release of Patch 7.3.5.

WoW Void Elf Male Silvermoon

However, this is likely to be incorrect. Just because the quest lines for the new races are already on the PTR for Patch 7.3.5, it does not indicate that they will be implemented into the game soon.

Blizzard has not mentioned anywhere that the Allied Races will be made available with Patch 7.3.5 – they were clearly announced as a feature for “Battle for Azeroth” and not as content of Patch 7.3.5.

The Allied Races: The Most Likely Scenario

It is highly likely that Blizzard will handle the Allied Races similarly to how they did with Demon Hunters before the launch of Legion, meaning: They will make the Allied Races accessible early as a “pre-order bonus”.

It might look something like this:

  • 2 weeks before Patch 8.0 (in many months): The quest lines to unlock the Allied Races will be activated. Those who meet the necessary requirements can already play the backstory of the Allied Races.
  • Patch 8.0 (Pre-Patch of Battle for Azeroth): Those who have already purchased or pre-ordered the expansion Battle for Azeroth can play Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Nightborne, and Highmountain Tauren after completing the quests.
  • These players would then have 2-6 weeks to bring a character of the respective race to level 110, so they can set off with the new species to Zandalar and Kul Tiras when Battle for Azeroth starts.
WoW Battle for Azeroth Lightforged Draenei

Of course, this is just a theory of ours, but it would correspond to Blizzard’s “typical” approach, as was also the case in the last WoW expansion.

You can find all information about the Allied Races in this article.

It seems a bit clumsy, as many players instinctively assume that they can fill the coming months with leveling Allied Races in the old world – but this has never been confirmed by Blizzard.

Are you looking forward to the Allied Races?

In Patch 7.3.5, you will be warned that WoW is increasing its system requirements. Can your PC handle it?

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

Destiny 2: New update comes next week, servers go down

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

Next week, an update will be applied to Destiny 2 that prepares for upcoming events. The servers will be offline for several hours.

Bungie finally provided the information that many Guardians have been waiting for months: Game Director Christopher Barrett laid out some cornerstones regarding when to expect what endgame changes. This “Roadmap for 2018” outlines new content from January through the fall. We have compiled all the information in this overview:

The Future of Destiny 2 – These Endgame Changes Are Coming in 2018

This roadmap also indicates that the Faction Rally will return next week, on January 16. However, before this event can take place, Bungie plans to deploy an update, which will require a server downtime.

The preliminary times for maintenance:

  • On January 16 at 5 PM, preparations for maintenance will begin. You will not be able to log in. Affected are PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
  • At 6 PM, all players still in Destiny 2 will be kicked. The servers will go offline.
  • By 9 PM, maintenance should be completed.

During the server downtime, the Hotfix 1.1.1.3 will be applied.

destiny-2-fraktionen-anführer
The Faction Leaders in Destiny 2

What Does Update 1.1.1.3 Change?

Originally, the plan was that only players who own the current DLC could participate in seasonal events like the Iron Banner and the Faction Rally. However, Bungie acknowledged that this was a mistake and announced that in the future, all Guardians will be allowed to participate in the events.

The update 1.1.1.3 is now intended to make seasonal content and events accessible to all players. The requirement to own Curse of Osiris will be completely removed from this content.

This means that all Guardians will be able to participate in the Iron Banner and the Faction Rally and earn all seasonal rewards.

Bungie has already announced that in the future, seasonal rewards from the Crucible, Strikes, and Trials of the Nine will be made available to all players. You will no longer need to purchase paid DLCs for this.

Interesting: Destiny 2: How Bungie Is Capping Eververse – Tess Loses Significance

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

PUBG players dont want BP, prefer regional ban for China

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

The developers want to compensate PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) players with Battle Points, but they would rather exclude China.

In recent weeks, players in PUBG received too little in-game currency as a reward for completed matches. The people responsible for the battle royale shooter apologized for this and explained that affected players should be compensated. However, they want something entirely different.

“Better ban China than give away Battle Points”

Since the release of PUBG Version 1.0 in December 2017, there have been issues with the distribution of Battle Points, the in-game currency of the game. You can use BP to purchase loot boxes.

In the Steam forums, the developers apologized for the BP shortage and announced compensations. These Battle Points are now being distributed to players worldwide and should soon appear in your accounts. A pop-up will appear when starting the game:

PUBG BP Compensation 1

You have until February 9 to confirm the BP credit and add it to your account. If you click “confirm” on this message in the game after February 9, you will not receive any Battle Points.

The responses to the apology, however, address a completely different topic

Many commenters on Steam don’t care about the developers’ apology – just like about compensation. On over 500 pages, you can repeatedly read comments demanding a ban on China for PUBG – some of them even extremely racist.

PUBG Region Lock Steam
PUBG Region Lock Steam 2

Recently, Steam has seen many players from China joining, playing PUBG. However, this also led to many new cheaters finding their way into the game. PUBG’s head Brendan Greene explained in an interview that a large number of cheats come from China.

Now players are demanding radical penalties and want to completely remove Chinese players from the game. However, players should not have too many hopes for a region lock for China, as Brendan Greene cannot understand such wishes. “Why should we prevent them from playing on certain servers? I simply do not understand the mindset of some people.”

These ultra-rare items in PUBG have a drop chance of only 0.01%

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

Monster Hunter World zeigt das fantastische Korallenhochland im Video

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time 2 minutes

The map “Coral Highlands” in Monster Hunter World (PC, PS4, Xbox) is breathtaking and promises exciting gameplay. Capcom released a new gameplay video showcasing the fantastic ecosystem of the action RPG. Additionally, resident monsters like the Paolumu and the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku can be seen.

Of all the new maps that Monster Hunter World has to offer, the Coral Highlands will likely be one of the most exciting. Here, the developers at Capcom have created a surreal world with its own ecosystem.

Anyone seeing the Coral Highlands for the first time might get the impression that it is an underwater world. The environment is reminiscent of a coral reef but is located outdoors.

On this map, hunters work with many slopes and verticals, due to the tall coral trees and plateaus. In addition, warm winds rise in the Coral Highlands that influence the animals and the gameplay of the environment. 

The Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World has a unique ecosystem and reproduces itself
Monster-Hunter-World-Paolumu

Gameplay video from the Coral Highlands shows the hunt for the fluffy Paolumu

In the new video from Capcom, the player sets out to hunt the bat-like Paolumu. This creature feeds on the coral eggs that float upward due to the warm winds. The Paolumu also uses the winds to attack and evade. The fluffy monsters also seem to travel in packs.

In the midst of the battle against the Paolumu, the Tzitzi-Ya-Ku joins in and attacks the bat with a blinding attack. This causes the Paolumu to become agitated, prompting it to flee. The hunter then uses a grappling hook to latch onto the Paolumu and flies along with it for a while.

A bit further away, the hunter and Paolumu resume their battle, and soon the next predator arrives: the Legiana, a large flying wyvern. It also wants a bite of the Paolumu and brings it down. The hunter seizes the opportunity to deliver some heavy blows against the Paolumu. In the end, he fights against both creatures. How the battle ends remains unanswered.

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If you want to learn more about the curious Paolumu, check here: Do you already know the bat fluff from Monster Hunter World?

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

3 Millionen Verkäufe! Xbox-Spieler lieben PUBG – trotz Problemen

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

The launch of the online shooter PUBG – Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds on Xbox One was a complete success for Microsoft. Now more than 3 million players are enjoying the battle royale shooter.

The Xbox One version of PUBG was plagued by strong performance issues at the early access launch on December 12. Despite the fact that PUBG only runs on the Xbox One at about the medium settings of the PC version, the performance on the new Xbox One X barely exceeded 20 fps. This is too slow for many players in a fast-paced online shooter.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Performance

Better performance on Xbox One, game is well received

In the meantime, the development studio Bluehole has released updates that have somewhat improved performance. The framerate now remains in the range of 30fps according to players – although not right at the beginning of the game. After the loading process, players still struggle with stutters, which improve after a short time and stabilize around 30 fps. This applies to both the Xbox One and the Xbox One X.

This makes PUBG significantly more playable now. However, it seems that most players are less concerned about the performance – even though there is a lot of complaining. Just a month after the release of the Xbox version through the Microsoft Game Preview program, more than 3 million players are engaging in PUBG. Already 48 hours after launch, there were 1 million gamers. PUBG is thus a major success for Microsoft on the Xbox One.

Playerunknown's Battlegrounds buggy

Official launch date not yet known

It is currently still unclear when the game will leave the Game Preview phase (basically early access) and officially launch. It is also still unknown when Bluehole plans to release a PlayStation 4 edition. In contrast, the PC version officially launched on December 20 and remains very popular. This is also due to the fact that it is the most advanced version, which even features an additional desert map in Miramar.

PUBG continues to break player records. Just recently, 3 million fans played the battle royale shooter simultaneously.

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