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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.”
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.
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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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.
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.
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.
Bungie announces major changes to the Crucible of Destiny 2 in the latest developer update. The news is quite pleasant: the 6v6 mode is returning, a ranking system will be introduced, and private matches are coming!
For a long time, there was silence from Bungie, as the developers spent the holidays with their families. In 2018, Bungie aims to make a fresh start and address many community concerns and implement them in the game.
Game Director Chris Barrett has now addressed the innovations that players can expect in the Crucible. Bungie has not yet given a specific release date, the changes are expected to come in Spring 2018, between March and June.
6v6 Playlist returns to Destiny 2
A major point of criticism of Destiny 2’s PvP has been and still is Bungie’s decision to allow only fireteams of four in Crucible matches. This creates an imbalance, especially for clans that would like to play together.
Because the raid is designed for six players, strikes are completed with three, and the Crucible has only four Guardians. This always leads to players being excluded from activities.
Bungie has now announced that a 6v6 playlist will return. It is meant to complement the 4v4 mode, not replace it. Chris Barrett did not reveal how exactly this will work. The currently available maps are actually too small for 12 players. Bungie has always emphasized that they were designed for 4v4 battles.
Whether Bungie will release new maps tailored for 12 players as part of the expansion is not known. The specific 6v6 game modes have not been announced yet.
The Crucible of Destiny 2 gets a ranking system!
That Bungie is working on implementing a ranking system for the Crucible was already known. Chris Barrett has now revealed further details. The ranking system is expected to be introduced with Season 3. Players can chase ranks in two categories:
Valor – Players rank up by completing Crucible matches. Wins increase the rank faster, there are no penalties for losing games
Glory – Players rank up by winning games, and drop ranks with losses. In this ranking system, performance matters
It will be interesting to see how the ranking system is implemented. What modes can be played in ranked matches, what rewards might be expected? The upper image was posted regarding the ranking system. There is a competitive playlist being played. The rank is displayed in the top left and on the badges.
Chris Barrett also addressed private matches, which will allow tournaments and games against friends. These will come along with some customization options, as the following screenshot shows:
You can set the game mode, the map, a time limit, a winning score, the maximum number of lives, and respawns.
Whether the private matches will support the 6v6 game mode is currently unknown.
Further changes in the Crucible of Destiny 2
Chris Barrett also commented on the Mayhem game mode. Many players wish for it to return permanently. For now, that will not happen, Barrett only announced that the Clash mode will return with Season 3 and later as limited-time events.
Chris Barrett also briefly touched on the topic of quitters – players who leave Crucible matches prematurely and put their team at a disadvantage. Barrett simply stated that they want to ensure that game quits happen less frequently.
What this specifically means is still unclear. It could involve penalties or increasing the incentives to finish a match.
Further information:
In autumn, further Crucible playlists like Rumble will be introduced
A mechanism will be added to prevent the same modes from appearing consecutively in a playlist too often
What do you think of the changes? Do they make you want to visit the Crucible more often?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Nintendo Switch won December 2017 in the console race in the USA. This is stated by the head of Xbox One and refers to market analyses. However, he is pleased: His Xbox One has beaten the PlayStation 4. This was likely due to the new Xbox One X.
The NPD Group analyzes sales figures in the USA. Their numbers are not officially available for the Christmas season of 2017 yet, but some apparently already have access to them. Among them is the Marketing Chief for Xbox One, Aaron Greenberg. And Greenberg is elated.
Xbox One beats PS4 in the USA’s Christmas season
The Head of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft tweeted last night and thanked fans for their support during the holidays. The Xbox One had the highest sales share among consoles so far. He announced a great year 2018 for the Xbox One.
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A Twitter user then brought it up to him and Greenberg became more specific: He actually just wanted to thank for the great success of the Xbox One X. But yes, more Xbox Ones than PlayStation 4 were sold in December 2017 among the Gen 8 consoles. He got that from the report of the North American market research institute NPD.
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However, Nintendo had a great month. The Switch sold the most units.
Nintendo Switch – the great success story
Recently, there have been more success reports about the Nintendo Switch. In the USA, it is said to have sold 4.8 million units in less than 10 months. This makes it the home console that has sold the fastest in the USA – in the history of consoles.
In Japan, it even surpassed the legendary PlayStation 2. While the PS2 sold more units starting March 2000 than the Switch starting March 2017, the Nintendo Switch is developing significantly stronger towards the end than the PS2 did back then. While sales of the PS2 had already significantly declined in November 2000, the Switch saw a surge in sales again in November 2017.
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With patch 7.3.5, Legendaries will be available for purchase in WoW. We will reveal how much they cost.
The collection of legendary items in World of Warcraft has divided the community since the release of the Legion expansion. While some players are excited about these special items and their powerful properties, the other half condemns them, feeling disadvantaged without the “Best in Slot” Legendary.
Since legendary items have mostly been distributed randomly so far, it can sometimes take a long time to obtain the “correct” item.
Starting with patch 7.3.5, legendary items can also be purchased directly – however, for the resource “Awakening Essences”, which are currently available from emissary chests, daily dungeons, or raids. Normally, Awakening Essences are used to upgrade legendary items to item level 1000.
You can buy Legendaries from Vridiel.
Legendaries cost a hefty 1000 Essences in patch 7.3.5
With patch 7.3.5, the Essences receive a second purpose: They can be used to purchase a (random) legendary item.
A new, random legendary item costs 1000 Awakening Essences.
The price for an Awakened Titan Essence also increases with patch 7.3.5 – it will then cost 300 Awakening Essences.
Please note that the drop rate of Awakening Essences will be drastically increased with the release of patch 7.3.5. Currently, the drop rate will be multiplied by 6 – where 5 Essences were previously dropped, there will then be 30.
It is also important to mention that the legendary items purchased this way do not affect the drop chance of Legendaries from other sources. The “Bad Luck Protection” will therefore not be reset.
Are you already farming Awakening Essences diligently for the release of patch 7.3.5? Or do you think it is not worth it before the drop rate is massively increased?
A thick PC or a powerful console is not enough. The ambiance and environment must be right for you to feel completely comfortable while gaming. Every gamer has their own preferences. We want to know: What does your gaming setup look like at home?
The big action may take place on the screen and online in MMOs and online games. But if you have to game in a drafty room on a splinter-filled stool with an ancient CRT monitor, even the most exciting raid is no fun. The more comfort you have while gaming, the better you can tune into the game.
Chair and Couch – The Bottom Games Too!
Especially important for an optimal gaming setup is the right seating. Console games are even more fun when played from a comfortable sofa. Even during long gaming sessions, the couch must provide optimal comfort in every position. It would be a shame to mess up the raid in Destiny 2 because of back pain.
This is even more true for PC gamers, who usually sit directly at the screen in an office chair. Here, special gaming chairs are particularly useful, as otherwise, you quickly suffer from back pain and, in the long term, postural damage.
The most prominent features of any gamer setup are, of course, the well-visible parts like the screen and peripherals. A big 4K screen (or several) and a gaming keyboard with cool LED lighting make a great impression and are the pride of many gamers.
Additionally, there’s all sorts of personal knick-knacks that make the gaming area really cozy. Whether it’s a picture of a partner, action figures from a favorite franchise, or a cool coffee mug: personal oddities are simply part of the comfort of gaming!
My Gaming and Workspace!
But enough about the benefits of a cozy gaming setup. We want to know what you have at your setup. I, Jürgen, will start. Since I work from home, my gaming setup also serves as my workplace. Therefore, it is set up more practically and contains less clutter. Except for the cat, who occasionally comes by.
This is what Jürgen’s gaming and workspace looks like. Unfortunately, the cat was not present at that moment.
Nonetheless, I place great emphasis on comfort, as I spend many hours there daily and also watch series and game after work. Therefore, a gaming chair and a large screen with two extra monitors are a must. This way, I can research optimally and watch videos on YouTube while grinding.
The legendary Pokémon Kyogre is apparently about to release in Pokémon GO. The sprites for the normal and shiny versions are now being downloaded from the game.
The hints for the next legendary monster in Pokémon GO are intensifying. Trainers already assume that after Groudon, the monster Kyogre will be activated in the game. According to the lore, the two Pokémon have already engaged in a fierce battle. However, this historical connection is not the only reason the community expects Kyogre to release soon.
On Reddit, the well-known Pokémon GO data miner Chrales, who has previously found hints about Ho-Oh and the 3rd Gen, showed that there is news about Kyogre.
The images (sprites) of the normal and shiny forms for the legendary water Pokémon are now being downloaded. This is the last requirement that needed to be fulfilled before the monster can be released in the game. It could happen at any moment now.
To give you an idea of the monsters, we will show you the sprites that Chrales shared with the community on Reddit:
Normal form of Kyogre
Shiny form of Kyogre
Although all requirements have been met, a release in the next few hours is not expected. The community believes that Kyogre will be released only after Groudon is removed as a raid boss. According to Niantic, Groudon will still be in the game until January 15 and is available as a raid boss in many gyms.
How it ends when these two powerful monsters meet is already known to fans of the series. For a refresher: The weather legends on Pokewiki.de
In the Overwatch League, 9 teams from the USA and 3 from the rest of the world compete. One of them is London Spitfire, the only team with European roots. It is clear who the Germans should support… or not?
The Overwatch League started its first season yesterday, on January 11, 2018. 12 teams representing cities from all over the world compete against each other for money and fame. The connection to the cities makes it easier to choose a favorite, even for eSports newcomers. Only we Europeans have it tough…
London Spitfire is the only team with a European name – consisting entirely of Koreans…
London Spitfire – The Korean Team of Europe
The only team competing under the flag of a European country in the Overwatch League is London Spitfire. The team is owned by the American eSports company Cloud9, which also has a subsidiary in Europe.
However, all positions in the team are occupied by Koreans! All players and most of the staff come from South Korea. Only the owner, Jack Etienne, and the general manager, Danan Flander, are Americans.
The team establishes the connection to Great Britain through consultant Tom Stylosa, who has been part of the team since January 11. He himself took on the task of making the “British team British” and immortalized this task with a somewhat sarcastic video.
That the entire British team consists of Koreans is perfectly fine according to the rules of the Overwatch League. In the Overwatch League, it is allowed to hire players and managers from all over the world. This distinguishes it from traditional eSport, where usually only 1-2 foreign players are allowed, if they are allowed to join at all.
Players from South Korea are therefore logical for team owners. The country is a leader in gaming, no other has established video games and eSports as strongly. That most good players come from South Korea is no coincidence.
That’s why there is no German star in the Overwatch League
It cost 20 million US dollars to acquire a starting spot in the Overwatch League. It is quite clear that the owners do not want to rely on luck. They want security, which is why the strongest available players are more interesting than local talents.
The high price is also the reason why there are no further European, let alone German teams. There simply weren’t any companies or individuals for whom the risk was worth that much money.
London Spitfire or Florida Mayhem – Who plays for Europe now?
The big question for us Europeans remains: Who should we actually support? Who really plays for “us”?
There are two answers to this. On one hand, everyone should support the team they favor, whether it be because of the personalities or the play style. Those who have a little knowledge of professional Overwatch gaming will likely already have their favorites – be it just a team or a player. Many well-known names also appear in the Overwatch League.
For those pursuing European local patriotism: There is also a team for them – and it plays under an American flag. The players of Florida Mayhem all come from Sweden, Finland, and Belgium. The owner of the team is also Misfits, an eSports company from the UK. So the only “completely European” team.
In the German Facebook communities, it also becomes apparent that many sympathize with the team “Dallas Fuel”. The deceasedand at that time the most influential German Overwatch player INTERNETHULK is significantly responsible for the discovery of Jonathan Tejedor “HarryHook” Rua, Timo “Taimou” Kettunen, Sebastian “Chipshajen” Wildlund, Christian “cocco” Jonsson, and Pongphop “Mickie” Rattanasangchod.
All of these talents currently play in the Overwatch League in the team Dallas Fuel, which is considered one of the most promising teams in the tournament. If INTERNETHULK were still alive, he would probably be the only German player or coach in the Overwatch League – and almost certainly found in the roster of Dallas Fuel.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, Tess Everis will soon have less to do. This is because the Eververse will be weakened in its dominance.
The Eververse is the cash shop of Destiny 2. It has caused trouble and harsh criticism in recent weeks and months, as it is too much in the spotlight during the endgame. Too many items are tied to the “loot boxes”, the Bright Engrams, especially events like “The Dawning” were primarily focused on microtransactions.
In a detailed blog post, game director Christopher Barrett presented a roadmap for 2018, dedicating a chapter solely to the Eververse. Recently, the community has been placated with cliches that Bungie is always listening. Not anymore – now they are taking action.
This is how the Eververse is changing
Barrett admits that currently the focus in Destiny 2 is too much on Tess Everis. The Eververse should never be a substitute for endgame content and endgame rewards, as critics have repeatedly accused Bungie.
Therefore, for the upcoming seasons, three changes to the Eververse will be made (specific dates are not mentioned):
When new content comes to the game, rewards should increasingly be earnable through activities. The balance between activity rewards and Bright Engrams should clearly lean towards activity rewards. This includes ghost shells, sparrows, and ships that have only been available through Bright Engrams so far.
There will be a direct “gameplay path” to Bright Engrams with their rewards – including event Engrams. If you want Bright Engrams, you can earn them specifically.
In the Eververse, there will be new opportunities to directly purchase items. This eliminates randomness in purchases. Additionally, the Bright Engrams will be adjusted so that players receive the items they want more frequently.
By the way: Bright Engrams can contain mods. Since in February, mods will become significantly stronger and more important, Bungie is examining how this can be reconciled with the Bright Engram economy. Pay2Win should not be the outcome. Therefore, there might still be adjustments.
During the Crimson Week, the Tower was entirely shrouded in red
First Eververse changes in February
The first changes to the Eververse and the Bright Engrams will be implemented in February with the Crimson Week event. This starts on February 13.
You can earn an exclusive weapon skin, an exotic sparrow, and a legendary emote by completing milestones, the Nightfall strike, and the raid during Crimson Week. These cosmetic items are thus tied to activities and not to the Eververse.
Upon leveling up (by collecting XP), you will receive a Bright Engram and a Crimson Week Engram. During the Dawning event, there were only Bright Engrams when leveling up – this was heavily criticized.
You earn Crimson Week Engrams in various ways, for example by completing “Crimson Week matches”. You can therefore earn them specifically. Additionally, these Engrams primarily contain only the new Crimson Week rewards until you possess all event rewards.
Earn Bright Engrams with XP – XP gains are being revised
Bungie is still looking for ways to revise XP gains after the XP disaster. They want to present experience points more transparently. Currently, the gains are too low, promoting a boring grind of certain activities. They want to fix this without diluting the activities too much.
More info from the blog post: At present, many rewards introduced with Season 2 are only accessible to guardians who own “Curse of Osiris”. In the future, all new seasonal rewards like those from the Crucible, from strikes, and from the Trials of the Nine will be available to all guardians.
That No Man’s Sky did not exactly delight fans upon release in 2016 is well known. A mod developer aims to change that.
When the space online game No Man’s Sky was first presented in 2013, it left players with open mouths. However, the game that was ultimately released did not quite match what the developers had shown at that time. And although the title has improved with many updates, it still does not resemble the game that was shown in 2013.
No Man’s Sky 2013
The mod developer Rayrod has now released the beta of a modification that aims to make No Man’s Sky more like the game that was presented in 2013. For this purpose, he even made significant alterations to the game’s code.
The mod aims to offer you the following:
More random events to make the galaxy feel more alive
More biomes
Over 1,000 new landscape types to make planets more diverse
More colors
Dynamic weather effects
According to the developer: “Thousands of additional small improvements and surprises”
The mod Rayrod’s Overhaul is still in beta status, as it contains some bugs. However, these are expected to be gradually fixed together with the community. If you want to check out Rayrod’s Overhaul, you can download the modification via MODDB. Then you can see how the game differs from the current version and whether it gets closer to the No Man’s Sky that was announced in 2013.
Even though No Man’s Sky disappointed many players, some are creating their own stories and adventures in the galaxy and having a lot of fun doing so. Even wars can break out among players.
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World of Warcraft raises its system requirements. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade your hardware!
Although World of Warcraft is probably one of the oldest still-running MMORPGs on the market, the game’s graphics are constantly being improved. Sometimes there are new models for the characters, new spell animations, or generally higher resolution textures. It only makes sense that the requirements for players’ hardware also increase over time.
In the upcoming Patch 7.3.5, a number of new warning messages have been implemented in World of Warcraft. This time, Blizzard warns in advance that the system requirements for WoW will be raised in an upcoming version of the game. This presumably refers to the next expansion, Battle for Azeroth, or the preceding Patch 8.0.
WoW requires more processing power
Old systems will no longer be supported. The following requirements will be made by World of Warcraft for your computer:
The graphics card must support at least DirectX 11 (Windows) or Metal (Mac).
The computer must be a 64-bit system.
The graphics card must be capable of using “Shader Model 5” at the very least.
Moreover, the requirements for RAM will rise to at least 4 GB – but if you don’t have that, you likely already have problems with World of Warcraft.
While it is not explicitly stated that WoW will no longer work under any circumstances, the game’s performance under the new system requirements may not be enjoyable.
These endgame changes in Destiny 2 are coming to you in the coming months in 2018! Bungie provides a roadmap for the future.
Bungie pulled back the curtain! On the night of January 12, game director Christopher Barrett published a detailed blog post outlining the most important endgame changes coming in the next few months.
A roadmap was published showing when to expect the changes in Destiny 2 in 2018.
What is coming to the Guardians in the coming weeks and months – Roadmap 2018
According to the roadmap, major endgame changes are expected
At the end of January,
in February,
later in spring 2018
and in autumn 2018.
Keep in mind that the following changes will be completely free for all Destiny 2 Guardians.
What does the update at the end of January bring?
Bungie plans an update with several changes on January 30:
Masterwork Armor: The Masterworks will be extended to armor. They grant additional damage reduction when you have a Super active. You will therefore withstand more. In addition, you can reroll the armor stat type. With Masterwork Cores, existing armor pieces can be upgraded to Masterworks.
Raid Rewards will be revised. They are meant to become unique and interesting. Therefore, they will receive new mods with raid-specific perks. What these will look like is still unknown. Additionally, raid items are supposed to drop at every major encounter in the raid, and the raid vendor in the Tower (Benedict) will sell raid weapons and raid armor directly.
Additionally, the bosses (Calus and Argos) will have the chance to drop a new ghost with raid-specific perks. More raid-specific rewards will come in the future.
What does the February update bring?
In February, two extensive changes are also coming:
Strike Scoring and High Score Tracking: In the Nightfall strike, the time limit will be replaced by a Strike Scoring! The Strike Scoring will be similar to Destiny 1, with some adjustments. There will be certain score modifiers. To make the Strike Scoring worthwhile, a High Score Tracking will be introduced, displaying your high score in emblems and unlocking new rewards. There are also plans to introduce high scores for clans.
Mods 2.0: Weapon and armor mods will be fundamentally revised. Redundant mods will be reduced, “uniquer” mods will come, and the influence of mods on the power of the Guardians will be significantly increased. A February release is planned, but Mods 2.0 may come later as the Bright Engram economy, which can currently also include mods, needs to be assessed and potentially adjusted. Pay2Win must not be the outcome.
Further adjustments:
In quick play matches in PvP, the pace is to be increased
A Tower chat will be introduced on the PC
A mechanic will be introduced to prevent players from getting the same exotic repeatedly
On the mission map, you will soon see your teammates!
Later in spring 2018
At some point after February, but still in spring 2018, a host of further changes will come:
The second expansion is planned for spring. However, they want to take the necessary time to implement the feedback on Curse of Osiris in the next DLC. (This content is paid).
Crucible: New ways to play in PvP and balance adjustments are coming:
The Overwatch League kicked off today, January 11. In this eSports event, players from around the world compete against each other. In memory of Dennis “INTERNETHULK” Hawelka, who passed away last year, Blizzard has now released an official tribute video.
The news of the death of arguably the best German Overwatch player Dennis “INTERNETHULK” Hawelka had far-reaching effects. The charismatic pro-gamer and coach passed away on November 8, 2017, at the age of 30.
In memory of his contributions as a player and supporter of eSports, Blizzard has now released a short video as part of the Overwatch League. This is a tribute to INTERNETHULK and showcases how significant his influence was.
Who was INTERNETHULK?
Dennis Hawelka, known in the gaming community by his tag INTERNETHULK, was a pro-gamer and coach in Overwatch. He spent most of his active time as a flex player with Team EnVyUs.
Before his career in Overwatch, INTERNETHULK primarily played League of Legends, to which he transitioned after some success in World of Warcraft and StarCraft. Here he also served as a coach for Team Liquid, which he returned to after his career in Overwatch.
His achievements include:
Grandmaster in StarCraft 2
Rank 1 in World of Warcraft in Season 2
First player to reach the Challenger tier in League of Legends in 2014
Additionally, INTERNETHULK established the Overwatch team IDDQD, which was considered the best team during the Overwatch Beta. All players were later contracted by EnVyUs. The team had a winning streak of 16 first places in community tournaments in a row, including GosuGamer Weeklies and ESL Community Cups.
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Shortly after his death, Blizzard established the “Dennis Hawelka Award”. The trophy is awarded at the end of the Overwatch League to the player who had the greatest positive impact on the community.
In a video recently released by Blizzard, it shows how much influence INTERNETHULK really had. Well-known players and casters speak of him as a leader. He enriched every team he played for. Hawelka died just a year after he really began his professional career.
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His influence continues to reach the Overwatch League even after his death. INTERNETHULK is largely responsible for the discovery of Jonathan Tejedor “HarryHook” Rua, Timo “Taimou” Kettunen, Sebastian “Chipshajen” Wildlund, Christian “cocco” Jonsson, and Pongphop “Mickie” Rattanasangchod.
All of these talents currently play in the Overwatch League for Team Dallas Fuel, which is now considered one of the most promising teams in the tournament.
If INTERNETHULK were still alive, he would likely be the only German player in the Overwatch League – and very likely found in the roster of Dallas Fuel.
In a German interview with caster and streamer Cirouss, INTERNETHULK gave a little insight into his life as a pro-gamer.
Final Fantasy XIV: Although the Anima weapon has not been suitable for raids since the release of Stormblood, many still want to have it due to its great appearance. The quest line is now by no means as time-consuming as it once was. We assume for this guide that you have already reached level 70.
This overview should be provided by our FFXIV Guide for the Anima Weapon. It is written in chronological order. However, many steps can already be started earlier. This way, considerable time savings are possible compared to working through this text step by step.
Crystals
It all begins in Frohehalde with Rowena. Once the initial quests are completed, you will be asked to farm some crystals. One per area, they are obtainable by completing F.A.T.E.s. Their drop rate was drastically increased in Patch 3.57, and you should not need more than an hour for all six crystals. Alternatively, the old relic weapon can be exchanged, skipping this task.
Location
Crystal
Abalathian Clouds
Wind Crystal
Azys Lla
Fire Crystal
Rolling Mist
Lightning Crystal
Western Highlands of Coerthas
Ice Crystal
Dravanian Forelands
Earth Crystal
Dravanian Hinterlands
Water Crystal
Instances
Next, 10 instances need to be completed in a specific order, a simple section of the weapon. You can enter them solo and without level restrictions. At level 80, these dungeons can be mastered alone and go really fast. The relic weapon only needs to be equipped when leaving the instance.
The Snow Cloak
Satasha (hard)
Sunk Temple of Quarn (hard)
Guardian of the Lake
Palace of the Wanderer (hard)
The Ruins of Amdapor (hard)
Crimson Watch
Sohm Al
The Dragon’s Nest
Grand Basilica
Farming
You actually only need 4 items: Sorcery Gum, High-Quality Carbon Lacquer, Holy Water, and High-Quality Allagan Catalyst. The task sounds quite simple, but can become quite time-consuming without some preparation.
Item
To farm (each 10)
To create (each 4)
Sorcery Gum
Mysterious Bone Fragment
Adamantium Whip
High-Quality Carbon Lacquer
Mysterious Sea Shell
Titan Alloy Mirror
Holy Water
Mysterious Raw Gemstone
Demonbane Arrow
High-Quality Allagan Catalyst
Mysterious Seed
Brioche des Rois
Items to farm
You need 10 of each mysterious bone fragment, sea shells, raw gemstones, and seeds. They can be obtained in several ways:
Bone Fragments: 150 Poetry Stones per item, 3 Amalj’aa Daily Quests, 3 times Alexander 1 or through 300 Hunt Seals
Sea Shells: 150 Poetry Stones per item, 3 Sahagin Daily Quests, 3 times Alexander 2 or through Treasure Maps
Raw Gemstones: 150 Esoterics Stones per item, 3 Goblin Daily Quests, 3 times Alexander 3 or through Treasure Maps
Seeds: 150 Esoterics Stones per item, 3 Sylph Daily Quests, 3 times Alexander 4 or through 300 Hunt Seals
For the daily quests of these old beast tribes, it should be noted that you need to have reached the maximum reputation level first. Alternatively, you can do the daily quests of the Vanu Vanu, Gnath, or Moogle from Heavensward. They offer all 4 items from the start. In return, you must complete 6 daily quests with them.
Craftable Items
After this step was simplified over several patches, the quickest way now is to buy the items from the Quartermaster of the State Companies for 5000 Talers each. These can be fairly easily farmed by handing in the equipment from the dungeons you had to do to the corresponding officer.
However, if you still want to try the crafting route, you can find all required items in the following tables:
Cloud Cotton Seed Capsule x2 Black Earth Dawn Soul Sand
Wind Poly Crystal x2 Fire Poly Crystal
Ether Oil
This step requires 5 Ether Oils. These can be purchased in Frohehalde for 350 Allagan Stones of Esoterics each. The alternative is the Quest Gemstone Memories in Mohr Dhona. It becomes available when the three instances of the Crystal Tower have been completed. Then, you can accept the quest weekly and receive an Ether Oil among other items.
The advantage is that you can already carry out the quest before starting the Anima quest line. Since the previous step is very time-consuming, you may already have the oil before you need it. You also get the Allagan Catalyst, which will be useful in the next step.
Crystal Sand
In this step, 240 secondary attributes can be distributed to the weapon. You need 1 Crystal Sand and Soul Quartz for 3 points to be distributed. With some luck, 6 are possible. Thus, up to 80 Crystal Sand and Soul Quartz are needed.
Unfortunately, these are not directly given at the start of the quest, but you have to earn them. A merchant in Frohehalde trades Crystal Sand for various items.
Required (one row of the table is sufficient for 2 items)
Available through
5 blue Crafting Certificates
Farmable as a Crafter
5 blue Gathering Certificates
Farmable as a Gatherer
1 Garlond Steel 1 Coelestine 1 High Allagan Chimeral Leather
Craftable through Professions
1 Amber with inclusion
Through Letter of Recommendation from Heavensward regions and their chests
1 Fire Materia IV 1 Wind Materia IV 1 Lightning Materia IV
Conversion of equipment into materia
1 Ice Materia IV 1 Earth Materia IV 1 Water Materia IV
Conversion of equipment into materia
3 Tool Materia I 3 Battlecraft Demimateria I 2 Tool Materia II 2 Battlecraft Demimateria II
25 Allagan Stones of Poetry 20 Allagan Stones of Poetry in Mohr Dhona
2 Mhach Penny 5 Allagan Catalyst
Nothing-Arch Crystal Tower, including weekly quest
Soul Quartz can be obtained in Frohehalde for 75 Allagan Stones of Poetry each.
When the quest is completed, you can look forward to a weapon with item level 240. If the secondary attributes are to be changed, only Crystal Sand will be required.
Active Crystals
The next step is relatively simple: to raise the weapon to item level 260, you need 50 Active Crystals. You can obtain these in the following ways:
1 daily from the quest “In the Service of Angelet”
18 weekly from the quest “In the Service of Amphelic”
buy for 40 Poetry Stones
And again Instances
For the next step, you need to visit three different dungeons. These dungeons are a bit harder than the previous ones and it is recommended to bring at least one companion if you want to do them at level 70. They are:
The Historical Amdapor (hard)
The Great Gubal Library
Sohm Al (hard)
Once that is completed, you need 15 Quasi-Crystals to refine the weapon. You can obtain them for either 4000 State Talers from the Quartermaster of the State Companies or for 100 Allagan Stones of Poetry. To buy the crystals for stones, you must have the quest “A New Soulstone” active, but you can buy them from the State Company even without the quest. This gives you some leeway for preparations.
In the final step of this quest line, you must collect Ether for the weapon. This happens automatically as you complete various content in the game while having the weapon equipped. The runes in the image above will light up one by one, indicating how far along you are in gathering. Contents like Alexander: Burden of the Father (A4) and Alexander: Fist of the Father (Epic) (A1S) are best suited for this.
At the end of each content, the game will approximately inform you how much Ether you have received. The following list ranks the hints by the amount of Ether they indicate (from little to much):
… starts to condense
… slightly condensed
… noticeably condensed
… concentrated to a good extent
… significantly condensed
… strongly condensed
… optimally condensed
The contents can grant a bonus amount of Ether. Which contents receive bonuses is random, and this state changes every two hours (real-time). The amount that the individual hints indicate has been continuously increased over patches.
Once you have gathered 2000 units of Ether, you receive an ilvl 270 weapon and can move on to the next and final step.
Primals
The final step is simple: you must equipped with the Anima weapon defeat all the Godslayer fights of the Primals. Starting with Garuda all the way to Zurvani, including the Moogles in the Royal Confrontation (hard). Then just buy the Archaic Sorcery Ink for 500 Poetry Stones, deliver it to Ardashir, and you have your pretty glowing ilvl 275 Anima weapon!
Note: The article was originally published in July 2016 and updated in January 2020.
These Pokémon from the 3rd generation have not been released yet, but they might find their way to Pokémon GO.
The first spooky Pokémon from the 3rd generation were already found during the Halloween event in 2017 in Pokémon GO. In December, more monsters followed, which you can find in Pokémon GO as Raid bosses, in the wild, or as rewards from eggs. As of today, October 2018, Pokémon from the 3rd generation are still missing.
These monsters from the Hoenn region are still missing and have not yet been released by Niantic. We want to show you these in our overview.
Gen 3 unreleased Pokémon
So far, almost all Pokémon from the 3rd generation have been released. Only eight Pokémon are still missing.
Nincada – Bug and Ground type
Ninjask – Bug and Flying type
Ninjatom – Bug and Ghost type
Kecleon – Normal type
Perlu – Water type
Aalabyss – Water type
Saganabyss – Water type
Jirachi – Steel and Psychic type
Why are these Pokémon still missing?
All mentioned Pokémon have special abilities that set them apart from other Pokémon. Therefore, it is difficult to release these Pokémon.
Nincada & Family: Nincada undergoes a special evolution. It evolves into Ninjask, and during that evolution, Ninjatom is also formed. This evolution makes Nincada and its family special.
Kecleon: This Pokémon has the ability to camouflage itself like a chameleon. How Niantic plans to implement this feature in the game remains to be seen.
Perlu & Family: Perlu can only evolve by holding items and trading simultaneously. Both items needed for evolution have not yet been found in the game.
Jirachi: Jirachi is a mysterious Pokémon. It has only been released through EX Raids or special research. So far, there hasn’t been the right moment to release Jirachi.
But where does Blizzard actually want to go with eSports? This was revealed by Jeff Kaplan, the game director of Overwatch, in several interviews with invenglobal and gamespot.
According to Kaplan, Blizzard is trying, even though it is often accused of this, not to “casualize” Overwatch, but instead to filter out the elements that professionals enjoy and make them accessible to the general public. This is also the goal with eSports. They do not want to reach just the hardcore fans, but also gain new viewers.
The feedback so far has been predominantly positive, which is also evident from many Reddit posts in the last few hours. Most fans are completely satisfied with the presentation of the Overwatch League, which is largely due to the numerous improvements in the spectator mode.
Skeptics should also be convinced
Many people may still roll their eyes when they hear that “computer games” are considered a sport. Kaplan wants these people to possibly have an “aha” moment and recognize how much passion and performance is also involved in eSports and how skilled the professionals are.
Jeff Kaplan fondly remembers how he felt the first time he was in a stadium. Just the memory of it brings him recurring pleasant feelings. He hopes a new generation of fans will grow up who might find similar enjoyment in Overwatch as a sport and will one day look back at the first Overwatch League with such memories.
Kaplan hopes that in a few years, eSports can stand on equal footing with traditional sports like soccer or baseball, as the passion behind it is the same.
What do you think of the Overwatch League so far? Do you think Blizzard has implemented the format well? Or is the spark just not flying?
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, you can improve and optimize your player stats with Chemistry Styles. Here is an overview of the best Chemistry Styles for all positions – a Chemistry Style Guide with explanations for forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers.
In FUT 18, it’s all about chemistry. Your players perform better on the pitch when you raise their chemistry values. To do this, you need to pay attention to multiple factors when building your Ultimate Team, such as league, nationality, or player position.
Only when you have reached maximum chemistry for your team should you start considering the Chemistry Styles, which are also referred to in German as “Chemistry Styles”.
The Effect of Chemistry Styles on Player Stats in Ultimate Team
With Chemistry Styles, you can optimize your players’ stats. It is important to note that they are consumable items – a “Chemistry Style” item can only be applied to a player once. They can be drawn from packs and purchased on the transfer market.
The purpose of Chemistry Styles is to redistribute player stat boosts. You see the boosts on each player card by flipping the card to the left once. A green arrow next to a stat indicates that this stat (for example, pace) receives a boost. A white arrow indicates that player chemistry is too low and the boost is therefore inactive:
Make sure to raise player chemistry to activate all green arrows and thus all boosts. Each player card has a total of 6 arrows. A player needs 10 chemistry to turn all six arrows green. To get a green arrow, they need 5 player chemistry:
Source: fifauteam
With Chemistry Styles, you can redistribute the arrows and thus the boosts. Example:
The Basic Style ensures that every player stat (pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending, physicality) receives a boost.
With the Hunter Style, however, you can give the stats pace and shooting three arrows each, so they receive a triple boost. The other stats will then have no boosts.
This way, you can shift the boosts around with the various Chemistry Styles. A stat can have zero, one, two, or three boosts; more is not possible.
Important: Each player stat aggregates several attributes. For example, physicality consists of jumping, stamina, strength, and aggression. If you place two arrows on physicality, it does not mean that each attribute improves by +2. There are complicated calculations involved, which are not transparent.
List of All Chemistry Styles – Outfield Players and Goalkeepers
This list contains all Chemistry Styles of outfield players at a glance. The distribution of boosts on player stats is also indicated. You can sort the list as you wish:
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
And these are all the Chemistry Styles for goalkeepers:
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
The Best Chemistry Styles in FUT 18
Which Chemistry Styles are best for you depends on several factors:
Price: Chemistry Styles cost between 150 and 5000 coins. Keep this in mind when planning.
Position: Each position has different demands on the field. Defenders generally do not need good shooting stats, while forwards do not need good defending stats.
Formation: Do you often play down the flanks, where you need fast players? Do you play with three, four, or five at the back?
Players: Which players do you have on the pitch?
Your playing style: Each of you plays differently. Do you focus on possession, or do you prefer counter-attacks?
Therefore, the best tip: Pay attention to yourself, test different Chemistry Styles, and see if your game improves as a result.
If you are not satisfied with this advice, here are recommendations for which Chemistry Styles are particularly popular for certain positions and are generally considered the best.
The Best Chemistry Styles for Forwards – ST, MS
For poachers in the box waiting for crosses: Finisher (Shooting, Physicality)
For poachers who are more mobile: Hawk (Pace, Shooting, Physicality)
For counter players who do not wait for crosses: Hunter (Pace, Shooting)
Agile forwards: Sniper (Shooting, Dribbling)
The Best Chemistry Styles for Wingers – LM, RM, LF, RF
Everything that comes down the wings needs pace. Additionally, the players should be able to deliver good crosses:
Engine (Pace, Passing, Dribbling)
Catalyst (Pace, Passing)
The Best Chemistry Styles for Midfielders – ZM, ZOM, ZDM
ZM / ZOM: Artist (Passing, Dribbling), Maestro (Shooting, Passing, Dribbling)
The Best Chemistry Styles for Defenders – IV, RV, LV
IV: Sentinel or Anchor – both improve defending and physicality
RV / LV: Shadow (Pace and Defending) or Powerhouse (Passing and Defending)
The Best Chemistry Styles for Goalkeepers – TW
For goalkeepers, the stats for diving and reflexes are the most important; however, there is no Chemistry Style that improves both. Therefore, consider:
