An infinite forest that is actually endless and has Tess Everis as a boss enemy – a Guardian has now developed exactly that, as he was disappointed by the infinite forest in Destiny 2
The infinite forest is a new PvE area in Destiny 2, introduced with the “Curse of Osiris” DLC. It is located amidst Mercury, where the Vex simulate different realities. This way you enter a simulated present, past, and future of Mercury in the infinite forest.
In English, this place is called “Infinite Forest”, meaning “Endless Forest”. When the first information surfaced, many Guardians assumed that one could actually dive into an endless labyrinth that would be reassembled each time and would drop loot in stages. Just a simulation with infinite possibilities.
Shortly after the launch of the expansion, however, disillusionment set in. The infinite forest looks fantastic with its various realities, but it is far from “infinite possibilities”. On the contrary: It is “finite”, monotonous, and quickly becomes boring.
You can’t even enter the infinite forest at will. After the story, you must take on adventures to gain access to the infinite forest. Then you run through a randomly assembled area that offers little variety, then defeat enemies in the past, present, or future, and then you are thrown out of the infinite forest again.
This infinite forest is truly infinite
The YouTuber and game developer Pheonise is not happy with Bungie’s infinite forest at all. “This could be better,” he thought, and managed to create an infinite forest that is truly endless in just two days! Here is a video about it:
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The idea behind this infinite forest: After each infinite forest section, you can earn a loot chest. Then you can decide whether to continue playing or to leave the infinite forest. If you continue playing, at the end of the next randomly generated section, there will be loot again. This can be repeated infinitely, with a new section created each time. At the end of a section, a boss, a wave of enemies, or a puzzle awaits.
The graphics are not breathtaking, as this was created by only one person within two days. Nevertheless, many users in the comments are quite impressed. This is another example that the community has a better idea of how Destiny 2 should be than Bungie itself. This infinite forest is at least “infinite”.
and from a loot chest spring two tokens and a blue item. A reference to the disastrous livestream about the Curse of Osiris, when DeeJ spoke of the most worthwhile event that then only dropped “2 tokens and a blue”.
About minute 2:15 you can see Tess and the loot in the video.
What do you think of this fan-made infinite forest?
There are not many indie MMORPGs that generate significant interest – Ashes of Creation is a game that many are currently looking forward to. We present the title and explain what is so interesting about it.
In the summer of 2017, Intrepid Studios launched the Kickstarter campaign for a new MMORPG called Ashes of Creation. The initial skepticism of “Another MMORPG on Kickstarter?” quickly turned to astonishment and interest. Because Ashes of Creation hits a nerve with players that other representatives of the genre miss. Could Ashes of Creation be the western AAA MMORPG that so many of us are waiting for?
The Return to Old Virtues
Modern MMOs seem to be moving further away from the roots of the genre. This starts with the combat systems, which are becoming more action-oriented, and extends to the ability to play the games completely alone, as if they were single-player RPGs.
Real challenges, group content, tactical combat, and the opportunity to truly achieve something for oneself in the world seem to increasingly be overlooked in design. Not so with Ashes of Creation. Fans quickly got the impression that true MMORPG lovers are at work creating a game that embraces all the old virtues.
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Ashes of Creation seems as if the developers took MMORPGs from about fifteen years ago, picked out everything that was well-received back then, and garnished it with a series of new features to bring about the evolution that fans had wished for back then. All of this is wrapped in a graphical guise that looks modern and beautiful thanks to Unreal Engine 4.
This is how the team hopes to appeal not only to MMO veterans but also to engage new players.
Your Actions Have Real Consequences
Ashes of Creation is essentially a sandbox. You are not limited to following a predefined story. While there are quests that tell small adventure stories, the real story is written by the players themselves – and in different ways from server to server.
This is intended to succeed with a highly interesting system based on so-called nodes. The game world is divided into these nodes, which essentially represent the core of an area. After creating your hero from 64 classes and eight races, you start in one of the areas.
Now you are free to do what you want. However, you must always keep in mind that each of your actions also has consequences – for the nodes.
The node essentially records the activities of the players nearby and reacts accordingly. Each node is based on a small settlement that grows with the actions of the players.
If you collect experience points through battles or completing quests, then so does the node – in the same area. If a lot of mining is done, the settlement develops into a mining town. If you fish a lot, a fishing village is created.
All of this also includes housing in the open world. You can create your own home in the neighborhood or far away. Depending on your needs, you can use your land to have a farm or a forge, which sometimes reminds you of ArcheAge.
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The node does not only affect the settlement, which can grow from a collection of huts to a metropolis but also the entire area. If you, for instance, cut down a lot of wood in a nearby forest and overdo it because you want to make a profit from the raw material, this awakens a forest spirit who makes your life difficult.
If you live in harmony with nature, a new path through the forest opens up, allowing you to reach a neighboring city faster to trade with it. Or you awaken a lake monster because you excessively fish.
Everything you do near a node has some impact on the further development of the area. A dragon can be awakened in a mountain, access to a dungeon full of treasures can be unveiled, or monsters can lose their home and start an attack on your city. And since players on other servers make different decisions, no world is like another.
The system is reminiscent of the canceled Everquest Next, which also wanted to give players many freedoms regarding the design and changes to the game world. No wonder, a part of the EQ-Next team is now working on Ashes of Creation, including Lead Designer Jeffrey Bard. Many who were disappointed when Daybreak canceled development on EQ Next, now hope for a “replacement.” A game that could become what EQ Next was supposed to be.
Dangers Lurk Everywhere
PvP also plays a role. If two cities clash because both, for example, make money from the same resources, the rulers can declare war, leading to large battles and sieges. Or players can ambush a trade caravan, causing it to have to hire other players as escorts.
The game world of Ashes of Creation is supposed to feel very dangerous, and every player should feel they can really make a difference.
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Furthermore, the economy and also the economy in the game are completely determined by the players. You need to ensure that raw materials are mined and processed into equipment, which you then sell.
It is also possible for players to run for election as politicians, to determine the fate of a city. However, these rulers should always consider the needs and desires of the other players; otherwise, they can be quickly overthrown.
Politicians decide, for example, whether a war will be declared against another city or whether players should focus on certain activities to steer the development of the node in a particular direction. Laws are required for implementation, which players must adhere to.
Classic MMO Gameplay
Additionally, Ashes of Creation is a classic MMORPG. You embark on adventures with your character, explore the wilderness or deep dungeons, fight monsters either in classic tab-targeting or an active, action-packed combat system, improve your skills, and find or buy more powerful gear to become stronger. It’s even possible to temporarily turn into a monster and cause chaos in a city.
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This combination of classic MMORPG gameplay paired with the great freedom that the game world offers you, the option to truly bring about changes through the node system, and the player-driven economy and political system in a modern graphical guise has sparked the interest of many MMORPG fans. They are already very eager to finally play Ashes of Creation.
Status Quo of Ashes of Creation: Funding, Beta, and Release
The team mentioned that they need about 30 million dollars to develop the game they envision.
How is the game funded? The Kickstarter campaign raised nearly 3.3 million US dollars in a very short time. And through the sale of item packages and access to the game on the official Ashes of Creation website, money will continuously flow into the studio’s coffers. Furthermore, a further crowdfunding campaign has been launched, and the developers are also contributing funds. Intrepid Studios founder Steven Sharif explained that a large part of the financial resources comes from his own pocket.
How far is the development? An initial alpha 0 started just before Christmas. First players have already experienced a very early version of the MMO. With the Alpha 1, many core elements are already being tested. Recently, the action combat system of Ashes of Creation was shown for the first time.
When will a beta be released? Ashes of Creation is expected to reach beta status still in 2018. This is quite feasible with a team of more than 100 developers currently working on this MMO, according to Intrepid. They also aim to increase this number to 200 developers.
When will Ashes of Creation come out? A release is expected no earlier than 2019, but it is definitely scheduled to be before 2020.
The MMO will be released with a subscription model, where you do not have to purchase the game. Through the “Referral Program”, you will receive money back when friends you referred spend money in the game. You will then receive 15 percent of their in-game purchases as in-game currency, Intrepid Bucks, which you can spend in the shop or use to reduce the subscription fee.
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The MMORPG Worlds Adrift is currently in a beta phase and is heading towards an official release this year. However, in 2017, players and developers had a lot of fun with the game.
In a video, the team from Worlds Adrift reflects on the past year. A year in which the unusual MMORPG was made accessible to a larger group of players for the first time. They began to build their airships, explore islands, construct fortresses, and battle each other. Not everything went smoothly, as Worlds Adrift is still in beta.
Nonetheless, the latest video about the game shows how much fun the testers have already had with the title.
This is how much fun the players of the MMO have
Beautiful islands created by players are shown, daring attacks on fortresses, aerial battles, and also funny moments where for example players realize that absolutely no one is on the ship they are on, or where testers hang from a balloon with a rope and hook and are pulled through a storm.
Also visible is the creativity that the testers exhibit. For example, when they create bridges between the islands, something that was not intended by the developers at all.
There is still much to be done
The MMORPG is set to be further developed in 2018. There is still a lot of work to be done. The online game is currently no longer available on Steam, as the developers want to address some issues and bring the game to a better state before allowing a larger number of players again. However, anyone who absolutely wants to play can purchase a founder package on the official website.
Worlds Adrift is a sandbox where you operate in a game world consisting of floating islands. You collect resources to build airships and fortresses. With the ships, you fly to other islands to explore them and gather more resources. Along the way, you encounter other players with whom you can either team up or fight against. Team play, PvP, and creativity are top priorities in Worlds Adrift.
This new car in GTA 5 Online Annis Savestra surprises your opponents with powerful machine guns hidden in the front.
The gas pedal and lead syringe are combined under the body of the new Annis Savestra. The little speedster is not only fast but also blows away everything that stands in your way with the machine guns in the front.
Annis Savestra – Many tuning options and machine guns
This new ride is now available at Legendary Motorsport, just waiting for your tuning skills. This sports car can not only be visually enhanced but also fires with its rapid-fire guns from the front.
For 990,000 GTA$, the Annis Savestra is yours.
In the regular tuning garage at Los Santos Customs, you can customize the appearance. Those who want “a little more” will drive it to their mobile command center and have the machine guns installed.
Unfortunately, you can’t test the car on slippery snow anymore and drift through the streets of Los Santos. Because today, on January 3rd, the snow in GTA 5 Online has been disabled again.
What’s currently on offer in GTA 5 Online?
Earn double cash in game mode
Until January 8th, you earn double GTA$ and RP in the “Slashers” game mode. In this mode, two teams fight for survival. In the darkness, the slashers battle through the map in search of the hunted. The hunted are equipped with thermal imaging cameras and flashlights.
The twist of the mode is that every minute the teams switch. Then the hunted become slashers and vice versa. This goes on until one team is completely eliminated.
Current offers in GTA 5 Online
To celebrate the new year, there are strong discounts on selected vehicles in GTA 5 Online. Until January 8th, you can really strike and expand your fleet with fast supercars, armed helicopters, and tractors for the mobile command center.
The following discounts are currently active:
50% discount
Tractor for the mobile command center
30% discount
Coil Cyclone (supercar)
Grotti Visione (supercar)
25% discount
Ocelot Ardent (armed vehicle)
FH-1 Hunter (helicopter) – discount on purchase and selling price
P-45 Nokota (airplane) – discount on purchase and selling price
HVY MTW (armed vehicle) – discount on purchase and selling price
Jeff Kaplan spoke about the future of Overwatch and revealed information about the next hero and upcoming events. Fans can also expect the next Overwatch event, Year of the Dog, soon – celebrating the Chinese New Year.
The Overwatch community is already hungry for new content. Jeff Kaplan talked in a Developer’s Update at the beginning of the year about many things planned for 2018:
a new hero
the next event
and new maps.
The biggest announcement is “Hero 27”, the next playable character for Overwatch. According to Kaplan, the hero is “urgently needed” and the developers are already testing the hero internally – development seems to be well advanced. What role the hero will take (Tank, Support, Offensive or Defensive) is still completely unclear.
However, Blizzard does not want to announce a release date, as they want to “get the hero right rather than stick to a strict deadline”.
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The Chinese New Year will also be celebrated again in Overwatch. Last year there was the “Year of the Rooster”, with some matching skins and the “Capture the Flag” game mode.
In 2018, however, they are celebrating the “Year of the Dog” and have already come up with some “great content” for it. Whether Kaplan is only talking about skins and other cosmetics or if Overwatch will get a fresh game mode again, was not made clear.
In 2017, the Overwatch New Year’s event began on January 24. The “Year of the Dog” could start in Overwatch soon.
Overwatch Anniversary is being revised
Also under discussion are adjustments to the Overwatch Anniversary. The Blizzard team wants to develop the “Uprising” event further and tell more of the story. Although Kaplan was not specific here, fans believe that there will be a new story mission to play.
The work on the map Blizzard World is almost finished. The developers are satisfied with the map and it will be implemented into the live version of Overwatch “very soon”.
But even outside of Blizzard World, the team is already working on numerous new maps, about which more information will be available throughout the year.
As soon as any of this information becomes concrete, we will of course report on it.
Attention! If you currently have unused accounts in the MMORPGs RIFT, ArcheAge and Trove, Trion Worlds will soon take away the names of your heroes.
Names in MMORPGs are a tricky thing. Every player identifies with their character, but perhaps even more with their name.
The hero’s name is often not only used in one MMO but in several. Certain names are also highly sought after, which is why many developers offer to let players reserve names before the game is released.
Names will be released
If an account is not played for a long time, the name becomes inactive. This especially frustrates newcomers who then have trouble choosing an appropriate name. Trion Worlds has now announced that the names of long-unused accounts for the online games RIFT, ArcheAge, and Trove will be released. This means that others can then take these names, and if you log in again at some point, you will find that your hero no longer has the name you gave him.
Protect your name!
To prevent this, you should log into the games RIFT, ArcheAge, and Trove by January 31 at the latest, depending on where you have accounts. This ensures that your heroes keep their names. All accounts that have not been active since January 31, 2017, are affected.
If you log in again only after January 31, 2018, you will have the opportunity to choose a new name.
Even though Digital Extremes hit the zeitgeist somewhat accidentally, they continued on this path and became the community-based studio they are today.
Over the years, Digital Extremes has come up with several community projects. These include:
Tennobaum – An annual event where players give gifts to other players at Christmas while also donating to a good cause.
TennoGen – When fans create skins for Warframe, they get paid for it.
In Warframe, the bond between the developers at Digital Extremes and the community is often praised. The studio is in close contact with the players and is known for addressing their wants and needs. How did this bond come about and what are its consequences?
Especially the update “Plains of Eidolon” gave the crazy online shooter with the space ninjas a significant boost. The expansion brought the first open-world map and was a reason for many to check out Warframe. Interest in the Destiny-like game noticeably grew in the second half of 2017.
The Community’s Praise for Digital Extremes is Noticeable
Particularly striking in Warframe is the dedication with which players speak about their game in the comments.
The friendly community and the development studio are highlighted. This is remarkable, as players elsewhere often speak harshly about developers and criticize studio decisions sharply.
First Players Stood by Warframe When There Was Nothing Yet
In an interview with the US site Polygon, Warframe’s art director, Geoff Crooks, explained the history of the loot shooter: Crooks believes that Warframe could have been history long ago if it hadn’t been for its founders. The players who embraced Warframe from the very beginning.
The free-to-play title Warframe had a quite difficult start and received mediocre to poor reviews in its early days.
“The Founders Are Really Responsible for Warframe Still Existing Today”
When Warframe started its development in 2013, Digital Extremes quickly realized that they would initially stand alone. At that time, there was nothing but four playable Warframes with different abilities. There was also a small graphic template.
The conventional paths were blocked:
With this small game snippet, Digital Extremes couldn’t attract any publishers.
A Kickstarter campaign was out of the question because they had too little to offer.
The Early Unique Features
What Warframe had even back then was a focus on acrobatic movements during combat. There’s a reason why players like to call themselves space ninjas. Warframes whirl around and shoot the helmets off their opponents in a backflip.
The unusual agility of the heroes alone gave the online shooter a unique selling point. Warframe also did some things differently: it was a coop third-person shooter, while the competitors at the time leaned more towards PvP first-person shooters.
Geoff Crooks: “The founders are really responsible for Warframe still existing today. They supported it from the very beginning. They recognized where our path would lead and helped us grow.”
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The Founders Supported Warframe Financially and Received Returns
In the first prototype of Warframe, Digital Extremes built in the Founder’s Program, called “Founder’s Program” in English. The players who are referred to as founders today could buy special packages to support Warframe in its early days.
These packages included exclusive items such as Excalibur Prime or in-game badges that show that the player belongs to the founders. The program ran from December 2012 to November 2013.
The first players had this tiny space ninja raiding game and decided to support it. At Digital Extremes, they believe that this step laid the foundation for the bond between the studio and the community today. Because in return, the developers sought close contact with these players in the form of live streams and constant interaction.
The developers say they had no choice but to give these players a lot of attention. Digital Extremes was sure that the future of the game would depend on the small fan base.
The Players Had a Say, Leading to the Current Payment Model
The player base was so small at that time that there were issues gathering a complete group for a 4-player mission. The situation was serious and Digital Extremes was aware of it.
Our article “Warframe had to learn the hard way how free-to-play works.” describes the path Digital Extremes took from the paywall to a fair payment model. At this critical point, players could get to a certain point in Warframe and then had to pay. The small fan base and the early founders were dissatisfied with the payment barriers. Digital Extremes saw the risk of losing the already small player base and removed the paywall.
The players felt understood and were excited that their voices mattered. From then on, Digital Extremes had an unusually loyal fan base behind them. Digital Extremes continued on this path and still works closely with the community, processing every piece of feedback.
This collaboration actually arose from despair on the part of Digital Extremes and the fear of losing the handful of players and thus also Warframe. However, over the years, the close contact with the community became a major pro for the players. Players recommended Warframe to friends because they felt heard and understood by the development studio.
The highly praised bond between Digital Extremes and the community thus emerged out of necessity. But it is exactly this necessity that often drives creative and unusual measures.
In the case of Warframe, the community work at the time built on the current zeitgeist of gamers and industry at just the right moment. More and more studios and also media are seeking contact with their community. The community manager is now seen as a normal and important position. Ten years ago, the community manager was rarely found at this extent. This is likely also due to the rise of social media, which allows players to have a faster and more direct contact with developers and publishers.
Even though Digital Extremes hit the zeitgeist somewhat accidentally, they continued on this path and became the community-based studio they are today.
Over the years, Digital Extremes has come up with several community projects. These include:
Tennobaum – An annual event where players give gifts to other players at Christmas while also donating to a good cause.
TennoGen – When fans create skins for Warframe, they get paid for it.
The new League skins in Overwatch are causing excitement – because in the main menu, you can already see the new skins. We reveal whether you can already get the skins.
The Winter Wonderland event of Overwatch has come to an end. To the surprise of the fans, however, the usual menu did not appear, but a new one featuring many new skins and the logo of the Overwatch League.
However, those who then rush into the hero gallery with joy to view the new skins in preview will be immediately bitterly disappointed: The new skins cannot yet be selected or purchased.
When will the Overwatch League skins be available?
Until the skins are available for purchase, fans will have to wait a little longer. The corresponding patch is set to be released – according to current plans – only next week, on January 10, 2018. So far, the menu screen is nothing more than a teaser and a small taste of what is to come.
With the Overwatch League, Blizzard is attempting to establish its own eSports platform. All teams that have qualified for the league receive a unique set of skins for all characters they use in the league. The skins are each designed in uniform colors and even feature the logo of the respective team. This will help viewers to clearly recognize who plays in the same team during broadcasts – which can sometimes get lost in the heat of battle.
Unlike the “normal” skins in the game, the Overwatch League skins can only be purchased with real money or a real currency. What Blizzard earns from the skins will be partially forwarded to the respective teams. Those who want to support their favorite team in the Overwatch League can consider purchasing these skins.
Blizzard has already promised that all players will at least receive enough of this new in-game currency to afford a desired skin without spending real money.
What do you think of the League skins for Overwatch? A cool way to support the favorite team? Or should these skins also be available in loot boxes?
Update 10.11.18: The skins are now here! Here you can find all the information about it:
The amazing thing: More than half of the massive player base of the MOBA consists of women.
Bloomberg reported in July that Arena of Valor has 108 million female players in China. That’s more than the population of Canada and Argentina combined.
Arena of Valor is Linked to Messenger Service in China
If you know local MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2, you might wonder: How did the Chinese manage to entice so many women into their game?
The trick is likely that the Chinese giant Tencent linked the MOBA to its social platform WeChat, the most popular messaging app in China – similar to what WhatsApp is for us.
This linkage allows players to find other players nearby and start a match.
Moreover, Arena of Valor is so accessible that absolutely anyone can play it. A LoL pro said on a US morning show: “This is the only MOBA I would even play with my mother.“
Tencent Wants to Conquer the USA with the Mobile Game
In Europe, Arena of Valor is already available on iOS and Android. Currently, Tencent is planning the major launch of the game in the USA and is pushing hard for it. They have incorporated DC Comics superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman into the game to delight Western fans. The hero setup of Arena of Valor actually consists of figures from Chinese mythology.
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Tencent dreams of creating the first global mobile hit that is also taken seriously as a “real game”. While mobile gaming dominates in China and has become the primary gaming platform, the situation in the USA and Europe is still different: Here, mobile gaming is associated with games like Candy Crush and is seen as casual.
Tencent aims to reach core gamers here with Arena of Valor. A key factor is likely the port of Arena of Valor to the Nintendo Switch. Experts believe that if Arena of Valor can establish itself here, it could shake up the market.
An error in Pokémon GO is currently causing the dynamic weather not to display.
Since the morning of January 3, 2018, we have seen an increase in reports from trainers who cannot see the new weather system in Pokémon GO. The problem is not limited to the German community but is a global issue.
Niantic is already aware of the situation.
Weather System – Niantic is working on a solution
As Niantic employees confirm on Twitter and also on Reddit, there is currently a problem with the weather system causing a global outage. They are working on finding a solution and asking trainers for their patience.
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It is currently unclear why this error is occurring. However, the problem broke out simultaneously in many places around the world. Only a few locations are not affected and can continue to use the system. Trainers from Reddit confirmed this from parts of California, for example.
Players suspected that the weather services from which Niantic might be sourcing their weather information are experiencing issues. However, major providers like OpenWeatherMap or AccuWeather do not seem to have problems at the moment.
Rain
This indicates that the problems lie on Niantic’s end. We are curious to see when the Niantic developers can present us with a solution.
There may be a small update, known as a hotfix, for this. If the reasons for the faulty weather display are deeper, there could be a larger update in the coming days to address it.
Update January 3 – 2:15 PM: For many trainers, the weather function is now visible again.
In Destiny 2 the servers are down today, January 3rd. Maintenance work is taking place, and the servers are offline for hours. Update 1.1.1.2 is being released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Just before New Year, Bungie announced Update 1.1.1.2. It will be the first update of 2018 – and it will be rolled out today, January 3rd. There will be several hours of maintenance beforehand.
The important times:
At 4 PM the preparations for maintenance will begin. You will not be able to log into Destiny 2 from then on. This applies to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
At 5 PM the servers will be shut down. You will be removed from activities, so make sure to finish beforehand.
Around 9 PM the work should be completed. By this point, Update 1.1.1.2 can be downloaded and installed.
Keep in mind that Bungie is usually quite vague regarding the end time of the maintenance. The servers may come back online hours earlier, but also hours later.
What changes with Update 1.1.1.2?
The patch notes for 1.1.1.2 will be released tonight as soon as the update is live. – They are live now, you can find them here. However, community manager dmg04 already provided an outlook on what this update will change:
The access to Iron Banner and Faction Rally will finally be adjusted.
Since Season 2, which started in early December, all players without the “Curse of Osiris” DLC have been excluded from these events. However, Bungie recognized after a shitstorm regarding the Prestige activities and the Trials, which were also accessible only to DLC owners, that this path was a mistake.
Therefore, access to the Prestige activities and Trials has been loosened again, and Iron Banner and Faction Rally have been postponed until a fix is available to allow all Guardians to participate. And this fix is coming today.
By the way: After the fix, all Guardians can participate in the events again, but the new items of Season 2 will remain reserved for those Guardians who own the “Curse of Osiris” DLC. Those who have not purchased the expansion can only acquire the items that have been in the game since the launch of Destiny 2.
A few hours ago, community manager DeeJ returned from his winter vacation. He confirms that today the “rituals” such as Iron Banner and Faction Rally will be restored. He also announces that next week there will be information on when the rituals will return.
By January 8th, the Destiny developers will return one by one from vacation, according to DeeJ. Starting next week, Destiny 2 will be picking up speed again.
The upcoming hero Blaze from Heroes of the Storm has unusual abilities. He can set up bunkers for the team!
Hanzo has already been in the Nexus of Heroes of the Storm for a while, so it’s time for a new hero – and this one is already on the start line! Blaze, a Firebat from StarCraft 2, will soon venture into the Nexus. He acts as a ranged tank and has a penchant for blazing infernos. While others avoid flames, he gladly dives into them.
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Blaze’s trait is Pyromania. Upon activation, Blaze gains 25 armor for 4 seconds and deals damage to nearby enemies every 0.5 seconds. Enemy heroes hit by Flame Stream reduce the cooldown by 5 seconds each, up to a total of 90 seconds.
Flame Stream fires two flames that damage affected enemies and additionally ignite oil trails.
With Oil Trail, Blaze creates an oily area that lasts for 5 seconds and slows enemies in the area by 40%. If the Oil Trail is ignited by Flame Stream, it no longer slows enemies, but they take damage every 0.3 seconds. If Blaze stays in this fire, he heals every 0.3 seconds.
The Jet Propel allows Blaze to charge forward after a short delay. Enemy heroes hit are stunned and take damage.
The first heroic ability is Request Bunker. After a short delay, Blaze creates a bunker that lasts for 10 seconds or until it is destroyed. Allied heroes can enter the bunker to remove debuffs and fire out with a flamethrower from the inside. Upon leaving the bunker, heroes receive 25 armor for a short duration.
The second heroic ability is Combustion. Blaze channels for up to 2.6 seconds and then damages all nearby enemies and slows them by 60%. The longer Blaze channels, the longer the damage effect and slow lasts. During the channeling, Blaze’s movement speed is halved.
Blaze excels with his area attacks and can perfectly cut off escape routes for enemies. After Rexxar and Zarya, Blaze is the third ranged tank.
What do you think of Blaze? A cool idea taken from StarCraft? Or would you have preferred another hero?
In Destiny 2, the activities are reset today, on January 2nd. It is Weekly Reset. What does the new Nightfall Strike offer?
This Tuesday, the first Weekly Reset of the year 2018 will take place at 6 PM. Furthermore, the third and final week of the Dawning Winter Event begins. This event started on December 19, 2017, and has since spread festive cheer in the Destiny universe. It ends on January 9 with the next Weekly Reset.
The Glimmer offer in the Eververse will be restocked. We will add the new inventory at the end of the article.
The milestone “We share holiday joy with others” can be played again. This can be completed once per week and per character during the event. You may return to the Crucible and Strikes.
What else does the new week bring?
Nightfall Strike from January 2nd on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
This week, A Garden World is the Nightfall. It is a strike from Curse of Osiris.
The modifiers:
Falling Frenzy: Abilities charge faster.
Time Loop Zero Hour: The mission timer cannot be extended.
The challenges:
Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
Complete the Nightfall with fewer than 3 deaths.
Eliminate the Armored Minotaurs in under 90 seconds.
In the Eververse, there is the class item and the helmet of the Dawning armor. Additionally, the Dawning exotics Winter’s Cold (Sparrow) and Winter Lotus Shell (Ghost Shell) are available. You can also acquire the Excited Dance for Glimmer.
Ikora Rey brings meditations for the missions Unbroken, Revenge, and Captured.
You can now download and play the free games for January 2018 on PS Plus (PlayStation Plus)! The games are live.
These are the free games for PS4 in January 2018:
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A stealth action RPG set in 2029. It focuses on humans who augment their bodies with biotechnological prosthetics, and those who do not. This leads to a societal division and conflicts between these two groups.
Batman: The Telltale Series – A story-driven Telltale Game adventure split into five episodes revolving around the comic character Batman. You decide the outcome of the story. Cloaked avenger or charismatic entrepreneur – there is more than one way to be Batman.
In this video, you’ll get a glimpse of these games:
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As an additional game for PS4, there’s That’s You, a party game that requires your smartphones. Additionally, you will receive StarBlood Arena for PSVR.
List of Free Games for PlayStation Plus – January 2018
Here is the complete game lineup:
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4)
Batman: The Telltale Series (PS4)
StarBlood Arena (PS Plus Bonus – PS VR required)
That’s You! (PS Plus Bonus – PlayLink)
Sacred 3 (PS3)
Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (PS3)
Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness (PS Vita)
Uncanny Valley (PS Vita & PS4)
You can download the games starting January 2, 2018. Until then, the “PS Plus” games for December were available for download.
What are the free games for PS Plus?
Once a month, “PS Plus” members receive a delivery of free games that they can download from the PlayStation Store and add to their library. This game lineup is included in the subscription to the online service. PlayStation Plus costs around 60 Euros per year.
Epic starts the new year 2018 with a limited-time mode intended to bring variety to Fortnite: Battle Royale (PC, PS4, Xbox One). In the new Sneaky Silencer mode, you will find only pistols (with a new variant) and submachine guns. And bushes, so many bushes!
After the chaotic days with the High-Explosives mode, things are now literally “suppressed.” A new mode is on the way that is meant to reward tactical and calm play.
The new Sneaky Silencer mode starts on January 5, 2018, and ends on January 8, 2018. So there isn’t much time left – don’t miss the chance to try out the new mode in Fortnite: Battle Royale!
The Sneaky mode brings a new suppressed pistol to Fortnite: Battle Royale
Specifically, only two weapon categories will drop – suppressed pistols and submachine guns. The suppressed pistol is new and has been in the game since January 2.
This can only drop in epic (purple) and legendary (gold) quality. You can find the weapon in treasure chests, supply drops, and randomly on the ground.
With the silencer, fights are no longer as audible from afar, so the game turns into a nerve-wracking hide-and-seek game – with bushes!
Because the drop rate of bushes will be massively increased for the new mode. So those who have always considered themselves a passionate sneaky player will find their luck in this mode.
Furthermore, traps are disabled. Epic does not plan any downtime for the launch of the mode. You should be able to start directly on January 5.
For those whose ears are still ringing after the chaotic days around the High-Explosives mode, things will be calmer in the coming days. The Sneaky mode promises many close-range fights.
Whether the Sneaky Silencer mode will be played solo, in duo, or in squads is still unknown.
Update 01/03/2018: Another item will find its way to Fortnite: Battle Royale – the crackling campfire!
Campfire romance in Fortnite: Battle Royale!
The campfire allows for area-effect healing, enabling multiple allies to regenerate health. The possibilities for use are currently being discussed lively on Reddit:
Will the campfire produce smoke that is visible from afar?
What happens if the campfire is activated indoors?
How can it be prevented that players in self-built forts can continuously heal?
The campfire is regarded as very strong without further information. We are curious as to how Epic will balance around the campfire. However, exciting possibilities arise for the Sneaky Silencer mode:
As a bush disguised, you can (hopefully) settle down next to a campfire unnoticed and regenerate health in peace
Depending on whether the campfire is visible to other players from afar, it can be excellently used as bait. Simply position it at a safe distance and take out attacking enemies.
The crackling campfire is of legendary quality (gold) and is expected to appear next week – that is, between January 8 and January 14.
What do you think about it? Will you play the Sneaky Silencer mode? What do you think of the campfire?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Soon you will be able to dive into the adventures of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite with your smartphones. The Pokémon GO creators from Niantic have announced a release window. It is expected to be in 2018.
The developers of the popular mobile game “Pokémon GO” are planning their next release for this year. This will involve the magical adventures of Harry Potter, which fans will experience in combination with the real world.
Wizards Unite release in 2018
John Hanke, the CEO of “Niantic”, the developer of Pokémon GO, spoke with the Financial Times about the future plans of the developers. In the conversation, the topic turned to the upcoming AR game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.
Hanke believes that this game has the potential to appeal to many generations. Just like Pokémon GO, which is played by men and women, boys and girls of various age groups.
According to John Hanke, Niantic is now in a “significantly better position” than it was at the launch of Pokémon GO. When the Pokémon game was released in the summer of 2016, there were significant server issues that made playing impossible. The upcoming release of Wizards Unite is now being looked forward to positively.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is planned for the second half of 2018, so a release could happen as early as July 2018.
Magic fits into the (AR) world
Games that merge with the real world through augmented reality should also “somehow” fit in.
“The ‘Muggle’ world and the wizarding world are only separated by a thin veil,” says John Hanke. “It is easy for us to bring this kind of magic into everyday life. Much harder would it be to bring a Star Wars game into augmented reality that doesn’t just seem like a gimmick,” Hanke added.
As a player, you learn different spells in Wizards Unite and use them against legendary beasts. You can ally with other wizards and fight strong opponents together.
Gigantic televisions have become a common sight in the rooms of many gamers. But what LG Display wants to showcase at a trade show makes even the largest TVs look like tiny gadgets.
If you want to give your own TV an inferiority complex, you should show it the 8K OLED from LG.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG Display will introduce the monster: The 88-inch television sets a new record. The previously largest OLED measured only a meager 77 inches and could only display 4K.
LG Display is considered a leader in this field; even though other brands offer OLED technology, their panels come from LG Display, according to Engadget.
One problem with the giant thing is definitely the price. The 76.7-inch monitor was already priced at 20,000 US dollars and could only handle 4K. For the 88-incher with four times the resolution, it will likely go comfortably beyond 100,000 US dollars, speculates GameStar, assuming the giant even makes it to market.
A lot cannot really be done with an 8K television right now, as there is hardly any content available for it. Many TVs that people actually have at home are still struggling with UHD. Only in 2020, with the Olympic Games in Tokyo, can such giants finally shine in everyday life. The games are expected to be broadcast live in 8K.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Sony released a TV commercial in Japan for Monster Hunter World (PC, PS4, Xbox) that may seem a bit strange to us in the West. Nevertheless, it showcases an important element of the action RPG.
In Japan, it is tradition to give children some money at the turn of the year. This also applies to young adults who are already in their twenties.
Sometimes even young employees receive some money for New Year’s from older colleagues or the boss. In a new advertisement from Sony, the Japanese actor Takayuki Yamada plays an employee who surprises three of his younger colleagues with money for New Year.
Excited, the three young men start discussing what they will buy with the money. Yamada grows angrier as things like “a new watch” or “saving the money” are mentioned. With each suggestion from his colleagues, Yamada contorts his face into a strange, exaggerated grimace, reminiscent of those found in anime or manga.
As the three joyfully reach for the money, Yamada holds it tightly in his hand and shouts at his colleagues that the money is ONLY for Monster Hunter World. He wants to go on a monster hunt with his three colleagues.
There’s more to the TV spot than just strange grimaces
Takayuki Yamada has become almost the face of the PS4 in Japan and appears in various TV spots for the console as the gamer. Primarily, the advertisement aims to induce laughter, and Japanese humor may seem a bit strange to us.
Nevertheless, the advertisement manages to capture one of the most important core elements of Monster Hunter World in just a few seconds: Playing together.
However, Monster Hunter World is designed as a multiplayer experience, and the hunt is particularly exciting and fun in a group. The monsters are designed to appear intelligent, and players can come up with strategies on how to utilize the group for hunting. One can distract the beast while another hunter poisons the monster and the third sets a trap. The fourth then strikes the monster with his great sword with all his might.
The coordination of the team adds a special charm, as does the shared celebration when the beast finally falls. In the advertisement, Yamada is probably aware of this. He wants to play in the group so much that he would even finance the gaming enjoyment of his three colleagues and only hand out the money for Monster Hunter World.
The latest season in Overwatch has begun. We reveal what changes in the hero shooter with Season 8.
With the start of the year 2018, a new beginning is also imminent in Overwatch – namely in the ranked game mode. The 8th season of Overwatch has begun.
As in previous seasons, it is again mandatory to complete 10 placement matches first. This gives each player a starting rating and assigns them to the appropriate division.
Overwatch Season 8 changes skill rating rules
However, with the start of Season 8, there have also been a few changes that should lead to a better gaming experience.
Overwatch now ensures that players within a team do not have too large a discrepancy in skill rating.
Previously, these restrictions already applied to groups. Players within a group had to be within 1000 skill rating points (for example, between 2000 and 2999).
These restrictions are now being expanded so that they affect the entire team. Thus, the entire team will now be within a certain range of skill ratings.
The ranges in skill rating are now as follows:
Bronze to Diamond: 1000 skill rating
Master: 500 skill rating
Grandmaster: 250 skill rating
Blizzard hopes that this will improve the gaming experience for all players.
This time, rewards also include display images and spray logos when you complete the placement matches or reach the top 500 in a region.
A date for the end of Season 8 is not yet known.
What do you think of these changes? Is it a good thing that the skill rating range is getting smaller? Or is this adjustment unnecessary?
Actually, the Diablo 3 event was supposed to kick off on January 1, 2018, at midnight. However, it is not really active. The reason for this is communication problems.
To celebrate the anniversary of the Diablo series, the developers hold an annual anniversary event in Diablo 3. It is called “The Darkening of Tristram” and is intended to bring a touch of nostalgia to the community with a special old-school dungeon.
In the blog post, the Diablo team mentioned the start on January 1, but instead of fully launching, we are currently only in first gear and stuck there.
Cultist Pages are here – where is the portal in Sanctuary?
The anniversary event evokes memories of past Diablo adventures with a special dungeon. A pixel filter and special animations provide an extra dose of “retro” while you slice through the 16 levels full of monsters.
In the event announcement, the Diablo team writes that the event starts on January 1, 2018, and will be active until January 30.
The anniversary event begins on January 1 at midnight and ends on January 30 at the same time. Enter the dungeon, claim your rewards, and survive the terrors lurking there – or die trying and be lost forever …
However, one must read between the lines. Many players have already noticed that there is currently no portal to be found.
Currently, only a kind of “pre-event” is active. This means: While adventuring in adventure mode, you will find writings from cultists that give you hints about a portal. However, the portal is still not active.
Finding the Tristram Portal, when does it start?
Community manager Nevalistis responded to the community’s feedback in the Diablo forum. So far, only the pre-event is active – The portal to old Tristram will open on January 4.
Due to the misleading announcement, the community assumed that the portal would also be available at the start of the event. However, players will have to wait a bit longer for this. A specific time for when the portal opens has not yet been communicated. We will pass that along as soon as we have it.
