The creators of World of Warcraft have deleted a telling video from BlizzCon. Was Lordaeron exactly the right hint?
In the lead-up to BlizzCon 2017, Blizzard already released a lot of videos intended to prepare for the major trade show of the game studio. In a rather inconspicuous video about the setup of BlizzCon, clever users discovered the symbol of an in-game kingdom: Lordaeron. This sparked wild speculation about the upcoming expansion.
Apparently, the speculation went too far for Blizzard, as they have now reacted: The corresponding video has been abruptly deleted and is no longer accessible!
BlizzCon video about Lordaeron deleted
In the forums and on Reddit, it seems clear to most: The next expansion will thematically place a significant focus on Lordaeron. Lordaeron and the surrounding lands were most heavily devastated by the Scourge, but have been in reconstruction since the Cataclysm. Currently, Sylvanas rules over large parts of the area, as Lordaeron is in the hands of the Forsaken. Or is a certain Lich King coming back to “reshape his kingdom”? There are many possibilities.
Others assume that there might have been even more details hidden in the video, from which one could have drawn conclusions about the upcoming expansion.
And lastly, there are also speculations that Blizzard deliberately deleted the video after the emerging Lordaeron discussions to further ignite them. Ultimately, this would only be “a false trail” meant to distract from the actual expansion.
Blizzard did not provide a specific reason for the deletion of the video – which only makes the situation more suspicious.
How do you assess the situation that Blizzard has now deleted the video? A tactical move to create confusion? Or did the Lordaeron symbol actually reveal more than they intended to?
This trailer contains few hints about new gameplay content. It primarily showcases the setting and teases the story that the first expansion will revolve around. However, this trailer does not reveal what “Curse of Osiris” will specifically bring in terms of game modes and activities.
Shortly after, Bungie and Activision followed up and announced in blog posts which features this DLC would include. This information comes from Bungie:
– Explore Mercury and its mysterious “Infinite Forest” – New story missions and adventures – New thematically designed weapons, armor, and gear – New co-op activities – New competitive multiplayer arenas – And more …
Many Guardians are wondering if “Curse of Osiris” will also bring a new raid. However, Bungie’s list does not announce a “new raid.” Activision, on the other hand, lists other features.
What are “new raid contents”?
According to Activision, the first DLC will include a new story, returning characters, a new location (Mercury with the Infinite Forest), a social space called the Lighthouse, new strikes, new raid content, new activities in the open worlds, a new world quest, and more.
What does that mean? The community is speculating and has several ideas:
A completely new raid is coming. After all, the first DLC of Destiny 1 also introduced a new raid (Crota’s End).
New raid content could also mean that the current raid is being expanded. That the Leviathan raid will receive new content.
An old raid could return in an updated form. Therefore, there might not be a “new raid”, but only “new raid content.” Possibly the Vault of Glass, as Curse of Osiris revolves around the Vex.
It might not refer to a raid at all, but just to raid-like content. Something like the Prison of Elders from Destiny 1, which was not a real raid but treated as raid content (You could even earn the raid trophies through the Prison).
Prison of Elders
Which of these ideas turns out to be true will only be revealed in the future. One can assume: If a new raid comes eventually, the responsible parties will announce it loudly with “a completely new raid is coming!” and not hide “new raid content” in the middle of a sentence. So we should not expect a new raid.
The last point, that some kind of PvE arena will be introduced, similar to the Prison of Elders, seems to be the most likely. This Infinite Forest on Mercury could be an arena that is randomly generated, creating a new player experience each time. In the trailer, Vex platforms can be seen respawning:
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In the arena, players will fight against the Vex. Perhaps Activision means with the “new raid content” what Bungie means with the “competitive multiplayer arenas” …
This is, however, not confirmed. In the coming weeks, we will learn more.
Curse of Osiris will be released on December 5, 2017, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
What do you think, what could be meant by the raid contents?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
My colleague Cortyn explained in her article why she believes that single-player games are slowly disappearing. I agree with her on many points, but I don’t believe that we will stop seeing single-player titles.
When I still worked as a full-time editor, many voices were raised after the release of World of Warcraft in 2004, claiming that the end of single-player games had come. No one would need single-player titles anymore, they said. And for a while, it seemed like these people were right. The market was on the brink of collapse. But it recovered.
High sales figures show that there is interest
Titles like The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Skyrim, and most recently Divinity: Original Sin 2 (DOS 2) show that interest in good single-player games still exists.
Skyrim has sold more than 30 million copies. The Witcher 3 over 25 million. As a recent example – and this will appear more often in the column – we can mention Divinity: Original Sin 2, which sold more than half a million copies within just four days after its release.
DOS 2 achieved a rating of 93 percent on Metacritic! An incredibly good rating.
Metacritic also shows that the majority of the highest-rated games of all time are single-player games. These include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with 97 percent, Half-Life 2 with 96 percent, and The Last of Us with 95 percent. Additionally, the crowdfunding sector shows the strong interest of players in single-player titles. Games like Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2 and 3, Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2, Shenmue 3, or Torment: Tides of Numenera prove that gamers still want such titles.
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So it’s not that there isn’t a market for single-player games. On the contrary. The “problem” is a different one. Games as a Service promise developers more money with less effort, as well as a loyal player base that stays long-term and is also willing to spend small amounts on “their” game repeatedly. For a developer and a publisher, it’s a gold mine.
You produce a game and instead of putting the team on a sequel, it gets significantly reduced. The team that remains keeps the title alive with updates, DLCs, loot boxes, and new items. This means less effort for the studio with lower personnel costs but a steady flow of income from the players.
Many development studios, especially larger AAA teams, will orient themselves toward this system. After all, they are profit-oriented companies. The goal of any company is to make a profit. If a new, lucrative system establishes itself in the market, it must be exploited. It was no different with free-to-play. But this is an opportunity for smaller development studios that don’t have the means to produce and maintain a high-quality online game. It stands to reason that these teams will focus on the single-player sector.
This has happened with CD Projekt Red, who catered to this genre with the Witcher series and made a fortune out of it.
The market exists
As mentioned, there is still a market for these games. Perhaps AAA productions will continue to decline and games with lower budgets will conquer the market, as Divinity: Original Sin 2 impressively shows. Yet, even that is questionable. Bethesda will not want to alienate its core community, which, despite The Elder Scrolls Online, still calls for a The Elder Scrolls 6 year after year. And if a Skyrim has sold more than 30 million times, why would Bethesda want to forgo that customer base?
Even large companies like Rockstar Games still see a “point” in single-player games. Next year, Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released, a Western epic focused on single-player content. And Rockstar Games developer Imran Sarwar recently stated that the team consists of big fans of single-player games, as such games simply offer a completely different immersion and narrative structure than an online game. Even though the focus is currently on the online mode in GTA 5, according to Sarwar, that does not mean that Rockstar Games will neglect single-player.
Even Zach Wilson from the now-closed studio Visceral explains that it is absurd to write off single-player games. Electronic Arts may be one of the studios that are not as active in this area anymore, but there are many other developers who are successfully working in this genre. He also addresses the issue of asset development, which costs a lot of money. The production costs of a single-player game are high because creating the graphics and animations is very expensive.
However, according to Wilson, something is changing in this area that could make the development of single-player games more attractive in the future.
Are single-player fans switching to multiplayer games?
Another question that arises is: What would happen to players if there were no more single-player games? Would they simply switch to online titles? There are some significant differences between multiplayer and single-player games. First and foremost, the telling of a dense story and decisions with visible consequences.
Why would someone who wants to experience exactly that in games suddenly only want to play battle royale shooters? That didn’t even work with MMORPGs. There is still a significant gap between MMO fans and those of single-player RPGs.
Whoever wants to reach the largest part of the market must either expand their offerings or settle for a niche. But AAA studios cannot afford to develop games for the niche. Because they are expected to produce extremely high-quality products with excellent graphics. And the production of such a game costs a lot of money. Then to target only a niche market with high expenses is financially unfeasible. This is also one of the reasons for the focus on “Games as a Service”.
In summary:
The PC was already declared dead when consoles emerged.
Single-player games were declared dead when MMORPGs emerged.
Turn-based combat systems were declared dead when real-time titles took over the market.
Yes, the market is changing – over and over again – but that single-player games will disappear, I am not convinced; there will continue to be coexistence. Sometimes you just want to experience an exciting story alone and sometimes have fun with friends. The interest in single-player games is still present.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The symbol of Lordaeron from World of Warcraft causes excitement, as it has now been spotted on the BlizzCon grounds.
The BlizzCon 2017 is taking place a bit differently than previous Blizzard events. Even beforehand, the creators of World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Overwatch are releasing a lot of videos for the upcoming event.
In a rather inconspicuous video about the organization of BlizzCon and the associated tasks, user Destaen noticed a small detail on Reddit. On the “WoW eSports stage,” there was a suspicious stage element that immediately caught his eye: the symbol of the kingdom of Lordaeron.
Lordaeron as the theme of the next expansion?
Lordaeron was one of the great human kingdoms until the events of Warcraft 3. After the rise of the Lich King, the capital and surrounding areas were ravaged by the Scourge, and the ownership then passed to the Forsaken under Lady Sylvanas Windrunner.
That there will be new conflicts between the three Windrunner sisters has already been teased in the current patch 7.3, as Vereesa and Alleria discuss their fallen sister Sylvanas. Players speculate about a “Lords of Lordaeron” expansion, where the war over the former capital of humans is in the forefront and the corresponding zones are significantly revamped.
Other fans think that the Lich King might be more integrated into the story again. That seems rather far-fetched, considering that Arthas should actually be permanently dead – but in WoW, you never really know. Maybe Mr. Menethil will return from the Shadowlands once again.
The Ashbringer also has the “Lordaeron” L as the grip.
Some players also think that this symbol was chosen simply because there is also a Lordaeron arena that takes place in Undercity. That would fit well with the eSports stage and wouldn’t have much significance.
The BlizzCon will take place next weekend, on November 3rd and 4th, 2017. We will report promptly on all announcements and reveals.
What do you think? Is this just a random find, or will Blizzard surprise us and pull a “Lordaeron” expansion out of the hat, focusing on the war between the factions?
Monster Hunter World will still be playable in 2017, as long as you have a PS4. Capcom announced the exclusive release date for the beta. A trailer also shows that you can play as Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn.
Monster Hunter World will have an exclusive beta launch for the PlayStation 4. To participate in the beta, you must have a PlayStation Plus account.
Monster Hunter World starts its beta on December 9, 2017
The date was announced by Sony at the “Paris Game Week”. The beta will be available to PS4 players from December 9 to December 12, 2017 – The beta will therefore last 3 days.
In the beta of Monster Hunter World, PS4 players can:
Complete 3 quests – Alone or with up to 4 players online
hunt in the Ancient Forest, including hunting the hungry Great Jagras or the aggressive Anjanath
chase the Barroth in the Wildspire Wastes, which lurks in the muddy water waiting for hunters
Confusion about the 2nd DLC of Destiny 2. Apparently, it is coming later than expected – or maybe not. There are two different release dates, both seem official.
We also know more about the 2nd DLC today – however, the release date depends on which source we trust.
In one version of the trailer, it is clear to see: The 2nd DLC is planned for “Autumn 2018″. That is the version uploaded by PlayStation.
In another version of the trailer, the 2nd DLC is planned for “Spring 2018”. That is the case in most versions provided by Bungie, as far as we could verify.
Delays or on schedule – When is the 2nd DLC for Destiny 2 coming?
The confusion is now great: When does the 2nd DLC for Destiny 2 come out?
Fans of Destiny 2 actually assumed it would be in Spring 2018: a second DLC in Spring 2018 was actually considered likely. This corresponds to the typical schedule expected from Destiny. A release in May would be typical.
The “second version” now gives reason for concern. If the DLC does not come until Autumn, it could lead to significant content gaps. Players would likely have nothing to do in Destiny 2 from February to September. Even worse: The expected expansion for Destiny 2 would then surely come later. The entire schedule would be thrown into chaos.
Did Bungie delay the 2nd DLC to resolve endgame issues?
There are several possibilities as to what has happened:
Either Sony simply messed up and set the wrong date. While that is strange, they wouldn’t have made the trailer themselves.
Or there truly were or are considerations at Bungie to delay the 2nd DLC by half a year. Perhaps to solve the numerous endgame issues. It could be that they informed Sony about this, but then decided against it – and Sony used an outdated version.
It is deemed unlikely that Microsoft has worked out a secret deal with Bungie and that Sony players now have to wait 6 months for the DLC.
Update: Sony likely used the Australia trailer…
Update: Community Manager DeeJ has since confirmed via Twitter: In Spring 2018, the DLC will be released. Everyone will start the second expansion at the same time. DeeJ’s reasoning “Different parts of our global community had different seasons”: It seems PlayStation Europe must have picked up the trailer from PlayStation Australia.
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Are you ready for the next legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO? Soon the three beasts will change their locations.
Currently, we can find three different legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO that we can battle in the game without a special invitation. These three legendary beasts are divided across different regions and rotate at the end/beginning of a month.
Raikou is coming to Germany
With the monthly rotation, the three legendary beasts Entei, Suicune, and Raikou travel around the world. Here in Germany, we have been able to find Entei in raids since September 1st. In October, we had Suicune, and starting from November 1st, we will find Raikou.
The changes occur according to an official press release from Niantic on the last day of a month. Accordingly, the last change is on October 31st, then they will stay in their region for the last month before disappearing. However, since these changes happen around 10:00 PM German time and no raids are running at that time, we will only find Raikou starting from November 1st.
After having a Fire-type Pokémon with Entei and a Water-type Pokémon with Suicune in our raids, Raikou brings the Electric part of the trio to Europe. So if you don’t have Suicune yet, you should hurry. You only have a few hours left.
Starting from November 1st, Entei will be in Asia and Suicune will be in North and South America.
Update takes place during Halloween event
Currently, we are celebrating the Halloween event 2017 in Pokémon GO, which rewards us with many candies. This event runs until November 2nd and brings us the wild shiny Pokémon Zobiris and Zwirrlicht.
Everywhere we currently find spooky Pokémon and the first ghosts from Gen 3. Unfortunately, more Pokémon from the third generation will not be released until December. Niantic writes about this: “The remaining Pokémon from Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire will gradually be found in Pokémon GO in December.”
A reveal trailer for the first DLC “Curse of Osiris” of Destiny 2 has been released, revealing the release date.
Today, on 30.10., a PlayStation stream from the “Paris Games Week 2017” aired, where a new trailer for Destiny 2 was just released, teasing the first DLC “Curse of Osiris”.
The release date for this DLC is December 5, 2017! Curse of Osiris will be released simultaneously on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Here is the reveal trailer:
https://youtu.be/s6qszRCVM8o
Meanwhile, this trailer has also been released in German:
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According to the video description, you need to solve a new mystery in the first expansion of Destiny 2. The Vex are advancing, and we can only stop them together with Osiris – the most powerful Warlock in the history of the Last City. You will see him for the first time in the trailer.
On your quest to find Osiris, you will meet new characters, discover new locations, face new challenges, and earn tasty loot.
Osiris
In the trailer, Ikora Rey calls you to her. She needs to tell you something that must be kept confidential. While we fought against the Red Legion, an ancient gate on Mercury opened, from which the Vex are now streaming – “an army of past and future machines.” They want to reshape the entire universe.
All our hope now lies with Osiris, who was Ikora’s mentor. Once, his dangerous ideas nearly destroyed humanity, Ikora tells, which is why he was banished. Now he returns, and Ikora asks whether he will be a powerful ally – or bring us death.
You now need to go to Mercury and find Osiris.
What has leaked so far
This trailer now confirms the information that leaked a few weeks ago. The Xbox Store listed this DLC and revealed these features:
Mercury and its mysterious “Infinite Forest”
New story missions and adventures
New themed weapons, armor, and gear
New co-op activities
New competitive multiplayer arenas
“And more …”
By the way: While “Curse of Osiris” releases on December 5, we will have to wait much longer for the second DLC. “Autumn 2018” is indicated. The German trailer, however, states “Spring 2018” …
Update: The second DLC releases in Spring 2018. The information on the graphic in the trailer from the PlayStation channel is incorrect. Community Manager DeeJ just confirmed the Spring release of the second DLC.
Heroes of the Storm is in the midst of the Halloween nights. Of course, a fitting hero brawl cannot be missed: Play “Trick or Treat”!
Weeks ago, the Halloween nights entered the Nexus. Since then, players can earn spooky skins, sprays, portraits, and mounts for a limited time. Blizzard is adding more with a hero brawl, fitting for Halloween: “Trick or Treat” (original: “Smashing Pumpkins”)!
The hero brawl is a game mode that differs from normal gameplay by specific rules. In “Trick or Treat,” you fight on the map “Towers of Doom” with special rules:
The Headless Horseman travels from path to path, leaving pumpkins that need to be stomped!
When you stomp a pumpkin, it will be fired at the enemy citadel and unleash Trick or Treat for you or your team!
Sweet:
Rehgar’s Ancestral Healing (just for you!)
Invisibility from Tyrande’s Shadow Duplicates
Uther’s Divine Shield (with bonus duration!)
Rehgar’s Healing of Ancestors
Mean:
Exploding Pumpkin Head Mercenary
Medivh’s Transformation Bomb
Chromie’s Time Trap
Sylvanas’ Cursed Arrow
Shrink Ray
When you kill a hero, a pumpkin is fired at the enemy citadel.
The respawn time has been reduced to 5 seconds.
Teleporters and enhanced shots from towers have been disabled.
The first team to destroy the enemy citadel wins!
When you play the mode, you can choose one of three random heroes during the hero selection. Therefore, a free hero selection is not possible, which gives the mode a bit more dynamism.
In the game, the Mean is particularly nasty! At the most inappropriate moments, it can happen that a Transformation Bomb goes off right in the group, or the healer slips into a Time Trap. The Sweet and the Mean are always applied to the one who stomps the pumpkin.
If you complete three games, you will receive a Halloween Loot Chest! This contains at least one event item guaranteed. It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, as long as all three games are finished.
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Benedict says: An entertaining game mode, but quite chaotic. A real hero “chaos” this time. With the short respawn time after death and the constant changing of the horseman, there is hardly a quiet moment. However, the rounds don’t last that long.
What do you think of this idea? Have you played the hero brawl, or are you less interested? What did you think about it? Leave us a comment!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Beautiful cosplays sometimes need animal support. This night elf from WoW looks even more enchanting thanks to a real owl.
When it comes to extravagant and convincing cosplays, the artists often leave nothing to be desired. After all, it’s about portraying the fictional characters as convincingly as possible. Especially with more comic-like representations, such as in World of Warcraft, the implementation is not that easy.
Anyone who wants to convincingly portray a night elf huntress hardly gets by without animal assistance. After all, the night elves have relied on their “guardian owls” for thousands of years, who scout the wilderness as faithful companions.
What amazing photos can come about when the talented cosplayer Narga meets photographer KIRA, you can see here. She embodies the night elf Tyrande Whisperwind, the High Priestess of Elune, as depicted in Warcraft 3.
Thanks to digital post-processing with various effects (like coloring the forest and the eyes), the photos look even more convincing. Especially the real owl helps to convey a true feeling of a “wild” night elf.
We won’t even start talking about the countless hours of work that surely went into the costume…
If one could encounter a night elf in reality, she would probably have this or a similar form. In addition to the photos, the two also created a small “Making Of” video where one can see the photos and their creation process more closely.
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A strong sword montage is featured in this week’s videos of Destiny 2!
The swords underwent an exciting development in the Destiny storyline:
In Year 1, swords were only available as relics. The most famous was the sword in the Crota raid, where it was something special for every Guardian when they were the “Sword Bearer” for the first time.
In Year 2, swords were introduced as a new weapon type. Legendary and even exotic swords came out, with every Guardian wanting one of these cool and powerful Exotics.
In Destiny 2, there are also swords – just this time in significantly larger numbers. You can acquire all sorts of legendary swords and beat down enemies with them. However, this also means: They are no longer as special as they once were.
Nevertheless, the YouTuber TheReachWay proudly shares that the legendary Quickfang sword is his favorite weapon in Destiny 2. He created a montage dedicated to this melee weapon. It earned the “Video of the Week” title from Bungie and is really well made:
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Bungie is releasing two more community videos this week that deserved an honorable mention. This piece is called “Utopia” and shows you the beauty of Titan. Many of you may not have had the time to admire the details of this world amid all the battles. You can catch up now.
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That’s it for this week’s videos. Normally, we embed works from our readers at this point; however, we did not receive any clips this week that we could embed here. Therefore, we now show you a ViDoc that was published for the PC launch. It discusses the development of the PC version of Destiny 2:
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If you want to showcase your videos to our readership, upload them to YouTube and send us the link. The best way to reach us is on Facebook at “Destiny 2 Mein MMO”. Just send us a private message there. We will review everything you send us. However, we cannot guarantee that the videos will make it into the article.
The developers of the MMORPG Albion Online have now given a preview of what fans can expect in the future after the launch in summer.
The team sees what Albion Online currently is as just a good foundation. From here, the journey will continue, and about three to four major content updates are planned each year, which will continuously expand the MMORPG and introduce new content.
Albion Online is set to become even bigger
The foundation that the development team has come up with is set. This includes a player-driven economy, PvP with full loot, and guild wars. According to the team, all of this runs stably. But this is just the beginning. Albion Online is set to become much bigger, and they want to significantly improve the MMORPG.
First, the team wants to focus on an aspect that players frequently mention: single-player content. There is a great demand for activities that can be done alone because, according to the developers, no one plays an MMORPG constantly in a group. Occasionally, players also go out alone and want to have fun as well.
Therefore, solo content will be improved with an upcoming update. This includes activities like fishing, to allow players to contribute to the economy even when alone. Additionally, areas will be introduced where zerging is not possible. This is intended to give solo players a chance in PvP without being immediately overwhelmed by a horde of enemy players.
More exploration, better PvP
Additionally, they want to make the world more interesting. The exploration aspect will be emphasized, so it will be fun to explore the world. PvP battles in the Outlands should become even more intense and exciting. Guilds should gain even greater significance, so that everyone in a guild can participate in the wars. In general, players in a guild will receive more tools to better manage their organization.
These are just a few of the things that the developers of Albion Online are currently planning to lead the MMORPG into the future.
In the past, political tensions between Korea and China have caused waves in gaming. China has already announced that it would make it harder for games from South Korea to access the market. One can certainly trust the Chinese government to protect the Chinese market from “foreign companies” using protectionist measures. By making it harder for foreign competition to enter the market, the Chinese government strengthens domestic firms.
Too much blood and violence in PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds)? China is considering a ban, although an IT giant may be interested in the game.
The battle royale shooter “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” has achieved several milestones since its release in March. PUBG has pushed top games on Steam like CS:GO and DOTA 2 aside. More than 1.3 million concurrent users on Steam show that the game has struck a chord with the gaming community.
However, for China, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is allegedly too bloody and violent. They are considering banning PUBG in China.
“Reminds of gladiatorial battles”
The Chinese government apparently disagrees with PUBG. The game has grown larger in recent months and is gaining momentum. Should a brake be applied in China now?
The video game department of the Chinese Audio-Video Copyright Association has published a statement on PUBG (Link to the statement in Chinese). In it, they explain that the game contains too much blood and violence. Therefore, it is unlikely that PUBG would receive a license in China to be officially released.
In the statement, the authors even go so far as to compare PUBG to the ancient arena fights of the Romans. This survival principle would violate the morals of China and have a negative influence on children and adolescents.
Additionally, they warn local companies. They should not develop or publish such games. No advertising for this game genre should run on eSports and livestream platforms.
Rumors: Tencent wanted to buy parts of PUBG
It seems that this ban is not being considered without context. For weeks, rumors have circulated that the Chinese IT and gaming giant “Tencent” wanted a deal for the Chinese PUBG servers.
Tencent already owns popular games for PC (League of Legends) and mobile (Clash of Clans). Additionally, Tencent launched a gaming platform to create competition for Steam in China. Currently, PUBG has no publisher in China.
Ironically, the committee that published the aforementioned statement includes a vice president of Tencent and other executives from well-known gaming companies like “Perfect World” and “ChangYou”.
Touchy political situation
So should PUBG be banned so that a homegrown battle royale shooter doesn’t have competition? This shouldn’t be a problem for the experienced gaming giants from China. A bit less blood and violence and they could bypass the proposed ban. Besides, there is no top dog without PUBG.
Neither Tencent nor PUBG developer Bluehole has commented on this possible ban so far. However, the story remains intriguing.
In the past, political tensions between Korea and China have caused waves in gaming. China has already announced that it would make it harder for games from South Korea to access the market. One can certainly trust the Chinese government to protect the Chinese market from “foreign companies” using protectionist measures. By making it harder for foreign competition to enter the market, the Chinese government strengthens domestic firms.
So far, it has been clear in the multiplayer horror game Friday the 13th who the murderer is. However, this might change with the game mode Paranoia.
A new game mode called Paranoia has been announced, but almost nothing is officially known about it yet. It is certain that the mode will be available for free to all owners of the game. When? That is still up in the air.
A murderer in the group
The first teaser trailer for Paranoia reveals nothing further about how the mode will operate. However, there are already some hints. These suggest that in Paranoia you do not know who the murderer is. This person is among the players and initially remains unrecognized. No one trusts each other, which leads to paranoia, the fear of being constantly hunted.
Is Paranoia inspired by the fifth part of the film series?
The murderer reveals himself when he eliminates one of the other players. It is quite possible that he remains undetected as he kills secretly. It is conceivable that the victim might warn the others if it manages to escape. Hints on various social media sites suggest that the new game mode could operate this way.
The fans of Friday the 13th believe that Paranoia is inspired by the fifth part of the film series. In this part, the killer was one from the group who wanted to imitate the murders of the insane Jason.
If Paranoia really operates as the fans of Friday the 13th suspect, then we can expect an intense game mode.
With a major update of the online shooter Escape from Tarkov, the path is being laid for the open beta.
The online shooter Escape from Tarkov is nearing the launch of the open beta. This is still planned for the end of the year, after the team has gathered a lot of feedback from testers during the ongoing closed beta and is continuously improving the game.
An absolute hardcore shooter
What is increasingly becoming clear from the beta: Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore game. Anyone wanting to play needs to have a high tolerance for frustration. Every hit can mean the end – not just a headshot. Because it is possible to bleed out from a gunshot wound if you can’t find bandages.
This heavy difficulty level divides the player base, as Escape from Tarkov is certainly not suitable for casual gamers. But you can see for yourself soon when the open beta takes place at the end of the year.
The shooter has already reached quite a good status. Most of the features are integrated, and generally the action game plays quite well. However, there are still some bugs to fix, and balancing also needs adjustments. If you want to get an insight into the current status of the game, you can watch videos from beta testers, like this one:
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Now, in preparation for the upcoming launch of the open beta, a comprehensive update has been released. This introduces, among other things, 70 new items. This includes the AKM, the Kalashnikov, in its civilian version. Also included is the DVL-10 M1 “Saboteur” sniper rifle. Furthermore, the last gestures and voice commands have also been implemented. New are also grenades, the armor and damage system, as well as the suppression fire game mechanics.
The update further improves the AI of the computer opponents, fixes a number of bugs, and introduces additional optimizations to the engine. The improvements, optimizations, and the introduction of new features will continue until the release of the open beta. Additionally, translations of Escape from Tarkov into German, French, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Polish, Czech, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean are planned.
Shooter makes progress
Just recently, the quest system was introduced, through which you can complete missions in the game world that earn you numerous rewards. Escape from Tarkov is making significant progress, which you will be able to see for yourself soon in the open beta – if you’re interested in a real hardcore shooter where even the smallest mistake could be the last.
Currently, there is a big premium vendor sale going on around Halloween in The Division. There are great discounts on outfits!
If you still have some premium credits in the depths of your agent backpack or are ready to spend real euros for your agent’s look, you should check the terminal these days. The premium vendor has several items on sale.
So you can dress up for Halloween just like your enemies!
Up to 75% off premium items
This Halloween sale is already running and lasts until November 2nd. Almost all premium items are discounted – from weapon skins to emotes and outfits. You can find all reduced items under “Special Offers” at the premium vendor.
While some skins and emotes are 50% off, you can get four outfits for a whopping 75% off:
Cleaners faction outfit – 350 premium credits
JTF faction outfit – 350 premium credits
LMB faction outfit – 350 premium credits
Rikers faction outfit – 350 premium credits
Each outfit consists of a helmet / hat, jacket, pants, scarf, shirt, and boots. Only the Rikers outfit lacks a scarf. This is what the cosmetic items look like:
By the way, there are many more outfits on sale, but only at a 20% discount. These still cost over 1000 premium credits.
For context: The premium items are microtransactions in The Division. You can buy 500 premium credits for 5 euros. There are also additional bundles at higher prices, which come with bonus premium credits. You buy premium items with premium credits.
While premium credits cost real money, the new content of update 1.8 is completely free. The testing phase for this update ends on October 31st. After that, it should not take too long before it hits the live servers.
The exotic sniper Borealis in Destiny 2 is PlayStation-exclusive and can change its element at the push of a button. How does the weapon perform in PvE as well as PvP?
As the weapon is PlayStation-exclusive, Xur will not have it available at least until Fall 2018. After all, his inventory is always the same across platforms.
What can Borealis do in Destiny 2? – The perks
Borealis is capable of dealing damage of any available element. You can switch between Solar, Arc, and Void.
Moreover, the sniper has a fire rate of 72 and a impact of 90. It falls into the same category as the legendary sniper “Noble Seeker”. The magazine size is 5 bullets.
The other stats of the weapon are rather average:
Range – 54
Stability – 52
Reload Speed – 68
Aim Assist – 65
These are the special perks of Borealis:
The Basics – Hold the reload button to change the element (rotation Solar -> Arc -> Void -> Solar)
Ionic Return – Destroying an enemy shield transfers a round from reserves into the magazine
Depending on the enemy shield type, you can align Borealis so that its element matches this shield type and fire away. For matching elements (shield-element matches the weapon’s element), there is the additional effect of an explosion occurring upon shield destruction, dealing damage to enemies and briefly incapacitating the shield bearer.
Additionally, if you manage to destroy an enemy shield with Borealis, you get a round back from reserves.
The streamer Mesa Sean has gameplay footage of Borealis for you in the following video:
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On paper, the element switch sounds quite interesting. It allows for variable gameplay, as you need to switch your weapons less frequently depending on the enemy. If you take down enemy shields with the weapon, you will also receive a bullet back from reserves, increasing your damage over time.
In practice, the sniper is especially worth using due to its high impact. The aim assist is decent, but the range is only mediocre.
If the Prism Modifier is active in Nightfall, this weapon can shine, as you can set the element depending on the increased elemental damage.
Conclusion: Borealis is a nice weapon based on its stats, but the element switch can only be described as a gimmick that only provides advantages in certain situations. If you have to switch your element for every enemy, a lot of flow in combat is lost.
Additionally, I often encountered the issue that opening chests triggered an element switch when not standing directly in front of it, thus initiating the “reload”.
In PvP, the choice of element is completely irrelevant – all elements provide the same advantages. Since sniper rifles are hardly used in PvP, you should consider using your exotic slot for something else. For those who enjoy playing with sniper rifles, a legendary sniper is a more than adequate substitute. You don’t need Borealis here.
Have you already found Borealis? How do you like it?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
War Thunder is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and the now roughly 20 million registered players will soon have company. The online game has now been announced for Xbox One and Xbox One X. Does this provide competition for the reigning champion World of Tanks?
On November 7, Microsoft will release its new 4K console, and those who want to experience the online game War Thunder in this high resolution on console will be able to do so soon. Because the developers have announced a version for the Xbox One X, appropriately coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the game.
A version for the regular Xbox One is also in the works.
Coming soon to Xbox
“For a long time, our fans have wished for a War Thunder version for Xbox One, and we have worked hard to make the cross-platform experience of War Thunder available to them. We are therefore pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Microsoft to bring War Thunder to Xbox One and Xbox One X,” says Anton Yudintsev, CEO of Gaijin Entertainment. “More than 20 million players have already played War Thunder on various platforms, and we can’t wait for Xbox One and Xbox One X players to join the battles.”
Release date for War Thunder on Xbox One not yet known
Currently, it is still unclear when the Xbox version of War Thunder will be released. When the time comes, you will also dive into battles on Microsoft’s consoles on land, at sea, and in the air, experiencing conflicts fought with vehicles ranging from the Spanish Civil War to the Cold War.
Season 6 of Overwatch is over. We reveal how Season 7 will continue here. Info on start date, end, and rewards.
Time relentlessly progresses for Blizzard’s hero shooter and nearly 18 months after the release, Season 6 has ended in Overwatch, and Season 7 is already on the starting blocks.
The time between Season 6 and Season 7 is very short this time. Instead of taking a break of several weeks, the “Off Season” lasts only a few days.
This means that Season 7 of Overwatch will begin on November 1 at 2:00 AM.
Rewards for Overwatch Season 7
Since there were no major announcements about changes to the existing systems beforehand this time, it can be assumed that Season 7 will take place just like its predecessor.
This means that players will need to complete 10 placement matches starting November 1, which will determine their initial skill rating. The skill rating serves as an indicator for your rank, but it also forms the basis for matchmaking.
For participating in the ranked game mode, players earn Competitive Points, which can then be used to purchase golden weapons. These serve purely aesthetic purposes.
The distribution of Competitive Points (ranking points) at the end of Season 7 is as follows:
1-1499 Skillrating: 65 CP
1500-1999 Skillrating: 125 CP
2000-2499 Skillrating: 250 CP
2500-2999 Skillrating: 500 CP
3000-3499 Skillrating: 750 CP
3500-3999 Skillrating: 1250 CP
4000-5000 Skillrating: 1750 CP
Keep in mind that the Competitive Points you earn depend on your highest rating of the season and not on the skill rating at the end of the season.
As usual, there will likely be additional rewards for participating in Season 7, such as a display image and a spray logo. Once Blizzard presents the new designs, we will supplement them in this article.
If Blizzard does not make any further changes during the season, then Season 7 of Overwatch will likely last until the end of the year – exactly 2 months.
Studio Wildcard promised that there would never be microtransactions in ARK Survival Evolved an now suddenly dinosaur skins popped up in the Xbox Marketplace and PlayStation Store that players can purchase.
In 2015, Studio Wildcard announced that there would never be microtransactions in ARK Survival Evolved – not even for cosmetics. Head developer Jeremy Stieglitz himself wrote a forum post on Steam regarding this.
Stieglitz assured: “We, as Studio Wildcard, are against any form of in-game monetization. We have seen too often how otherwise good games have been distorted by this.”
On Reddit, user silverbullet1989 noted that there are recently 6 dinosaur skins available for purchase. The cosmetics are available in the Xbox Marketplace and PlayStation Store. The skins have a single price of £0.79 in the respective shops, while all together cost £5. Originally, these skins were part of a preorder deal for the retail release of ARK in August.
Those who pre-ordered ARK Survival Evolved received these unique bionic skins as a bonus:
The “ARK: Survival Evolved Bionic Raptor Skin” can also be found in the German Xbox Store for €0.99.
The “Bionic Quetzal Skin” can be purchased in the German PlayStation Store for €1.19.
The community is disappointed – complaining about further problems
In his post on Reddit, silverbullet1989 describes the current problems of the survival MMO:
ARK was released with too few servers. Due to too many players on too few servers, the performance suffers significantly – making ARK completely unplayable for some.
Characters are regularly deleted due to a bug
ARK has bugs and glitches that players can exploit for their advantage. There are “holes” in the maps, through which players can slip under the map and kill other players hidden from view.
The user notes that Wildcard is now demanding a full triple-A game price for ARK, offering a season pass and has a collector’s edition. Thus, ARK Survival Evolved markets itself as a full-fledged triple-A game, but still struggles with the aforementioned issues.
Now, in addition to the massive problems, there is the broken promise of microtransactions. Wildcard is being labeled an untrustworthy studio in the comments to the post.
Some players have lost faith in the developers and are disappointed. Even if the 6 skins could be seen as a minor issue, players now fear for the future of the game. After all, a game like ARK has too many mechanics where microtransactions could be implemented.
Wildcard justifies the microtransactions with retail sales
ARK’s community manager Jat commented on Reddit about the introduced microtransactions. The bionic skins were part of a preorder deal for retail.
According to Jat, it was absolutely necessary for Wildcard to offer such a deal to gain support for the retail launch. In the United States, there are only a few retailers left that primarily work with large publishers. For indie studios like Wildcard, it is extremely difficult to get into retail. Wildcard had to finalize some deals for retail that the developers were not happy with.
When the exclusive period of the retail deal expired, Wildcard was obliged to bring the 6 bionic dinosaur skins as DLC to Xbox and PS4. It was also not allowed to offer these as free DLC.
These are legal obligations that Wildcard had to fulfill as part of the release. However, they tried to keep the price as low as possible. Wildcard has no plans to introduce more microtransactions in ARK. More cosmetics are set to be released that will be available for free through
events
the achievement system
or they will be tied to the season pass.
Jat promised that there will never be microtransactions in ARK again and that the bionic skins are the exception.
In the community, an explanation had been desired earlier. The microtransactions came out of nowhere for the players and caused anger and disappointment.
Regarding the other mentioned problems, Wildcard remains silent.
