Important moves like jumping over fences and climbing into houses are coming to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). The testing phase for this will begin soon.
There are only eleven weeks left until the end of 2017. The development team is now presenting the roadmap for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds that they want to implement over the next eleven weeks. They are discussing the launch of PUBG, climbing features, and plans for the test servers.
PUBG Launch and Test Server Plans
The team from PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is working hard to finalize the implementation of PC Version 1.0 and the Xbox Game Preview by the end of this year. They are currently internally testing new parkour features like climbing. Testing will also include the new desert map, new vehicles, and a 3D replay function.
In addition, they are working on optimizing and stabilizing the game. The poor optimization is frequently criticized by the community.
The Path to PUBG Launch
The developers are focusing on creating the builds for PC 1.0 and Xbox Game Preview. Therefore, there will be no more patches for the PC in the coming weeks (except for this week’s update). The team explains:
“On PC, we are focusing on creating a stable launch build. We are not planning any patches for the live servers, except for this week.”
However, features like climbing will soon be available, which will have a significant impact on PUBG. Therefore, they want to test the climbing function for at least a month. The team is providing test servers that will be active three times in phases. They will test content and features that are not yet on the live servers. This is intended to provide a solid foundation for the official launch.
Test Server Plans – When Will Climbing Be Available?
So far, the team assumes there will be about three test phases, each with the following focuses:
Phase 1: The focus here is on testing climbing and diving features
Phase 2: Further tests for climbing and diving. In addition, tests for new contents and features are planned.
Phase 3: New contents and features like the desert map will be tested.
The contents and features on the test servers are to be tested for at least 2-4 weeks. It would be difficult to provide a stable platform if the contents are quickly transferred to the live servers. To allow the team to test these contents thoroughly, they will not be available on the live servers for now. The time will be used for extended testing.
You will then be able to try out the new climbing and diving features at the end of October or the beginning of November. The developers will share more information regarding the schedule later.
PUBG Season Start Delayed Again
The team has worked longer than planned on optimizing the leaderboards. This means that the start of the new season has now been moved to October 20. The start was recently scheduled for October 17 but apparently needs a bit more time.
Once again, the pink gnomes in WoW ran against breast cancer. This time, the fundraising goal was exceeded fourfold!
In World of Warcraft, there is a lovely tradition on the American server Scarlet Crusade that captures attention year after year. The “Running of the Gnomes” event is being held for the 8th time and aims to raise awareness about a serious issue: breast cancer.
The whole thing works like a charity run in the real world – you create a small gnome and run the predefined route together with many other players. At the end, you make a donation that is then sent to the Cleveland Clinic and benefits research on the Tuohy Vaccine.
This year, the goal was to raise at least $4,000 – that was the target for the event. Last year, they achieved impressive earnings of $5,500. However, the actual result this year was much higher! With $16,295, they set a new record.
The number of participants also increased drastically. In 2016, there were “only” around 2,900 gnomes who embarked on the pilgrimage, while in 2017, the number jumped to more than 7,000 pink heroes from Gnomeregan. This also caused the server Scarlet Crusade to experience temporary outages – so many players in such a small space was simply not planned.
In 2017, the event was honored by Blizzard for the first time. The developers turned the event into a micro-holiday that could be experienced on all servers. Like in the original, there were several checkpoints leading from Dun Morogh down into the Stranglethorn Vale. This was accompanied by hundreds of NPCs standing along the way cheering on the runners. However, there were no actual “in-game rewards” for this – as is the case with almost all micro-holidays.
Did you participate in the Gnome run, even if it was just at the micro-holiday? And what do you think of such events? A good thing or does it have no place in games?
Finally, the Xbox chief comments on the upcoming PC version of Destiny 2. He is upset that Bungie does not allow him to play his Destiny 2 character on PC now.
Note: We cannot verify the statement that Spencer played over 700 hours of Destiny. According to “Time Wasted on Destiny,” it is 323 hours, which is still considerable. It is also quite possible that Spencer plays Destiny on multiple accounts.
Phil Spencer is a big Destiny fan who enjoys playing with the community. However, his power level keeps him awake at night.
“The ultimate Destiny experience is only on PlayStation!”
With such statements, Sony and Activision advertise when it comes to the PlayStation exclusive content. Due to a marketing deal, content was added to every major Destiny release that only PS Guardians have limited-time access to. Xbox users (and now PC users) have been and continue to be disadvantaged.
That Destiny is still fun on Xbox is personally proven by Xbox chief Phil Spencer. Months ago, he revealed that he spent over 700 hours in Destiny. As he now states in an interview with GameSpot, he also regularly logs into Destiny 2.
What is Xbox chief’s power level and what weapon does he covet?
Phil Spencer makes no secret of his gamertag on Xbox, which he shares from time to time on Twitter and other social media. He simply calls himself P3.
Spencer mentions that he has his fireteam open in Destiny 2 and his Xbox Live party open for everyone so that anyone can join him for some gaming. However, he also has to kick some players occasionally. The reason: His power level is still too low.
He himself has a power level of only 237, which is too low for some endgame activities, such as the raid. You have to be at least 260 for that. Regarding this, the Xbox chief jokes: That his power level is not high enough for the raid keeps him awake at night.
Currently, Spencer has a power level of 241 on his P3 account. That’s still not particularly high, but Spencer is also quite busy. In recent weeks, he was in Tokyo, Brazil, and on the East Coast of the USA, he reveals in the interview. By the way, he plays as an Awoken Titan.
The weapon that Spencer currently desires the most is the MIDA Multi-Tool. He liked this scout rifle very much in Destiny 1, which is why he wants it in the sequel as well.
Finally, the Xbox chief comments on the upcoming PC version of Destiny 2. He is upset that Bungie does not allow him to play his Destiny 2 character on PC now.
Note: We cannot verify the statement that Spencer played over 700 hours of Destiny. According to “Time Wasted on Destiny,” it is 323 hours, which is still considerable. It is also quite possible that Spencer plays Destiny on multiple accounts.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming MMORPG Crowfall is continuously receiving new content that needs to be tested. Now, developer ArtCraft has introduced the last three races of the game!
Crowfall is currently in the alpha phase and shows steady development, as new features are constantly being added. Backers at the appropriate level are allowed to participate in the 24/7 tests.
Now the developers have introduced the last three races that will be playable at launch: the Minotaurs, the Centaurs, and the Guinecean. This brings the total number of races in the game to 12.
The three new races are animal beings, some of which originate in mythology. Appropriately, the post on the website is titled “Meet the Monsters”.
In Crowfall, races are not simply assigned to characters. They have “rune stones” that symbolize the race (and also other things like class or discipline). All characteristics available through the choice of rune stone are listed on it.
Character creation thus proceeds in such a way that an amorphous mass becomes an avatar by adding rune stones. An extraordinary approach that, however, achieves the same effect as the conventional one.
As MMORPGs are becoming increasingly “diluted” in the view of the Crowfall developers, they are particularly proud of this system. It is intended to give the races more identity and make them something that clearly stands out from the others.
In addition to the rune stones, each race receives a so-called “passive bloodline”. This is a passive ability that belongs to the race and does not consume any of the three slots that would otherwise be used for them.
The Centaurs
The horse-people race is probably the most well-known of the three. They are represented in some form in almost every fantasy game – in Crowfall, the Centaurs will also be playable. The Centaurs are a warrior race, prepared for battle from birth, and have dominated most of the game world in their past.
The rune stone of the Centaurs grants:
a bonus to constitution.
an additional slot for horseshoes (essentially a second slot for shoes).
The Centaur bloodline grants:
Master of the Path: increases movement speed outside of combat by 25%.
Kickback: When attacked from behind, the Centaur has a chance to kick back, dealing damage to the enemy behind him.
In addition to the passive bonuses, Centaurs can choose from four active abilities to enhance their powers (Power Tray):
Dodge: Dodge in WASD direction with the right mouse button
Wild Charge: The Centaur charges forward, reducing the armor of each hit enemy, decreasing physical damage resistance by 20% for 15 seconds.
Strength of the Legion/Hippocratic Oath: Switchable powers. Only one of the two can be active. Strength of the Legion increases the attack value of group members by 75. Hippocratic Oath increases the support power of group members by 75.
Centaurs can become Knights, Champions, and Clerics.
Minotaurs
Minotaurs are represented just as frequently in MMORPGs and are often playable. The stocky people with bullheads are known for their brute strength and resilience. In Crowfall, they were held as slaves by the Elves.
In the “Celestial War”, they were able to gain their freedom. Since then, they live on the fringes of civilized society.
The rune stone of the Minotaurs grants:
a bonus to dexterity.
The Minotaur bloodline grants:
immunity to stuns from frontal attacks.
The active abilities of the Minotaurs:
Jump: Dodge with a jump in WASD direction.
Bloodthirst: For 6 seconds, all damage taken is healed. Afterward, 50% of this damage taken is inflicted again over 6 seconds. Shares a cooldown with the “Berserker” ability of the Myrmidon.
Minotaurs can become Hunters, Champions, and Myrmidons.
Guinecean
Guinecean represent an unusual race of anthropomorphic rodents. They are human-like giant guinea pigs. According to legend, the goddess Gaea granted the gift of logic and language to their purely animal ancestors at the moment of her death.
The people are characterized by their spirit of exploration, intelligence, and curiosity. They seek contact with foreign cultures and have founded an advanced civilization based on research and diplomacy, not aggression and conquest.
The rune stone of the Guinecean grants:
a bonus to dexterity and intellect.
an increase in the survivability stat (increases the value of consumed food).
an additional ring slot (thus a total of 3).
The Guinecean bloodline grants:
Jumping and using stamina does not consume food bar.
Double jump.
The active powers of the Guinecean:
Jump: Dodge with a jump in WASD direction.
Guinecean Burrow: Switchable power. Can be activated to make the survival table active. The character is considered hidden until deactivated. Consumes stamina. If the character takes damage, uses a power, runs, or exhausts stamina, the effect ends.
Gunpowder Bullets: The maximum range of all ranged powers increases by 5 meters for 30 seconds. All “pistol” powers additionally hold the target.
Guinecean can become Knights, Clerics, and Duelists.
Since all races were originally planned as monsters, initially only the male gender was intended for all. However, due to high demand and a Kickstarter goal, a female version for Centaurs is at least possible. For the other races, it may follow.
Do you like the races or do they not fit at all with Crowfall? Write us a comment!
Silithus in World of Warcraft is undergoing significant changes. We reveal what is happening with the old quests and NPCs.
The next update of World of Warcraft, Patch 7.3.2, primarily introduces the new raid Antorus, the Burning Throne. In this, the story of Legion reaches its final chapter, as the final boss is none other than a true Titan from the planet Argus.
Spoiler Warning:If you do not want to know how things progress with Legion, then click away quickly now.
Silithus receives “Timewalking” feature
However, the battle against Argus also has another opponent. The leader of the Burning Legion, Sargeras, will personally appear and want to get involved. The fight ends with Sargeras being captured and banished, but not before severely wounding Azeroth – as he plunges his sword into the home planet of the player characters.
The blade strikes the desolate area of Silithus and alters it permanently. The entire area will be tainted with the “blood” of Azeroth and surely attract a lot of obscure creatures. It will likely serve as the “transition event” for the next expansion or at least continue the story thread.
Silithus will share the fate of several old zones that have been altered throughout the story of World of Warcraft – such as the Blasted Lands or Theramore in the Dustwallow Marshes. Essentially, the zone has evolved. However, those who still want to experience the “old” version can do so. At the entrance to the area, the Bronze Dragon Zidormi will be standing. Anyone who wishes can simply speak to the dragon lady and visit Silithus “before the wound in the world.”
The old quest lines, Ahn’Qiraj, and other enemies of the area will not be completely lost – even if time has progressed for Silithus. Those who wish can also return to the desert afterwards.
Do you think it’s good that players can still visit the “old versions” of some zones? Or should it be more consistent in WoW and a change be mandatory for all players?
Epic Games released a list of new features and improvements that Fortnite: Battle Royale (PC, PS4, Xbox) is set to receive in the coming weeks.
In the coming weeks, Fortnite’s battle royale mode will see some new features and improvements. Soon, you will be able to talk with your team in an integrated voice chat. There will also be updates to the inventory and spectator mode. Epic Games is also planning to set up more data centers to improve ping and add a test server.
Here is the complete list from the Fortnite team:
Gameplay
Team communication including voice chat
General improvements for squads and duos
Ongoing balance and shooting optimizations
Improvements to map POIs (Points of Interest) and loot density
Improvements to the spectator mode
Improvements to the inventory
“Quality of Life” bug fixes
Controller
Alternative configurations
Controller redesign
Improvements to input latency on consoles
Improvements to aim assist
User Interface
10′ console HUD experience
Improvements to the invitation system
Improvements to the MOTD system
QOL features for streamers and content creators (hiding HUD elements, etc.)
The head of Destiny 2, Luke Smith, has commented on the current state of the game. He refers to Destiny 2 as a “collection game.”
The Game Director of Destiny 2 is Luke Smith. He has already given some information to the British print magazine Edge before the release – now he reflects on the launch in the latest issue and shares his thoughts. In excerpts, the interview has become public.
Those who start Destiny 2 tend to stay: Players reach the endgame
Smith views it as a positive development, even a surprise, that so many players have reached the level cap and completed the single-player campaign of Destiny 2.
A remarkably high percentage of players, a shockingly large number, have reached the endgame of Destiny 2, says Smith. The team has every reason to be quite proud of that.
This means: If people enter the world of Destiny, they tend to stay.
But what do they do in the endgame?
However: Bungie now has to ensure that players have things to do when they have played for 80 or 90 hours:
Are the players happy with their character?
Are there new things they can accomplish?
Do the players want to come back?
According to Smith, these are questions that Bungie needs to address.
Smith still likes fixed weapon perks, but…
There was much excitement in the Destiny community back then regarding Smith’s decision to forgo random perks on weapons and armor in Destiny 2. In Destiny 1, players ground the same activities to obtain the perfect version of an item, the so-called God Roll. Players were thus searching for “duplicate items. “
In Destiny 2, every item has fixed perks. This eliminates the need to search for duplicates.
Smith still believes it was the right decision to remove random rolls on weapons and gear. Smith thinks Destiny is on its way to becoming a “collection game.” This change was correct for that.
However, Smith understands that Destiny 2 has weaknesses that need to be addressed. Bungie still has ideas on how to make “duplicate items” interesting again.
Smith seemingly surprised by problems – solution is now a priority
Smith indirectly suggests that the problems with the endgame are now rather surprising and Bungie needs to rethink its approach to solve these issues.
For the team, it is currently a priority to get a handle on this issue: duplicates should have meaning again.
Smith says: When you release something, you consider what problems might arise. Sometimes you’re right, and everything goes according to plan. Sometimes you’re wrong, and other problems emerge that become more important.
We are currently assessing what work we need to do and are placing the highest priority on it.
Destiny 2 as a collection game – but everyone fills their collection quickly
Mein MMO says: When the random rolls were removed, Smith stated: He had an idea to compensate for this, but he didn’t know if this idea would make it into the game at release. Apparently, this idea didn’t make it into the game, and now we have the mess.
A collection game in which there is nothing to collect.
It is the crucial question what Bungie comes up with and how it works to “make duplicates interesting again.”
Random perks should not be the solution. The current mods are not the answer either. So what is Bungie’s idea?
Apparently, Bungie was keen to get as many players as possible to play Destiny 2 for 80 or 90 hours. They succeeded. Now the question is: What do the players have to do afterward?
The next Pokémon GO update is already on its way to you. In version 0.79.3 for Android and 1.49.3 for iOS, bugs are being fixed again.
A new version for Pokémon GO is currently rolling out. Although patch 0.79.2 was announced on October 14, the developers surprised us on October 16 with the next update. This is supposed to fix some bugs in the game again.
Update 0.79.3 / 1.49.3
With a new update, the Pokémon GO developers aim to eliminate more bugs from the game. In social media, the Pokémon GO team announced the new update and stated: “Trainers, Pokémon GO will be updated to version 0.79.3 for Android and 1.49.3 for iOS to incorporate bug fixes.”
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There are no official details about which bugs are involved and whether the GO-Plus problems have finally been fixed.
The data miners are looking more closely: Each update is closely scrutinized by data miners. They check whether there are any further changes that Niantic did not mention. However, in update 0.79.3, there are really only bug fixes.
However, update 0.79.2 also brought problems with the curve ball, which were fixed in version 0.79.3. This is shown in a comparison video by Reddit user RubyShardz. In version 0.79.2, there were stutters with the curve ball. These were significantly reduced or even eliminated in the new version.
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New attacks of Generation 3 through the update? No, false report!
There are rumors circulating on Twitter that suddenly new moves from generation 3 have appeared. Many players quickly jumped on this bandwagon and spread the message. But as it turns out, this is a false report. The user who shared the news apparently made a mistake.
On Reddit, Dronpes from TheSilphRoad confirms that while the found lines are in the APK, they have been in the code since the first days of the game. They were not introduced by the update.
We can still look forward to the next days or weeks, as the sounds of generation 3 have now been found in the code of Pokémon GO. Together with a new Halloween wallpaper, this indicates that new monsters will appear for the Halloween event.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Another Overwatch clone is getting its due. The copy “Heroes of Warfare” is under scrutiny.
If a game can celebrate such great success as Overwatch, then it is only a matter of time before other developers want a piece of the pie. And why should one have to come up with a complex game with standalone characters when one can simply draw on Overwatch?
This was probably also the thought of the developer 4399 Network Co., who released their game titled 英雄枪战, which is now also available on Google Play under the name Heroes of Warfare.
Looks a bit familiar, doesn’t it?
Heroes of Warfare not only borrowed some ideas from Overwatch but largely transferred the entire game. The playable maps have the same layout as in Overwatch, and even the various characters have the same weapon kits.
While the characters look different, every Overwatch fan will recognize who is using the abilities of Soldier: 76 or Reinhardt within just a few seconds.
Of course, the game modes are identical – including the control points and “Overtime”. You can get a small impression of this from this video:
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The demand from Blizzard and Blizzard’s Chinese partner NetEase is clear: 4399 Network Co. must immediately cease operations of the game and pay Blizzard compensation for copyright infringements.
How the legal dispute will turn out and whether Blizzard and NetEase will get their rights remains to be seen.
What do you think about these Overwatch clones? Should there be strict laws and swift penalties? Or is this something that cannot be avoided and is actually good PR for the original?
There is fresh information about Anthem (PC, PS4, Xbox One), the alleged Destiny competitor from BioWare. The development team has achieved a significant milestone – the puzzle is coming together.
For a long time, it has been quiet about Anthem, the upcoming multiplayer shooter from BioWare. The game was revealed at the last E3 and attracted attention with an impressive presentation.
However, particularly many pieces of information deviating from the “typical” gameplay were not received at that time. Quickly, concerns arose in the BioWare community that Anthem would not have a good story and would merely focus on multiplayer shooting action without context.
BioWare has now at least indirectly contradicted that. A few days ago, the developers celebrated a small milestone when they held an internal review where everyone could look back at the work already accomplished.
BioWare expresses satisfaction with Anthem, celebrates the storytelling
Apparently, the developers were so excited about their own result that they eagerly tweeted about it.
Jonathan Warner, the game director of Anthem, revealed that they had an “overwhelming review” that would signify a milestone in the development of Anthem.
Also present was Jay Watamaniuk, who was specifically praised by Warner for his “captivating storytelling.” Watamaniuk is a writer at BioWare and is thus responsible for the story of Anthem.
During the review, all developers could watch the playthrough (presumably of a mission) where the work of all participants was clearly visible. Alain Baxter tweeted about it, “A highlight: seeing all parts individually at first and then recognizing how it comes together as a game.”
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How is Bless, the missing MMORPG from Korea? Better than one might think!
Bless is one of the games that has long been on the “I will keep an eye on that” list for MMORPG fans. It was mentioned in our article about the “most promising new MMORPGs expected to be released here in 2015 and 2016.” As the only game on the list, the launch of Bless has not yet occurred here in the West.
What’s going on?
Bless: Classic MMORPG with difficult starts
Bless is a classic MMORPG: two factions fight against each other in a world that resembles medieval Europe. The game has already been released in Korea and Russia, but has since been withdrawn and is set to be restructured.
Bless is currently being developed in Korea, running on a “Rebuild” server. This is quite far away from us in Europe. According to information from the YouTuber Nocht, who is following the project, the rework of Bless is taking place in 3 stages. However, the 3rd season has now been completed and the rebuild project is essentially over.
In the realignment, Neowiz is addressing gameplay, progression systems, and restructuring the game.
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The latest is that the race “Mascu”, actually a beast-like race, will also receive a “human” version and thus become a childlike race. This is optional and purely cosmetic.
The battlefield “Siege of Castra” has also been transformed to become more attractive to players.
The development of Bless in South Korea is progressing fairly well. However, according to Nocht, South Korean players are becoming less and less interested. They are now oriented towards new MMORPGs like Lost Ark or Lineage Eternal and have little interest in following a relatively old MMORPG like Bless.
Information on a Europe release of Bless could come soon
Nocht expects that there will soon be information about the fate of Bless here in Europe and North America.
At the end of next week, Bless will be featured at TwitchCon in California. Nocht estimates that a release date for the West could be announced here, or at least a beta. The TwitchCon takes place from October 20 to 22.
All information about the PC version of Destiny 2 can be found here in the overview. When is the release date, what time does it start, and what are the system requirements?
Many Guardians and all PC players who want to become Guardians are already getting restless: Because the Destiny universe finally comes to PC with Destiny 2. About a month and a half after the launch on PS4 and Xbox One, the Guardian community is growing – the PC launch is imminent!
If you want to face Ghaul and his Red Legion on your computer, there are a few things to consider. This guide provides all the information about the PC version of Destiny 2 at a glance.
Release date and start time of the PC version of Destiny 2
When does Destiny 2 start on PC in Germany?
The official release date is October 24, 2017, at 7 PM. That is a Tuesday. This date applies to the disc version and the digital version via battle.net.
The servers will go online worldwide at the same time. If you are located outside Central Europe on that date, you can see the global start times here:
Why is Destiny 2 coming to PC so late? According to official statements from Bungie, the developers need a little more time to make the PC version as good as possible. The fact that console Guardians now have a huge head start and numerous secrets have long been solved still frustrates many PC players.
Destiny 2 on PC – Preload, Download, and Launch via battle.net
If you have purchased Destiny 2, you can start it from the launch date via battle.net or the Blizzard app. If you want to buy the digital version, the download and installation is only possible through battle.net – Destiny 2 is not available via Steam and other launchers.
Important: You can now link your battle.net account with Bungie.net. To do this, visit the Bungie page, select “Register” and then connect with battle.net. This is necessary to utilize Clan features in the game, among other things.
System requirements – The necessary PC specs
Is your PC suitable for “Destiny 2”? Here are the official system requirements.
On the left side, you see the minimum system requirements and on the right side the recommended (click on the graphic to enlarge):
Control with Mouse and Keyboard – Key Mapping and Aim Assist
So you don’t bang on the keys wildly and confused when you take your first steps as a Guardian on PC, we have a graphic for controlling with mouse and keyboard for you:
Important: Crossplay and Cross-Save are not possible. You cannot play with console players (PS4 and Xbox One) or transfer your save files.
The feedback so far for the PC version of Destiny 2 has been overwhelmingly positive. With a powerful PC, the MMO shooter looks outstanding and feels excellent thanks to the high FPS numbers. You can see gameplay here:
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Is Destiny 2 worth it for PC? Tips and advice for beginners
According to reviews on Metacritic, Destiny 2 is an excellent game. Out of a possible 100 points, the MMO shooter received an average of 85 points (PS4, based on 92 reviews) or 87 points (Xbox One, based on 18 reviews). The gunplay is particularly praised – Destiny 2 just plays great.
Despite these top ratings, there is currently a lot of criticism from many users. The main reason: There is too little to do in the endgame, with complaints about the lack of variety and long-term motivation. However, Bungie has already announced improvements here.
If you are not familiar with Destiny 2 or have only little knowledge, we recommend these articles:
A surprise hit in summer 2017 was the slasher Friday the 13th: The Game. Now in autumn, the game is even available in stores for PS4 and Xbox One. Additionally, retro content is expected to create a new hype: a large, free DLC is waiting for fans.
Recently, everyone is talking about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. This is the hit on Steam and Twitch in 2017. By the end of May, it seemed like “Friday the 13th: The Game” could become the indie hit of the year.
Summer hit 2017 despite bugs and competition
The slasher based on the cult horror franchise “Friday the 13th” started in early summer 2017, shrieking and wildly hitting around. Even the developers did not expect such a rush: 75,000 players melted the servers.
In the game, “survivors” – the counselors – have to somehow escape the killer Jason. The slasher was available at launch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and especially celebrated its successes on Twitch as a crazy spectacle that is also fun to watch.
Friday: the 13th is now available in stores for PS4 and Xbox One
After the initial hype in May and June, things have quieted down around Friday the 13th in recent months. According to the developers, this should change again.
On Friday, October 13, the retail version of Friday: the 13th The Game was released for PS4 and Xbox One.
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Are you already excited about the new Desert Map in PUBG? In the new screenshots, you can now see some details like towers and airplane wrecks.
In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, millions of players battle on the well-known Erangel Map. Professionals already know popular places like the school by heart and could navigate through the obstacles with their eyes closed. A new map is just what many players need. Finally exploring new places again and getting a visual change from the grass hills.
The new desert map resembles Mexico and offers meteorite craters, many houses, and plenty of climbing opportunities.
PUBG Desert Map Screenshots and First Insights
In August, we were able to see the first plans for the desert map in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. On Twitter, chief Brendan Greene showed a work-in-progress overview of the new map. From this, only the rough style for the new map could be recognized at first: it will be sandy.
In a hands-on, “PC Gamer” was able to try out the new desert map and the climbing system. The testers were surprised by many trees, cacti, and a large number of buildings. Unlike the current Erangel map, you can expect much variety on the desert map.
There are hills and ditches that are a feast for sniper enthusiasts or, on the contrary, provide opportunities for surprise attacks.
The terrain differences should not only be noticeable for the “pedestrians” but also have an impact on the handling characteristics of vehicles. Differences in vehicle steering should be noticeable when driving on paved roads or off-road.
There are many places to explore. This includes three old meteorite craters with small towns in them. There you will find an airplane wreck that is still burning.
The testers already have a good impression of the new map, which is still a work in progress and has no name yet. Besides the map, they were also able to test the new climbing functions.
Climbing and vaulting in PUBG – After a bit of practice, it works
The climbing function in PUBG is, like the map, still a work in progress. After a few minutes of testing, the “vaulting” felt smooth and fitting to the game.
Jumping out of windows, vaulting over fences, and then climbing into the window of the next building: after a few minutes, the feature is said to be easy to use. This could help your future maps gain even more “speed” and be faster than now. So positive prospects for the future of PUBG!
Doubts are rising about the sales success of Destiny 2. Allegedly, Destiny 2 is about 40% below expectations. Activision hopes for a successful PC port.
Last Friday, the 13th, several Wall Street analysts gave their assessments of the sales success of Destiny 2. And apparently the sales are significantly lower than predicted.
Destiny 2 sold less often than Destiny 1
In the USA, 50% fewer Destiny 2 boxes were sold compared to Destiny 1 during its release month in September 2014. This is what Wall Street analysts are now noting, referencing data from market researchers NPD Group.
Analyst Michael Olson says: “The launch month of Destiny 2 was significantly below that of the original.”
Analyst Michael Pachter states, “The sales of Destiny 2 are underwhelming.” They are about 37% below forecasts. Pachter believes that in the release month, Destiny 2 missed about 40% of sales compared to its predecessor.
However: The current figures from the USA represent “physical sales.” It can be assumed that “digital sales” are higher than with Destiny 1 in 2014 – the digital market has become more important.
The question is therefore: “Do the higher digital sales offset the poorer physical sales?”
Experts assume: No, that is not the case. Although in 2017 more digital editions are being sold than in 2014, it’s not by a significant amount.
Analysts believe that Destiny 2 has sold poorly because it has only been released on two platforms – PS4 and Xbox One. The first Destiny was released on four platforms (PS3, Xbox 360 as well).
Furthermore, analysts believe that some potential buyers may still be waiting for the PC release of Destiny 2.
Activision says: PC is coming too
Activision comments on the numbers: “The first Destiny was the largest launch of a new video game franchise in history. And Destiny 2 has surpassed these numbers for digital sales and user engagement in the launch week. The Destiny universe will welcome PC players as a new community for the first time on October 24.”
Destiny 2 was probably bought less than Destiny 1 – but played by more people
My MMO states: Activision emphasizes that more people are really playing Destiny 2 than Destiny 1. They have repeatedly highlighted that the number of simultaneously logged-in Guardians has never been greater than in the first week of Destiny 2.
However, there has been no success report from Activision regarding the overall sales numbers. Therefore, it seems that truly fewer people bought Destiny 2 than Destiny 1. That’s the subtle difference you can hear.
Warframe has made its breakthrough with the latest update “Plains of Eidolon”. Player numbers are exploding on Steam right now, pushing the MMO shooter to 4th place in the Steam charts.
Warframe is a free online shooter by Digital Extremes, reminiscent of Destiny, which was released back in 2013. Since its release, a loyal and enthusiastic player base has developed. Warframe is rated “very positive” by 91% of players on Steam. The game has grown mainly through strong word-of-mouth.
Digital Extremes has continuously developed and improved Warframe. The developers have always stayed close to the community.
Now, in October 2017, Warframe has achieved its big breakthrough.
Warframe climbs to 4th place in the Steam charts – now ahead of GTA 5
The last player record was 69,000 logged-in players at the same time. This record was triggered in March 2017 by the musical update “Octavia’s Anthem“.
The expansion Plains of Eidolon has caused a real explosion on Steam. With the update, Warframe was able to register almost 118,000 players at the same time.
This record currently pushes Warframe to 4th place in the Steam charts, placing the cooperative online shooter ahead of “big” games like Middle-earth 2 or GTA 5.
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The new Pokémon GO update 0.79.2 for Android and 1.49.2 for iOS is supposed to fix several bugs again. This time hopefully more efficiently than the last updates.
In the past few days, we have had to deal with many bugs and issues in Pokémon GO. Glitched characters were running across the map and game crashes took away the fun of raids and arena battles. The new update aims to fix various bugs and improve the game’s performance.
Update 0.79.2 / 1.49.2 Patch Notes
The new update is currently being rolled out and will gradually be released for different regions. In the official patch notes, the developers explain what has changed with the update.
However, the official explanation this time is rather sparse:
“Various other bugs have been fixed and performance improved,” it says on the Pokémon GO website.
These new bug fixes should please many trainers, as only a few bugs were fixed by the last updates. Impatient trainers are waiting for solutions to the issues with the GO Plus and other bugs in the game.
However, behind the scenes of the update, more is happening than the patch notes reveal. APK miners have examined the patch more closely and have come to the following conclusions.
Data Mining Results of Patch 0.79.2
Changes to the raid lobby. A few more changes have been made to the raid lobby to fix issues.
EX Raid Invitations: With the update, trainers are supposed to receive a notification in the future when an EX Raid is canceled. In the last days of the EX Raid test, some events had to be canceled. Previously, invitations simply disappeared. With the update, affected trainers should receive a notification about this.
Source: AudibleKnight (Reddit)
Possible New Features
Promo Code Rewards: A few months ago, the developers integrated the promo code feature in the Pokémon GO shop. There, codes can be redeemed, which, for example, can be found at sponsored Sprint stops. So far, the function has rarely been used. The data miners are surprised to find “Passcode_Rewards” in the code of Pokémon GO.
AR Changes: There have been some fine-tuning adjustments to the AR service of Pokémon GO. What the change is about is still unclear.
New Test Environment: Apparently, there are references to a test environment in the new update, where performance can be tested. The developers are placing more value on ensuring that the game runs smoothly in the future.
Anti-Cheat Measures – Blacklist for Spoofers?
In the past year, there have been frequent problems with cheaters who ruined the fun for other players. Players often asked for “blacklists” for GPS spoofing apps. These blacklists should then list the GPS fake apps, and Pokémon GO checks before launching the game whether these programs are active. This could keep spoofers out of the game.
However, this method sounds quite simple in theory. At least for iOS users, it was not easy to implement, as this check only worked on jailbroken smartphones, explains Dronpes from TheSilphRoad.
A blacklist tool has now appeared in the code of Update 0.79.2. This offers a lot of potential to keep GPS spoofers away and prevent them from entering the game or marking the affected accounts as cheaters, provided Niantic has found a way to utilize this app blacklist.
We hope to receive further explanations regarding this blacklist soon.
The singleplayer game Squadron 42, which is being developed in parallel with Star Citizen, no longer has a release date. Originally planned for 2014, it now seems that 2018 is the new release window. However, there is no official target date.
Squadron 42 is the singleplayer part of Star Citizen. The campaign is set to feature Hollywood stars such as Gary Oldman, Mark Hamill, or Gillian Anderson. Chris Roberts aims to tell a singleplayer story that is also meant to be experienced offline. Squadron 42 is particularly targeted at fans of Roberts’ earlier works, the “Wing Commander” series.
A year ago, players complained that they had not seen anything from Squadron 42. A presentation was expected in October 2016 – at CitizenCon, the trade fair of Star Citizen. However, nothing from the game was shown there.
This trade fair is approaching again, and once again there is bad news for Squadron 42.
Squadron 42 will not be at CitizenCon – only in December stream
In a letter to fans, Chris Roberts announces that Squadron 42 will not be shown at CitizenCon in October 2017. Instead, Squadron 42 will be the main part of the “Holiday Streams” in December 2017.
Roberts explains in the letter how closely intertwined Squadron 42 and Star Citizen are. It is said that CIG has a team working on Squadron 42 and is making good progress. Roberts aims to elevate the storytelling style of Wing Commander to a new level.
Roberts is confident that Squadron 42 is worth the wait. The game should be able to compete with any other AAA story-driven game.
Release date of Squadron 42 removed from the website
Apparently, CIG has removed the planned release year 2017 from the Squadron 42 website as part of this development.
In the Reddit forum, hardcore fans welcome this decision. Hardly anyone expected that Squadron 42 would be released this year anyway. They feel that CIG creates a false impression with the fixed release dates and wonder why CIG has repeated this mistake several times.
The fans on Reddit anticipate a release of Squadron 42 at the earliest by the end of 2018 and are generally in good spirits. The general mood seems to be: “Now it doesn’t matter how long we have to wait. As long as it turns out to be really good.”
After a longer open beta, the free action MMO Kritika Online has been released on the Steam platform. We took a look at the anime MMO for a test play.
I only knew Kritika Online as an app on my phone. While I never played it too intensely, the fast-paced battles were indeed fun. Now that Kritika Online is available for PC, I was curious whether the fast gameplay would work on the computer.
What kind of game is Kritika Online anyway?
Kritika Online is an action MMO featuring fast and straightforward combat. While in other online role-playing games you usually start leisurely in boring starting areas with trash mobs, here you dive right into the action. You instantly jump into short mission episodes and beat up some trolls and orcs.
Kritika Online does not feature an open game world, instead, you travel from dungeon to dungeon and from action fireworks to action fireworks.If I were to compare Kritika Online to another game, Continent of the Ninth comes to mind. Here, you also traverse instances and beat up foes with an active and action-packed combat system.
The character selection in Kritika Online – these classes are available
The character selection is remarkable and offers more than just boring menus! While you choose one of the 4 heroes, epic music plays in the background and you see some cutscenes rolling. Own voice actors dramatically narrate the short stories of the different characters. Unfortunately, the infamous gender lock in Asian games appears here again: The gender is tied to the classes.
Rogue: If you’re after brutal action and want to storm in quickly out of nowhere, the female rogue is a good fit. This class operates in melee combat and stabs enemies with a dagger.
Gunmage: Ranged fighters should take a closer look at the male gunmage. Armed with pistols, this class handles enemy scum swiftly but plays a bit more complex than the other heroes.
Warrior: This ever-male muscle brute fights with a broadsword. He gives as good as he gets.
Reaper: The reaper is a sexy warrior who wields a powerful scythe, mowing down opponents by the dozen and tying them up with chains and magic.
I chose the warrior because I wanted uncomplicated brawler action without frills.
Once you reach level 15, you can choose another subclass to further customize your hero. After choosing your class, you also select a suitable hairstyle and the colors of your clothes. Oh, you can also choose a predefined face, but that’s it. The editor is therefore rather standard and comparatively limited.
My first minutes as a freshly styled warrior
After a short story video, I found myself in the middle of the field while a gigantic tin can stomped around in the background. Then I encountered the first monsters: a few trolls that were looking for trouble. So I took my sword and gave these beasts a taste of their own medicine. After the little fight, a boss challenged me.
What annoyed me here and generally during the fights: The enemies take too much punishment! Sometimes it felt like I was swinging a stuffed animal instead of my sword, as I received so little feedback for my hits. After finally defeating the giant monster, I moved to the capital where you can find various traders and take on one or another quest. Once you get accustomed to the city, you continue to the next dungeon – there is no open world as you know it from other MMOs. You travel via portal from the central hub to one instance after another.
A game without nightlife
Well, I’ll just talk to a few players in the meantime, if I can find any. Somehow the servers are quite empty. It was the middle of the night, but a few players should still be online at that late hour, right? At the portal, I can unlock the next instances and set different difficulties. The faster you master a dungeon, the more loot you receive at the end.
Action-packed combat system
The combat system in Kritika Online plays out pleasantly action-oriented and fast. It relies on active control. You have to target the enemy and dodge attacks at the right moment. There is no clunky tab-targeting or automatic attacks.
Using the “WASD” keys, you move your character and with the mouse, you look around. The mouse buttons carry out standard attacks, while the abilities can be found on the number keys. You can dodge with “Shift” and the “space bar” lets you make a small leap into the air. The further you progress in the game, the more abilities you acquire. These are especially important in PvP mode. Here, you can execute powerful combos to keep your enemy on the ground and incapacitate them.
What does the community say?
On Steam, user reviews are rather mixed. Many praise the action-packed combat system and the straightforward entry. Others see Kritika Online more as a game for a quick break. Nice for a few rounds during lunch break, but not a title that keeps you hooked for long. It is criticized that it mostly revolves around the same thing. You simply beat up enemies for hours! According to some users, there is a lot of grind present in the game. I still have to see what the endgame looks like. I am currently leveling my warrior.
Is Kritika Online fair?
Kritika Online is a free-to-play title and available on Steam. You can start the game and have fun without spending a cent. However, the developers need to finance themselves somehow, so there are some things you can buy with real money.
What I found positive is: There are 8 character slots available without spending a single cent. While you can definitely increase this with a bit of cash, 8 are more than acceptable. Other MMOs – such as AION and TERA – only have 2 measly slots at the beginning. If you want convenience and some bonuses, you should take a closer look at the elite status. This gives you several bonuses, such as more experience when defeating enemies.
With the currency “Kred”, which is available for real money, you can buy costumes or companions in the in-game shop.
What worries me a bit: I already mentioned that many players complain about the grind. According to some players, this problem can be solved with a bit of cash for paid progression. Here, Kritika Online has to be careful not to slip into a pay-to-win scheme.
Kritika Online: Is it worth it?
Those who played Kritika on the smartphone before and enjoyed it will also be happy with this version for PC. The focus of the game is on fast action, without long wandering around or being overwhelmed by quests.
For a quick round in between, this is definitely fun, even if the depth loses some significance due to the repetitive gameplay.
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After several hours, the battles became really monotonous for me. It’s somehow always the same. You go on a mission, beat up a few monsters, and then it repeats over and over again. A grind, as you would find in any Asian MMO! It may be fun at the start, but it can’t keep me engaged for the long term.
However, the entry is fairly simple compared to other genre representatives, and you jump right into the action. So it’s ideal for players who have little time anyway.
If you simply want to destroy some monsters without complications, you should take a closer look at this action MMO. With its nearly 10 gigabytes of download size, it’s downloaded fairly quickly and it’s free!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Guardians leave PvP matches in the Crucible of Destiny 2 prematurely. This is a real annoyance. Some call for penalties for this desertion. But can Bungie actually enforce such penalties, and should they?
The discussion is as old as Destiny: There are players who leave matches early. These are the so-called quitters. They are supposed to be punished. This penalty is intended to make players finish the matches properly.
But can this even work? Or will honest players also be punished by this approach?
That’s why quitters are a problem in Destiny 2
Unlike in Destiny 1, the abilities (the skill) of a single player now play a lesser role in Destiny 2. This is mainly due to two factors:
The team size has been reduced from 6 to 4 players
Weapons and abilities deal less damage – team shots are more important
If a player drops out, whether due to a quit or a disconnect, the rest of the team has a big problem. In Destiny 1, a skilled player could compensate for a missing person – in Destiny 2 it is significantly harder.
If a team loses just one teammate, it is nearly impossible to win the game. This causes frustration among the remaining players.
Unlike in quick play, a missing player in competitive mode is rarely replaced. If a Guardian leaves the game right at the beginning, the three remaining Guardians face an almost impossible task.
To reduce the number of players quitting, penalties are now being demanded. But is this really the right way?
Demanding penalties for quitters is easy, but it misses the point. Because there are reasons why players exit a lobby early. Bungie needs to address these reasons.
That’s why players quit the Crucible:
The opposing team consists of a full clan / a pre-formed fireteam – and their own team is a ragtag bunch
Their own team is hopeless
Players are only playing to complete a challenge or quest – once that’s done, players disappear from the match
The first two issues are significantly more serious than the third point and target the matchmaking. Due to the reduced team size in Destiny 2, an opposing team, where all players belong to the same clan, is much more frequently encountered.
Why the competitive game mode in Destiny 2 suffers more from quitters
The competitive playlist in the Crucible is increasingly affected by premature game exits. And there are reasons for this:
more pre-formed fireteams play the competitive mode
the games take longer, but with the same loot as in quick play. Thus, players on the losing team have little incentive to finish a game
A player who quits early is rarely or never replaced
Additionally, the mercy rule is missing – at least in my experience. In Destiny 1, it ensured that one-sided games were ended prematurely. This made quitting unnecessary. It was clear: If it becomes too one-sided, the game will be over soon anyway.
Why incomplete teams are rarely completed during the game is unclear.
The theories range from poor search criteria in matchmaking to a deliberate circumstance on Bungie’s part to make the competitive playlist as close as possible to the Trials of the Nine.
Bungie needs to solve the problems, not punish quitters
Many players demand that quitters be sanctioned with a 30-minute ban if they leave a game prematurely. The problem with this is that all players would be punished, even if they accidentally got disconnected from a game.
This could be avoided by Bungie implementing a system that is inspired by Overwatch. If a player has to leave a lobby due to a connection error, they have the option to rejoin that game.
Such a system would only make sense if players also have a reason to rejoin an ongoing game. And currently, Bungie provides no reason for that.
The competitive game mode has no ranking system, no incentive to prefer it over quick play. Additionally, the reward system is underdeveloped and does not motivate players to finish a match.
This is how premature game exits could be prevented
Bungie needs to minimize the reasons for game exits. Measures such as
an improved loot system,
reducing match durations,
an improved matchmaking that considers fireteam size,
immediate replacement of a missing player,
a revision of the mercy rule (ending a game if x players have been missing from a team for x minutes)
can help to significantly reduce the number of game exits.
The ability to rejoin a game that one had to leave due to a connection error would not only be a benefit for the normal Crucible but also for the Trials of the Nine.
What are your experiences with premature match exits? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
