Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood is not just a successful expansion. The addon has brought a tremendous increase in sales to the online role-playing game. Additionally, there’s the mount Sleipnir as a flying mount with update 4.1.
The second addon for Final Fantasy XIV, Stormblood, is resulting in higher revenue and increased player numbers for publisher Square Enix.
Tremendous Revenue Increase from Stormblood Addon
The first quarter of the fiscal year 2018 must have put a blissful smile on the faces of Square Enix shareholders. Because of Stormblood, Final Fantasy XIV has become more popular than ever before.
The high revenues are said to result, according to the quarterly report, from both many addons sold and an increased number of subscribers. Therefore, Square Enix expects that Final Fantasy XIV will continue to have a strong impact on the company’s profit in the future.
According to Square Enix, there have never been so many paying subscribers for Final Fantasy XIV as after the release of the expansion.
Note: We already reported at the beginning of August about the excellent numbers of Stormblood that the number of subscribers has risen to a new record high, which was new to us. This is now evident from a translation of the presentation from August 4th from Japanese.
Sleipnir can fly again with patch 4.1!
Not only are the revenues of Square Enix currently on a high flight. The mount Sleipnir, Odin’s horse, can also fly with update 4.1. This is in response to a long-held fan wish.
In Destiny 2, kinetic weapons deal more damage than energy weapons, right? There are significant differences in PvP and PvE.
Those who have read our comprehensive weapon guide for Destiny 2 or have examined the weapons in the game closely know that kinetic weapons deal more damage in PvE than energy weapons of the same weapon archetype.
Specifically, this means: An automatic rifle with a fire rate of 450 in the kinetic slotdepletesthe health of a standard enemy in PvEfaster than an automatic rifle with a fire rate of 450 in the energy slot.
This knowledge is not new; it was already known before the launch of Destiny 2. During the beta, smart minds conducted tests.
Now, the Redditor Kitsunekinder presents new, interesting test results. He experimented with kinetic and energy weapons of the same archetype in PvE and PvP, pitting them against standard enemies, shielded opponents, and Guardians with and without active Supers. In PvE, he always fought at the same spawn point against the same enemies. No mods were used.
Kinetic weapons deal 10% more damage in PvE than energy weapons
We directly summarize the most exciting findings:
In PvE, kinetic weapons deal 10% more damage to enemies without shields than energy weapons of the same weapon archetype.
In PvE, energy weapons deal nearly three times the damage to enemy shields than kinetic weapons of the same archetype. The elemental type does not matter here.
In PvP, kinetic and energy weapons deal exactly the same damage in standard engagements, as long as the weapons belong to the same archetype.
In PvP, an energy weapon deals 10% more damage to Guardians with an active Super than kinetic weapons of the same archetype. The elemental type does not matter.
Important: The differences always refer to the same weapon archetype. A kinetic scout rifle, for example, does not deal 10% more damage in PvE than an energy automatic rifle.
In practice, these results mean:
When a heavy opponent with a shield approaches you in PvE, first shoot down the shield with the energy weapon, then switch to the kinetic weapon and finish him off.
In PvP, it usually doesn’t matter whether you have a kinetic or an energy weapon. If an enemy with an active Super comes around the corner, whip out the energy weapon.
Another finding that the user stumbled upon during his tests: Elite enemies (with yellow health bars) take the same body shot damage as standard enemies, but elite enemies suffer around 50% less crit damage than standard enemies.
Keep in mind that these numbers are not official but are based on community test results.
If you want more information about the weapons and for instance are still unsure about what matching elements do in PvE, then take a look at our weapon guide for Destiny 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Pokémon GO Plus now takes much longer to perform actions like catching or spinning PokéStops. This is due to a problem with iOS 11.
There is a new software update for Apple devices that not only offers cool new features but also comes with difficulties.
There are issues with the collaboration between the new operating system and Pokémon GO as well as the GO Plus gadget. The handy gadget now vibrates only three to five times before it registers a button activation.
This significantly delays the time it takes to activate stops or catch Pokémon, and you miss out on valuable items and monsters.
Pokémon GO iOS 11 Bug
The new iOS 11 causes problems when you play Pokémon GO with the GO+ gadget. In fact, you carry the small “Plus” helper with you so that collecting items or catching monsters can be done without handling the smartphone.
Some players use it when they are on the go and don’t want to miss stops and Pokémon:
The GO+ vibrates
You press the button, interrupting the vibration
The gadget then attempts to catch a monster or collect items
This was convenient for joggers, as they didn’t have to slow down at stops but could collect items while running by. Passengers in cars also liked using the gadget because otherwise, it was rare to have time to spin PokéStops while driving past – it takes too much time on the phone.
Now players are complaining on Reddit and Twitter: The GO+ has become slower. The culprit is the new iOS 11, as it apparently forces the GO+ to vibrate initially three to five times before it realizes “Aha, someone pressed the button.”
Whether this is a mistake or actually intended is still not entirely clear. We have inquired with Niantic and are still waiting for a response. Perhaps the developers are already working on a solution. If there’s something new, we will report it here and on our Pokémon GO Facebook page.
Update – 21.9.: Reddit user ShugoTakahashi shows in a video how the bug manifests. He compares an older iOS version with the new iOS 11 version.
The mobile game Summoners War allows you to engage in exciting tactical arena battles based on the rock-paper-scissors principle. There is even a world championship called “Summoners War World Arena Championship 2017,” where there is a lot of money to be won. But what is Summoners War all about?
The mobile tactical game Summoners War has over 70 million players. The secret to its success is the tactical gameplay. In an arena, you compete as a summoner against an opponent and use combinations of various summoned creatures.
Each of these beings has different powers, assigned to different elements. Just like in the good old rock-paper-scissors, the right combination decides victory or defeat. Depending on how often you win in the so-called Sky Arena, you rank up and can participate in tournaments.
Summoners War World Arena Championship 2017 – Start of the World Championship with Great Rewards
These tournaments are not just a means to an end in Summoners War. Rather, there is a lot to win, especially at the start of the biggest world championship tournament Summoners War World Arena Championship 2017.
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The world championship tournament begins with the regional qualifying tournament on October 7, 2017, in Paris at the theater and cinema “La Comedia.” There, the 16 best players from Europe will meet and compete for a spot in the grand final tournament in the USA in November. Additionally, there are substantial prizes: A total of $5,000 will be awarded to the winners of the preliminary rounds, and the grand final has a prize pool of $50,000.
Summoners War – Be a Spectator at the World Championship
Registration for players has now ended, but you can still participate as a spectator.
Those who watch on-site in Paris will also receive a goody bag with 750 crystals and a T-shirt. Other preliminary tournaments will take place in various locations including Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.
Note: The Webedia group, which includes Mein-MMO, cooperates with Com2Us (Summoners War).
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The arena brawler Battlerite will be transformed from a Buy2Play title to Free2Play in November. Additionally, the roadmap for the upcoming year 2017 has been presented. Is the change in the business model a cause for concern?
Battlerite, the unofficial successor to Bloodline Champions, is a fun and fast-paced arena brawler. So a MOBA that focuses solely on team fights, skill shots, and duels in an ever-shrinking arena. The game from the Swedish indie studio Stunlock launched in September 2016 with a massive success on Steam and quickly reached number 1 on the Steam sales charts.
At that time, you had to purchase Battlerite as an early access version. However, in November the game should become Free2Play.
Battlerite – Is Free2Play a bad sign?
For many games, switching to a Free2Play model has been the beginning of the end. A method to try to save a dying game by making it accessible for free to many players, only to then charge them heavily. Is Battlerite going down the same path?
First of all, Free2Play is not a surprise for those familiar with the game. Already at the early access launch in 2016, the developers announced that Battlerite would be a Free2Play game on launch. On the other hand, player numbers have noticeably declined. According to Steam charts, Battlerite reached its peak in December 2016 with over 16,000 players.
In August 2017, the record was just a maximum of 2,500 players. In September, the numbers have slightly recovered, with a maximum of 4,345 gamers so far. A Free2Play launch could indeed bring fresh wind!
Battlerite – The roadmap for 2017 and 2018 – Xbox One launch next year!
In addition to the Free2Play launch, the developers have other goals. After some players reported that not much new content had come to Battlerite for a long time, it seems they are now ramping up:
September: Battlerite will be free to play from September 25 to October 1. You can try the game at your leisure and decide whether you want to buy it to get all champions when it becomes free2play. During this time, Battlerite will also be 50 percent cheaper, costing only 9.98 Euros.
October: Battlerite will receive a system in which you can pre-set your Battlerites – useful buffs that you receive each round from which you can only choose a selection. Additionally, new Battlerites and revisions of the old versions will be introduced. Also, a new UI and a new game mode, which is still unknown, will be added.
November: The Free2Play launch will occur on November 8. As a free player, you will get a selection of easy-to-play heroes, but you can purchase new ones with real money or in-game currency. There will also be a new hero, additional items, an AFK penalty system, and additional music. Later in the month, there will be an event with dinosaurs.
December: Here, you can expect a winter event with a new champion and special ice chests.
2018: Next year, Battlerite will have a tournament system, a new HUD, clans, three new champions in the first quarter, new maps, additional game modes, an event for the Chinese New Year, and finally the launch on Xbox One!
The announced updates have meanwhile delighted many Battlerite players. For a long time, there wasn’t much content, but now many wishes are coming true.
The colorful hero shooter Paladins is now being covered by our colleague Leya in the live stream. This has, in turn, inspired Jürgen, who spent the weekend with Paladins and can’t get enough now. Here is his play report.
Last week, colleague Leya started her live stream of Paladins for the first time and played for two hours the colorful hero shooter from Hi-Rez. She presented the game with humor and charm. I simply couldn’t help but install Paladins that same evening and dive into the fray.
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I actually thought I was done with Paladins. A few months ago, I had already invested a lot of time in the hero shooter. Back then, my enthusiasm was great. I racked up loads of kills and my opponents fell in droves before the righteous fury of my weapons.
Unlike similar games like Overwatch or even Battleborn, I was not in the lower middle or bottom tier in Paladins. I was rather a real killer! I felt ultra-powerful and basked in the glory of my fame:
“Yes, tremble and hide, you miserable noobs! The “Stöffelnator” is on the prowl, and soon it will be over for you!”
Paladins – Oops, why am I suddenly dying?
Apparently, deep down, I was indeed a real pro gamer, and the other players in Paladins were quite the idiots. They stubbornly ran into my fire again and again, and I could easily dodge their pathetic counterattacks.
Then I finally reached level 5, and the great awakening came. Suddenly, it was the other way around, and I was farmed like a field of potatoes at harvest time! What I didn’t know: In Paladins, you play the first 5 account levels against bots without realizing it!
Of course, I looked good against bots, even with my rather modest shooting skills! Against real people, however, I quickly ran out of tricks. I was immensely disappointed and didn’t play Paladins much after that. I had other games to play and eventually forgot the shooter.
Paladins – Reunion with success!
But then came Leya’s stream premiere, and I wanted to see how my colleague was performing live in front of the webcam – Paladins or not. She initially played the – to me – new hero Ash, and I found the gameplay really interesting. So I quickly installed Paladins myself and tried the game again.
And after just one round, I was back under the spell of the game. I played Ash and got along great with the heroine. Everything felt intuitive, and I played my role as an off-tank really well.
Whether I was protecting my team with the shield, blowing enemies away with shrapnel rounds, or pushing them around with shoulder charges, Ash was made for me. And since she is a tank, I didn’t always have to dodge and play carefully until I had low hit points; I could mostly flee or be healed. Now that’s fun!
In the end, I cautiously asked my team-mates considering the pretty good stats: “Were those bots or real players?” – And yes, they were indeed not bots, I actually had success! What joy!
Paladins – My new favorite game!
Gradually, I started trying out other heroes. I quickly realized what I was good at and what didn’t suit me at all. For example, the goblin Ruckus and the tactically tricky healer Ying were nothing for me. I got taken out way too quickly with Ruckus. Leya later said, “Yeah, of course, that’s also an off-tank that doesn’t solo run into the fire and expect to survive long.”
Okay, good to know. For that, I got along better with the dark healer Seris or the sneaky fox Pip. Especially with Seris, it’s a blast to pump the enemies full of charges with each hit. When the enemy then flees, a push of the button detonates the charges. Suddenly, the enemy is dead and wonders, “WTF?” It’s a lot of fun!
Paladins – Less of an Overwatch clone than you might think
The flanker Androxus, on the other hand, was a bit tricky at first. I expected some sort of Tracer in demon form from the skill description. However, I didn’t consider that Androxus doesn’t keep his unused teleport charges.
After the first trigger, a timer set in, and if I didn’t use the charges by then, they would all be gone, and the cooldown would start. Until I figured that out, I had to die many deaths and often cursed the strange controls!
However, my absolute favorite besides Ash is Maeve. Especially the new “Raeve” skin has captured my attention. Depending on the action, the dubstep beat in the background intensifies or slows down when I’m not in combat and taking down enemies in droves with Maeve’s killer combos.
I still don’t know if I got better in the meantime or if Paladins has changed, but I now really like Hi-Rez’s hero shooter and will certainly play it longer.
Maybe Leya will let me participate in a future live stream. The next Twitch stream from Leya on Paladins is on Thursday, September 21!
For console players on the Xbox One, things are now calmer in Overwatch with 2.19. Trolls are quiet – is that it?
When it comes to combating trolls and disruptive players, Overwatch has had a major problem since its release. Toxicity has increased significantly after launch, and in almost every match, there’s one or another “expert” who is ranting or causing trouble.
The Patch 2.19 of Overwatch should have at least provided some relief on the Xbox One. Players have long had a “reputation” there – and if it falls below a certain threshold, they have to live with restrictions. This now also applies to Overwatch. Anyone who drops to “Avoid Me” due to being reported for unfriendly behavior too often can no longer use voice chat.
“Silenced” players end up in the same Overwatch pool
However – and this is controversial – players still end up in the same pool of teammates. The “silent” players are thus still grouped with the “unreported” players.
Some fans wish for separate penalty pools where toxic players can only play against and with each other. However, Blizzard rejects this and prefers to ensure in the long term that extremely disruptive players cannot participate in Overwatch at all.
In FIFA 18 FUT, the TOTW 1 (Team of the Week 1) is known. These players receive their first Inform cards in Ultimate Team today.
FIFA 18 has not officially been released yet, but already there are the first TOTW cards in FUT 18.
The reason: Every Wednesday, EA Sports selects players with special cards who performed outstandingly in real football over the past week. This is the weekly “TOTW”, the Team of the Week, where the player cards have upgraded attributes. And since tomorrow, on September 21st, the Early Access via EA Access and Origin Access starts, the FUT season of FIFA 18 begins today with the first Team of the Week.
The first Team of the Week features a player with a total rating of 90: Aguero. Strong ratings also include Dybala with 89 and Mertens with 87. Bayern star Kimmich is also present with 84:
FUT 18 – Player Ratings of Team of the Week 1
Starting XI:
Substitutes:
What is the TOTW in FIFA 18 Ultimate Team?
Every Wednesday, EA Sports unveils the Team of the Week in the “Ultimate Team” mode of their annual football simulation. This is also the case in FIFA 18. Here, players who performed outstandingly in real football over the past week are rewarded with special cards that possess improved attributes.
You can pull the TOTW cards from the sets within a week, which may contain Rare (Gold) players. However, the chance of this is considered low. Additionally, you can buy them on the transfer market if they are offered by other players. The prices are usually extremely high.
The first Team of the Week is available in the sets until September 27th. This means that those who start on the official release day, September 29th, will not be able to pull these TOTW players from the sets anymore. Those who have three days of Early Access and can start on September 26th still have a chance to get the first TOTW. Otherwise, you will have to buy the players on the transfer market.
In Destiny 2, Bungie is teasing the Faction Rally. What faction allegiance will you take on? Future War Cult, New Monarchy, or Dead Orbit?
Next week, on September 26, a new activity starts in Destiny 2: the Faction Rally. This is indicated by a graphic where Bungie lists the main events for September.
What this “Faction Rally” entails is still unknown. Is it a limited-time event? Will the factions remain permanently in Destiny 2 from then on? And what is the goal of this rally? Answers to these questions will likely come in the coming days. Update: Here are the answers, this is what you can expect in the Faction Rally.
A first hint about the Faction Rally now came from Community Manager DeeJ via Twitter. He hinted that the faction leaders will appear soon. He also asks whom you will pledge your loyalty to.
The factions in Destiny 2 – Future War Cult, Dead Orbit, New Monarchy
In Destiny 1, Guardians had the choice between three factions: the Future War Cult, Dead Orbit, and New Monarchy. Each Guardian could belong to only one faction per character. So, one had to make a choice. While loyalty could be changed (at most) once a week, many Guardians remained loyal to their faction. The community often engaged in discussions about which favorite faction was the best or coolest.
For the faction you supported, you earned reputation. This allowed you to earn reward packages and purchase exclusive gear.
In Destiny 2, the new faction system will likely operate similarly:
There will be the same three factions as in Destiny 1. The activity graphic shows the three faction symbols at the rally.
In the Tower of Destiny 2, there are places where the faction emblems are already hanging. Only the faction leaders are still missing.
Dead Orbit
New Monarchy
Future War Cult
In footage from Destiny 2, equipment pieces have already been discovered that are faction-specific. There will likely be exclusive items to earn with each faction:
And DeeJ stated that you can once again choosea faction.
Do you already know which faction you will choose?
It is likely that Destiny 2 will have the same faction leaders as in Destiny 1:
New Monarchy: The leader is Executor Hideo. This faction wants you to focus on the Last City. The Last City is to give meaning to every victory. The New Monarchy strives to give the Last City the leadership it deserves and restore the Golden Age.
Dead Orbit: The leader is Arach Jalaal. This faction sees the system as lost. They want to create a new life for all in distant worlds. Their goal is to leave Earth and “grow new blooms far from this dead world.”
The Future War Cult: The leader is Lakshmi-2. This faction sees war as the only solution. No walls can keep war away, no councils can prevent it. Thus, war must be accepted as the future.
Which faction will you choose in Destiny 2 with your main character? Participate in our poll. You have only one vote:
What do you think? What can we expect in the Faction Rally?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In World of Warcraft, mead and beer flow once again in abundance. The Brewfest is live – and has some great new features in 2017.
If you break down the different species of Azeroth to the smallest common denominator, it is probably not the hatred of the Legion, but the love for a good drink. So it’s no wonder that Brewfest is also celebrated in Azeroth, while in the background hellish beasts rain down from the sky.
The Brewfest in World of Warcraft runs from today (09/20/2017) until 10/06/2017 – so a bit longer than two weeks.
Generally, this year there are again the “usual suspects” – that is, plenty of repeatable quests, fancy dirndls or lederhosen for transmogrifikation, as well as some pets and toys. Most of them are sold for Brewfest tokens, which can be earned from almost every activity at the event. Oh, and there is of course beer in abundance!
The Brewfest is celebrated at the Alliance in front of Ironforge, while followers of the Horde head to Orgrimmar in front of the city gates.
Brewfest Boss: Coren Direbrew – Now also for Twinks
For most players, a daily visit to the event boss Coren Direbrew, who has set up his beer garden in the Blackrock Depths, is worth it. The item level of the trinkets and weapons has been raised to 880, so fresh characters at level 110 might be able to snag a piece or two.
New in 2017 is that Coren Direbrew can be visited not only at the maximum level of 110 but also by characters with a significantly lower level. His loot will then be adjusted to the item level, making it useful and wearable for the character. In plain terms, this mainly means more chances for the Brewfest Ram, which can be included in the daily reward chest.
Coren Direbrew can be selected as usual via the dungeon browser.
Have you collected all the Brewfest goodies yet? Or are you still desperately collecting every year?
Pokémon GO celebrates the solstice with you and rewards players with great rewards like double stardust.
The developers of Pokémon GO are preparing, like us, for the upcoming cool autumn nights in the northern hemisphere. Good reason to launch an in-game event again. Many of you will now think, “Oh man, it was about time. After all those safari events, something should finally be there for everyone.”
Here are the bonuses you can expect at the solstice event in Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO Equinox 2017 Event
In a few days, the solstice event (original: Equinox) will start in Pokémon GO. It starts on September 22 at 10:00 PM. You have until October 2 October 3 at 10:00 PM to snag cool bonuses. After a server outage, the event was extended by 24 hours. Here, Niantic is particularly generous!
When catching Pokémon or hatching eggs, you get double the amount of stardust!
Also, you should visit many PokéStops while exploring the surroundings. There, special 2km eggs are waiting for you. These have the chance to hatch strong Pokémon that were frequently seen at the last safari events.
There is a chance of Chansey, Mareep and Larvitar “and others” from the 2km eggs.
In the in-game shop, there are also new packages containing items like lucky eggs, lures, and the brand new super incubator.
The super incubator can hatch eggs at 1.5 times the speed.
But these are not all the bonuses you can take advantage of during the solstice fest in Pokémon GO.
Triple Experience in Pokémon GO
If you register a new Pokémon in the PokéDex during the event, you will receive triple experience points for it. So strike now with the legendary beasts. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get triple experience points for the new beast that you can catch in Germany after the rotation on September 30.
Currently, a new online shooter called Pantropy is in development that transports you to a distant world where you fight for resources.
The sandbox of Pantropy aims to provide you with a lot of freedom. You start in the outskirts of a vast island on a foreign planet. You want to conquer this planet, but you need to extract the resources found inside the island. However, the resources are guarded by malicious aliens, and other players are also trying to extract the valuable materials. Therefore, the shooter mixes PvE and PvP elements.
Fights, Crafting, and Base Building
You can build bases in the outskirts that serve as a starting point for your expeditions. Together with friends, you fight further into the island’s interior to extract valuable resources.
In action-packed and fast-paced combat, you will face both aliens and hostile players.
You will then use the extracted resources to expand your base, create new weapons, and even vehicles – such as mechs. The island can accommodate up to 64 players.
Team Play is Important
During the adventures, it is possible to improve your hero. You will explore more of the island and get to see exotic places where particularly valuable resources await extraction.
The game is aimed at hardcore gamers as it offers many challenging tasks, and every mistake is harshly punished. Team play will help you progress.
Pantropy is set to release next year for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. An early access version is planned for the end of the year.
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Andreas says: Pantropy sounds very interesting. The fight for resources guarded by wild beasts could be exciting. The first videos and images also make a good impression. Let’s hope that the shooter can find enough players and does not fade away due to lack of marketing and a currently fiercely competitive genre.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The professional scene of Overwatch continually surprises with special moments – and not just in tournaments. Cloud9 DPS player Lane “Surefour” Roberts shows in his stream that even weaker heroes like Widowmaker can be extremely dangerous in the right hands.
“I know he is a good player, but Jesus christ…”
Talon’s sniper Amélie Lacroix is not usually a choice that teammates like to see in Overwatch ranked matches.
If Widowmaker does manage to deliver a solid performance, accusations of hacking are rarely far behind. Especially when the Widowmaker can already hold back the opposing team at the first point on Watchpoint Gibraltar.
But Overwatch pro Lane “Surefour” Roberts doesn’t need the help of an aim bot to stop the opposing team.
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The Canadian professional player explains on his stream how important it is to optimize settings when playing snipers. Not only positioning and technique play a role, but also the right mouse speed (sensitivity and DPI = Dots Per Inch).
If the mouse is too fast or too slow, the movements of hand and crosshair will no longer match. What can be seen in his stream and the video is the result of nearly perfect settings he has experimented with for quite some time.
“I’ve never been carried so hard…”
Through the moving images, some may have certainly been inspired to try it themselves. And those who want to emulate him are in luck! Surefour has even made a tutorial video for beginners and advanced players, in which he explains basic techniques for aiming. So, anyone looking to improve will be well served with tips from the pro.
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The story of Destiny 2 ends with an impressive cutscene that raises questions. What significance does it have for the future of the Guardians?
Warning: Major story spoilers ahead! If you haven’t completed the story yourself, you should not continue reading!
After you defeat the final boss Ghaul in the Destiny 2 campaign, the credits roll. However, the story is not completely over yet. A post-credits video follows, teasing a potential future danger.
In this video, you see the awakening of the Traveler, as it sends its light out into the universe. The light reaches the sun, it reaches the asteroid belt, Saturn, it spreads across our solar system and even across the entire galaxy. As it leaves the Milky Way, it suddenly encounters black pyramidal ships. These become activated and head for the source of the light – the Traveler and Earth.
Here you can watch the post-credits teaser:
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There is likely no doubt that we will encounter these pyramidal ships in the future. Presumably, this will be the new major threat that the Guardians will have to face. The only question is: What kind of enemies are they?
What is this about?
Since the first Guardians completed the story, there have been speculations in the forums about who or what this could be. Two theories are particularly frequently mentioned: It could be the Nine – or even the Darkness.
It’s likely not the Nine
Some suspect that it could be the Nine who play an important role in Destiny 2 with the “Trials of the Nine.” This scene could show that the Nine are hostile and are planning an attack in the near future, possibly in the context of a DLC.
However, there are many arguments against this theory:
On the one hand, the Nine are said to be the rulers of the worlds beyond the asteroid belt – these worlds begin around Jupiter. It makes little sense that the Nine would be, as shown in the video, far from the Milky Way.
On the other hand, they already know where the Guardians are, as Xur’s weekly visits or the “Trials of the Nine” show. They wouldn’t need to be “activated” if they wanted to come to us.
Still, it is possible that we will soon get to know the Nine better. The first DLC revolves around Osiris. We know that Osiris once met with the Nine on the Jupiter moon Europa. Presumably, we will receive some new information about “The Nine.”
The Messenger of the Nine
Everything points to: The new enemy is the Darkness
In fact, Bungie shows the pyramidal spaceships from the post-credits video for the first time. These ships were already seen in earlier concept art, before the launch of Destiny 1, along with the Traveler. You can see this concept art in our title image. Thus far, these black ships have not made it into the game, but were sometimes seen on the installation screen of Destiny 1:
In 2013, Bungie’s director Chris Barrett presented further concept art showing five enemy alien races. However, Destiny launched with only four enemy races. The fifth race depicted here has pyramidal symbols:
During the development process of Destiny 1, much changed and was re-planned, which led to the assumption that this fifth race was simply dropped. However, as the video now shows, it is indeed coming back – and it is likely the Darkness.
The Darkness is a powerful, mysterious force that represents an ancient enemy of the Traveler. It hunted the Traveler through the universe and led to its collapse when it arrived in our solar system. The Traveler sacrificed itself to protect humanity, falling into a slumber. This scene may be depicted in the concept art (our title image).
Now the Traveler has awakened again – and presumably, the Darkness, the pyramidal ships, has noticed. This theory at least seems logical.
There is another indication that the enemies in the video could be the Darkness. In the intro cutscene of Destiny 2, there is talk of an ancient enemy that chased the Traveler – that is, the Darkness. In the footage, you see a pyramidal shadow casting over the Traveler and humanity. We have marked the spot:
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The pyramidal symbol and the Darkness seem to belong together.
Who is aboard these pyramidal ships or what “form” the Darkness actually takes remains uncertain. In the Grimoire card “Darkness” from Destiny 1, several instances attempt to define the Darkness. It is said to be:
a force of both physical and moral presence, a manifestation of evil
a marauding army, an alien power with incredible yet tangible strength
a necessary symmetry to the Traveler to maintain cosmic balance
a technologically superior force, perhaps a post-singularity intelligence.
Furthermore:
Some positions, often referred to as heretical, claim that the Traveler itself caused the downfall or that it knew of the coming of the Darkness and intended to sacrifice our solar system or use it as a proxy army.
When these pyramidal ships will arrive among the Guardians is also unknown. For the Osiris DLC, that would probably be too early. They might only come with “Destiny 3” or with a major expansion similar to “The Taken King.”
We will see.
What do you think? Is this the Darkness?
If you want to learn more about the story and lore of Destiny, you can read our Destiny story guide here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the tank game World of Tanks for Xbox and Playstation, there is a new campaign in the solo mode “War Stories.” In “Operation Sea Lion,” the Axis powers unexpectedly attack England, and you must endure. The next campaign is already scheduled for October.
World of Tanks, the successful tank action game by Wargaming, now features a fun solo mode on consoles Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Playstation 4, where you face AI opponents alone. The scenarios consist of small campaigns with 3 missions each. However, these campaigns are not historical battles, but alternative historical scenarios.
World of Tanks – Operation Sea Lion – Defend the Kingdom!
The latest campaign Operation Sea Lion once again centers around such an alternative scenario. This refers to fictional events that could have possibly happened. For example, a victory of the Axis powers on the Eastern Front in World War II and the consequences of that.
Another popular alternative scenario is: “What would have happened if the Wehrmacht had successfully invaded England with ground troops?” And this scenario is the theme of “Operation Sea Lion.” There, you take on the role of a British commander piloting a Cromwell tank, attempting to fend off the German invasion:
In Mission 1 “The Queen’s Gambit” the Germans land near Dover after the disastrous battle of Dunkirk and threaten to advance further inland and conquer the kingdom with a new blitzkrieg. You must stop them as best as you can!
Mission 2 is called “En Passant” and revolves around English airfields that have been captured by the Germans. Since they are launching devastating airstrikes from there, you must retake the runways at all costs.
In Mission 3 “Checkmate” you are almost there. The invaders have retreated, but they have dug in at their fortified bridgehead, and it will not be easy to dislodge them from there.
World of Tanks – October Scenario Explodes the Cold War!
If you enjoy more war stories and alternative scenarios after Operation Sea Lion, you can look forward to October. There, you will be greeted by “Kennedy’s War,” another solo campaign. It deals with an escalation of the Cuban Missile Crisis – also a popular alternative historical scenario.
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“What would have happened if Kennedy or Khrushchev had not backed down in 1962 and allowed the conflict to escalate further?” In a few weeks, you can find out for yourself.
Unfortunately, the war stories are still only available for the console versions of World of Tanks. So far, Wargaming has no plans for a PC version.
NosTale may be familiar to MMORPG veterans. Eleven years ago, the Free2Play anime MMO, operated by Gameforge in Western regions, was launched. Now, the online game is also playable on Steam.
NosTale is a classic MMORPG played from an isometric 3D perspective. It resembles the cult game Ragnarok Online. You create a hero from three classes, which you can customize with over 28 specializations. Together with friends, you form groups and explore the large world, which is threatened by dark monsters. The battles are action-packed yet tactical.
Pets and Housing
NosTale offers an interesting pet system through which you can tame wild animals and monsters in the game world and use them as your pets, who then fight by your side.
In addition, housing plays a role, as in Miniland you can build your own house and furnish and decorate it according to your ideas – including a garden. Otherwise, players can expect the standard fare: many battles, quests, boss enemies, and the exploration of dungeons.
Plenty of Content and New Servers
Now the classic MMORPG has also launched on Steam. Here, you play the latest version, which offers a story told over six acts. Just recently, NosTale received a comprehensive content update that added the four-part Walhalle quest series.
With the launch on Steam, new servers are also opening, allowing you to start from scratch together with many others.
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Andreas says: NosTale caters to everyone who enjoys classic MMORPGs. The game was released in 2006, so it is hardly comparable to modern genre representatives. The game also carries a somewhat dubious reputation of being a Pay2Win title, as many exclusive items can be purchased with money in the item shop. However, these objects are tradable in the game, allowing you to obtain them without spending money.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Path of Fire, the upcoming expansion for Guild Wars 2, has caused the first mini-scandal. The developers want to ban the material storage for certain crafting materials and push players to sell them.
The reason for the discontent is the removal of storage options for certain crafting resources in the upcoming expansion.
Guild Wars 2 – Materials go into the inventory, not into the crafting storage
When Community Manager Gaile Grey presented a controversial decision by the developers on the Guild Wars 2 forum on September 18, the first negative comments quickly followed. It is about the fact that certain crafting materials from Path of Fire cannot initially be collected in the crafting resources storage.
This separate inventory is actually meant to collect and organize the vast amounts of different components for crafting. Once materials are found, they can be easily transferred to the resource storage with a mouse click, freeing up more space for useful loot in the inventory.
Without the material storage, everything would soon be filled with iron ore, leather, flax, and edible mushrooms. Since there is a lot of crafting stuff in Guild Wars 2, some players have even invested real money in expanding the crafting storage to hoard even more materials.
Guild Wars 2 – Hoarding materials harms the economy!
If it is up to the developers at Arenanet, this hoarding of certain new materials should partly come to an end soon. Because players allegedly always let all materials disappear into the material storage, valuable resources are being deprived of the internal economic cycle.
This was already the case in the last expansion Heart of Thorns, when hoarding flax caused a genuine scarcity that would have been entirely unnecessary. Therefore, the developers believe that players will rather sell their materials and bring them into the economic cycle if the stuff takes up valuable inventory space, instead of just decaying in the material storage.
Storage ban – Players are not happy!
As expected, the majority of players from Guild Wars 2 are angry about this decision. After all, some have paid good money for an expansion of the material storage. Furthermore, they feel constrained and patronized when they are forced to sell their materials, although they would actually prefer to store them.
After all, there are players who want to expand their guild halls and need tons of materials for that. The once-rare flax was required in large quantities during the HoT period for upgrades – among other things for guild halls – so players preferred to use it themselves instead of selling it.
Additionally, ArenaNet has not yet announced which materials will no longer be manageable in the material storage in the future.
Arenanet reassures: this measure is only temporary. At a later date, they intend to open the storage again for all materials. Given the dissatisfaction of the players, this could very well be sooner rather than later.
If I want to switch my weapon, I need the right mod for it. If I don’t have it, I have to make compromises on the power level.
This is How Bungie Could Improve the Mods
These suggestions would better integrate the mods into the game and increase the incentive to collect them:
Instead of having to collect individual mods for each piece of equipment, a simple division into weapons and armor would be sufficient. Instead, there are mods for helmets, arms, chests, etc. This would significantly reduce the effort required to obtain the needed mods and increase clarity.
Donate weapons with mods special perks! A balance-mod or a leveling-mod would be a real gain. This would allow the weapons to be truly customized. However, there should be mods that actually influence the weapons.
Integrate mods that improve weapon stats. Your scout rifle has too little range? Just equip a range mod! Stability is poor? Just put in a mod! The possibilities here are nearly limitless.
Remove the mods that increase power level. These simply restrict the amount of equipment I want to use.
Increase the attractiveness of the blue mods. This could be achieved by having the legendary mods simply provide larger bonuses (e.g., blue range mod +5, legendary range mod +10).
Change the way mods can be obtained. Tie certain mods to specific missions with set modifications. This would also increase the incentive to play different missions more often.
Even implementing some of these ideas would significantly improve the mechanics of the mods. Because the system holds decent potential! However, it is not excluded that Bungie may still make changes to this system.
Finally, Luke Smith hinted in June that it was still uncertain whether all “exciting ideas” would be available at launch. Perhaps something will come along that makes the weapons more exciting. We are curious and will keep you updated on any news.
What do you think of the mods? Good idea or rather annoying? Let us know in the comments!
Bungie believes that individual items can be adjusted more easily by the developers if they turn out to be too strong or too weak. This way, the balance can be improved more effectively.
A weapon with an equipped mod
Critics quickly voiced concerns that long-term motivation would suffer, as no one would have to hunt for the God Roll, the version of the weapon with the strongest perks.
In response to this criticism, Luke Smith, the Game Director of Destiny 2, promised that Bungie has exciting ideas to ensure long-term motivation.
Now the mods are in the game – the “exciting idea” Bungie spoke about?
The Mods in Destiny 2 – Bungie’s Exciting Idea?
The mods provide individual bonuses to weapons and armor. They appear in blue (rare) and purple (legendary) rarity. Legendary mods offer the same benefits as the rare ones but additionally increase the power level of the affected item by 5 points.
For weapons, there are mods that increase power level. Additionally, some energy and power weapons can change the element with mods.
The armor offers more room for customization. Weapon handling can be improved, or attributes like mobility, recovery, and resilience can be increased. Focused-based improvements are also possible.
An equipment mod with power level +5
Why the Mods are Not Exciting – But Annoying
Anyone who has spent a few hours in Destiny 2 will quickly realize how many mods there actually are in the game. I reached the limit of my inventory in no time. The blue mods quickly become obsolete as they do not grant bonuses to the power level.
While it is possible to convert blue mods into legendary ones, you need three of them and must reach power level 280 before this option is unlocked with the gunsmith Banshee.
If you are now looking for a specific modification, it gets tedious. You cannot simply farm the needed mod, but must hope to find three blue mods of the same type to upgrade them with Banshee.
What tops this system is the fact that the mods are one-time use items. Once you have used them on an equipment item, the mod is gone.
Now you have assembled a nice armor set with all the mods you wanted, only to run into a much fancier set. What now? Switch? Then your power level bonus from the mods is gone. Because if you want to use the same mods on the new armor, you first have to find them again!
The incentive to switch fully equipped armors is completely lost with this system, as it means getting all the mods back first.
For weapons, the mod selection is extremely thin. You can only change the element. For kinetic weapons, there are only mods that increase the power level by 5 points. Nothing more. We can’t find any exciting ideas here.
For armor, we experience a flood of useless mods that need to be collected painstakingly, while the gameplay with weapon mods does not change at all. The idea of adding bonuses to the power level makes no sense to me, as it only leads to playing with the weapons that already have this bonus.
If I want to switch my weapon, I need the right mod for it. If I don’t have it, I have to make compromises on the power level.
This is How Bungie Could Improve the Mods
These suggestions would better integrate the mods into the game and increase the incentive to collect them:
Instead of having to collect individual mods for each piece of equipment, a simple division into weapons and armor would be sufficient. Instead, there are mods for helmets, arms, chests, etc. This would significantly reduce the effort required to obtain the needed mods and increase clarity.
Donate weapons with mods special perks! A balance-mod or a leveling-mod would be a real gain. This would allow the weapons to be truly customized. However, there should be mods that actually influence the weapons.
Integrate mods that improve weapon stats. Your scout rifle has too little range? Just equip a range mod! Stability is poor? Just put in a mod! The possibilities here are nearly limitless.
Remove the mods that increase power level. These simply restrict the amount of equipment I want to use.
Increase the attractiveness of the blue mods. This could be achieved by having the legendary mods simply provide larger bonuses (e.g., blue range mod +5, legendary range mod +10).
Change the way mods can be obtained. Tie certain mods to specific missions with set modifications. This would also increase the incentive to play different missions more often.
Even implementing some of these ideas would significantly improve the mechanics of the mods. Because the system holds decent potential! However, it is not excluded that Bungie may still make changes to this system.
Finally, Luke Smith hinted in June that it was still uncertain whether all “exciting ideas” would be available at launch. Perhaps something will come along that makes the weapons more exciting. We are curious and will keep you updated on any news.
What do you think of the mods? Good idea or rather annoying? Let us know in the comments!
Capcom released a new trailer for Monster Hunter World (PS4, Xbox One, PC) at the Tokyo Game Show. The trailer revealed the release date of the action RPG, but also showcased new content.
However, the trailer revealed much more about the latest title in the Monster Hunter series. A new area reminiscent of a coral reef was unveiled. New monsters also appeared in the trailer, one of which is featured on the cover: Nergigante.
We show you the novelties that can be observed in the trailer.
The Dreamlike Coral Highlands is the new map
The Coral Highlands was unveiled as a new map for Monster Hunter World. This area may look like a dreamlike underwater world, but it is not.
In Monster Hunter World, there is neither swimming nor diving. This area is therefore completely outdoors, which likely explains the “highlands” in the name of the map.
A map like the Coral Highlands has not existed in Monster Hunter before. Normally there are volcanoes, mountains, deserts, or forests, all in shades of brown, yellow, green, or red.
These are the new monsters in Monster Hunter World
The trailer also showcased new monsters that you can hunt.
Tobi-Kadachi – A spiky reptile with a broad tail and red eyes
In the trailer, the reptile flies in, with skin flaps stretched between its legs. Its long, spiky tail, which it uses to strike the hunter in the video, is particularly striking. It then moves around the hunter with careful stealth movements.
The Paolumu, the fluffiest wyvern in Monster Hunter history!
This quirky monster resembles a giant bat. In the trailer, it is seen making itself slim. However, when it inflates, it looks like a fluffy balloon. A monster of this kind has not existed in the franchise before. The creatures are usually heavily reptilian, making this fluffy ball stand out.
It is assumed that fluffy armor can be crafted from the bat. In Monster Hunter World, feline beings can also be equipped and taken on hunts. Armor and weapons are crafted from parts of monsters. On the right side, the cat wears armor that suspiciously resembles that of the bat. However, this has not been officially confirmed.
The “Long-Tongue-Chameleon” has received a name: Pukei Pukei
Pukei Pukei was seen alongside three other new monsters in the Gamescom trailer. We do not count this among the “new” monsters in the trailer. At that time, it did not have a name and not much could be seen of it – except its long tongue. In the new trailer, it uses its tail to create a purple cloud, which is presumably toxic. It can also spit a purple liquid, which also appears to be toxic.
Aggressive reptile with a blinding attack – The Tzitzi-Ya-Ku
This reptile looks more like a classic monster from the franchise and has two notable fans on its head. With these fans, the monster can perform a blinding attack. In the trailer, it flashes brightly once, likely causing temporary blindness for the player.
The Nergigante – A diabolical flying lizard with gigantic horns
The Nergigante will be the flagship monster of Monster Hunter World and will thus appear on the cover. A glance is enough to know that the Nergigante is not to be trifled with. It is covered in spikes, possesses massive horns, wings, and claws. Behind it, a smaller boss battle may lurk.
This being has insect-like features and long claws in its wings. The monster has only a brief appearance in the trailer and no attacks or special behaviors are recognized.
A dragon with a fluffy chest
This dragon only appears briefly in the trailer. However, it appears to possess a particularly fluffy chest, in which icicles are visible. Perhaps it comes from a tundra and is a frosty elder dragon.
What else does the new trailer reveal about Monster Hunter World?
The trailer provides further insights into Monster Hunter World. What else can be seen?
In the area of the Coral Highlands, the hunter uses a glider mantle to travel upwards. On the new map, there are updrafts that allow the player to be lifted upward when using the glider mantle.
Astera, the base of the Research Commission for exploring the New World. At the beginning of the trailer, we follow three young hunters as they enter the research center. In Astera, there are: hunters, scholars, technicians, and cooking felines:
Notably, the new trailer also features a lot of cinematic scenes. The Monster Hunter franchise normally focuses on pure gameplay and crafting. However, in World, there seems to be more lore than before. This is indicated by the fact that the trailer is structured more like a cinematic.
Too good to be true? Hopefully not
Leya says: Looking at all this, I feel like the hunter in the trailer looks.
This “Monster Hunter” installment seems to be everything that Monster Hunter was originally meant to be. A fantastic world where everything is interconnected and gives the feeling that danger lurks around every corner. The new map, the Coral Highlands, looks exciting, and I can hardly wait to glide through it with the glider mantle.
I like that a few creatures made it into the game that deviate from the typical reptiles. The fluffy bat is simply amazing, and I urgently need a feline with furry armor!
A bug in World of Warcraft leaves herbalists groaning. But a hotfix is supposed to provide relief now.
The return to Argus, patch 7.3 for World of Warcraft, is probably one of the biggest content updates in the history of Blizzard’s MMORPG. There is something for almost all groups to do, whether crafting, reputation farming, pet battling, or toy collecting. Especially herbalists who wanted to earn a bit of extra gold have been farming the pet Felspike in recent days. It was supposedly able to spawn in plants throughout Argus and achieve a solid price in most auction houses. Particularly resourceful players farmed Astral Winds in Mac’Aree day and night.
But now the bad news: The pet couldn’t drop from Astral Winds at all. All those hours of work were for nothing.
The latest hotfix is supposed to provide relief now. It increases the drop rate of the pet. Furthermore, the plant can – really this time – be found in Astral Winds. Many players are dismayed that they have been farming in vain for the last few days.
Hotfix in WoW from 20.09.2017
We have the complete changes and patch notes of the current hotfix here for you.
Classes
Paladin
The trait Infusion of Light from the Netherlight Crucible is no longer activated by healing from Greater Blessing of Wisdom.
Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
Fiona’s Caravan (Eastern Plaguelands) should no longer mysteriously disappear on some servers.
High Commander Enaara should now be visible to all players during the quest “Recurring Madness” in Mac’Aree.
Player versus Player
Druid
Feral
Ravage is now correctly removed from targets that take damage from abilities or spells.
Professions
Herbalism
The drop rate for the Felspike has been increased. Additionally, it can now be found in Astral Winds.
Quests
The tomes of torment should now be more clearly visible during the quest “Lessons of Fire and Pain”.
Canceling “Talgath’s Forces” or “Flanking Maneuvers” after either quest has been completed should no longer prevent you from accepting the other again.
In America, the hotfix has already been live since yesterday (19.09.2017). Here, it will go live with the upcoming maintenance work in the night from Thursday (21.09.2017).
