Pokémon GO Datamining: Anti-Cheat, feeding Pokémon and “Raids”

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

Raids, anti-cheat measures and feeding Pokémon berries – Exciting results from data mining the 0.63.1 APK of Pokémon GO.

The announcement of the new Update 0.63.1 for Android and 1.33.1 for iOS is only a few hours old. However, the experts were not satisfied with the patch notes, as only a new language and a small change to the medals were announced. When the new version was reviewed in data mining by TheSilphRoad, changes came to light that the developers withheld from us. There is new information regarding raids. Additionally, an anti-cheat function was found in the code that aims to undermine cheaters’ gameplay.

Keep in mind that results from data mining do not guarantee changes in the game. Changes were found in the code that suggest certain areas in the game could be changing. Similar to a beta phase, the content may be significantly altered before being activated in the game.

Anti Cheat

Encounters with monsters in the wild are referred to in the code of Pokémon GO as “Encounter”. For failures in these encounters, there were previously entries like “Encounter NOT_IN_RANGE” if a monster is not in range, or “POKEMON_INVENTORY_FULL” if you have no more space for another monster in your collection.

Pokémon Pikachu buddy

A new encounter error has now surfaced, indicating a measure against cheaters “ENCOUNTER_BLOCKED_BY_ANTICHEAT“.
This could be related to the new anti-cheat system, which intervenes when a Pokémon is encountered in a different location than the player’s allowed position. We explained this anti-spoofing function here.

Same Pokémon in Gyms – Not possible soon?

pokemon-go-relaxo-garados

The code also contained hints of possible changes in gyms. The entry “MaxSamePokemonAtFort” suggests that there may be fewer or no Pokémon of the same species in a gym in the future.

This is good news for the trainers among you who regularly battle in gyms. Soon you might see more variety among the monsters there.

Raid Pokémon and Push Notifications

The data mining results regarding raid Pokémon are particularly speculative and should be taken with caution. It is unlikely that the gym rework is already in the code. However, there were changes in the code related to raids and a list of “ACTIVITY_’s” where extra XP can be earned. The XP activities are called:

  • ACTIVITY_DEFEAT_RAID_POKEMON
  • ACTIVITY_FEED_BERRY
  • ACTIVITY_SEARCH_GYM

It is suspected that defeating a raid Pokémon will grant experience points. However, what a raid Pokémon actually is remains entirely unclear. It could possibly be an offensive Pokémon attacking a gym that you are defending.

The SEARCH function will likely not be related to what one normally understands as a search function. However, a more precise functionality is not known.

Pokémon GO Valentine’s Day

Feeding a berry might have to do with a new defense function, similar to how it works in the Ingress app. Experts from TheSilphRoad envision that in the future you could strengthen or heal your defender Pokémon in the gym in real time while another player is attacking it. This would create a new gameplay style for the gym system in Pokémon GO.
In line with this possible real-time system, the push notifications in the game have been worked on. There could soon be more variations for different events.

Patrick says: The changes found in the code sound interesting. Especially the possible healing system for battling gym Pokémon seems like a good way to make battles more interesting. Combined with the limit of the same Pokémon in the gym, this aspect could give the game a whole different feel in the future.

Is a fire event coming to Pokémon GO? We believe: Yes!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. TheSilphRoad

Rift – Starfall Prophecy add-on available for free for a limited time!

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

Starfall Prophecy was the first major paid expansion for Rift in a long time. However, for a short time everyone gets the expansion for free!

The Starfall Prophecy addon for Rift was plagued by issues and took a bit longer to make all its announced features available to players. But by now, the expansion seems to be working as planned, only the name “Starfall Prophecy” caused problems.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Rift – Starfall Prophecy is now called Prophecy of Ahnket – And is free!

rift starfall prophecy 01

The name of the expansion – Starfall Prophecy, likely led to confusion with the similarly named “Starfall Education Foundation”, a charity for children. Therefore, the developers at Trion Worlds changed the name of the Rift addon to Prophecy of Ahnket, after the deity Ahnket, who is your main adversary in the addon.

To celebrate the name change, Trion is also offering a round of Starfall Prophecy Prophecy of Ahnket for free! However, you must log into Rift for free addons by May 15th at 08:59 AM at the latest. Then the addon Prophecy of Ahnket will be automatically registered for your account. After the free promotion, the addon will cost the usual 19.99 euros, so make sure to act in time.

Rift – Bonuses for loyal customers

“I already bought Starfall Prophecy at full price when it was released! What do I get now?” Quite a lot, because Trion thinks of its loyal customers who want to reach for their wallets right away and not wait for sales. So, anyone who purchased the addon back then will receive the following bonuses upon logging in:

  • 2 Tenebrous Drives
  • 100 Phenomenal Sparkles
  • 10 Individual Reward Charges
  • 1 Companion “White Stag”
  • 1 random Puzzle Chest Dimension Item
rift starfall prophecy 02

These goodies are also only available until May 15th at 08:59 AM. Additionally, they will be automatically received by the first character you log in with. There are no further goodies and they cannot be transferred, so think carefully about which character you go online with.

Also interesting: Rift – The flu was to blame for the state of Starfall Prophecy

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Trion

Star Wars Battlefront 2: DLC model is being revised, no season pass?

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

While Star Wars Battlefront received a number of major DLCs, this will reportedly no longer be the case for its successor according to Electronic Arts.

With the DLCs for Star Wars Battlefront, many important innovations and content for the multiplayer part were introduced, including new scenarios and heroes. However, fans were not pleased with this, as essentially one only received the complete game if they purchased all the DLCs – either individually or in the form of the Season Pass. Publisher Electronic Arts responded to this criticism and announced a revision of the DLC model for Star Wars Battlefront 2.

star wars battlefront 2 space battle
No more Season Pass and less relevant DLCs

This means that there will likely be no more Season Pass. The relevance of the DLCs is expected to be lower than in its predecessor. Apparently, they want to orient themselves more towards the model of Titanfall 2 or Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege, with smaller DLCs containing content that can be unlocked within the game itself. However, EA’s Blake J. Jorgensen did not want to go into detail about the new plans during a conference call with investors. These are to be presented in more detail during the EA Play event in June.

Player feedback is being heard

Battlefront2 March

With this change, Electronic Arts also wants to show that they place great importance on player feedback and take criticism to heart. All fans of Star Wars Battlefront 2 can be curious about what the plans for the DLCs will look like. EA refers to this as event-driven live service gameplay. Now, speculation can run high about what all of this might entail.

More articles about Star Wars Battlefront 2:

Star Wars Battlefront 2: As a Stormtrooper against Luke Skywalker

Star Wars Battlefront 2 has jetpacks and a lot of weapons

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Destiny: Highlights and Lowlights – 13 Moments from 3 Years of Destiny

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 11 minutes

The MMO shooter Destiny has a tumultuous history. With Destiny 2 on the horizon, we at Mein MMO reflect on exceptional moments in the history of Destiny. Some were shining moments, while others sparked shitstorms.

Those who start diving into Bungie’s universe with Destiny 2 miss out on 3 years of history. In this article, we summarize the moments in and outside the game that made history. There were shining moments and dark times.

The Loot Cave shows how dreadful the loot system was

Destiny launched with a loot system that, outside of raids, relied on randomness. Players took down enemies that dropped “Engrams”, which could turn into good items if one was very lucky.

Destiny-Lootcave

It was mainly important to mow down as many enemies Y in the shortest amount of time X to collect as many Engrams.

The “Loot Cave” provided the best “time/Engram” ratio.

This was a farm spot where enemies streamed out of a cave in endless numbers and were mowed down. Guardians lined up like an execution squad in front of the cave, continuously blasting the enemies until they eventually went in to loot and gathered Engrams.

Bungie did not find this amusing at all. They closed the loot cave. Then players found other spots that worked just as well and were closed again.

The whole phenomenon was a sign that Destiny’s “loot system” simply didn’t work. Those who didn’t play Destiny made fun of this “silly” behavior of players in Destiny. 500 million is said to have been the cost of the game – and this is what they made of it, was the judgment from the outside.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Later, when Bungie had somewhat under control the problem, they reacted to this “loot cave mania” with humor. They embedded a mysterious Easter egg in the “Loot Cave”, which appeared mysterious and foreboding to newcomers. Veterans know what’s behind it.

A grave voice calls out: “A million deaths are not enough for Master Rahool.”

Rahool is the Cryptarch in Destiny, where players exchanged all the Engrams for items.

More moments from Destiny can be found on the next pages.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Absolver: Release of the online game announced – Fully relies on martial arts

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

Absolver has a release date. In summer, you can unleash your fists!

Absolver is an online melee combat game developed by the French indie studio Slocap. The publisher is Devolver Digital. During E3 2016, the game was considered one of the biggest surprises that captured the interest of many players. Now we know when it will be released.

  • The “martial arts” game will be released on August 29 on PS4 and PC.

What is Absolver?

In Absolver, you play as a masked fighter who must prove himself worthy of becoming an “Absolver” in an open world populated by other players and NPCs. On your journey, you will encounter other players whom you can team up with or fight against. Duels and even 3v3 battles are possible. This way, your character learns new moves and continues to develop on the path to becoming an Absolver.

Devolver Digital released a new video with the announcement of the release date, showcasing the combat:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

At the beginning of your journey, you choose one of three fighting styles, each with unique moves and abilities. You have a combat deck available – a selection of attacks that you can use during a fight. You can customize your deck to shape your own style and “fighting flow”. Throughout the game, you will learn additional styles and abilities.

Absolver Title

Special features include online multiplayer action, fluid real-time combat, and customizable fighting styles. At the beginning, the battles are designed to be simple and intuitive, but as the game progresses, your abilities become increasingly complex. Each move should be “purposeful” and not just a different animation of the same attacks.

By the way, you fight not only with your fists but also with weapons (like swords). But beware: the opponent can disarm you and use your weapons against you.

Here you can find more information and gameplay material about Absolver:

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

WoW: Return of the Lich King – Leak or Laughable?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

A new “leak” for World of Warcraft is making waves. But is there any truth to “Return of the Lich King”?

It’s that time again in the development cycle of World of Warcraft when “leaks” spring up like weeds. It must have something to do with spring. This time it’s about a possible next expansion for World of Warcraft titled “Return of the Lich King”.

Wow arthas lichking

The alleged leak was first posted on Reddit, but has since been deleted. Currently, there is still a copy of the information on mmo-champion, where a forum user cleverly copied all the details.

Here are a few bullet points on what the upcoming expansion is supposed to include:

  • New level cap 120
  • New hero class: Necromancer
    • Starts at level 108
    • Three specializations: Tank (with skeleton), DPS (undead army), and Healer (soul siphoning)
  • New races: Vrykul (Alliance), Ogres (Horde)
  • New zone: Northrend scales from 110 to 120 (5 new zones)
  • The old Northrend now scales from 70 to 120 and has been revamped
  • Dalaran will again be the capital and will travel back to Northrend
  • The artifact weapons will remain and carry over
  • The order halls will remain and carry over
  • World quests in Northrend, both in the old and new zones
  • The island Ny’alotha will be raised from the sea by the Old Gods
WoW Prinz Arthas Menethil Mixed Artwork Lich King Human

Story hook: In patch 7.3 (after Argus), Kel’thuzad finds the “Soulblade of Sargeras” with which he previously resurrected his demons, a pillar of creation. Alliance players have a short quest line where they find an empty grave in Stormwind. There is supposed to be a cutscene where Kel’thuzad, together with “loyal” death knights, kills Bolvar and takes Arthas’s body back to Icecrown to place the Helm of Ner’zhul on him and then revives him with the Soulblade.

Is “Return of the Lich King” likely?

Well, well. That all sounds quite exciting and sometimes also consistent. But is there any truth to these things? How likely is it that Blizzard is planning this expansion? In our estimation: Very unlikely.

WoW Kelthuzad Artwork

First of all: Kel’thuzad is dead. And not lich-dead, but truly dead. We destroyed his phylactery, and thus a lich’s existence ends permanently. Furthermore, it would be exceptionally strange for Blizzard to cheaply “remove” the current Lich King Bolvar after building him up so strongly in the Death Knight campaign.

Ogres for the Horde have been a desire since Classic, and that desire has grown increasingly small over time. Most ogre clans no longer exist, and their joining the Horde seems odd. The same goes for the Vrykul with the Alliance – without a valid story reason, that seems unlikely.

Artifact weapons will carry over

However, the creator of the list has given the argument’s fatal blow with several points that Blizzard has already denied multiple times. The “leak” claims that the artifact weapons and order halls would make their way into the new addon. Just recently, Ion Hazzikostas, Blizzard’s Game Director, reiterated that the artifact weapons are a one-time thing and a feature of Legion that will not be used in the next expansion.

WoW Demon Hunter Hidden Skin Artifact

While some aspects of the proposed story do sound plausible, other points are far-fetched. Not to mention, Blizzard has not yet secured the title “Return of the Lich King”. Another clear indication that this is just the wishful thinking of a fan with a craving for attention.

Especially the source of the leak has now become a cycle that leads nowhere. mmo-champion references Reddit, and the Reddit entry has been deleted.

Cortyn says: I’m pretty sure that some of these predictions will find their way into the game in some form. Azshara and the Old Gods will definitely resurface at some point. However, as a whole, this leak is not viable because it contradicts too many of Blizzard’s statements and sometimes takes the lore to absurd lengths. But as one commenter said: “A nice piece of fan fiction.” I think we can leave it at that.

WoW DTP Azshara

P.S: My personal highlight is “Azshara wanted N’Zoth to be her consort, which is why she will seek revenge on him” – Yeah, sure.

It seems more likely that we will make a time jump instead…

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gamestar.de
  2. buffed.de

For Honor: Arm off, Head off – The Centurion Executions are so brutal

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In For Honor, the gestures and executions for the new heroes Centurion and Shinobi have been leaked. They are partly amusing and partly quite brutal.

Next week, on May 16, the second season of For Honor begins. This season features two new heroes, the Shinobi and the Centurion. Via IGN, just days before the release, all gestures and executions of these new heroes have been revealed.

Ubisoft has a knack for incorporating extremely brutal executions into the melee game, while also adding amusing emotes that can bring a smile to your face. Both extremes are delivered by the Centurion in this video. First, he can’t get his sword out of the ground, and shortly after, he uses it to decapitate arms and heads:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

The Shinobi also has some nice moves. Here are his gestures and executions:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Some of these emotes and executions will need to be purchased with in-game currency Steel if you want to use them in the game.

Information about Season 2 and the new heroes

The Shinobi will be a new hero among the Samurai. Like the Orochi, he belongs to the Assassins. “Shinobi are silent warriors who move gracefully and kill with a precision that demonstrates a lifetime of disciplined training.”

The Centurion joins the Knights as a hybrid. “For the Centurion, the battlefield resembles a chessboard. Every warrior has a role to play, and sometimes sacrifices are necessary. This is the nature of war. And the Centurion celebrates it.”

In addition to the new heroes, the second season brings two new maps and an increase in equipment value. There will also be a new gear quality: Epic. Furthermore, adjustments to the balance are to be made.

The second season begins on May 16. Players without the expansion pass will have access to the new heroes starting May 23. They will then need to unlock each one with 15,000 Steel.

More media on the Shinobi, the Centurion, and the new maps can be found here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Overwatch: The Omnics have won the “Uprising”

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Blizzard has released clear statistics on the Omnic Uprising from Overwatch . And it doesn’t look good for the players.

The last major event of Overwatch was the “Uprising,” which ended about a week ago. Besides the usual fluff in the form of loot boxes containing special skins, voice lines, and emotes, there was also a PvE mode this time. Here, players could prove how well they fared against the Omnics that held London in their grip. With a total of 4 different difficulty levels and two game modes (one “classic” and one with free hero selection), the mode was actively played.

Overwatch Uprising Statistic win loss

Blizzard has now published the statistics for the mode, and it casts a poor light on Overwatch. According to this, the Omnics won significantly more often than the agents of Overwatch.

On normal difficulty, 3/4 of the matches against the robot army were still won, but the probability decreased drastically at higher levels.

Less than 1% managed the “legendary” difficulty

Overwatch Uprising Statistic winrate

The hardest mode “legendary” was particularly harsh. Here, only 0.6% of all matches could be won.

Overwatch Uprising Statistic picked heroes

In the mode with free hero selection, players likely thought that you must fight fire with fire, and they especially often resorted to Omnics: Orisa and Bastion. However, they were not granted a much higher win rate with that either.

Also interesting: More than 815 million loot boxes were earned by players during the event – and certainly many more sold. The skin most frequently acquired with credits was “Blackwatch Genji,” followed by new skins for McCree, Mercy, and Reinhardt.

You can view the complete infographic in our sources.

Have you ever wondered why the dialogues in Overwatch are not actually lip-synchronized?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. mmorpg.com
  2. battle.net (Infografik)

Destiny 2 – Eagle, Lion and Snake: Are these three new focuses? – Leak

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 3 minutes

There is a new leak about Destiny 2: Tier symbols of an eagle, a lion, and a snake are represented alongside Warlock, Titan, and Hunter.

A new leak comes directly from the GameStop site, which has been heavily discussed on reddit for the past few hours. The online store offers three caps for the three classes (Titan, Hunter, Warlock), each featuring a tier symbol. The text Destiny 2 is clearly visible on them. The caps are from ThinkGeek.

destiny-titan-lion

The cap for Titans is called “Destiny 2 Titan Loaded Hat” and features a lion (at least it looks somewhat like a lion):

destiny-2-warlock-eagle

The cap for the Warlock is called “Destiny 2 Warlock Loaded Hat.” It shows a bird of prey. The community assumes it is an eagle:

destiny-2-hunter-snake

The cap for the Hunter is called “Destiny 2 Hunter Loaded Hat”. Here a snake winds around the Hunter symbol:

What do these animals mean?

These animal symbols did not appear in Destiny 1 – at least not in such a significant form that they would qualify as fan merchandise. Therefore, it can be assumed that the lion, snake, and eagle will play an important role in Destiny 2. And the community speculates: These could be new focuses for the Guardians!

This has not been officially confirmed yet, but besides this GameStop leak, there is more evidence pointing to it:

destiny-concept

As early as summer 2016, there was a leak about Destiny 2, in which “discarded concept art” appeared. The images showed a burning city (which has since been proven true) and three focuses for the Guardians. The Warlock has wings in one picture, which would match the “eagle”: The Titan is depicted with a shield. A lion can not be directly identified here:

destiny-concept3
destiny-concept4

The Hunter has a spear. A snake is not seen here either. But maybe it’s a poisoned spear? Here again is the reminder that these three images of the focuses are supposed to be “discarded concept art.” However, the Warlock focus would match the new cap leak.

More information:

destiny-snake

The Hunter cloak “Poison of Ikaheka” has the flavor text: “The seal of the snake represents the liquid lethality of a true hunter.” Here a snake symbol is already depicted.

destiny-2-poster

On the official “Destiny 2” poster, the lion symbol that is also on the cap is visible on the chest of the Titan:

Destiny 2 will be a world without light

We already know that Destiny 2 will be a world without light. This means that the Guardians will lose their previous power from the “Light of the Traveler” and will need to seek new sources for their powers. These may now have to do with the lion, snake, and eagle. However, in what form we will acquire these powers can only be speculated.

A user on reddit points out that these animal symbols have much in common with the Guardian classes:

  • Titans and lions are powerful and rely on brute force
  • Warlocks and eagles are majestic and associated with wisdom
  • Hunters and snakes are quiet, fast, and deadly

In the coming weeks and months, we will certainly learn more about these animal symbols. Until then, you can now actively discuss them in the comments.

Interesting: Destiny 2: Are we losing all our powers? – We believe: No!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit

WoW: “Mythic+” gets more loot at higher levels

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The loot from “Mythic+” instances remains an important topic in WoW. Blizzard is releasing new plans.

With Patch 7.2.5, the system for “Mythic+” dungeons in World of Warcraft is being revamped. We reported a few days ago that the bonus chests for completing a dungeon within a time limit will be removed.

But there are more changes coming for players. In the official forum, Community Manager Josh “Lore” Allen explained that there are new plans for particularly difficult instances.

WoW Mythic Dungeon comment lore

With Patch 7.2.5 and the opening of the “Tomb of Sargeras,” level 15 (i.e. “Mythic +15”) represents the maximum difficulty through which the item level of rewards can be increased. If players venture into even more difficult dungeons, their items will not increase in value further. To provide players with incentives to tackle instances in the range of +15 to +20, the number of items at the end increases. This chance scales linearly and grows over 100% – and quickly too.

More loot over “Mythic +15”

Lore also mentioned an example. If, for instance, a “Mythic +15” Keystone is completed within the time limit, the group will receive a total of 3 items. 2 as a reward for the dungeon and another because the time limit was adhered to.

If the difficulty of the dungeon is further increased by a more challenging Keystone, then the chance to receive additional items grows.

At “Mythic +20,” there would then definitely be 5 items – 4 for completing the instance and another for adhering to the time limit.

This way, well-equipped groups should still have incentives to test their limits and use the Keystones even beyond “Mythic +15.”

WoW Ming Chu surprised
Lots of loot – it’s worth it.

What do you think of these changes? Do they motivate you to participate in more instances?

Have you participated in the Spring Balloon Festival? No? It is only active for a short time!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. buffed.de
  2. us.battle.net/forums/

The Division: Server down on May 11th – State of the Game today

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time < 1 minutes

In The Division, there is a server maintenance today, on May 11th. The online services will be unavailable on PS4, Xbox One, and PC for several hours.

Regular maintenance occurs on Thursdays for The Division. After being shorter than usual last week, it will take several hours again today:

  • At 9:30 AM our time, the servers will go offline. The estimated downtime is three hours, so you can check back into the post-apocalypse around 12:30 PM.
    division-agenten-last

What is changing today?

A changelog is not provided for today. The last bug fixes were made by Massive about a month ago. Since then, the focus has been on the PTS, the public test servers. In the past weeks, PC agents have tested update 1.6.1 there and identified bugs so that the developers can fix them early.

Yesterday, on May 10th, the PTS phase ended. This means that update 1.6.1 will be released soon on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Today at around 5 PM, the State of the Game will take place, the weekly situation report from Massive. Presumably, there will be new information about update 1.6.1. We will report on it.

Interesting: Dylan: EA confirms – Bioware is building a game like Destiny or The Division

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. forums.ubi.com

Kein Mass Effect Andromeda 2? Franchise angeblich erstmal „auf Eis“

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

According to an insider report, BioWare Montreal, the studio behind “Mass Effect: Andromeda“, is set to be downsized. The “Mass Effect” franchise is currently on hold. It is said that developers are working on other projects within Electronic Arts.

As Kotaku reports, not much is expected to happen with the “Mass Effect” franchise after the latest game, “Andromeda”. BioWare has put “Mass Effect” on pause and has downgraded the developer “BioWare Montreal” to a “supporting studio”. This has been confirmed by four sources close to the company, says leak specialist Jason Schreier.

In the past, Schreier has repeatedly made headlines with “insider reports” about games like Destiny.

Mass Effect on “Pause” – BioWare is likely focusing on “Dylan”

This decision does not mean that there will never be another Mass Effect, but no immediate sequel to Mass Effect: Andromeda is expected to be developed.

As Kotaku further reports, team members have been assigned to “EA Motive” to work on Star Wars Battlefront 2. BioWare Montreal and EA Motive were already sharing a building.

What remains of BioWare Montreal is expected to help in developing “Dylan”. This is the game that is supposed to compete with Destiny and The Division. Dylan is being primarily developed by BioWare Edmonton and is expected to be showcased at E3. BioWare Austin is also expected to work on Dylan.

Electronic Arts Responds Ambiguously to Rumors

Publisher Electronic Arts has responded ambiguously to these rumors upon inquiry from Kotaku – it sounds rather confirming. They state that team members are collaborating on other projects but do not mention that Mass Effect is on hold.

The teams within EA are working closely together, more closely than ever before. EA confirms that BioWare Motive is assisting with Star Wars Battlefront 2. They also want to enhance the development of other BioWare projects.

EA says that BioWare’s focus remains on the community of Mass Effect Andromeda and the live service, but they are constantly looking at how to prepare for “future experiences”.

It is said that EA’s studios are currently brimming with creative talent worldwide. In the coming years, more is expected from BioWare.

Mass Effect Andromeda peebee
At the investor conference, it was said, “We are happy with Mass Effect Andromeda and BioWare”

The news from Kotaku comes after “official statements” from EA during their investor call. It was said that they were pleased with how Mass Effect: Andromeda was supported by BioWare. It received over 100 ratings of 80 or higher. They are proud of ME: Andromeda – even if they expected a higher average.

The fanbase of the game is very passionate. Some have found exactly what they were looking for in the game. Others have not.

Mein-MMO believes: Dylan is supposed to be a “mega-project” – BioWare probably needs all the help they can get. Star Wars Battlefront 2 is also expected to be “huge”. A lot of money is at stake in both games. The report suggests that EA is prioritizing these two projects for the time being instead of focusing more on a Mass Effect Andromeda that has rather fallen short of expectations.

For a project like Mass Effect: Andromeda, DLCs and “game content” should still be well-developed so that they can still be released and the game can continue to be maintained. However, one should not necessarily hope for a Mass Effect: Andromeda 2 or a “large expansion” right now.

In terms of sales figures, Mass Effect: Andromeda has apparently fallen short of expectations. The release was accompanied by heated discussions about the facial animations:

Top Games March 2017: Mass Effect Andromeda weak, Wildlands strong

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. kotaku
  2. Gamespot

Mass Effect: Andromeda – Patch 1.06 – No more double dates allowed!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

BioWare has released a new patch for Mass Effect: Andromeda. There were many improvements in the Mass Effect: Andromeda update – except when you attempted to do two things at once. We present the 1.06 patch notes to you.

Today, on 10.05.2017, the latest patch 1.06 for Mass Effect: Andromeda has been applied. With its nearly 1.1 GB in size, the patch has brought some improvements for BioWare’s role-playing game. We briefly discuss the highlights of the update.

Many bug fixes and adjustments relate to the multiplayer mode. Almost all powers and their upgrades have been improved, causing between 25% and 35% more damage each. This should make the game manageable even on higher difficulty levels.

Mass Effect Andromeda Artwork Strange Alien

Currently, it was often dependent on luck that the target in the “Kill enemy X before time runs out” mission was not a particularly powerful foe – as one could hardly take it down within the time limit without bonus items.

ME:A Patch 1.06 fixes relationship issues

There are still a few adjustments that have a direct impact on gameplay. The maximum Nexus level has been raised to 29. This means that Ryder can activate even more capsules with specialists and benefit from more bonuses simultaneously.

It’s also bad news for those who want to date two people at once. Previously, due to a bug, it was possible to pursue a relationship with both Peebee and Cora or with Peebee and Vetra at the same time. This has now been fixed and the ladies will likely not think much of Ryder’s infidelity.

mass effect anromeda neu 2

Aside from that, there’s a lot of “minor stuff”, such as improved stability and adjustments to subtitles for better readability.

A complete list of the full German patch notes for patch 1.06 of Mass Effect: Andromeda can be found in our sources.

A few concept drawings of Mass Effect: Andromeda show interesting possibilities of how the game could have turned out.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. blog.bioware.com

GTA 5 Online: Viel Geld verdienen – Nutzt jetzt die Heist-Boni!

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 3 minutes

Do you want to make a lot of money in GTA 5 Online? Now is the perfect time for it, as heists offer strong rewards.

There are plenty of ways to earn money in Grand Theft Auto V Online. In the coming days, these opportunities are associated with even more money since the heists have been equipped with double money rewards. If you work hard for Lester over the next few days, you can quickly become rich and buy expensive cars with the cash.

5 ways to earn money quickly in GTA 5 Online

Double GTA$ and RP in Heists

Heists are an important feature in GTA 5 Online, as there is a lot of money to be made upon success. You can start them in your apartment at the planning board. The Fleeca heist can be done with two players and is particularly easy – for “quick cash in between,” this heist is just right. The Fleeca heist brings quick money

GTA 5 Michael Franklin Trevor

From May 9 to May 15, all five heists will give double the amount of GTA$ and RP. Take advantage of these days and play the various challenges. If you have enough skill, you can increase the difficulty from “Easy” or “Normal” to “Hard” and secure even more cash upon successfully completing the heist. The following heists are available:

  • The Fleeca heist: Together you will rob a small bank branch after securing a getaway vehicle. With the stolen cash and the armored car, you then make your escape.
  • The Prison Break: With your heist crew, you need to free a high-security prisoner. For everything to work, you also need a prisoner transport bus, a smuggler plane, and the prisoner’s car.
  • The Humane Labs heist: In this heist, you break into a research facility, steal an EMP and must protect your crew with a combat helicopter.
  • Series A Funding: Rob some of the most powerful drug operations in the state, steal their goods, and help a small dealer in the process.
  • The Pacific Standard heist: The flagship branch of a major bank is the target of this heist. Steal it and escape with provided motorcycles.

To complete the heists, communication is particularly important. Speak or write with your group members to outline plans. It can be frustrating with random players in public sessions when they are not chatty.

Note: The payouts for “Complete the Series” and “Criminal Mastermind” are active, but they do not provide double the amount of GTA$ or RP.

Additional bonuses are active

GTA 5 Online Bonus week small

In addition to the strong rewards in heists, the bonuses from last week are also active. These run from May 2 to May 15:

Bikers: 25% off on

  • Clubhouses
  • Clubhouse modifications
  • Businesses

Vehicles: 25% off on

  • Nagasaki Shotaro
  • Progen T20
  • Western Company Annihilator
  • Nagasaki Buzzard
  • Karin Technical (both prices)
  • Vapid Desert Raid
  • Vapid Trophy Truck

Weapons, ammunition, armor: 25% off on

  • Vehicle armor
  • Bulletproof tires
  • Body armor
  • Explosive rounds (including throwable weapons)
  • RPG
  • Grenade launcher

This eleven-year-old boy bought a used GTA 5 and got meth

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Rockstargames

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Ohne 1 Kill – Spieler gewinnt als Pazifist

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is about surviving against all other 99 players and killing as many of them as possible. But one player won the game without ever killing anyone. How he managed to do this, you can find out here.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a battle royale shooter. This means that you must face a relentless fight for survival and be the last one (or team) standing out of 100 players. To ensure that no one survives except for you, there are plenty of weapons in the game that you can use to take down your opponents one by one.

Battlegrounds

But the player Kurtjmac accomplished the unthinkable. He harmed no one and still won the game!

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: How to win without killing

Playerunknowns Battlegrounds

And no, Kurtjmac didn’t let his teammate commit all the violent acts. He was indeed with his buddy, but both conspired to strict pacifism. They proceeded very cautiously and always fled when they were shot at. Through luck and skill, they were able to escape each time or hide in the grass.

In the end, they hid in the center of the island, the last area still playable at the end of a round. Usually, the most action takes place there at the end of the match as a deadly force field makes the remaining game area impassable. Anyone caught in it quickly loses health points and dies in seconds.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Victory by a hair’s breadth

Fortunately for Kurtjmac, there was only one other player left at the end, who did not notice them, and as the deadly force field got closer, the streamer and his buddy had just a bit more health than the unfortunate opponent. He perished miserably in the force field, and thus Kurtjmac and his buddy were declared the winners with the traditional “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!”.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

If the two had been discovered in the end, that would certainly have been their end, but they impressively demonstrated that even as total pacifists, one can win in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds with a bit of luck. We have embedded the video of the action here for you. From minute 35, you can observe the decisive moments in the game.

Also interesting: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – H1Z1 surpassed

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. VG247

Dark and Light: Neue Details zum Start der Early-Access-Phase

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of the upcoming sandbox MMORPG Dark and Light have finally announced new information about the upcoming early access phase.

According to Snail Games, the team is working hard to optimize the MMORPG for the launch of the early access phase. This was originally supposed to start at the end of last year but was postponed to the beginning of this year. Now it is said that the early access phase will start later in the year. A specific date has not yet been provided. However, the team apologizes for the delays.

Dark and Light Dwarves
Optimization is happening everywhere

The developers announced this via Facebook. As a small “compensation,” they also released new images of the game. These show the race of Dwarves as well as a lava dungeon. Another image shows that work is currently being done on the landscape. It is undergoing an optimization process, making some areas more accessible.

A large sandbox with few players

Dark and Light will take you into a large sandbox where you do not interact with thousands of players, but only with about 100 per server. In this way, the survival elements are preserved, and each encounter with another player becomes an interesting experience, as you cannot know whether they are friendly or hostile.

The MMORPG offers many elements that you know from other genre representatives. These include housing, crafting, and fighting against the monsters in the game world. According to the current state, there will only be quests at the beginning of the game to introduce you to the story and the game world.

More articles about Dark and Light:

Dark and Light: This is how magic works in the survival MMORPG

Dark and Light: Huge game world for only 100 players

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP

Ashes of Creation: MMORPG like Everquest Next reaches 1.5 million dollars

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

The Kickstarter campaign for the MMORPG Ashes of Creation is progressing well. The mark of 1.5 million USD has now been exceeded.

In the MMORPG Ashes of Creation, many ideas from Everquest Next continue. Currently, funds are being raised on Kickstarter.

With revenues of 1.5 million USD, some of the Stretch Goals have been reached. This includes group mounts, a weapon skin exclusive to backers, as well as ship travel. The developers are now targeting the next Stretch Goals.

At 1.75 million dollars, the so-called Underrealm will be introduced. This is a huge underground realm with its own flora and fauna. At two million dollars, group organizations such as thief guilds, scientific academies, and trade organizations will find their way into the game.

ashes of creation town 3
The Underrealm beckons!

If 2.5 million dollars are reached, a new beast-like race that is connected to the Underrealm and has its own backstory will find its way into the game. As it stands now, it seems at least 2 million dollars could be reached by the end of the campaign on June 2nd. A higher amount is not unlikely.

Naval Battles and Underwater Dungeons

ashes of creation jahreszeiten

The development team is particularly excited that ship travel will make its way into the game. There will be a lot of content that you can experience on the water. This will include naval battles, treasure hunting, underwater dungeons, and even special mounts for water. This promises plenty of exciting adventures.

Ashes of Creation could have a very positive impact on the MMORPG market. However, according to information from the Kickstarter campaign, it will only be released at the end of the upcoming year. An alpha could potentially start at the end of this year.

More articles about Ashes of Creation:

Ashes of Creation hits the mark with MMORPG fans – Hit on Kickstarter

Ashes of Creation: Kickstarter campaign started – Already successful

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP

PlayStation Store: Mai-Angebote – Rabatte auf über 200 PS4-Spiele

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In May, you can save a lot: Sony is lowering the prices of numerous PS4 games in the PlayStation Store (PSN Store).

Does your console need new fuel? Has it been starting the same game for weeks that you can’t stand to see anymore? Then it’s time for new games!

The supply of games doesn’t have to be very expensive: Starting today, new offers in the PlayStation Store for PS4 are available, enticing with over 70% discounts. Bargain hunters will find a selection of over 200 discounted games.

The offers are divided into five categories:

  • May Offers (from May 10 to May 25)
  • Digital Discounts (from May 10 to May 25)
  • PS Plus Discounts (from May 10 to May 25)
  • Discounts specifically on “Resident Evil” games (from May 10 to May 25)
  • Deal of the Week (from May 10 to May 18) – This is Formula 1 2016 for 19.99 Euros (71% discount)
    Nier-Automata-08-HD

Selection of Games from the May Discounts

So you have two weeks for most offers. You will find, for example:

  • Nier Automata for 49.99 Euros (28% discount)
  • Final Fantasy XV for 39.99 Euros (42% discount)
  • The Telltale Game Games Collection for 24.99 Euros (75% discount)
  • Deus Ex: Mankind Divided for 14.99 Euros (78% discount)
  • XCOM 2 for 24.99 Euros (50% discount)
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege for 19.99 Euros (50% discount)
  • Doom for 14.99 Euros (78% discount)
  • Farming Simulator 2017 Premium Edition for 34.99 Euros (53% discount)
  • Resident Evil 7 biohazard for 39.99 Euros (42% discount)

All discounted games can be found in the PlayStation Store under the tab “Offers”. On the PlayStation 4, you can directly access the PlayStation Store or you can use the provided link. It’s best to browse through the extensive offerings yourself.

Interesting: These are the games that “PS Plus” members can download for free in May 2017. Included is a game from Telltale Games and a game for those who love Alien lagging.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. pcgames

EA ist “Publisher Nr. 1” auf PS4 und Xbox One, FIFA 17 und BF1 stark

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In fiscal year 2017, EA achieved record numbers. Especially FIFA 17 and Battlefield 1 performed strongly.

Publisher Electronic Arts has published its financial figures for fiscal year 2017, which ended on March 31. The company generated a total revenue of 4.8 billion USD. In fiscal year 2016, this was still 4.4 billion. Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen referred to a “record revenue,” while EA CEO Andrew Wilson even called it a “milestone for Electronic Arts.”

Especially the digital sector was crucial for this growth. Here, the company was able to generate over 3 billion USD. This corresponds to 61% of total revenue and represents an increase of 20% compared to the previous year. Particularly, digital full game downloads (+43%) and live services (+31%) saw massive increases.

fifa17-james

According to EA, they are therefore the “number 1” publisher in the West on PS4 and Xbox One in fiscal year 2017 – at least based on available sources and estimates by EA.

FIFA 17 and Battlefield 1 with strong player numbers

The top titles FIFA 17 and Battlefield 1 are largely responsible for the success, for which EA announced the player numbers.

The World War shooter boasts over 19 million players – which represents a 50% increase compared to Battlefield 4 in the same period. However, it should be noted that player numbers cannot be equated with sales figures.

FIFA 17 was also highlighted: EA Sports’ football simulation counts over 21 million players. 12 million of them have at least checked out the story mode “The Journey,” which was the biggest innovation of this FIFA installment. The “Ultimate Team” mode continues to grow: compared to the previous year, there is a growth of 13%.

The “Ultimate Team” mode is extremely profitable for EA. Hundreds of millions of dollars flow into the coffers each year through this mode alone. Jorgensen had already stated months ago that they could envision applying this system to games like Battlefield.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. GameSpot
  2. gameswelt
  3. Dualshockers

Paladins Patch OB 48 – Update 1.21 brings a new champion to PS4, Xbox One

Leya Jankowski Leya Jankowski Reading time 2 minutes

Paladins received an update today on PS4 and Xbox One. The consoles have been updated to the PC version OB 48. You can expect a new champion, Seris – The Oracle of the Abyss. Additionally, there are new legendary skins for Bomb King, Mal’Damba, and Maeve.

The new update for Paladins brings PS4 and Xbox One to the PC version OB 48. Console players can welcome a new champion: Seris. She is the Oracle of the Abyss and a dark healer. Seris tears the souls of her enemies and damages them with soul orbs. She heals the souls of her allies with her dark magic.

This patch also significantly increased the skin level of Paladins and introduced a few new legendary cosmetic items:

  • Street Cat Maeve
  • Chancellor Mal’Damba
  • Biz-King Bomb King
Maeve in Street Cat Look

Paladins: Seris the Oracle of the Abyss – A dark supporter

Seris belongs to the support class and has a rather dark aura. She is the Oracle of the Abyss.

  • Seris uses a mysterious lantern as a weapon, from which she draws and fires “soul orbs.” These stack on opponents. When Seris detonates the orbs on opponents, they take damage and the Oracle heals herself.
  • Her ultimate ability primarily provides crowd control: Seris creates a rift in reality, pulling in enemies and rendering them immobile for a short time. The Oracle can shroud herself in dark mist and enter stealth mode.
  • Seris currently has the strongest healing on a single target among all champions.
Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Paladins Update OB 48: Legendary skins for Maeve, Mal’Damba, and Bomb King

In this fun skin spotlight, you can check out the new legendary skins.

  • Maeve becomes the Street Cat and gets cat ears and a bell collar
  • The Biz-King shows off his riches and adorns himself with jewels and dollar signs
  • Mal’Damba becomes the noble chancellor and even his snake gets golden colors
Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

You can find all other highlights from patch OB 48 here: Paladins OB 48 Patch notes: New champ Seris, skin level increased

Anyone who wants to take a look at the next champion should check here: Paladins: Willo – New champ is (not) a cute fairy, skills and maps in German.

To the official website: Play Paladins for free on PS4, Xbox One, PC

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.