Perfect World, the publisher behind MMORPGs like Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, has laid off employees. A similar message comes from Trion Worlds, the western publisher of ArcheAge.
Yesterday, rumors increased that Perfect World had layoffs. Now there is a statement: Perfect World has experienced “reducing the workforce by under 30 employees” this week.
They employ thousands of employees around the world, such decisions are always difficult. They are incredibly grateful to the individuals for their contributions and wish them all the best during the transition.
This reduction in the workforce will not affect the games that Perfect World publishes.
Among the laid-off employees is the popular community manager of Star Trek Online, Laughing Trendy.
Need a senior CM with experience and a loud-mouth to boot? Hit me up. I’m in the market for a job
After ArcheAge 3.0, not everyone could be retained
There were also layoffs at Trion Worlds. They have eliminated a handful of positions after the largest launch in the company’s history to focus more on game development and publishing, it is stated. They always strive to keep everyone employed even after launches. In recent years, this has been successful. This time, not for everyone.
There are currently issues with the PSN (PlayStation Network) today, on February 4th. Login is not functioning. This is the network status:
Anyone wanting to play PS4 this Saturday around noon is facing a problem. Numerous players are reporting that they cannot log in, and that the PSN login is not working.
Instead, after a long loading time, the message appears: “The PlayStation Network is currently under maintenance.”
The official PSN status confirms these user reports: All services are officially offline. Account management, gaming, social networks, and the PlayStation Store are down.
According to Sony, the developers are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. They appreciate your patience.
When you can play again remains to be seen.
Update 12:05: It seems to be working again. The situation is improving. Armageddon has just been cancelled once again. The question is: For how long?
In the meantime, here are some interesting reading materials:
Now, information is emerging about ARK Survival Evolved that casts a strange light on the studio behind the survival MMO. This also raises questions about the Chinese MMO Dark and Light.
In the summer of 2015, the survival MMO ARK came out of nowhere and had a dream start. Sales on Steam skyrocketed. The studio communicated openly with fans, developed their dino game at a breathtaking pace, and everything was going great.
But then a legal shadow fell on the creation. In March 2016, investor Insight accused developer Jeremy Stieglitz of violating a clause in his contract. Stieglitz had worked for the software studio Trendy. Insight then took over Trendy, and Stieglitz separated from the company.
Lead Designer concealed his involvement in ARK
Insight alleged that Stieglitz was significantly involved in the development of ARK with knowledge and contacts he acquired at Trendy. Due to a “Non-Compete” clause he had signed years earlier at Trendy, he should not have been allowed to do that.
Stieglitz later wanted to shorten this clause. However, the investor Insight only agreed to this because Stieglitz promised him a share of everything he would create in the next five years.
Insight accused him: Stieglitz had then developed a project and concealed his involvement in it. Thus, he had violated the agreement and deprived Insight of their rightful share. This project was ARK.
From “casual advisor” to “Lead Designer and Co-Founder” in 3 months
Stieglitz does not appear in the paperwork of Studio Wildcard. However, his wife was involved in Studio Wildcard as a co-founder under her maiden name, even though she has nothing to do with software and runs a bakery. Stieglitz, on the other hand, who allegedly only had a loose connection to the studio, is a college friend of Jesse Rapczak, the figurehead of ARK.
At the time, the US site Kotaku suspected that Jeremy Stieglitz was the Lead Designer behind ARK. They had heard this from various sources. However, the studio denied any significant involvement of Stieglitz in ARK.
It is alleged that Stieglitz and his wife sold their shares in the company or parts of it to the Chinese publisher Snail Games. Insight wanted its share of this amount back then – based on the previous agreement.
The information that Snail Games has bought Studio Wildcard or at least parts of it creates a completely new context:
Snail Games has announced three games with the ARK license this year:
Moreover, their new game “Dark and Light” now looks like an ARK clone with a fantasy skin when viewed in this light. Statements like “Yes, it is not a real MMORPG, only 100 people fit on the servers”, we make PvP with full loot” or “You can tame and ride dragons” take on a whole new meaning. Until now, Dark and Light was seen as a reboot of a dead MMORPG. As an ARK with a fantasy skin, it creates a completely new context.
Dark and Light was announced in summer 2016, after the supposed purchase of Studio Wildcard. Since they were reviving an “old IP”, parallels to ARK were not suggested at that time. Dark and Light was an MMORPG that ran from 2006 to 2008.
Looks like ARK? From the trailer for Dark and Light.
If Snail Games has indeed owned shares in Studio Wildcard since December 2015, as the investor has claimed, then it also explains why Studio Wildcard allegedly could pay 40 million US dollars in the out-of-court settlement. They had received a massive financial boost earlier.
A tangled web. The information that Snail Games owns parts of the studio behind ARK answers many open questions from recent times. Even if some of these were only raised now.
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My MMO says: The exciting part here is not the legal wrangling, but that the information “Snail Games has purchased Wildcard” makes many disconnected and strange news stories from the last few months make sense.
We now know:
why a Chinese publisher is obsessively focused on dinosaurs
why a Chinese studio is reviving a relatively insignificant, dead MMORPG that has hardly anything in common with the original
why a F2P studio can create a AAA product out of nothing
why Studio Wildcard was able to pay 40 million without going bankrupt
why an experienced lead designer is behind ARK, who has desperately tried to remain anonymous for years, although he is probably incredibly proud of his work
why a bakery owner is a co-founder of a software studio
It will be interesting to see whether this story makes waves and forces Studio Wildcard to make a statement.
ARK will finally full-release this summer and then be available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Paladins has revealed the new champion Maeve during a live stream. She is a flanker and resembles a cat.
Hi-Rez introduced the new patch OB43 during a stream on Twitch, which includes the new champion Maeve. The cat is out of the bag: Maeve is not a cat, as fans had long speculated, but she has a cat-like character. Maeve is playful, fast, and if you don’t watch out, she will slice you open from behind with her daggers.
Paladins: Maeve’s abilities in English
Maeve is a flanker and comes with abilities that give her a lot of speed. She wields half-moon daggers that she throws at a distance.
Maeve’s Abilities
LMT: Daggers – Throw two daggers every second, dealing 450 damage.
RMT: Pounce – Sprint forward. Hit an enemy to execute a melee strike that deals 600 damage.
Q: Nine Lives – You are healed for 500 HP and the cooldowns of Pounce and Prowl are reset.
E: Midnight – Enemies’ visibility within 300 units is reduced to 30 feet for 4s.
F: Prowl – Movement speed is increased by 80% for 4s and you jump higher. Using your weapon or an ability cancels Prowl.
Maeve’s Cards – The cards of the new flanker
Each champion in Paladins comes with their personal card set. These make the playstyle individually customizable and give you the ability to change your abilities based on the situation. These cards are available to you with Maeve.
Cut and Run: Kills and eliminations grant 10/20/30/40% movement speed for 4s.
Street Cred: Increases maximum health by 50/100/150/200.
Persistence: You cannot be slowed more than 60/50/40/30%.
Predation: Increases movement speed by 10/20/30/40% outside of combat.
Savagery: Pounce heals 70/140/210/280 health on hit.
Sixth Sense: Grants 5/10/15/20% damage reduction after Pounce is used.
Shred: Reduces the cooldown of Pounce by 0.5/1/1.5/2s.
Scamper: Gain 10/20/30/40% movement speed for 2s after Pounce ends.
On Edge: Reduces the cooldown of Nine Lives by 1/2/3/4s.
Fight or Flight: Gain 10/20/30/40% movement speed for 2s when activating Nine Lives.
Patch Up: Increases the healing from Nine Lives by 50/100/150/200.
Scar Tissue: Gain 5/10/15/20% damage reduction for 2s after using Nine Lives.
Walk it off: Heals 25/50/75/100 health every second while Prowl is active.
Streetrunner: Increases the duration of Prowl by 0.5/1/1.5/2s.
Chase: Increases the speed bonus of Prowl by 8/16/24/32%.
Featherlite: Reduces fall speed of Prowl by 10/20/30/40%.
Maeve’s Backstory
During the stream, it was revealed that Maeve grew up on the streets and had to develop a certain cunning to survive. This could also explain her cat-like abilities, with which she stalks in the dark and seeks out prey.
Her weapons also resemble cat claws that she sinks into her opponents’ flesh. It was also mentioned that she is very young compared to the other champions. Her striking blue eyes are notable, featuring slit-like pupils.
This video shows Maeve’s gameplay.
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In The Division, today on February 4th, is the weekly vendor reset, the “Vendor Reset”. These items are particularly worthwhile this week.
Every week, on the night from Friday to Saturday, vendors in The Division receive fresh inventory. Since update 1.4, each vendor brings relevant items that come with the maximum score.
It is worth checking back this week:
Weapons:
Weapon vendor in the Operations Base: Military L86 LSW with Competent, Capable, and Brutal.
Advanced weapon vendor in the base: Pakhan, Cassidy, Centurion; AUG A3 Para XS with Fierce, Responsive, and Expert; Infantry MG5 with Destructive, Dominant, Malicious.
Special equipment vendor in the Terminal: Valkyria, Liberator, Historian; G36 with Predator, Brutal, and Focused
Vendor on E42nd St: AK-47M Military Version with Predator, Vengeful, and Enduring
Vendor on 5th Ave: MP7 with Determined, Destructive, Talented
Vendor on W 42nd St: Military SCAR-H with Precise, Disciplined, and Malicious
Vendor on W 46th St: M700 Carbon: Balanced, Destructive, Enhanced
Camp Hudson: SRS A1 with Vengeful, Capable, Destructive
Armor:
Equipment vendor in the Operations Base: High-end Backpack with Inventive
Special equipment vendor in the Terminal: DeadEYE Mask, AlphaBridge Mask, High-end Chest Protector, “Lonely Hero” Gloves, “Final Measure” Gloves, FireCrest Gloves.
In DZ02, there are Wild Gloves.
Mods:
Dark Zone equipment vendor in the base: Electronics Mod
Special equipment vendor in the Terminal: Electronics Mod, Rifle Silencer Omega with Headshot Damage, Precision, and Critical Hit Chance.
Special blueprint vendor: Ti-Rant Silencer
“The Firewall” Safehouse: Mod with Aid Post Bonus.
Vendor on E 53rd St: Mod with Ballistic Shield Bonus.
“Madison’s Stand” Safehouse: Mod withFirst Aid Bonus
Vendor on 5th Ave: Mod with Seeker Mine Bonus
Vendor on E 46th St: Stamina Mod with Skill Power Bonus; Extended Magazine
In Paladins there is currently the PvE mode “Tortoise Power”. Here you will face Makoa bots that are not easy to defeat.
Recently, there is a PvE mode in Paladins called “Tortoise Power”. Here you face the Teenage Mutant Ninja Makoas and their master Pip. As in the last PvE mode, your opponents here consist of bots that need to be dealt with using the right strategy.
The abilities of the bots have been proportionally enhanced, making them particularly challenging. The four Makoas have a greater reach for their hooks and a shorter cooldown for their ultimates. Pip comes with more health and extra speed.
Crowd Control is particularly effective in this PvE mode
A proven strategy in Tortoise Power is to choose champions that provide crowd control. Particularly effective here is the champion Bomb King with his ability “Sticky Bomb”. This allows the Bomb King to throw a bomb every 0.6 seconds, sticking to opponents for 2 seconds. In total, 6 sticky bombs can be active, dealing 900 damage upon explosion.
With this, you can keep the Makoas well under control while your tanks try to capture the control point. If you have many Makoas stuck to your sticky bombs, roll in with your ultimate “King Bomb” and deal significant damage. King Bomb inflicts 2,500 damage to opponents, knocks you back, and stuns enemies. The most important thing is that King Bomb ignores shields. Makoas’ shield will be ignored.
In this video from “Play Paladins” you can see how the Bomb King combo works.
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It’s best to take Pip with the Bomb King, as his abilityExplosive Wrench significantly slows down your opponents. This also makes it easier for Bomb King to place his sticky bombs correctly. Additionally, you should equip both of you with the card “Morale Boost” before the match, which allows your ultimate abilities to recharge faster.
You can find the PvE mode under “Casual Game”.
Leya says: In the future, more PvE modes are expected to come to Paladins. However, it is still unclear whether there will be more modes than facing a team of five bots. I would find a really challenging boss fight cool. The Tortoise Challenge was a challenge for me, and it took a while before I could get a win. Pip worked well for me with his abilities, and when my team had a Bomb King, it really worked better. I find the mode very fun; the PvE combat is a welcome change and is recommended. Another advantage: You can level up your champions well here.
The start of the Ghost Recon Wildlands Closed Beta was rocky. Players report lags and graphics issues.
This afternoon was the Ghost Recon Wildlands Beta launch and players on Xbox One, PS4, and PC were finally able to create their Ghosts. However, for some players, the excitement was quickly dampened. There are issues with the performance of Wildlands. On various social channels, there are frequent reports of graphics issues, error messages, lags, and stuttering. The cause, however, is not always outdated systems – even the latest generation graphics cards are reaching their limits.
Ghost Recon Wildlands performance issues and troubleshooting
The problems with Ghost Recon Wildlands start for some players even before they can launch the game.
An outdated DirectX version can be an issue that prevents the game from starting. For example, the error message “Your graphics card does not support DirectX 11 Features” appears. For some players, installing DirectX 11.1 helped resolve this problem.
Other players complain about a black screen after the game started. If you have this issue and are playing on a system with multiple monitors, you might be able to use a trick. Since the game starts in fullscreen, a black screen may occur. To fix this, while the game is active, press ALT+Enter to switch to windowed mode.
Stuck on the loading screen: After starting a new game, this error sometimes occurs and prevents the game from loading. To resolve this problem, you should exit the game and then verify the game files of Ghost Recon Wildlands in Uplay. You can do this by right-clicking on Wildlands in your Uplay library and clicking on verify files. If there are errors, you will subsequently download some data and should be able to start the game afterwards.
On Reddit there are frequent reports from players who, despite having good hardware, only achieve low FPS or experience constant stuttering. Apparently, the game is still not properly optimized for all systems. Ubisoft should still improve quite a bit on this.
How is the Closed Beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands running for you?
Lúcio Correia dos Santos is coming to Heroes of the Storm. The DJ from Brazil will be the third Overwatch character in HotS, following Tracer and Zarya . This was announced by Blizzard via Twitter.
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As with the previous heroes, Lucio in HotS will closely resemble Lucio from Overwatch. Abilities will be mirrored. What he can do in the shooter, he will also be able to do in the MOBA.
These are Lucio’s abilities in Heroes of the Storm
Lucio can “Wall ride” in HotS.
Lucio will be able to attack enemies with a cone-shaped beam and push them back (Q).
He will have a passive effect on his allies. With W, he can choose whether to apply a speed buff or a heal buff to surrounding allies.
He can further enhance this boost with E.
In the ultimate, Lucio can choose whether to grant his allies a shield or slow down enemies and inflict a dot.
In FIFA 17 FUT, the winter edition of the Ones to Watch, the stars in focus, has started. New Squad Building Challenges and pack offers are coming. These are the OTW players.
Today, on February 3rd, not the winter upgrades in FUT are starting, but a winter edition of the Ones to Watch. In German, these special player cards are called “Stars in Focus”, which have only been in FUT since FIFA 17.
Already in autumn (after the summer transfers) the first batch of Ones to Watch was released, now the Ones to Watch are following the winter transfers.
The OTW cards are player cards that have a dynamic rating. This means that if one of these players receives a “Team of the Week” card, the OTW card in your possession will automatically be updated to this new highest rating. In other words, if you are lucky, your card improves automatically throughout the season.
The Ones to Watch in winter are only available in packs from February 3rd to 10th. After that, you can only purchase them on the transfer market.
Which players are “Stars in Focus” in winter?
EA Sports released this graphic for the Ones to Watch in winter:
The strongest cards are clearly Draxler (86) and Payet (86). From a German perspective, Ntep from Wolfsburg (80), Bailey from Leverkusen (76), and Malli from Wolfsburg (80) are also particularly interesting. In-game in FUT 17, you can view the player cards in detail.
Packs and SBCs for the Ones to Watch
This week, EA Sports will release special pack offers. At the start, there will be Rare Player Packs and Rare Mega Packs.
In addition, limited-time Squad Building Challenges are now available, through which you can obtain players in focus from summer and winter.
By the way: Right now, there is also the “Team of the Tournament – Africa”. These players are included:
Japan’s tank force rolled onto the servers of War Thunder some time ago. Read here which tanks from the land of the rising sun are the best and which tanks cause pure horror for the player.
The armed forces of the Empire of Japan were known for their powerful air force and strong navy, but not necessarily for their effective tank troops. Nonetheless, Japan had its own tank forces during World War II and afterwards, and these are also represented in the military online game War Thunder. Japan’s tanks were what made the game a reality and a release title. But how good are the Japanese tanks? Read it here!
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Japan is not known for its powerful tanks. While the Germans relied on technologically advanced machines and the Soviets threw masses of robust vehicles into battle, Japan copied the concept of the French army: tanks as infantry support. However, infantry is not present in War Thunder, and therefore many Japanese tanks – especially at lower tiers – perform quite poorly against other tanks.
Japanese tanks are mostly poorly armored, and even where theoretically good armor exists, the machine is full of vulnerabilities. Additionally unfortunate: Japanese engineers often tried to concentrate as much stuff as possible in the tank. This saved space, but every penetrative hit has catastrophic consequences.
Glass Cannons from the East
Because either it destroys your tank anyway, or you survive the hit, only to find out that your ammunition just blew up or all your crew members have perished. However, the Japanese do have two advantages: their shells are packed with explosives to the brim. As soon as such a shell penetrates even a little bit through the armor, any enemy tank at lower tiers goes up in flames. This only works if you shoot first, as your tin can will burst just as quickly.
But fortunately, Japan is a mountainous country, and the designers therefore equipped most Japanese tanks with highly maneuverable guns. Elevation angles of up to 20 degrees are possible with certain tanks. This allows you to shoot many opponents without them having a chance to retaliate.
The Best and Worst Tanks of the Japanese
At low and mid-tier levels, a few tanks stand out. Either because they perform surprisingly well or because they are particularly bad. Here you can read which tanks are definitely interesting.
Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai: This medium tank is the first tank of the Japanese that is somewhat decent. Its thin armor is well-rounded and has many spots where shots can ricochet. Additionally, it is equipped with a 47mm gun that fires high-speed shells. This gives the Chi-Ha Kai good penetration chances.
Type 3 Chi-Nu: This tank has a strong 75mm gun and is therefore much better armed than the usually very poorly equipped predecessors. It also rotates its turret quite quickly and smoothly. Together with the excellent elevation angle of the main gun, the Chi-Nu can fight very well from cover and take out enemies without retaliation.
Type 89b I-Go Ko: This “tank” is more of an armed tractor and looks like it as well. The vehicle was originally designed as a reserve tank and participated in battles in Manchuria in 1932, among other things. There, it bravely fought defenseless buildings and machine-gun bunkers with its 57mm howitzer. The I-Go Ko is therefore more of a collector’s item than a sensible combat vehicle.
Type 2 Ka-Mi: This bizarre tank looks like a rolling tin can and is one of the worst vehicles in the game! It is large and highly visible, which would be great if it were well-armored. But it is not! On the contrary, the “tank” has extremely thin armor and this is not angled at all, meaning even weak hits usually penetrate like through paper. A completely terrible vehicle!
Type 4 Ho-Ro: This thick howitzer fires powerful 150mm shells. These destroy almost anything with a single hit, but the vehicle itself is difficult to control and the howitzer is not the most accurate.
Type 3 Ho-Ni III: Here you get instead of a thick howitzer a 75mm main gun. This has particularly good penetration values and thus ensures optimal hits on the enemy.
Isuzu Type 94: This vehicle is actually just an army truck with a 20mm flak mounted in the back. However, it is one of the strongest anti-aircraft weapons at the early levels in War Thunder. It quickly takes down planes and easily shreds the poorly armored tanks of earlier tiers.
Type 5 Chi-Ri II: This massive tank is only lightly armored despite its size and is an easy target from behind. Its protection is particularly thin there, and coincidentally, that is where the ammunition magazine is located. However, woe to the Chi-Ri if it catches you! The tank has a 75mm gun with a three-shot revolver magazine. It fires three hefty rounds in just six seconds! Ideal for trolling opponents!
Light Tank M24 SDF: This tank is actually the US tank M24 Chaffee. After the war, Japan received a few of these vehicles from the USA to help rebuild its self-defense forces. The M24 has a strong 75mm gun and is fast and agile. This makes it a good flanking hunter.
So much for the best and worst tanks of the Japanese. Have you driven the Japanese tanks and can you name your favorites or hate objects?
In the MMO shooter Destiny, the Trials of Osiris begin today, on February 3rd. On which map do the trials take place?
Today is the second to last time that the Trials of Osiris will be played with the current weapon balance. The special weapon and shotgun meta has been dominant for too long. Many Guardians are hardly excited about PvP anymore, and player numbers in the Trials are steadily declining – fresh wind is needed!
On February 14th, it is supposed to happen: Bungie will deploy balance patch 2.5.0.2, which is expected to revise the weapons and character classes. Which weapons will come to the forefront remains to be seen.
Until then, you can pass the time in the Trials. The Trials of Osiris begin today, on February 3rd, at 6 PM. They end next Tuesday during the weekly reset. Matches will be played on the map Pantheon.
What are the Trials of Osiris?
In the Trials, you engage in PvP battles in the “Elimination” mode. You compete in teams of three against each other, trying to fill your scorecard with victories. If the opposing team is completely defeated, you win a round. Fallen teammates can be revived. Strong gear is not only important but also communication among the Guardians. A strong knowledge of the map is advantageous.
At 5 and 7 wins, there are random rewards from Osiris’s loot pool. Also, keep an eye on Brother Vance’s bounties for extra prizes. If you are in top form, you can reach Mercury with a “Flawless” ticket and loot the chest with the fine gear there.
The survival MMO Conan Exiles has parted ways with its server partner. The official servers are thus down and dead.
Funcom reports with new numbers and bad news for Conan Exiles. Currently, there are 7700 servers active. 7500 of them are private, and 200 are hosted officially.
The influx is so massive that Funcom’s partner for the official servers, “PingPerfect”, cannot achieve the quality that Funcom is aiming for. Therefore, Funcom is parting ways with PingPerfect by mutual agreement. The official servers are thus dead.
Funcom wants you to play Conan Exiles on unofficial servers
Funcom encourages players to play on unofficial servers.
Funcom must also withdraw the 25% lifetime discount on the Barbarian Edition (this is the Collector’s Edition). Anyone who has already purchased it will retain the discount. However, future buyers cannot be granted this anymore. The stock is exhausted.
They are now looking for a new partner. However, this is not easy, as the influx is so large that hardly any potential partner has the necessary hardware available.
The database of the official servers will be preserved. The plan is to upload it to new servers so that the progress players have made on the official servers will be retained. But new servers will only come when they are ready. Funcom does not provide a timeline for when new official servers will launch. The only hint Funcom gives is “It may take a few days.”
Funcom says that this is a problem that has arisen due to the high demand for Conan Exiles. They would rather face the problem now than later.
This is how it works with unofficial servers
Read more about unofficial servers and how you are doing in Conan Exiles here:
Blizzard bans several tens of thousands of accounts from Overwatch in Korea. However, the fans there are not really happy about it.
The fight against hackers and cheaters in Overwatch is an endless back and forth. Blizzard has now announced that they have banned 22,000 hackers in the Korean region once again (22,865 to be exact). However, the honest Korean players are only moderately pleased about this and point out that Blizzard is not solving the hacking issue at all.
Hacking is especially a problem in Korea because players there do not have to pay €40 – like the rest of the world – for a copy of Overwatch that is tied to their Battle.net account. Instead, players in Korea simply pay an hourly fee in internet cafés, known as PC Bangs, and do not have to cover the cost for a version of the game. In return, Blizzard receives a monthly fee from the operators of the Bangs.
For hackers, it’s a piece of cake to simply use a VPN client to create an American Battle.net account with which they can continue to play. If the corresponding account gets banned, it only takes a few seconds before they can start cheating again.
In the Korean competitive scene, a remarkable sense of fairness has developed. Whenever one of the two teams has a hacker, the honest players try to end the match in a “draw”.
Hopefully, Blizzard and the operators of the PC Bangs will soon find a solution that no longer forces honest players in Korea to switch to American and European servers – as currently nobody likes that.
As Kotaku writes so nicely, the news of today’s ban wave can also be read as: “22,885 accounts were banned – and 22,865 accounts were newly created”.
In Ghost Recon Wildlands you can change your weapons in the GunSmith with over 10,000 combinations.
In Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, many weapons are available to you, which you can customize with equipment such as silencers, magazines, or sights. The GunSmith helps you with weapon customization.
GunSmith in Wildlands
The setting of Ghost Recon Wildlands is Bolivia. Wildlands takes place a few years in the future. The development team collected real-world data on what weapons are available to the local military or police and which weapons are used by the Mexican drug cartels. This aims to ensure that the weapon selection in the game feels authentic.
You can modify these weapons in the game with parts that are available on the real market. This allows various pistols and rifles to be adapted to your preferred play style.
In Ghost Recon Wildlands, there are over 50 customizable weapons to choose from. As you progress through the game, you can unlock new weapons and special accessories. In addition, weapons can be looted from enemies.
An overview of your arsenal is provided by the GunSmith, which can be accessed at any time in the game menu. There, you can compare weapons or take a close look at the stats damage, precision, handling, range, rate of fire, suppression, and penetration.
Weapon customization:
Ghosts are equipped with two primary weapons and one secondary weapon. To allow you to choose the right weapon in various situations, the arsenal includes among others:
Assault Rifles
Shotguns
Submachine Guns
Handguns
Light Machine Guns
Sniper Rifles
Exotic Weapons
After you have chosen a weapon, you can select a skin. This paints the entire weapon or just a specific part in colors and patterns of your choice. For example, camouflage patterns are available as a paint option.
Weapon Skins in Wildlands
Through operations in various environments and regions, your weapons suffer from dust, grease, and scratches. If you prefer a neat appearance, you can clean or repaint them in the menu.
In the GunSmith there is a large selection of attachments that you can use to modify the weapons. Over 100 attachments such as sights, magazines, grips, or barrels are available in Ghost Recon Wildlands for optimizing your weapons. There are over 10,000 combinations available! So you can change the precision sight on the go, adjust the fire mode, or even activate the grenade launcher on the assault rifle.
With the GunSmith, you have many customization options to modify your weapons specifically according to the mission and play style. How you can visually change your Ghost with the CharacterSmith is explained here.
Sony has just announced the most important updates and features of the system software update 4.50 for the PS4. External HDD support is coming!
The beta program for the 4.50 update for PS4 is here. Sony is now sending invitations to selected users who have signed up for the beta. In the email, you will find instructions on how to start the download of the update and how to install it.
To ensure that all PS4 fans get an impression of the upcoming system software update – not just the beta testers – the key features have just been released. And there are updates that many fans have been wishing for a long time!
The contents of the 4.50 update for PS4
With the 4.50 update, you will receive the following updates:
External HDD Support: You can now store your content on an external storage device. Simply connect a “USB 3.0” HDD and you will have more storage space on the console. HDDs up to 8TB are compatible. You can download and install applications directly to the external device. In the menu, you can manage the stored content.
Custom Wallpapers: With the update, it will be possible to use any screenshot as a background image (see our title image). Text and icons will be shadowed, so you can see everything clearly, even if the background image is extremely bright. You can edit the screenshots in the Photo Mode of Sharefactory beforehand.
Quick Menu: The quick menu is being revamped. It will take up less space on the screen and navigate you faster to important features. The goal is that you play more and have to struggle less through menus.
Notifications are simplified. All previous tabs (downloads, uploads, etc.) will now be visible in a list.
3D Blu-rays on PlayStation VR: You will now be able to watch 3D videos in stereoscopic 3D with the VR headset.
Activities Feed: You can directly post things like text, screenshots, or gifs there. Also tag games or friends so they don’t miss a post from you. This way, you can better showcase your triumph moments.
Additionally, several other features are expected to come with 4.50, which will be discussed later. There is no launch date for the update yet. We will learn more in the coming weeks.
In Destiny, Xur has the Dreg’s Promise available. Is it worth buying the exotic shotgun?
When Ikora Rey was going through her rebellious phase, the Dreg’s Promise was her weapon of choice. But those times are over, and we ask: Is the Dreg’s Promise now the first choice of the Guardians?
In the first year of Destiny, the Dreg’s Promise was a solid weapon, even though it couldn’t compete with the feared Year 1 shotguns like the Felwinter’s Lie. In Year 2, it convinced some Guardians to take it into the Trials. How does it stand now?
Locations of the Dreg’s Promise
In the first year, the Dreg’s Promise was available through an exotic quest. In Year 3, you can obtain the shotgun through the following ways:
The Dreg’s Promise comes with a low impact of 46 and a rate of fire of 30. The base range is strong, and stability is solid as well. The shotgun deals Solar damage. Here are the specific stats:
These are the perks:
Dreg’s Promise: The weapon regenerates ammo over time
Fully Automatic
Last Round: The last round in each magazine deals bonus precision damage.
You have the choice between:
Sentinel: Increased range and precision, harder to handle, reduced ammo capacity.
Quickdraw: The weapon can be drawn faster.
Adjusted Stock: Increases weapon stability
Additionally, you can influence range, impact, and recoil with Field Choke, Improved Ballistics, and Linear Compensator.
The idea with the Dreg’s Promise is that you sneak close to enemies and then pump them full with Fully Automatic and “Last Round.” An aggressive, agile close-combat style is required here. The perk that regenerates ammo is a useful extra. Because of the high rate of fire and fully automatic, the shotgun quickly runs out of ammo.
How does the Dreg’s Promise fit into the current meta?
Dreg’s Promise: This perk reloads the ammo itself, so you won’t run out of shotgun ammo.
However, the “Invective” comes with two significant disadvantages:
The impact is low. The top shotguns currently have high range and high impact.
The Dreg’s Promise is exotic and takes up the exotic slot.
In short: The Dreg’s Promise is still a solid weapon that provides good advantages. However, it is not considered a top-tier weapon and gives few arguments as to why one should prefer it over a Matador 64. Because you also have an exotic slot free …
The same problem exists with the Dreg’s Promise in PvE: For close combat and Solar damage, it is a good option, but there are many strong alternatives for the exotic slot.
This exotic is not a “Must Have” weapon. If you don’t own it yet, you can now buy it from Xur for your collection or for a few nice kills. Perhaps you will be convinced by the cool ornaments that the Dreg’s Promise has:
This Friday, we want to know what games you are playing over the weekend.
The weekend means that many players have time to game. Some dedicate themselves to their favorite games and enjoy the gameplay in their usual virtual environment. Others use the next few days to test new games they might have recently bought in a sale. The exchange within the community is always interesting to get hidden gems or recommendations for new games or classics.
What is the editorial team playing?
In our editorial team, we are playing a wide range of games this weekend:
I will focus on the closed beta of Ghost Recon: Wildlands this weekend, which started today. The gameplay videos of the game have really piqued my interest with the various weapons and customizations. I am excited about the implementation and the atmosphere in the game. Finally, as a Ghost, you belong to an elite unit that fights against the Santa Blanca drug cartel.
With the upcoming upgrade “Wings of the Raven”, there will also be a simplification of the complex upgrade system for weapons. Additionally, you will be allowed to switch servers within your player region.
In Blade & Soul, you do not collect new weapons, but you continuously upgrade our first weapon. However, this often cost extremely many resources and forced you into tedious grinding for upgrade materials during the level phase. That will soon be over!
Upgrades only in the endgame
On February 8, when the new upgrade “Wings of the Raven” is released, the upgrade system will also be revised. During the level phase, you will receive new weapons at regular intervals when leveling up, ensuring you are always appropriately equipped. Only when you have arrived in the Silverfrost Mountains region and received a “Weapon of the Ivory Moon” in Act 4, Chapter 1, can you upgrade it as usual, but at reduced costs.
In addition to the weapon upgrade easements, you can also switch servers at will in Blade & Soul. However, they must not be in a different region (so not from Europe to America), and the server group must not be the same. The transfer costs 1999 Ncoins, which is approximately 20 Euros.
The numbers in Overwatch are changing. Team compositions are finally becoming more diverse.
The recent changes to the balancing seem to be bearing fruit. The meta of Overwatch has been considered stagnant for several weeks, with the 3/2/1 meta appearing in almost all major tournaments. Slowly but surely, a change is taking place, as more and more clans are adopting a new composition in tournaments – 2/2/2 is becoming more and more established.
Before the last patch of Overwatch, many similar compositions were seen, especially in professional matches. Almost every team had a combination of 3 tanks – whether in attack or defense. This was almost always supported by a healing Ana and another healer, such as Lúcio.
Many teams now swear by Tracer – even in defense!
Especially the changes to D.Va (less armor) and to Ana (less healing bonus from the grenade) led to a shift in the professional scene. It’s no surprise that 2/2/2 (2 tanks, 2 healers, 2 DPS) is becoming increasingly established. Even heroes like Tracer and McCree are now seen more frequently in defense, where they can actually make a significant impact due to the reduced number of tanks.
The adjustments to Roadhog’s hook, which now pulls in targets less frequently but is significantly more precise, are seen by many as a buff. Essentially, the big guy with the scrap gun is even deadlier and a welcome hero on the battlefield.
As usual, the new – significantly more flexible – meta is now also spilling over into the ranked game mode, and there are again more diverse teams in Quick Play.
In summary, it can be said – at least based on the current state – that the recent patches have provided Overwatch with more variety and excitement.
The Division will receive a new incursion with the “Last Stand” DLC. This incursion will be called “Lost Signal” and feature raid-like mechanics.
The agents are still eagerly awaiting the first raid in The Division, which means a large-scale group activity with big bosses, tricky puzzles, and complicated mechanics. The “Last Stand” DLC will not bring a raid. Instead, there will be an incursion that is closest to a “raid” in The Division so far.
This incursion is officially named “Lost Signal”, but is currently displayed on the PTS as “Stolen Signal”. It takes place in a TV Broadcast Center that has been taken over by the Rikers. You must infiltrate three building wings where you will encounter various combat scenarios. Each wing has its own challenges and rewards. If you succeed in all three, you’ll face the final boss.
Since this incursion has been tested for days, there is already gameplay material available online. The YouTuber LiKe BuTTer has completed “Stolen Signal” on heroic. In the video, he shows the entire run. He considers “Stolen Signal” to be the best incursion to date – with the best mechanics in the game. If anything in The Division reminds you of a raid, it’s this.
Note: Spoilers ahead! If you want to explore the incursion yourself, do not watch the video. At the end of the video, we summarize how the incursion proceeds.
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You start the incursion outside the Broadcast Center, so the first task is to reach it. Along the way, the Rikers will try to stop you. Defeat them, gain access, and secure the lobby of the center.
In the center, it is now your task to free three hostages:
On your way to the first hostage, there is a mechanic that resembles the circuits in “Clear Sky”. You need to pick up an object and escort it through a hallway where Rikers are barricaded. The other three agents must protect the bearer. Since the Rikers are deploying heavy weaponry, the ballistic shield is definitely helpful to protect the bearer from deadly bullets.
Then, you arrive in the room with the first hostage. You have few cover options, but enemies are coming at you from all sides. The boss in this room is called “Checkers”. You must defeat him. The problem is: Rushers spawn at short intervals, which you must defeat within a given time. These cannot be overlooked.
Once the boss is defeated, this section is complete. Run back to the lobby and head to the second hostage. The scenario here looks like this: The floor of the room is covered with a few centimeters of water. Occasionally, electric shocks are sent through the water. You need to defeat a boss named Curveball. Heavy elite enemies will appear repeatedly and must be defeated within a certain time. The timer counts down.
Once Curveball is defeated, run back to the lobby and off to the third hostage. Here you need to defuse explosives and defeat the boss “Pigstick”. But be careful: some Rikers want to reactivate the explosives. Stop them.
Once Pigstick is defeated and the hostage is freed, you make your way to the final boss. There you are in an area with a heavy gun that is shooting at you. You need to protect three more hostages. After a while, a timer will count down and one hostage will be marked. After the timer runs out, the gun shoots at the hostage. You must position yourself in front of them in time (preferably with a shield) to deflect the bullets. After that, you need to activate pyro and defeat a named boss.
This mechanic now repeats twice: the second time, the gun shoots at two hostages and the third time at all three hostages. Coordinate who protects which hostage. Defeat the named bosses, clear out the adds at the end, and that’s it.
The hostages will be freed and you will receive the rewards.
In short: In this incursion, you not only have to deal with bosses and the adds, but also with enemies that must be defeated within a certain time. Especially at high difficulty levels, communication among team members becomes important.
What do you think of this incursion?
In addition to the incursion, the paid “Last Stand” DLC also includes the PvP mode “Last Stand” . More information in the provided link.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
