Al’ars Ashes in Blue: These special mounts you can earn at the 20th anniversary of WoW

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

For the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft, the Blizzard developers are planning the biggest party Azeroth has ever seen. As part of the event, you can earn several mounts.

What kind of party can all WoW fans expect? In November and December 2024, you can expect all kinds of new content, rewards, and activities in World of Warcraft. The highlights include:

  • Return of the Black Depths as a raid instance for 10 to 15 characters, featuring eight main bosses and five side bosses.
  • Party in front of the Caverns of Time entrance, with many activities and mini-games.
  • Timewalking for classic WoW dungeons (Death Mines, Zul’Farrak, Dungeons of Darkbreaker (East and West Wing) and Stratholme).
  • Chromie’s Codex, where you can re-experience or experience for the first time the opening of the gates of Ahn’Qiraj in a tailored form.
  • New quests where you will support the care of guests.
  • The world bosses Sha of Anger, Archavon, Azuregos, Lord Kazzak, Doomwalker, and Nightmare Dragons are returning, with adjusted loot.
  • Dive into the mode “Kor’kron’s Revenge” in the Alterac Valley battlefield.
  • Earn the T2 sets as modernized transmog templates.

Rewarding loot is already available in WoW, for example here:

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Supplies for Mount Collectors

What mounts are coming with the anniversary? As part of the 20th birthday party of World of Warcraft, you can earn various new or returning mounts for your collection. So far, the following are known:

  • Enchanted Magic Carpet (from Wrath of the Lich King): Can be purchased from vendor Reginald (timewalking merchant).
  • Amani Hunting Bear (from Burning Crusade): Can be purchased from vendor Reginald (timewalking merchant).
  • Fringed Feather Hippogryph (from Classic World of Warcraft): Can be purchased from Bobadormu (timewalking merchant).
  • Cold Flames Storm: This blue flaming flying mount carries on the legacy of its fiery cousin, Al’ar’s Ash, and lets you showcase your own years in service to Azeroth.
  • Core Hound Chain: Teaches you the core hound as a mount, available for the bronze dragon festival badges of the anniversary.
Azure Blue World Cooler from WoW.
Azure Blue World Cooler
Cold Flames Storm from WoW.
Cold Flames Storm
Doomhawk of the Illidari from WoW.
Doomhawk of the Illidari
Fringed Feather Hippogryph from WoW.
Fringed Feather Hippogryph
Frostwolf Snarler from WoW.
Frostwolf Snarler
Celestial Onyx Cloud Serpent from WoW.
Celestial Onyx Cloud Serpent
Amani Hunting Bear from WoW.
Amani Hunting Bear
Black War Mammoth from WoW.
Black War Mammoth
Enchanted Magic Carpet from WoW.
Enchanted Magic Carpet
Core Hound from WoW.
Core Hound
  • Battle Ram of the Storm Lancers (Alliance) / Frostwolf Snarler (Horde): Reward for completing “Kor’kron’s Revenge.”
  • Azure Blue World Cooler: The blue dragon form of Deathwing returns as a mount at the 20th anniversary – can be purchased from historian Ma’di for 5,000 time-warped badges.
  • Doomhawk of the Illidari: Can be obtained from the Doomwalker with some luck. However, it is also said to be available from historian Ma’di for 5,000 time-warped badges.
  • Reins of the Celestial Onyx Cloud Serpent: Can drop from Sha of Anger with some luck.
  • Reins of the Great Black War Mammoth: Can be obtained by defeating Archavon at the anniversary event.
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The anniversary event is currently on the public test server, so you can take a look at the upcoming party. What do you think, are you excited about the event coming in November and December? Let us know in the comments! WoW brings back the best classic dungeon of all time as a raid

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

An AI Claims to Predict Crimes Before They Happen – Reminiscent of a Thriller Starring Tom Cruise

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Researchers have introduced an AI that is said to predict crimes. This reminds us of movies and books that could soon become reality.

What kind of AI is this? The South Korean “Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute” has introduced “Dejaview” – an AI system that analyzes video surveillance footage to detect and potentially prevent crimes.

This is reminiscent of films like Minority Report, where crimes are also supposed to be recognized in the future. In the 2002 science fiction thriller, Tom Cruise played the lead role. However, Minority Report was about visions and not AI.

Amazon had introduced a robot that fights crime. Its production has been discontinued:

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AI relies on predictions and recidivism forecasts of criminals

How does the AI work? Dejaview uses machine learning to analyze patterns and detect signs of impending crimes. In total, over 30,000 data sets are said to have been processed.

Dejaview takes into account factors like time of day, location, previous incidents, and other variables to assess the risk of a suspicious incident.

According to reports, the AI is said to consist of two components (via techspot.com):

  • First, there is a time- and space-based prediction model that evaluates elements like whether a crime previously occurred in a remote area late at night.
  • Secondly, there is a so-called “individual-centered recidivism forecast.” This focuses on individuals who are at high risk of repeating the same crimes. By tracking their movement patterns, the technology can analyze whether their behavior indicates they might commit another crime soon.

In initial tests, it was found that the space-based prediction model works surprisingly well. In field tests conducted with data from the city of Seocho, this predictive crime-fighting system achieved an accuracy rate of 82.8%.

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When will the AI be deployed? The AI is said to already be in use, but limited to public safety infrastructures such as airports, energy facilities, factories, and monitoring national events. The commercial use for specialized security services is expected by the end of 2025.

Whether the AI will ever come to Europe or Germany is still questionable. Because at least with the second point, the “individual-centered recidivism forecast,” data protection is likely to play an important role.

More on artificial intelligence: In the state of Texas, more than 4,000 jobs are to be replaced by an AI. The aim is to save money and simplify work. However, enthusiasm is limited, as the software still seems to be prone to errors: AI is currently making more than 4,000 people unemployed because it can save 20 million euros per year

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

Many young people do not understand the basics of dealing with computers – this meme about Generation Z makes it clear

Gerald Wessel Gerald Wessel Reading time 2 minutes

What is everyday life for Boomers and even Millennials often causes headaches for young people from Generation Z: where do files land in Windows?

What do young people not understand when dealing with computers? A meme, posted in a thread in the subforum GenZ on Reddit, is currently gathering upvotes and comments. Considering the forum, it seems mainly younger people report on a frustrating issue that concerns them: Where does Windows save files? The following meme posted there as a cover image sums up the essence.

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Translated, it says:

  • Windows: Document saved
  • Me: Where did you save that?
  • Windows: …….

A member of Gen Z is reportedly making fun of themselves with the meme, while the following comments in the post support the struggle of the young generation with Windows. In this, it seems a particular program is the arch-enemy of many.

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Microsoft Windows, OneDrive, and other annoyances

Wait, who is Generation Z again? They are also called Zoomers and were born between 1996 and 2012. Before them come the Millennials or Generation Y starting from 1980. Baby Boomers began their lives in the post-war period. From 1965 to 1979 follows the birth period of Generation X. All those born after 2012 or those who will be born in 2024 are part of Generation Alpha.

What are people reporting in the Reddit thread?

  • Some complain about the “poor search function” in Windows
  • Many also report regularly being annoyed by Microsoft’s cloud storage service known as “OneDrive”, for example, Key_Researcher_9243: That is my […] arch-enemy.
  • Or as An0n_Cyph3r_ reports: “I once lost a seven-page essay because Windows saved it under a non-existent OneDrive account.”
  • Otherwise, the almost 5,000 upvotes show that some can relate to the meme. Not everyone, however, shares their respective experiences.

However, many also step in to clarify the basics: Typically, Windows saves by default in the Documents folder, and downloads end up in the destination folder set by the respective browser. When files are saved in the OneDrive cloud, it’s best to go via “Save As” manually to specify not just the file type and name, but also the destination.

Is there an explanation for these issues? Ultimately, the thread is not a scientifically based study on the topic, but our colleagues from Genbeta at least express a suspicion that could explain at least individual cases.

iOS and Android provide a more managed experience. Hardly anyone creates folders there, organizes data, or specifies destination paths for files. Everything goes through apps that handle this independently. Members of Gen Z who have not worked separately from all smartphones or tablets with a regular Windows PC probably lack the routine.

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Surveys among employers in the United Kingdom also paint a somewhat unflattering picture of the time Generation Z spends in the office. However, there are also good reasons and factors that relativize the not entirely unfounded accusations of the older generations. We also go into these in detail in the following article: Generation Z is often late, wastes work time, and frequently drops out due to mental issues, surveys show.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. genbeta
  2. Symbolbild von unsplash

Pokémon GO changes the showcases, now completely different Pokémon are strong

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

Pokémon GO changes the showcases. And this should please all trainers who do not only have the giant monsters.

Which showcases are affected? The showcases in Pokémon GO are a form of competition where you can submit your Pokémon at certain PokéStops.

There they will be compared with the participating Pokémon of other trainers. The bigger your monsters are, the more points they receive. Whoever has the most points by the end of the showcase wins rewards.

Now there are different types of showcases: Sometimes only a specific monster is required in the showcase, but sometimes a whole type of Pokémon is compared. Example: In the “Electric” showcase, any electric monster, from Pikachu to Zapdos, can be submitted.

The problem: In these type showcases, there were always monsters that were simply unbeatable. Monsters like Wailord in water showcases simply cannot be surpassed by a Sealeo – at least until now. Because now there is a change in these showcases.

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Dynamax in Pokémon Go – How to participate in the gigantic battles

Trainers show how showcases are now evaluated differently

This is the change: From September 16 to September 18, normal showcases will take place in Pokémon GO. Here, all normal monsters can be submitted – and for example, Regigigas would actually be the classic frontrunner here.

But trainers in other time zones, where the showcases are already running, have noticed a change. Now Pokémon are apparently evaluated based on their relative size.

That means: A Snubbull, for example, is now no longer compared with Snorlax or Regigigas for scoring, but with other Snubbull. So a very large Snubbull can be just as valuable as a very large Snorlax – or even more.

You can see such an example here in a user’s post in the subreddit for Pokémon GO, The Silph Road.

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What does this mean? Effectively, this means that now all Pokémon are interesting for competitions. Completely different monsters can suddenly win competitions than before. So it pays off to keep XXL monsters, regardless of whether it’s a Caterpie or a Steelix.

This should make the showcases significantly more varied.

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What else is happening in Pokémon GO? This week, among other things, the Psychic Spectacle starts. Here you can look forward to a new Dynamax opponent, as Dyna-Tanhel makes its debut in Max battles. Interestingly, it will be the first level 3 boss in Dyna-Raids; our previous opponents were only level 1. It remains to be seen how difficult the battle will be. However, one thing is clear: a monster should be particularly good as a counter against Dyna-Tanhel.

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

New Game on Steam Lets You Build and Upgrade Your Own Spaceship, Features Looting and Leveling, Receives Strong Reviews

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Exploring the universe with a spaceship is a nice thought. In the new space game Starcom: Unknown Space on Steam, you can also loot and level up at the same time, and fans think it’s great.

What kind of game is this? In Starcom: Unknown Space, you start in space as the commander of a small scout ship. Your goal is to explore the universe. But be careful, not all the other spaceships you encounter are friendly.

During the game, you will repeatedly fight against other spaceships and after a won battle, you can collect their parts. However, the special feature of the game lies in how you can upgrade your spaceship. Here, you get to decide for yourself.

Here you can watch the trailer for Starcom: Unknown Space:

Start video
Starcom: Unknown Space shows in the trailer how space strategy and RPG can be combined

Looting and leveling up, but very creatively

How does looting and leveling work? In Starcom: Unknown Space on Steam, there are various resources that you can obtain not only from won battles but also from missions and exploring planets.

You then spend your collected resources in the heart of the game, the shipbuilding mode. Here you have your ship in front of you on a hexagon field and you get to decide how it should be built.

In this process, you can not only choose the appearance of your spaceship but also the individual weapons, stations, and shields according to your liking, place them, and move them around.

Through a tech tree, new technologies and abilities can be unlocked, but this also requires a capable crew. Your crew can be leveled up, and you get to determine in which areas the respective crew members are skilled.

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How is the game received? Starcom: Unknown Space was released on September 2 on Steam and has since received almost exclusively positive reviews. The game currently holds 91% positive ratings from over 1,300 submitted votes.

The reviews also praise the game. Lightmaster Ix writes on Steam: “This game was an incredible surprise. It captures a true sense of discovering mysteries and unexplored space that many other space games with much higher budgets cannot achieve.”

Fiora also recommends the game on Steam: “Have you ever thought: ‘I’m kind of bored with all this empire-building stuff. Wouldn’t it be better if I could just play as an exploration ship instead?’ If so, then this game is made for you.”

The few negative reviews mostly come from users who have played the game for a bit longer. They mainly criticize the endgame, level scaling, grind, or that some gameplay content repeats. They also feel that the standard price is a bit too high at around €25.

In real life, many people train for years to fly into space. Along with the training, a lot of skill and some luck are also required to truly get the chance to fly into space. A man who wanted to go to space especially had a lot of bad luck: Astronaut trains his whole life for space – Now an actress messes up his last chance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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Professional match in Counter-Strike 2 lasts longer than a soccer game, forces players to take a break

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Matches in Counter-Strike 2 can indeed take quite a while. A duel has even set a record and caused a pause.

What was special about this duel? The match was between fnatic and M80. The two teams played against each other on September 11, 2024, in the ESL Pro.

The match took place on the maps Anubis and Inferno. While the duel on Inferno had no special features, the duel on Anubis could go down in ESL history.

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Long Match and Human Needs

What was special about the match? With the score at 12:12 on Anubis, the game entered overtime. And it was intense. Both teams were tied for a long time and gave no quarter. This led to multiple overtimes, as a game typically ends only when a winner is determined.

This meant that the duel on the map remained undecided even after 2 hours and 25 minutes and 63 rounds. More than enough time to fill the players’ bladders.

Therefore, bodyy, a player from the fnatic team, asked in the lobby if both teams would agree to a bathroom break. This was affirmed by both teams, and the players took advantage of the brief pause.

After the break, the duel on the map continued and finally ended after 2 hours and 50 minutes and 71 rounds with a score of 37 to 34 for team M80.

This match thus sets a new record for the longest match on a map in CS2 in the ESL.

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How did the match day end? M80 was also able to win the second map, emerging victorious with a score of 16 to 13. Thus, the team won the match day overall 2:0.

While both teams had to invest a lot of time to complete this match day, there are other players who instead invest a lot of money to achieve different goals: Rich user reportedly invests over €500,000 on Steam to become number 1 – risks everything with skins in CS2.

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

An insider at One Piece allegedly knows where part of the Straw Hat crew is located in the new arc, has good arguments

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The new chapter of One Piece surprises with an open ending and leaves the fate of part of the Straw Hat crew uncertain. A well-known insider of the anime, who also worked on the live-action adaptation of One Piece, has a plausible theory.

Attention, Spoilers: The following article contains spoilers for manga chapter 1126 of One Piece.

What happened? By the end of the chapter, part of the Straw Hat crew, along with the Thousand Sunny, has disappeared. Specifically, it is the part of the members who have been in the crew the longest. This includes Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper. Among them are two members who could be important in the upcoming arc.

At the end of the chapter, it is shown that Nami awakens from unconsciousness or sleep. She suddenly wears Viking clothing and has a sword on her back. Moreover, she cannot remember where she is.

However, inferences can be drawn from the surroundings about where Nami and presumably the others are. The well-known One Piece insider newworldartur believes to know where the Straw Hat crew is located.

All members who have disappeared also appear in the movie where Chopper joins the crew. Here you can find the trailer:

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One Piece: Chopper and the Miracle of the Winter Cherry Blossom – Trailer for the 9th Anime Film

One Piece: Some Straw Hats May Already Be in Elbaf

Where could Luffy, Nami, and the others be? Nami wakes up in a building that looks like a castle. In the background, stone walls and a railing can be seen. However, on closer inspection, it can be seen that the individual objects have bumps on them.

According to the insider, the surroundings could be a house made of LEGO. Since the giants are much larger than humans, Nami and the others could be in a toy house built by one of the giants.

You can watch his video on the theory here. The theory is discussed starting at 11:58:

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How likely is that? Since the Viking ship with the Straw Hat crew keeps moving towards Elbaf, it could indeed be the case that part of the crew has already landed on Elbaf. 

Nami’s outfit suggests that someone who is from Elbaf must have dressed her. The Viking outfit thematically fits the upcoming arc. Since Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, is a big fan of LEGO, the theory could also fit.

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There are already some things that the manga has hinted about Elbaf in advance. For example, the land is ruled by Prince Loki, and some of the places you have already seen in flashbacks from Big Mom. To prepare yourself well for the arc, you should read everything you need to know about it: One Piece sets sail for the new arc in the new chapter – Everything you need to know about Elbaf

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

Anyone looking to buy a complete PS5 Pro will soon have to pay more than 1,000 euros

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

There is a heated debate about the price of the PS5 Pro. However, the PS5 Pro could soon become significantly more expensive.

How much does the PS5 cost? Sony announced the official price and release date of the PS5 Pro:

  • The PS5 Pro will cost 799.99 Euros in Germany.
  • For a drive, you will pay an additional 119.99 Euros, and for a stand, around 30 Euros. For a second DualSense controller, you will pay around 60 Euros.
  • For the complete package, you will pay around 950 Euros. A subscription for PS Plus is not included if you want to play online.

However, prices may still rise in the coming days and weeks. Therefore, the release in early November is likely to be exciting. At least if you want a PS5 Pro with all the accessories.

Start video
Sony releases the official reveal trailer for the PS5 Pro

Accessories are sold out, scalpers are asking for double

What are the current issues and prices? In recent days, players and scalpers have purchased PS5 drives, and now the accessories are almost sold out everywhere. Currently, you are paying around 150 to 200 Euros for the PS5 drive on eBay and other relevant websites.

What are scalpers? Scalpers are people who buy items that are in limited supply. Due to increased demand, they hope to sell their purchased items significantly above the MSRP.

Additionally, Sony has raised the price of the DualSense controller by 5 Euros. The stand remains at 29.99 Euros and is still (currently) available.

How much do I have to pay for the PS5 Pro? If you want the PS5 Pro fully equipped, you would have to pay just under 1,000 Euros so far. If Sony cannot supply enough drives at the release of the PS5 Pro, prices for a PS5 Pro with a drive will likely rise significantly above 1,000 Euros.

A rush for the PS5 stand is likely to be limited, as many third-party suppliers offer alternatives that are often cheaper than the officially sold part from Sony.

What is still uncertain? It is still unclear how strong the demand for the PS5 Pro will be. In the worst-case scenario, the PS5 Pro could be sold out again immediately upon release, with scalpers snatching up the few available models and selling the console for double. However, it is not possible to estimate this at the current time, as many people are complaining about the price of the console.

If the “worst case” does indeed occur, which we hope does not happen, the PS5 Pro is likely to cost significantly more than 1,000 Euros.

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More about the PS5 Pro: The PS5 and PS5 Pro look very similar at first glance, as Sony has hardly changed the design. But what are the similarities and especially the differences between the PS5 and PS5 Pro? MeinMMO presents all the details and explains what you should pay attention to: PS5 Pro vs PS5 Comparison: What similarities and differences are there?

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

New game from the creators of Mass Effect presents you with tough decisions, promises consequences for everything

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

A forthcoming game by former Bioware developers has great ambitions. The decisions you make in it are supposed to have a significant impact and therefore be really difficult.

What game is it about? Exodus is the first game from the studio Archetype Entertainment. It was founded in 2019 and has James Ohlsen as its head, who already has much experience in the role-playing genre.

Just like the company’s vice president, Chad Robertson, Ohlsen was involved with some major titles from the legendary studio Bioware. Namely Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, or Mass Effect.

Exodus is most similar to the latter title. The sci-fi game featuring Matthew McConaughey in an important role lets you, as a “Traveler,” explore your own people in the far future and secure their future. For this, you undertake excursions into space – which do not come without consequences. This is where the developers demand tough decisions from you.

Start video
Exodus – Reveal trailer with gameplay scenes

Every expedition changes the world

How do the decisions work? Chad Robertson and James Ohlen emphasize that the factor of time plays an important role in their game. It is an enemy that no one can escape. Connected to this are the decisions you make as a player.

Similar to the film Interstellar by Christopher Nolan (also featuring Matthew McConaughey), time in space passes differently than on Earth. While you start an expedition in space and may only be traveling for a day, many years pass on Earth.

Your family and friends age in the meantime and may not be alive when you return. A decision made during an expedition is supposed to have a significant impact on events on Earth and thus on all of humanity.

The developers further elaborate in the Q&A on YouTube.com (starting at minute 01:05):

They (the decisions) also affect a number of other things. The progress options for your character throughout the game, specifically regarding your home world and your civilization as a whole. We are very excited about it. There is a really cool element that we are looking forward to internally, which is crazy results with your companions.

Because in Exodus you will meet creatures that become your allies. For example, an anthropomorphic animal like the pig Charlotte, who is telepathically gifted and can thus be a useful companion for you.

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When will Exodus be released? Currently, there is no date for the release yet. The game is set to be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Are you looking forward to it? What are your expectations? Feel free to share in the comments. More information about this perhaps best game for disappointed Mass Effect fans can be found on MeinMMO: Disappointed ‘Mass Effect’ fans have a new game to look forward to

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

EA FC 25: 10 Players with the Best Shots in Ultimate Team According to Ratings

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 2 minutes

The new ratings for EA FC 25 have revealed the best shooting stats. We take a look at the players who will pose a significant threat in Ultimate Team with their powerful shots.

What does the shooting stat in FC 25 mean? The shooting stat primarily indicates how well a player can shoot the ball on target. However, shooting in EA FC involves more than just this, as it consists of the following values:

  • Positioning: how well a player moves into goal-threatening areas
  • Finishing: how accurate the shots taken by a player in the penalty area are
  • Shooting power: how much power the shots taken by a player pack
  • Long shots: how accurate the shots taken by a player outside the penalty area are
  • Volleys: how accurate the shots taken directly from the air by a player are
  • Penalties: how accurate the penalties taken by a player are

For a striker, the values that are particularly important in the game are positioning, finishing, shooting power, and volley. A forward must position themselves correctly in the penalty area (positioning) to place the ball accurately (finishing), even from the air (volleys), and with a lot of power (shooting power) into the opponent’s goal.

What else is important for shooting in EA FC? Since the introduction of playstyles in FC 24, the “Finessed Shot” (R1 on PlayStation, RB on Xbox) has proven to be the most dangerous shooting playstyle. If your players master this playstyle in silver or gold, they can curl the ball into the goal with a lot of effect. This causes the ball to curve around the goalkeeper.

Start video
EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team

10 players with the best shots in FC 25

We present the players with the best shots in FC 25. We will look at the shooting stat in general, but also show you the key shooting values, such as positioning (Sts), finishing (Abs), shooting power (Skr), and volleys (Vol). Additionally, you can see from the list whether the player has the “finessed shot” playstyle in silver or even gold.

In the penultimate row, you will find the ability “Weak Foot” (SF). If this ability is well developed (4 or 5 stars), the player can perform their strong shot with both feet.

Player (Shooting Stat)Key Shooting ValuesFinesse Shot PlaystyleWeak Foot StarsClub
Harry Kane (93)Sts: 94
Abs: 95
Skr: 94
Vol: 89		Gold4FC Bayern
Erling Haaland (92)Sts: 96
Abs: 96
Skr: 94
Vol: 90		/3Manchester City
Kylian Mbappé (90)Sts: 93
Abs: 94
Skr: 90
Vol: 84		Silver4Real Madrid
Ada Hegerberg (89)Sts: 93
Abs: 91
Skr: 85
Vol: 90		/4Olympique Lyon
Alexia Putellas (89)Sts: 91
Abs: 91
Skr: 86
Vol: 90		Silver5FC Barcelona
Antoine Griezmann (88)Sts: 90
Abs: 90
Skr: 85
Vol: 86		Gold3Atlético Madrid
Sam Kerr (88)Sts: 92
Abs: 92
Skr: 85
Vol: 92		Gold4FC Chelsea
Robert Lewandowski (88)Sts: 90
Abs: 90
Skr: 89
Vol: 86		Silver4FC Barcelona
Lautaro Martínez (88)Sts: 92
Abs: 93
Skr: 87
Vol: 92		Gold4Lombardia FC (Inter Milan)
Ewa Pajor (88)Sts: 90
Abs: 91
Skr: 85
Vol: 89		/3FC Barcelona

In our list, we have not included icons and heroes.

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Pre Season in EA FC 25: Here’s how to quickly earn rewards for FC 26
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What advantage do players with a strong shot bring you? Players with a strong shot can help you decide tight games in your favor. Especially when your opponent is on par with you, you need to make the most of the few scoring chances you get.

The players from our list should be able to score from half chances and difficult positions. In addition to a strong shot, you should also have one or two players with strong dribbling in your team. Good dribblers can assist your goal scorers: FC 25: 10 strong dribblers that give you an advantage in Ultimate Team

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

WoW: You weren’t as strong in the depths as you thought – Brann Bronzebeard was just very broken

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

Brann Bronzebeard had his favorites among the classes in the depths of World of Warcraft. Some he strongly supported – for others, he had no desire. A bug was to blame for this.

The depths are one of the new endgame features of World of Warcraft: The War Within. However, players have had very different experiences in the harder depths from level 8 and upwards. Some are bored because the depths seem to offer no challenge – others do not understand the world anymore, as they are repeatedly defeated by simple mob groups.

The bug in the depths was to blame. Because Brann simply preferred certain classes.

Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within

WoW: Brann Bronzebeard suffered from a bug in the depths

What was the problem? The fact that the depths are plagued by various bugs and that every hotfix brings new problems has likely been understood by most WoW players by now. Yet Brann was also intriguingly bugged after the last patches, leading Blizzard to implement another hotfix.

From Blizzard, it is stated in the US forum of WoW:

We recently identified a serious bug that caused Brann to receive all the HP and damage bonuses that were meant for the enemies under certain circumstances. When this bug occurred, Brann became stronger as the difficulty of the depth increased.

Therefore, we implemented a hotfix that fixes this issue. There should now be a consistent baseline strength for Brann that increases with your gear and his level.

Some specializations whose gameplay tends to stay in the background and leave Brann in the lead triggered this bug with a significantly increased probability. We understand that Brann will now feel significantly weaker to those players than before, especially in the depths of the highest level.

Everyone else can look forward to some improvements for Brann, as it continues:

We have also seen feedback that the “unbugged” Brann felt less effective than we had hoped. Therefore, along with the hotfix, there is an improvement for Brann that increases his health and damage by 125% at all levels.

In theory, Brann should now have a uniform strength for all classes in WoW, and the depths should feel consistently fairer and more similar for all classes and specializations.

Warriors, Hunters, and Rogues were too strong in the depths

The community discusses: That Brann had different strengths for different classes led to many exhausting discussions in the community. Because some – like warriors, hunters, or rogues – could walk through the depths unscathed in many cases, while Brann annihilated everything. Other classes, such as priests or mages, were killed within seconds in the higher depths, while Brann was hardly involved in the damage dealt.

This meant that some effortlessly defeated the season end boss Zekvir even on the “??” difficulty and could not understand why others had problems. Often there were comments like “Learn 2 Play” or “Play your class right, then it’s easy”. In hindsight, it is, of course, somewhat amusing when the real reason for this superiority was basically an unstoppable Brann Bronzebeard.

More about WoW:
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
After Nostalrius came WoW Classic, now the end of Turtle WoW must lead to WoW Classic Plus
von Karsten Scholz
World of Warcraft: Top 7 Addons for Midnight
von Benedict Grothaus

Even now, there is much discussion about the latest changes. The past week is often referred to as a “wild rollercoaster ride”; some find Blizzard’s entire handling of the situation embarrassing. The latest feedback, such as that on wowhead or in the WoW subreddit, however, seems to be that Brann is now significantly too weak for many, and the difficulty of the depths 8 and higher has increased once again.

The only thing one can say with certainty is: That was not the last hotfix the depths will receive. It remains exciting how the balance will look in the coming days. If your dwarven companion is still not as helpful after all these hotfixes, perhaps you have equipped Brann with the wrong gear.

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

GTA 6: A former developer at Rockstar talks about a delay in the release date – This could unsettle you

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

According to a former developer of Rockstar Games, the company itself may not yet know when GTA 6 will be released. That will only become clear next year.

How does he come to this conclusion? Obee Vermeij was a Technical Director at Rockstar Games and witnessed the development of GTA 3, GTA San Andreas, and GTA 4. For the latter title, there was a delay: Originally, the action game was supposed to be released on October 16, 2007. But just four months before the release, the launch of GTA 4 was postponed to April 29, 2008 (via X).

That’s why he believes that Rockstar Games may not know until shortly before the release of GTA 6 whether the game can actually meet the targeted release window in autumn 2025. If the timeframe is even larger, it is difficult to make a decision to postpone.

In the trailer for GTA 6, we could already see what a gigantic game awaits us:

Start video
Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer

Release of GTA 6 could be decided in mid-2025

When could a delay to 2026 become likely? According to Vermeij, Rockstar Games will not be able to decide before May 2025 whether GTA 6 will still be released in 2025. However, he adds that he has no insider knowledge and has not spoken to anyone about it. His assessment probably only comes from the times when he worked at Rockstar Games.

You can read his complete tweet in English here:

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Link to the Twitter content

Just recently, rumors surfaced that GTA 6 is actually being postponed to the year 2026. Industry insider Jason Schreier spoke with some employees who revealed that no postponement has been planned so far. 

However, the postponement might currently only be communicated at the executive level. There is a possibility that not all employees are informed about a planned delay. Therefore, we should wait until May 2025 to see if there really will be no further postponement.

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If GTA 6 is postponed again, at least one actor from GTA 5 celebrates: “The longer they take, the cooler it will be”
von Sophia Weiss

What does Vermeij think of GTA 6? He believes that GTA 6 can remain on the market for over ten years and even continue to sell beyond that. There is no competition that Rockstar Games needs to fear. Because the company would not release the game until they are 100 percent satisfied with it.

Through the first trailer and some leaks, we already know which platforms GTA 6 will be released on and in which city the installment will take place. Additionally, this time there are two main characters who are a couple in the game. All the information we have so far about GTA 6 can be found in the hub of MeinMMO: GTA 6 – All information about the release, platforms, and trailers

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

Pokémon GO: The ‘Community would have died’ but today the tournaments are bigger than ever

Linda Baumgartl Linda Baumgartl Reading time 3 minutes

Today fans cheer for their favorite Pokémon GO players at the World Championships. But just a few years ago, the community might have nearly died out.

Upon its release in 2016, Pokémon GO was almost unavoidable. The game was omnipresent – everyone played it or had at least heard of it. Just shortly after its launch, the augmented reality game broke numerous records: it achieved the highest revenue, most downloads, and was the most played.

Today, you rarely see Pokémon collectors on the street. But does that mean Pokémon GO is dead?

Here you get a glimpse into the Pokémon World Championships 2024:

Start video
The Pokémon World Championships 2024 in Hawaii

“As a result, a large part of the community died out”

A few weeks ago, the “Pokémon World Championships 2024” took place in Honolulu, Hawaii. Here, the best Pokémon trainers in the world fought for victory and prizes worth over €1,800,000.

Pokémon GO was also part of it. That is not a given, as GO has only recently been part of the big Pokémon tournaments.

  • In 2022, Pokémon GO was part of the World Championships for the first time.
  • The World Championships first took place in 2004, long before the release of Pokémon GO in 2016.

Has Pokémon GO changed? Over the years, not only Pokémon GO itself but also the community has continuously changed. And it hasn’t always looked good for the game.

Illya Babycha, a Pokémon GO referee, has been involved from the start. He tells MeinMMO how he experienced the development:

The GO community has gone through a gigantic evolution. The game had a huge community that organized tournaments on its own. Then came Corona, and of course, in person, you couldn’t hold tournaments anymore. As a result, a large part of the community died out and stopped playing.

But ‘Play! Pokémon’ [organizer of the tournaments] has given it back the charm it had back then, and a very large part of the community is coming back, or new players are also finding joy in it. And the tournaments are getting bigger.

This season, we had tournaments with more than 256 players for the first time. And after just two and a half years, that’s already quite good.

What do the player numbers say? In fact, player numbers seem to be going up again since 2022, even though the hype from the release remains unsurpassed, as the numbers from activeplayer.io indicate; there are no official statistics.

  • Pokémon GO reportedly had 232 million monthly players at its release.
  • Currently, there are about 90 million.
  • The lowest player count was 62 million in 2022.

Perhaps the inclusion of Pokémon GO in the official tournaments was indeed the salvation that the game needed. But who can actually participate in such tournaments?

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“The community is always there for you”

Of course, as a beginner, you might not be able to participate directly in the World Championships. However, there are many smaller national tournaments that you can find on the Play! Pokémon page.

There, you gain plenty of experience and so-called “Championship Points”. With enough such points, you can earn trips to international championships or even an invitation to the World Championship.

Are there any tips? All beginners who would like to get a taste of tournament air are advised by Illya:

It is important to know above all: The community is always there for you. If you need any tips, there are incredibly many helpful resources. Among them are also players from the community who are very helpful.

One of the best resources to get the information needed to prepare is PVPoke.

There you find many simulations. It was created by a community player. It is completely free, a website that simply offers a lot of information about movesets, Pokémon stats, match-ups… you can prepare very well there.

How Illya became the official Pokémon GO referee, and what tasks he had at the World Championships, you can find out in the interview here with us on MeinMMO: Are there really Pokémon professors, do you have to study for that?

MeinMMO was present at the Pokémon World Championships 2024 as a press representative. The costs for admission, travel, and accommodation were covered by the organizers.

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

Pokémon GO: All Events in September 2024 – Dates and Bonuses

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

What events will Pokémon GO bring in September 2024? We will show you all the dates at a glance.

What does September bring? The big new thing in September is the start of the “Max Out” season. This is the new season that will bring fresh content to Pokémon GO.

The probably biggest novelty is the “Dynamax” feature. And it is likely to play an important role during the events in September.

All the interesting dates of the month have been compiled here in a table for you. Here you will find all themed events, spotlight hours, raid hours, and more.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows the new season ‘Dyna-Maximum’ in the trailer

All Pokémon GO events in September 2024 in the list

What does the list show? Here you will find the known dates in September 2024.

The list is sorted by date and includes all events that have already been announced. In the case of some events, there is already further information available, which you can find under the respective links.

Where only the name is known, we will supplement the corresponding information as soon as it becomes available. So make sure to check back often!

Pokémon that you can also find as Shiny by luck are marked with an asterisk*.

DateEvent
Every WeekendCrypto-Raids with Raikous*
September 3 – 10GO for it
September 3 – 14Raids with Kyogre*
September 3 – 14Mega-Raids with Mega-Absol
September 3Spotlight hour with Wolly* and 2x evolution XP
September 4Raid hour Kyogre*
September 8Raid Day: Legios
September 10 – 15GOgantisch
September 10Spotlight hour with Araqua* and 2x catch stardust
September 10 – October 1Dynamax battles with Bulbasaur*, Charmander*, Squirtle*, Wolly*, Raffel*
September 11Raid hour Kyogre*
September 14 – 26Mega-Raids with Mega-Hunduster*
September 14 – 26Raids with Groudon*
September 14Community Day Ponita
September 17Spotlight hour with Woingenau with 2x catch XP
September 18Raid hour Groudon*
September 18 – 22Psycho-Spectacle
September 22Research Day Kommandutan and Quartermak
September 24Spotlight hour with Machollo* and 2x catch candies
September 26 – October 4Mega-Raids with Mega-Gardevoir*
September 26 – October 4Raids with Zacian*
September 25Raid hour Groudon*
September 26Legendary Heroes
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Which events are worth it in September?

  • The raids with Zacian: The raids are generally worth it this month, but Zacian was missing for a long time in Pokémon GO and is finally back. It is a very good choice for the Master League and even appears with Shiny chance – so you can catch a shiny monster if you are lucky. And that has not been possible in Pokémon GO so far, and only very conditionally in the main games.
  • GOgantisch and GO for it: Here, the Galar debuts and the first Dynamax battles are likely to be coming. It will be exciting to see how the new content affects the gameplay. However, exact information is still missing in the case of GOgantisch.
  • The Psycho-Spectacle is something we already know from past years. It always has the potential to bring strong monsters.

In general, September is likely to be very exciting given the new content. We will keep you updated, as always, as soon as further information is available!

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

WoW: Exploit threatens the race for World First – Infinite gear availability

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Many professionals in World of Warcraft can currently farm unlimited equipment. The reason for this is a bug that grants characters unlimited gear.

In a few days, the “Race to World First” begins, where the goal is to clear the raid “Palace of the Nerub-ar” on mythic difficulty first by defeating all bosses. Such races are quite popular in World of Warcraft, and the largest guilds usually host many live streams to follow the race.

However, to gain an advantage, game bugs are often exploited, and these “exploits” are heavily used to ensure the best possible starting conditions. Xyronic from Limit has now informed and warned about one of these exploits: Don’t use it, or you risk a ban.

Start video
WoW Cinematic: Threads of Destiny

Exploit in WoW grants unlimited items

What kind of exploit is this? Basically, in World of Warcraft, bosses in raids can only be defeated once per week on a certain difficulty to be eligible for loot. After that, you have a “loot ID” and cannot receive any loot from the boss until the weekly reset.

This is also the case in The War Within. However, new with the addon is that you have a chance to receive an item bound to the war mob for all content. This chance is additional to the normal loot and grants items that are somewhat worse than the actual boss loot.

The problem now seems to be: This chance for “bonus loot” occurs every time you kill a boss – regardless of whether you already have a loot ID.

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Link to the Twitter content

This leads to some particularly “ambitious” players having defeated the heroic raid 15 times already. They not only have a complete tier set fully equipped in the first week but also many of the best-in-slot items that they could subsequently upgrade. Even if these items are not quite as strong as those from the regular boss loot, the difference at maximum upgrade is minimal.

More about WoW:
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von Benedict Grothaus

Should one exploit this? No, definitely not. Just a few days ago, Blizzard made it very clear regarding another offense, where some had cheated to gain high glory levels, that they intend to take a tough stance against exploits. They want to actively combat the mentality of “Exploit early, exploit often.” Therefore, one can assume that exploiting this bug will also result in penalties – especially when some players have exploited the error not just once but up to 15 times.

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

How an IT engineer takes his former employer’s network hostage and demands ransom

Gerald Wessel Gerald Wessel Reading time 2 minutes

Anyone who dismisses someone who knows their company’s network inside and out should put their security to the test. The following criminal case from the USA could serve as a cautionary tale.

How did he manage that? According to a statement from the US judicial authorities, a former employee of a not publicly named industrial company is said to have taken control of the system through Internet access. The man previously worked as an engineer for the hardware and software infrastructure on-site.

He is accused of changing passwords, thereby locking out the administrators. He also allegedly deleted important servers and backups. Afterward, he wrote a fateful email.

The accused has not yet been convicted, so the presumption of innocence applies.

Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?

Failed Extortion

What was in the email? On November 23, 2023, he wrote a demand to senior representatives of the company, threatening to cause further damage if his demands were not met; a classic extortion with an IT system as a hostage.

If approximately 680,000 euros in ransom were not paid, he would destroy further servers or backups every day.

Was he caught? Yes, we do not know exactly how much damage he ultimately caused, but by the end of August 2024, he found himself in handcuffs. The US citizen was brought before the court and released again. He is now awaiting his trial. According to authorities, they were able to trace the email address used for the extortion back to him.

What exactly is he charged with?

  • Extortion with a corresponding threat to damage a protected computer
  • Damage to a protected computer
  • Electronic crime
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A particular kind of danger has emerged from an employee of a US security company. For behind the seemingly qualified and dedicated young software engineer hid a spy from a country considered hostile by the USA. He skillfully infiltrated, but his impatience led to his downfall. The new colleague is a cybercriminal from North Korea: US computer security company avoids attack

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbild: Symbolbild von unsplash.com

A BMW driver tailgates on the highway, consequently has to pay a fine of more than 100,000 euros

Gerald Wessel Gerald Wessel Reading time 2 minutes

Whoever stands out in road traffic in Switzerland should better be poor, as a lawyer with a primal trust in sports brakes recently learned.

What did he do to receive such a penalty? According to a court ruling, a lawyer and driver of a BMW 540d is to pay around 100,000 euros plus court costs (5,000 euros) and a kind of educational fee of 10,000 euros for tailgating on a Swiss motorway.

In March 2023, the 58-year-old came very close to the car in front of him in the overtaking lane. Close tailgating in this case means: there were only eight meters between the two vehicles, as the police established via camera – and all this at 110 to 120 kilometers per hour.

He drastically disregarded the mandatory safety distance, and according to the public prosecutor’s office, there was a high abstract risk of an accident. The Aargauer Zeitung reports on this.

Those who like to press the gas pedal should prefer to do so in video games like Cyberpunk 2077:

Start video
Cyberpunk 2077: Car battles and the new NCPD AI

The penalty must hurt

Why is the fine so high? In Switzerland, the principle is: the penalty must be proportional to the income in such cases. And since, according to the district court, the lawyer has an annual income of 1.8 million euros, daily rates between 30 euros and about 3000 euros were possible. Ultimately, it resulted in 50 times 2000 euros, totaling 100,000 euros.

Does the lawyer still have an option? The millionaire and self-proclaimed BMW fan can appeal the verdict to the Federal Court. The penalty currently hanging over him already came from the second instance, the competent higher court for the region.

This confirmed the penalty order of the district court and only reduced the “connection fine” – the aforementioned educational fee – from about 15,000 to 10,000 euros. However, this also added around 5,000 euros in court costs.

What arguments did the BMW driver use to defend himself against such evidence? He justifies his resistance against the verdict as follows:

  • He was not informed of his rights by the police. A protocol signed by him contradicts this.
  • The distance analysis was faulty because it was based on the lines on the road.
  • He did not have to expect the braking of the vehicle and also had sports and racing brakes installed.

The higher court, according to the Aargauer Zeitung, was not very impressed by all of this.

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Although most people probably don’t think of home office when it comes to car mechanics, Chris Pyle represents just that. The American serves all his customers online and has more than doubled his income within a few years: A car mechanic quit his full-time job at Ford to work from home – now he earns nearly 160,000 € a year

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbild: Symbolbild von unsplash.com

Throne and Liberty: Everything Important about Free2Play, Early Access, Currencies, Battle Pass, Shop, Pay-to-win

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 8 minutes

Publisher Amazon Games and developer NCSoft have revealed how the payment model of the western version of Throne and Liberty is intended to look in detail. MeinMMO summarizes all the important information about early access, currencies, battle pass, and auction house.

Since December 2023, Throne and Liberty has been playable in South Korea, with a free-to-play payment model that indeed has pay-to-win elements. But what can western MMORPG fans expect when T&L launches on October 1, 2024, in the rest of the world?

This is exactly what publisher Amazon Games and developer NCSoft have revealed in two extensive articles on the official website of the online role-playing game. Below, MeinMMO summarizes the most important points. You can find all general information here: Throne and Liberty – All Important Information on Release, Classes, Gameplay, Open Beta, Price, and Platforms.

Update from September 15, 2024: We have added new information about the release and early access.

[toc]

More impressions of Throne and Liberty are provided by this trailer:

Start video
Throne and Liberty: New trailer reveals release date, introduces the fantasy world of Solisium

Amazon Games promises: no ‘Pay to win’!

Right at the beginning, the managers of Throne and Liberty emphasize that the following core values stand behind the game’s business model:

  • All upgrades that affect character strength must be available to all players.
  • The self-actualization of players is our top priority.
  • The purchase of items in the in-game shop should feel worthwhile, but should never be necessary.

What currencies are there in Throne and Liberty?

In the online role-playing game, there should be three main currencies:

  • Luzent: You can buy Luzent at the launch of T&L with real money, earn it through certain PvP battles (such as castle sieges and tax transport events), or obtain it by selling items in the auction house.
  • Sollant is mainly used for the purchase of in-game items from NPC vendors or required for tasks like crafting and improving equipment and other key systems. You earn Sollant through various activities.
  • Decorated Coins: You receive this currency through special in-game events/activities (such as collecting history books), through promotions like Twitch Drops, and the free battle pass series. There will be a shop offering a mix of cosmetics and progression items that you can pay for with Decorated Coins.
All currencies in Throne and Liberty can be earned.

Is there a battle pass?

Throne and Liberty will even offer two types of passes – both will have a free and a paid series.

  • Growth Pass: A one-time purchase per character that provides materials and items that simplify leveling. The Growth Pass does not offer exclusive power-related items.
  • Battle Pass: A recurring, seasonal purchase (approximately monthly) that you must buy for each character and offers a combination of cosmetic rewards, crafting materials, items, and various in-game currencies in exchange for completing certain daily, weekly, and seasonal challenges.

The Growth Pass in Details

With the Growth Pass, which is intended to assist you during the leveling phase, you receive cosmetics, Sollant, materials for leveling up, and other valuable items. How the free path differs from the paid path is still unclear.

However, the developers promise that all items from the Growth Pass can also be earned, aside from the cosmetic rewards. Compared to the Korean version, the devs have reduced the price of the Growth Pass. This can alternatively be paid for with Luzent, allowing you to obtain the paid path for free as an option.

The Battle Pass in Detail

The Battle Pass is expected to be renewed approximately at the beginning of each month. It’s also unclear how the free version will differ from the paid version in detail. However, it is clear that there will be so-called Battle Pass shop points.

Once a character reaches the maximum Battle Pass level – regardless of whether it’s the free or paid version – it converts additional Battle Pass XP into Battle Pass shop points. The shop will have changing rewards and offers, such as special cosmetic items or items that assist in leveling up.

Compared to the Korean version, there are several differences:

  • Additional cosmetics have been added to the Battle Pass series.
  • The cosmetic rewards of the final level have been updated to a premium outfit.
  • The price of the Battle Pass has been reduced and can now be purchased with Luzent instead of real money, so you can also get the paid path of the Battle Pass for free.
  • Additional Battle Pass shop points have been added to the free series of the Battle Pass.
  • Exclusive premium quests and rewards have been removed to allow all players the same access to Battle Pass XP.
Those with a guild can easily earn Luzent for the battle and growth pass.

What does the in-game shop offer?

There are hardly any online role-playing games without an in-game shop. Throne and Liberty is no exception. In the virtual store, you can exchange real money for Luzent. Additionally, various types of cosmetic items such as outfits, transformations, and emotes are available for purchase. This also includes dyes and sewing thread to further customize outfits.

Items purchased in the shop are bound to the character and cannot be traded in the auction house. Unlike in the Korean version, there will be no “aid for Sollant, food, or potions” in the in-game shop.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2

New World Aeternum: Open Beta is running – Start time, platforms, rewards for participation, subscription requirement for PS5

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

The open beta of New World Aeternum is currently running. MeinMMO summarizes everything important about launch time, platforms, and the rewards for participation.

The responsible parties at Amazon Games are holding a second beta phase before the official launch of New World Aeternum on October 15, 2024, starting in a few days. Below, MeinMMO summarizes everything important about the open testing phase.

[toc]

When does the Open Beta of New World Aeternum start?

The open beta of New World Aeternum runs from September 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM, to September 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The beta version is expected to be ready for download since September 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

On which platforms can I participate?

You have the freedom to choose whether you want to try Aeternum on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S. Since crossplay between consoles and PC is enabled, you can easily team up with your friends, regardless of which platforms they are on.

Important: On Xbox, you do not need an active Game Pass subscription to participate in the beta. However, if you want to participate on PlayStation 5 from Germany, you will need a PlayStation Plus subscription.

The new trailer prepares you for the Open Beta of New World Aeternum:

Start video
New World Aeternum: Trailer for the open beta in September 2024

What rewards are available for participating in the beta?

Participants in the open beta of New World Aeternum can earn rewards for the launch version. Four out of five goodies are tied to the level you reach during the beta:

  • Title: Pioneer of Aeternum – Participation in the open beta
  • Gloves: Cuffs of the Aeternum Adventurer – Reach level 10 with any character
  • Footwear: Marching Boots of the Aeternum Adventurer – Reach level 15 with any character
  • Legwear: Leggings of the Aeternum Adventurer – Reach level 20 with any character
  • Headgear: Tricorn of the Aeternum Adventurer and Chest Armor: Winter Coat of the Aeternum Adventurer – Reach level 25 with any character

In the open beta, you can reach a maximum of level 30. Also, keep in mind that you only receive rewards for the platform on which you played the beta. If you want to earn the goodies for the PC version of New World, you must also play the beta on PC.

MeinMMO has already been able to play the beta of New World Aeternum, here is the interim summary:

More on the topic
Don’t worry, New World Aeternum is still an MMORPG, and a good one, even on PS5 and Xbox
von Karsten Scholz

This is what the community thinks so far about the Open Beta of New World Aeternum:

More on the topic
New World Aeternum: This is how the community rates the open beta – “It is so nice to see players in the world again”
von Karsten Scholz

What is the scope of the Open Beta?

The scope of the beta includes the start of the game as well as the first quest lines up to level 30. At that time, you will have features such as mounts, arenas, influence races, and some expeditions unlocked.

Important: All progress from the open beta will be deleted once it concludes. Additionally, you will not have access to the in-game shop during the testing phase.

The announcement trailer for the new console version of New World:

Start video
Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version

What is behind New World Aeternum?

The new version of Amazon Games’ online role-playing game is intended not only to provide the console release but also to ensure a content restart – with a greater focus on solo experience, presentation, and more action-packed combat. The main innovations are as follows:

  • Optimization of controls and UI for the controller
  • The first 10-player raid
  • Extensive PvP zone
  • Solo trials in the endgame
  • Adjusted combat system
  • Character archetypes for easier entry
  • New dialogue system and new cutscenes
  • Improved story
  • Improved leveling system
  • Characters should finally be able to swim

Note: If you want to try New World Aeternum at launch on one of the consoles, you will need a PlayStation Plus subscription or a Game Pass Core subscription in addition to the paid game.

More about New World:
The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
von Karsten Scholz
Die Macher von Rust wollen New World immer noch kaufen, Ex-Entwickler von Amazon erklärt, was dafür nötig ist
von Cedric Holmeier

PC players, on the other hand, require the base game as well as the expansion “Rise of the Angry Earth” to receive the free upgrade to the Aeternum version. If that is not the case, you will need to purchase either the complete package or, if the base game is available, secure the expansion afterwards. All info about the launch of New World Aeternum on console – Release, map, new content, PC version, price

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

Don’t worry, New World Aeternum is still an MMORPG, and a good one, even on PS5 and Xbox

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

With the announcement of Aeternum, the developers of Amazon Games have given their New World the new label of an “action RPG.” After two beta tests, it is now clear that you can still expect an MMORPG that should also provide some fun on consoles.

What were those beta tests? Starting from September 13, 2024, everyone interested can try out the new Aeternum version of New World on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S as part of an open beta for a few days.

Before that, there was early access for selected media representatives (unfortunately only with newly created characters), along with impressions from the closed beta which ran from July 25 to 31, 2024 (and during which there was also an endgame test). Below, MeinMMO summarizes what you can likely expect from New World Aeternum.

[toc]

Here you can see the trailer for the open beta of New World Aeternum:

Start video
New World Aeternum: Trailer for the open beta in September 2024

New World Aeternum remains an MMORPG

How does New World play differently with the Aeternum update? Not different enough to justify the switch from an MMORPG to an action RPG. On the one hand, because you still meet many other players in the game world, the economy is heavily player-driven, and it still contains all the content from New World that requires fellow players or human opponents.

On the other hand, because the innovations for camera, combat system, and presentation are nowadays not uncommon for the MMORPG genre. Various online role-playing games now rely on a cinematic presentation of the story, action-packed battles that can be easily managed with the controller, and the option to master many content solo.

Anyone who wants to experience the full New World experience must still team up or engage with other players. However, the MMORPG from Amazon Games is now increasingly opening up to console players, controller enthusiasts, lone wolves, and story connoisseurs.

This is what the community thinks about the open beta of New World:

More on the topic
New World Aeternum: This is how the community rates the open beta – “It is so nice to see players in the world again”
von Karsten Scholz

The strengths of New World Aeternum

What makes New World Aeternum good?

  • The performance on consoles is really good in the beta. In the PS5 test, there were no noticeable stutters or drops in frames per second. You can choose between graphics and performance mode. With the latter option, New World consistently reaches 60 FPS in the beta. This could of course change when significantly more players rush onto the servers at launch.
  • New World controls wonderfully with the console controllers. The small number of skills combined with the action-rich approach is made for the analog sticks and action buttons.
  • For experienced Aeternum heroes, the new archetypes bring no change. Beginners can, however, look forward to additional assistance when choosing their playstyle. For those who just want to quickly select something and start playing, the archetypes are a great addition.
  • Compared to the launch, the current leveling phase – as far as played so far – is much more enjoyable. This is not only due to the Aeternum adjustments but also to all the improvements that have been implemented over the years.
  • That swimming is now possible may seem trivial, but it noticeably positively affects how you move through the world.
  • Anyone who has played New World for a long time will discover many small improvements, such as in the animations of certain actions, in the user interface, or in the models of NPCs.
Start video
Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version

The weaknesses of New World Aeternum

What does New World Aeternum not do well?

  • New World does not achieve the graphic quality on consoles that a strong PC offers. The draw distance is noticeably lower, and the image looks quite blurry, as if the game is downscaling the resolution to achieve the desired FPS values.
  • At times, the loading times on consoles were unusually long.
  • The attempt to switch targets using the analog stick occasionally did not work. Instead, the target simply became unselected. In chaotic combat situations, this can be quite annoying.

One concern remains

What is the preliminary conclusion? Anyone who wants to start New World with Aeternum on consoles or PC can likely expect the best version of the MMORPG to date (albeit with minor technical imperfections on consoles).

There are many improvements that positively impact the player experience, more options than ever before, and a whole bunch of content to keep you busy for months.

But what about the PC players who have already spent a lot of time in Aeternum and are looking forward to new content after a long drought? Well, hopefully, you’re in the mood for PvP because in that case, you can expect a whole zone where you can fight against other players.

More about New World:
The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
von Karsten Scholz
Die Macher von Rust wollen New World immer noch kaufen, Ex-Entwickler von Amazon erklärt, was dafür nötig ist
von Cedric Holmeier

Aside from that, not much new has been announced aimed at veterans who are not interested in leveling another character: a 10-player raid as well as endgame solo challenges. That might be too little to lure high-level heroes back to Aeternum for the long term. What do you think? All information about the launch of New World Aeternum on console (PS5 and XBOX) – release, map, new content, PC version, price

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